Jeff Hunter began his career in the Air Force, where he spent six years as an aircraft technician, learning the technical discipline and leadership skills that would stay with him. After the military, he spent more than a decade in the corporate world, most recently overseeing a family office portfolio at Henry Investment Group in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That role gave him firsthand exposure to franchising and taught him the power of building within an established system. Eventually, the idea of working for himself, rather than fueling someone else’s enterprise, became too hard to ignore.
“After years of helping others build their businesses, I wanted to channel my skills into my own business,” Hunter said. “Managing two franchise concepts during my time with Henry Investment Group opened my eyes to the value of franchising.”
When the pandemic reshaped the economy, Hunter began evaluating industries that could stand the test of time. Watching businesses shut down around him, he realized he wanted to create stability and build long-term wealth for his family.
With experience in both the trades and the corporate world, plumbing offered the perfect blend of hands-on work and business opportunity, leading him to invest in a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise. “No matter the economic environment, if you’ve got a leak in your house, you’re going to want it fixed,” he said. “If you don’t have hot water, you’re going to want it fixed. Plumbing flourished during that time, and I knew it was something that would stand the test of time.”
Equally important, Hunter saw franchising as a way to create a family legacy. His son, who has physical disabilities, could work alongside him, while his wife could contribute through community outreach. “The chance to work with my family and create something that lasts for them — it’s incredible,” he said.
Hunter knew early on that plumbing was the right business for him, even though it would be a learning curve given his background in electrical work. “It wasn’t the nature of the work, but the frequency was attractive,” he said. “People need plumbers more often than they need HVAC or electrical.”
The next challenge was finding the right territory. “Sherman, Texas was not my first choice, but Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is so big in the DFW Metroplex that all the prime spots were already taken,” Hunter explained. Even so, the market offered strong potential and steady demand for plumbing services.
What gave him confidence to take the leap was the support system within Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and its parent company, Authority Brands. “The support structure that was there, the franchise community, was absolutely phenomenal,” he said. “What plumbing company owner can actually call up another plumbing company and ask for advice? It’s rare. The Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise community being as strong as it is allows for that.”
Like most new franchise owners, Hunter faced the challenge of building a team from the ground up. Early on, he learned that vision mattered just as much as technical skill in recruiting top talent. “When people are available in the plumbing world, it’s usually because there’s a problem,” he said. “The best people are employed and happy. Selling people on the vision of what I’m doing and where we’re going became paramount in attracting good talent.”
That vision began to materialize when he hired a seasoned master plumber five months into operations in December 2023. “That’s when my business really just started to take off,” Hunter said. “Some of that could have been just the normal ebbs and flows of the business, but it coincided with me getting good help.” By January 2024, just months after launching, his franchise hit 190 percent of its revenue goal.
Hunter’s leadership approach — shaped by his time in the Air Force and years in corporate management — played a critical role in this rapid growth. “Managing people, no matter where you are, comes down to setting clear expectations,” he said. “Everyone needs to understand the boundaries and culture we value. We hire for fit, and if someone isn’t aligned, then we work to find the right role or part ways respectfully.”
For Hunter, data is non-negotiable. “The KPIs are what really help you guide the business,” he said. “We look at closing percentage — we want 85 percent or better. Our booking rate from calls, we want 90 percent or better. And we want our average ticket to be over $1,500, and we have consistently been above that.”
But his focus isn’t just on transactions. “We don’t want to be strictly transactional,” he said. “We want to develop relationships with our customers, make sure we’re doing thorough diagnostics, and get to the root of the problem. That’s the Benjamin Franklin way.”
These expectations are baked into daily culture. “Those KPIs are front and center in front of my team every single day,” Hunter said. “We discuss it at every meeting. It’s on our board so they see it every time they’re in the office. If somebody’s falling short, it gives us something to talk about.”
Hunter recently purchased a second territory near the Oklahoma border. Though technically operational since April 2025, he plans to treat it as a grand opening this fall, complete with grassroots community marketing. “We’re bringing in the local high school band, a coffee truck or food truck — something to get the attention of the local community,” he said.
The expansion is about more than growth; it’s about building a legacy. His wife continues to lead community outreach, his son works alongside him and other family members may join the business as it grows. “I did this to build a legacy for my family as well,” he said. “Being able to provide an opportunity for your own family — it’s phenomenal.”
About Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
Founded in 2001, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing currently operates in more than 300 locations across North America. With an emphasis on customer satisfaction, the company's highly trained and licensed plumbers offer a full range of plumbing services that meet the highest industry standards, including installation, repair and replacement. The Punctual Plumber is part of Authority Brands, the parent company to leading home service brands across the plumbing, electrical services, residential cleaning, at-home care, swimming pool repair and maintenance, tree care, restoration and pest control services sector. For more information, visit www.benjaminfranklinplumbing.com and www.authoritybrands.com/.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
SPONSORED
Former Air Force electrician and corporate executive Jeff Hunter built a thriving plumbing franchise by combining discipline, vision and a commitment to legacy.
Jeff Hunter began his career in the Air Force, where he spent six years as an aircraft technician, learning the technical discipline and leadership skills that would stay with him. After the military, he spent more than a decade in the corporate world, most recently overseeing a family office portfolio at Henry Investment Group in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That role gave him firsthand exposure to franchising and taught him the power of building within an established system. Eventually, the idea of working for himself, rather than fueling someone else’s enterprise, became too hard to ignore.
“After years of helping others build their businesses, I wanted to channel my skills into my own business,” Hunter said. “Managing two franchise concepts during my time with Henry Investment Group opened my eyes to the value of franchising.”
When the pandemic reshaped the economy, Hunter began evaluating industries that could stand the test of time. Watching businesses shut down around him, he realized he wanted to create stability and build long-term wealth for his family.
With experience in both the trades and the corporate world, plumbing offered the perfect blend of hands-on work and business opportunity, leading him to invest in a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise. “No matter the economic environment, if you’ve got a leak in your house, you’re going to want it fixed,” he said. “If you don’t have hot water, you’re going to want it fixed. Plumbing flourished during that time, and I knew it was something that would stand the test of time.”
Equally important, Hunter saw franchising as a way to create a family legacy. His son, who has physical disabilities, could work alongside him, while his wife could contribute through community outreach. “The chance to work with my family and create something that lasts for them — it’s incredible,” he said.
Hunter knew early on that plumbing was the right business for him, even though it would be a learning curve given his background in electrical work. “It wasn’t the nature of the work, but the frequency was attractive,” he said. “People need plumbers more often than they need HVAC or electrical.”
The next challenge was finding the right territory. “Sherman, Texas was not my first choice, but Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is so big in the DFW Metroplex that all the prime spots were already taken,” Hunter explained. Even so, the market offered strong potential and steady demand for plumbing services.
What gave him confidence to take the leap was the support system within Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and its parent company, Authority Brands. “The support structure that was there, the franchise community, was absolutely phenomenal,” he said. “What plumbing company owner can actually call up another plumbing company and ask for advice? It’s rare. The Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise community being as strong as it is allows for that.”
Like most new franchise owners, Hunter faced the challenge of building a team from the ground up. Early on, he learned that vision mattered just as much as technical skill in recruiting top talent. “When people are available in the plumbing world, it’s usually because there’s a problem,” he said. “The best people are employed and happy. Selling people on the vision of what I’m doing and where we’re going became paramount in attracting good talent.”
That vision began to materialize when he hired a seasoned master plumber five months into operations in December 2023. “That’s when my business really just started to take off,” Hunter said. “Some of that could have been just the normal ebbs and flows of the business, but it coincided with me getting good help.” By January 2024, just months after launching, his franchise hit 190 percent of its revenue goal.
Hunter’s leadership approach — shaped by his time in the Air Force and years in corporate management — played a critical role in this rapid growth. “Managing people, no matter where you are, comes down to setting clear expectations,” he said. “Everyone needs to understand the boundaries and culture we value. We hire for fit, and if someone isn’t aligned, then we work to find the right role or part ways respectfully.”
For Hunter, data is non-negotiable. “The KPIs are what really help you guide the business,” he said. “We look at closing percentage — we want 85 percent or better. Our booking rate from calls, we want 90 percent or better. And we want our average ticket to be over $1,500, and we have consistently been above that.”
But his focus isn’t just on transactions. “We don’t want to be strictly transactional,” he said. “We want to develop relationships with our customers, make sure we’re doing thorough diagnostics, and get to the root of the problem. That’s the Benjamin Franklin way.”
These expectations are baked into daily culture. “Those KPIs are front and center in front of my team every single day,” Hunter said. “We discuss it at every meeting. It’s on our board so they see it every time they’re in the office. If somebody’s falling short, it gives us something to talk about.”
Hunter recently purchased a second territory near the Oklahoma border. Though technically operational since April 2025, he plans to treat it as a grand opening this fall, complete with grassroots community marketing. “We’re bringing in the local high school band, a coffee truck or food truck — something to get the attention of the local community,” he said.
The expansion is about more than growth; it’s about building a legacy. His wife continues to lead community outreach, his son works alongside him and other family members may join the business as it grows. “I did this to build a legacy for my family as well,” he said. “Being able to provide an opportunity for your own family — it’s phenomenal.”
About Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
Founded in 2001, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing currently operates in more than 300 locations across North America. With an emphasis on customer satisfaction, the company's highly trained and licensed plumbers offer a full range of plumbing services that meet the highest industry standards, including installation, repair and replacement. The Punctual Plumber is part of Authority Brands, the parent company to leading home service brands across the plumbing, electrical services, residential cleaning, at-home care, swimming pool repair and maintenance, tree care, restoration and pest control services sector. For more information, visit www.benjaminfranklinplumbing.com and www.authoritybrands.com/.
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