Franchisee Bryan Mudrak explains how the brands come together to create a unique business ownership opportunity.

When Bryan Mudrak decided that it was time to break out of traditional corporate America to take on a business of his own, he wasn’t sure where to start. But after working as a corporate marketing director and building a career by climbing the corporate ladder, he knew that it was time to take on something new.

To get some advice on what to do next, Mudrak reached out to his friend, Peter, who ran his own business. That’s when Mudrak learned all about the franchising opportunity offered by More Space Place, a leading brand known for its custom closet designs and Murphy wall beds. Peter invited Mudrak down to see his store and learn more about how to operate the business at his location in Sarasota, Florida. Mudrak liked what he saw, so he decided to do a little more research. Over the next year and a half, he visited several other locations and talked with members of the brand’s franchise development team. Recognizing that he had a chance to be a part of something special, Mudrak signed a franchise agreement to open up his own More Space Place location on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

Since launching his location on January 1, 2004, Mudrak has grown alongside the More Space Place brand. The concept merged with Closet & Storage Concepts, enabling him to expand his reach as an entrepreneur even more than he originally anticipated.

“What makes Closet & Storage Concepts/More Space Place so unique is the product offering that we have. It fits into a very niche market that isn’t overcrowded with competitors, giving us the opportunity to reach a lot of consumers and enhance our businesses as franchisees,” said Mudrak. “There’s also a lack of repetitiveness that I really enjoy. Every project is new and consumers crave different things, allowing me to take on something exciting and fun every time I work with a customer. Plus, you can’t beat our business model. We get paid 50 percent of each project upfront and then the other 50 percent when the job is complete, which means that there isn’t a whole lot of out of pocket expense when it comes to dealing with transactions.”

Closet & Storage Concepts/More Space Place’s proven business model isn’t the only thing that makes the brands stand out. Franchisees who sign on to open their own location gain access to a strong support system that includes both initial and ongoing training. Local owners also benefit from the combination of both brands working together—the corporate teams and franchisees behind Closet & Storage Concepts and More Space Place pull from their collective best practices to create the best possible business ownership environment for franchisees.

“The merger with Closet & Storage Concepts has streamlined our processes. There haven’t been any major changes when it comes to the day to day aspects of our business, but they’ve brought some positive enhancements to the table,” said Mudrak. “Now that both brands are working together, we have some better manufacturing and delivery processes that help the overall turnover of our products. Our quality levels have also gone up.”

Mudrak is one of the many franchisees taking full advantage of what the More Space Place franchise system has to offer, especially after the merger with Closet & Storage Concepts. Bob Lewis, CEO of Closet & Storage Concepts/More Space Place, notes, “Bryan is an excellent business operator and his experience running his More Space Place franchise has been an important asset to me as we completed the acquisition and merged the operations of the companies.”

Both Closet & Storage Concepts and More Space Place are continuing to experience growth as more franchisees sign on board. And between their long lists of competitive advantages and affordable initial investment rates that ranges from $90,950 - $172,150 for More Space Place owners, it’s easy to see why. Mudrak says that success is well within reach for franchisees who are driven and eager to follow the system.

“Be prepared to work. You can’t come in with the expectation that you’re going to get rich right away. But if you follow the step-by-step process, you’re going to become established in your marketplace and get to a point where you’re successful,” Mudrak said. “If you have that drive to do the work and you’re passionate about being in business for yourself, I believe that you can do very well in this business.”