Emerging Franchisors to Watch: uBreakiFix

Nine years ago, uBreakiFix was a two-man business operating out of a bedroom in Orlando, Florida. Justin Wetherill and David Reiff were both just 21 when they co-founded their cell-phone repair business, and the young entrepreneurs were focused on growth from day one, taking the business first from Wetherill’s bedroom to a small brick-and-mortar store in town then to 46 more stores within three years.

When uBreakiFix turned to franchising in 2013, the brand was already poised for a rapid expansion, but the development team made a push for explosive growth by offering uniquely generous terms to franchisees, including 0% financing and a franchise fee of just one month’s worth of sales. That strategy paid off. In the five years since uBreakiFix began franchising, the brand has expanded to more than 365 locations in markets throughout the U.S., making it one of the fastest growing emerging franchisors in the industry. 1851 Franchise talked to Brynson Smith, uBreakiFix’s director of franchise sales, about how the brand has differentiated itself in a competitive segment and where the franchise is looking to grow next.

1851: How does uBreakiFix stand apart from other cell-phone repair brands?

Smith: At uBreakiFix, we are a customer service company first and a repair company second. We believe that tech skills can be taught far more easily than interpersonal skills, and we prioritize the customer experience above all else. Our people-first culture has allowed us to attract the right franchisees, align with the best partners and grow from one Orlando storefront to more than 365 locations across North America in under 10 years.

1851: What do you wish more people knew about uBreakiFix?

Smith: I wish more people knew about our brand culture. Justin Wetherill and David Reiff were just 21 when they co-founded uBreakiFix, and we still retain a lot of the hustle and innovation from those early days, just with a more strategic framework.

1851: What qualities make for a great uBreakiFix franchisee?

Smith: We love working with capitalized owners who are eager to follow our systems and processes. We’ve refined our operations. We opened 47 corporate stores before we even started franchising and have since grown to hundreds of stores in different markets, so our model has been proven time and again. We want to work with owners who trust our expertise and know that they can get the best results by following our system.

We also look for active owners, ones who want to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. In our experience, hands-on franchisees see far greater success than absentee owners.

Finally, tech experience is a plus. It’s not required, but it will give any owner a head-start. We have a great training program to help owners from all backgrounds learn about devices and the repair process.

1851: As uBreakiFix has grown, has it taken cues from any other franchises or businesses?

Smith: One attitude that we’ve taken to heart is the idea that in today’s business world, complacency is a killer. The most successful brands are those with the ability and willingness to continually evolve and innovate. Nine years ago, we were only fixing smartphones. Today we fix anything with a power button. Technology is only becoming more integrated into clients’ lives. Who knows what we’ll be fixing in 10 years?

1851: What kind of growth plans does uBreakiFix have for 2018 and beyond?

Smith: We’re looking forward to bringing uBreakiFix to new markets across North America while also building out our existing markets. We’re also excited to announce some new partnerships throughout the year, which will allow us to better support our customers’ repair needs. In the long run, we hope to become the largest tech-repair brand in the world.