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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-blakely-7068665?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=eric-blakely-servicemaster-restore-austin-2730269" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric Blakely</a> is no stranger to entrepreneurship or reinvention. After launching and running businesses in staffing, real estate and even children’s salons, he wanted something more tangible, community-centered and values-driven for his next chapter. That journey led him to&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.servicemasterrestore.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=eric-blakely-servicemaster-restore-austin-2730269" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ServiceMaster Restore</a>, the industry-leading restoration franchise.&nbsp;Now, Blakely is ready to bring trusted disaster restoration services to West Austin and beyond. Backed by a household name and national network, he’s focused on local impact — becoming the go-to expert for families and businesses navigating fire, flood and other disasters.1851 spoke with Blakely to learn more about his background, his journey to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/servicemaster-restore/info">ServiceMaster Restore</a> and his plans for the future.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Eric Blakely: I’ve been a serial entrepreneur my whole life. This is my third company — and will probably be my last. I’ve spent most of my career in high-tech staffing, and I’ve done some real estate investing and management on the side. But I got tired of sitting behind a desk. I’m in my 40s, and I wanted to do something different. The staffing industry is getting very automated with AI, and I wanted to move into an industry where I could have a more personal experience.We still own the staffing firm, and I’ve co-owned property renovation and rental management companies. We even owned a small children’s hair boutique — that was a franchise too.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Blakely: One of the things that really appealed to me was doing something that felt bigger than just me. When you have a 100% owned small business, you can get stuck in your own bubble. I wanted to be part of something bigger — something with a broader reach and a strong support system.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Blakely: ServiceMaster has some amazing capabilities. They helped clean up the Pentagon after 9/11 — when there are big disaster situations, they can pull together this incredible network of restoration professionals. I liked that history. The brand has strong roots, conservative foundations and the right heart and core values.I also wanted a brand people had heard of. I didn’t want to start over with something new or unknown. A lot of my decision-making came down to reputation — I wanted to align with the most reputable brand I could find.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Blakely: My number one mission is to serve the community and be known as the local expert in disaster restoration. Long-term, I’d love to grow our commercial restoration capabilities and take on more complex projects. I also want to mobilize and be ready to help with catastrophic events — when something big happens, I want to be part of the response. You can do a lot of good that way.1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Blakely: We’re very involved in our community. Our kids go to St. Theresa Catholic School, and we live in a large neighborhood in Austin called Steiner Ranch — there are probably 15,000 people here. We want to let our neighbors know we’re here and ready to help.We’re a flag football and dance family — we’ve got two kids at home and another out in the real world, and we love being part of this community.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Blakely: Some franchisors will sell anyone a franchise. You have to do your due diligence and find the brand that really aligns with your core values. Don’t just listen to the money or the promises. Ask yourself: Who do I want to spend a lot of time working with? Find the people who are most like you — who share your values — and you’ll be glad you did.About ServiceMaster Restore®:&nbsp;With approximately 2,000 franchised and licensed locations around the world, ServiceMaster Restore and ServiceMaster Recovery Management (SRM) serve customers through a global network of franchises available 24/7/365 to provide residential and commercial restoration services resulting from damage caused by water, fire, smoke or mold. SRM is the large-scale commercial catastrophic disaster restoration unit of ServiceMaster Restore. ServiceMaster Restore is a business unit of Atlanta-based ServiceMaster® Brands, a leading franchise provider of needs-based residential and commercial services. More information can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://servicemasterrestore.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=eric-blakely-servicemaster-restore-austin-2730269" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">servicemasterrestore.com</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://srmcat.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=eric-blakely-servicemaster-restore-austin-2730269" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">srmcat.com</a>.About ServiceMaster® Brands:&nbsp;ServiceMaster® Brands is a leading franchisor of residential and commercial services in the restoration, cleaning, moving, junk removal, and bioremediation industries. Founded in 1929, the company is home to over 3,200 franchisees across 4,600+ locations serving over 1 million homes and businesses each year. ServiceMaster was founded with a deep commitment to its franchisees and has franchise opportunities available in ServiceMaster Restore®, ServiceMaster Clean®, Merry Maids®, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK*®, and TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK®. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://servicemaster.com/franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=eric-blakely-servicemaster-restore-austin-2730269" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">servicemaster.com/franchising</a> to learn more.

Image of Eric Blakely From Service Master Restore in Austin Texas article franchisee spotlight

Eric Blakely: Austin Tech Entrepreneur & ServiceMaster Restore Franchisee

1851 Franchise

After decades in staffing, real estate and franchise ownership, Eric Blakely is entering his next business chapter with a mission to serve the people of Austin when disaster strikes.

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