After spending over 35 years in the automotive industry, Steve Bral was ready for a new challenge. Bral’s extensive career spanned key engineering and leadership roles with companies like General Motors, Ford, Laird, AxleTech, Amphenol and Bosch. However, the desire to start something on his own never left him.
“Throughout my entire corporate career, I had always wanted to have my own business,” said Bral. “But I had always been blessed in my career to have good positions with excellent companies that allowed me to take care of my family and our needs, so I continued on that path until my kids were out of college and into their own careers. And then I decided to use what I had learned to branch off and do something that I’d wanted to do for multiple decades.”
Working with a business coach, Bral outlined the criteria for his ideal business model. He was searching for a management-style business with a recurring revenue stream, moderate initial investment and strong growth potential. He wasn’t looking for a specific type of industry; rather, he focused on a model that was sustainable and scalable. Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions checked most of the boxes putting it at the top of his list, offering oil filtration and commercial kitchen cleaning services to a wide range of clients.
“I was looking for something with a management model that could expand,” he said. “I was also looking for something that wasn't going to be overrun by other businesses in terms of technology. “I believe fryers will continue to be used in the food industry for quite some time”.
One of the key selling points was Filta’s management model, which allows franchisees to oversee operations rather than being directly involved in the day-to-day tasks. This approach enables franchisees like Bral to focus on strategic growth and customer relationships while their teams handle the core operations.
Bral’s Filta franchise serves a wide range of clients, from small restaurants to hospitals, universities, manufacturing sites such as GM, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, and major sports venues. His operation includes serving iconic sites — including Little Caesars Arena, the University of Michigan’s Big House, and Ford Field — where Bral has been gradually expanding Filta’s services.
From September 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, Bral Enterprises, Inc. made substantial environmental contributions through its FiltaFry and FiltaBio services across all of Detroit. The franchise saved 720,978 pounds of oil, equivalent to 96,130 gallons of oil, and recycled 638,781 pounds of waste oil, transforming it into 85,171 gallons of biodiesel. The reduction in oil usage led to significant farming, processing and energy savings, conserving 1,373 acres of land and 969.5 million gallons of water, among other resources. Additionally, the service resulted in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, saving 1,733,225.8 pounds of CO2, akin to planting 86,661 trees. Bral’s efforts earned an Eco-Award for environmental excellence, recognizing the reduction of greenhouse gasses by over 2 million pounds and the conservation of 109,747 trees.
Over the years, Bral’s client base has grown significantly, with over 130 customers spread across Metro Detroit. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bral and his team pivoted to offer additional sanitizing services and managed to maintain business stability.
“This is a family business, none of this would have been possible without my sons Michael and Jason running the daily operations and my wife Karen and her team handling a lion's share of human resources and accounting,” said Bral. “We also have an amazing staff of techs who provide top notch quality service.”
Now, his franchise is gearing up for further growth. In 2023, Bral tripled the franchise’s warehouse and office space to 6,900 square feet, accommodating a new fresh oil packaging and delivery system using sustainable, reusable containers.
“Instead of throwing away plastic and cardboard like most suppliers do, we use thicker, reusable containers. It’s a big positive for the environment — on top of our filtration” he said.
As Bral looks towards 2025, his goals go beyond financial growth. He’s focused on maintaining a solid work-life balance for his employees. “My operators typically work four-day weeks,” he said. “We want them to have time at home, so we avoid weekends unless there’s an emergency.”
With an increasing range of services, Bral is also recruiting part-time night staff, creating opportunities for individuals looking to supplement their income. With these plans in place and the expansion of services, Bral aims to provide a supportive work environment while setting the foundation for long-term growth and success.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/filta/info.
Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions
SPONSORED
After a successful automotive career spanning over three decades, this franchisee built a thriving Filta franchise with a sustainable business model and a focus on employee well-being.
After spending over 35 years in the automotive industry, Steve Bral was ready for a new challenge. Bral’s extensive career spanned key engineering and leadership roles with companies like General Motors, Ford, Laird, AxleTech, Amphenol and Bosch. However, the desire to start something on his own never left him.
“Throughout my entire corporate career, I had always wanted to have my own business,” said Bral. “But I had always been blessed in my career to have good positions with excellent companies that allowed me to take care of my family and our needs, so I continued on that path until my kids were out of college and into their own careers. And then I decided to use what I had learned to branch off and do something that I’d wanted to do for multiple decades.”
Working with a business coach, Bral outlined the criteria for his ideal business model. He was searching for a management-style business with a recurring revenue stream, moderate initial investment and strong growth potential. He wasn’t looking for a specific type of industry; rather, he focused on a model that was sustainable and scalable. Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions checked most of the boxes putting it at the top of his list, offering oil filtration and commercial kitchen cleaning services to a wide range of clients.
“I was looking for something with a management model that could expand,” he said. “I was also looking for something that wasn't going to be overrun by other businesses in terms of technology. “I believe fryers will continue to be used in the food industry for quite some time”.
One of the key selling points was Filta’s management model, which allows franchisees to oversee operations rather than being directly involved in the day-to-day tasks. This approach enables franchisees like Bral to focus on strategic growth and customer relationships while their teams handle the core operations.
Bral’s Filta franchise serves a wide range of clients, from small restaurants to hospitals, universities, manufacturing sites such as GM, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, and major sports venues. His operation includes serving iconic sites — including Little Caesars Arena, the University of Michigan’s Big House, and Ford Field — where Bral has been gradually expanding Filta’s services.
From September 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, Bral Enterprises, Inc. made substantial environmental contributions through its FiltaFry and FiltaBio services across all of Detroit. The franchise saved 720,978 pounds of oil, equivalent to 96,130 gallons of oil, and recycled 638,781 pounds of waste oil, transforming it into 85,171 gallons of biodiesel. The reduction in oil usage led to significant farming, processing and energy savings, conserving 1,373 acres of land and 969.5 million gallons of water, among other resources. Additionally, the service resulted in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, saving 1,733,225.8 pounds of CO2, akin to planting 86,661 trees. Bral’s efforts earned an Eco-Award for environmental excellence, recognizing the reduction of greenhouse gasses by over 2 million pounds and the conservation of 109,747 trees.
Over the years, Bral’s client base has grown significantly, with over 130 customers spread across Metro Detroit. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bral and his team pivoted to offer additional sanitizing services and managed to maintain business stability.
“This is a family business, none of this would have been possible without my sons Michael and Jason running the daily operations and my wife Karen and her team handling a lion's share of human resources and accounting,” said Bral. “We also have an amazing staff of techs who provide top notch quality service.”
Now, his franchise is gearing up for further growth. In 2023, Bral tripled the franchise’s warehouse and office space to 6,900 square feet, accommodating a new fresh oil packaging and delivery system using sustainable, reusable containers.
“Instead of throwing away plastic and cardboard like most suppliers do, we use thicker, reusable containers. It’s a big positive for the environment — on top of our filtration” he said.
As Bral looks towards 2025, his goals go beyond financial growth. He’s focused on maintaining a solid work-life balance for his employees. “My operators typically work four-day weeks,” he said. “We want them to have time at home, so we avoid weekends unless there’s an emergency.”
With an increasing range of services, Bral is also recruiting part-time night staff, creating opportunities for individuals looking to supplement their income. With these plans in place and the expansion of services, Bral aims to provide a supportive work environment while setting the foundation for long-term growth and success.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/filta/info.
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