First-Time Franchisee Craig McCandless Chooses United Water Restoration Group

Craig McCandless had been in the corporate world pretty much all his adult life. But this year, he decided to make the leap into franchising with United Water Restoration Group (UWRG), a trusted leader in damage restoration services.

1851 Franchise talked to McCandless about his decision and his first year of franchising thus far. 

McCandless’s Franchise Journey

Before franchising, McCandless spent most of his career in the utilities sector, dealing in various areas such as meter installations, billing, software sales and customer service. As time went on, he started looking at different business opportunities.

Over the years, franchise brokers reached out to McCandless on LinkedIn, but he had never taken them up on a call until recently. The broker explained the process of exploring franchise opportunities, and McCandless found the process more affordable than expected and decided to move forward.

“I didn’t think that's feasible for me until I actually decided to look a little deeper,” he said.  “When it's done right, the franchising side is better than the small business side, and that's why I didn't try to go alone. Franchises have things that work. And that's helpful, especially when you're jumping into something that you're not a 20-year veteran in doing.” 

After spending time doing research and meeting with various companies, he eventually found UWRG. His decision to franchise with the brand was influenced by factors such as the team, the company story and the importance of providing essential services to the community. He was drawn to the idea of being part of an emerging business in the water restoration field and helping local communities in times of need.

The Biggest Lessons Learned

One of the biggest lessons McCandless has learned in his first year is that there’s a lot of work and education that goes into being a franchisee. 

“You have to understand the business you’re about to go into and, once you make that decision, there’s still a lot of things that need to be done,” he said. “If you’ve never owned a small business, you drink from the fire hose really quickly. There are things that you need to embrace and understand very fast.” 

For other people thinking about making the jump into franchising, McCandless strongly emphasizes that due diligence is key. He noted that, if you select a good franchise broker, that can be very helpful. Additionally, he spent a lot of time talking to existing franchise owners. 

“One thing I really liked about the franchise model is the opportunity to speak to existing franchisees about their experience,” he said. “I looked for newer ones that had just gone through the process. I think that really helps you with due diligence because franchises are limited as to what they can share with you, especially regarding the financial viability.” 

Looking Ahead to the Future

As he continues on his first year of business ownership, McCandless hopes that he can build a thriving business that not only supports his family but also maintains a strong reputation in his community.

“I want to focus on being ethical, doing a good job and providing excellent customer service,” he said. “If somebody uses my company, I want them to give us raving reviews and say that our team was really professional with what they are doing.”

Someday, McCandless hopes to pass a successful business to a family member, employee or someone else who will continue to run the business well.