1851

After years of managing a wood shop and navigating the manufacturing industry,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwferguson2/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=former-engineer-salesman-takes-leap-to-entrepreneurship-with-preservan-franchise-2727811" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">JW Ferguson</a> found his calling in entrepreneurship. With&nbsp;<a href="http://gopreservan.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=former-engineer-salesman-takes-leap-to-entrepreneurship-with-preservan-franchise-2727811" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Preservan</a>, the emerging wood rot repair franchise, Ferguson will maintain the integrity of homes across the Tampa Bay community of Florida.As he grows, Ferguson is on a mission to enhance the beauty and longevity of homes throughout the area while providing an accessible, affordable solution to families in need.Ferguson took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what he had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?JW Ferguson:&nbsp;I got an industrial engineering degree and initially thought I’d work in manufacturing. I did quality engineering for a manufacturing company locally, then ended up managing the wood shop at that company for four years or so. I realized I didn’t like the production side as much, and I found my way to a sales position with a chemical company in Polk County. I did that for about 10 years, but when the company was acquired, I started thinking that I should try to find a way to work for myself in some capacity. So, I did my research and found my way to&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/preservan/info">Preservan</a>.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?Ferguson:&nbsp;I was initially skeptical of the franchise model, but the more I researched it, it sounded pretty good. Almost like building Legos — the franchise gives you those instructions.&nbsp;There are guidelines to help you get started, whereas starting from the bottom, you have to do everything for yourself. I actually earned an MBA from the University of Tampa and am still learning things through Preservan that I didn’t know about running a business.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Ferguson:&nbsp;Honestly, I walk out my front door every day and see a little bit of wood rot that I’ve been meaning to get fixed for years. I’ve seen, firsthand, that there’s a need for Preservan’s services in the community. It’s very niche and not something the average handyman service can provide. I think it’ll be a very valuable addition to the area.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Ferguson:&nbsp;The Florida weather really encourages wood rot, so it’s a prevalent issue in the community already. Being able to address that issue for our neighbors in a far more affordable way is so important to me.&nbsp;Currently, the community is dealing with the aftermath of two hurricanes. People are having to totally redo their homes. There were families that had their whole lives out on the curb just after the storms. This can be a very emotionally and financially draining time. While we’re not going to be ripping out drywall, I know that having a steady, reliable and affordable solution for wood rot will be widely appreciated by the community.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Ferguson:&nbsp;The historic preservation areas are the beauty of the community. I grew up in the Hyde Park area, and the old homes are what make Tampa so special. Tearing those down and building these massive new homes takes away some of the character. I’m excited to be able to support preservationists in keeping the character of Tampa alive by protecting and maintaining these older structures.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Ferguson:&nbsp;Talk to as many people as you can about it. Do your research. Look at several Franchise Disclosure Documents. Find the right fit for you. Make sure you’re buying something that you’ll be willing to do the work at every position within that company.I don’t like painting, so I didn’t buy a painting franchise. I know I’ll be focused on growing the business, but if something happens or I’m needed, I’ll be happy to go out in the field and do the wood rot repair work.ABOUT PRESERVANPreservan Wood Rot Repair is a category-creating franchise in the home services industry specializing in eco-friendly wood restoration and repair that preserves building materials instead of replacing them. Established by industry veteran Ty McBride, Preservan stands out because of its unique 100% epoxy-based wood rot repair technology that offers a sustainable alternative to traditional wood replacement. This method saves homeowners millions of dollars each year while preserving architectural heritage and craftsmanship. With nearly two decades of experience, the brand has evolved into a national franchise with locations across Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Today, Preservan provides a compelling opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking a low-cost, high-impact franchise in the booming home services sector. For more information, visit:<a href="https://gopreservan.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=former-engineer-salesman-takes-leap-to-entrepreneurship-with-preservan-franchise-2727811" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;https://gopreservan.com/</a>.

Former Engineer, Salesman Takes Leap to Entrepreneurship With Preservan Franchise

Preservan Franchise Grows in Tampa Area With Former Engineer

1851 Franchise

JW Ferguson grew up in Florida’s Tampa Bay area and will now serve his neighbors with affordable, high quality wood rot repair services, maintaining historical buildings and charm.

former-engineer-salesman-takes-leap-to-entrepreneurship-with-preservan-franchise

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Good Day Columbus: Home Insurance Expert Reveals Why Central Ohio Premiums Are Rising and How to Combat Costs

rising-home-insurance-costs-ohio

CapitalSpring

Primetime Fitness Expands Crunch Portfolio With CapitalSpring’s Backing

primetime-fitness-expands-crunch-portfolio-with-capitalsprings-backing

Children's Lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees Scale to Multiple Locations

how-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees-scale-to-multiple-locations

Express Employment Professionals

Betting on Himself: How Chris Brown Built an Express Employment Professionals Franchise From the Ground Up

betting-on-himself-how-chris-brown-built-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-from-the-ground-up

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers® Named One of America’s Best Home-Care Providers

comfort-keepers-named-one-of-americas-best-home-care-providers

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

graphic for a spotlight from 1851 franchise featuring Kevin Rarick from caring transitions

Army Veteran Returns Home To Launch Caring Transitions Franchise in Reading, Pennsylvania

kevin-rarick-caring-transitions-reading-pa

photo-of-laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

23-Year-Old Entrepreneur Brings Soon to Be Famous Chicken™ to Southern Oregon With 3-Unit Layne’s Chicken Fingers Franchise Signing

laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

Former Engineer, Salesman Takes Leap to Entrepreneurship With Preservan Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS