Former Wall Street Analyst Brings ProLift Garage Doors to Central Florida

After working in finance for almost two decades, Brock Levin decided he needed a career change, one that would allow him more agency and ability to spend time with his family. A native Central Floridian and graduate of Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Levin had always wanted to start his own business but did not have the capital to get started. Now, he’s ready to use his business strategy and analyst experience to grow a franchise of his own: He will open central Florida's first ProLift Garage Doors location on July 27, 2020, which will service Seminole County and surrounding areas.

Levin found a new passion for garage doors after recognizing a gap in the marketplace for affordable repair. Since many homeowners use garage doors as their main point of entry, he sees the need for fast and reliable service to eliminate the inconvenience of a broken door and ensure customer safety. Levin looks forward to partnering with a brand that will allow him to grow as a business owner and to serving the residents of central Florida.

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story: What did you do before franchising?

Brock Levin: I grew up in central Florida and then moved to Indiana for college. I attended Indiana University and graduated with a degree in Finance. I moved back down to Florida and started my career in finance for 18 years. For the last 10 years, I worked for a Wall Street brokerage as a business and technology analyst. I have always been motivated to work a lot and take on big things to accomplish. This giant leap from a stock market analyst to a garage door franchisee owner is thrilling to me. I noticed a trend on Wall Street away from employing people over the age of 50. Afraid of getting laid off, I knew I needed a change of pace. I hope to use my business analyst experience to grow this business and have it reach success. I have two kids, a 9-year-old son Zachary and a five-year-old daughter Zoe. 

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising? 

Levin: My wife has worked in the banking industry for a while. I decided to leave my last position in December — I knew that was what I needed to do in order to push towards something else. There was no way I was going to find another position unless I left my job. As I was in the middle of the job search, my wife mentioned that one of her clients was a franchise consultant. Every other position I looked for just looked like the same position I was in before. I was intrigued and excited by franchise models, and I quickly developed a passion to pursue this endeavor. 

1851: Why did you pick franchising over starting your own business?

Levin: If I was going to start my own stock market analyst company, I would have needed 100 million dollars that I did not have. I had no idea if that even existed in the field I was in. This in turn pushed me to go off on my own with little experience. Working with a franchise allowed me to gain virtual experience and support me in the growth of the business. I have no previous experience with garage doors, but loved the model and structure ProLift offered to people just starting out. 

1851: What types of brands did you look at?

Levin: I looked at another Premium Service Brand for a general handyman, a Candadian-based tutoring service, and ProLift. ProLift was a relatively young company and allowed for more agility and opportunity to get my voice heard. I wanted to join a company from the ground up. I was looking for something that was recession-resistant. I left Wall Street because of the way my business was dictated by other people's priorities. That is why I went for ProLift. Garage doors are the new front doors — and no one ever sits on a broken garage door.

1851: Why did you pick ProLift, and what excited you most about the brand’s potential?

Levin: We all like encouragement and support. When I first took on this complicated business move, I was scared. However, I feel so supported by the company and encouraged in my accomplishments. I am excited to knock down my commute to zero and to spend more time with my family and kids. Most of the decisions I am making are for the betterment of my family — as opposed to my last position, which was focused on the betterment of the corporate strategy.

1851: What does your future look like with ProLift in Florida?

Levin: I negotiated a pretty large territory in central Florida, due to the timing of my signing. I gave myself a reasonable goal and plan to exceed it. My future plans are to hire more staff and to purchase another truck. Right now, I plan to start aggressively. If we can have major success in two years, then we can look at other franchises to bring into the central Florida area. I first want to get experience in owning and running a successful franchise. 

1851: What value do you see your business providing to Seminole County?

Levin: Garage doors are essential to everyone’s home — no one enters their home through the front door. We are all subject to what will happen if these break. As a homeowner, it is always more expensive than what you think. I hope to run a business where I can help the community out and be provided with a good experience. I aim to provide quick service that won’t let a broken garage door ruin anyone’s week. 

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Levin: Do your homework. Everyone has a discovery period — really dive deep into yours. The biggest thing I found that was helpful was calling other franchisees. Spending hours on the phone learning about each of the companies, you get honest feedback on what to really expect in your first six months to a year of ownership. 

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Levin: Beside spending time with my family, I love watching the Orlando Magic and Miami Dolphins play. My favorite hobby is cooking. As an analyst at heart, the measured variables that go into the science of cooking is something I enjoy. I also have played the guitar for 20 years and enjoy puzzles and games that challenge me.