Tell us a little bit about your background.

Back when I was a teenager, I worked for my father. He owned a machine shop where I produced equipment for the oil and gas industry using a variety of metal working machines. I also worked at Wilcrest Automotive and Tates Texaco where I did minor vehicle repair and state vehicle inspections for Texas. At the time that I received my certification as a vehicle inspector I was the youngest approved inspector in the state.

I’ve always been mechanically inclined – I fix things for a living. I went to a trade school called Control Data Institute. From there I worked in the IT world, did well and moved up the ranks. Eventually I was considered an expert in the field was asked to work in England, where I stayed for 21 years.

What was your first job ever?

I was a mechanic.

Why did you choose to become a franchisee with Honest-1? How did you learn about the brand?

I had been laid off three times and decided it was time to be my own boss doing something I’m passionate about. I was looking for an opportunity to get back into the auto field and attended a franchise expo in January. I really liked Honest-1’s brand and image altogether. The auto care industry has a bit of a dirty stigma, but H-1 is elevated and geared toward women, children and family. They also deliver a constant message that I like and fits with my morals.

Where did you get most of your advice/do most of your research?

I signed up for counseling with SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives. The organization helps with new business ventures.

What’s next for you and your business? Do you have any development/expansion plans with the brand?

Based on what I think I’m capable of, I signed up for three shops. I’d like for them all to be in greater Houston, depending on locations I find.

Visit the International Franchise Association’s @OurFranchise website for more stories of passionate local franchise owners, employees and their communities.

Don’t Miss the Next Big Franchise Story

Sign up for the 1851 Franchise newsletter to get our biggest stories before everyone else

By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.

Nick Powills

About the Author

Nick Powills

Follow
Nick Powills, CFE, founded No Limit Agency in 2008 and serves as Chief Brand Strategist for the Chicago-based firm. No Limit is a full-service communications agency that establishes and elevates brands by bridging Public Relations, Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, Digital, and a lot of creativity, to best strategize well-rounded and successful campaigns for 50+ global franchise brands. By presenting visionary ideas and building real relationships, No Limit is able to create effective media branding strategies to help companies grow. Nick currently leads a staff of writers, media strategists, designers, social media experts and digital producers in an office think-tank where brands are humanized for strong, compelling media stories. Prior to starting No Limit at the age of 27, Nick spent four years working at a franchise PR agency where he mastered the art of building rapport with media outlets and creating newsworthy pitches for earned media placements. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Drake University in Iowa.