Guide To Franchising Your Business: Q&A With Mark Amery, Puddle Pool Services

Franchising a business is a pivotal decision that involves much more than just expanding a brand — it’s about building a team and growing together. For Mark Amery, founder of Puddle Pool Services, the decision to franchise was influenced by his extensive experience in the home service industry and a desire to leverage the power of collaboration. Drawing inspiration from industry leaders, Amery saw franchising as the path to achieving larger goals as a team.

To gain a deeper understanding of the franchising journey, 1851 Franchise recently spoke with Amery who discussed his experiences as an entrepreneur, the challenges he’s faced and his advice for others considering franchising their own businesses.

A transcript of Amery’s interview with 1851 has been provided below. It has been edited for clarity, brevity and style.

1851 Franchise: Why did you decide to franchise your business?

Mark Amery: I decided to franchise Puddle Pool Services because I’ve been in the home service space for a while. This is actually my fourth home service brand that I’ve franchised. Initially, it was about being in the industry, working in the field and then evolving into business ownership. Eventually, you reach a fork in the road where you either go big in one direction or another. I attended a roundtable with a gentleman named Jim Treliving, who runs Boston Pizzas — a large franchisor in Canada. His presentation really resonated with me. It was about growing bigger, faster and together as a team. That concept of team growth, as opposed to individual business ownership, is what made me decide to franchise.

1851 Franchise: What advice would you give to someone thinking about franchising their business?

Amery: You need to have thick skin and be willing to listen. You’re going to make mistakes and things might turn out differently than you expect. The biggest thing is to have systems in place — playbooks, structure, and support — before you even start franchising. People are investing their life savings into your brand, so you have to provide them with something almost turnkey. Make sure you’ve done your legwork, from call centers to support systems. Be prepared for trial and error, and most importantly, be patient and listen to people who are already in the space. Take their advice to heart.

1851 Franchise: How many franchise consultants did you look at?

Amery: We looked at about four or five different groups. 

1851 Franchise: What made you pick the consultant that you picked?

Amery: We didn’t go with just one; we actually went with four or five. Each had its own strengths, and we resonated well with all of them, so we decided to work with multiple consultants and networks.

1851 Franchise: What was one thing you wish you knew about the franchise process?

Amery: I wish I had known more about marketing. That was the biggest area of trial and error for us. We’ve got it pretty dialed in now after years of experience, but early on, I wish I had understood which marketing portals and social media platforms were most beneficial. Marketing is expensive, and if you’re targeting the wrong type of candidate, it’s a waste of time and resources. Knowing that from the start would have made a big difference.

Growing and selling franchises is difficult. No great franchise did it alone. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisors grow their franchises with confidence? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and see what we can do for you.