HomeTeam Inspection Service Franchisee Is Still Proud of His Decision to Become a Business Owner Four Years Later

Ronald Hill spent 20 years working in corporate America before deciding it was time to build something for himself. Business ownership with HomeTeam Inspection Service, the 200+ unit home inspection franchise serving home buyers, sellers and real estate agents, allowed him to do just that. He became a franchisee with the brand in Jacksonville, Florida, four years ago and has never looked back.

His favorite part about being a franchise owner with HomeTeam Inspection Service? The brand allows his team and their efforts to be visible in his own business. 

“It is still a corporate entity, but the thing that makes the HomeTeam Inspection Service of South Jacksonville successful is me and my team. It allows us to shine as a professional, intelligent, knowledgeable and resourceful team that provides the best service to its customer and client base,” he explained.

Plunging into business ownership after a steady career in working with Fortune 500 companies felt like a risk to Hill at first, but after talking about it with his family and researching it, he knew he had to make a move at some point. He realized so many people talk about their dreams for years and years without making a move and it gets them nowhere.

“Don’t talk about it, be about it,” said Hill. “It’s scary and exciting at the same time. You have to go out and make it happen. I pushed all the chips on the table and bet on me.”

1851 Franchise spoke with Hill about his journey into franchising and his plans for the future. 

PROFILE QUESTIONS

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Hill: Prior to owning the franchise, I was in sales, marketing and business intelligence specifically for consumer packaged goods for Fortune 500 companies.

I decided to transition into franchise ownership because I wanted something new and different. I needed a change from my 20 years of experience in corporate America. I wanted to build something for myself.

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?

Hill: I used to think of franchises as bigger conglomerate-based companies such as the McDonald's or Chick-fil-A [brands] of the world. This led me to believe that franchise ownership required a significant amount of money and I also believed there was little support or resource sharing. 

I also had a negative perception of small business ownership because you rarely hear the positive aspects. Typically, the conversations are about working long hours and no ability to grow. Now, I’ve realized I don't work any more hours than I used to in corporate America and I do have a lot of support from the brand.

I needed a change that I didn't feel would come from just changing jobs or changing companies. I needed more.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Hill: What I primarily like about the brand is me and my part in it. That’s not to be self-serving, but I love that the brand has given me visibility in my own business. It is still a corporate entity, but the thing that makes the HomeTeam Inspection Service of South Jacksonville successful is me and my team. It allows us to shine as a professional, intelligent, knowledgeable and resourceful team that provides the best service to its customer and client base for every inspection that we do.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Hill: Even though I still work a lot of hours and I still wear a lot of hats, my team is continually evolving and changing and I feel good about all of it. I feel better about what I’m doing now than I did when I was in corporate America because it's my own company and the success is shared with everybody who's ever touched this company, from contractors to realtors. 

I will grow my business, but it should be organic and natural growth and I want to make sure it's sustainable growth. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Hill: There's nothing miraculous about my story. There's a number of other franchisees that have done the same thing. The difference with my story is the amount of support from my wife and kids and extended family.

I've still taken some of the lessons learned and values I've learned in corporate America, and applied that knowledge to my business, which I think makes my business more competitive than some other home inspection companies. The other aspect that sets me apart is the way I've managed to have a good group of people around me from my part-time inspectors to my contractors to my fellow veteran HomeTeam Inspection Services franchise owners here in Florida.

I try to treat every inspection like it's the first time because I want to make sure that the client and the agent know that we are appreciative that they used my inspection company versus someone else. I stay ever humble and hungry at the same time to be able to continue providing high-quality services, but I know I didn’t get here alone and I don't expect to get to the next level alone. The light is bright enough for everybody to shine. I'm good with that.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Hill: Don’t talk about it, be about it. What makes a difference — whether you start from the ground up or with a franchise concept, whether you want to be a home inspector or a baker or an influencer — everybody talks about it, but they don’t always do it. 

I had pros and cons, lists, and talked to my wife. I had a good franchise coach, Tom Sheffield. I researched and talked to my brothers. I had all these conversations and kept researching, but at the end of the day, one day turns into three days, which turns into a week. You have to be financially stable and able to do it, but once you have most of your answers — and those answers can keep changing — you need to make a move. 

It’s scary and exciting at the same time. You have to go out and make it happen. I pushed all the chips on the table and bet on me. 

ABOUT HOMETEAM INSPECTION SERVICE:

Founded in 1992, HomeTeam Inspection Service is a full-service, independent home inspection franchise serving home buyers, sellers and real estate agents. For nearly 30 years, HomeTeam has built a reputation for providing professional, reliable, efficient and accurate inspections on both residential and commercial property, focusing on electrical and plumbing systems, HVAC, exterior and siding, gutters and drainage, mold inspections, air quality reports and much more. Unlike other inspection companies, HomeTeam sends a team of certified inspectors to every appointment in order to provide a better and faster inspection, every single time. The brand’s reputation for excellence has made them a top choice among real estate agents. Now, HomeTeam Inspection Service has grown to include over 200 territories nationwide. For more information about HomeTeam please visit https://www.hometeam.com.