Whether through leadership or education opportunities gained during their service, many veterans retire from the military with a drive to continue their careers in new spaces. Fortunately, they come well-equipped with many of the skills necessary to break into a new industry or lead a growing team, and Evan Williams and Danny Hemchand, two HomeTeam Inspection Service franchisees, are prime examples of the success that can come when a veteran combines their drive and skills with the expertise of a proven brand.
“We have consistently seen great performance from our veteran franchisees,” said Adam Long, President of HomeTeam Inspection Service, the 200-plus-unit home inspection franchise. “Veterans are trained to absorb and execute operational guides, but they also bring a level of grit and resilience that is so necessary in launching a new business. Both Evan and Danny bring valuable skills and insights to the system, and we’re lucky to have them as a part of our system.”
Hemchand served in the U.S. Air Force for four years before pursuing higher education — earning two graduate degrees. After this, he began working at a Big Four accounting firm, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that entrepreneurship was something he should pursue.
“Since I left the service, I had the entrepreneurial bug,” said Hemchand. “I knew that whatever I did immediately after service was going to be a stepping stone to eventually becoming a business owner. I had the opportunity to take the plunge in May of 2021 and have not looked back.”
Hemchand explained that when the opportunity to invest in HomeTeam of Westchester, New York came up, it seemed like a perfect fit because of the established reputation and extensive knowledge the franchise system provided.
During his service, he learned strong operations management skills, working in roles that were governed by regulations that he consistently had to be aware of and in compliance with. Leveraging this skill in his new journey with HomeTeam allowed Hemchand to closely follow the guidelines provided by the franchise as he worked to launch the business.
“Franchising made the most sense to me because I did not have a background that most people would associate with the ability to provide a great home inspection,” he explained. “I leveraged the technology and training offered by the franchise to bridge the gap between myself and other home inspection companies, as well as utilizing the edge that was offered to me by working with a company that already had an established reputation.”
Hemchand has also made great use of the leadership skills he developed in the Air Force. He has been able to build a strong relationship with team members — something that is especially important in the HomeTeam business model.
“We understand that we have a task every time we perform an inspection, and we make sure that we support both each other and the client to offer the best service possible,” he added.
Williams, who owns HomeTeam of Columbia, South Carolina, found the franchise after a 26-year military career.
“I joined the Army in 1987 — directly out of high school — as a substance supply specialist. I remained in the Army for just over seven years before transferring into the Green and Gold program to become a registered nurse,” said Williams. “I graduated from nursing school and returned to active duty as a Second Lieutenant in 1998. I retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after a total of 26 years of service.”
Over the course of a long and storied career, Williams developed a range of skills, including strong personnel management skills and a persistent passion to help and serve others.
“The skills I acquired moved me toward management of my own company. During the time leading up to my retirement, I decided to start my own business, but starting from scratch appeared to be a daunting task, so I decided to pursue a franchise,” he added. “I had been in the business of helping people for many years, and I wanted my business to be no different.”
Williams recalls thinking of how many of his friends bought homes sight unseen, had a lousy home inspection and ended up having to address multiple issues to get what they thought was their “dream home” back in safe, working order.
Opening a HomeTeam business would allow Williams to continue serving his community and addressing a need that he had seen arise within his own social circle.
“The business model is very structured and easy to follow, which makes it a great fit for any veteran that is used to the military system,” said Williams. “Also, there is support for every facet of the business. HomeTeam is a great franchise with people to help you all along the way.”
Looking toward his growth with the brand, Williams is working to continually develop his own team to address demand in the market. Leveraging his leadership experience once again, he is now launching an internship program at his own location with hopes to mentor and shape a new inspector into the next team lead.
After leaving the military, it can be difficult for some veterans to identify potential pathways that leverage the technical skills they developed during their service. However, there are leadership, communication and organizational skills that are often developed alongside an ability to truly commit to and see a project through.
This is a great skill set to bring into the franchising space, and with the right franchisor and support, a veteran can find another meaningful venture for their next season.
While there are challenges associated with launching any business, the HomeTeam leadership team and other business owners provide additional support for new owners to navigate uncertain situations. Williams shares how he has leveraged the support networks available to him through the HomeTeam system.
“Overall, it has been a great experience,” he explained. “My advice to any veteran is to work hand-in-hand with another franchisee. Have a mentor in the business that you can reach out to, and try to find someone that you can mentor, too. This provides you with both new and old insights that you may not have considered along the way.”
Hemchand also shared the value of the system and his insights for prospective veteran franchisees.
“Business ownership and franchising isn’t necessarily for everyone, but if you have the desire to pursue it, it is very rewarding. Every day, there is another task or challenge to overcome, and seeing the progress made over time is honestly an amazing feeling,” said Hemchand. “I do think military veterans have a distinct advantage when it comes to franchising due to our background, and I really enjoy being a part of the HomeTeam family. The coaching and support that they offer is top-notch. They celebrate my wins with me and also help me navigate through tough situations, as well.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice
HomeTeam Inspection Service
SPONSORED
Evan Williams and Danny Hemchand, two veterans who are now franchise owners with HomeTeam, share how the home inspection franchise has empowered their next chapters.
Whether through leadership or education opportunities gained during their service, many veterans retire from the military with a drive to continue their careers in new spaces. Fortunately, they come well-equipped with many of the skills necessary to break into a new industry or lead a growing team, and Evan Williams and Danny Hemchand, two HomeTeam Inspection Service franchisees, are prime examples of the success that can come when a veteran combines their drive and skills with the expertise of a proven brand.
“We have consistently seen great performance from our veteran franchisees,” said Adam Long, President of HomeTeam Inspection Service, the 200-plus-unit home inspection franchise. “Veterans are trained to absorb and execute operational guides, but they also bring a level of grit and resilience that is so necessary in launching a new business. Both Evan and Danny bring valuable skills and insights to the system, and we’re lucky to have them as a part of our system.”
Hemchand served in the U.S. Air Force for four years before pursuing higher education — earning two graduate degrees. After this, he began working at a Big Four accounting firm, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that entrepreneurship was something he should pursue.
“Since I left the service, I had the entrepreneurial bug,” said Hemchand. “I knew that whatever I did immediately after service was going to be a stepping stone to eventually becoming a business owner. I had the opportunity to take the plunge in May of 2021 and have not looked back.”
Hemchand explained that when the opportunity to invest in HomeTeam of Westchester, New York came up, it seemed like a perfect fit because of the established reputation and extensive knowledge the franchise system provided.
During his service, he learned strong operations management skills, working in roles that were governed by regulations that he consistently had to be aware of and in compliance with. Leveraging this skill in his new journey with HomeTeam allowed Hemchand to closely follow the guidelines provided by the franchise as he worked to launch the business.
“Franchising made the most sense to me because I did not have a background that most people would associate with the ability to provide a great home inspection,” he explained. “I leveraged the technology and training offered by the franchise to bridge the gap between myself and other home inspection companies, as well as utilizing the edge that was offered to me by working with a company that already had an established reputation.”
Hemchand has also made great use of the leadership skills he developed in the Air Force. He has been able to build a strong relationship with team members — something that is especially important in the HomeTeam business model.
“We understand that we have a task every time we perform an inspection, and we make sure that we support both each other and the client to offer the best service possible,” he added.
Williams, who owns HomeTeam of Columbia, South Carolina, found the franchise after a 26-year military career.
“I joined the Army in 1987 — directly out of high school — as a substance supply specialist. I remained in the Army for just over seven years before transferring into the Green and Gold program to become a registered nurse,” said Williams. “I graduated from nursing school and returned to active duty as a Second Lieutenant in 1998. I retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after a total of 26 years of service.”
Over the course of a long and storied career, Williams developed a range of skills, including strong personnel management skills and a persistent passion to help and serve others.
“The skills I acquired moved me toward management of my own company. During the time leading up to my retirement, I decided to start my own business, but starting from scratch appeared to be a daunting task, so I decided to pursue a franchise,” he added. “I had been in the business of helping people for many years, and I wanted my business to be no different.”
Williams recalls thinking of how many of his friends bought homes sight unseen, had a lousy home inspection and ended up having to address multiple issues to get what they thought was their “dream home” back in safe, working order.
Opening a HomeTeam business would allow Williams to continue serving his community and addressing a need that he had seen arise within his own social circle.
“The business model is very structured and easy to follow, which makes it a great fit for any veteran that is used to the military system,” said Williams. “Also, there is support for every facet of the business. HomeTeam is a great franchise with people to help you all along the way.”
Looking toward his growth with the brand, Williams is working to continually develop his own team to address demand in the market. Leveraging his leadership experience once again, he is now launching an internship program at his own location with hopes to mentor and shape a new inspector into the next team lead.
After leaving the military, it can be difficult for some veterans to identify potential pathways that leverage the technical skills they developed during their service. However, there are leadership, communication and organizational skills that are often developed alongside an ability to truly commit to and see a project through.
This is a great skill set to bring into the franchising space, and with the right franchisor and support, a veteran can find another meaningful venture for their next season.
While there are challenges associated with launching any business, the HomeTeam leadership team and other business owners provide additional support for new owners to navigate uncertain situations. Williams shares how he has leveraged the support networks available to him through the HomeTeam system.
“Overall, it has been a great experience,” he explained. “My advice to any veteran is to work hand-in-hand with another franchisee. Have a mentor in the business that you can reach out to, and try to find someone that you can mentor, too. This provides you with both new and old insights that you may not have considered along the way.”
Hemchand also shared the value of the system and his insights for prospective veteran franchisees.
“Business ownership and franchising isn’t necessarily for everyone, but if you have the desire to pursue it, it is very rewarding. Every day, there is another task or challenge to overcome, and seeing the progress made over time is honestly an amazing feeling,” said Hemchand. “I do think military veterans have a distinct advantage when it comes to franchising due to our background, and I really enjoy being a part of the HomeTeam family. The coaching and support that they offer is top-notch. They celebrate my wins with me and also help me navigate through tough situations, as well.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice
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.
No related articles found
