How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

Robert Trujillo’s decision to expand his construction business into water mitigation services was driven by his desire to streamline operations and offer comprehensive solutions to his clients. As the founder of Built by Design, a Denver-based construction group launched in 2016, Trujillo had been managing extensive residential and commercial projects. While occasionally working on reconstruction for large mitigation companies, he realized these jobs often had lower margins due to the involvement of multiple parties.

“A couple of years ago, I started exploring adding water mitigation services to our business,” said Trujillo. “It seemed like a good fit and allowed us to expand without building everything from scratch. That’s how franchising started making sense to me.”

Trujillo’s exploration into water mitigation led him to United Water Restoration Group (UWRG), a franchise specializing in water, fire and mold restoration. “We interviewed several larger franchises, but there were challenges with territory allocations,” Trujillo said. “With United Water Restoration Group, we felt aligned on values and their leadership had a hands-on approach. The original founders are still deeply involved in daily operations, which was important to us.” 

Now a UWRG Franchise Owner in Northwest Denver, Trujillo’s business offers end-to-end restoration services, ensuring homeowners can recover fully after disasters. “We pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop,” he said. “Many mitigation companies handle water or fire loss but leave reconstruction to a third party. We offer end-to-end service — from mitigation to rebuilding — ensuring homeowners return to a space that’s as good as, if not better than, its original condition.” 

1851 Franchise recently sat down with Trujillo to discuss his franchising journey, his partnership with UWRG and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say.

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

Robert Trujillo: I spent most of my career as an executive in default mortgage solutions. At one point, I managed over 200 non-direct employees and oversaw a P&L for a Fidelity National Financial company. During the mortgage crisis, we handled foreclosures and REOs [Real Estate Owned properties] for major banks. My background is rooted in the corporate world. I’ve also been a licensed real estate agent since the early 1990s.

On the side, I flipped residential real estate, which led me to start my own construction and real estate investment firm after leaving corporate. We primarily handled extensive projects and were eventually approached by other investors in Denver for full-scale renovations. In 2016, we officially launched Built by Design, our construction group here in Denver.

While working on reconstruction projects for larger mitigation companies, I realized those jobs had lower margins because multiple parties took a cut. A couple of years ago, I started exploring adding water mitigation services to our business. It seemed like a good fit and allowed us to expand without building everything from scratch. That’s how franchising started making sense to me.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a Franchise Owner, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Trujillo: My perception of franchising grew during the diligence process of setting up a water restoration company. I realized how much work it would be to establish this type of business independently. After thorough research, I felt partnering with a strong franchise would help me launch faster and avoid reinventing the wheel. Coming from a corporate background, I value having systems and support in place, which a franchise provides.

Now that I’m part of a franchise, I want people to understand the value of having a trusted partner. A good franchise takes much of the stress out of starting a business. From marketing and technology to leadership and training, these resources can be invaluable.

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

Trujillo: We interviewed several larger franchises, but there were challenges with territory allocations. With United Water Restoration Group, we felt aligned on values, and their leadership had a hands-on approach. The original founders are still deeply involved in daily operations, which was important to us.

United stood out because of their strong community involvement, robust technology support and dedicated leadership team. Unlike other franchises we considered, United wasn’t focused solely on scaling for investor appeal. Their commitment to supporting Franchise Owners resonated with us.

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

Trujillo: We want to walk before we run. Our initial focus is to be a valuable community partner and provide excellent service during people’s times of need. Restoration often involves helping individuals who have experienced significant losses, so being compassionate and dependable is our priority.

As we grow, we aim to expand our services to commercial and municipal buildings and potentially add other offerings that align with water, fire and mold restoration. Long-term, we’d like to expand into additional markets in Colorado, but we’re taking it one step at a time.

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

Trujillo: We pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop. Many mitigation companies handle water or fire loss but leave reconstruction to a third party. We offer end-to-end service — from mitigation to rebuilding — ensuring homeowners return to a space that’s as good as, if not better than, its original condition. That’s a major value we bring to the community.

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

Trujillo: Do your homework. Understand what you’re getting into and take the time to evaluate the options available to you. I’ve seen both sides — people who build businesses independently and those who partner with franchises. Franchising removes many unknowns and challenges that might otherwise cause stress. Partnering with the right franchise can make a significant difference, especially if they provide strong support systems.

About United Water Restoration Group

Since 2008, United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) has helped thousands of home and business owners restore properties to pre-loss condition. Through a commitment to excellence and a focus on personal attention, clients’ expectations are exceeded every time, without exception. Today, with a philosophy of hiring the best staff to provide professional restoration services, UWRG has grown to more than 80 locations and maintains a level of customer service rarely seen in the industry. Although UWRG assists those experiencing disasters, this growing, recession-proof industry is also supported by fundamental infrastructure issues like aging systems and reconstruction. 

The initial investment to open and begin operation ranges from $214,300 (single unit) to $627,400 (six units). For more information on franchising, visit https://uwrgfranchise.com/investment-opportunities/.