How Integrity Franchise Group Helped This Franchisee Achieve His Entrepreneurial Dreams

Starting a franchise journey can be challenging and uncertain, particularly when trying to find a path that perfectly matches one’s passions, skills and entrepreneurial spirit. But for Paul and Josie Safirulla , a new Aire Serv franchisee in Florida, the path to finding their perfect franchise opportunity became clear and promising with the help of franchise brokerage Integrity Franchise Group and its founder, Lisa Welko.

Paul Safirulla has spent the past 17 years managing large-scale construction projects, including projects with the U.S. Army Corps, SFWMD, F.I.N.D., and NAVFAC. Josie's entire career has been in the banking industry and currently works in Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch.

“I am currently working as a project manager for a private engineering firm handling water treatment plants,” said Safirulla. “We’ve done projects all over the world and I work primarily on the construction side.” 

Despite his success, Paul and Josie Safirulla has always harbored an entrepreneurial spirit.

“I’ve always liked doing my own thing,” said Safirulla. “I remember in high school I was making websites for this company. They were paying me $2,000 a month, which was a ton of money for me at the time, but they were selling each website for $20,000. I realized I was generating $100,000 a month for these people. It didn’t make sense to me. That was the first time I realized I needed to create my own club.”

Safirulla’s decision to enter the world of franchising was driven by a desire to find a business that was resilient to economic fluctuations. This is where Lisa Welko and Integrity Franchise Group played a crucial role.

“We found out about Integrity from a friend of ours — they recommended Lisa,” said Safirulla. “She walked us through all the different franchises and everything we could possibly do. There were a lot of franchises that didn’t jive with us but Lisa made sure we were staying on the right track.”

Integrity Franchise Group stands out for its commitment to providing personalized, knowledgeable and comprehensive support to its clients. In the early 2000s, Welko started her own franchise system, Ellipse Fitness, and operated as a franchisor before eventually selling the concept 15 years later. She’s also currently a multi-unit franchise owner of GameDay Men’s Health, along with her husband. In 2014, she decided to turn her attention toward helping other entrepreneurs like Safirulla achieve their goals by founding her own franchise brokerage, Integrity Franchise Group. 

“Lisa really helped us narrow it down,” said Safirulla. “I wanted to make sure I was investing in something that would always be needed. That was my number one priority: recession-proof.” 

Eventually, Welko found a perfect match for Safirulla: Aire Serv, the nationally renowned HVAC franchise that has provided expert heating and cooling services since 1992.

“What is more needed than AC in Florida? It’s a year-round business here,” said Safirulla. “It really made sense for what we were looking for.”

Now, as a franchisee with Aire Serv, Safirulla is excited about the future and grateful for the support he received from Welko and her team. And in a full circle moment, he says he’s now recommending Integrity to friends of his. 

“Things are continuously growing so far, which is great,” said Safirulla. “It was really just a great experience and Lisa did a great job. She actually listens to what you are looking for and finds the right company for you. She’s even continued to stay in touch with us. We’re very thankful for her support.”

For aspiring entrepreneurs looking to navigate the complex world of franchising, Safirulla’s experience with Integrity Franchise Group underscores the importance of personalized guidance and support. Embracing the process, trusting genuine guidance,and pursuing what you truly enjoy are key to achieving entrepreneurial dreams.

For more information on embarking on your own franchise journey with Integrity Franchise Group, visit https://integrityfranchisegroup.com/.