Franchisee Stories
Jonathan Harper teamed up with his father and wife to launch a United Water Restoration Group franchise in Montana, creating a family legacy predicated upon service.
Upon leaving the Navy at the beginning of 2023, Jonathan Harper returned to Montana pondering his next chapter — and this time it would be a family affair. Joined by his father and his wife, Lauren Nunez, Harper sought to move beyond subcontracting restoration work to start his own business.
“My dad and I were working at a company where we did a lot of the reconstruction and putback work for another restoration business here in Billings,” Harper said. “Then we decided to start doing restoration ourselves. The other business was doing well, so we figured, let's do the same thing, and we went from there.”
“For us, it was just me, Jonathan and his father,” Nunez said. “The three of us were like, ‘How are we going to do this?’”
What began as a pivot quickly gained traction as a shared mission with the goal of establishing a family-owned business that could not only provide a valuable service within their community but create a legacy that could be passed down to future generations, with the trio launching a United Water Restoration Group franchise in Billings, Montana, this past March.
“We want to make money, of course, but we’re also focused on building generational wealth. We want our kids and grandkids to be set, to not have to worry about paying bills,” Harper said. “The goal is to eventually pass this business on to them and make sure our entire family is taken care of in the future.”
Founded in Florida in 2008, United Water Restoration Group provides restoration services for water, fire and mold damage. Operating out of just one truck initially, today UWRG operates more than 50 locations, providing an invaluable local service as a 24/7 full-service company driven by local responsiveness and a hands-on, personalized restoration process that sets the company apart.
Tweaking a proven system for nearly two decades, UWRG is dependable. And their strong support system and clear processes proved to be extremely attractive.
“I talked to a couple of other franchises, but they didn’t seem to offer the same level of support that United Water Restoration Group does,” Harper said. “Some of them were a little bigger. But, after talking to United Water and meeting everyone at Discovery Day, I knew we wanted to move forward with them. Their support system is strong and I really like their business model. A lot of the other franchises help you get open, and then it’s like they throw you to the wolves. We definitely wanted ongoing support, someone we could call when we had questions.”
“They treat you like family, not just a number,” Nunez said. “It’s ‘What do you need help with?’ If one person can’t help you right away, someone will step in. That support is key in this business. There’s only so much we can do on our own.”
When it comes to repairing mold, fire or water damage, attention to detail is key. Communication and accountability are two of the most direct ways to ensure the job gets done right the first time.
Those traits are similarly powerful when working optimally within a family-run business, helping to develop a stronger bond that correlates directly with delivering a great service and restoration experience.
“You have to follow everything step by step. It’s not just going in, drying things out and doing the putback. If you miss a step, it can mess everything up. You really need that support,” Nunez said. “So, we keep each other accountable. If one of us misses something, the other catches it. That dynamic of support and communication means a lot. It’s a struggle at times, but when you have your support system and your team, you can do anything.”
This year, the restoration industry is set to reach a valuation of more than $7 billion. Factors like increased natural disasters and aging infrastructure help drive demand for restoration services (and with more than 60,000 restoration businesses operating in the United States, there’s no shortage of options).
All of which makes the delivery of quality restoration services crucial. Delivering great restorations or rebuilds requires nuanced reaction in a timely manner — which can be a challenging process. When it comes to the home, delivering a safe, properly secured structure, while prioritizing ideas like long-term health and safety, is the type of idea that’s hard to hang a dollar figure on.
But working together in the family structure continues to pay dividends.
“Our goal is to help the customer, not just help ourselves,” Harper said. “I’m willing to work with customers to get things done without gouging them. I’d rather take a little less and truly help someone than squeeze every dollar out of a situation. That’s how we want to stand apart.”
“Running a business isn’t easy,” Nunez said. “There were times we felt discouraged, but I have my husband — my best friend — by my side. Sure, we get frustrated sometimes, but we respect each other. And working together has made our relationship stronger.”
Following his time in the Navy, Harper wrestled with the question of what to do next. But taking part in reconstruction work with his father provided an unexpected path forward, soon pitting Harper, his father and his wife as franchisees making the pivot to entrepreneurship.
United Water Restoration Group touts a proven system that works. The family dynamic in play helps too, adding another layer of support that strengthens attention to detail and overall quality of crucial work, making a difference within their local Montana community.
But building something they can share that stands the test of time is equally important.
“We were looking around for something and I found United Water. I requested information and it all sounded really good. They give us a lot of support, which I like,” Harper said. “A lot of people in the industry are proud they’ve built a restoration company that's not a franchise — but I really don’t care about that. United Water gives us all the support we need. They help with the whole process and getting started. I'm definitely glad we went the franchise route.”
For more info on families in franchising, check out these related stories on 1851 Franchise:
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.
