Brian Wick’s career started early. As a kid in Medina, Ohio, he worked for his father’s commercial flooring business and figured he’d eventually take over. But when his older brother launched an HVAC company, Wick chose to join him. “I fell in love with it and really enjoyed it,” he said.
That decision set him on a path that would eventually merge his love of hands-on work with his interest in franchising. “One of my goals in high school was to own all the Subway sandwich stores in our town,” Wick said. “I always liked the franchising model because you have systems and processes in place. I don’t know everything, and I always thought franchising would be a great way to do it.”
When Wick and his brother joined AirTime 500, a contractor success group, they became part of the original rollout for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. “We were the eighth franchise, so we joined on day one,” he said. Wick later bought out his brother and expanded the business. Today, he owns two One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning locations and three Benjamin Franklin Plumbing locations that stretch from Lake Erie almost to Indiana.
Wick says one of the biggest advantages of joining One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning and its parent company, Authority Brands, is the safety net of support. He remembers the learning curve when he first purchased the business, but credits the franchise with smoothing out the transition. “The support we got from Authority Brands and from the franchise itself was outstanding,” he said.
That support comes in many forms — online and in-person training, marketing guidance, and even vendor negotiations. “They’ll help design a marketing plan around what your needs are, then they’ll get on calls with you and the vendors to make sure your marketing spends are correct and you’re doing the right things,” Wick said. “It’s a fantastic safety net because the last thing you want to do is blow through your marketing budget and have nothing to show for it.”
Beyond corporate support, Wick leans heavily on the community of his fellow franchisees. Success groups, regional “squads,” and a phone call away network of peers mean he never has to solve problems alone. “That’s one of the most beautiful parts — you’re never in it alone, ever. Somebody somewhere has done exactly what you’re doing or struggling with,” he said.
If the franchise provides the systems, Wick provides the heart. From the beginning, he has emphasized a “family first” culture across his companies. “I tell my people, if you have kids, you don’t miss their things,” he said. “My dad never missed anything of mine, and I never missed anything of my kids. That’s how we operate here.”
That principle shows up in practical ways. Wick structures schedules so employees can get home at a reasonable hour. Weekend calls are filtered so the team isn’t overworked. Office staff have flex spaces and can work from home when needed, and technicians can dispatch from home. “Family first. It’s got to be that way,” Wick said. “Raises and money are nice, but what people really want is time with their families and time for their hobbies.”
Wick knows firsthand the value of having someone in your corner. Early in his career, several mentors took him under their wing. “To this day, I don’t know why, but they helped me,” he said. Now he pays it forward by working with new franchisees.
He regularly sets aside time for calls, guiding them through daily management reports or even small but tricky situations, like how to handle a technician showing up out of uniform. “I remember what it was like,” Wick said. “I want to make sure nobody’s left behind.”
For him, mentoring isn’t just altruism — it’s strategy. “If we succeed as a whole system, we all succeed,” he said. “It’s in my best interest to make sure if someone’s struggling, we get them up to speed because it makes the brand stronger overall.”
Wick has plenty of plans for the road ahead. He wants to keep expanding his footprint in Ohio and solidify his position as the state’s largest player in the home services sector. At the same time, he’s intrigued by the idea of consulting and helping other businesses grow.
“Our goals are to grow to a point where it will either sustain us going forward or make a nice option for an exit at some point,” he said. “The next wave for me personally would be more consulting or working within the brands themselves instead of just my personal brand. But we’re not finished with our locations yet. We want to be the biggest player in Ohio.”
Through it all, Wick remains energized by the people he works with and the culture he has built. “I love what I do. I love my team. I love everything about it,” he said. “It’s not just about the business. It’s about the culture, the relationships, and the support system. Authority Brands and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning offer all those things.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/one-hour-heating-and-air-conditioning.
One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning
SPONSORED
Brian Wick’s path from carrying ductwork to owning multiple franchise locations shows how expertise, franchising support and culture can build lasting success.
Brian Wick’s career started early. As a kid in Medina, Ohio, he worked for his father’s commercial flooring business and figured he’d eventually take over. But when his older brother launched an HVAC company, Wick chose to join him. “I fell in love with it and really enjoyed it,” he said.
That decision set him on a path that would eventually merge his love of hands-on work with his interest in franchising. “One of my goals in high school was to own all the Subway sandwich stores in our town,” Wick said. “I always liked the franchising model because you have systems and processes in place. I don’t know everything, and I always thought franchising would be a great way to do it.”
When Wick and his brother joined AirTime 500, a contractor success group, they became part of the original rollout for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. “We were the eighth franchise, so we joined on day one,” he said. Wick later bought out his brother and expanded the business. Today, he owns two One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning locations and three Benjamin Franklin Plumbing locations that stretch from Lake Erie almost to Indiana.
Wick says one of the biggest advantages of joining One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning and its parent company, Authority Brands, is the safety net of support. He remembers the learning curve when he first purchased the business, but credits the franchise with smoothing out the transition. “The support we got from Authority Brands and from the franchise itself was outstanding,” he said.
That support comes in many forms — online and in-person training, marketing guidance, and even vendor negotiations. “They’ll help design a marketing plan around what your needs are, then they’ll get on calls with you and the vendors to make sure your marketing spends are correct and you’re doing the right things,” Wick said. “It’s a fantastic safety net because the last thing you want to do is blow through your marketing budget and have nothing to show for it.”
Beyond corporate support, Wick leans heavily on the community of his fellow franchisees. Success groups, regional “squads,” and a phone call away network of peers mean he never has to solve problems alone. “That’s one of the most beautiful parts — you’re never in it alone, ever. Somebody somewhere has done exactly what you’re doing or struggling with,” he said.
If the franchise provides the systems, Wick provides the heart. From the beginning, he has emphasized a “family first” culture across his companies. “I tell my people, if you have kids, you don’t miss their things,” he said. “My dad never missed anything of mine, and I never missed anything of my kids. That’s how we operate here.”
That principle shows up in practical ways. Wick structures schedules so employees can get home at a reasonable hour. Weekend calls are filtered so the team isn’t overworked. Office staff have flex spaces and can work from home when needed, and technicians can dispatch from home. “Family first. It’s got to be that way,” Wick said. “Raises and money are nice, but what people really want is time with their families and time for their hobbies.”
Wick knows firsthand the value of having someone in your corner. Early in his career, several mentors took him under their wing. “To this day, I don’t know why, but they helped me,” he said. Now he pays it forward by working with new franchisees.
He regularly sets aside time for calls, guiding them through daily management reports or even small but tricky situations, like how to handle a technician showing up out of uniform. “I remember what it was like,” Wick said. “I want to make sure nobody’s left behind.”
For him, mentoring isn’t just altruism — it’s strategy. “If we succeed as a whole system, we all succeed,” he said. “It’s in my best interest to make sure if someone’s struggling, we get them up to speed because it makes the brand stronger overall.”
Wick has plenty of plans for the road ahead. He wants to keep expanding his footprint in Ohio and solidify his position as the state’s largest player in the home services sector. At the same time, he’s intrigued by the idea of consulting and helping other businesses grow.
“Our goals are to grow to a point where it will either sustain us going forward or make a nice option for an exit at some point,” he said. “The next wave for me personally would be more consulting or working within the brands themselves instead of just my personal brand. But we’re not finished with our locations yet. We want to be the biggest player in Ohio.”
Through it all, Wick remains energized by the people he works with and the culture he has built. “I love what I do. I love my team. I love everything about it,” he said. “It’s not just about the business. It’s about the culture, the relationships, and the support system. Authority Brands and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning offer all those things.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/one-hour-heating-and-air-conditioning.
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