After a stint as a stay-at-home mom, Hillary Edwards went back to part-time work with a stocking job at Costco. As she worked, she listened to podcasts on real estate investment and small business ownership, and she began to think about what could be next. As a long-time renovation hobbyist, Edwards had plenty of experience working in and beautifying homes, and this served as her starting point.

As she began exploring franchises, Edwards learned of Preservan, the emerging wood rot repair franchise, and became excited about the niche. Edwards developed a love of restoration throughout her childhood watching her parents restore and renovate an early 1900’s farmhouse. She also spent a decade in Europe, developing a deep appreciation for preserving the past for future generations by valuing seasoned architecture and the beauty of natural locally sourced and crafted materials. 

Now, she has opened her Preservan business in Birmingham, Alabama to help her neighbors do the same with affordable, eco-friendly epoxy repair services.

Edwards took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what she 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?

Hillary Edwards: I’ve been a stay-at-home mom since 2009. Previously, I worked with non-profits where I discovered Americorps and served for one year at Habitat for Humanity. I fell in love with building, renovation and construction.

From 2006 to 2016, we lived in Greece as my husband pursued his PhD. We had four children while living abroad, but in my “free” time, I did renovations and projects for friends, taking any opportunity I could to work alongside and learn from expert craftsmen. A few years ago I started thinking about getting back into the working world. I got a part-time job stocking at Costco, which worked well for our family’s schedule at the time.  As I stocked, I listened to podcasts about real estate investment and entrepreneurship.

I originally got connected with a real estate investment franchise, but when I told my friend, who is also a business broker, that I was looking, she proposed that we explore opportunities together. We took a deep dive in February and explored a lot of franchise options.

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

Edwards: I didn’t have much of a perception of franchising. It hadn’t crossed my mind.  I felt nervous to take the leap into business ownership on my own and throughout the process of researching franchises, I started getting more excited.

People should know that having a supportive franchise and broker can be a great way to break into the world of business ownership.  It can feel overwhelming managing all the aspects of opening and running a business on your own. You have to manage bookkeeping, taxes, marketing, scheduling — the whole process. When there’s a franchisor to help, it takes a lot of stress away.

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

Edwards: We explored a lot of options, but when we discovered Preservan, I got excited about the company’s mission to repair rather than replace.  I love the process of renovation and reconstruction, and I love the concept of reusing and salvaging things. Growing up, I lived in a 1912 farmhouse that my parents restored throughout the years, and which instilled a real love of American historic homes. When we lived in Greece, a lot of the components of our living spaces were created from locally sourced materials and crafted by local artisans — real marble countertops and floors,  well-built wood windows and doors with operational shutters. I also spent time exploring ancient buildings and archaeological sites.  These experiences gave me a real appreciation for workmanship and natural high-quality building materials. Being able to embrace this in my business is exciting.

I also appreciate how hands-on Preservan is with franchisees. There is an amazing community of people within Preservan there to answer questions and provide support.

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

Edwards: There is another territory in the Birmingham area that I would like to purchase within the next year or so. With this, I’d like to get two to three techs in the area to cover projects.

My five-year plan is to potentially start a business that would work well alongside Preservan. I’m not quite sure what that would look like yet. Right now, I’m focused on getting this first territory open and successful.  I see how much potential exists with Preservan. There is a real need for this service in our community. 

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

Edwards: I came into this from being a stay-at-home mom. I didn’t have entrepreneurial experience, but with the support of a broker and franchisor, it feels really doable.

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

Edwards: Find a good business broker — someone willing to walk you through the process. That is what opened the opportunities up for me.

ABOUT PRESERVAN

Preservan Wood Rot Repair is a category-creating franchise in the home services industry specializing in eco-friendly wood restoration and repair that preserves building materials instead of replacing them. Established by industry veteran Ty McBride, Preservan stands out because of its unique 100% epoxy-based wood rot repair technology that offers a sustainable alternative to traditional wood replacement. This method saves homeowners millions of dollars each year while preserving architectural heritage and craftsmanship. With nearly two decades of experience, the brand has evolved into a national franchise with locations across Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. Today, Preservan provides a compelling opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking a low-cost, high-impact franchise in the booming home services sector. For more information, visit: https://gopreservan.com/.