How One Franchisee Expanded a Family Construction Business Across the Southeast with Preservan

Jackson Hoggard's story with Preservan, the wood restoration and repair franchise, began with his background in commercial construction and his family's window restoration business. During the pandemic, he returned to help his family business grow and saw potential in expanding the concept of repair over replacement on a larger scale. He connected with Ty McBride, the founder of Preservan, who shared a similar vision for national growth. Their shared values and commitment to sustainability made the partnership a natural fit. 

Now, Hoggard is focused on expanding Preservan in the Southeast U.S., particularly North Carolina, offering a low-cost, high-quality repair alternative to replacement and aiming to make a positive impact on both the environment and consumers' wallets.

1851 Franchise spoke to Hoggard about his franchise journey with Preservan and his plans for the future. 

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

Jackson Hoggard: My background is in commercial construction. I went to school for construction management and spent many years traveling around the Southeast, working on large-scale commercial projects. What initially got me into construction was our family business, which specializes in historic window restoration. We've been in business for over 25 years and, growing up, I was always interested in it. However, I wanted to gain broader industry experience beyond our niche trade.

During the pandemic, there was a plan for me to transition back into the family business to help my dad retire and take over. I returned to help grow and scale our business and saw significant potential in our main operations — not just in the historic window restoration space but in the general market for windows and doors repair.

About a year after rejoining the family business, I connected with Ty, the owner of Preservan. We started discussing his vision for the company, which aligned with my goal of growing our business into a national brand. Ty had a similar vision for expanding his business nationally. After a couple of years of collaboration, Ty packaged the franchise and we decided it was the right move to grow a different segment of our business through franchising.

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?

Hoggard: I didn't have much knowledge of franchising before becoming a franchisee. I've seen franchises my whole life and recognized it as a viable business model. I generally understood franchising and how it works, and it seemed like a great way to enter a business quicker than building something from scratch. While I didn't know much about the intricacies of franchising, I found the process to be straightforward and simple. 

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

Hoggard: Culturally, Preservan is really aligned with our family business and what we've been doing. Our brand's motto is “Don't replace, repair.” We've been helping homeowners and building owners avoid replacing windows by providing them with repair options. Preservan shares this vision and aims to expand it nationally, which aligns well with our values as business owners. Ty and his team are truly driven to make a significant impact on sustainability, offering homeowners a more affordable and sustainable choice than what is currently available. This makes Preservan a great fit for us. It's an impactful business, making a difference in both sustainability and people's finances by giving consumers a choice that isn't readily available at a national commercial level.

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

Hoggard: I intend to take the multi-unit operator route, aiming to grow Preservan in the Southeast — particularly in North Carolina — and expand beyond our current footprint. Our goal is to help more people repair instead of replace. Looking ahead, I see unlimited growth potential for Preservan. It offers a low-cost alternative with a high-quality solution, and once people understand our services, it tends to be a no-brainer. They realize they can save a lot of money, avoid adding waste to landfills and make a positive impact on sustainability. It's a scalable business with great potential for growth and impact.

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

Hoggard: One thing I want you to know about my story is that we started our business 25 years ago, offering repair instead of replacement. It has taken a long time to help consumers and our clients understand that they do have an option other than replacement. There's a big movement across the country of people getting tired of having no choice but to throw things away. We have this culture of planned obsolescence, where things are designed to fail and businesses capitalize on people replacing instead of repairing.

Since I was a child, I've known it's better to repair than replace. That’s who we are. With Preservan, I feel like we are part of this larger movement. My story is about growing up in this family business and seeing the potential for growth and making an impact. It’s exciting to be able to expand this philosophy and offer a different solution on a larger scale.

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

Hoggard: As a franchise owner, it's crucial to trust the partner you're going in with. You need to do thorough research to understand the market and the product or service you're buying into. Confidence is key — you have to trust yourself to take a risk and make something work. It's not just about investing in a franchise and expecting it to succeed; you have to put in the work and truly understand what you're getting into.

You can't simply throw money at it. You need to be involved with the market and the local economy and have a deep understanding of the product or service you're buying into. Most importantly, you must align culturally with the franchisor. Understanding who the franchise is at its core — what they represent and the culture they promote — is essential. If you don't align with the culture and view it purely as a business investment, you might find it doesn't return as expected.

Being culturally aligned and sharing the franchise's vision is, in my opinion, the most critical factor. Doing the necessary research to understand how to leverage what a franchise offers is also key.

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, and Tennessee. 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/.