Greg Young knows franchising. Over the last 20 years, he’s owned nine franchises across five different systems and built several independent businesses. As a franchise broker, he evaluates hundreds of brands regularly. So when he decided to invest in a new venture of his own, he wasn’t looking for just another franchise—he was looking for something meaningful, scalable and different.

He found it in Preservan Wood Rot Repair, a home services brand focused on restoring wood damaged by rot instead of replacing it. For Young, the draw wasn’t just the eco-friendly mission or the cost-saving solution it offers homeowners — it was the wide-open market opportunity. In Virginia, where wood rot is a common issue, he saw a clear need and a lack of alternatives. 

Now, as he launches his Preservan business in Richmond, Young is combining his passion for emerging brands with a service he believes will make a real impact in his community.

1851 spoke to Young about his franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say: 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Greg Young: I've owned nine franchises across five different franchise systems over the past 20 years, as well as some non-franchise businesses. These have spanned the food, health and sign industries. With Preservan, I’m entering the home services space. I’ve since divested from my previous businesses, so Preservan will be my sole franchise. In addition to owning franchises, I also work as a franchise broker, helping others become franchise owners.

1851: How did you decide Preservan made sense for you?

Young: I think the home services business is just a very solid industry. I have access to hundreds of franchise brands that I work with on a daily basis, and I thought Preservan was super unique. I think it serves a demand that’s not being met right now because it’s restoring wood instead of replacing it — tearing it out and putting in new wood. I just think it’s super interesting, and I think there’s a pent-up demand. Once more and more people know about this process, it’s going to be an easy decision for them to have wood rot damage repaired rather than replaced. It’s not only ecologically sound, but it also saves a lot of money.

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?

Young: Franchising is a great way to become a business owner. A lot of people have the dream of owning a business, but they don’t have an idea or a concept they’ve developed that they can launch on their own. Franchising offers a path to business ownership that’s fairly easy to step into and comes with much less risk than starting something from scratch.

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

Young: Well, you're providing something important — you’re restoring people’s homes and doing it at a much lower cost than the alternatives. It’s something very unique. A lot of people don’t know what to do when they see wood rot. They call a contractor, and the estimate comes back in the thousands of dollars. With Preservan, you can come in, repair the damage without tearing anything out, and do it for a fraction of the cost. Especially in places like Virginia, where I live, wood rot is really common, and this service meets a real need.

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

Young: I want to serve a demand that I don’t think is being met very well right now. My goal is to be a presence in the market and make sure that people who are dealing with wood rot know that this service exists and is available to them.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Young: I personally like emerging franchise brands — ones that have something new to offer and aren’t in saturated markets. What drew me to Preservan is that there’s really no competition. That creates a phenomenal opportunity for growth, especially compared to other franchises in crowded industries.

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

Young: My experience has been that franchising is very accessible. For people who want to own a business, it’s the most efficient way to do it. Franchising is proven — it’s been around for a long time — and it offers the chance to become a business owner with much less risk than starting something from scratch. It also allows you to enter industries you might not have experience in. Most franchisors aren’t necessarily looking for industry experts; they’re looking for people who can build a team and scale a business. Franchising has been very good to me. It’s given me the chance to be in the restaurant business, health care, signage — and now home services. That kind of flexibility is one of the biggest benefits.

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/.