After a 15-year career in commercial real estate development and investing, where he helped grow a New Jersey development firm from 1 million to 7 million square feet under management, Ryan Fraser knew the ins and outs of property management. He also had the “entrepreneurial tilt” that led him to business ownership, and specifically to franchise ownership with Sparkle Squad, the fast-growing window cleaning franchise backed by Happinest Brands.

“I felt that bringing a differentiated mindset to what was historically a very non-institutional business, while being a local owner, would serve me really well,” Fraser said. “I liked the partnership with Happinest. In my mind, they were the original home service franchise business, and I felt really confident that they would be able to help franchisees grow those types of businesses.”

Since launching in Northern New Jersey, Fraser has focused intently on leveraging his professional network and previous experience with commercial properties to establish a diversified mix of business for Sparkle Squad.

While many Sparkle Squad franchisees focus on servicing residential clients, there is plenty of opportunity in the commercial space, too.

“I know how property managers operate and think, and I understand the expectations they have of contractors and vendors,” Fraser said. “When the opportunity to acquire the Sparkle Squad franchise came up, I felt like the network and reputation that I had built in Northern New Jersey commercial real estate would translate really well to the business.”

Fraser’s previous experience positioned him well to deliver great service to commercial clients, and he found additional operational perks in the commercial space, too.

“The economics tend to be better, mostly because it’s larger projects,” he said. “I think the property management and the facilities personnel that you’re working with [also] have a good understanding of what good execution looks like, so they tend to be easier to work with.”

While commercial projects drive strong business growth, Fraser is sure not to ignore the residential side of the business, either. Relying on the franchisor’s call center to handle residential inquiries allows him to funnel his energy toward larger-scale commercial bids.

“You don’t want to ignore residential,” he said. “You’ve got to find the right split for your market, for your team, for the seasonality … It definitely makes a lot of sense to take that time and effort and apply it towards commercial work.”

This strategy has allowed Fraser to build a successful 70/30 split between commercial and residential projects, and he maintains the health of both revenue streams by staying focused on great customer service.

Building a strong reputation requires a commitment to excellence that goes beyond just completing a project to satisfaction. Fraser is committed to “wowing” clients to stand out above competitors in the market.

For new owners, he says this type of success starts with communication.

“Make sure that you’re reaching out prior to work, and make sure that you’re reaching out after the work is finished,” he said. “Just take the extra time to be differentiated relative to competition in the market, and I think a lot of that comes through customer service.”

As he continues to grow, Fraser remains focused on healthy growth that will position him for long-term success, and he advises the same for others considering the same path.

“You’re going to have to have patience,” he said. “It’s going to take time to build your reputation and build the business. It doesn’t happen overnight, but the opportunity is there, and the team is there to support you.”

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/sparkle-squad.