The Great Franchisee: Ben Orons, ProLift Garage Doors, Austin

Ben Orons built a successful career in logistics, working mostly for large corporate companies. But when the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Orons’s company was hit hard, and he started to look for new opportunities. That’s when he discovered ProLift Garage Doors, the 20-plus-unit garage door maintenance franchise backed by multi-brand franchisor Premium Service Brands.

Orons says ProLift’s appeal went well beyond the security of owning his own business; it also offered the opportunity to take advantage of a massive boom in the home services industry brought on by the pandemic. 

We spoke to Orons to learn more about his path to franchise ownership with ProLift Garage Doors.

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?

Ben Orons: I worked with big companies in logistics and warehousing distribution. I have also  done work in consulting for continuous improvement in operational centers. Most recently, I was a project manager for a software company. Once COVID-19 hit, my company was hit hard, and I decided I wanted to go into business for myself. 

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising and what was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchise owner?

Orons: My dad is a franchisee, so I’m very familiar with how franchises work. I knew what it meant to franchise versus starting a business from scratch. 

1851: How did you decide you wanted to be a franchisee?

Orons: Since COVID, I decided to put my future in my own hands and thought franchising was the right move since I wouldn’t have to start from complete scratch. I knew I wanted to tackle something in the home services industry since more people were spending more time at home and the industry was booming. I steered clear of retail/food brands since they’re inventory-heavy.

1851: How did you perform your research?

Orons: I used FranchiseDirect.com to start my initial research, and I was connected with a consultant shortly after. We had several calls over the next few weeks, and she presented me with several different brands that aligned with what I was looking for. One of those options was ProLift Garage Doors.

1851: Why did you pick ProLift Garage Doors? What excited you most about the potential?

Orons: Aside from the fact that it seemed to be COVID-proof, ProLift is scalable and will allow me to add one employee at a time steadily. The corporate team is extremely supportive and offers franchisees a coach and tons of help on the digital platform as well, which really stood out to me.The thing that most excited me about this opportunity was Premium Service Brands. Their networking and service capabilities are extraordinary.

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Orons: For now, I’m looking forward to providing great value to my customers and giving them a great experience. I have plans to invest in another Premium Service Brand in the next year or two. 

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Orons: If you like the idea of following a formula that’s already set up — obviously you can add in your own expertise — then franchising is a good fit. If you want to have full creative control over everything, starting your own business is a better fit.

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Orons: I like to paint and play chess in my free time.

ABOUT PROLIFT GARAGE DOORS:

ProLift Garage Doors has been installing and servicing garage doors for more than four decades. In that time, the brand has become all but synonymous with commercial and residential garage door services, staking out an enviable position in the niche segment. In 2015, the brand was acquired by Premium Service Brands, offering ProLift Garage Doors the backing and resources of a multi-brand franchise system focused exclusively on service segments. Since then, ProLift Garage Doors has doubled down on its commitment to customer service and unparalleled industry expertise. Today, ProLift Garage Doors performs installations, repairs, replacements and servicing for overhead garage doors and loading dock components for clients across 20 states and counting. For more information of franchising with ProLift Garage Doors, visit: https://www.premiumservicebrands.com/prolift-garage-doors/