1851

While pursuing a law degree at the University of Iowa, <a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/movers/ia/cedar-rapids/team?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-nathan-berns-two-men-and-a-truck-maryland-2718697" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nathan Berns</a> took up a new hobby: online poker. He and his college roommate had so much success in the high-stakes card game that upon graduation, rather than pursue careers in law, they turned pro and began playing poker full-time. The only thing missing was something they didn’t realize they craved.Stability.Berns found that stability in franchising when he gave up poker to launch his first <a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-nathan-berns-two-men-and-a-truck-maryland-2718697" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK*</a> location in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His old college roommate eventually joined him and the two partnered to open a second location in&nbsp;Gambrills, Maryland.&nbsp;Today, Berns has six total <a href="https://1851franchise.com/twomenandatruck">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a> locations — some he owns himself, some with partners — including his most recent in Potomac, Maryland.Here's a little bit about his journey, and how he used TWO MEN AND A TRUCK to stack the entrepreneurial deck in his favor.<h4>1851:&nbsp;What did you do before franchising?</h4>Nathan Berns: Before franchising, I was going to law school. There, I ended up essentially getting an education in professional online poker playing because it was something my roommate was doing.&nbsp;<h4>1851:&nbsp;How did you initially find out about franchising?&nbsp;</h4>Berns: With my winnings, I started looking for businesses that were for sale and connected with a representative from <a href="https://frannet.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-nathan-berns-two-men-and-a-truck-maryland-2718697" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FranNet </a>who profiled me. He recommended that I could be suited for that window cleaning franchise. That turned out not to be a passion or a fit of mine. To acquire new customers, I needed to go door-to-door to commercial businesses, and I just didn’t have the sales ability for that…but the service industry and&nbsp;TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was.<h4>1851:&nbsp;Why did you pick franchising over starting your own business?</h4>Berns: Coming out of college and then law school, I knew I needed the support franchising offered. The support of a franchise system was a comfort as I had never owned or even worked at a small business. Being able to learn from the network of franchisees is priceless and helped me flatten the learning curve substantially.&nbsp;<h4>1851: Why did you pick TWO MEN AND A TRUCK? What excited you most about the potential?</h4>Berns: The Potomac market spoke to me; it’s still growing, so there is room for growth. It’s also geographically close to my already-established territory, so it will help me more easily service the new territory and get to customers quicker. My costs will stay low and allow me to be more competitive in an area that would otherwise be more difficult.&nbsp;Initially, I bought an existing TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and really enjoyed the business. I own a total of six now (some with partners, others without),&nbsp; but this Potomac one is the first that is close to the DC area.&nbsp;<h4>1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?</h4>Berns: With the Potomac location specifically, we have four trucks, and I could see it being an eight to 10-truck location within the next three years. For the future, I would like to expand into other existing open markets in Maryland, as well as continue to grow my footprint around Buffalo, New York, because there are some open areas there. I also own a location up there.<h4>1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?</h4>Berns: Make sure to speak to franchisees in the industry and in that franchise group to get a consensus on pain points. Plan for the unknowns so you can survive the initial learning period before you reach sustainable profitability.&nbsp;<h4>1851: What do you do in your personal time (hobbies, family, sports, etc.)?</h4>Berns: I live in Cedar Rapids. My wife is a pharmacist, and we have five girls, with a boy on the way. We recently bought a house in the country that has some woods around it, so I like to go for walks out there. The property has a pond that we’ve stocked with fish, so I spend a lot of time managing that and enjoying nature in general.ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK:Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is the largest franchised moving company in North America. Currently, there are more than 390 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 46 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland and the UK. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has performed more than 9 million moves since its inception in 1985 and has seen consistent growth dating back to December 2009. In 2022, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked TWO MEN AND A TRUCK as one of the top 500 franchises in the U.S. and No. 1 in the moving/junk removal category. Franchise Business Review also named TWO MEN AND A TRUCK a 2022 Top 200 Franchise and a 2021 Top Recession-Proof Franchise. As of August 2021, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has joined the ServiceMaster brand. ServiceMaster was founded as one of America’s first franchise businesses and does business under six brands today across 50 states and nine countries that generate more than $3.3B in system-wide sales: ServiceMaster Restore, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, AmeriSpec and Furniture Medic. For franchising opportunities, visit franchise.twomenandatruck.com.

The Great Franchisee: Nathan Berns, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Maryland

1851 Franchise

How former law student and professional poker player Nathan Berns found his winning hand as a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK multi-unit franchisee.

the-great-franchisee-nathan-berns-two-men-and-a-truck-maryland

Mosquito Squad Plus

How This Marine Corps Veteran Found Freedom and Purpose With Mosquito Squad

how-this-marine-corps-veteran-found-freedom-and-purpose-with-mosquito-squad

Spadea Lignana Franchise Attorneys

How The DeFelice Brothers Turned a $10,000 Loan Into an Award-Winning Franchise With Help From Spadea Lignana

how-the-defelice-brothers-turned-a-10000-loan-into-an-award-winning-franchise-with-help-from-spadea-lignana

Caring Transitions

How This Gilbert Entrepreneur Found Purpose Helping Families Through Life’s Transitions

how-this-gilbert-entrepreneur-found-purpose-helping-families-through-lifes-transitions

USA Ninja Challenge

Where Passion Meets Purpose: USA Ninja Challenge Gives Franchisees the Power to Change Lives

where-passion-meets-purpose-usa-ninja-challenge-gives-franchisees-the-power-to-change-lives

SweatHouz

From Finance to Wellness: Natalie Siewers’ Path to Leading SweatHouz in Northern Virginia

sweathouz-franchise-northern-virginia-natalie-siewers

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Thursday 1851 Franchise Agg - NASAA’s Noncompete Push

NASAA’s Noncompete Push Puts Franchise Growth on Uncertain Ground

franchise-noncompete-nasaa-advisory-reasonableness-standard

How a Steady Economy Could Help Franchisors Plan Their Next Move

how-a-steady-economy-could-help-franchisors-plan-their-next-move

Bed Bath & Beyond - Franchise Expansion - Retail Strategy - 1851 Franchise

Bed Bath & Beyond Launches Franchise Model as Part of Comeback Strategy

bed-bath-beyond-franchise-expansion-retail-strategy

Senior Entrepreneurship - Franchising - 1851 Franchise

Senior Entrepreneurship Is Rising — And Franchising Is a Key Outlet

senior-entrepreneurship-franchising-silver-startups

U.S. Government Shutdown - Impact on Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Government Shutdown Stalls SBA Loans: How the Shutdown Could Impact Franchises

government-shutdown-impacts-sba-loans-tourism-franchises

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Barb Volk and KidStrong logo

Why This Orangetheory Fitness Franchise Owner Is Developing KidStrong Franchises

kidstrong-franchise-owner-barb-volk-2025

graphic image of an 1851 franchisee spotlight brayden and johnny steven of teriyaki madness

Father-and-Daughter Team Bring Teriyaki Madness to Wichita, Kansas, With Big Expansion Plans

johnny-brayden-steven-teriyaki-madness-wichita

1851 Franchisee Spotlight with photo of Mike Rippey and Sola Salons logo

How This Former Franchisor Is Using His Industry Experience To Help Beauty Pros Thrive With Sola Salons Franchise

mike-rippey-sola-salons-franchisee

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025

early-childhood-education-child-care-franchises

The Great Franchisee: Nathan Berns, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Maryland

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS