For three and a half years, Jason Morais practiced law in Prince Edward Island in a “suit and tie” career that ranged from criminal defense to property transactions. The work was steady, but it never replaced his pull toward entrepreneurship. The confines of the office setting couldn't suppress his desire to build something of his own. In 2017, Morais partnered with local business mentor Kevin Murphy to acquire the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise in Halifax. 

Drawn to the brand's mission of "Moving People Forward," Morais saw an opportunity to alleviate the stress of relocating by focusing on superior customer service rather than just logistics. Nearly a decade later, Morais is still building the business, using the franchise’s systems to help the Halifax community navigate their most significant life transitions.

Morais sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss his franchising journey with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and why he believes the brand’s support system and focus on community service make the work meaningful. Here’s what he had to say:

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

Jason Morais: I'm from Prince Edward Island originally, a little island province north of Nova Scotia. I went to the local university there, graduated from the business program, and then I went to Bond University, which is in Australia, to get my law degree. It was a fun couple of years living down there. I returned home to Prince Edward Island in 2013 and practiced law for three and a half years. I enjoyed it, but I always had a passion for business. I always knew I wanted to do something in the business world.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Morais: As a lawyer, I was working in an office setting in a suit and tie every day. I did a lot of property law as well as corporate, criminal and family, and a little bit of civil litigation. I was looking for other opportunities when I first connected with my business partner, who is a well-known local entrepreneur in town, and decided we would do something together. 

We got wind that the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Halifax location was for sale so we inquired about it. I traveled up to Ontario and met a number of franchisees there. I enjoyed learning about the business and they were very open with sharing a lot of information about the system. You really got a sense that it was like a family. With franchising, there's a support system that comes with the business, which is nice. 

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?

Morais: I honestly didn't have much franchise knowledge one way or another, but I can say that from day one I have always felt like I can pick up the phone and call somebody for help. My calls are always met with, "How can I help?" Chances are whatever you're going through, someone else has gone through before. That support has been a great help, especially when we were starting out. 

My business partner has been in business for over 40 years and owned a few restaurants that were franchises, so he had some experience with the model. He has been a great partner and mentor as well to help steer the roads.

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

Morais: I grew up working in the restaurant industry doing bartending, serving, and management. I always enjoyed getting to work with people directly and provide service. My business partner, Kevin Murphy, is involved in the hospitality space, so customer service is paramount to both of us. 

We looked at the moving business like it's a customer service business; we just happen to move furniture. We felt like what TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was doing was ahead of the curve with their focus on customer service. We also liked the philosophy, giving back to the community and some of their core values. We really take the phrase "treat every customer like it's your grandmother" to heart. We thought it was a great opportunity and we're certainly very happy we pulled the trigger on it.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? 

Morais: I hope we can keep making a positive impact on people. I really got the message when I met with the other franchisees about "Moving People Forward." I know that's a tagline, but you genuinely are. Buying a house is often the single largest transaction someone will make in their life, so it can be high stress. It feels great to come in and take that stress off of them. We handle their most prized possessions and family heirlooms, so it’s important to do a good job. It's a fun industry and the work we do always makes us feel good. There's definitely some crazy days, but it's been a lot of fun.

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

Morais: Working with a good strong brand that has a track record of success is so important. I would encourage people to talk to other franchisees because you'll get a sense pretty quick how people generally feel about the brand. Generally speaking, I recommend a franchise. You get a lot of good support and a roadmap for success. At the end of the day, you still have to be willing to put the work in. You underestimate just how much work those first few years are because you're going to wear a lot of hats, but hopefully it ends up being worth it.

ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Canada:

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is an international, full-service franchised moving company with more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 47 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland, and the U.K. Each location is independently owned and operated, and together, the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK network has performed more than 10 million moves since its inception in 1985. The moving company has been in Canada for the past 20 years, and more than 30 franchise locations are operating within Canada. In 2024, the Canadian locations moved 26,000 customers while maintaining a 95% referral rating, living up to the brand’s tagline as the Movers Who Care®. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK offers comprehensive home and business moving services, professional packing and unpacking, and storage and junk removal services.