TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Choosing to franchise a business is a decision that can lead to a multitude of rewards for franchisors and franchisees alike. With any reward, there is always risk involved which can lead to initial hesitation. By taking a chance and working hard, these challenges can be overcome and the business can flourish in the franchise industry.

1851 Magazine spoke with Noelle Burak from <a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-i-started-to-franchise-two-men-and-a-truck-and-pretty-in-paint-parties-2705341" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a> and Amelia Courtney from <a href="http://pipfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-i-started-to-franchise-two-men-and-a-truck-and-pretty-in-paint-parties-2705341" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pretty in Paint Parties</a> to learn how the two businesses got their start in the franchise industry.

The right time to franchise is different for each brand

When do you know that your business is ready to franchise? The reality of the situation is that there is no set number of units that a business should open before beginning to franchise. It is completely dependent on the specific brand and their current needs. For TWO MEN AND A TRUCK the decision came early on when after they had opened their second location in Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1980s.

On the other end of the spectrum, sometimes franchising is a better fit later in the growth process. &ldquo;Pretty in Paint Parties had approximately 30 independent contractors in 13 states when we decided to franchise,&rdquo; said Courtney. &ldquo;Erica and I were the only employees. We were handling all of the day to day work from paying commissions to booking parties across the country.&rdquo;

Overcome hesitation and seek counsel

Franchising a business can seem like a daunting task and with that challenge comes hesitation. Burak cites the ability to gauge likelihood of success for a moving company franchise as a major hesitation for founder, Mary Ellen Sheets. There was also concern over assessing how probable it would be for people to invest in a startup franchise brand.

For Pretty in Paint, the main point of hesitation was ensuring all the logistical elements were perfected before getting started. &ldquo;We had been advised by many trusted and successful people in business that franchising would be beneficial for us,&rdquo; recalled Courtney. &ldquo;After listening to the advice and leadership of the SMB Franchise Group, we knew it was the right call.&rdquo;

Opening the first franchise location

Every franchise needs to start somewhere. In some cases, that first franchisee may have already established a relationship with the brand&rsquo;s leadership. For TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, this proved true as the initial franchise location was owned and operated by Melanie Bergeron, the daughter of the brand&rsquo;s founder.

Pretty in Paint traces its franchise history back to the Burlington and Monmouth Counties in New Jersey. The initial location was owned by Michelle Nicosia-Coyle, who had worked as an independent contractor for the brand for quite some time before becoming a franchisee. This growth momentum continued as another artist named Dorian Kuelcher brought the brand to Pennsylvania.

Overcome challenges by maintaining a positive outlook

&ldquo;I think we see challenges more as opportunities,&rdquo; said Burak. &ldquo;Finding strategic partners that align with the values, mission and vision of the brand is very important to us. Some of our biggest opportunities in the recent past include strengthening relationships between franchisees and franchisor while navigating changes in the moving industry, competition and always putting the customer first.&rdquo;

Courtney also noted that a positive and realistic mindset is necessary for addressing any challenges. While Pretty in Paint initially found technical aspects of the business to be challenging, a new perspective was able to alleviate any fears. &ldquo;After talking with other franchisors that share the same sentiments, we quickly realized that this piece of the business doesn&rsquo;t happen overnight,&rdquo; she said.

Discover the rewards of a franchise system

For TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, franchising has been a very rewarding decision. Burak noted that this accomplishment can be seen in growth across the entire network of franchisees, franchise employees and within the home office. Today, the brand has over 380 locations across 42 states.&nbsp; It doesn&rsquo;t stop there, though, as the brand has been thrilled to see a positive impact on local communities as a result of the generosity of franchisees&rsquo; participation in charitable activities.

For Pretty in Paint, the ability to empower women has been extremely rewarding. Through their franchise opportunity, the team has been able to create a network where they witness women in business breaking the glass ceiling and flourishing in leadership roles.

&ldquo;So many women and men think that they cannot financially own their own business or think they are not capable. We love helping them realize we are there to help them get over the hump and grow,&rdquo; said Courtney. &ldquo;Watching the pride our franchisees take in ownership makes it all worth it.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

Why I Started to Franchise: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and Pretty In Paint Parties

1851 Franchise

Franchisors share why they decided to expand through the franchise business model.

This brand page has been paid for by TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Marks 40 Years of Success

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Marks 40 Years of Success With New Signings, New Franchisees and System Growth

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ST. LOUIS, Mo.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK®</a> brought franchise owners and corporate leaders together for the company’s 2026 Annual Conference, held Feb. 21-24 at the Marriott Grand in St. Louis, Missouri. The multi-day event focused on collaboration, recognition, and strategic planning as the brand prepares for the upcoming busy moving season.“TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has always been about empowering our franchise owners to grow strong businesses while serving their communities,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyshacka/">Randy Shacka,</a> president of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. “Annual Conference gives us the opportunity to come together, celebrate the achievements across the system and share the strategies that will help our franchises continue to grow, even in a changing market.”This year’s theme, “Gateway to Growth,” was inspired by the conference’s host city and its historic significance as the gateway to the American West.“We were in St. Louis, which is home to the Gateway Arch, and historically it served as a staging point for explorers and pioneers. Our conference represents a gateway to growth for the system and our franchises”, said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikishook/">Riki Shook</a>, marketing and communications director.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>A Week of Learning and Collaboration</h2>Throughout the four-day event, franchise owners participated in keynote sessions, breakout workshops, and networking opportunities designed to help them strengthen their operations and prepare for the busy season ahead.“A lot of the focus this year was on innovation and technology, looking at where the system needs to be from a sales, marketing and operations perspective,” Shook said. “We really focused on tools for growth and where the moving industry is going as a whole.”The conference also featured a vendor marketplace with record participation from partners providing technology, marketing and operational services to franchise owners.“Having our annual conference at the beginning of the year really sets the stage for the rest of the year,” Shook said. “Franchise owners get to connect with peers, talk about what’s working in their markets and share best practices.”<h2>Recognizing Franchise Excellence</h2>A highlight of the conference was the annual awards ceremony, which recognized franchises and team members for operational performance, leadership, and community impact.During the conference, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK recognized franchises that reached major revenue milestones through the brand’s Million Dollar Club, which celebrates locations achieving significant levels of annual gross revenue.“We also had a new award this year, the Heart of the Brand Award,” Shook said. “That one was really to reinforce the ‘movers who care’ mindset and the support system that franchise owners build within their local teams.”The 2026 award winners included:<ul><li>Founders Award: Berkeley, California — Mark Snyir and Tanya Nickel</li><li>Safety Award: Lubbock, Texas</li><li>Business Moves Revenue Award: St. George, Utah — Justin Phillips and Kirk Phillips</li><li>Boxes and Packing Revenue Award: Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida — Britt Lanier and Susan Lanier</li><li>Interstate Annual Gross Revenue Award: St. Louis, Missouri — Naim Gasanov, Doug Haber, John Judson, Tom Schopp, Joel Trost and Steve West</li><li>Multi-Family Award: Columbus, Ohio — Justin and Stephanie Clarey</li><li>Crated Moving Award: Springfield, Virginia — Martin Pollack</li><li>Sales Order Growth Award, Under 18 Months: Huntington Beach, California — Komal and Santanu Bandyopadhyay</li><li>Sales Order Growth Award, Over 18 Months: College Station, Texas — Jay Mellentine and Christine Thomas</li><li>Highest Single Unit Gross Revenue Award: St. Louis, Missouri — Naim Gasanov, Doug Haber, John Judson, Tom Schopp, Joel Trost and Steve West</li><li>Highest Multi-Unit Operating Unit Gross Revenue Award: Minneapolis South, Minnesota — Nick Bailey</li><li>International Move Hero: Sam Hellem - Colorado Springs, Colorado&nbsp;</li><li>Heart of the Brand Award: Taylor Suman — Fort Worth, Texas franchisee</li><li>Newsmaker Award: Twin Cities — Nick Bailey</li><li>Achievement In Excellence Program (AIE) No. 1 U.S. Metro Market: Charlottesville, Virginia — Nathan Bocock and Bryan and Rebecca Feldman</li><li>AIE Program No. 1 Mod-Market: Idaho Falls, Idaho — Terry Bruns, Lucas Keefe and</li><li>Exceptional Customer Service Award: Gainesville, Florida — Mark and Saundria Golden, Chris Hardoin and Anyse Medwedeff</li><li>Humanitarian Award: Grand Rapids North, Michigan — Heidi and Kyle Norcutt</li></ul><h2>Looking Ahead</h2>As the brand prepares for the busy summer moving season, leadership emphasized the importance of refining strategies now so franchise locations are positioned for success when demand increases.“The strength of our brand has always come from the dedication of our franchise owners and the teams they build in their communities,” Shacka said. “When we come together to share ideas, celebrate success and prepare for the year ahead, it reinforces the culture that has driven this brand for 40 years and positions our entire system for continued growth.”ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK:&nbsp;Headquartered in Michigan, 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 United Kingdom. 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. In 2026, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was featured on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, where the brand was ranked No. 1 in the Moving/Junk Removal Services category. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was also named a top franchise by Franchise Business Review and was featured on the Best National Moving Company List by Newsweek. In 2021, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was acquired by ServiceMaster® Brands, which is a leading franchise provider of needs-based residential and commercial services in the restoration, cleaning, moving, and bioremediation industries. ServiceMaster was founded as one of America’s first franchise businesses and does business under seven brands today across 50 states and nine countries that generate more than $3.5B in system-wide sales. For franchising opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://franchise.twomenandatruck.com">franchise.twomenandatruck.com</a>.

Photo of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK annual conference

The brand’s “Gateway to Growth” conference brought franchise owners, corporate leaders and industry partners together in St. Louis to celebrate achievements and prepare for the year ahead.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Celebrates Franchise Growth and Leadership at 2026 Annual Conference

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Proudly Serves Those Who Serve: Supporting Veterans on the Move and in Business

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Marks 40 Years of Growth & Milestones

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Why I Started to Franchise: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and Pretty In Paint Parties

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