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 Celebrates 40 Years With Growth, New Franchise Signings and Charitable Milestones in 2025

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

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

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LANSING, Mich.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a>,&nbsp;the full-service moving franchise with more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating worldwide, is closing out 2025 after a successful year that included new franchise signings and openings across North America, expanded systemwide hiring, and the celebration of the brand’s 40th anniversary.Founded in 1985 as a small side business for two high school students in Lansing, Michigan, the brand has grown into an international moving company that has completed more than 10 million moves. Forty years later,&nbsp;<a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a> continues to build on that legacy with a 96% customer referral rating and an expanding portfolio of services that includes local and long-distance moving, storage, packing, and boxes and supplies.“At the end of each year, it’s always important for us to reflect on whether we’re winning together,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyshacka/">Randy Shacka</a>, president of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. “That means our franchisees, our customers, our communities and our internal teams as a franchisor. When I look back at 2025, I truly believe we are stronger today than when the year began.”Throughout 2025, the brand continued to strengthen its franchise network across the United States and Canada. The system recorded 35 franchise transfers, 19 new franchise openings and 15 new franchise signings, welcoming eight owners or ownership groups that were new to the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand.A major highlight of the year was the brand’s annual Career Move Season, a systemwide hiring initiative held from March through May to prepare franchises for peak moving season. The goal for 2025 was to hire 6,500 team members across North America — a target the brand exceeded with 7,006 hires from more than 259,000 applicants.While many roles filled were movers and drivers, franchises also added customer service representatives, marketers, office managers and bookkeepers. The initiative reflects the brand’s long-standing commitment to career development, with one in three franchisees having started as frontline employees and more than 75% of managers promoted from within.“Providing opportunities has always been part of our DNA,” Shacka said. “Our goal is that people come to TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and grow — whether that means building a long-term career here or leaving better prepared for whatever comes next.”June once again proved to be the busiest month of the year, culminating in the brand’s Busiest Move Weekend from June 27-29. Across those three days, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK teams completed 4,967 moves, drove more than 721,000 miles, deployed 6,043 crew members, and moved more than 15.3 million pounds of belongings.Shacka said the weekend highlighted the experience, preparation, and culture across the franchise system, with many locations finding ways to celebrate their teams while delivering high-quality service during peak demand.As TWO MEN AND A TRUCK marked its 40th anniversary, the brand reflected on a journey that began with a single pickup truck and grew into a global moving network. Over four decades, the company has logged more than 556 million miles traveled, delivered nearly 32 million service hours, and moved more than 21.6 billion pounds of belongings.The brand has also remained committed to giving back, continuing the legacy started by founder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ellen-sheets-43485a3/">Mary Ellen Sheets</a>. In 2025, franchises across the system participated in campaigns including&nbsp;Movers for Moms®,&nbsp;Movers for Meals®,&nbsp;Movers for Military®,&nbsp;Movers for Mutts® and&nbsp;Truckload of Warmth®, in addition to contributing to&nbsp;<a href="https://convoyofhope.org/">Convoy of Hope</a> and partnering with&nbsp;<a href="https://cheeriodicals.com/">Cheeriodicals</a>.In 2025, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK earned multiple national accolades, including recognition from Franchise Business Review and Entrepreneur, as well as Newsweek’s America’s Best Customer Service award. The brand was also ranked No. 122 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, taking first place in the moving and junk-removal category.“These recognitions aren’t our why,” Shacka said. “They’re simply a reflection of the people who show up every day to serve customers and communities. When we stay focused on moving people forward, the results will follow.”In 2026, the company expects to continue operating across its moving, storage, packing, and long-distance services while maintaining its technology and franchise support programs. It is also looking to expand with franchise partners in New York, Texas, and California. To learn more about booking a move, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/">https://twomenandatruck.com</a> and to learn more about franchising opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com">https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com</a>.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 UK. 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 2025, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was named a top franchise brand by Franchise Business Review and was also featured on Entrepreneur’s Franchisee 500 list, where the brand was ranked No. 1 in the Moving/Junk Removal Services category. The moving company known for moving people forward also received the No. 1 spot for Best National Moving Company in the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards contest. 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>.&nbsp;

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For over 40 years,<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/">&nbsp;TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a> has lived up to its reputation as The Movers Who Care®, completing more than 10 million moves and earning a 96% customer referral rate. But beyond being a trusted name in moving, storage and logistics, the brand has also built a legacy of supporting United States service members and veterans — both as customers and as part of its franchise system.Whether easing the burden of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, providing veteran-focused franchise incentives or giving back through community campaigns like<a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/about-us/community-service">&nbsp;Movers for Military®</a>,<a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/military-movers">&nbsp;TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a> proudly serves those who serve. Veterans within the system have found not only career paths but also a deep sense of purpose and camaraderie that reflects their military experiences.<h2>Michael Sham: Navy Service to Multi-Unit Franchisee</h2>The discipline and leadership skills<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-sham-6b86abb1/">&nbsp;Michael Sham</a> developed during six years in the U.S. Navy translated directly into his career with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.“As a 20-year-old in the Navy, I was tasked with running a shop of other 20-year-olds, all from different backgrounds and cultures,” Sham said. “The carryover from doing something like that to running a business is very streamlined. You are leading a group of movers — they are the soldiers going out there to fight the battles every day. It’s a lot of the same type of hands-on work we did in the military.”After leaving the Navy, Sham worked moves on the side before joining TWO MEN AND A TRUCK in Mississippi while finishing his degree. He quickly moved from mover to general manager, then into the brand’s scholarship program that helps managers become franchisees. By 2016, he owned his first franchise in North Mississippi, followed by additional locations on the Gulf Coast and in Brunswick, Georgia.“There are several programs TWO MEN AND A TRUCK offers to support veterans,” Sham said. “They make an effort to attract ex-military to become franchisees. The correlation between military service and running a moving company is strong, and the learning curve is not as steep as it would be in other industries.”Sham also makes it a point to hire veterans within his own locations. “Transitioning from the military to civilian life can be very tough,” he said. “I’ve hired so many veterans over the years, and it feels great to help them. I’d recommend TWO MEN AND A TRUCK to any veteran — you can take the tools you’ve learned in service and apply them directly here.”<h2>Jackson Wibbels: Giving Back Through Movers for Military</h2>In Colorado Springs — home to five military bases — Operations Manager Jackson Wibbels has seen firsthand how deeply TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s values align with the needs of the veteran community.“Originally, I started as a driver and trainer, doing moves while I was going to college,” Wibbels said. “I stepped away for a few years, but when I came back, I was offered a management position, and I’ve been loving it ever since.”Last year, Wibbels spearheaded the franchise’s first Movers for Military campaign, partnering with<a href="https://www.veteranscenter.org/">&nbsp;Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center</a>, an organization that supports service members and their families with transition assistance, employment resources, wellness services and community connection.“We collected around 2,000 items last year, and this year we’re hoping to get 3,000 to 4,000,” Wibbels said. “With such a high number of service members in our community, anything we can collect for local veterans will be huge. Being able to provide that support is truly amazing.”The partnership has also strengthened the franchise’s ties to its community. “Our franchise has been here for 30-plus years, so people know the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK name,” Wibbels said. “Representing the brand while giving back to the military community generates a lot of attention and pride for our team.”<h2>Lindsay Gainor: Bringing Navy Values to Leadership</h2>As vice president of human resources and talent management, Navy veteran<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaygainor/">&nbsp;Lindsay Gainor</a> brings her service experience into everything she does at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.“The Navy’s core values — honor, courage and commitment — still really stick with me,” she said. “In any leadership role, those values show up in real ways: doing the right thing, even when it’s hard; facing tough situations without backing down; and showing up for your team and customers every single day.”Gainor originally enlisted as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate, determined to become the first in her family to attend college with the help of the GI Bill. What she gained along the way, however, was far more than tuition support.“The Navy really threw me in the deep end,” she said. “I learned to problem-solve under pressure and discovered how important teamwork really is. Those lessons carry over to what we do every day at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. Our movers, our drivers, our franchisees — everyone depends on each other. If one teammate fails, the team fails.”Her advice to veterans considering a career with the brand? “You will excel here. Don’t underestimate the value of your military experience,” she said. “The skills you bring from service — discipline, leadership, resilience — are exactly what make people successful here. One out of three of our franchisees started on the truck. The opportunity is here. If you want it, come take it.”<h2>A Legacy of Veteran Support</h2>With more than 30 franchise units owned by veterans, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK continues to strengthen its reputation as a veteran-friendly franchise. Since 2005, the brand has offered a veteran discount on the franchise fee — recently increased to 20% off — making ownership more accessible for those who have served.The brand has also been recognized repeatedly as a top franchise for veterans, including by<a href="https://franchisebusinessreview.com/post/two-men-and-a-truck-movers-for-military-program-helps-veterans/">&nbsp;Franchise Business Review</a> (2018-2024) and<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/two-men-and-a-truck/282900">&nbsp;Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises for Veterans</a> (2021, 2024, 2025).“Whether it’s helping veterans start their own business, providing meaningful employment or giving back through campaigns like Movers for Military, this brand has proven its commitment time and again,” Gainor said.<h2>Moving Veterans Forward</h2>From supporting military families during PCS moves to helping veterans transition into meaningful civilian careers, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is committed to moving veterans forward — in business, in their communities and in life.“Running a franchise is a lot like serving in the military,” Sham said. “You lead, you adapt, you build a team, and you accomplish the mission together. That’s what makes TWO MEN AND A TRUCK such a great fit for veterans.”For more information on moving with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, franchising or to find an open position with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, please visit<a href="https://twomenandatruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=two-men-and-a-truck-midyear-momentum-21-signings-18-openings-and-record-breaking-revenue-from-value-flex-program-2727215"> TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | The Movers Who Care</a>.

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® and TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK® Celebrate Franchise Success at Annual Conference

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

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