United Water Restoration Group

In 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-washington/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=first-time-franchisee-how-a-covid-layoff-convinced-this-uwrg-franchisee-to-bet-on-himself-2723543" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rodney Washington</a> made the decision to leave corporate America behind and franchise with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration">United Water Restoration Group</a> (UWRG), a trusted leader in damage restoration services. 1851 Franchise spoke to Washington about his franchising journey with the brand and what he learned as a first-time franchisee.&nbsp;<h3>Washington’s Franchise Journey</h3>Before going into franchising, Washington’s career took several turns. He started as an insurance adjuster after college, but later pursued an opportunity to become a project manager in the oil and gas industry. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led the company he was working for to widespread layoffs, including Washington. Faced with the decision of returning to corporate work or pursuing his entrepreneurial aspirations, Washington decided it was time for a change.&nbsp;“I always wanted to do something on my own, but I didn’t really know how to get it going, so they did me a favor by pushing me out the door,” he said. “And I decided to bet on myself.”&nbsp;After trying to get some of his own businesses off the ground and coming up short, Washington decided to start doing some research on franchising. He came across&nbsp;<a href="https://uwrgfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=first-time-franchisee-how-a-covid-layoff-convinced-this-uwrg-franchisee-to-bet-on-himself-2723543" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">UWRG</a>, which was a business he never thought would be a franchise.&nbsp;“My frame of reference for franchising was simply McDonald’s, Burger King — fast food,” he said. “That’s all I really knew. So I went down this rabbit hole of realizing what a huge industry there was full of all types of different businesses.”He spent some time getting familiar with other brands, but Washington ultimately decided to go with the company that first caught his eye: UWRG. The franchisee noted that he was attracted to how the brand was still emerging and wasn’t a huge corporation.&nbsp;“I saw all of the investments they were making in their franchising operation and how they were supporting their franchisees,” he said. “That was huge to me. I also wanted to work with a company where ownership was still involved, and the team fit all of that.”&nbsp;He became the owner of UWRG of Missouri City, Texas, in March 2022.&nbsp;<h3>The Biggest Lessons Learned</h3>One of the biggest lessons that Washington has learned in his first year is that franchising is not necessarily just a “business in a box.”&nbsp;“You still have to take the playbook and you have to run the play,” be said. “It's not gonna just be some automatic machine that runs on its own. And there's going to be some tough months. There's gonna be some good months. It's just knowing how to navigate that.”&nbsp;For other people looking into becoming a franchise owner, Washington advised people to understand what they are getting into and that it is not going to be easy. He recommended doing as much research as possible before signing on the dotted line.&nbsp;“Go down that rabbit hole,” he said. “Understand what you're getting into because you might ultimately decide it's not for you — and that's okay. I really don't think franchising is for everyone. I don't think business ownership is for everyone. So it's an exercise of research before you make that decision.”&nbsp;<h3>Washington’s Plans for the Future</h3>Looking ahead to the future, Washington said he is driven by his “why?” and what’s important to him.&nbsp;“It’s all about my legacy,” he said. “I have a beautiful wife and three amazing children. I want to be a great example for those children, and I want to make my wife proud and make her feel secure in the future that I'm building for us. I'm just going to be a part of building a really great brand.”&nbsp;

First-Time Franchisee: How a COVID Layoff Convinced This UWRG Franchisee to Bet on Himself

1851 Franchise

Rodney Washington, a first-time franchise owner with the damage restoration franchise, shares insights on his journey, what he has learned along the way and why franchising is not necessarily just a “business in a box.” 

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Running a business with your spouse comes with a unique set of rewards, as well as realities. The wins feel shared, the challenges feel personal, and the line between work and life can blur quickly. For husband-and-wife franchise owners at&nbsp;<a href="https://uwrgfranchise.com/">United Water Restoration Group (UWRG)</a>, success often comes down to clear roles, honest communication and a franchise system built to support teamwork at every level.<a href="https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration/info">UWRG’s</a> restoration model has proven especially well-suited for couples who bring complementary skill sets to the table. With defined operational systems, franchisor support and a collaborative franchise network, the brand gives partners the ability to divide responsibilities, stay aligned on long-term goals and build a service-driven business together without feeling like they’re navigating it alone.That balance has been central to the experience of husband-and-wife franchise owners&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/multifamily-apartments-john-casmon/">John</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/geetika-casmon/">Geetika Casmon</a>, who own and operate a&nbsp;<a href="https://uwrgcincyeast.com/">UWRG location in Cincinnati</a>. Each brings a distinct professional background to the business, allowing them to support one another and move the company forward with intention.<h2>Dividing Roles to Create Momentum</h2>The Casmons operate with a clear handoff between lead generation and execution. John, who spent 15 years in marketing and advertising, focuses on the front end of the business, such as digital marketing, lead channels and field marketing initiatives that keep the phones ringing.Geetika oversees operations, administration and financial processes. With a background in accounting, auditing and operational consulting, she manages intake, execution and efficiency once a job enters the system.“If you think of a funnel, he handles the front end and how things are coming in,” Geetika said. “Once they’re in, I pretty much handle it from there.”That structure allows both partners to stay in their lanes while remaining deeply connected to the overall health of the business.<h2>The Rewards and Realities of Working With Your Spouse</h2>Running a business together brings obvious upsides. The Casmons describe having a built-in partner they trust, someone who understands the daily pressures and decisions at a deeper level than anyone else.“You have someone you can rely on completely,” Geetika said. “Someone you’re comfortable with. You can be vulnerable. You can talk about the ups and downs of the business.”But that closeness can also blur boundaries. When challenges arise, they don’t stop at the office door. John says the business often feels like “its own baby,” one that sometimes demands sacrifices from both partners at the same time with late-night calls and emergency jobs. Still, being aligned makes those moments manageable.“The upside is being able to sit and collaborate, bounce ideas off each other and really understand what the other person is going through,” he said.<h2>How UWRG’s Model Supports Couple-Owned Franchises</h2>UWRG’s franchise structure has played a key role in helping the Casmons operate effectively as a team. Because franchisor support is segmented by function, each partner works directly with the departments that align with their responsibilities.John regularly connects with marketing and design teams, while Geetika works with operations and accounting support. “They’re structured in a way that really mirrors the way we’ve structured our business,” he said.Beyond franchisor support, the franchise network itself has become an invaluable resource. Rather than feeling isolated, the Casmons are able to lean on fellow franchise owners who understand the restoration business at a granular level.<h2>Advice for Couples Considering Franchising Together</h2>Both Geetika and John emphasize that alignment is everything. Before launching a business together, couples need to have honest conversations about goals, lifestyle expectations and what success truly looks like, not just individually, but as a family.John echoed that sentiment, noting that misalignment around growth expectations is one of the most common pitfalls in spouse-led partnerships. “If one person wants a $10 million business and the other wants passive income, that’s going to cause friction,” he said. “You have to get really clear on what the endgame is.”<h2>Staying Connected Beyond the Business</h2>The Casmons don’t see balance as perfection. They see it as making choices. With business always pulling at their attention, being deliberate about creating space outside of work has been key to staying connected. “That means date nights, conversations that aren’t about the business or the kids,” John said.Geetika added that even when business topics inevitably come up, staying connected as partners is what keeps the relationship strong. “I think the key, though, is to be very intentional about connecting and not solely becoming the business,” she said.UWRG provides a structure that makes collaboration practical. Accessible franchisor support and an engaged franchise network help spouses build the business side by side while keeping the relationship front and center.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration">https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration</a>.

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