When first-time business owners consider leaving a familiar job for entrepreneurship, the biggest question is often the simplest: Will I have the support I need to succeed? For United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) franchisees, that is the brand’s strongest promise. And for first-time owner and Air Force veteran Nathan Sherman, that promise shaped the entire direction of his career.
Sherman entered franchising when he and his wife planned a move to a lower-income region. He needed a business that could replace his salary, offer a stable model and give him the chance to make a difference in the community. Like most first-time owners, he started with a franchise broker and explored a wide range of industries. His initial search didn’t include UWRG and his earliest conversations with other brands left him uneasy. Nothing clicked until a chance moment in a grocery store parking lot, when a UWRG van pulled up beside him.
“I started doing a little bit of digging and I'm so grateful I went with them,” Sherman said. “I very much got the feeling with the other restoration services that I would be out on my own. With UWRG, I had the full support of the staffing behind me down at corporate.”
Sherman had never worked in restoration. What attracted him to UWRG was a simple combination of practicality and purpose. He liked the low overhead and the flexibility to operate without a storefront. He also wanted his work to matter. “I actually want to do something that makes a difference,” he said. Restoration offered a direct way to help families in distress, aligning with his background as a veteran who values service and community.
Still, the deciding factor was support. Sherman compared UWRG to other franchise systems and immediately saw a difference. “I could call the team anytime,” he said. “They were always there.”
For first-time business owners, that level of hands-on backing can determine whether the transition into entrepreneurship feels overwhelming or achievable.
UWRG was built with new owners in mind. The brand’s system includes 80 hours of training at corporate headquarters, 32 hours of hands-on training, required industry certifications and structured learning in accounting, estimating, bookkeeping, production management software and more.
Sherman entered the system with no restoration background, and he says the training and the advice that came with it made all the difference. “They give you a road map, and it’s up to you whether you listen to it or not,” he said. “Anything that I listened to them on, I did great in. Anything that I didn’t, that was on me.”
The structure UWRG provides, including a detailed operations manual, field support, marketing assistance and remote support from corporate, gives new owners a clear blueprint to follow. For someone launching a business for the first time, having a roadmap that outlines every procedure, every standard and every operational step can reduce the fear of the unknown.
The biggest learning curve for first-time restoration owners is often the insurance process. Sherman said that going into business without guidance would have been overwhelming. “You would be losing 70% of every single ticket,” he said, noting that UWRG provides tools to help new owners learn how to navigate insurance and protect both the business and the customer.
He emphasizes how critical the corporate team was in his early days. “Even in my initial jobs where I didn’t really know what I was doing, they would always give me a call back and walk me through things,” he said. “I never felt like I was a burden if I had to ask questions.”
That responsiveness matters, especially for new entrepreneurs who have never run a business before.
Sherman’s military background shaped how he approached business ownership. He joined the service out of a sense of duty, not for benefits, and the lessons he learned including leadership, structure and people development, directly influence how he runs his franchise.
He found a culture at UWRG that mirrored what he valued most from his military experience. “I never felt like I was here on my own,” he said. At the same time, his office in Hickory, North Carolina, has developed its own tight-knit environment. “Everybody loves coming to work and loves their job,” he said. “[That culture] doesn’t really exist in the private sector much and we have that here, due in part to UWRG corporate.”
For veterans exploring franchising for the first time, Sherman believes that understanding the realities of business ownership, especially the 24/7 nature of restoration, is essential. But with the right expectations and support, it can be a strong fit.
Sherman’s experience points to what makes UWRG a great choice for new entrepreneurs: a structured system, responsive corporate support, clear operational guidance and a culture built on helping families when they need it most.
“I wouldn’t have anything if it weren’t for them,” Sherman said.
For first-time owners who want a business they can learn, a system they can rely on and a mission grounded in service, United Water Restoration Group offers a model built for beginners and strengthened by the kind of support that makes business ownership feel achievable from day one.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration.
United Water Restoration Group
SPONSORED
Air Force veteran Nathan Sherman explains how robust training, hands-on guidance and a mission of helping families can make restoration business ownership feel achievable.
When first-time business owners consider leaving a familiar job for entrepreneurship, the biggest question is often the simplest: Will I have the support I need to succeed? For United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) franchisees, that is the brand’s strongest promise. And for first-time owner and Air Force veteran Nathan Sherman, that promise shaped the entire direction of his career.
Sherman entered franchising when he and his wife planned a move to a lower-income region. He needed a business that could replace his salary, offer a stable model and give him the chance to make a difference in the community. Like most first-time owners, he started with a franchise broker and explored a wide range of industries. His initial search didn’t include UWRG and his earliest conversations with other brands left him uneasy. Nothing clicked until a chance moment in a grocery store parking lot, when a UWRG van pulled up beside him.
“I started doing a little bit of digging and I'm so grateful I went with them,” Sherman said. “I very much got the feeling with the other restoration services that I would be out on my own. With UWRG, I had the full support of the staffing behind me down at corporate.”
Sherman had never worked in restoration. What attracted him to UWRG was a simple combination of practicality and purpose. He liked the low overhead and the flexibility to operate without a storefront. He also wanted his work to matter. “I actually want to do something that makes a difference,” he said. Restoration offered a direct way to help families in distress, aligning with his background as a veteran who values service and community.
Still, the deciding factor was support. Sherman compared UWRG to other franchise systems and immediately saw a difference. “I could call the team anytime,” he said. “They were always there.”
For first-time business owners, that level of hands-on backing can determine whether the transition into entrepreneurship feels overwhelming or achievable.
UWRG was built with new owners in mind. The brand’s system includes 80 hours of training at corporate headquarters, 32 hours of hands-on training, required industry certifications and structured learning in accounting, estimating, bookkeeping, production management software and more.
Sherman entered the system with no restoration background, and he says the training and the advice that came with it made all the difference. “They give you a road map, and it’s up to you whether you listen to it or not,” he said. “Anything that I listened to them on, I did great in. Anything that I didn’t, that was on me.”
The structure UWRG provides, including a detailed operations manual, field support, marketing assistance and remote support from corporate, gives new owners a clear blueprint to follow. For someone launching a business for the first time, having a roadmap that outlines every procedure, every standard and every operational step can reduce the fear of the unknown.
The biggest learning curve for first-time restoration owners is often the insurance process. Sherman said that going into business without guidance would have been overwhelming. “You would be losing 70% of every single ticket,” he said, noting that UWRG provides tools to help new owners learn how to navigate insurance and protect both the business and the customer.
He emphasizes how critical the corporate team was in his early days. “Even in my initial jobs where I didn’t really know what I was doing, they would always give me a call back and walk me through things,” he said. “I never felt like I was a burden if I had to ask questions.”
That responsiveness matters, especially for new entrepreneurs who have never run a business before.
Sherman’s military background shaped how he approached business ownership. He joined the service out of a sense of duty, not for benefits, and the lessons he learned including leadership, structure and people development, directly influence how he runs his franchise.
He found a culture at UWRG that mirrored what he valued most from his military experience. “I never felt like I was here on my own,” he said. At the same time, his office in Hickory, North Carolina, has developed its own tight-knit environment. “Everybody loves coming to work and loves their job,” he said. “[That culture] doesn’t really exist in the private sector much and we have that here, due in part to UWRG corporate.”
For veterans exploring franchising for the first time, Sherman believes that understanding the realities of business ownership, especially the 24/7 nature of restoration, is essential. But with the right expectations and support, it can be a strong fit.
Sherman’s experience points to what makes UWRG a great choice for new entrepreneurs: a structured system, responsive corporate support, clear operational guidance and a culture built on helping families when they need it most.
“I wouldn’t have anything if it weren’t for them,” Sherman said.
For first-time owners who want a business they can learn, a system they can rely on and a mission grounded in service, United Water Restoration Group offers a model built for beginners and strengthened by the kind of support that makes business ownership feel achievable from day one.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration.
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