Diego and Maggie Perez transitioned into franchising with United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) after several years in the construction and remodeling industry, seeking greater stability and growth opportunities. Having grown their own business from the ground up, the couple appreciated the structure franchising offered, allowing them to bypass many startup challenges by leveraging established systems and processes. 

Now, they look forward to building their reputation among local communities throughout Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with a focus on providing high quality services and achieving customer satisfaction as a neighborly brand.

The Perezes took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Diego: We’ve been in construction for almost six years now, doing remodeling. That’s more of a want than a need, so you’ve got your ups and downs with the economy and with how business goes, versus a restoration job — where you need your house repaired — which provides a more stable source of work. This way, with UWRG, we can cover both. The benefit is that we offer a full service to the client, including reconstruction at the end, so they don’t have to use two separate companies. This is our secondary company; it’s a subsidiary of Many Hats Services, which is the primary remodeling company.

Maggie: Now we do in-house reconstruction for clients with water damage jobs.

1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you’re in it?

Diego: I went through the whole process of growing a business on my own, and I don’t want to do that again. I figured if I got into a new business, I’d rather have someone who already knows what needs to be done — what software, what procedures, what forms — so I could just take it from there. That’s the most attractive part of franchising for me.

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

Diego: They didn’t try to sell me anything. They just provided the information and said, “If you want it, great. If you don’t, that’s fine too.” That’s the approach I take with my clients — don’t try to sell the job; it should sell itself. That was the best approach for me, as a consumer. They gave us the numbers and what they could provide, and that worked for me.

1851: What’s your big goal this year?

Diego: To survive. To not die. 

No, only joking. I want to be successful, like any other business.

Maggie: Obviously, revenue and profit are important, and we want to get our name out there. It would be amazing if more cities knew who we are.

1851: What’s the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Maggie: Our reputation matters a lot to us. We don’t just provide quick fixes. We want to be known as the neighborhood brand that everyone recommends and trusts within their community.

Diego: We want to provide great quality, do a good job and build recognition through word of mouth.

1851: What advice do you have for aspiring franchisees?

Diego: Make sure you have a big stockpile of alcohol! 

Just kidding. Make sure you’re financially prepared. Franchising allows you to start a business significantly ahead of the learning curve. That’s the benefit of franchising.

Maggie: It helps to have some background in the industry, but it really depends on the concept.

About United Water Restoration Group

Since 2008, United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) has helped thousands of home and business owners restore properties to pre-loss condition. Through a commitment to excellence and a focus on personal attention, clients’ expectations are exceeded every time, without exception. Today, with a philosophy of hiring the best staff to provide professional restoration services, UWRG has grown to more than 80 locations and maintains a level of customer service rarely seen in the industry. Although UWRG assists those experiencing disasters, this growing, recession-proof industry is also supported by fundamental infrastructure issues like aging systems and reconstruction. The initial investment to open and begin operation ranges from $214,300 (single unit) to $627,400 (six units). For more information on franchising, visit https://uwrgfranchise.com/investment-opportunities/.