1851

After a 26-year career in the warehouse food distribution industry, including leadership roles at companies like Gordon Food Service and Smithfield,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-doctor-3a602b88/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=warehouse-and-distribution-leader-transitions-to-franchise-ownership-with-hometeam-inspection-service-2727484" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Doctor</a> was ready for a change. Despite a nationwide job search in warehousing, he found himself drawn to a different path — franchising. Guided by his long-standing interest in real estate and a desire to own a business with strong values, he discovered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hometeamfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=warehouse-and-distribution-leader-transitions-to-franchise-ownership-with-hometeam-inspection-service-2727484" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HomeTeam Inspection Service</a>, a home inspection franchise that lined up with his personal and professional aspirations.“It felt like a lot of my core values aligned well with [<a href="https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice/info">HomeTeam</a>],” Doctor said. “Hearing the story about how it was built, what they believe in, how they treat their people and customers — that’s what really drove me to the brand.”With plans to leverage his leadership experience, Doctor is eager to grow his HomeTeam franchise in Hartford County, Maryland, aiming to become the premier home inspection provider in his market while building meaningful relationships within the real estate community.Doctor recently sat down with 1851 Franchise to share his story and insights on his journey into franchising. Here’s what he 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?Ben Doctor:&nbsp;For the last 26 years, I’ve been in the warehouse food distribution service. Most of my career was at Gordon Food Service. That’s what led me to Maryland for an opportunity out here. Since 2022, I have worked at a couple of other places but all in food distribution. For about the last 20 years, I’ve been in some type of leadership role. When I left my last company earlier this year, I didn’t have anything lined up, but I needed to leave as my values didn’t align with the company’s. I thought, “Well, I’m going to find another warehouse job, managing warehouses and leading people.”I opened my search up across the country, looked at lots of jobs in various states and a couple in our own state here, but nothing either panned out or just wasn’t the right fit. At the same time, while I was doing this, I was also talking to somebody about franchising. I continued to go down that path. She put me in contact with three different franchises, HomeTeam being one of them. HomeTeam, I could tell pretty quickly, was different from the other two from a cultural standpoint, which really drew me to it.&nbsp;When I was younger, I loved real estate, but I never fully immersed myself into it. I flipped about five houses, a couple of which we lived in. This was a great way to get started in real estate without going through the training to become a REALTOR®. HomeTeam seemed like a great company to start a new career in the real estate industry. It’s my own business, but it’s still got an incredible support system/team, which seemed like a great opportunity for me.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Doctor:&nbsp;I didn’t know a lot about it, but I didn’t really think it was something that I would ever be interested in, and I didn’t think I would ever run my own business. Once I started talking to folks and learning more about it, my perception started to change. It seems more like a corporation willing to support your success, but you have the freedom to make your own decisions and build your business the way you want to. I really like that corporation network around you to support you and help you grow.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Doctor:&nbsp;As I continued to talk to people in the company, it felt right. It wasn’t a must-have, but I was really kind of looking for a family-owned and operated, faith-based company. I thought I had found this in Maryland at one point. I got to the very end of the interview process, and I thought, “Yeah, I’m going to end up working here.” It felt good, but I had some reservations. Ultimately it didn’t work out. I’m glad it didn’t. For HomeTeam — a lot of my core values aligned well with them. Nobody really said anything about faith; it just felt different and you could tell through conversation. I did enough research on their social media to see that my assumptions were validated to some extent. That was really a big part of it. Hearing the story about how it was built, what they believe in, how they treat their people and customers — those are the things that drove me to the brand.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Doctor:&nbsp;Initially, I know it’s going to be a grind. Everybody’s told me that. My long-term vision is really to be the premier vendor for serving clients and real estate agents in my market and growing that into several teams. Eventually, I’d like to have several teams out there, with a director of operations overseeing the day-to-day while I focus on building relationships and growing the business.1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Doctor: I feel like everything in life happens for a reason. I am where I am today because I’m following the path that was meant for me. I feel like HomeTeam was placed in front of me for a reason, and I feel like the doors to other opportunities were closed for a reason.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Doctor:&nbsp;&nbsp;Don’t close a door without taking a peek inside, you might like what you see. A game changer for my wife and I was investing early in my 401(k). We financed through the ROBS program, an IRA funding method. Without it, we would have had more reservations. If the finances can be figured out, and you have people that believe in you (including yourself), I would recommend looking into franchising. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback about the home inspection business in general — there’s enough business out there to feed everybody which makes me excited to get started.About HomeTeam Inspection ServiceFounded in 1992, HomeTeam Inspection Service is a full-service, independent home inspection franchise serving home buyers, sellers and real estate agents. For 30 years, HomeTeam has built a reputation for providing professional, reliable, efficient and accurate inspections on both residential and commercial property, focusing on electrical and plumbing systems, HVAC, exterior and siding, gutters and drainage, mold inspections, air quality reports and much more. Unlike other inspection companies, HomeTeam sends a team of certified inspectors to every appointment in order to provide a better and faster inspection, every single time. The brand’s reputation for excellence has made them a top choice among real estate agents and earned them the title of #1 home inspection franchise by Entrepreneur magazine’s 2022 Franchise 500 listing. Now, HomeTeam Inspection Service has grown to include over 200 territories nationwide. For more information about HomeTeam please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hometeam.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=warehouse-and-distribution-leader-transitions-to-franchise-ownership-with-hometeam-inspection-service-2727484" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.hometeam.com</a>.&nbsp;

Warehouse & Distribution Leader Transitions to Franchise Ownership with HomeTeam Inspection Service

Warehouse Leader Shifts to HomeTeam Inspection Service Franchisee

1851 Franchise

Ben Doctor, a former food distribution executive, found a new purpose with HomeTeam, blending his passion for real estate with business ownership. 

Warehouse and Distribution Leader Transitions to Franchise Ownership with HomeTeam Inspection Service

warehouse-and-distribution-leader-transitions-to-franchise-ownership-with-hometeam-inspection-service

Minuteman Press International

Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Luciana Lorenzo (center) at the 2025 Best of Orange Awards event.

Minuteman Press Franchisee Luciana Lorenzo Wins Best of Orange Award

minuteman-press-franchisee-luciana-lorenzo-wins-best-of-orange-award

Beef 'O' Brady's

 Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Celebrates 40 Years of Community, Family and Flavor

beef-o-bradys-celebrates-40-years-of-community-family-and-flavor

Sola Salons

Photo of exterior of newly built Sola Salons location

What Is the Process for Opening a Sola Salons Location?

sola-salons-franchise-opening-process

Dog Training Elite

Photo of large dog lying in grassy area with blue collapsible water bowl at feet

Too Hot To Trot: How To Keep Your Dog Safe in the Summer Heat

keep-dog-safe-summer-heat

Right at Home

Nine-Year Right at Home Franchisee Found New Purpose After Years as a Stay-at-Home Mom

right-at-home-franchisee-finds-new-purpose

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

U.S. Budget Deficit Rises as Tariff Revenues Increase — Potential Considerations for Franchising

us-budget-deficit-rises-as-tariff-revenues-increase-potential-considerations-for-franchising

Dickey's Franchisee Backlash - Lawsuits - Disputes - 1851 Franchise

Texas-Based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Grapples with Franchisee Backlash

dickeys-barbecue-pit-franchisee-lawsuits

Design with person in blazer, with laptop, holding sign that reads "LOOKING FOR A JOB"

Uptick in Jobless Claims Points to Continued Instability in Labor Market

jobless-claims-franchise-growth

Extraordinary Brands Acquires CycleBar and Rumble, Shaking Up Boutique Fitness Franchising

extraordinary-brands-cyclebar-rumble-boxing-acquisition

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

graphic for a spotlight from 1851 franchise featuring Kevin Rarick from caring transitions

Army Veteran Returns Home To Launch Caring Transitions Franchise in Reading, Pennsylvania

kevin-rarick-caring-transitions-reading-pa

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Open Caring Transitions in Texas

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Set Out to Build a Purpose-Driven Business With Caring Transitions in Texas

navy-veteran-and-professional-artist-couple-set-out-to-build-a-purpose-driven-business-with-caring-transitions-in-texas

graphic image of a franchisee spotlight jamie davis of caring transitions

How This Entrepreneur Turned a Lifelong Passion for Treasures Into a Purpose-Driven Business

jamie-davis-caring-transitions-franchise

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Warehouse and Distribution Leader Transitions to Franchise Ownership with HomeTeam Inspection Service

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS