Why I Choose AdvantaClean: Jon Smith

After serving oversees in the U.S. Navy from 2001-2005 as an IT and as a special warfare combatant-craft crewmen (SWCC), Jon Smith worked for BP on the top of Alaska. But just two months ago, Smith packed his bags and moved to Sandy Springs, Georgia where he will open his first AdvantaClean location. The company provides a full suite of offerings for residential, commercial, institutional, and governmental properties that make these buildings clean, safe, healthy, and efficient for the occupants. Services include essential repairs like emergency water removal, mold removal, and air duct cleaning. He will open the business in mid-November and is focused on providing job opportunities to fellow veterans in the area.

1851 Franchise: Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

Jon Smith: I served four years in the U.S. Navy 2001-2005, part of the time as a special warfare combatant-craft crewmen (SWCC). I was stationed overseas and in the Middle East during my active duty service before returning to Alaska where I was born and raised. I earned degrees in industrial instrumentation and process instrumentation and worked for BP for six years. After leaving BP, I spent about a year deciding my next career move. I liked the work that I did for BP, but not the politics associated with a corporate company. I always liked the southeast US, so I loaded up a truck and drove down to Georgia to start my own business.

1851: Why did you choose to become a franchisee with AdvantaClean? How did you learn about the brand?

JS: I had never heard of the brand and was introduced while working with a franchise consultant to identify what kind of business would be the best fit for me to pursue. I looked into probably 50 franchises before settling on AdvantaClean and was able to rule most of them out easily. To me, there were obvious problems with some of them. I wanted a franchise that I could trust and everything I heard about AdvantaClean was positive.

1851: What were your perceptions of franchising before starting the process?

JS: Before buying a franchise, I knew that there could be a lot of good and bad. I think it is important to choose the right band because you can do as much research as you think is possible and know the business inside and out, but the decision is still a huge leap of faith. You have to buy one that is headed in the right direction and sets you up for success.

1851: What were the most unexpected challenges of opening your franchise?

JS: Since Advantaclean is a restoration business, there are many compliance issues that we need to prepare for handling, including precautions to avoid issues with lead and asbestos that may be present in a home or business that we repair. I did not anticipate how cumbersome that compliance process would be.

JS: Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and Buckhead local papers.