ServPro Employees Partner in Business Ownership with United Water Restoration Group

After working together for five years with ServPro, Javier Castro and Austin Green knew that there was more they could do for their community. Specifically, they wanted to be entrepreneurs and had a big vision for how they could transform the restoration industry in their area of Colorado Springs. For a while, this was just an idea. However, once the two discovered an opportunity with United Water Restoration Group, they knew that they had to take the plunge into business ownership.

To that end, Castro has just become a franchise owner with United Water Restoration Group, the restoration and reconstruction franchise with 95 units, and will be working closely with his business partner Green, who will serve as the location’s director of marketing.

1851 spoke to Castro and Green about their journey into franchising with United Water Restoration Group of Colorado Springs North and their plans for the future.

PROFILE QUESTIONS

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

Green: We’ve both worked in this industry for over a decade combined, so we’ve seen the do's and don'ts and learned a lot. Before this, we worked for a large company together called ServPro. We spent a lot of time working on projects together all over the country, from Minnesota to Colorado, Florida and the Washington DC area, and learned that we share a similar work ethic and level of dedication, and our values really align. 

While we were employees with ServPro, we really wanted to be entrepreneurs. We both had a big vision of what we're capable of in this industry, and that all kind of came together for us to partner together in business ownership. Eventually, we saw that we could help our community by starting our own restoration business, and franchising made the most sense for us because it allows us to have the help we need in order to grow and scale the business.

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?

Castro: I hadn’t initially thought about franchising. I had previously had my own construction company and was trying to do it all on my own. It was really difficult to compete with big companies who had more brand recognition. Now that I know more about franchising, I can see how much of an advantage it is. You have so much support, and you're not alone in this journey. It is still challenging, but you have a lot of people backing you up. I’m really grateful for that.

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

Green: It's an emerging brand in Colorado, so we see this as an opportunity to present this new brand to the market and create a lot of buzz and excitement. 

The support that we received from our corporate team with training and scaling the business at a healthy rate is what initially attracted us to the brand. There seems to be so much excitement behind it in this market, too. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Green: We want to do this work because it helps business owners and homeowners alike in our community. There's an amazing feeling whenever you are the one that a business owner or homeowner trusts with their property during their time of need, and it's a very fulfilling experience. 

Of course, we want to expand this brand. We are the second franchise location in Colorado, and we think that this brand has the ability to create an amazing foothold in the restoration industry here in Colorado. With time and consistent work, we are confident that we are capable of growth. 

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

Green: Javier is a family guy; this is a family-owned business. We love working hard and giving back to our community with the work we do on a daily basis. 

Castro: We both are family men. We are dedicated and honest people who are proud of what we do every day and how it helps people.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Castro: I would encourage people to do it. It’s a great opportunity to grow your business and to grow as a person. It also allows you a way to provide a future for your family.  

Green: I've seen a lot of new franchisees in this industry that don't have a lot of experience in the industry. They just see it as a great investment, which it certainly is, but I think that you can get yourself off the ground a lot more quickly if you at least have some connections in the industry. Seek out some mentorship or prior experience if you can. The more you can learn about your industry before you invest into it as a franchisee, the better your chances are achieving the goals that you set out for yourself from the start.

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.