Deciding to take your business and roll it under a national brand is difficult - especially if you look at your business as a family member. Why then do people decide to venture into the franchising world? The answer is simple – support.

Franchising is a driving economic force offering proven business structures behind the strength of a national brand. Teaming independent business owners with a larger company is simply a recipe for success.

However, not all franchises are the same. Some provide the business systems you need then leave you alone once they get your check. For those of you in the electrical industry, there is an option providing both the systems and support: Mr. Electric.

Mr. Electric is one of the largest and fastest growing full-service electrical companies in the world. A division of The Dwyer Group, a worldwide franchise organization with more than 900 franchisees in the U.S. and Canada, Mr. Electric has nearly 120 locations in five countries and is g uided on the philosophy of “being in business for yourself, not by yourself.”

Those who have taken up the Mr. Electric brand

Steve and Esther Lockhart, owners of Mr. Electric in Santa Clarita, Calif., were early pioneers who joined the company in 1996 and have watched their investment grow alongside the popularity of the Mr. Electric brand, which now spans coast to coast.

Steve, a retired electrical contractor, and Esther, a former nurse, attempted to run Lockhart Electric in their community when, like so many other independent operators, they realized they needed help running a business.   They also wanted a company with the type of brand recognition that would have good resale value when they were ready to get out.  

“We knew that we could never sell Lockhart Electric and get what we deserved,” said Esther.   “We needed to be part of a corporate enterprise that would help us with pricing jobs and managing our business.   We needed to build something of lasting value that we could eventually sell when we were ready.”

Today, their business runs a 5-van Mr. Electric operation in the fastest-growing area of Los Angeles County. The ongoing support from Mr. Electric, along with a growing network of peer franchise owners and strong advertising and marketing, have made their franchise a rewarding experience.

It’s a familiar story to Rick Cross, president of Mr. Electric, whose company was the first to introduce franchising to electrical services and repairs.   Based in Waco, Texas, the franchisor has identified and secured a niche that has catapulted the company from a 1994 startup to a national network.  

“The company brand keeps growing - increasing customer recognition,” said Cross. “Our business model is raising the bar in quality and consistency making franchising electrical services and repairs a win-win for the industry and for commercial and residential customers.”

Keith Pinkerton of Huntsville, Ala. recognized the value of Mr. Electric’s national brand and purchased a franchise to diversify his company’s services in November of 2003.

“I didn’t want to rely completely on the unpredictable cycle of new construction,” said Pinkerton. “The addition of Mr. Electric has helped me widen my customer base. The impact of the franchise and its operating system was so strong that I purchased the rights for four additional counties within months after buying my immediate area.”  

So why are people hesitant on franchising? It’s because many electricians are comfortable in dealing with the technical end of the business, but not the business side of things. Subjects like finance, budgeting, marketing, break-even analysis and others are likely to be put on the back-burner – but that is where the support structure comes in.

“With a proven support structure provided by Mr. Electric, running a business can become as comfortable as putting in a light switch,” said Cross. “Our franchise owners are never alone. We provide support from our corporate headquarters, conduct regional and annual company meetings, and because of our collective buying power our franchisees have access to leading vendors at competitive prices.”

That’s exactly what attracted Oleg Nikishin to open a Mr. Electric in Doylestown, Pa.   A Russian immigrant with a history of successful business experience, Nikishin was looking to own his own company without having to reinvent the wheel.  

“I wanted a business that receives a lot of demand in any economy,” said Nikishin.   “I wanted a company with history, a long-term player that was trend proof – a company that shared my vision and ethics and would help me build for retirement.   Mr. Electric was all that.”

Like many franchise owners, Nikishin found comfort in the longevity and strength of the Mr. Electric brand in an industry that is sometimes tainted by the lone independent offering customers a poor experience and then disappearing from the scene.  

“There is strength in numbers,” said Cross.   “When a company can point to a number of locations across the country where the range of services and the customer’s experience are expected to meet certain expectations, there is a peace of mind in the soundness of the business.”

After celebrating its 10 th anniversary earlier this year, Mr. Electric is firmly established. The franchisor is now focusing its efforts on sheer growth in numbers and influence, something which it expects to continue for decades to come.

“People can expect to see a lot more of us,” said Cross.   “We’re just getting started.”

If you would like more information on the Mr. Electric franchise go to: http://www.mrelectric.com

About Mr. Electric:
Mr. Electric® is a global franchise organization offering residential and commercial electrical installation and repair through more than 160 locations worldwide.  Mr. Electric is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc., one of the world’s largest franchise holding companies in the residential and commercial service business. For further information or to find the location nearest you, visit www.mrelectric.com.

About The Dwyer Group:
The Dwyer Group, Inc., based in Waco, Texas, owns six franchisor corporations, Dwyer Group National Accounts and Harmon Solutions Group, a third party administrator. Each franchise business sells and supports a different service-based brand name franchise under the following service marks: Aire Serv® Heating & Air Conditioning, Glass Doctor®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Rooter® (Drain Doctor® in the UK), and Rainbow International® Restoration and Cleaning. Collectively, the franchisees of these franchise concepts offer customers a broad base of residential and commercial services.  Dwyer is a portfolio company of The Riverside Company, a private equity firm with offices in New York, Cleveland, Dallas and San Francisco. Riverside acquired Dwyer in a public-to-private transaction in October 2003.  For more information regarding The Dwyer Group, Inc. or its franchise concepts, visit the company's Web site at www.dwyergroup.com.