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Why We're in Love with Our Franchisee Mentor Program

February 26, 2021

Our Franchisee Mentor Program Sets You Up For Success

One of the reasons why College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving® is considered a top franchising opportunity in the United States is its culture of mentoring. For franchisees, this support begins with extensive training at the College HUNKS headquarters and never ends.

Listed within the top 3% of all franchise opportunities in the nation and recognized for its success by numerous media and business groups, College HUNKS is rapidly building its national presence in the stress-free junk removal and moving space–even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pivoting quickly to implement new best practices that limit the spread of the virus, College HUNKS franchise owners claimed success amidst COVID-19 challenges as leaders in an industry that is proving to be recession- and pandemic-proof. The supportive culture of College HUNKS’ tight-knit group of franchisees and College HUNKS’ franchising staff was key to how this success was possible.

“The mentoring that is done peer to peer is amazing. Any day of the week I know I can pick up the phone and call another owner that might have a different perspective or an idea I might just not be looking at,” said Andrew Lawrie, owner of College HUNKS Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and College HUNKS Lancaster, PA. “Also, my phone is always on for anyone that needs or wants to call with any questions.”

Lawrie, who is chair of the College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving Franchise Advisory Council, noted that the company’s core value of building and supporting leaders throughout the franchise was what attracted him to the business. “I believe building leaders is not just in our own business but in the system as a whole,” he said. “My goal is to make this process even more formalized in 2021 and I am extremely excited about it.”

 

What Does Mentoring Look Like at College HUNKS?

College HUNKS franchisees are set up to succeed with comprehensive training and business coaching that is unparalleled in the industry. We provide 10-12 weeks of ramp-up (including a 150-point checklist) and weekly calls. Franchise partners spend one week at corporate headquarters for in-person training, and three days on-site with a high-performing franchise location because there is nothing like seeing it happen for yourself. All of these efforts are focused on the skills they will use every day to run and grow their business. When they first join the College HUNKS family, every franchisee receives operations manuals, access to videos, an online knowledge library, and webinars on a variety of topics related to running their own business–this is added to on an ongoing basis.

Additionally, each franchise partner is assigned two coaches to mentor them: a dedicated Franchise Business Coach and a Marketing Coach. The coaches will work with them on an ongoing basis to maximize their growth and success. They support franchisees with ongoing coaching to help them improve operations and profitability for their location and hold monthly coaching calls with them to help them analyze their business performance. Coaches will also regularly visit franchisees at their locations so they have the chance to ask questions in person, review anything that has come up for them recently, etc. They always have access to the College HUNKS Performance Team, which provides training and support to franchise partners, including site visits to ensure owners are reaching their goals and maximizing their profits.

Franchisees can also participate in Momentum Groups made up of franchisees who meet regularly to support each other and learn from fellow franchise partners in a structured setting. There is an internal social media platform that franchise owners use to communicate with one another, share ideas, and solve issues as well.

 

Why is the mentoring program so important to College HUNKS?

When College HUNKS launched the franchise program in 2006, the mentoring program was created as a core part of that and it has delivered significant results for the brand. We believe that our mentoring program has been a critical part of the success we have seen thus far. It sets us apart from other franchise brands and truly supports the franchisees as they work each day to grow their business. Our franchise system has more than doubled in size since 2010 and has experienced 500% systemwide growth since 2013. We have more than 150 franchise locations operating nationwide in a network that reached $100 million in revenue in 2019. In 2020, despite the pandemic, we were able to continue to grow our brand and bring more franchisees into the network. 2021 is already looking very promising and we know our franchisees will continue to make the most of the mentoring program.

Looking for an opportunity to join our network? We currently have territories available in the US and Canada with options in some major cities such as Atlanta, Houston, St. Louis, and more. We would love to have you join our team! Contact College HUNKS today to learn how you can be a successful entrepreneur supported by a strong, national brand.