The new year is an opportunity to start fresh, reflect on the previous 12 months and what’s ahead. As industry pros analyze what worked or didn’t, and how they can set their brands up for success in 2024, it’s important to look at trends and patterns that could have an effect on business and how you plan to address those changes. One industry that’s been preparing for a busy year with tremendous growth opportunities is the home service field.
As the past few years have shown, the home service industry is worth upwards of $500 billion and rising. Home service brands have been climbing the charts, creating an unstoppable momentum that many entrepreneurs want a chance at having. While for years plumbing companies, heating and cooling system providers, and electrical brands were owned and operated by those with years of field experience, that’s no longer the reality. Many people are leaving behind their tiresome corporate jobs to franchise with leading home service brands. Others are using the challenges of the COVID-19 era to turn their layoffs into opportunities to branch out on their own and work towards building a brighter future in a thriving and resilient industry.
As we look ahead and think about how the home service industry plans to build on this momentum in 2024, there are a handful of contributing factors that play a role. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect.
Extreme Weather Fuels the Need for Home Services
There was a time that, for the most part, we could anticipate certain weather patterns at specific times of the year. Yet, that’s no longer the case. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, weather events such as heat waves and large storms are expected to become more frequent or intense with human-induced climate change. As we’ve seen in the past few years, hurricanes have gotten stronger, rainstorms have broken decades old records, and wildfires are burning wider. The destruction left behind by these powerful natural disasters have increased demand for home services year round. Franchises like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning and Mister Sparky have experienced a jump in service calls across most of the U.S. – especially in the aftermath of these storms.
To meet the need for these services, franchises have been preparing in different ways. Some are investing in call centers that can help local businesses enhance the customer service experience, ensuring no call is left unanswered and responding to inquiries on the spot. Other franchises are ensuring their technicians are properly trained to address the needs of homeowners in a suitable manner.
A Competitive Job Market Calls for Enhanced Training Programs
America’s labor shortage will continue to be a concern in 2024. Over the past few years, we’ve noticed a shift in what job applicants are demanding, and it’s more than what perhaps business owners were accustomed to. That’s why, it’s become imperative for companies to look for unique opportunities to attract and retain employees that can help address the increased demand from consumers for home repair services.
To remain top-of-mind in a highly competitive job market, companies like America’s Swimming Pool Company, Mosquito Squad and DRYmedic Restoration Services have invested in their training programs. Through new facilities and robust courses, these home service pros are going above and beyond to ensure they’re equipping each team with the proper knowledge, tools and resources – setting them up for success from the minute they become a part of the group. To make training programs more effective, businesses can also require employees to shadow a team member on the job, receiving hands-on experience during a service call that mirrors what they’ll be expected to perform on their own.
While completing the training that’s required during the onboarding process is crucial to the success of that employee, so is offering continued education. Companies should be prepared to provide ongoing resources, like virtual classes, that can allow employees to grow in their professions and turn these jobs into long-term careers. Continued education should also include instructing teams about new technology, like AI, that can enhance the customer experience and overall service. Franchise owners, like those operating under the Authority Brands umbrella, are at an advantage compared to independent operators, as they don’t have to invest extra time and money into developing these types of assets since those are already readily available to them.
Increased Demand Means More Opportunities to Cross-Sell
Unlike in the restaurant industry, home service companies have the opportunity to expand their services in more ways than one. Take a technician that goes out to assess a home’s water damage that resulted from a flood. The homeowner will need a slew of repairs that may require a handful of companies to get the space back to living condition. This is where opportunity lies for those in the home service field and why many existing owners are expanding their portfolios to include brands that go hand-in-hand with each other.
Companies like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and DRYmedic Restoration Services are seeing an uptick in franchisees investing in both brands as a means to be able to provide customers with additional services. Similarly, America’s Swimming Pool Company has experienced more interest in recent years from current Mosquito Squad franchisees. As they’re already at the home treating the yard for mosquitos and ticks, it only makes sense to be able to also offer pool cleaning, maintenance and service repairs. Brands like these are the perfect match, and we can anticipate seeing the number of owners investing in brands that complement each other more in 2024.
As the economic sentiment improves and consumers continue to seek out ways to enhance their spaces – whether by choice or necessity – the home service industry is poised to build upon the momentum it’s achieved over the past few years. While the outlook is positive, it remains important that companies look at ways to keep pace to give themselves a competitive edge that both consumers and future employees will notice.
About Mark Dawson
Mark Dawson is the Executive Vice President of Service Trade Brands at Authority Brands, which consists of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky Electric, DRYmedic Restoration Services and Screenmobile. Having been in the franchising industry for over 30 years, Mark has extensive experience both as a franchise owner and as a C-Suite executive.