(Tampa, Florida and Toronto, Ontario) – Pillar To Post Home Inspectors, the largest home inspection company in North America, with headquarter offices both in Tampa and Toronto, announced today that in 2015 they have welcomed 75 new franchisees, and expect a similar result for 2016.
Ranked #1 in the Home Inspection Category and 109th on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2015 Franchise 500 list, the franchise recognized throughout USA & Canada for its comprehensive home inspections also stands among the upper-echelon of 4,000 franchise systems in North America. President Dan Steward adds, “Pillar To Post celebrated its 20th year of service in 2014, so that we can say we’re still growing at a rate like this is all the more impressive. Potential franchisees see the value in joining a franchise that has decades of experience in the industry and that provides a level of support the likes of which not seen elsewhere.”
In addition to Pillar To Post’s appearance on this year’s Entrepreneur Magazine’s list, they’ve also enjoyed a bevy of commendations for their support for military veteran franchisees and have been recognized by Franchise Business Review year after year as a top franchise for veterans; and a TOP 50 franchise system for franchisee satisfaction.
The company was also named a top franchise for veterans by U.S. Veterans Magazine. In June of this year, Pillar To Post Home Inspectors was also acknowledged by World Franchising Network on its top-50 list of franchises for veterans.
Steward adds, “We are growing internally as well to match the support necessary for launching this year’s stellar list of new franchisees. The enthusiasm and level of character in our new franchisees is second to no other system.”
A perfect example of a new franchisee is army veteran Lamar Wheeler who opened his Pillar To Post Home Inspectors business in San Antonio, Texas in April of 2015. Lamar left corporate America behind to control his own destiny as a business owner. He left the Army in 1996, ending a career of distinction that spanned 20 years. Immediately thereafter, Lamar entered the workforce with Iron Mountain Records Management where he worked for 15 years. But a desire to see his grandchildren grow up spurred him to move to Texas where, inspired by both a wish to be closer to his family and a decision to leave something for his daughter and son-in-law—both active members of the military themselves—Lamar formulated a plan to open his own business. He had plenty of options to help make his desires a reality, but none were more enticing than that offered by Pillar To Post Home Inspectors. With hundreds of existing franchisees, Pillar To Post had been offering home inspections for more than 20 years. This reputation won him over, said Lamar.
“It was important that whatever business opportunity I chose would let me set myself out from the crowd,” said Lamar. “Pillar To Post Home Inspectors has three different inspection packages to offer to clients while most other home inspectors only have the basic inspection. This gives homeowners a host of options for the kind of inspection they’d like instead of being handcuffed to only one; the precise level of the inspection is up to them.”
But Lamar was inspired by more than Pillar To Post’s reputation as an industry leader. The housing market, he said, is now such that he sees big financial incentives for owning a home inspection business. “Home sales are easing monthly,” said Lamar, “which is good for the economy and good for individuals like me. Really, home inspections are taking off so it’s an industry that’s primed for expansion.”
No stranger to giving orders, the onetime drill sergeant found the value in joining a franchise that could give him guidance. “Pillar To Post is a proven system and by following the company’s guidelines, you have a much better chance to succeed than if you were to go it alone. With Pillar To Post, I can be my own boss while still having a system in place to help me get off on the right foot. I’ve had nothing but good jobs throughout my career, but I know nothing can be better than being your own boss. I’ve learned to just go for it; if you have a plan, it will work.”