Millennial franchisee duo Greg Quaile and Justin Prittie share why Koala Insulation was the perfect fit for their next business adventure
By Stefanie Ucci
It was a stroke of fate that put Greg Quaile and Justin Prittie in each other’s paths just a few years ago. But a shared love for franchising was what really solidified an unbreakable bond.
Both were already franchise owners for businesses in different industries—Quaile in skincare and cosmetics alongside his wife, and Prittie in home and business moving services.
Starting a new friendship built on a shared passion for franchising—being in business for themselves but not by themselves—was what piqued many conversations and eventually, a mutual interest in exploring a new business opportunity together.
After long days of research and in-depth homework to find something that felt like the right fit for them both, the duo discovered Koala Insulation. As a trusted insulation contractor with roots in the U.S., Koala Insulation offered the perfect opportunity for Quaile and Prittie to get in early on its introduction to the Canadian market.
“Koala Insulation is built around the idea that insulation should be simple, transparent, and results-driven for homeowners and businesses,” says Quaile. “The brand focuses on education first, by helping customers understand how insulation impacts comfort, energy efficiency, and long-term cost savings, rather than just selling a product.”
They also liked that Koala Canada was made up of the same team who already worked at the highly successful TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise with its home office located in Toronto.
Fast forward to October 2024, and they officially opened their doors to serve customers in the Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph regions of southern Ontario.
A refreshingly straightforward experience
What makes Koala Insulation unique, explains Quaile, is the product specialization: “Insulation is not an add-on service for us—it’s all we do.” The focus on expert insulation services is what allows franchisees to deliver higher quality installations, better diagnostics, and more consistent results for their customers.
With a specialization in residential and commercial services, Koala Insulation offers spray foam insulation, blown-in attic insulation, and insulation removal services. Customers can also opt for solar attic fan installation or batt insulation installation, and air sealing services or crawl space services.
The two knew early on that customer service would become their main focus. Describing the brand as friendly, approachable, and modern, Quaile notes that customers can rely on trustworthy and professional contractors who provide a “refreshingly straightforward” experience.
Growing with the masses
On any given day, Quaile and Prittie need to be both strategic and hands-on in their roles. They’re responsible for overseeing operations, supporting their team, meeting customers, reviewing estimates, and ensuring quality control on all jobs performed by their business unit. There are also items like local marketing, business development, and building relationships with contractors and community partners in the areas they serve.
“Some days are spent in the field, others behind a desk, but the goal is always the same: deliver an exceptional customer experience and to do the job right the first time,” says Quaile. That’s the Koala promise.
With more than 400 locations opened across the U.S. in the matter of just four years, the brand has a solid success story—and one that this dynamic duo is proud to be part of introducing to Canada. Today, their franchise is among five locations throughout Ontario, including Durham, Halton, and London. Available markets across Canada include British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
“Insulation is not an add-on service for us—it’s all we do.”
– Greg Quaile
While rapid growth brings the challenge of maintaining consistent quality, Quaile and Prittie have been keen to scale responsibility without having to compromise the quality of their workmanship or customer service. How do they overcome this challenge? By leaning heavily on support systems, explains Quaile. “Investing in training, setting clear expectations, and building a strong team culture have been key. We also prioritize communication, both internally and with customers, which helps prevent issues before they arise.”
Quaile explains that the pair have found support systems in fellow franchisees who are a source to bounce ideas off of, share learnings, and pick up tips to incorporate into their own business. It’s a well-rounded system of initial training, ongoing support, and round-the-clock resources.
Franchisees with Koala Insulation benefit from a robust training and support program that includes on-site instruction on using spray foam, batt, and blown-in insulation, as well as sales and marketing training, business operations guidance, hands-on technical experience, and ongoing support provided virtually, in-field, and in-person. The initial training begins at the Koala USA corporate headquarters in Melbourne, Florida, for a five-day intensive introduction. Ongoing and in-depth training continues in Toronto both online and in-person, as well as at the franchisees’ own locations. As the brand continues to expand, the intensive and ongoing training takes place in various locations across Canada.
Keep your eyes on the prize
With more than a decade of franchising experience, this pair of business owners are Millennials to their core—and they have the technology expertise to back it up.
Quaile notes that their age has had a significant advantage as they navigate the franchising industry. That’s because they’re comfortable with technology, have data-driven decision-making skills, and know how to fit into the modern marketing world, all of which play key roles in being a business owner. “It’s helped us adapt quickly, implement systems efficiently, and connect with customers in a more relatable way,” says Quaile.
Still in the beginning stages of their franchise together, the learnings keep rolling in day by day. In the early days, patience and consistency were key because, as Quaile puts it, “Growth doesn’t always happen overnight, even with a strong brand behind you.” It took trusting the process, following systems set out by the brand, and keeping their eyes on the prize: steady improvement rather than immediate growth. Over time, all of this adds up to long-term success in an evolving brand.
Their goal, as both their own franchise grows and the brand expands across Canada, is to consistently provide reputable, professional, and courteous service, so customers keep coming back and the Koala Insulation brand develops a strong reputation in communities country-wide. It’s all about focusing on the execution of residential and commercial projects so that customers know what to expect and their expectations are always met. “Do what you said you’re going to do and do it well,” says Quaile.
So, what advice do Quaile and Prittie have for young aspiring entrepreneurs? Do your homework, of course. That’s how they ended up discovering a business opportunity with the Koala Insulation brand. But it’s one thing to find a brand and another to actually understand all parts of it. You have to choose a business that you genuinely believe in, too. Talking to existing franchisees, especially those in the same generation as you, is another helpful step as you dive deeper into a franchise opportunity.
“Ultimately, be honest with yourself about the level of involvement required. Franchising isn’t passive—it’s still entrepreneurship. But it offers structure, support, and a proven model,” says Quaile. Find your passion, align with a business, and the rest will fall into place. “When you align with the product, the values, and the mission, it makes the hard days much easier and the successes far more rewarding.”
Learn more about Franchising with Koala Insulation
