Canadian Franchise Association CEO Sherry McNeil
July/August 2019Publisher's Message

Publisher’s Message: Home Inspection Heroes

The dream of home ownership is one nearly all Canadians strive to make a reality. According to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, 69 per cent of Canadians already own a home, while four in five millennials want to buy one. Current home owners know the importance of performing your due diligence before making the leap. Canadians are savvy investors, which is why the franchise business model has stepped in to provide home buyers with the peace of mind that a professional residential property inspection offers.

For many Canadians, their home is their most valuable asset. It’s no surprise that homeowners from coast to coast place a heavy importance on knowing their investment – whether it’s a bungalow, condo, cottage, or duplex – inside and out. This July/August issue of Franchise Canada takes a look at the franchise brands that provide would-be homeowners with the knowledge they need to sleep well at night knowing their new home is everything they dreamed it would be.

Our cover story takes a look at Pillar To Post, a franchise concept that was conceived after Mike Brewer, the company’s founder, had a bad experience buying a home in the early nineties. A franchise system developed on a foundation of building trust between home inspectors, real estate agents, and home buyers, Pillar To Post has grown to become one of North America’s biggest names in home inspection, with 250 franchise locations across the continent.

We dive deeper into home inspection franchisees, where we look at four more concepts providing this always in-demand service. Perhaps you’re looking to open a business in your newly purchased, thoroughly inspected, home? We’ll highlight a group of brands that make running your own franchise flexible with their home-based and mobile concepts. Touting exceptional flexibility and work-life balance, these home-based and mobile franchises profiled here are businesses you can run right in your very own home. All you need is a desk, a phone, a computer with a reliable internet connection, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

In our regular department features, you’ll find profiles of brands such as iconic greeting card and gift franchise Hallmark, while our Across Canada takes you on a journey through the franchise concepts getting homeowners out of tough jams with assistance from restoration services. We’ll also take you through the Day in the Life of a Print Three franchisee in Ottawa, the experiences of the only millennial franchisee in the Fresh Burger system, and the father-son franchisor duo of Yvan and Sylvain Houle in our Leadership Profile.

Whether you’re looking to invest in a franchise that focuses on Canadian homes, or are looking to run a business out of your own home, this issue has the tips, tricks, and tools you need to become the next franchising success story!