FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration

USA & CAN
FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration
FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration
FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration FRSTeam Franchise Opportunity | fabric restoration

Established

1988

Franchise Units

49

dollar

Minimum Investment

$138,875

dollar

Franchise Fee

$65,000

dollar

Total Investment Range

$553,500

Home Based

No

Description

FRSTeam is a specialized contents restoration franchise serving homeowners, businesses, insurance carriers, and restoration partners throughout the United States and Canada. The company helps recover valuable belongings following fires, water damage, smoke damage, mold incidents, and other property losses, with services spanning textiles, electronics, clothing, and household or commercial contents.

The business traces its roots to 1988, when Harry Meekma established Custom Commercial in California after recognizing the need for professional textile restoration following property losses. The FRSTeam franchise system was launched in 2006 and has since developed into a North American restoration network backed by established operating procedures, proprietary technology, national insurance relationships, and specialized restoration expertise.

Unlike many consumer home-service businesses that depend primarily on discretionary spending, a significant portion of FRSTeam's opportunity is connected to property insurance claims and unexpected loss events. Franchisees may work with homeowners, commercial property owners, insurance adjusters, contractors, property managers, and national accounts.

Today, FRSTeam operates as part of Empower Brands, a multi-brand franchise organization supporting residential and commercial service concepts across North America. FRSTeam was acquired by Lynx Franchising in 2020, with Lynx and Outdoor Living Brands later combining to form Empower Brands.


Why Invest in the FRSTeam Franchise?

FRSTeam offers entrepreneurs entry into a specialized segment of the property restoration industry without requiring previous restoration experience. Its model combines local business development with established insurance-industry relationships and access to the company's National Accounts Program.

Key advantages include:

  • Need-based service model: Fires, floods, smoke damage, and other insured property losses create demand regardless of normal consumer spending cycles.
  • Multiple revenue streams: Franchisees can generate business through textile, clothing, electronics, hard-contents, residential, and commercial restoration services.
  • National Accounts Program: Established insurance and restoration relationships can provide franchisees with additional claim and referral opportunities.
  • Protected territories: FRSTeam describes its territories as geographically defined and protected.
  • B2B and B2C opportunity: Owners can develop relationships with insurers, adjusters, restoration contractors, businesses, property managers, and individual homeowners.
  • Established brand systems: Franchisees receive operating procedures, technology, training, business coaching, marketing resources, and field support.
  • Scalable operations: Owners may begin with a relatively lean operation and expand personnel, equipment, restoration capacity, and territory as the business develops.
  • No previous restoration experience required: FRSTeam states that many of its franchise owners entered the system without prior contents-restoration experience.


Background

The company's service offering has also evolved significantly. FRSTeam expanded into electronics restoration in 2018 and introduced broader full-contents restoration capabilities in 2021, allowing its network to address more components of residential and commercial property-loss claims.

FRSTeam currently advertises expansion opportunities in multiple U.S. markets as well as Canadian territories including Edmonton, Southwestern Ontario, Vancouver East, Vancouver West, and Winnipeg, subject to availability.

  • Established Year: 1988
  • First Franchise Unit / Franchising Since: 2006
  • Original Founder: Harry Meekma
  • FRSTeam Franchise System Founders: Holly Murry, Courtney Nicholas, Jim Nicholas and Ryan Meekma
  • Franchise Active Units: 49
  • Company-Owned Units: Approximately 2 based on current franchise filing data
  • Industry Category: Contents Restoration / Property Restoration / Home & Commercial Services
  • Corporate Headquarters: Hayward, California
  • Current Brand President: Jeff Waters
  • Parent Company: Empower Brands
  • Market Presence: United States and Canada
  • Franchising Model: Defined territory, full-service restoration business
  • Home-Based: No
  • Business Type: B2B and B2C
  • Franchise Agreement: Typically 10 years based on current franchise information


Franchise Registration Status

  • Currently Approved: California (CA), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Michigan (MI), New York (NY), Wisconsin (WI)
  • Registration in Progress: Hawaii (HI), Maryland (MD), Minnesota (MN), North Dakota (ND), Rhode Island (RI), South Dakota (SD), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA)


Support Training

Franchise Support & Assistance

FRSTEAM provides structured operational support to help new franchise owners move efficiently from agreement signing to business launch.

  • Financial Assistance: Not provided
  • Site Selection Support: Available in an advisory capacity. FRSTEAM does not provide real estate services or lease assistance but offers guidance to help franchisees evaluate and select suitable locations.
  • Lease Negotiation Assistance: Not provided
  • Recruitment Assistance: Not provided
  • Cooperative Advertising: Available at both the national and local level

Training & Onboarding

Every new franchisee is supported by a dedicated Onboarding Team from the time the franchise agreement is signed through training and operational launch. The objective is to have franchisees prepared to begin operating within approximately one month after completing training, or sooner whenever possible.

The FRSTEAM training program covers key areas of the business, including:

  • Hard contents restoration services
  • Hands-on field and on-the-job training
  • Fabric restoration services
  • Electronics restoration services
  • Proprietary pricing software, including pricing and system usage
  • Information technology systems
  • Accounting systems and processes
  • In-person sales and operational training

New franchisees also participate in a Launch Call with the FRSTEAM Operations Team. Ongoing onboarding support continues throughout the training process to help owners transition into operations as efficiently as possible.

Ideal Candidate

Owner Involvement & Staffing

FRSTEAM is designed as an actively managed business rather than a passive investment. The franchise owner generally works from the FRSTEAM facility and is responsible for overseeing daily operations, team performance, customer service, and overall business growth.

Because restoration services may be required at any time, operating demands can vary and the industry functions on a 24/7/365 basis.

A new location will commonly begin with a core team that includes:

  • Franchise Owner
  • Sales Representative
  • Job Coordinator
  • Account Manager

Additional employees are typically added as the business expands. A mature FRSTEAM location averages approximately 18 full-time employees.

Ideal Franchisee Profile

The strongest FRSTEAM candidates are hands-on business owners who place a high value on customer service and are comfortable supporting clients during stressful or unexpected situations.

An ideal franchisee should be:

  • Service-focused and comfortable working directly with customers
  • Willing to actively participate in daily business operations
  • Independent and capable of making sound business decisions
  • Able to follow an established operating and sales system
  • Confident managing and developing a team
  • Strong in relationship building, networking, and business development
  • Adaptable and able to respond quickly in a fast-moving environment
  • Professionally accomplished with a track record of success
  • Financially qualified to develop and operate the franchise
  • Motivated, disciplined, and committed to long-term growth

Previous experience in the restoration industry is not required. FRSTEAM is primarily seeking candidates with strong leadership, business development, customer service, and management capabilities.



Financial Detail


Financial RequirementEstimated Amount
Total Investment$138,875 – $553,500
Minimum Net WorthApproximately $500,000
Recommended Liquid/Cash CapitalApproximately $100,000
Single Unit Franchise Fee$65,000 – $75,000
Larger Territory Franchise FeeUp to $75,000
Lease Deposits / Improvements$0 – $30,000
Signage$500 – $5,000
Equipment & Promotional Items$500 – $158,500
Office Equipment, Software & Fixtures     $3,375 – $20,000
Licences, Permits & Professional Fees$0 – $20,000
Initial Inventory$1,000 – $58,500
Insurance$5,000 – $20,000
Initial Marketing / Advertising$1,000 – $10,000
Initial Training Travel Expenses$2,500 – $6,500
3-Month Working Capital$60,000 – $150,000
Royalty Fee6% of monthly gross revenue
Brand / Advertising FundApproximately 2%
Technology FeeAdditional technology/software fees may apply
Franchise TermTypically 10 years




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