With recession still bearing down on many Americans and no clear sign of relief ahead, many people are wondering if there’s a better alternative during recession than just hunkering down and playing it safe. No one ever knows with any certainty when the economy will pick back up, so having an income stream that makes good money during recession is not only a plus, it’s a necessity in today’s economy. With that in mind, consider that when the economy slows down, the housing market follows suit. When the housing market slows down, people who may have sold their homes when the market was up, tend to plant firmer roots and decide to stay at their home for another 5-10 years (or until the market turns back around). This inconvenience to home-owners creates a booming niche market for the right entrepreneur. Those people that have to stay in their homes longer than they normally would have will need plenty of help maintaining and fixing their home so that when it does come time to sell, the home will still be worth a good price and so that it’s a good place to live in the mean time. If a career in home service sounds like a good idea for your skill set and you like the idea of a recession-resistant business, here’s a quick look at the top 10 home service franchises currently available.
1. Sir Grout
As you may have guessed from the name, this franchise specializes in grout and tile restoration. What you may not have guessed, however, is that grout and tile restoration is one of the hottest sectors in the home improvement industry today. With a proprietary system designed to transform old dilapidated floors in to perfectly restored tile work, Sir Grout can take any entrepreneur with a desire to be their own boss and turn them into a successful owner of this mobile franchise.
2. SightMind Inc
With industry growth as high as 44% per year, the IP-based video surveillance industry is one to watch, and now with a franchise from SightMind Inc you can own your own franchise in this booming industry. Each year, millions of homes and businesses realize the need for tighter security, and whether this comes as a result of careful planning or as a reaction to a break-in, SightMind Inc can provide peace of mind as well as a rock-solid IP Video Surveillance system all conveniently packaged in this work at home franchise.
3. Budget Blinds
One of the best parts of a mobile franchises, like Budget Blinds, is that you can run the entire business out of a company van, without having to lease costly retail space or hire a bloated staff to run the store. Budget Blinds minimizes the costs associated with a traditional window blind store and is then able to give customers incredible prices while still making a good profit and selling a quality product. With $7 billion in annual sales, this industry can definitely provide a steady stream of income and with Budget Blinds’ no nonsense approach to it’s franchisees, you can get your own franchise up and running for as little as $50k.
4. Nutri-Lawn
A great lawn can make a home look beautiful while at the same time provide a playground for the kids, a place to sit and talk or the perfect setting for a neighborhood barbeque. While at one time, most people took pride and too the time to perfectly manicure their own lawns, these days, the mentality seems to be that you should spend what little free time you have enjoying things like a good lawn, rather than always working to perfect it. To the end, Nutri-Lawn offers lawn treatments that leave your lawn lush and green, without the harsh chemicals used by most lawn treatment companies. The beauty of Nutri-Lawn is that as the public interest in eco-friendly products and services grows, so will the market and demand for Nutri-Lawn.
5. USA Insulation
The hands-down easiest way to save money on your energy bill is to properly insulate your home, and one of the top names in home insulation is USA Insulation. Their product and installation methods are top-notch, 100% non-toxic and have shown to reduce environmental noise by as much as 80%. With a total investment of just over 100k, this franchise is perfect for anyone with a knack for home restoration and a desire to bring a great product to their customers.
6. Weed Man
Weighing in at $67 billion/year, the lawn care industry is definitely a heavy-weight in today’s economy. Weed Man franchises have claimed a large chuck of that industry with over 200 franchises currently in operation across Canada, the US and the UK. Franchisees with this home based franchise get volume pricing on all of the necessary tools, fertilizers and chemicals needed to make their customers lawns look beautiful and stay green year-round. There’s a reason that so many people have chosen and continue to do business with Weed Man, and with plenty of room for franchisees, you can join this successful franchise and hit the ground running with your own work from home franchise.
7. Molly Maid
With countless awards and recognitions from the top names in franchising, Molly Maid has made quite a name for itself and has grown to be one of the top franchise businesses in the $20 billion dollar domestic services industry. With a projected growth rate of as much as 20% per year, this industry isn’t going anywhere and with a franchise will Molly Maid, you can be at the forefront of the cleaning services industry.
8. MaidPro
Not to be outdone, MaidPro is another top name in the cleaning industry; combining proven methods with new technology such as management software and real-time access to company data. This franchise allows you to start small with a single company vehicle and an initial investment as low as $60k, but then is easily expandable to a few units or even a multi-million dollar company over time. MaidPro takes all the benefits of running your own business and being your own boss, but adds to it a company website and a call center that caters to the business owner, giving you all the tools you need to run a successful franchise in this massive industry.
9. Re-Bath
Put simply, Re-Bath is the world’s largest bathroom remodeler. Named one of the top 10 home improvement franchises by Entrepreneur, and with it’s products and work featured in nearly every major hotel chain in the world, Re-Bath has built the name, the reputation and the client base, and now for the cost of a franchise fee, you can start your own Re-Bath and capitalize on all of the hard work the Re-Bath has put in to get their business where it is today. With no previous remodeling or construction experience required, this is a great franchise for anyone looking for a streamlined business that has a built-in client base of thousands of hotels all over the world.
10. ANDY OnCall
For a more traditional sense of the term “home service,” meet ANDY OnCall. This franchise business provides residential and commercial handyman services and has a prime position in this $200 billion dollar industry. With one of the highest returns in the industry and very little direct competition, ANSY OnCall is a great franchise for any handy entrepreneur. But don’t be discouraged if you aren’t exactly the “handy” type, because this is still a great business opportunity for anyone who can manage a fleet of handymen.
While there are no guarantees in life, and it would be foolish to call any business “recession-proof” these businesses have definitely proven that they are at least recession-resistant and can weather the storm just fine. Choosing the right business for your particular skills and desires is crucial, however, if you have an interest in home services or have been on the fence about which business to pursue, consider a franchise in this, one of the most stable industries in the market today. When many businesses suffer or even close up shop, people are still willing to spend money to protect their most important investment: their home.