Owner: Davis Watkins
Previous Occupation: HVAC Professional
Territory: Kennesaw, GA

Like many other AdvantaClean owners, Davis Watkins made his living in the HVAC industry. And, like many other HVAC managers, he grew tired of his success constantly bringing in big profits for someone else. He was looking for an opportunity that would allow him to use his more than 20 years of experience in the field of indoor air quality while retaining his independence and flexibility. AdvantaClean offered that freedom plus the peace of mind that comes with owning a company in a recession-resistant industry.

Another reason Davis decided to make the switch was his sense of frustration with the HVAC trade. He admits the industry is here to stay, but mostly out of necessity. "We always kid that HVAC technicians are in the emergency business; people only think of us when stuff doesn't work," he says. "That's enough to keep the industry going, but the reality is customers are being underserved in the areas of energy savings, comfort and indoor air quality. The whole industry is lagging because of its inability to grasp new technology to commoditization of services to shortage of quality labor.

Interestingly, the experience of dealing with the daily problems and opportunities that arise in HVAC are what makes Davis prepared for what it takes to run his AdvantaClean business. "I believe the biggest advantage is that AdvantaClean's core business, like HVAC, is not very sexy – and we're alright with that. We're used to getting our hands dirty while helping customers who have a sense of urgency and a feeling of helplessness when something goes wrong - like a furnace going out on the coldest day of winter or water leaks from a ruptured water line. But, as the decision makers in our own companies, we're able to suggest long-term solutions to other problems or concerns that may save homeowners big bucks in the future."

There are other attributes of successful HVAC managers that make successful AdvantaClean franchisees. Of course, knowledge of the technology and equipment are invaluable for the air duct cleaning aspect of the business, but it goes beyond "nuts-and-bolts" knowledge. "Quality HVAC professionals have an extensive knowledge base related to indoor air quality issues," says Davis. "But, just as important, they're comfortable speaking with consumers and can offer complete solutions to a wide range of indoor air quality issues within the entire building envelope. Not only are we there to save the day when we're needed, but we provide services that become valuable investments. And, I feel comfortable knowing the AdvantaClean corporate team, from the top down, is as dedicated to providing quality service as we are. It shows in everything they do."

Davis Watkins