Americans hate germs, and the good news for these businesses is that germs are everywhere – in the air, in our homes, even in our drinking water. By reducing the level of germs in our living environments, environmental businesses and franchisors have been able to provide consumers with products and services that are both profitable and healthy.

Some franchise industries offer a very narrow range of services. However, the environmental franchise industry is not one of them. As you might imagine, the kinds of franchise opportunities in this industry cover a broad spectrum.

Residential & commercial air cleaning, water purification, waste eradication, even sidewalk chewing gum removal – they are all very real possibilities in environmental franchising.

Chewing gum is great for chewing, but not so great for sidewalks, carpets, and other surfaces. The folks at Gumbusters International noticed that the available methods for gum removal didn’t do a very good job. So they invented a patented new system to efficiently and effectively remove gum “pollution” from streetside walkways and interior floor spaces. Their system was a success and they currently have franchises not only in the U.S., but also in the U.K., Germany, Netherlands, and Australia.

Gumbusters is just one example of an environmental franchise that is making a big impact in the marketplace. To find out which franchise is right for you, start by looking around your local community to discern gaps in the marketplace. Once you’ve determined where the gaps are, begin researching specific franchises that offer services to meet the needs.

Points to Consider

• Some industries lend themselves to easy transitions for new business owners and some don’t. The environmental industry requires specific expertise as well as detailed knowledge about environmental laws and regulations. Franchising makes sense for new environmental business owners because it provides support and training that simply aren’t an option for non-franchised businesses.
• The environmental services industry is chocked full of technical and scientific terminology. While it helps to have a scientific background, a lack of technical and scientific expertise isn’t a deal-breaker. Just make sure to ask lots of questions and surround yourself with qualified people.

Franchising Opportunities

• Gumbusters International B.V. Gumbusters is a unique franchisor that offers a very specific service to a potentially diverse cross-section of businesses and consumers. Much of their success can be attributed to the quality of their service and their no-hassle approach. At the present time they offer franchise opportunities both in the U.S. and in select locations abroad.
• Culligan. Established in 1936, Culligan takes pride in being the most recognized name in water, specializing in providing water delivery and purification systems. The company currently has more than 700 franchises in North America and they are eager to recruit new franchisees.
• Envirospect Inc. Environmental home inspections is another area in which franchises have achieved success. Envirospect focuses on inspections for mold, mildew, allergens, radon, lead asbestos, and Phase I environmental consulting. Although they are relatively new to franchising, the company is aggressively seeking new franchisees.
• Advance Look Building Inspections. Similar in scope to Envirospect, Advance Look is another company offering environmental home inspections for potential and existing homeowners. In 2005, they reported 50 franchise locations in North America.

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