Category: Franchise

When and How to Part Ways with an Employee

May 25, 2021

By David Stamper, NPI, Inc.’s President & CFO As a business owner, you’ll be faced with making tough calls almost every day. Perhaps one of the most challenging of these is having to let an employee go. It’s difficult, and oftentimes uncomfortable to deal with, but it’s a choice that you’re forced to make for the betterment of your business. There could be any number of reasons you have to let someone go from quality of work to personal problems. So how should you go about parting ways with an employee? EvaluationBefore you make a final decision, you should review the employee’s past work and reports. You can also refer to any comments from other employees and even customers to hear secondary opinions and identify any common problems. You might find that the issues started recently and aren’t an overall indicator of their temperament or their work performance. If you find that work has only been slipping recently, it might be more appropriate to speak with an employee directly. There could be some underlying personal issue that’s impacting their work. It’s always best to get your facts straight and then take the next step. Collect Relevant Documents To protect yourself

Mitigating Risk as a Home Inspector

April 27, 2021

By Bill Erickson, NPI, Inc.’s Executive Vice President Taking steps to limit your liability as a home inspector is as important as your marketing plan or report-writing process. You don’t want to leave a customer unhappy, especially to the point where they seek legal action against you. While you can’t erase your risk completely, there are ways that you can significantly lower it: Constantly Communicate From the time the inspection is scheduled to the report review, keeping your clients in the loop is an easy way to manage risk. Having a record of each interaction involving the inspection will come in handy in case you need to refer back . Prior to your arrival, send the client or homeowner a list of what they need to do to ensure a complete and uninterrupted inspection. Most people might assume that you’ll be moving items to access parts of the house (a major no-go in terms of liability), and may not realize an inspection is all visual. After, take the time to explain your findings to the customer so they aren’t left guessing. Relaying information before, during, and after the inspection is sure to clear any confusion about the process and your

Perfect Fit: Knowing if a Franchise is Right for You

April 13, 2021

By Sammi Marcellus, NPI, Inc.’s Recruitment Coordinator Franchising has long been a popular business venture in both the United States and Canada. In 2019, almost 800,000 franchise outlets employed over 8 million people in the U.S. and almost 2 million Canadians worked for 76,000 outlets. Needless to say, if you’ve decided that franchising is right for you, you’re in good company. While it’s an exciting choice to go out on your own, it can also be intimidating. With so many different options out there, how do you know which will be the best for you? Read on for our rundown of the most important factors to consider. Determining Costs While researching, the first thing you might notice about a franchise is the price tag. Franchises can vary on their upfront costs, so it’s important to evaluate what you’re receiving in your start-up package. Most companies will have everything broken down in their franchise disclosure document (FDD) so you can see exactly what you pay for. From here you can better gauge if the cost is worth it. Are there any large costs you pay for? What does your ROI look like over time? Thinking about questions like these as you

Bonding with Your Employees: Building Relationships and Making Work Fun

March 30, 2021

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach Your employees do so much to help build your business, and it’s a nice gesture to show them that you notice their hard work. Workers that are shown gratitude are reported to be more productive, happier, and motivated. Here are some fun ideas that you can do with your team this week to create a better workplace. Company Field Day/Office Olympics An office-wide competition day is sure to bring out your inner kid. If the weather allows, going to a park or other nearby greenspace lets you soak up some sun and get fresh air. A water balloon toss, obstacle course, or relay race are a few of the many events that you can set up. You can increase involvement and effort by offering a reward for the winning group such as a gift card. A day outing like this is a great time for everyone, and fairly inexpensive and easy to put together as well. Escape Room Another way to get out of the office is by going to an escape room. They’re an amusing challenge that also improves employee relationships. They teach cooperation and problem-solving, which translate back to working together

Preparing Your Small Business for Retirement

March 16, 2021

By Roland Bates, NPI, Inc.’s Founder & CEO If you’ve started thinking about retiring from your small business, congratulations! Building a company from the ground up takes years of hard work and is a major accomplishment. Transferring ownership is a lengthy process and can be made more complicated without a definitive course of action. Picking the Right Time You’ve probably thought about the day when you decide to walk away from your business. But that day may move closer or further away depending on a multitude of factors. Although it’s difficult to lock down a definitive date, here are some things to keep in mind to know when the time is right: Whatever your reasoning, it’s all about what feels best for you and your situation. Devise an Exit Plan To make sure that you’re ready for the day when you step aside, begin the process as soon as possible. Envision how things will look like after you’ve retired and what your goals are when you leave. Do you have a family member you’d like to pass the torch to, are you handing it off to an employee, or are you selling to another business owner? What if something such

Being Flexible in Your Small Business

March 9, 2021

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach Flexibility is a business trait that benefits your customers, you as an entrepreneur, and even your employees. With a landscape that’s constantly changing, it’s important to stay on your toes and adapt for consistent growth. While it can sometimes be hard to change from doing what you’ve always done, being open to new processes isn’t as scary as you might think. Flexible With Customers Being your own boss means that you’re in control of how and when your business operates. Customers certainly appreciate when you go out of your way to accommodate them and make them feel like a priority. Obviously you won’t be able to juggle your schedule all the time, but making adjustments when you can reflects positively on your customer service. Keep in constant contact with your clients to figure out what works the best for both of you. Flexible With Employees A flexible schedule also applies with your employees. They have their own projects and deadlines to meet, which can make coming together for a meeting difficult. Having a good working relationship with your employees can mitigate a high turnover rate. There’s nothing more stressful than having to regularly

Expanding Your Business With Add-On Services

February 2, 2021

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator Additional services can be a strong source of income for a home inspection business. They set you apart from your competition and can be a great value to your customers. If you’ve been interested in adding on services to your business, there are a few things to take into account before starting. What to Offer There’s an extensive list to choose from when it comes to add-on services. The good news is you don’t need to master them all. Not all of them will serve your customer’s needs, but having a solid number of choices to pick from is a good starting point. Some examples of services you can provide are: • Pool and Spa• Radon• WDO• Infrared• Mold Determining Demand Before you fully dive into new services, you need to know how popular they are for your market. This might take a bit of research. For starters, you can always ask your agents about what services they see requested the most. Your ability to offer what they most require can translate into an increase in referrals. Second, customer feedback is a great primary source. Keep your ears open for

Keys to Writing a Quality Inspection Report

January 19, 2021

For potential buyers, an inspection report is a crucial part of the process, a sort of roadmap of the property that allows them to make a confident investment decision. That’s why it’s important to make sure you turn over a thorough, well-written report for your clients to review. As you write your inspection report, keep these techniques in mind to create the best experience for your clients. Review Your Notes Rushing anything tends to result in a less-than-polished look, and that applies to writing your reports. Especially when you’re just starting out, it’s important not to worry about hurrying through a property to get to your next inspection. Small typos and larger errors call into question your professionalism as an inspector. With enough practice, you’ll fine-tune your writing and hone your skill so that you’re able to complete reports more quickly. Making your report easy to follow will help your customers better understand their purchase and resolve any doubts they might have. Get Acquainted With Your Software Every inspection writing software is different and has its own unique features. As updates and changes are implemented, it’s essential that you get yourself acquainted with them. When using a tablet, it’s easy

What Makes a Successful Home Inspector

January 5, 2021

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training AdministratorPictured: Brian Shabino (middle) and Team, NPI Sioux Empire Home inspectors have a particular set of strengths they continue to cultivate throughout their careers. These go way beyond the inspection process itself in ways that might surprise you! Here are the top traits of the most successful inspectors: DetailedIn a field like inspecting, it’s the little things that count. Thoroughness is crucial in everything from writing a report to communicating with a customer. There can be a fine line between diligence and over-bearing perfectionism, and it’s important to find the right balance. Nobody is perfect, and stressing over it will slow you down. But crossing your t’s and dotting your i’s shows clients that you care about them as people and don’t think of them as just another sale. Desire to Learn Whether it’s picking up a book, talking to a mentor or simply reevaluating after you’ve made a mistake, continuing your education is crucial to becoming a well-rounded inspector. Taking it upon yourself to learn new inspection best practices shows great initiative, and your dedication will shine when you interact with clients and agents. Online classes, following along with updates

Tips to Keep Growing in 2021

December 29, 2020

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach As we head into the new year, now’s the time to start planning for more growth in 2021. Following the events of the past months, the forecast for how small businesses will operate has dramatically shifted. Here are a few of the things you can implement over the next 12 months to stay on track and achieve your goals. Dig in with your social media. It can’t be stated enough how crucial a strong social media presence is to grow your business. This last year especially showed how much your digital accounts factor into keeping your company afloat during uncertain times. Looking ahead, it’s only going to become more important that entrepreneurs leverage their social media. Twenty percent of consumers are likely to choose a brand that they can reach on social media, meaning that you’re missing out if you’re not online. Take the time this year to revisit and rebuild your social media to get the most out of it. Nail down those customer reviews. Going hand in hand with a strong online presence, collecting reviews also needs to be part of your plan. Almost 90 percent of customers read reviews before

How to Communicate More Effectively with Clients

June 20, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, Marketing & Business Coach Running a successful service-based business requires a significant amount of technical skill and knowledge. As such, the sorts of people that tend to be drawn to these industries tend to have a highly analytical disposition and a preference for structure and detail. In the property inspection industry, these traits are particularly beneficial since missing little details can lead to big problems down the road (and part of why we’ve found veterans are such great home inspectors). While these traits are beneficial on the technical side of inspecting, they can sometimes come at the cost of being a good, empathetic communicator. Property inspectors have to communicate with a lot of people, so owners who might struggle in conversations with clients would be wise to invest in some introspection. To get started with upgrading your interpersonal skills, let’s take a look at the basic pillars of client communication in business. Prioritize Clarity EarlyWhen coordinating a home inspection, it is crucial to establish an open line of communication early between the inspector and client. A significant amount of negative reviews or otherwise dissatisfied client experiences can be traced back to misunderstandings, assumptions, and a lack of

Surefire Strategies To Increase Your Market Share

June 13, 2023

By David Stamper, NPI, Inc.’s President & CFO Running a small business is a lot of responsibility to take on. Owners need to not only become experts in their field and in their industry, but they also need to stay up to date on key market research if they want their business to succeed. When it comes to building your small business and tracking market research, there are few concerns that outrank your business’ market share. Market share is, simply put, a percentage of your business’ earnings compared to the total business done within your market over a particular period of time. While a business owner’s goal should always be to build their business’ percentage of market share, there are many benefits to tracking direct competitors’ market share as well. To learn more about how to build your market share, let’s review some strategies on how to get started. Perform a Competitive AnalysisThe first step to increase your market share should be to gain an awareness of your business’ position in your market compared to your competitors. Although it may be difficult to find hard numbers that break down your competitors’ exact market share, you should be able to check

Essential Steps For Setting Your Home Inspection Business Up For Success

June 6, 2023

By Celeste Black-Harr, NPI, Inc.’s Recruitment Coordinator Becoming a home inspector is a great profession that allows for incredible flexibility and the potential for impressive profits, but many enter into the industry unprepared and uninformed. Starting a home inspection business requires an investment of both time and money, and too many start up while missing key details that cause their businesses to stagnate or even fold prematurely. Don’t let a lack of research end your entrepreneurship dreams before you’ve started! Avoid these pitfalls, and your home inspection business has the opportunity to meet its potential. Understand the ProfessionAlthough this may sound surprising, one of the most common mistakes that new home inspection business owners make when setting up their business is that they do not fully understand what the job entails. Business owners who start out inspecting homes themselves need to be aware of the physical nature of home inspections, for example. To examine roofs, home inspectors should expect to carry and maneuver ladders, as well as climb up and down them on a regular basis. Additionally, inspectors should feel comfortable with navigating attics and crawl spaces. Some newer technologies such as drones and crawl bots enable those who might

5 Strategies to Get More Reviews for Your Small Business

May 30, 2023

By Zach Vesper, Senior SEO & Marketing Strategist Let’s say you’re heading out to eat in an unfamiliar city. You want to try something unique and high-quality, but searching online leaves you with an endless list of options. Mood and taste will certainly come into the picture, but how do you make your final choice? Check the reviews. Across all industries that rely on pulling in new clients and customers consistently, online reviews are crucial for instilling confidence in service quality. Adding positive reviews on websites like Google, Facebook, and Yelp improves where small businesses rank on Google and increases overall visibility through SEO. According to marketing analysts at Entrepreneur.com, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. To start improving upon your online advocacy channels, here are some great strategies for getting more reviews online. For more help building your online marketing strategy, reach out to your Omaha marketing team. today! If you’re interested in learning more about franchising with NPI, get your free info packet.

Expanding Your Online Following with YouTube

May 23, 2023

By Sydney Bailey, Director of Marketing Successful small business owners know the incredible value that a fully optimized online presence brings to their business. Facebook, Google Business, and LinkedIn all work alongside a professional business website to direct and convert visitors into clients. Depending on the industry, business owners might prioritize some of these platforms over others, but it’s clear that each plays an important role for small businesses. One platform that might get overlooked more often than it should is YouTube. Receiving billions of new views and videos every single day, YouTube’s international footprint is astounding. Present in over 100 countries around the world, the video-hosting website is also localized in 80 different languages. But with that said, small businesses usually aren’t interested in reaching an international, or even a national audience. Small business owners are rightly more concerned with reaching clients in their own cities. So this begs the question: How can YouTube be a benefit to small businesses? How Can YouTube Benefit Businesses at a Local Level? Out of all social media platforms on the market today, YouTube is perhaps best known for its intensely competitive nature. Vastly popular creators tend to dominate attention, and often leaving

From Rookie to Asset: Tips for Training New Employees

May 16, 2023

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Senior Communications Strategist In the home inspection industry, it should be every business owner’s goal to expand their team. New employees can expand marketing efforts, allow for more property inspections to be completed in a shorter amount of time, and improve on client satisfaction due to increased efficiency. Both in the case of adding a very first employee and when adding to an already large team, owners cannot overlook their training processes. To build your home inspection team the right way, let’s discuss the importance of training, and review a few tips on how to help transition your new employee into an invaluable contributor to your team. Highlighting the Importance of TrainingAll business owners understand to a certain extent the value of a solid training process. New employees are an investment, and the quicker that these team members can get up to speed with the rest of the business the better. Business owners are incentivized to make their training processes as quick and efficient as possible in order to get their new partners contributing. Though these goals are understandable, business owners who are only focused on the speed of their training schedules are missing out

Level Up Your Digital Marketing with LinkedIn

May 9, 2023

By Zach Vesper, Senior SEO and Marketing Strategist We’ve previously discussed best practices for getting set up on LinkedIn as a small business, but as new features and opportunities become available, it can be difficult to know how to navigate through LinkedIn’s tools effectively. LinkedIn stands out from the crowd due to its focus as a business-oriented digital networking platform. As such, LinkedIn should not always be treated the same as platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. If you are looking to expand the use of your LinkedIn Business Page, it’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of LinkedIn as a platform. To optimize our efforts, let’s take a minute to explore LinkedIn’s unique features and how you can use them to strengthen your business’ presence online. Reviewing the Strengths of LinkedInIn many ways, LinkedIn is set up similarly to other social media platforms. LinkedIn allows users to post content and build an audience over time, it promotes engagement, and it invites users to interact with relevant content based on what their interests are as determined by LinkedIn’s own algorithm. The main distinguisher of LinkedIn is its intended function as a social platform for businesses and business owners

Diversification In Small Business: Why It’s Important To Try New Things

May 2, 2023

By Chris Bates, Vice President of Sales & Development When entering into a new industry or starting a small business, sometimes it can take time to find your footing. It’s important to learn the business, establish relationships in your area, and refine your service quality, but sometimes breaking through can still be difficult. With that said, one of the most frequent mistakes business owners make when they’re slow is avoiding trying new things. Opportunities frequently come knocking at the door, but a fear of losing what little market share they have, or concerns related to their ability to recoup from an unsuccessful investment too often lead to inaction. One of the biggest benefits of owning a franchise is access to a network of industry professionals who are plugged into the latest trends, technology, and business strategies that can help you pull ahead of your competition. Additional add-on services and opportunities to access new leads come up every day. The only way to guarantee that things stay slow in your business is to refuse these new opportunities. If you find yourself stagnating in your business, then the time is right to take action. Whether you’re busy and looking to expand or

Technologies That Are Innovating Home Inspections

April 25, 2023

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Training Director The home inspection industry is a far different animal than it was just a decade ago. With new toys and tools designed to provide more thorough and precise services, home inspectors have the potential to elevate their product to higher levels than ever before. While adopting new technology can be viewed as intimidating or overly expensive compared to the value added to a single inspection, home inspectors should consider how much these tools can separate themselves from their competition. Many trending home inspection tools not only add increased accuracy to their inspection reports, but they can cut down on the time it takes to perform an inspection considerably. As any small business owner knows, additional time means more opportunity to market or book additional jobs, leading to more revenue. Read on to learn more about some of the advanced, industry-changing tools that every home inspector should consider adding to their toolset. Drones, Robots, and ScopesThe first major category of tools that can elevate a home inspector’s value are those that offer increased access and mobility. Tools like aerial drones and crawling robots give home inspectors the ability to view areas that were previously

Watching For Wildlife: How To Add Value By Inspecting For Animals

April 18, 2023

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Training Director Good entrepreneurs are always looking for ways to pull ahead of their competition. In the property inspection industry, business owners often will achieve a larger market share by expanding their add-on services, or through emphasizing their own unique strenghts that separate themselves from the crowd. These strategies are great things to build upon! However, the best thing an inspector can do to establish themselves is to deliver the best primary product possible. This can mean writing an unmatched inspection report, or consistently catching things that the other guy misses. A great way to add value to a property inspection that other inspectors might skip out on is to inspect for animals. What To Do When Inspecting For AnimalsSome property inspectors may feel the instinct to shy away quickly from anything related to wildlife during a property inspection, and this is understandable! Property inspectors are trained to evaluate key home systems and aren’t experts on animal species or the best wildlife defense strategies. According to InterNACHI’s Home Inspection Standards of Practice, a property inspector is not required to determine “…the presence of evidence of rodents, birds, bats, animals, insects, or other pests.” Property inspectors