Priority development : United States
Countries/Regions already covered :

Concept: Local moving franchise offering consistent, high quality service to a market traditionally served by independent movers.

Market position: The first and largest franchised local moving company with a nationally recognized name and logo, and a respected market position.

Franchise facts: Currently, there are 167 franchise locations operating in 27 states. There is also a location in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. There are two company-owned locations open -- one in Sacramento, Calif. and one in Seattle, Wash. A third location in Houston, Texas will open in Spring 2006. More than 250,000 moves are completed every year system wide with more than 1,100 trucks on the road. Franchise territories are based on population, generally between 250,000 and 500,000 people per marketing area. The initial franchise fee is $32,000 or $72,000 if the franchisee has previously operated in the area. Total startup costs (including facility, trucks, equipment and other expenses) range from $83,000 to $245,000. Franchisees pay a royalty of 6 percent of gross revenue, plus 1 percent for advertising.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® was officially founded in 1985 in Lansing, Mich., by Mary Ellen Sheets. Operations began prior to that year when Sheets' sons, Jon and Brig Sorber, did local moving as a way to earn money while in high school. When they left for college, calls continued to come in. In 1985, Sheets formally organized the company, hired movers, and developed a reproducible system. Franchising began in 1989. In 1994, Sheets' daughter, Melanie Bergeron, assumed the position of president. Mary Ellen's sons, Brig and Jon Sorber, have rejoined the company with Brig serving as vice president of operations and director of licensing and Jon serving as vice president of franchise growth and opportunities and franchisee to the Lansing and Grand Rapids, Mich. locations.

Home moves and business moves

Training is extensive and ongoing. It begins with an initial three-month period, including comprehensive classroom training at STICK MEN UNIVERSITY® (a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to moving in Lansing, Mich.) and thorough assistance during the franchise set-up and opening. There are also ongoing monthly training sessions at STICK MEN UNIVERSITY® for franchisees and employees. There are many other tools available to franchisees including detailed monthly reports, newsletters, intranet, annual meetings, a resource library, a toll-free support line, a trade show booth, an in-house shop with a complete line of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® logoed clothing and professional marketing materials and a system-wide purchasing system.

Business Experience: General business experience

Two Men and a Truck
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3400 Belle Chase Wy. - MI 48911 - Lansing - United States