News

The decision on whether or not to purchase a franchise can be complex.

The Metro East Small Business Development Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville equipped Donna and Phil Green, long-time business owners of a local remodeling and remediation business, with the information and contacts they needed to make that complex decision.

For nearly a decade, Phil Green owned and operated Green Home Solutions, a Collinsville-based residential remodeling and radon reduction company. In 2013, the Green’s son, Scott, became Phil’s business partner. Because their company had multiple specialty areas - home remodeling, radon mitigation and energy efficiency - and was experiencing rapid growth, the Green’s knew they needed to refine their focus on the parts of the business they were doing well.

 “We met with the Small Business Development Center for the first time one year ago,” said Donna Green. “At that time, our interest was how to better handle marketing and manage the office. In that first meeting with SBDC Business Specialist Jo Ann DiMaggio May, I realized it was wisdom I needed to help run a construction based business.”

Five months later, Donna met with DiMaggio May again. “At that time we were grappling with whether to expand our current business or to buy a franchise. Jo Ann gave us an abundance of useful information that enabled us to make an educated decision,” Green said.

Interested in purchasing a franchise that aligned with their focus and their passion for creating and sustaining healthy living spaces, the Greens purchased an AdvantaClean franchise. AdvantaClean offers solutions for residential, commercial, institutional and governmental properties that make these buildings clean, safe, healthy and efficient for the occupants. The Green’s franchise, AdvantaClean of Madison County, is headquartered in Collinsville and is the only franchise of its type operating in the Metro East region. Donna says the franchise’s primary service territory includes Madison County, but will likely serve additional clients in St. Clair County and beyond.

 “Jo Ann and the SBDC provided us with the tools needed to make contacts and successfully launch our franchise this summer,” Donna said. “Jo Ann connected us with franchise broker Chris Coleman, and she helped us retool our business plan to concentrate intently on energy efficiency. Ultimately we see ourselves making a transition to serving commercial clients as well.

“This has been a major leap of faith for our business and our family. Thanks to Jo Ann and the SBDC, we’ve maintained our focus and have made decisions that align with our passion for healthy living. If you’re in business or are thinking of starting a business, you need to talk to the SBDC. There’s a lot of wisdom there, and it’s available at no cost to the business owner.”

DiMaggio May says the Greens have been ideal small business clients.

 “Donna and her family are definitely business-minded and customer-focused,” DiMaggio May said. “They wanted to learn and explore opportunities. I am glad I was able to assist them along their business journey. I look forward to all their success.”  

Illinois Metro East SBDC works directly with entrepreneurs and small business owners located in the nine-county Metro East region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a service to the region’s entrepreneurial and business community

The Illinois SBDC Network provides one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. As a key member of this Network, the Illinois Metro East SBDC delivers these important services to its clients while supporting the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large. To learn how these no-cost services may help your small business, contact the Illinois Metro East SBDC at (618) 650-2929 or sbdcedw@gmail.com.

Photo (L-R): Scott, Donna and Phil Green.