FRANCHISE INFORMATION PACKET
FROM THE CEO Dear Prospective Franchisee: Thank you for your interest in joining the Black Diamond team. This packet is your first step toward franchising with Black Diamond, and I think you will see clearly why I am proud not only to be the CEO of Black Diamond but also to be able to share what we are doing with other motivated entrepreneurs. At Black Diamond our mission is simple – provide the highest quality pest control services with the best customer service in the industry. That mission has grown our flagship location to be one of the largest pest control offices in the country with over 170 full-time personnel. Our franchisees are granted full access to the tools that have helped us attain this growth and become a nationally recognized industry brand. Moreover, as the CEO, it is my desire to provide personal mentorship to each franchise owner so that, together, we can carry out the Black Diamond mission in more communities. Thank you for taking the time to consider franchising with Black Diamond Pest Control. If you are a motivated entrepreneur with a desire to provide top-notch services that help real people in your community, then I am confident that franchising with Black Diamond will be a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity for you.
Sincerely,
Keith Duncan, Jr. − CEO Black Diamond Franchising, Inc.
WHY BLACK DIAMOND? Black Diamond has been in business since 1940. We have been a family owned business since the beginning. We are in the third generation of family ownership and have more than tripled our revenue in the last decade. While the business has grown tremendously since 1940, one thing remains: quality of service based on tried and true methods combined with up-to-date technology.
We stand by our franchisees with support materials and training. All of our franchisees are supplied with the latest in training, support materials, and assistance to recruit employees and customers for your service area. Franchisees also have access to our CEO’s direct line, and our staff is ready to help with any situation that may arise.
Black Diamond provides excellent options to our franchisees. We will be with you from day one to ensure your franchise’s success. You will have access to a full-time professional marketing team, website design and hosting, social media management, radio, television, print materials, and much more.
You can start your business with minimal employees. When you purchase a Black Diamond franchise, we provide you with training, marketing materials, a website, and operations assistance, so you can hit the ground running.
Black Diamond has a proven high gross profit margin. The pest control industry is about as recession-proof as it comes! Our business model has been proven effective over the past 75+ years and continues to see growth more than 3 times the national average. If you adhere to this effective business model, you can find your own personal success and financial stability.
OUR ADVANTAGE At Black Diamond, it is about more than just pest control. We are a family oriented company. We serve our customers with enthusiasm using cutting edge technology and products with best available methods in the industry. While we have experience and tradition from our 75+ years in business, we also embrace fresh ideas and innovation and strive to give our customers the peace of mind they deserve.
Let our experience work for you. Whether you are an entrepreneur looking for a solid business investment or you own a small pest control company and are eager to expand, partnering with Black Diamond is the right choice. We provide the tools and resources that can help fuel your success – all with personal guidance from our CEO and leadership team.
PCT Top 100 Pest Control Company in North America
Angie’s List Super Service Award every year since 2011
A+ Rating on the Better Business Bureau
What our franchisees have to say...
Our franchising experience with Black Diamond has been phenomenal! We came with an aggressive plan and a tight timetable to get up and running and they were with us every step of the way.
- Dean Hohl, Nashville
There is no doubt in my mind that we would not be where we are today had we not franchised with [Black Diamond]. Everything that [Junior] said to us throughout this process has proven itself to be true.
- Ron Brackin, Indianapolis
WHAT WE PROVIDE A Proven Business Model and Service Programs We have a proven business model that helps you work smarter by focusing on the important aspects of building a successful pest control business geared for long-term growth. Using our service programs that work and are easy to sell to customers, our pilot franchise more than tripled projected revenue in its first year and continues in a strong growth pattern today.
The Right to the Black Diamond Brand and Logo Black Diamond is a distinguished name in the industry and a memorable name in the community. It carries a heritage of over 75 years of service and recognition as one of the top 100 names in the pest control industry. Black Diamond is protected by trademark, as are our phrases Get Pest Off,® Bugs Hate Us,® and No Bugs, No Weeds, No Worries® In addition to the brand and logo, you will also gain use of our exclusive vanity phone number, 877-DEAD-BUG, which is easy to remember and has below average per-minute rates.
Mentorship from our CEO Many franchisers provide coporate liaisons with little to no pest control company ownership experience as the main point of contact; however, our CEO, Keith Duncan, Jr., is available to franchisees 24/7 via direct line to offer guidance. As one of our franchisees has mentioned, “It’s a nice feeling to know that you have like a guardian angel on your shoulder.”
Hands-on Training We ensure that all of our franchisees have the hands-on and ongoing training needed to implement Black Diamond’s pest control methods and product choices. This training is essential for acquiring and keeping long-term, satisfied customers. We also offer hands-on training experiences for your employees. We will also provide general business advice concerning book-keeping, marketing, VAT, and payroll.
Exclusive Business Resources We provide everything needed to run a professional organization, including: t
A full-time professional marketing team available for design and strategy
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Reduced cost marketing materials production (15-30% savings on average)
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Website design and hosting + social media management
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Software and technology from our in-house development team
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Feature-rich business phone system set-up at a fraction of typical costs
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Technical and business support services
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Reduced business costs, such as chemicals, equipment, and technology
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Developed policies and procedures that help in maintaining organizational standards, especially designed for periods of extreme growth
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OSHA-compliant policies designed to protect you and your employees
FREQUENT QUESTIONS How can I open a Black Diamond franchise?
Black Diamond seeks highly-motivated individuals to become franchisees. Prior business experience and a track record of success are a few qualities that will assist you in the process of opening your business. If you are interested in the Black Diamond franchise opportunity, please visit bdfranchising.com to request more information.
Do I need previous pest control experience?
We do not require our franchisees to have any previous pest control experience, but a natural business sense or previous business ownership can be helpful. We are looking for candidates who are passionate about improving their communities and providing the highest quality of service to their customers.
What types of opportunities are avilable?
Both individual and multi-unit franchise opportunities are available.
What kind of training should I expect as a franchisee?
All new franchisees participate in a 4 to 8 week training program with additional weeks added, when needed. This program will include hands-on training in the field to learn the Black Diamond’s pest control methods as well as in-office training with our customer service agents. Once completed, franchisees will receive ongoing training and continuing support from our marketing and management teams.
How much can I make as a Black Diamond franchisee?
We are restricted by the Federal Trade Commission and verious state franchise sales regulations from providing specific profit projections. To learn more about actual experiences, we encourage you to speak with existing franchisees during the application process.
What would my initial franchise cost?
The franchise fee ranges from $25,000 to $50,000 depending on the population size within the territory selected.
Does Black Diamond offer financing?
The Black Diamond brand does not offer direct financing. Qualified prospective franchisees may be able to obtain a loan from a third-party institution, if needed. The loan amount granted may vary in respect to the applicant’s credit history, the liquid assets value of the applicant, as well as the cash amount used by the qualified prospective franchisee as its direct contribution to the total investment in the franchise.
Will I receive assistance in finding a location for my Black Diamond franchise?
While no store front is required for the first year of business, if you do choose to have an office from the start, Black Diamond representatives will voluntarily assist in this process. After the first year of your franchise, it is each franchisee’s contractual responsibility to find a suitable location for their office.
THE NEXT STEPS The Financial Investment Successful Black Diamond franchisees are highly motivated and passionate about providing a higher quality of life to their community. Black Diamond keeps things simple for their franchisees and offers access to all of the tools necessary to run their company with efficiency. Whether you are a previous pest control worker or owner or you are just entering the business, Black Diamond will be there for you every step of the way. From access to our full marketing team to our hands-on training program and support from our management team, we want you to succeed!
What are the next steps toward a Black Diamond franchise? Have you taken a few steps toward your future business but don’t know where to go next? No matter where you may be within this process, please feel free to call our Director of Business Expansion directly at anytime: 812-287-9469. Step ONE | Franchisee Inquiry
Review our website, contact us, and submit your prospective franchisee questionnaire.
Step TWO | Initial Discussion
The Director of Business Expansion reaches out to discuss our company and the applicant’s interest. A non-disclosure agreement is sent after conversation.
Step FIVE | Discovery Day
Visit our headquarters to meet the CEO and management team, as well as discuss planning, budgeting, our methods, and equipment.
Step SIX | Franchise Agreement The franchise agreement is excuted and a 14-day cool down period begins. After the cool down period, the FDD is signed and the franchise fee is paid.
Step NINE | Market Branding and Canvasing
Step TEN | Grand Opening of Your Franchise
Initial inventory of chemical and equipment is ordered and the recruitment of customers and service begins.
Your franchise is now up and running, but our team will be available as an ongoing contact and constant support forever.
PROSPECTIVE FRANCHISE QUESTIONNAIRE Use this form if you are NOT a current pest control owner and operator. Please continue to the next form if you are a current owner.
CONTACT INFO: Name Address City
State
Zip Code
Business Phone
Personal Phone
Email Address
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: Feel free to attach a resume (or send it to franchising@bdpest.com) if you believe that may be helpful.
List Your Business Experience
Pest Control Experience (if any)
Current Company Title
From
To
From
To
Previous Company Title
Will you be an active role in the day to day franchise?
FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Your Approximate Net Worth $ Name of Partner(s) How do you plan to finance this project?
MARKET PREFERENCE: Geographical Area of Interest First Choice Location List Counties Second Choice Location List Counties When would you plan to start?
PROSPECTIVE FRANCHISE QUESTIONNAIRE Use this form if you are a current pest control owner and operator.
CONTACT INFO: Name Address City
State
Zip Code
Business Phone
Personal Phone
Web Address
BUSINESS INFO: Service Area (list counties) # of Full-time Employees
Part-time Employees
# of Service Trucks
REVENUE: 2013 Total $ 1) residential % 2) pest control %
+ +
commercial %
termite control %
= 100% +
other %
= 100%
2014 Total $ 1) residential % 2) pest control %
+ +
commercial %
termite control %
= 100% +
other %
= 100%
2015 Total $ 1) residential % 2) pest control %
+ +
commercial %
termite control %
= 100% +
other %
OTHER: Most Recent Profit Margin % (Year: Most Recent Advertising Budget $ Software/Technology Currently Using Top 3 Competitors 1. 2. 3.
)
= 100%
Black Diamond Franchising, Inc. 4911 Hamburg Pike | Jeffersonville, IN | 47130 812-287-9469 bdfranchising.com