Keep Moving Forward: Why It’s Critical to Partner with a Franchise That’s Always Moving Forward

Partner with a Franchise That’s Always Moving Forward

Even the most innovative ideas lose their edge if they stop evolving–and business concepts are no exception. When you buy a franchise, you are buying into a turn-key business concept that is supposed to stand the test of time. The best franchises are always achieving new goals and changing with the needs of their customers to keep moving forward with fresh offerings that appeal to as many people as possible. From its founding, College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving is exemplary of that principle in action.

A Fresh Idea Answering Pent-Up Demand

The nation’s fastest-growing moving and junk hauling business, now listed within the top 3% of all franchise opportunities, was born in the summer of 2003 when 21-year-old Omar Soliman realized he could earn extra spending money during his summer break from college. During deliveries for his mom’s furniture store, customers would often ask if they could haul away old furniture. They were willing to pay $50 or more for the service. Recognizing a need, Omar asked his mom if he could borrow her beat-up old cargo van and use it to offer junk hauling services. Later that night, he sat down with his high school best friend, Nick Friedman, and brainstormed names for the business. Omar tossed out “College HUNKS Hauling Junk,” and everyone laughed. Then they thought about it and realized that was actually a pretty good name!

The business made more than $8,000 that summer. After this, fate intervened: The University of Miami (FL) had just started the annual Rothschild Entrepreneurship Competition, which awarded a $10,000 prize to the best business plan and $500-$5,000 for honorable mentions. Omar and Nick had a vision to build a fully branded and systemized operation for serving customers that used a customer call center to boost efficiency. They put their business plan together in just under a week, so Omar was excited when College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving was selected as one of 20 finalists. He was then asked to prepare for a presentation to a group of alumni judges who were business owners from all over the country and ultimately, he received the first prize check for $10,000. At the moment, they knew they had something special.

But after they graduated college, they both took office jobs thinking that they would take the typical career path rather than entrepreneurship. Finding this unfulfilling, Omar and Nick did what they really found exciting–they launched College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving on a grand scale, refining their purpose and core values first. 

From a Winning Business Plan to the Shark Tank

These resonated not only with Omar, Nick, and their customers, but with the producers of ABC’s hit show Shark Tank, which puts budding entrepreneurs from a wide array of industries in front of some of the world’s most famous, influential, and innovative investors. The entrepreneurs are given the chance–sometimes the desperate chance–to convince these investors to put money and resources they would not have otherwise had on their own into their small business so it can launch.

The very first episode of Shark Tank featured the co-founders of College HUNKS Hauling Junk, Omar Soliman and Nick Friedman. After pitching their business to the ‘Sharks,’ they ultimately declined to make a deal because it would mean losing ownership of their junk removal franchise idea and they were not willing to do that. Although they chose not to make a deal, it proved to be a life-changing experience as it gave Omar and Nick a real vision for how successful this idea could be.

The Basics of the College HUNKS’ Award-Winning Business Model 

• As a brand, we have it made it clear that our purpose is to “Move the World”. We strive to eliminate stress for people who are moving or dealing with clutter, and by creating opportunities for entrepreneurs eager to learn how to build their own successful business.
• Our core values are shared with our junk removal and moving franchise partners and, in turn, we ask them to train their team. Those values are:
  • Always branding – Always being professional and aware of how others see you, whether or not you are with a customer.
  • Building leaders – Mentor employees to help them learn and take on responsibility and advance in business and life.
  • Listen, fulfill, and delight – Paying attention to others and showing extra courtesy or adding a little spark to their day.
  • Creating a fun enthusiastic team environment – The kind of environment in which morale is high and people flourish is our secret sauce.
• The “HUNKS” in College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving stands for Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable, Service. We are a socially conscious, values-based organization that has a national partnership with US Hunger which strives to end childhood hunger as well as charitable partnerships that give back to communities across the country.

Success Includes a Recession-Proof Plan and a COVID-19 Pandemic Pivot

These principles have taken the $18 billion US moving industry and the $10 billion US junk hauling industry by storm. In 2019, College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving hit the benchmark of $100 million in system-wide revenue and added 25 new franchisees and five corporate stores–more than in 2017 and 2018 combined–to its then-total of more than 130 franchises. We had not only weathered the storm of the Great Recession but also built on the success of our concept during one of the most challenging times in US history.

Providing bundled services sets College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving apart from other junk removal franchises. We are ranked #1 in the hauling junk category by Entrepreneur, which ranks companies annually based on 150 data points including startup costs, system-wide growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial growth and stability. Fran Compare also awarded College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving’s 2018 Best Hauling award! 

Fast forward to 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic posed an unprecedented challenge to US businesses. College HUNKS adjusted its business model to limit the spread of the virus in several ways, including offering curbside junk removal and phone payment for services. Our franchisees were offered additional support and our Sales Loyalty Center (call center) continued to operate. College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving’s newest franchisees opened their locations as planned and were able to find success despite the daily challenges created by the pandemic. We provided additional support to our new franchisees and pivoted our business model’s focus to ensure long-term success for each of our locations while still providing top-notch service for customers. 

College HUNKS’ Brand Central office continues to provide full support, including onboarding, pre-training, and training to our newest franchisees so that they can complete these processes and be ready to launch as soon as possible. As franchisees open, our corporate team has maintained constant communication with them and been there to provide any support needed. Even with all the challenges that 2020 presented, College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving franchisees and the brand as a whole experienced a banner year. In 2020, College HUNKS’ systemwide revenue grew 17% year over year, while franchisee net income as a percent of revenue increased 39% year over year. Our Net Promoter Score increased to 86 (up from 79 in 2019) – this is a metric used to measure customer loyalty.

The corporate-supported call center booked over 300,000 jobs for our franchise locations in 2020 and its overall booking activity increased from 68.2% in 2019 to 75.4% in 2020. Last year, our call center also generated $4.8 million of additional revenue from Open Leads (individuals that did not book on the first call to the company, that it reached back out to). In 2020, our average job size increased by $31 per job year over year, while the franchisee average acquisition cost per job decreased by 12% year over year. And, our network of franchisees grew to more than 150.

Building and Boosting the Brand Nationwide

Known nationwide as an innovative industry leader in stress-free solutions for moving and junk hauling needs, we continue to build our brand across the United States and Canada by embracing change in the business landscape in numerous ways. 

The company now accepts both Bitcoin and Ethereum as payment for the upfront franchise fees and will continue evaluating blockchain and cryptocurrency innovations for various other forms of payment in the future, including the possibility of moving and junk removal services and employee compensation. We have even considered developing our own cryptocurrency tokenization, "HunkCoin", as a form of employee stock options.

"We recognize the financial independence cryptocurrency investments are creating, and franchising is an ultimate way to lock that in for life,” Nick said. “We pride ourselves on being tech-enabled, innovative, and disruptors of the moving and junk removal industry, as well as the franchise industry overall. The franchise industry is the largest creator of jobs in the country, and this will hopefully open up the opportunities to a new segment of prospective franchise owners who are looking for ways to diversify their cryptocurrency gains into an operating business that makes a positive impact."

College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving also recently signed an endorsement deal with University of Miami Quarterback D’Eriq King. Co-sponsored by Murphy’s Auto Group, the agreement comes hot off the heels of the NCAA approving a policy change that now allows college athletes to profit from their names, images, and likeness. Bubba Bolden, Safety for the University of Miami, also signed a deal with College HUNKS. “As a former UM Hurricane, this is such an honor for our organization to be able to support my alma mater and athletes who work so hard at their sports,” said Omar. “Our brand is committed to building and supporting leaders. Through our partnership with King, we hope that we can help further his growth as he heads his football team, while also navigating school and life.” “College HUNKS is an organization that cares for its people, offers them incredible support, and backs it all with solid values, which makes them an attractive endorsement partner,” said D’Eric. “I’m looking forward to working with them and aligning myself with this first-in-class brand.”

Ahmmon Richards, a former player himself, helped create the connection by introducing us to King and Bolden. Ahmmon is the Chairman of sports agency Lgndry Sports All Pro LLC, and will soon open the first College HUNKS franchise in Miami. “This is truly an exciting time for college sports, and we are delighted that College HUNKS is showing their support for this historic movement by teaming up with King. As a former collegiate athlete, I understand and appreciate the importance of this new policy passed by the NCAA and applaud them as they open more opportunities for young athletes,” said Ahmmon. “Ahmmon is joining us at such a momentous time for college sports and for our business,” said Nick. “We are thrilled to welcome him to our team and have him represent our brand.”

College HUNKS Franchises are Available

With company growth projections continuing to soar in 2021, College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving is offering some of the hottest available franchise territories in the United States and Canada. We are confident that average revenues will continue to increase and invite you to consider everything that owning your own moving and junk hauling business can offer you. Our current franchisees have impressive success stories to share, coast to coast.

Contact us for more information about how to become a part of the College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving success story.