|
ASP Pool and Spa Co., the southeast’s largest swimming pool maintenance and repair company, was established in 2001 by Stewart Vernon of Macon, Georgia. The professionals at ASP Pool and Spa Co. are experienced in maintenance, equipment diagnostics and repair, and pool renovation. The company is built on the belief that providing the highest-quality pool maintenance, competitive pricing, and a high level of dependability will attract customers.
At age 22, Vernon used his college $500 cash prize for entrepreneur of the year to open his first business checking account upon taking over a small, pool maintenance and repair business. He started out with a computer, a truck, and about $3,000. His first employee and then partner of ASP Pool & Spa Co. was long-time friend, Matthew Dayton. Together, Vernon and Dayton built the flagship pool and spa business in Macon that became the template for a successful franchising business, ASP Franchising, Inc. Beginning with his brother-in-law, stockbroker, and corporate attorney, all of whom opened pool businesses, Vernon has successfully replicated his original pool service business into a sprawling franchise. The business has expanded in less than 5 years into 47 territories covering the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Vernon’s attorney, Tom Swift, Jr. became a partner in the franchise business in 2009 and assumed the role of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
ASP Franchising, Inc. has continued to grow at a time when other businesses are struggling. The start-up costs and overhead are low compared to franchises in other industries, and the growth is a testament to the success of each franchise. Vernon, the Chief Executive Officer, has created a strong support network, excellent training program and motivation for each franchisee to grow. Vernon and Swift personally oversee the progress of each franchisee, including visiting job sites, assisting with sales calls, analyzing profit and loss statements and technical troubleshooting. The Franchising facility, located in Macon, has a 900 square foot training area adjacent to a board room and administrative office. The training facility has fully functioning equipment, and trainees receive two full weeks at the facility. Training includes actual service routes of customers of the flagship ASP in Macon. Vernon made sure that franchisees have incentive to grow by developing a backward sliding scale for royalties in which the royalty percentage decreases as certain revenue goals are made.
Swift, a certified financial planner who earned his Juris Doctorate and a master’s degree in tax law, has been invaluable in providing the support to compliment Vernon’s communications and industry expertise. With negotiated flat-rate pricing from vendors and a focused direct-mail marketing campaign for franchisees, ASP is preparing for more growth down the road. Vernon feels like he has just gotten started.
|