United Water Restoration Group: Building Resilience in Property Restoration

Founded in 2008 in Ormond Beach, Florida, United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) began as a small operation during a particularly destructive hurricane season. Established by Hungarian immigrants Lajos Nagy and Endre Banfi, later joined by Zoltan Kurucz, the company started with one van and a mission to help homeowners and businesses recover from water-related disasters.

Their dedication to quality service and strong customer support helped the business grow rapidly, and by 2015, they began franchising their model to expand nationwide. Headquartered in Ormond Beach, UWRG now operates more than 80 locations across the United States and Canada.

The franchise specializes in a wide range of restoration services, including water and flood damage mitigation, fire and smoke restoration, mold remediation, storm damage repair, sewage cleanup, and reconstruction.

Operating 24/7, the company is known for restoring properties efficiently and bringing them back to pre-loss condition with minimal disruption.

Training

United Water Restoration Group provides a robust training program to equip franchisees and their teams with the necessary skills to operate effectively:

1. Initial Training Program: This is a comprehensive training lasting up to three weeks, which franchisees, designated managers, and one technician must attend and complete satisfactorily within 60 days of signing the agreement. There’s also a 5-day session for one office administrator and one salesperson. Travel, lodging, and meal costs are borne by the franchisee.
2. Additional, Periodic, and Refresher Training: These sessions are offered occasionally at no additional cost for the training itself, though franchisees must cover associated travel and lodging costs. These programs are designed to maintain service quality and uniformity across franchises.
3. Supplementary On-Site Assistance: Upon request, United Water may provide additional guidance and support at a location within the franchisee’s territory. This is billed at a current rate of $400 per trainer per day, plus travel and related expenses.
4. Third-Party Training Compliance: Franchisees must also complete required third-party certifications and training, such as those from IICRC, OSHA, or Xactimate, where applicable. These are crucial for both legal compliance and operational effectiveness.

Territory Protection

United Water Restoration Group offers its franchisees a protected territory, typically defined by specific zip codes and encompassing approximately 250,000 people. Within this territory, and as long as the franchisee complies with the agreement, no other franchisees or company-owned outlets will be permitted to market or provide restoration services.

However, this exclusivity is subject to exceptions under the Franchisor’s Multi-Market Accounts Program and Cross-Territory Policy. Franchisees must not perform or promote services outside of their assigned territory without explicit permission.

If United Water Restoration adopts or modifies its Cross-Territory Policy, franchisees are required to comply. Additionally, the Franchisor retains the right to adjust territory boundaries during agreement renewals, which could potentially result in a smaller or larger service area depending on market conditions and demographics.