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Franchise FAQ

Questions & Answers

1. Why Should I Consider a Marble and Stone Restoration Business?

Marble and stone care professionals are in great demand, yet short supply. With millions of square feet of marble and stone being installed each year throughout the world, the need for restoration and preservation to maintain its value has never been greater, and continues to grow. MARBLELIFE is poised to meet that need with a worldwide network of franchise professionals.

Marble, granite and other natural stone surfaces have for centuries been the ultimate expression of wealth, power and beauty. The marble and stone restoration industry is not faddish. It is a niche business that is recession resistant and requires very little overhead. It is a high-ticket business that can generate income from restoration projects, plus ongoing revenue from continued maintenance.

Union Carbide Marble Care, a division of Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Company, originally founded MARBLELIFE in 1989. They looked at the "Old World" methods for refinishing marble and other dimensional stones. Union Carbide Marble Care invested millions of dollars developing patented products and proprietary technologies to significantly improve the productivity and profitability of this budding industry. Since acquiring MARBLELIFE from Union Carbide, we have substantially broadened its services and product lines and made it an international company.

While many envision or are lead to believe that they can enter the business and succeed without support, this can be a risky proposition. Every stone is different requiring subtle adjustments in care. The difference between "understanding" and following a canned procedure can mean the difference between successfully applying your knowledge to get off a floor, and possible paying to replace it. Our understanding, and technical support is unsurpassed in the industry, giving our franchisees young and old, the ability to tackle every job.

2. What about the potential in marble and stone restoration?

The marble/stone restoration and preservation business is unlimited. Even when installation rates fall, this simply means the installed base rate of growth has slipped. As the installed base is grows, so does the need for MARBLELIFE's services.

Our technology is the result of many years of research and practical application. Stone, Tile & Grout refinishing techniques are continually evolving through a continuous drive to becoming more productive, find superior solutions, and expand the surfaces and problems we can address.

The industry is fragmented with "mom and pop" businesses who more often than not can't compete with our superior methods. Most competitors are using antiquated systems, others are doing restoration work as a sideline for another business. MARBLELIFE continues to introduce advances to our franchisees.

More importantly with our broad network of offices, our franchisees encounter competitive changes as they first show up in a market, allowing these potential changes to be communicated rapidly to all offices, so they can adjust before the shift reaches their local market. As such, competitive situations can be neutralized or responded to with minimal impact.

There are millions of square feet of marble, granite, terrazzo and other dimensional stone installed every year. Many of the building engineers and property owners do not understand how to properly care for and restore their stone. MARBLELIFE becomes their expert resource.

MARBLELIFE's system is not employee intensive. Begin with yourself and one other person if you like. Expand to as many employees as you want in time.

MARBLELIFE's multiple profit centers (restoration, preservation, sealants, cleansers, product sales, etc.) produce a variety of ways to service the customer. Each franchise market has enormous potential due to the wide variety of stone and tile we service. In addition to marble, we can restore and maintain granite, terrazzo, ceramic tile, brick, concrete, slate, limestone quarry tile, flamed granite, brick pavers, and other composite stones.

3. What kind of support is offered?

You have all the advantages of our international brand as the leader in this field, as well as a host of support systems including:

7-day/24-hour, toll free technical hotline to answer all your on-the-job concerns;
a world class hands-on training program for you and your employees;
professional four-color advertising and marketing materials;
periodic mailings and newsletters
marketing guidance

Most importantly, you will be a part of a company with the collective knowledge of its franchises that is unrivaled.

4. Am I Required to do Work Myself to be a Franchise Owner?

In most MARBLELIFE franchises, the franchise owner will not be the practicing craftsman but will focus his/her time on managing and growing the business. However, we also believe it is critical for you to know how to perform the services you offer so you can lead by example. Therefore we want you to complete the training program and perform the services for a few months to get comfortable with it. Beyond that, you are simply required to know the products and processes in order to intelligently converse with your customer regarding their needs.

5. Is Restoration Really Less Expensive than Replacement?

Because marble and granite are not man-made stones and often have to be shipped thousands of miles, the cost can be very expensive. The average cost to replace a 500 square foot marble floor can be as high as $10,000 to $15,000. By comparison, MARBLELIFE restoration of the same floor is a fraction of the replacement costs.

6. Is There any Competition? How Good are They?

There is little competition in most markets. We are confident that in any comparison, MARBLELIFE's process will stand out a clear winner. MARBLELIFE has the edge over the competition with our advanced technology and full line of products, and efficient marketing techniques.

We consistently produce beautiful results with greater efficiently. As important, is MARBLELIFE's start-up marketing guidance providing you access to methods proven historically to generate calls.

Keep in mind when working with a natural product, mother nature is always involved. While you receive the best training in the business, bar none - you are also able to tap support via phone and when needed in person for the life you are with the business. This is not a 2-day good-luck training - but a committed business designed to generate results for our clients and our owners over the longterm.

7. Is It Complicated? If I Have Never Done This Kind of Work Before, is it Easy to Learn?

The processes are not complicated, but require consistency. Our training program is thorough and includes extensive solutions for troubleshooting. Learning the process is as simple as following directions.

8. What do I Need to Know to Get Into Business? How do I Know if I am the Right Person for MARBLELIFE?

You must be able to make the financial investment that is required. You should have a burning desire to own your own business. Most importantly, you are required to follow MARBLELIFE systems and procedures established for your success. We train you thoroughly and work with you to build your business. Desire and determination are imperative for your success.

9. How Do I get my Customers? How Long Does it Take to Get Started? Do I Need to Advertise?

Upon completion of the training period, you will be able to start immediately. Our start-up marketing efforts, frequently result in estimates being scheduled while you are completing your initial training so you are going home to meet with clients. You will be targeting both commercial and residential business. It is not necessary to maintain a massive advertising program. You can develop your business by networking with other trades and referrals from satisfied customers. MARBLELIFE will work with you to develop your business in a manner to reflect your goals, territory, and budget.

10. Can I make money in a recessive market?

While we cannot by law comment on how much money you can or will make we can point some key differences with the MARBLELIFE business versus other elements of the stone and tile market. Stone and Tile Distrubtion, Installation and Fabrication largely depend on new construction, and as such their business rides with new home starts. MARBLELIFE restores and maintains the installed base, as such, even in a slower economy the amount of installed stone is growing and as such so is the NEED for our services. Customers may put off addressing their stone's needs for a period of time, but as long as they are continuing to walk on and wear these surfaces, the NEED for our service continues to grow. Being cheaper than replacement, it is simply a matter of WHEN they decide to get the work done rather than if. As such while we may see a temporary slow down our pent-up demand continues to rise even in a soft market.

11. Is A Franchise the Best Way for Me to Enter the Industry?

Purchasing a franchise dramatically increases your odds for success. U.S. Department of Commerce statistics show that less than 5% of new franchise outlets have been discontinued each year since 1971. By contrast 65% of new, independently owned businesses fail within five years.

A successful MARBLELIFE franchise is an asset that increases in value. If you are building your business for an investment, your return on that investment should be significantly greater when you sell it as a nationally recognized brand, MARBLELIFE, rather than "John's Marble Restoration Service".

We recommend you consult with your financial advisor and legal counsel before undertaking any new venture. We also recommend and encourage you to speak to existing franchisees as you decide whether this is the right business for you.

This "Questions and Answers" section was developed to assist you with your decision about a MARBLELIFE franchise. We hope this answered some of your questions. Feel free to contact us for additional information. We look forward to working with you.

For additional information regarding this unique opportunity, fill out the MARBLELIFE Qualification Form or email specific questions to franchisesales@marblelife.com