Lifetime Epoxy Floors: Why are we independent and not part of a national franchise or dealership?

By Nick Dixon - Owner Lifetime Epoxy Floors

As the owner of one of Alabama's largest and most respected residential epoxy flooring companies. Many people ask me if we are part of a national chain or franchise. I proudly respond, no, we are not. Many people perceive that being a part of a franchise makes you better, more professional and more accountable. I am here to tell you that perception can be true sometimes, but its absolutely incorrect a larger percentage of the time.

The national chains make their money several ways including selling dealerships, franchise cost and fees, and restrictive product purchases dealers are required to make exclusively with the main office. The parent companies often have a herd or survival of the fittest mentality toward new dealers. They may train you, educate you to some degree, and speak of advertising support that is rarely as strong as they say. They know and realize that their average dealer may not stay in business but 1 to 2 years.

I speak here from experience. We started as part of a national dealership group. I decided after two years, that there are certain disadvantages of being in such an arrangement. Here are the reasons we are independently owned, family owned, marketed, operated and managed. 

1. Warranty Validity - National chains, regardless of what they say, do not back the local dealer when a warranty issue occurs. They will always say that the local dealer did not incorrectly did the install. The "red-tape" and delays were not something we want to deal with. The warranty you receive when you buy a floor is only valid or of value as long as the installer is in business. Again, I remind you that the national average for a new epoxy flooring dealer to stay in business is 11 months.

2. Restrictive Buying Arrangement - This is my biggest dislike of national chains and franchises.  You can only buy chemicals from the home office or warehouse. The contract and agreement you sign as a new dealer, has a clause that if you buy from another source, you lose your dealership. I have found that being independent gives us a huge advantage in this area. There are many companies that make a variety of floor coatings that are applied in different settings. It is a fact, that some companies make a better flake garage floor, some make a better stain product, another makes a better outdoor coatings and another has the best product for industrial flooring applications. Being independent as we are, we have 4 major chemical suppliers that we buy specific products from. This allows us to better serve our wide array of customers.

Lifetime Epoxy Floors, a 10 year old company, is located in Boa, Alabama.. They have earned and maintained an A+ BBB Rating. They offer the absolute best warranty in the residential garage floor industry, "A Lifetime Warranty that is Transferable When You Sell Your Home". For a free estimate, call 1-800-214-4311 or Visit our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/EpoxyFlooringCompany or our website at http://www.LifetimeEpoxyFloors.com.