Lee Kuhlberg - Avalon, New Jersey

For many, the road to success sometimes takes unexpected turns. With a degree in psychology and a background working for his father’s construction business, Lee Kuhlberg wasn’t sure what life after college held.

Soon, however, passion for helping others and working with his hands led him to start his first business, Avalon Carpet Care. After several successful years in business, Lee began to see opportunities for growth and expansion. So, he started looking for ways to take his independent carpet care business to the next level.

“I also wanted to get more into the restoration business, so I started looking for a franchise. I wanted to go with a franchise because in the restoration business, it’s hard to go with a sole proprietorship and not have the backing of a national company,” says Kuhlberg. “As I was looking into franchise opportunities with a few of the other bigger companies, Rainbow International called me to see if I was interested.”

What was it about Rainbow International that caught your attention?
I was pretty blown away when I visited The Dwyer Group® and saw the whole organization. Although I knew they were trying to 'sell' me a franchise, I never felt that way. I felt they were just being honest. Once I saw Rainbow International and met the support staff in Waco, I didn’t even consider looking anywhere else.

How has the conversion to Rainbow International affected your business?
I’m running my business much more effectively and efficiently than I was before; specifically, on the business, marketing and office organizational side. I wasn’t organized at all before, but I’m much more organized now. I’m also much more confident because I know that if I have any questions I can just call the corporate office, or my Field Service Manager, and they will always answer.

My employees are more reliable because I trained them the way they need to be trained based on Rainbow International’s system, so I can trust that things are going well when I choose to go on vacation. I’m not afraid to leave it to my employees, and that happened a lot sooner than I thought it would. I don’t want to give the impression that it’s not hard work. I work a lot of hours because we have a lot more work coming through than we did before. Once you get out and tell people that Rainbow International is a nation-wide company, people start to listen. Now we’re busy all year around.

What’s it like having a whole network off franchisees just a phone call away?
I talk to other Rainbow International franchisees all the time. There are two in particular who are close to me, and any bigger jobs we’ll do together.

What plans do you have for the future of your business?
My goal is to be a full restoration and reconstruction company. We’re doing it on a smaller scale right now, but we’re starting to hire the right people with backgrounds in certain areas, like general contracting and HVAC, and we’re getting into duct cleaning and all that. We really want to be a full restoration company within three years.

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