Any time we’re recognized by a major publication for something we’re very proud of… of course we want to shout it from the rooftops! This instance is particularly exciting because we were featured in both a major national AND local (Cincinnati, Ohio) publication this month… Money Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer!
We were referred to Money Magazine by the CEO of Franchise Business Review, Eric Stites. After conducting their annual franchisee satisfaction survey, he found that once again Window Genie ranked exceptionally well when it came to having happy franchise owners. Money Magazine put out an article called, “13 Things to Do with $100,000 Now,” and purchasing a Window Genie franchise made the list. Window Genie’s minimum investment is$89,000 – widely considered a very low investment for a business with such potential for growth. There are a few reasons for this: You can run the business from home! This creates low overhead costs like renting an office space + utilities. Also, our owners carry an extremely low inventory of products, tools and supplies. Plus, the cost to acquire a customer feels like nothing in the long-run. While it costs money to market to new customers, Window Genie’s success is built on establishing relationships with long-term, loyal customers who have Window Genie back a few times a year to perform different services on a repeat basis. With a number of various affordable services, Window Genie has something for every home at every budget!
Then we see on Cincinnati.com that we’ve been featured among 38 other Cincinnati based businesses for the incredible honor of making INC Magazine’s INC 5000 list for 2014. This list acknowledges the 5000 fastest growing companies in the nation; and we made it! As if making INC’s list wasn’t enough, Cincinnati Enquirer recognizing this accomplishment was certainly the cherry on top. Window Genie’s corporate team is proud to still be working and growing in Cincinnati where it all started 20 years ago. We believe we’re in good company among other local businesses representing the Queen City as a city of tremendous potential and growth for business.
As we celebrate recent accomplishments, we also like to reflect on the history of Window Genie and how far we’ve come. Recently we were nominated for a Small Business Influencer Award under the category: Growth Story. To vote for Window Genie, simply follow that link and click VOTE! A quick history: In 1994 Rik Nonelle started Window Genie as a small, local window cleaning business in Cincinnati Ohio. He was a 29-year-old Ohio State grad who was already tired of “working for the man.” From the get-go he developed a business model with franchising in mind; he wanted to create an opportunity that was easily duplicated and would translate well into other markets. Rik’s goal was for entrepreneurs everywhere to be able to build a business that was simple, scalable and allowed for a significantly better work-life balance than your typical 9-5 job. 20 years later, Window Genie has evolved into a nationally ranked franchise operating with over 75 franchise partners in 22 states. Nonelle remains incredibly hands-on as Window Genie’s leader and has developed a company culture that celebrates and empowers each individual franchise as an active small business within the particular community it serves.
