When looking at the scope of Joe Turbeville’s time with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, you’ll have a tough time finding someone who has experienced more with the brand than him.
Turbeville has seen both sides of the coin working with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, holding positions at the corporate office location in Lansing, Michigan, as well as the work he has done as a franchisee – which now includes multiple locations across the country. Given this wide range of experience, he has a unique view of the brand, its operations, and how he can best put his locations in position for success.
His time with the company began as a simple recruiting pitch from a former coworker, and since then has led down a road full of twists and turns.
“I worked in construction throughout my teens before going into retail sales during my college years,” Turbeville said. “I worked at a local sports store and eventually worked my way up there to associate manager. I then went to work in construction sales as a plant manager, but my former manager at the sports store recruited me to come join the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK corporate team.”
At the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK corporate office, Turbeville worked as a franchise business consultant, which put him in a role where he would work directly with multiple franchise teams across the system to help them operate at their highest levels.
This type of work gave him a direct look into how a franchise system operates, and how to find success as a franchisee within the brand.
“I began working as a franchise business consultant where I worked with approximately 40 locations to relay best practices and assist franchisees in areas they were struggling,” Turbeville said. “I learned a lot from franchisees and general managers, and once I was presented with an opportunity to purchase my first franchise location in Boston, I realized what a fantastic opportunity it could be.”
This purchase – which Turbeville made with his business partner and fellow TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Franchisee Alan Oversmith – laid the groundwork for the duo which would lead to them opening multiple franchises together and expanding into new territories. It all started with the first Boston franchise, and they’ve continued to grow since.
“We moved many employees out from Michigan to manage East Coast operations, and we hit the ground running,” Turbeville said. “We now have half the Boston market.”
Turbeville’s path to becoming a franchisee was not a typical one, but one that has worked out regardless. Partnering with Oversmith, the two knew what was needed to operate a successful franchise, and they were able to apply these ideas within the framework of the brand seamlessly.
“[How I became a franchisee] was slightly unconventional,” Turbeville said. “The opportunity presented itself, and we [Oversmith] wanted to stay within the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand. It seemed like a smart financial move. We had the opportunity to see how successful some franchise owners were and becoming a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchisee was exciting.”
For Turbeville, the most recent location he opened with Oversmith was in Rhode Island, which was a significant opening for both their team and the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand overall, as it was the company’s first location in Rhode Island and the 46th state the brand operates.
Turbeville is focused on continuing his expansion on the East Coast and opening franchises in markets where TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has yet to operate. He’d also love to become the top moving franchise in the state of Rhode Island.
He’s loved the journey of becoming a multi-unit franchisee and has simple advice for anyone looking to pursue their own franchising dreams.
“It is vital to work hard, stay resilient, and ultimately go follow your dreams,” Turbeville said. “You can build a successful business if you put your mind to it.”
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