The brand’s collaboration with Spadea Lignana has been essential in navigating the complexities of franchising, enabling steady growth while maintaining a customer-focused approach.
“I had a Wrangler and saw how the hardtops take up almost the same amount of room as a car — they’re really clunky and awkward,” said Henry. “I thought other people must also have this problem, so why not start it as a business? It worked really well and we received really positive feedback.”
From the start, HardTop Hotel got great feedback from customers. Henry saw an opportunity to grow the business through franchising, using insights he gained from his previous business ventures.
“I had another business prior to this that ended up selling, but I was kicking myself for not franchising,” Henry said. “I learned a lot about the franchise world after I sold and told myself that if I ever came across a business that made sense to franchise, I’d give it a go.”
Overcoming Challenges and Building a Scalable Model
Like any pioneering business, HardTop Hotel faced its share of hurdles.
“We’ve spent a lot of time developing and documenting our processes with franchising in mind, so new franchisees can easily step in and benefit from the lessons we’ve learned,” said Henry. “From the beginning, we’ve also been creating our own software to handle much of the backend work for the business. With thousands of appointments and about 1,000 customers each year, managing everything without a system would be a nightmare. This software ensures solid customer service and provides a seamless, friction-free process for booking and managing services, both for us and our franchisees.”
These efforts laid the foundation for the brand’s franchising journey, with the first franchisees emerging from HardTop Hotel’s own loyal customer base.
Navigating the Legal Landscape with Spadea Lignana
Entering the franchising world presented a new set of complexities, particularly in navigating the legal requirements and crafting Franchise Disclosure Documents. Spadea Lignana’s expertise proved invaluable in this process.
“Getting on board with Spadea has been incredible,” said Henry. “I had my prior business before where we obviously worked with legal teams. I brought this idea and the concept of franchising to my corporate lawyer and they told me it didn’t make sense to franchise. But I didn’t think that was true. So I ended up talking with Spadea, who specializes in it, and saw why it made total sense to franchise.”
Spadea Lignana’s retainer model provided the confidence and accessibility that Henry needed to address franchisee questions and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
“In my last business, I was always hesitant to pick up the phone or send an email to my attorney because I knew it would cost me $1,000 just to get an answer,” Henry said. “With Spadea, I’m already paying them monthly, so I feel comfortable asking the questions I need to ask. Especially in franchising, where the legal element is so important, having that access has been huge.”
Spadea Lignana’s specialized guidance has empowered HardTop Hotel to focus on scaling while maintaining its customer-first ethos.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
“My advice would be to operate your business for a couple of years before franchising,” he said. “Take the time to refine your processes and understand your business fully. Interestingly, our first franchisees came from former customers who moved, so starting with your existing network, like customers and close connections, can be a great way to gain traction.”
As HardTop Hotel continues to grow, the brand remains committed to simplifying the lives of its customers while providing franchisees with a robust, scalable business model. With a solid foundation, innovative technology and expert legal support, HardTop Hotel is poised for long-term success in the franchising space.
