ServiceMaster has announced that franchisees have formed an owner's association as a chapter of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD).

The association, known as the ServiceMaster Franchisee Owners’ Association (SMFOA), will work to develop stronger relationships with customers, foster a collaborative and productive relationship with ServiceMaster management, and protect each franchisee’s business equity, the group said.

Longtime ServiceMaster franchisee, Jerry Winkley is the chairman of the association’s steering committee until elections to adopt bylaws and elect an inaugural board of directors are completed in the next few weeks. SMFOA has gained more than 100 members in just a few weeks. Its membership includes franchisees in all service lines of the ServiceMaster brand and in every region of the United States.

"A key to a successful launch of a new association is the strength, passion, and credibility of its leadership," said Robert Purvin, chairman of the AAFD. "The men and women behind SMFOA have these qualities in abundance. The AAFD is proud to support such a motivated and high quality group of franchisees."

"I believe we have a rich ServiceMaster heritage and financial future to protect," said SMFOA’s Jerry Winkley. "Through SMFOA, we can speak with one voice and help the Home Office make better, long-term positive decisions that will benefit us all."

The AAFD, one of the oldest direct member franchisee trade associations in the United States, will help guide the SMFOA as it continues to grow, develop, and seek to implement its objectives.

The SMFOA has currently received a very diverse and broad base of support from ServiceMaster franchisees of all sizes and geographic regions, including many of the top 200 franchises in the ServiceMaster network. The organization’s membership already represents well over a third of their division’s total customer level revenue (CLR), and the SMFOA expects to soon represent over half of all their division’s CLR in all of their combined divisions.

The SMFOA’s objectives include:
    •    Increasing communication among ServiceMaster franchisees to improve profitability and brand value
    •    Compiling and sharing best practices within its membership
    •    Providing a collective and coherent voice on behalf of its membership
    •    Collaborating with ServiceMaster management to guide growth in a positive way and protect the rights of all franchisees
    •    Developing a legal fund trust to engage group counsel at an affordable shared cost