Franchisee: Matt Banoub
Germinator Mobile Sanitizing and Disinfecting
835 School St., Suite 1A, Pawtucket
The pitch: Germinator Rhode Island will offer a safe and nontoxic sanitizing and disinfecting service to commercial businesses and residents throughout northern Rhode Island and its surrounding areas. The company says it employs a breakthrough technology scientifically proven to help reduce the threat of harmful bacteria and viruses such as the novel coronavirus.
Years in business: Opened on July 8, 2020
Employees: One, but five employees of Banoub’s other business, Aten Energy Conservation, will be engaged in delivering the Germinator product.
Cost to obtain franchise: $35,000 initial fee, which includes a $20,000 franchise fee, a $6,000 fee for equipment and supplies, and a $9,000 fee for working capital/advertising. The qualifying worth is $250,000.
Before opening franchise: Prior to opening his Aten Energy Conservation business in 2009, which uses utility subsidies to fund low-income homeowners, Banoub worked in the high-end residential construction business, performing custom work for wealthy clients. During the housing crash, he decided to retool his career and started Aten Energy Conservation, acquiring skills that he felt would benefit a community in need while also providing income.
Reason for opening: Banoub said he wanted to be part of the solution during the pandemic, maintaining his business and its five employees. He said opening a Germinator franchise was about “survival.” His wife is an intensive care unit nurse and Banoub wanted to be proactive professionally and have a business that addresses needs related to healthy housing amid the pandemic. Germinator is an extension to his home-weatherization business.
“It’s a two-step process; sanitization and protection. Our products are backed by a scientific advisory board. We use hypochlorous acid for sanitizing surfaces to remove bacteria, etc. It’s a natural substance that is made inside your white blood cells. It’s completely safe and nontoxic. For step two, we provide a product that is a microbial barrier protective shield. This product will protect surfaces for 90 days. The Shield is a game-changer for Germinator.“
“It is a new business to me. I purchased a franchise in mid-March that has been in operation for five years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, it has been blowing up all over the country. We are the only franchise in southern New England. The closest one is located in Maine.”
“Like any new business, it is nerve-racking. But, in this case, having the support of the franchiser, with its training program, resources, as well as a scientific advisory board, makes it easier. It would take you a long time to put all that together from scratch, and by the time I did all of that, I would have missed the boat.”
Franchise owners interested in being included in an upcoming Franchisee feature can contact PBN Researcher Cassius Shuman at (401) 680-4884 or Shuman@PBN.com.