Leaving a steady corporate job is a terrifying decision. Many professionals face the pull of golden handcuffs every day. You might make a great salary, but you do not own the business. You build enterprise value for someone else while your own dreams sit on the back burner.
Aaron Harper, chairman and chief growth officer of Rolling Suds, faced this exact choice. He was earning high pay as an executive in the franchise industry. Yet, he walked away from it all to own something himself.
He acquired Rolling Suds, a family-owned power washing business that had operated since 1990. He then turned it into the largest power washing franchise in the world. Today, the brand has scaled to over 360 units across 39 states.
In a recent episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, hosted by Tariq Johnson and Chantel Sumis, Aaron shared his journey. He explained how Rolling Suds grew so fast and what it really takes to succeed as an owner.
Moving Beyond Golden Handcuffs
Leaving a safe job requires a strong shift in mindset. High salaries often create a false sense of security. Many people trade their life's purpose for a predictable paycheck.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 4 million Americans leave their jobs each month to seek better opportunities or start businesses. Furthermore, research by the Small Business Administration shows that small businesses create two out of every three net new private-sector jobs. This proves that local business ownership remains a primary driver of financial independence in America.
Aaron Harper experienced this exact pull before making his move into ownership.
"I made a lot of money being an employee and growing these franchises, but I didn't own any of them. There was no level of ownership that I had. And I wanted to build something that I own." — Aaron Harper
He walked away from a role where he was on track to make a million dollars a year. Instead, he searched the country for a service business with proven systems. He found Rolling Suds, bought the brand, and built a massive franchise platform around it.
Why Commercial Contracts Drive Scale
Most people think power washing is just cleaning residential driveways for two hundred dollars a job. Rolling Suds flipped that model on its head. The brand focuses heavily on commercial accounts. About 70% of their revenue comes from business-to-business contracts.
Commercial jobs offer higher ticket sizes and predictable recurring revenue. Rolling Suds cleans commercial property types such as:
- Shopping centers and retail plazas
- Stadiums and sports arenas
- College campuses and school districts
- Hospital systems and corporate parks
A great example of this scale was when a Rolling Suds franchise cleaned the top of the Superdome in New Orleans before the Super Bowl. That single job required nine months of meetings, city council approvals, and contractor interviews. These large commercial jobs build long-term enterprise value for franchise owners.
"We are a commercial power washing business first, residential second. We're about 70% commercial. A lot of that work is recurring." — Aaron Harper
Built-In Sales Support for New Owners
Starting a business from scratch usually means fighting for every customer on your own. Rolling Suds solves this problem by giving new owners built-in sales support before they even launch.
The franchisor sets up a four-person commercial sales team for each new territory. This team reaches out directly to property managers and facilities directors. In addition, automated lead generation campaigns begin emailing commercial clients five weeks before the franchisee attends training.
This model allows owners to focus purely on building local relationships and closing bids.
Because of this system, franchisees often have several weeks of paid commercial work booked before their first day of operation.
What Makes an Ideal Franchise Candidate?
Rolling Suds does not look for owners who want to wash houses themselves. They do not sell single unit territories. Every franchisee buys a multi-unit territory because the goal is to build a scalable enterprise with a fleet of trucks.
The most successful owners possess specific personality traits:
- Strong charisma: They enjoy meeting new people and building trust quickly.
- Community involvement: They actively participate in local groups, networking events, and business associations.
- Relentless drive: They focus on revenue-generating activities whenever the sun is up.
Aaron Harper emphasizes that sales skills are fully transferable to business ownership.
"Everything is sales. Even if you are hiring people, you are convincing them to work for you. You are selling them on working for you. You are selling your customers on working with you." — Aaron Harper
If you prefer sitting behind a desk crunching numbers all day, this business model is not the right fit. However, if you enjoy building relationships, managing teams, and closing deals, the model aligns well.
Overcoming the First 24 Months
The first two years of launching any business bring intense challenges. Industry reports from the Franchise Business Review show that owner engagement during the first 18 months is the single highest predictor of long-term profitability.
At Rolling Suds, the key indicator of future health is simple: weekly estimate volume.
If an owner consistently submits commercial bids, a percentage of those bids will turn into contracts. If estimate numbers drop, revenue will drop six to twelve months later.
New owners must avoid pointing fingers at outside factors like market conditions or advertising vendors. Successful franchisees take full responsibility for their numbers and execute daily.
"If it is light outside, if there is sun in the sky, you should be out there trying to generate revenue." — Aaron Harper
Winning as a franchisee requires going all-in with your time, mindset, and focus. When you take total ownership of your outcomes, you position your business for lasting success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary business model of a Rolling Suds franchise?
Rolling Suds operates primarily as a commercial business-to-business (B2B) power washing franchise. Approximately 70% of its revenue comes from commercial contracts with property managers, shopping centers, stadiums, and schools. The remaining 30% comes from residential power washing services.
How many units does Rolling Suds have?
Rolling Suds has grown from a single location to over 360 units operating across 39 states. This scale makes it the largest power washing franchise system in the world by territory count.
Does Rolling Suds offer single-unit franchise territories?
No. Rolling Suds awards 100% multi-unit franchise territories. The franchisor designs the business model for candidates who want to build a large fleet-based business rather than buy a single-truck job.
What initial marketing support does Rolling Suds provide to new owners?
Rolling Suds provides a four-person commercial sales support team that calls property managers in the franchisee's territory. The franchisor also runs automated lead generation campaigns that start five weeks before the owner completes corporate training.
What core skills make a franchisee successful with Rolling Suds?
Successful Rolling Suds franchisees excel at sales, relationship building, and community networking. They must possess charisma, comfortable communication skills, and a strong drive to focus on revenue-generating activities every day.
Who founded Rolling Suds and who leads the franchise today?
Rolling Suds was originally founded as a family power washing business in 1990. In 2023, franchise executive Aaron Harper acquired the brand, established the franchise corporation, and serves as its chairman and chief growth officer alongside the original founding family.
