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From wobbly chairs to dog-chewed table legs, Memphis-based franchise Furniture Medic touts its precision repair and patented restoration and refinishing processes as prescriptions for damaged furniture. The mobile franchise system features on-site furniture repair for both residential and commercial customers.
In 1998, Albuquerque, New Mexico, residents William McBride, 30, and his wife, Leslie, 32, opened the area's second Furniture Medic location. Although they enjoyed their jobs--Leslie was a researcher at a university, and William was a police officer--"We knew no matter how hard we worked, we were never going to make much more than we were making. If we wanted to have a [decent] retirement, we needed to do something on our own," says Leslie.
Ironically, the other Furniture Medic franchise in Albuquerque is owned by Leslie's parents. "We saw how great they were doing and thought this was something we should look into," Leslie says. After further research, they made their decision. Furniture Medic financed a portion of their start-up costs, which totaled roughly $75,000. After taking out a second mortgage, they plunked down $10,000 and bought a van, repair equipment and repair products.
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