Two Men and a Truck is the largest American franchised moving company. Headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, franchises operate in 48 U.S. states, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland.[1]
History
The company was founded in the early 1980s by two Lansing brothers, Brig and Jon Sorber. Using an old '66 Ford pickup truck, they performed moves to earn extra spending money. Their mother, Mary Ellen Sheets, obtained the sketch that became the logo of the company from a mutual friend, and took over the business when her sons left for college. In 1985, she purchased a 14 ft truck for $350 and hired a pair of movers. This is the only money Sheets personally invested in the company. A fellow panelist at a university business seminar in 1988 suggested Sheets consider franchising. The first franchise was awarded in 1989.[2]
Franchising
The initial franchise fee is $50,000; there is also an ongoing royalty of 6% of revenue.