Neighborly Support, Scalable Territories and a Proven Model Drive Long-Term Success
In their search for a franchise opportunity, Robert and Regina Mathews sought a business with a strong culture. They found that and more with Mr. Appliance®, where the company’s R.I.C.H. values — Respect, Integrity, Customer Focus and Having Fun in the Process — felt like a perfect match. “These values aligned closely with our philosophy and the kind of culture we wanted to build in our business,” Regina says.
The couple opened their Mr. Appliance franchise in 2013, bringing together experience from two very different professional paths. Robert had spent more than 20 years in the appliance repair industry, while Regina held leadership roles in a global logistics company, managing operations and finance. Their combined backgrounds provided a well-rounded foundation for business ownership, and although Robert has technical expertise, a repair background isn’t required to succeed with the Mr. Appliance franchise.
The Mathews also spent four years running a recreational billiards franchise, an experience that gave them a front-row seat to the ins and outs of franchise ownership. “It gave us firsthand experience running a franchise business and reinforced our commitment to systems, service and community engagement,” Robert says.
A Trusted Brand
Founded in 1996 and part of the Neighborly® family of home service brands, Mr. Appliance has grown to more than 300 locations across North America. The franchise offers a scalable, mobile service model that allows franchisees to operate with low overhead and no storefront. For the Mathews, this combination of structure, flexibility and shared values made Mr. Appliance a perfect fit.
The couple opened their first Mr. Appliance location in Cleveland, Ohio, in February 2013. Strong early growth led to expansion into Akron, Ohio, later that year. In 2021, they added two Michigan territories, and in 2023, they opened a fifth location in Elyria, Ohio. Today, their business includes 27 employees across five locations. “We didn’t expect to grow this fast,” Robert says.
“Being part of the Neighborly family has truly accelerated our success while still allowing us to operate with the personal touch of a local business. The support we’ve received from the teams at Mr. Appliance and Neighborly has far exceeded our expectations. Their mentorship and guidance — through both the highs and the challenges — have been instrumental to our growth.”
Behind the scenes, Robert and Regina divide responsibilities to play to their strengths. Robert manages daily operations, technician scheduling and service quality. Regina oversees billing, accounting and financial planning. She joined the business full-time in 2024. “Since then, we’ve improved organization and profitability,” Regina says. “It helped us make faster, smarter decisions.”
Running a business as a couple has become an exciting new chapter for the Mathews. “We clearly define our roles, which allows us to stay focused, avoid overlap and make more informed decisions. If we could change one thing,” Robert says, “It would be Regina joining the business full-time much sooner.”
The Mr. Appliance Franchise
Mr. Appliance franchise owners enjoy a variety of advantages that make ownership both rewarding and sustainable. From strong support to steady demand, here are some of the key benefits:
- Trusted Brand. Backed by Neighborly®, a leader in home services.
- Proven Model. A track record of success with national recognition.
- Built-In Support. Includes training, marketing and business coaching.
- Flexible Lifestyle. Franchisees can build a schedule that fits their goals.
- Recession Resistance. Appliance repair remains in demand year-round.
- Scalable. Opportunities to expand into multiple territories.
- Tech Tools. Efficient systems for operations and customer management.
- Strong Culture. Values-driven environment focused on people and service.
Learn more about the Mr. Appliance franchise.
