E322: From Permits to Projects: Inside a Family Construction Business

Renovating your home doesn't need to be an overwhelming process. Jenna Franco of Franco Construction shows us why having a trusted, local general contractor can make all the difference in your next project. 

Serving Florida's Treasure Coast from West Palm Beach to Vero, this family-owned business has built its reputation by adapting to community needs. While they specialize in kitchen and bathroom remodels—particularly accessibility-focused conversions like tub-to-shower projects that help older residents age in place comfortably—their capabilities extend to virtually every aspect of home construction and renovation.

What sets Franco Construction apart isn't just technical expertise, but their transparent, client-centered approach. Jenna candidly discusses one of Florida construction's biggest misconceptions: the permitting process. Unlike other states, Florida requires permits for almost everything, even seemingly simple bathroom conversions. This reality check helps homeowners develop realistic timelines and expectations from the start.

The personal journey Jenna shares reveals the heart behind the business. After initially resisting her father's construction legacy to pursue healthcare, the pandemic unexpectedly redirected her path back to the family business—where she discovered her true passion. This unexpected career shift mirrors what many homeowners experience when renovating: the transformation often exceeds initial expectations.

Beyond their contracting services, Franco Construction offers a community resource through their showroom featuring exclusive materials not available at typical retailers. Remarkably, they welcome everyone to utilize this resource—even those working with different contractors—demonstrating their commitment to improving homes throughout their community, not just maximizing profits.

Ready to transform your living space? Whether you're planning a major renovation or a targeted improvement project, Franco Construction invites you to call for a free estimate or visit their showroom to explore possibilities. Follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram to see their latest projects and design inspiration.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Benjamin John.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome back to the Good Neighbor Podcast once again
.
Hey, are you guys in search ofa reliable construction company?
Well, there's probably aconstruction company that I know
of that's closer than you think, let's put it that way.
And today I have the pleasureof introducing Jenna Franco with
Franco ConstructionIncorporated.

(00:32):
How are you doing, Jenna?

Speaker 3 (00:34):
I'm doing good.
How are you?

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Good, yeah, I'm doing really good also.
Thank you very much.
And yeah, I'm just excited tohear a little bit more about
your company, what you guysspecialize in, and kind of a
little bit more.
So let's just start with thatat the top.
Can you tell us a little bitmore about Franco Construction?

Speaker 3 (00:51):
Yeah, so we are a licensed and insured general
contractor.
We're based out of Jensen Beachbut we go everywhere from West
Palm to Vero.
We do sometimes go outside ofthat area.
It depends, honestly, on thescope of work.
You know, if it's a littlehandyman service, we don't want
to drive out to like Okeechobeebecause it's not worth it for us
or for you.
We're not trying to spend yourmoney where we don't need to.
But if you know it's a biggerjob, we'd be happy to come take

(01:14):
a look out of it.
But our general area is WestPalm to Vero.
There's probably roughly mostof our jobs are within kitchens
and bathrooms, but there's nojob that we can't do.
Uh, we do a lot of additionsand siding, windows, stores, you
name it.

(01:34):
You have a dream, bring it in.
We'll help you see what we cando, the best of it and to our
ability all right, very nice.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Sounds like you guys do a little bit of everything.

Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yeah, I, like I said, right now a lot of it tends to
be kitchens and bathrooms, butwe do a little bit of everything
.
We kind of go with the flow of,um, what our community needs, a
lot of it.
You know, at one time, withsiding and windows, a lot of
people were doing replacing thewindows and sliders because of
hurricanes and such like that.
Um, we kind of didn't phase outof that.
We still do that, but now it'skind of shifting back to
interior remodels, trying tospruce things up in the home.

(02:08):
So it goes with the trends.
We do things outside of thatcommercial work and such but
most of it is kitchen andbathrooms that people tend to be
trying to spruce up as they'reliving in their houses longer.

Speaker 2 (02:19):
Okay, got it All right, and so how did you get
into this business?

Speaker 3 (02:27):
So this is my father's company.
At first, when I was little, Ialways told him I was going to
work for him.
He told me no, you don't wantto do that, you want to go do
your own thing.
And for years I fought him onand I went back and forth.
And when I hit high school andI really had to start thinking
about it, he kept telling me no,and I finally said okay, and I
went and I did my own thing fora little bit and then during

(02:47):
COVID, what I was doing, I wasdoing work within the hospitals
and I was a child lifespecialist going to school for
that, and I couldn't do that atthe time because I was still an
interim doing that.
So he said, hey, why don't youcome work for me while we're
figuring this stuff out?

Speaker 2 (03:07):
And I kind of started building from there and I just
never left.
I love it.
That's so cool.
I like that All right.
So now that you've been in theindustry for several years, what
are some?

Speaker 3 (03:21):
myths or misconceptions that you've
noticed.
One of the biggest ones that Iseem to face with a lot of
people, especially becauseFlorida is a melting pot from
all over the United Stateseverywhere but United States is
that permitting.
Everybody comes in and thinkswe could start a job tomorrow.
Unfortunately, in the state ofFlorida, especially in our area
of Jensen Beach, port St Lucie,that is next to non-existing.

(03:43):
Not because I don't want tohelp you, but because almost
everything and anything ispermittable and if we start a
job without a permit especiallywith a lot of the HOAs around
here, condos and things likethat it's not worth it for us or
for you not to do a permit.
So unfortunately, even whatpeople consider to easy shower
to shower remodel we get a lotof those or tub to shower Like

(04:03):
oh, the plumbing's not moving,you don't need a permit.
We could do that like in andout, I could start tomorrow.
If you want, great, I cannot.
So you pretty much need apermit for everything.
I would like everybody to keepthat in mind when you're
thinking of a job timeframe andyou wanna start.
It's just really hard tosometimes get a quick turnaround
with those permits.
I'm not saying they're monthsout, but I can't start tomorrow.

(04:25):
That's the biggest one, sopermits are definitely needed
for almost everything in Florida.

Speaker 2 (04:31):
Yeah, very valuable advice.
All right, so who are yourtarget customers and how do you
attract them?

Speaker 3 (04:39):
So our target customers is really anybody that
needs work done.
There's nothing that we'regoing to tell you no, we're not
coming up to do it.
But we have a lot of oldercustomers that we're gauging to
do those tub to showers, becauseit's really hard for some
people to start lifting theirlegs in to the tubs and it gets
harder.
It becomes a point that a lotof younger people want them

(05:00):
because the kids, but the kidsgrow out of that.
People want them because thekids, but the kids grow out of
that.
And when you're staying in,those houses longer as people
are trying to do, or havemultifamilies in it, it's hard
to get the tub to work foreverybody.
So we're engaging the older cowto help make their home more
easy, accessible for them.
But then we're also trying toreach the younger demographic to
for their DIY projects that wecould help.

(05:22):
You know, fix the house up thatyou got to make it your dream
home.

Speaker 2 (05:27):
Got it Okay, all right.
So let's go different directionhere.
Outside of work, what do youlike to do for fun?

Speaker 3 (05:39):
I travel a lot.
It's hard working for a familybusiness sometimes, but also the
perks.
Um, I like to travel.
One of my friends, she's acollege professor, so we tend to
go during her breaks becauseshe gets a little longer.
But I like to travel differentplaces um europe, all over
united states and stuff likethat to check out new cultures
and areas very cool.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
That sounds exciting.
All right, I'm gonna switchgears on you here one more time.
Uh, no, you know what?
Um, we'll save that questionfor your, for your dad.
I almost asked it, um, okay.
So yeah, jenna, I guess let'slet's wind down here.
Tell our listeners one thingthey should remember about

(06:23):
Franco Construction.

Speaker 3 (06:30):
One thing that I like you guys to remember at us is
that we're not just a contractor.
We're a small, family-ownedbusiness.
We're not looking to spend allof your money.
We're looking to, especiallyfor a lot of the older crowds
when they come in and they needwork done to your house.
Don't be afraid to come get anestimate.
It's a free estimate.
Come, stop by, say hi, tell uswhat you need.
We're willing to work with youthe best we can for some things,
and we also have a showroom, soit's not just for homeowners or

(06:54):
DYI-ers.
Contractors are welcome to stopby too, anytime.
We have flooring or vinyl, wehave tile, cabin selections,
everything.
So you might not already have acontractor, it might not want
us, and that is completely fine,but you're welcome to still
come to our showroom and look atthe materials that we have to
offer.
Um, because we have things liketesoro, where, uh, florida core

(07:16):
might have them, but noteverywhere.
You can't just go anywhere andget them.
There's select dealers thathave them, and we are one of
those people that have some ofthe select brands that you can't
get everywhere.
So come see us and check us out, regardless, if you want us to
do the work or not check out ourmaterials?

Speaker 2 (07:31):
Nice, and where was the best way they can learn more
about the company?

Speaker 3 (07:35):
So we have a Facebook page and an Instagram page.
We do have a website.
I will say the website's not asactive.
Our Facebook and Instagramwe're trying to.
It was kind of dead for a while.
We're trying to keep more up tothat.
You could also call our office.
I'm usually here Monday throughFriday, eight to four.
Anything outside of that, leaveme a voicemail and I'll get

(07:55):
back to you as soon as possible.
You can email us.
I'm on everything, regularly,checking everything, whether
it's a message on Instagram,facebook et cetera.
I check everything.
But the easiest way is to calland if you are not available
outside in our normal hours, Iam definitely willing to work
with you, and so is my GC toaccommodate for you guys to come
in or ask questions outside ofthose hours as well.

(08:16):
We just need to know beforehandso we could make accommodations
ourselves to be here.

Speaker 2 (08:22):
Very nice.
Well, that sounds good.
Well, Jenna, this has been good.
Thanks for hopping on here andsharing a little bit more about
yourself and about the companyand how they can get ahold of
you if someone needs to utilizeyour services.
So I wish you and FrancoConstruction the best going
forward.

Speaker 3 (08:42):
Thank you, I appreciate it and thank you for
having us.

Speaker 1 (08:47):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPPortStLucycom.
That's GNPPortStLucycom, orcall 772-303-1036.