---
title: "Q&A with Joshua Lay, Stratus Building Solutions Master Franchisee"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/75fa8c3e-1462-40f8-8fac-8b7a542d20dc
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/qa_with_joshua_lay_stratus_building_solutions_master_franchisee.html
author: "Franchise Update Media"
category: "Cleaning & maid"
industry: "Home Services"
segment: "Cleaning & maid"
published: 2021-07-09T10:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:27:09.376Z
image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/6110_plate.jpg
---

# Q&A with Joshua Lay, Stratus Building Solutions Master Franchisee

**TL;DR:** Joshua Lay, a master franchisee of Stratus Building Solutions, discusses his experience with the brand and the advantages of service brand franchising. He chose Stratus due to the trustworthy and experienced people at the corporate office.

*By Franchise Update Media, originally published in Franchising.com on 2021-07-09. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/qa_with_joshua_lay_stratus_building_solutions_master_franchisee.html).*

## Story

**Name:** Joshua Lay **Brand:** Stratus Building Solutions **Territories:** 2 master franchises **Years in franchising:** Since 2018 Why did you choose to franchise with a service brand? The model is sustainable. It does require a lot of hard work, but you can be successful if you take it one step at a time.

How did you choose the sector and brand you did? The people at the Stratus corporate office I met during discovery day were different. They are more trustworthy and have experience working as a master franchisee.

I felt they were focused on trust, integrity, and doing things right. What different skill sets are required for service brand franchising? You have to know how to motivate and lead your team well.

You can’t do it on your own, so you have to hire the best and develop them. You have to find people with a growth mindset who are willing to learn. What are the advantages of choosing a service brand?

You get to help others. At Stratus, we have unit franchisees who invest in their own businesses. Many of the unit franchisees are minorities and women.

This gives them a chance to achieve the goal of entrepreneurship. We also have the pleasure of working with clients who haven’t had the best experience with cleaning companies but like to work with us. What would you recommend to anyone considering a service brand?

Just do it. Don’t think too much. It doesn’t matter if you start now or later, you will be dealing with the same things as an entrepreneur.

It’s important to do your due diligence on the brand and create a financial model for your business.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Home Services (sector)
- Stratus Building Solutions (company)
- master franchisee (topic)
- franchising experience (topic)
- service brand (topic)

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Originally reported by Franchise Update Media, Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/qa_with_joshua_lay_stratus_building_solutions_master_franchisee.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/75fa8c3e-1462-40f8-8fac-8b7a542d20dc).