Koala Insulation Franchise Owners Who Exited

Koala Insulation was founded by Scott Marr and now-former congressional candidate and franchisee attorney Keith Gross aka Keithly Gross. They aggressively sold “Semi-Absentee” franchises using outsourced franchise sales organization (FSO) Franchise Fastlane and numerous independent franchise broker networks. In a celebrated deal, they sold Koala Insulation and its newborn Wallaby Windows to Empower Brands and for $90 million. The proceeds likely enabled Keith Gross to finance his $11M campaign for the open 2nd Congressional district seat in Florida earlier this year.

(UnhappyFranchisee.Com) In April, 2024, Franchise Times called Empower Brands’ acquisition of Koala Insulation, Wallaby Windows and two other home service franchises a “Buying Spree.” The Koala Insulation/Wallaby Windows earned Empower Brands the recognition of “Dealmakers of the Year 2024.”

According to Franchise Times:

Scott Marr founded Melbourne, Florida-based Koala Insulation in 2020 and grew the company to more than 100 locations nationwide. Marr launched Wallaby Windows, which specializes in window and door replacement, in early 2022…
Empower named Marr chief incubation officer to oversee all four brands.
“This newly created position was a strategic move by Empower as it looks to add service verticals to its platform with incubating new brands versus traditional M&A,” Zide said.

Is Koala Insulation a Success Story for Franchisee Investors?

How much did these Koala Insulation franchise owners invest, initially?

Here are the initial investment amounts disclosed in FDDs for the past several years:

Also read: Koala Franchise Turnover Rate: 170%

FORMER KOALA INSULATION FRANCHISEES AS OF 12/31/2025

Source: Koala Insulation Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs)

AL Russell Sanders (Never opened) 2021 AZ Derek Williams AZ Alfonso Martinez Smith Maria Margarita Cortes Delvalle 2025 AR Denver Foster 2025 CO Sean Ring CO Gregory & Jaydi Cooper** CT Jon Dickinson (SNO) DE Mathew Baxter FL Michael Blalock, Danna Blalock, Evan Blalock FL Martin Doody & Joshua Doody FL Rick Howard FL Derek Bishop*, Robert Ogden & Zackary Ogden 2023 FL Santiago Cuarterola Durand FL Nicholas Hall FL Tara Neff FL Kory & Stacey Wick Kwick & Co LLC FL Joey Ginther Facility Fran Co, LLC FL Carsten Piilgaard 2021 FL Craig Fizer 2021 FL Tara Neff 2024 GA Austin Reiger Reiger and Eaton Holdings, LLC GA Bob DeBusk DeBusk Ventures, LLC GA Mike MeEnaney GA Stephen M. Crowell ID Taylor Campbell ID Burley Kim and Benjamin Bangerter IN Amanda & Tyler Herrington IN Michael & Catherine Adler KS Richard Young LA John Burson LA Donald A. Deynoodt LA Darren Gomez & Bryan Trogel MA Oliver Thompson & Will Gray (Never opened) 2021 MD John P. Kraynak MI Robert & Alexis Brachel Brachel Investments, Inc. MI Vincent Gethings MI Marc Brill MI Jason Schwannecke & Erika Schwannecke (Never opened) 2021 MO Richard Young MN Troy & Jessica Kurth Kurth Holdings, LLC MN Patrick Flynn MN Patrick Flynn, Jeffrey L. Cragg and Matthew R. Birk * Franchise Broker

NJ Joe Dell’Aquilla NY Laura Melchalke & Darrin Sullivan NC Robert James Gorzynski & Liz Vetter NC Cheryl Suzette Perkins NC Peter Steinke NC Wesley & Kelly Barefoot*; Joseph Sampson III NC Twin City Erik & Kendra Jo Broo NC Cary Rodger Lantz Grosse NC Justin Sherrill NC Ric Ritter Ritter Investment Group, LLC NC Matt Strosser 2021 OH Matthew Dias OH Zachariah Bender OH Ryan Schertzer and Jessica Schertzer OH Fidel Quinones (Never opened) 2021 OK Edmund Andrew Edwards PA Salim Michel Makhlouf 2025 PA Christopher & Tina Pfanstiel PA Joe Dell’Aquilla TX Jason Wright The Valve Group, Inc. TX Ben and Lauren Golden My925 Ventures, Inc. TX Kenneth and Michelle McClintock Back Nine Franchising, LLC TX Sugar Land Bradley A. Dibble Dibble Insulation, Inc. TX TX / OK Spray Foam and Insulation, LLC TX Ricky Gibson TX Brad & Angela Arlington TX Ray Tong 2021 TX Brent Bartholomew TX Trent and Melissa Hunter TX Kevin Headrick TX Randall Rittgers, Sr TX Jimmy & Leslie Armentrout TX Lakhvir Sidhu TX Johnny H. Dalton & Harry S. Dalton TX Christian & Stefanie Mueller TX Marcellino Valdez TX Jeff Jansen TX Patrick Turner & Anthony Cordina UT Kirby & Lauren Davison UT Paul & Erin Conley VA Nathan Sample VA Jeffrey W. Reeder (Never opened) 2021 WA Mitchell Bowman WA Larry & Christy Hanson WA Taylor Campbell WI Reinaldo Cesco and Margaux Caffa Lakeshore Investments of Wisconsin, LLC ** Not disclosed as having left

Koala Insulation Franchise Turnover From 2020 – 2025: 170%

What Caused the High Franchise Turnover Rate of the Koala Franchise System?

We welcome comments, opinions and observations of those familiar with the Koala Insulation franchise, either below or via confidential email. Anonymous commenting is acceptable and confidentiality is assured.

Please help us and our readers understand:

• What accounts for the high exit rate of Koala Insulation franchisees?
• Were franchisees allowed to exit without litigation (or threat of litigation)?
• Has Empower Brands addressed the issues that led to the exits of nearly all of the original franchisees?
• How many franchisees signed franchise agreements believing Koala Insulation could be run on a “semi-absentee” (5-10 hours per week) basis?
• Can the average Koala Insulation franchise be successful on a “Semi-Absentee” basis or with passive ownership?

Please Share Opinions & Comments Below. Anonymous Commenting Acceptable.

This post contains our best effort at piecing together an accurate account from public documents and anonymous tips. It obviously contains gaps and prompts many questions. We have contacted the companies and, when possible, the individuals involved.

INVITATION: UnhappyFranchisee.Com invites all companies and individuals discussed to provide corrections, clarifications, explanations, rebuttals, opinions and statements in the spirit of open and constructive discussion. All viewpoints are welcome and valued.

Leave a comment below or email us in confidence at UnhappyFranchisee[at]Gmail[dot]com.

TAGS: Koala Insulation, Koala Insulation franchise, Wallaby Windows, Wallaby Windows Franchise, Empower Brands, home Services franchises, Franchise Fastlane, Semi-Absentee franchises, Scott Marr, Franchise Altitude, Keith Gross, Keith Gross for Congress, congressional candidate Keith Gross, Gross Law Group, DonutNV, DonutNV franchise, boxwood partners, midocean partners