Our Story
Built from the Install Van Up
Lighting Partners started as one crew in Minneapolis in 2019. Six years later it is a national franchise system with 8 active territories, 10+ open markets, and a playbook proven in every climate from the Sonoran Desert to New England winters.
The Founder
Travis Piepho
Travis Piepho launched MN Lighting Squad in Minneapolis, MN in 2019. The premise was straightforward: homeowners and commercial properties would pay a significant premium for professionally installed holiday and permanent outdoor lighting compared to the DIY or big-box alternative.
The first season validated the model. Customers rebooked. Referrals came without asking. The operational challenge was not finding clients — it was building systems reliable enough to scale: install SOPs, pricing templates, crew training protocols, supplier relationships, and a customer communication cadence that turned a seasonal job into a recurring annual relationship.
By year three, the playbook was documented. Travis began evaluating the franchise model as a path to expand the brand geographically without sacrificing quality control. Lighting Partners LLC was formed as the legal and operational vehicle, and the first franchise territories launched with partners who had relevant service business backgrounds in adjacent markets.
Today the network spans 8 active territories from MI, MN, OH, MA, AZ, IL, VA, CO. Travis leads territory development, brand standards, and direct franchisee support. The business he built is the proof of concept every franchise partner points to.
Travis Piepho
Founding Partner — Lighting Partners LLC
2019
Founded
8
Territories
10+
Open Markets
Brand History
From One Crew to a National Network
2019
MN Lighting Squad Founded
Travis Piepho launches the holiday and permanent lighting operation in the Twin Cities metro. First season proves the premium model — clients rebook and refer.
2020 – 2021
Playbook Development
Revenue growth drives systematic documentation. Install SOPs, pricing frameworks, crew training protocols, and the recurring customer model are codified across two full seasons.
2022
Franchise Structure Established
Lighting Partners LLC is formed. Franchise territory agreements and brand standards are developed. First external partners begin onboarding in Michigan and Virginia.
2023
Multi-State Expansion
Network grows to 5 active territories: Minnesota, Michigan, Virginia, Northeast Ohio, and South Chicago. Prospectr lead pipeline integrated as the standard franchise marketing system.
2024
Coast to Coast
Phoenix, New England, and Denver territories launch. Network now spans 7 states — desert, mountain, midwest, and northeast climates all covered under a unified brand standard.
2025 – Present
8 Active Territories, 10+ Open Markets
Lighting Partners continues territory development with 10 priority markets actively recruiting. The brand operates the largest independent professional holiday + permanent lighting franchise network in the country.
What We Stand For
The Lighting Partners Standard
Every territory in the network operates under the same brand promise. The standard is non-negotiable — it is what the name is worth.
Commercial Grade Quality
No consumer-grade product touches a Lighting Partners install. Every fixture, every connector, every run of wire meets or exceeds commercial outdoor standards. Clients expect it. The brand demands it.
Locally Operated
Every franchise is owner-operated in its market. Clients deal with the owner or a crew the owner trusts. The national brand sets the standard; the local operator delivers it. That combination is the competitive advantage.
Recurring Revenue First
The business is engineered for repeat customers, not one-time transactions. Annual rebooking rates of 70-85% in holiday lighting and multi-year service agreements in permanent lighting compound franchise value every year.
Transparency with Partners
Franchise partners see the real numbers — the margins, the seasonality, the customer acquisition costs, the time-to-breakeven. Travis built the business he now franchises. There are no surprises in the data.
Innovation in the Craft
The playbook improves every season. New fixture technology, new installation techniques, new marketing systems. Franchise partners benefit from network-wide R&D on a service that most operators run the same way they did in 2010.
Community Impact
Lighting transforms how a neighborhood looks after dark. Professionally installed lighting elevates curb appeal, increases the time families spend outdoors, and makes commercial corridors more welcoming. The work matters beyond the transaction.
Become Part of the Story
The network is growing. Qualified operators in open territories can connect with the franchise team and get territory availability within 48 hours.