Ex-Preschool Owner Wades Into Disaster With Rainbow Restoration

Sevasti Aboud traded preschool ownership for a career in property restoration, building a Rainbow Restoration franchise in Norfolk, Virginia, with the support of her husband and the broader Neighborly network. Her transition brought together years of business experience, a strong connection to the local community, and a desire to help homeowners and businesses recover after disasters. Since launching the franchise in 2018, Aboud has focused on building a team known for reliability, high standards, and customer care.

Before entering the restoration industry, Aboud owned and operated preschools while helping her husband manage the invoicing and accounting for their construction and painting business. Their experience working with a local restoration company also introduced her to the industry and prompted her to earn an Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. When she began considering a career change, Rainbow Restoration stood out among the three franchise brands she approached. Rather than immediately focusing on her financial qualifications, the company invited Aboud and her husband to visit its headquarters in Waco, Texas, to assess whether they were a good fit for the business.

The support she encountered during that visit helped shape her decision. Aboud said the company remained involved after the franchise agreement was signed, providing ongoing training and guidance rather than leaving the couple to manage the operation on their own. She also embraced Rainbow Restoration’s RICH values, which stand for Respect, Integrity, Customer focus, and Having fun. Before launching their franchise, the couple completed hands-on field training with an established franchise owner, learning how restoration jobs were managed and how operational systems worked together.

Aboud’s established relationships in Norfolk and the wider Hampton Roads area also helped the business gain a foothold. Her local connections, combined with the couple’s reputation for dependable work and community involvement, helped build trust with customers. The franchise handles mitigation and reconstruction, often working with property owners facing the aftermath of fires, floods, and other emergencies. For Aboud, the work goes beyond repairing buildings. She sees the opportunity to help people regain a sense of normalcy after difficult experiences as a central part of the business.

Rainbow Restoration is part of Neighborly, a home services franchise network that provides its brands with training, operational resources, and opportunities for cross-promotion. The system also offers purchasing advantages through its broader scale and access to established relationships with major insurers. As severe weather events and other property emergencies create ongoing demand for restoration services, franchisees operate in a sector built around essential customer needs. The Knowledge Base feature available through Gorilla Dash can support similar franchise operations by giving teams a centralized place to access procedures, training materials, and other important resources. Aboud’s experience demonstrates how a combination of local leadership and sustained franchisor support can help build a service business with a lasting role in its community.