What began as a college side hustle in a small Rhode Island town is now on track to become a national name in home services.
Surv, a fast-growing platform that connects young adults with seniors and homeowners for trusted help around the house, announced a major franchise partnership with Cornerstone Franchise Brands and BrandONE Franchise Development—two powerhouse names in the franchising world.
The move signals a new era for Surv, formerly known as Rent Sons, and its founder Pat Brown. After 15 years as CEO, Brown is stepping into a new role as Founder as the company prepares to scale across the country.
“This partnership blows me away,” said Brown, who launched the company at age 18 in his hometown of Little Compton, R.I. “To go from knocking on doors in my small coastal town, helping seniors with yard work to earn money for college… to now partnering with leaders who’ve built brands like ServiceMaster®, The Home Depot, CertaPro Painters, and Re-Bath—it feels surreal.”
Surv’s new partners bring with them more than a century of combined experience in home services franchising, along with capital, strategic infrastructure, and world-class franchise systems. It’s a significant leap for a company built on a simple mission: dignifying local work, empowering young adults, and caring for aging neighbors.
“This is about meaningful work,” Brown said. “My first tagline was ‘Quality service at the cost of an allowance without the complaining of an actual Son.’ That idea has really grown. It started with a rake and a promise. Now it’s a national movement.”
With the backing of Cornerstone and BrandONE, Surv is gearing up to launch in multiple U.S. markets. The vision? A national network of values-driven franchisees helping millions of Americans age in place and keep their homes running—with help from the next generation.
For Brown and the Surv team, it’s the start of a bold new chapter—but the mission remains the same.
“Purpose, service, and community—that’s what got us here,” Brown said. “And it’s what will carry us forward.”
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