Another Client Success Story: Meet Laurie & Greg Ruselowski

 

Laurie & Greg Ruselowski are the proud owners of Cascade Signs and Graphics, whose territory covers Seattle, Washington. Part of the SIGNWORLD brand, this business opportunity has been one of the leading signage producers for the past four decades and has now grown to more than 350 locations throughout the U.S.


Laurie and Greg’s journey is nothing short of inspirational, which is why FranNet of Michigan chose to feature the couple as part of our ongoing series of Client Success Stories. Assisted by FranNet Consultant Mark Cory, the Ruselowski’s were able to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Below, in Laurie’s own words, she shares the details of their personal journey and how they’ve built a thriving and successful small business of their own.

 

Background Story

“I graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and went on to get my teaching certificate. That led to a decade in education where I worked as both a librarian and in IT services, with a bit of graphic design work thrown in there as well. I retired about 15 years ago and my husband Greg followed a couple of years later, which precipitated a move to Florida. Our kids are grown, so we got to hang out, play tennis, and just relax and enjoy ourselves for a while.”

 

On Deciding to Pursue an Entrepreneurial Future

“After living in Florida for about five years, we decided to move closer to our children in Washington state. I guess you could say we became a little bored with the ‘Cabana Life,’ so to speak! Around that same time, we began looking at some small businesses we might like to own. While working at General Motors, Greg had facilitated a connection with Mark Cory of FranNet, so we reached out to him to get the entrepreneurial ball rolling. Mark had us both take the FranNet assessment test to determine what we were looking for in a business opportunity.”

 

On What Attracted Them to the SIGNWORLD Business Opportunity

“Once we got the results from our assessments, Mark Cory came back with a short list of franchise opportunities, which included a couple of tech-related concepts, senior care, and of course SIGNWORLD. One route we definitely didn’t want to take was anything food or beverage-related – just too much hassle involved. But owning a sign-related company sounded reasonable to both of us because after all, everyone needs signage, right? It’s literally everywhere you look. I also kind of liked the graphic design component, having a little experience in that area myself. And Greg is also quite the handyman, so we figured that would be helpful to us for any installations. We ended up enlisting our son to handle all of the financial side of the business – all the quotes, invoicing, and billing. We actually looked at three different sign-related businesses, but only SIGNWORLD was a non-franchise opportunity. That appealed to us both because we didn’t really want to go the traditional franchising route, with all the royalties, 50-page operation guidebooks, and the compliance issues that were involved. SIGNWORLD is a more of a licensing type deal, with a simple two-page contract. We could take the business wherever we wanted, create our own hours, and enjoy a whole lot more flexibility. We also liked that there was no retail storefront necessary, we could set up our operation wherever we liked. We were looking for a straightforward 9-to-5, Monday through Friday deal – no working on the weekends. In the end, we decided that the three of us working together could pull it off and make it work.”

 

On Launching Their Business

“We actually opened up for business right as Covid was hitting and that made us a little nervous. As in, ‘Should we be opening a business right now?’ The economy was pretty shaky, but we got ourselves a nice space in a business park, got our equipment and everything in place. Our training took place in California and when that was done, we just jumped right in the deep end with both feet. I think one of the biggest challenges we faced at the time was that we were newcomers to Washington state. We didn’t really know anyone, had no contacts, we just had to start from scratch finding installers, establishing a client base, and getting out there to network and hustle business. We ended up working with a small internet marketing company that helped quite a bit.”

 

On How it’s Going…

“Oh, let’s see…we’re in our fifth year of operation now and things are coming along quite nicely. I mean, this isn’t like a hobby for us, but because it wasn’t our bread and butter, we could approach things in a more relaxed manner. We were really looking for a way to keep ourselves busy, to keep our minds sharp, to stay active in the community and maintain our edge during retirement. Things may have started on the slow side, but business picked up in a hurry. Looking back, you could say we were winging it a little bit, just kind of learning as we went along. But we did establish some mainstream goals to be more responsive than our competitors – which turned out to be pretty easy. Many people here were totally surprised when we followed up so quickly, as that hadn’t been their exprerience before. And so the calls continued to pick up and the business really took off. Over the years, I’m proud to say we’ve developed a great reputation in the community and that’s helped us get referrals and a lot of repeat business.”

 

On Living an Entrepreneurial Life

“My husband Greg used to work 80-hour weeks at General Motors, but now he has a lot more time to enjoy doing the things he loves, such as hiking and biking. We get our entire weekends to do what we choose. He’s gradually stepped back from the business and that’s allowed my son and I to do the heavy lifting. That being said, I get to choose when I want to work. I get to meet new people. It keeps my mind sharp. It’s given me a great opportunity to get to know the people here in our community and we’ve made a lot of new friends through our networking efforts. Still, we can go on vacation if we feel like it – there’s so much more flexibility now than when we were working our traditional jobs. We’ve really found our niche and we enjoy it very much. At the beginning of every week, we sit down and map out our responsibilities and then get after it. Overall, I’d say we both have a lot more time to do our own things.”

 

On FranNet’s Support

“Mark Cory has been amazing to work with. He’s very receptive, very open – very easy to talk to. He really helped us narrow down our choices and explained them all thoroughly. Had it not been for his involvement, I feel pretty certain we’d be stuck doing something we didn’t really like. Mark was always there to reassure us and was very instrumental in setting up the right introductions and getting the conversations started.”

 

On Their Future Plans

“We’re kind of status quo for the time being, but eventually I think we’ll present our son with the opportunity to take over the business. Over the years, he’s become much more comfortable with the business and the installations. He’s not a graphic designer, so he’ll need some help there, but I might stay somewhat involved. So, if he wants it, he can have it. I suppose we’re talking about three or four years down the road, but we’ll see. We set our own schedules around here. If it turns out this is not something he’s interested in continuing, we’ll probably look to sell it to another party. He’s 45 now, so the decision is all his – we’ll just continue to play it by ear for now. There’s really a lot to like about owning a sign company. We get to meet a lot of interesting people and no two jobs are the alike. Every day, we wake up and it’s something different and that’s just how we like it.”

 

For more information, please visit Laurie and Greg Ruselowski’s SIGNWORLD business, Cascade Signs and Graphics.

Another Client Success Story: Meet Mark Derylo

 

In 2010, Mark Derylo and his wife Jodi became the proud owners of a Molly Maid franchise, whose territory covers Kalamazoo and Portage, Michigan. Part of the Neighborly family of brands, Molly Maid has been one of the leading franchisors in the residential home cleaning business for the past 40+ years. The iconic brand has now grown to more than 500 locations throughout the U.S. Mark’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of inspirational, which is why FranNet of Michigan chose to feature him as part of our ongoing series of Client Success Stories. Assisted by FranNet Consultant Mark Cory, Mark and Jodi were able to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Below, in his own words, Mark shares the details of his personal journey - from his successful 30-year career in the energy and oil business to launching a successful franchise business in the home services industry.

Background

“I grew up in Wyoming, Michigan, a southern suburb of Grand Rapids. After graduating high school in 1979, I immediately went to work for J&H Oil Company, managing a small, full-service gas station. I methodically worked my way up the ladder, wearing lots of hats, until I was eventually promoted to operations manager. I met my future wife, Jodi, while on the job, though she was finishing up her teaching degree at the time. We began dating, but in 1986 I received some daunting news about my health. Diagnosed with leukemia, I was told I only had a few years to live. We grew closer and closer together and, despite my prognosis, decided to get married in 1989 and face our uncertain future together. Two years later, I had a miraculous and life-saving bone marrow transplant that was literally like getting a second lease on life. We hoped to start a family right away, but that proved to be complicated after the intensive treatments. But there was room for hope. Then, in 1995, we were blessed with boy-girl twins. And three years later, another set of girls! In 2004, we welcomed another girl, which brings our family to five beautiful children. After our first set of twins were born (Kailey and Zach), I made a lateral move into sales with another oil company. At Crystal Flash the focus was primarily servicing construction and trucking companies. Over the years, there were many ups and downs, but I always worked my way back into managerial roles. Eventually, I grew tired of the volatility, so I took a voluntary severance in June 2010 to figure out my next move.”

On Choosing an Entrepreneurial Path…

“I’d been told many times I should start my own business, but for the first time in my 30-year career, I really didn’t know what would come next. But I took advantage of the outplacement services, which is where I first crossed paths with Mark Cory with FranNet of Michigan. I found the idea of establishing an entrepreneurial life through franchise ownership an attractive choice. So, Mark and I went to work, assessing my strengths and poring over my ‘wish list’ of what I wanted in a business. It was important to me to have weekends off and a way to stay closer to family. After reviewing several concepts, I discovered that Molly Maid was an ideal match for what I was looking for – both in terms of a business and how it would integrate with my goals and lifestyle.”

What Attracted You to the Molly Maid Business Model?

“I mentioned that I created my own wish list of items I wanted in a business. As I investigated the Molly Maid business model, I was impressed that most clients like to be serviced on an ongoing basis. And I liked the fact that the business is based on recurring cleaning! I was willing to work hard to succeed, and Molly Maid checked all the boxes for me. So, it just happened that the Molly Maid of Kalamazoo/Portage franchise was up for sale. The previous owner wanted to retire to spend more time with her family. Although it was 65 miles from my home, I was fine with it. The rest is history. It ended up being perfect timing. I was impressed with the brand’s track record – over three decades in business and Molly Maid has become a well-known and recognizable name in the residential cleaning business. I really liked how professional and buttoned up the operation was – and I knew I could succeed by following their proven business model. Our bread and butter is recurring cleaning, but we also perform our share of move-in, move-out cleaning. We also do special occasion cleans upon request. It’s not complicated, really, and we really enjoy playing an integral part in our community.”

Tell Us About Your Experience Getting Started

“We took over in December of 2010. We kept all the original staff, including the general manager. As we built up the business, our goal was to clean anywhere from 90-100 homes per month, using uniformed two-person cleaning teams and our branded cars. Being a lifelong believer in customer service, we do our best to go above and beyond. We guarantee satisfaction – I know how important it is to earn the trust of your customers. If we do that, they’ll stick around as recurring customers. And that’s exactly what happened. We’ve hit our benchmarks year after year and continue to grow our staff and expand our territorial reach.”

Where Do You Stand Today?

In August of 2015 we purchased Molly Maid of Grandville from a struggling newer owner. It was closer to home and turned out to be a great move for us. Since then, things have continued to go quite well. My daughter Kailey joined us as our office manager (in Grandville) but eventually decided to leave in November of 2023. That got my son Zach brainstorming and evaluating his personal wish list and lifestyle. Having grown up watching me run our Molly Maid business, he was inspired to pursue a business degree. He had launched a small entrepreneurial operation of his own – an ADT home security business, which he grew into one of their larger offices in the Midwest. Of course, that did take a toll on him, and the 70 to 80-hour workweeks, knocking on doors cold calling were beginning to wear him down. He had recently married and wanted to spend more time with his bride. That’s when we began talking about joining forces, so to speak. Zach joined the business in January of 2024 and became my partner a year later. Now I have a perfect succession plan in place. I’m truly touched when I hear him say it was the best decision he made and the best thing that ever happened to him. He not only brings his sales experience, but he has great knowledge in marketing. His technical skills prepare the business to excel in the future, which had often been a struggle for me. We’re now perfectly matched, a nice mix of young and old. And as a result, our businesses have newfound energy. 

How Did FranNet Support Your Journey?

“I have nothing but the nicest things to say about Mark Cory and FranNet of Michigan. The first time I saw him speak at a seminar on franchise ownership, I was impressed with his knowledge and background. What he provided me with, first and foremost, was an education on franchising – what it was, how it works, and what to expect. He was patient and answered every question I could come up with. I never felt pressured to make a certain decision and he was always encouraging and kind. We methodically worked our way through the assessment, reviewed several concepts, narrowed them down, and then discovered that Molly Maid was the right choice for me. Whenever I hear of someone who wants to start their own business, I advise them to do their homework and get a business that suits their lifestyle. “By all means, if you want to go the franchising route, speak to Mark Cory first.”

What’s Next for Mark Derylo?

“I’m not ready for retirement just yet, but I’m trying to slow down and I’m ready for Zach to take the reins!  I’m not the least bit concerned, because I know I’ve already got a great partner and succession plan in place. We’ve never stopped thinking about expanding or increasing our territory, possibly acquiring another Molly Maid territory. I’m extremely thankful that we ended up launching and nurturing a family-owned business. It’s given us the exact kind of lifestyle I’d hoped for, and I have no complaints. Over my lifetime, I’ve certainly faced my fair share of challenges, but I consider myself one of the most blessed people I can think of. I’m very thankful and grateful that I met Mark Cory and appreciate him choosing to feature me and my son in his series of Client Success Stories.”

For more information, please visit Mark Derylo’s Molly Maid franchise on the web.

Ever heard of ROBS? A gamechanger for many…

Have you dreamt of owning a business but felt the funding hurdle was too high? There's a powerful, often overlooked strategy that could be your game-changer: using your existing retirement funds – legally, without early withdrawal penalties or interest, thanks to IRS regulations on Rollover for Business Startups (ROBS). Sound intriguing? It should.

Before you dismiss this as too risky, consider this: ROBS puts you in control. Imagine funding your business without debt, directly leveraging assets you've already accumulated, and potentially growing your retirement nest egg even faster, without reliance on the erratic stock market!

Here's why exploring ROBS could be the smartest move you haven't considered:

• Take Control: Direct your retirement funds into your business, not a volatile market.
• Launch Debt-Free: Start strong without the burden of traditional loans.
• Fast Track Your Dream: Get your business funded in as little as three weeks.
• Your Assets, Your Rules: Funding availability is based on your existing funds, not credit scores or collateral.

Yes, every investment carries some risk, but with ROBS, you have a significant lever of control, especially when you consider the proven systems and support of a well-established franchise.

Ready to explore if this surprising solution could be your pathway to business ownership and financial independence?

Don't let funding be the barrier to your entrepreneurial aspirations. Let's schedule a brief, no-obligation call to discuss how ROBS works and if it aligns with your financial situation and business goals. Discover a powerful way to take control of your future, starting now.

Please reply to this LinkedIn post or call/text me at 313-821-5060 or schedule a convenient time for me to call you at www.calendly.com/markcory.

Looking forward to a potentially game-changing conversation! Mark

Another Client Success Story: Meet Jennifer Keahl

 

Jennifer Keahl is a proud multi-unit franchise owner for StretchLab in Brighton and Clarkston, Michigan. The franchise opportunity is the industry’s largest assisted stretching brand, offering one-on-one assisted stretching services for all ages and fitness levels. With heightened awareness and demand for recovery and holistic wellness, StretchLab offers consumers more ways to reduce their risk of injury, regain mobility, improve flexibility and range of motion, and reclaim their freedom. Jennifer’s entrepreneurial journey, which began many years ago, is nothing short of inspirational, which is why FranNet of Michigan chose to feature her as part of our ongoing series of client success stories. Assisted by FranNet Consultant Mark Cory, Jennifer was able to turn her entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Below, in her own words, she shares the details of her personal journey - from her successful two-decade career in medical device repair to launching an independent entrepreneurial future in the health, wellness, and fitness industry. 

Background

“I earned my bachelor's degree in environmental science from Michigan State University, then followed that up with an MBA from the University of Michigan-Flint. I spent 20 years working for a medical device repair business in a variety of roles, eventually being promoted to serve as the company’s vice-president of quality. For 10 of those years, we were owned by private equity and positioned ourselves to be acquired by a large corporation. We quadrupled the size and revenue of the company, which required a lot of hard work and dedication to accomplish – something I remain very proud of. On the personal side, I’m recently married, and between my husband and I, we have two adult daughters and two teenaged sons.” 

On Becoming an Entrepreneur

“It was not a surprise when our company was sold. Still, it felt like my baby had grown up and graduated. My role, my duties, everything changed. It was at this point that I wanted to explore and see what else was out there. I didn’t really begin in the franchising space – in fact, I didn’t know much about it at all. Like many people, I assumed it was just fast food. I also looked at regular small business opportunities and, through my network, I was introduced to Mark Cory with FranNet of Michigan. We had a couple of meetings, and I discovered that franchising had a lot of what I liked and needed in order to prepare for an entrepreneurial future. I knew I would need support in areas like sales and marketing assistance. I was certain I didn’t have all the knowledge and experience I needed to be an independent business owner but remember – my background was in quality. And there was something comforting and familiar to me about following a franchise’s proven business model.” 

What Attracted You to the StretchLab Business Model?

“I’ve always been into fitness, and I stretch all the time. In fact, it had never even occurred to me that people did not stretch. When I was investigating different franchise opportunities, I fell in love with StretchLab’s business model. I began to think it was the perfect opportunity to combine my passion for fitness and wellness with owning a business. As a new modality, I felt like StretchLab was both risky and attractive – an interesting combination.” 

Tell Us About Your Experience Getting Started

“Getting starting was very challenging for me, especially since I was still working a full-time job. I know there are many others who’ve taken the entrepreneurial route who can tell you that starting a business of your own can be overwhelming. And it takes a toll on you mentally. So many of the smallest details like tax filings, paperwork, licenses, bank accounts, and registrations – these were all time-intensive tasks. There were a lot of hoops to jump through. Furthermore, our sales were initially very slow, and our corporate regional sales manager did not hesitate to tell me how far behind we were. I felt like I had failed already. However, we then began working with another regional sales manager who turned out to be a terrific help. He set small, achievable goals for us and little by little, we started hitting them. He kept repeating, ‘no worries, just keep going.’ Slowly but surely, we began celebrating our small victories and it became clear that we were making good progress. But it was a rollercoaster, nonetheless. Along the way, I learned not to focus on or predict outcomes based on one little metric – whether it was a good or bad number. I was reminded that the ultimate goal was selling new memberships and retaining the ones we’d already secured. We followed the playbook and eventually hit all of our benchmark goals. Six months after I signed my franchise agreement with StretchLab, I opened the first of my two locations in Clarkston in May of 2023. Shortly after that, I began seeking out real estate for my second location in Brighton. I ended up finalizing that lease in April of 2024 and opened the doors to my second location on August 19.” 

Where Do You Stand Today?

“Today we are doing very well. I have the coolest employees on the planet who care about each other, our clients, and the community in which we serve. We love sharing success stories, such as when our clients achieve their goals. There are few things more satisfying than hearing that your clients improved their golf swing, no longer require daily pain medication, or have regained the ability to tie their own shoes!”  

How Did FranNet Support Your Journey?

“I had a fantastic experience with Mark Cory at FranNet of Michigan. Going into this I had no idea what to expect. But he walked me through each stage of the buying process, and I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I reviewed four different concepts, all of which aligned with my preferences and goals. When it got to the introductions stage, everyone Mark introduced me to was so quick and responsive. It made it much easier to narrow down my choices. Without a doubt, Mark and FranNet had all the resources I needed. My experience was such a pleasure that I’ve already referred a good friend of mine to Mark to explore franchise ownership using the same process that I did.” 

What’s Next for Jennifer Keahl?

“As for where we go from here, I’m looking at both the short and long-term goals. I know that I want to continue growing, but for now, I’m primarily focused on my two studios in Clarkston and Brighton. I’m trying to ingrain these studios with the community to the point where people won’t know how they got along without a local StretchLab studio. The community aspect is very important to me, which is why we try our best to partner with other local small businesses and organizations. Our goals are the same – we all want to grow and support one another to make this a more vibrant and collaborative community – a place in which we can all be proud to live and work. Another specific area I’m interested in exploring further is how to utilize my StretchLab studios in the injury prevention space. I think there is a lot of potential there and I’m looking forward to expanding our reach in this area. The future looks pretty bright from where I’m stretching.” 

For more information, please visit Jennifer Keahl’s StretchLab studios on the web: https://www.stretchlab.com/location/clarkston, https://www.stretchlab.com/location/brighton.

What About the Economy? Michigan will be Okay, per U of M Economists!

Having counseled thousands of individuals contemplating business ownership over the past 23 years, a recurring question I hear is “Should I start a business in this economy?”. I’d be surprised if a prospective entrepreneur wasn’t thinking about that. It certainly entered my mind as I was deciding to take the leap of faith in the fall of 2001, given the events of 9/11, a plunging stock market and the U.S. getting involved in Middle East conflicts. Resigning myself to the reality that there would never be a “perfect” time, I moved forward as a business owner and haven’t looked back. Since then, myself, and scores of other business owners have survived the Great Recession, a few mini recessions and a pandemic!

You may hear or read economic warnings. Today is no exception. But economists at the University of Michigan predict the Michigan economy, while negatively impacted by planned tariffs and restrictions in immigration, will see jobs and income gains from tax cuts. Here is a quote from their recent report that appeared in Crain’s Detroit Business: 

“Although we acknowledge the very real risks of economic disruption ahead, we believe the most likely outcome is a state economy that withstands these challenges over the next two years, with moderate job growth accompanied by relatively low unemployment, tolerable inflation and rising real incomes,” the economists said in the report. “The U.S. economy has gone through times of great uncertainty before and emerged intact. We project that both Michigan and the nation will follow that path over the next two years.”

What does this mean for you if you’re thinking about starting a business? Although this is not the rosiest of pictures, given current dynamics, our economy will respond with the resiliency that we’ve seen time after time over the decades. However, I would advise you to proceed CAUTIOUSLY under any economic conditions or predictions. If you plan to employ the franchise model as a safer and more predictable entry into business ownership, engage the free services of an experienced franchise consultant, like myself, to guide you through a strategic search process. We’ll introduce you to concepts that will not only best leverage your transferable skills and your desired role in business, but also those that have a track record of success despite economic downturns or pandemics! Franchise research provides you with the unique opportunity to hear directly from franchises and learn how they’ve weathered (or even thrived in) tougher times!

If there is such a thing as a “perfect” time, it’s at the point where you’re armed with the facts and have gained a sense of confidence that you can accomplish your business and lifestyle goals by utilizing a proven model!

Would you like some help to determine if business ownership makes sense for you and if the timing is right? Let’s talk! www.calendly.com/markcory

Another Client Success Story: Meet Ken and Amy Kish

Ken and Amy Kish are the proud owners of Floor Coverings International of East Metro Detroit, a turnkey provider of high-quality home flooring options and personalized service. Their entrepreneurial journey, which began many years ago, is nothing short of inspirational, which is why FranNet of Michigan chose to feature them as part of our ongoing series of client success stories. Assisted by FranNet Consultant Mark Cory, Ken and Amy were twice able to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Below, in his own words, Ken shares the details of their personal journey - from previously successful careers in the automotive and accounting industries to entrepreneurial ownership of their very own home services business…

Background

“After initially meeting at Albion College, my wife Amy and I have been happily married for 33 years. We have three grown children and have been blessed with six beautiful grandchildren. After graduating from Albion, I got my master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and Amy became a CPA with Arthur Anderson, one of the big-six accounting firms. My career trek began with a consulting role, primarily for automotive companies in Detroit – including both GM and Ford. I also worked with some of the larger automotive suppliers in the industry. This consulting work eventually led to a transition into the automotive supply base to work for Lear Corporation, which is one of the largest suppliers in the industry.”

On Becoming an Entrepreneur

“In 2007, I moved on from my work with Lear Corporation to work for a logistics startup company which began my entrepreneurial journey. The company was acquired in 2009, which provided me with a little bit of experience before I looked into franchising. I knew Mark Cory before we began working together, as both of our kids played little league together. When we got serious about franchise ownership, we went through FranNet’s process and took the assessment to see which opportunities best aligned with our interests. After reviewing several concepts, we decided to go with Expense Reduction Analysis (ERA), which is a consulting operation that specializes in cost management, control, and optimization for small businesses. My stint with ERA was shortened by an opportunity to work with a good friend to turn around a struggling automotive supplier. Thanks to Amy’s help and contributions, we were able to grow the ERA business effectively and finish up our 10-year commitment. By that time, we were looking for something a little different and went back to Mark Cory to reassess new franchise opportunities. This time around, we landed on Floor Coverings International (FCI), which is a turnkey provider of quality home flooring options delivered with highly personalized customer service.”

What Attracted You to the Floor Coverings International Opportunity?

“We were looking for a franchise with an established business reputation – one that placed a heavy emphasis on customer satisfaction and went about doing things the right way. And eventually realized that Floor Coverings International really checked all of those boxes for us. They’ve been around for 30 some odd years and customer service is a big priority for them. I wanted to get back to that, as the value of providing an exceptional customer experience is something I’d learned back in my automotive industry days. In the end, we did look at several other options, but FCI was a great fit culture-wise and flooring is a good, in-demand product when it comes to consumer sales.”

Tell Us About Your Experience Getting Started

“We started out in September of 2022, and I’d have to say it was a pretty good first year. Though it began a little slow, we actually closed a sale on our very first appointment. From that point on, the follow-up sales wouldn’t turn out to be as easy as the first one, but we did have a good first quarter. Then, in Q1 of 2023, we were fortunate to land a couple of pretty big opportunities that came our way, and overall sales began to go much better for us. At the one-year mark, we saw the need to bring on an additional salesperson and our daughter also began to work with us, joining the team to serve as our office manager. The marketing spend can be a little steep, but it’s necessary to augment the sales process and we’re pretty happy with the revenue we generated at the end of 2023. I think it really gave us some good momentum heading into 2024.”

Where Do You Stand Today?

“At the close of last year, we had our new salesperson onboard and our Q4 sales were great. At the end of Q3 this year, we have surpassed our prior year sales, even during a slower economy and the uncertainty of being in an election year.  We’ve been doing things a little differently this year and we’ve added staff to help us grow – including a new production manager who is managing the installation side of the business. These additions have really freed us up to work on the business, as opposed to in it.”

How Did FranNet Support Your Journey?

“Well first off, Mark is just a genuinely great guy. I think he really cares about the people he works with, and he has a lot of patience. He really digs deep to help candidates find the right fit for their circumstances, but he’s never pushy or impatient. He basically tees it up so that you can make an informed decision that’s best for your future. Of course, we knew each other beforehand, so it’s been a great relationship but on two different occasions, he’s helped us locate the best possible business opportunity. We really appreciated how he streamlined the process and helped us narrow down our choices. Both ended up being great decisions.”

How Things Are Going

“Right now, I’d say we’re actively looking to grow the business even further. Our ambitious plan is to double our sales for the next year. We’ve got the pieces in place to do it, just waiting on the economy to catch up. This past year has been quite instrumental, as we’ve put a lot of effort into building new relationships with other businesses who have customers that need flooring. These partnerships have really helped us level out the highs and lows when it comes to consumer lead flow. Overall, I believe we have a great foundation, and we plan to continue widening our network and remain on the path we’ve established.”

For more information, please visit Ken and Amy’s Floor Coverings International franchise on the web.

Another Client Success Story: Meet Mike and Michelle Peterson

Mike and Michelle Peterson are the proud owners of a Challenge Island franchise in Oakland County, Michigan. Challenge Island is an award-winning educational program that specializes in the STEAM and STEM curriculums. Their entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of an inspirational story, which is why FranNet of Michigan chose to feature them as part of our ongoing series of client success stories. Assisted by FranNet Consultant Mark Cory, they were able to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Below, in his own words, Mike shares the details of their personal journey - from 30 years at General Motors to entrepreneurial ownership of their very own Challenge Island franchise… 

Background 

“I earned an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, then went on to finish my MBA and my wife’s background is in industrial design. I worked for General Motors (GM) for several decades, handling various manufacturing assignments, as well as being involved in strategic planning. We’ve been married since 1994 and have three grown children, all of whom also went into engineering at the University of Michigan. So, I guess the apples don’t really fall too far from the tree after all when it comes to passion for STEM.” 

On Becoming an Entrepreneur 

“I’m not really one of those people who can say they always wanted to own a business of their own, but rather circumstances dictated the opportunity. A few years back, GM was offering buyouts for their more senior employees and my wife, and I saw it as possibly our last chance to cash out and do something different. Neither of us were sure what that something was going to look like, but we took the proverbial leap of faith. Part of the GM buyout option includes comprehensive outplacement services, which is how we came to know Mark Cory at FranNet. After meeting with him and discussing our background, we found out some interesting things. Both of us have always been heavily involved and passionate about working with kids. With three active children of our own, we participated in Scouting and community based educational programs, even some robotics competitions over the years and truly loved it. Mark explained how there were dozens and dozens of franchises that support children’s education and development, and we were amazed – we had no idea they even existed.” 

What Attracted You to the Challenge Island Business Opportunity? 

“In all, I think Mark came back and had us review four or five different educational franchise opportunities. But what caught our attention with Challenge Island was the enthusiasm we felt from the founder and their executive team. Sharon Estroff created the business and Robin Bergeron is their chief development officer, both of whom we ended up speaking with multiple times. There was one particular Zoom call that lasted well over an hour and a half, leaving us wondering how they had that kind of time to afford us amidst their other responsibilities. It was the same when speaking with the other franchisees in the network – they were all so helpful. We were also impressed with Challenge Island’s curriculum and the accompanying teaching materials. We felt like they really knew how to make the STEAM and STEM programs interesting and fun for kids. And there was also a very heavy teamwork component to it. Based on our experiences working with children, that’s a big deal. Challenge Island had a way of bringing the students together during workshops, brainstorming sessions, and other educational programming, while still making it a fun experience for them.” 

Tell Us About Your Experience Getting Started 

“All in all, it was about a six-month process to become official franchisees, and we signed our agreement in June 2019. Obviously, it takes some lead time to get your classes put together and recruit the participating students. By the fall of that year, we had several programs in place in multiple communities and we kept picking up steam over the winter months. Then, of course, came February 2020 and Covid hit. It was worrying because we just felt stuck. But we were both relieved and amazed at how quickly the leadership at Challenge Island came together to address the restrictions we now faced. Just like that, everything transitioned to virtual learning via Zoom call sessions. We adapted as well, going out to get the supplies we needed for our class curriculums, putting the kits together at home, then delivering them to the front porches of our students. We’d then jump on our scheduled call and tell the students to unpack their boxes labeled ‘Week 1.’ And it worked! By that summer, we had one particular program that included children from 10 different states. From a territorial perspective, Challenge Island franchisees don’t compete directly with one another. Certain permissions are secured ahead of time and there’s a lot of cooperation that goes on behind the scenes. Challenge Island’s HQ is very instrumental in keeping us working closely together and the back-and-forth communication.” 

Where Do You Stand Today? 

“I think it’s safe to say that everything has returned back to normal operations – we’re back to face-to-face classes again. As of this month, we’ve just completed 27 different summer camps in and around the Detroit area – 10 communities in all and we had a total of 14 employees involved who worked to make it happen. Looking back, we reached our breakeven point in the third year and we’re in our sixth year now, with good profitability.” 

How Did FranNet Support Your Journey? 

“You know, what I like to say about Mark is that he’s just the nicest, low-key guy you could hope to meet. I’m not sure what I expected at first, but I guess I expected more of a hard sell as far as the process goes. But that’s not at all how it was. Mark was completely no pressure, and he did a fantastic job setting up all of our introductions and meetings with the Challenge Island folks. His step-by-step process was very reassuring, and we understood where we were at all times. That made us really comfortable throughout the journey, which was great. After all, this was a pretty big commitment for us.” 

How Things are Going 

“As of right now, we’re going to keep on keeping on. We’re on a 10-year commitment with Challenge Island and we hope to keep growing what’s become a very successful business for us. Once we reach that point, we’ll be fairly close to retirement, and we’ll have to assess our options at that point. We may sell and move on to something else or decide to stick. But everything is really going well right now. We really do enjoy the community of Challenge Island owners, and we have no complaints.”

For more information, please visit Mike and Michelle Peterson’s Challenge Island site on the web.