By Wanda Hoegren
It’s all too common for professionals in need of change to eye a thriving service industry and think, “I could do that if only I had industry experience.” But here’s the thing: Time spent working in a service industry is not a prerequisite to success as a franchise owner.
Today, successful franchise owners can come from a wide range of unrelated careers. That’s possible because franchise systems tend to provide the built-in infrastructure to teach, support and scale businesses for ambitious owners.
What’s important in franchising isn’t industry-specific knowledge, it’s the aptitude to understand and replicate proven systems.
The Experience Myth
As the president of a growing company with more than 150 franchise owners, I can verify that it is common for franchisees to come in without any technical experience.
Many of our success stories have come from entrepreneurs outside of the window treatment industry. They are most commonly professionals who have succeeded elsewhere and are seeking more control over their work, a better lifestyle and a new challenge. What they share isn’t background, but a common mindset.
Franchising allows them to focus on what they’re good at, which is often leadership, discipline or management. The franchise infrastructure can assist in filling in the experience gap with training, brand establishment, public reputation and more.
The myth that franchising in the service industry is only for insiders is constantly disproven by those with the simple drive to execute.
The Actual Requirements for Successful Franchising
With the imaginary barrier of expertise out of the way, the actual requirements to own a franchise become clear, often beginning with a set threshold of net worth and available liquid capital for your initial investment.
Other requirements depend on the nature of the franchise, but the toolkit for success tends to be consistent across industries and common among successful professionals. Drive, discipline, organization and an entrepreneurial spirit are the foundation for success, no matter what a person wants out of life. That toolkit of professional behavior is equally relevant in making franchise ownership a success.
The Advantages of Franchise Ownership
The risk-versus-reward potential in franchise ownership can be attractive, especially in cases like ours and other companies that have built thoughtful infrastructure around how we train and support our franchise owners.
The primary draws to franchise ownership can include:
- Brand Foundation: Franchise owners can leverage an in-place reputation and brand awareness.
- Proven Business Model: Franchisors act as a proof of concept for franchise owners and a blueprint for success. Owners don’t have to guess or experiment with their approach or model, as the franchisor has already proven the service in its market.
- Comprehensive Training: Franchisors typically offer extensive training programs that address the original question of experience as an obstacle to newcomers. Most franchisors have already developed everything from marketing approaches to daily operations.
- Lower Risk of Failure: In many cases, franchisors have refined the operational and marketing systems franchise owners are buying into, so the risk of failure is lower than starting a business from scratch.
- Marketing Support: When franchise owners invest in a nationally established brand, they often have the option to utilize the franchisor’s national marketing campaigns and initiatives, making it easier to build visibility in their respective markets.
- Networking Opportunities: Joining a thriving franchise system means sharing the same network with other business owners, including those who do have more experience in the industry. Seeking mentorship or simply asking for guidance from established pros can be a confidence boost to any new franchise owner.
Ultimately, success in the franchising space comes down to the ability to take a proven model and replicate it. While having experience in business or administration can be an asset, industry-specific knowledge and technical acumen are far from essential.
The Shape of Franchise Owner Success
Though every experience is unique, we often hear similar stories from franchise owners about how they define their success. Beyond the financial benefits, owners can measure success in lifestyle flexibility, freedom from corporate structures, opportunities to connect directly with clients and opportunities to start a business with a partner or spouse.
And for those leaving their industries in search of more stability in franchising, good news: in spite of otherwise wild times in the United States economy, franchising is expected to continue growing in the coming years. According to IFA, it was projected to increase by 1.9% in 2025 alone.
Whether it’s among our franchise owners or across other service industries, the common thread takeaway from what success looks like in this experience is simple: People love the feeling of regaining control. Experiencing a new level of freedom over their work lives while still enjoying the support, pre-built visibility and risk mitigation of franchising makes this experience especially promising for those in a position to explore the franchise path to business ownership.
Wanda Hoegren is the Brand President for Gotcha Covered, a Five Star Franchising brand. Five Star Franchising is an innovative, fast-growing platform of home service brands with more than 1,600 total locations throughout North America.