By Brandon Anderson, owner of Blo Blow Dry Bar in Orange County, California with his wife, Leanne Anderson
For more than a decade, I helped aspiring entrepreneurs navigate the franchise world. As the founder of Anderluxe Consulting, I worked with prospective franchisees and represented more than 900 franchise brands across a wide range of industries. After spending many years advising others on ownership, I decided it was time to take the leap myself.
Today, my wife Leanne and I own a Blo Blow Dry Bar in Orange County, California. Nearly two years after opening our doors, we’ve built a thriving business that is rooted in leadership, culture, and a genuine commitment to developing our team. For both of us, the journey to ownership was years in the making.
A Veteran’s Path to Entrepreneurship
Before entering the franchise industry, I served in the United States Marine Corps. After leaving the military in 2006, I transitioned into sales before launching my consulting firm, where I spent years helping others evaluate opportunities and developed a deep appreciation for the structure that the franchise model provides entrepreneurs.
As I continued advising prospective franchisees, I found myself having the same conversation with Leanne repeatedly: maybe it was time for us to own a franchise ourselves. After years of discussing the possibility, the idea finally took shape, and the two of us began searching for a concept that aligned with both our interests and long-term goals.
Finding the Right Opportunity
While I brought years of franchise expertise to the table, Leanne offered a different perspective. She spent years in the corporate world, most recently as an executive assistant supporting C-suite leaders at a Fortune 500 healthcare company. Entrepreneurship offered her something she valued deeply: flexibility and the ability to build something of her own.
Our professional strengths complemented each other from the start. My sales, marketing and franchise experience balanced Leanne’s operational expertise and organizational background. Together, we made a well-rounded team before we ever opened our doors. When we discovered Blo Blow Dry Bar, we both saw an opportunity that aligned with our interests and long-term goals. Nearly two years later, the decision proved to be the right one.
Building a Business Through People
If you ask either of us what we’re most proud of, neither of us starts with revenue or growth. We point to our team.
For Leanne, one of the biggest accomplishments has been building a staff she trusts to help run the business and deliver consistent guest experience. When we first opened, we were there all the time. Today, we’ve built a team that we trust completely, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of. For me, watching Leanne grow into her role as an operator has been just as rewarding as any business milestone we’ve hit.
Staffing was one of our earliest challenges, but we focused on finding individuals who shared our values and investing in their development over the long term. The result is a culture built on trust, accountability and collaboration, one that has made the business more resilient and our team more engaged.
Leading Through Service
We credit much of our success to a leadership philosophy rooted in service, a mindset I trace directly to my military background. Whether it’s greeting guests, answering phones or cleaning the salon, we don’t ask our team to do something we haven’t done ourselves. We believe leadership begins with leading by example and showing up for the people around you.
Leanne shares a similar philosophy shaped by years working alongside corporate executives. We want people to come into work excited and happy. We focus on trust, respect and creating an environment where people can learn and grow. We also encourage our team to view mistakes as opportunities rather than setbacks. We never fail; we only learn.
Why Franchising Works for Veterans
Having experienced franchising on both sides, as an advisor and as an owner, I truly believe the model is particularly well suited for veterans. Military service instills leadership, discipline, accountability and the ability to operate within proven systems while adapting to real-world challenges. These are qualities that translate naturally into franchise ownership. The transition from following a mission to running a business is, in many ways, a natural one.
As Leanne and I approach two years of business ownership, our focus remains on developing our team, serving our community and building a business that reflects our values. After helping others find the right franchise opportunity, I finally found my own. I’ve discovered that some of franchising’s most important lessons can only be learned from the owner’s side of the business. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, but those experiences continue to reinforce why we chose this path.