31
10, 2019
31
10, 2019
31
10, 2019
31
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30
10, 2019
Tech Support
With a technology franchise, you get the support of a system in a thriving industry. By Alesia Visconti
30
10, 2019
In The Business of Helping Business
A business service franchise may be a great option as they typically require a relatively low investment. By Jerry Rieder
30
10, 2019
28
10, 2019
1
10, 2019
October 2019: Franchisee of the Month
Franchisee of The Month
THE FIX IS IN
Women (and men) find a perfect entrepreneurial fit with Just Let Me Do It
by Rose Mango
What does Starbucks do when an electrical outlet isn’t working? How about if Olive Garden needs to have broken bathroom tile repaired? They call in a handyman… or a handywoman like Katrina Farrell. Because even big businesses have small jobs.
Six months ago, Farrell became the owner of a commercial repair service franchise covering the entire Seattle area. Her company, Just Let Me Do It Commercial Services, has found a niche in its detail-oriented repairs at retail, restaurant and office locations for some of America’s most recognizable brands. Just Let Me Do It takes on bigger renovation projects, too, of course, but just the small jobs can keep Farrell and her staff very busy.
“We’ll hit one place and change a bunch of ballasts and light bulbs,” Farrell says. “Then the next place, we need to fix a cabinet door. It’s the nitpicky things that are important.”
As Farrell talks, she gives the impression that she always knew how to swing a hammer. That’s not the case. “I wasn’t handy,” she says. In fact, her previous career experience consisted of working in nonprofit organizations.
But at age 53, she aspired to own a business. “I was at a point in my life where I wanted to do
something different.” And that’s what she’s got: being a handywoman for large and small businesses in a territory that includes 41 cities across four counties.
Knowing she could draw on her business background, Farrell made a logical foray into franchising. The company’s female founder, Colleen Pyle, drew her to this particular business. “She is very dynamic, and I was really intrigued,” Farrell says of Pyle, CEO of Just Let Me Do It.
Pyle encourages female prospects interested in franchising to consider Just Let Me Do It. “Women are great entrepreneurs, hardworking and usually very organized,” Pyle says. And for any franchisees – whether male or female – who don’t wish to get their hands dirty, it’s not a job requirement. Employees can do the field work while the franchisee oversees the financial and operational aspects of the business.
As for Farrell, she has one employee and recently was looking to hire a second as she expands. “With more employees, I can take on more jobs and grow.”
Work is plentiful because Just Let Me Do It franchisees have access to Pyle’s network of contracts spanning the United States. Farrell stays so busy that she sometimes works 60 hours a week.
In the meantime, after many years of office work, the entrepreneur enjoys the physical repair work that fills her schedule and makes her workday interesting. “I do like to be hands-on. You never know what you’re going to be doing that day.”
– Rochelle Miller
For details, call 602-469-7270 or visit https://justletmedoit.com/franchising-2.
Franchisee of The Month
THE FIX IS IN
Women (and men) find a perfect entrepreneurial fit with Just Let Me Do It
by Rose Mango
What does Starbucks do when an electrical outlet isn’t working? How about if Olive Garden needs to have broken bathroom tile repaired? They call in a handyman… or a handywoman like Katrina Farrell. Because even big businesses have small jobs.
Six months ago, Farrell became the owner of a commercial repair service franchise covering the entire Seattle area. Her company, Just Let Me Do It Commercial Services, has found a niche in its detail-oriented repairs at retail, restaurant and office locations for some of America’s most recognizable brands. Just Let Me Do It takes on bigger renovation projects, too, of course, but just the small jobs can keep Farrell and her staff very busy.
“We’ll hit one place and change a bunch of ballasts and light bulbs,” Farrell says. “Then the next place, we need to fix a cabinet door. It’s the nitpicky things that are important.”
As Farrell talks, she gives the impression that she always knew how to swing a hammer. That’s not the case. “I wasn’t handy,” she says. In fact, her previous career experience consisted of working in nonprofit organizations.
But at age 53, she aspired to own a business. “I was at a point in my life where I wanted to do
something different.” And that’s what she’s got: being a handywoman for large and small businesses in a territory that includes 41 cities across four counties.
Knowing she could draw on her business background, Farrell made a logical foray into franchising. The company’s female founder, Colleen Pyle, drew her to this particular business. “She is very dynamic, and I was really intrigued,” Farrell says of Pyle, CEO of Just Let Me Do It.
Pyle encourages female prospects interested in franchising to consider Just Let Me Do It. “Women are great entrepreneurs, hardworking and usually very organized,” Pyle says. And for any franchisees – whether male or female – who don’t wish to get their hands dirty, it’s not a job requirement. Employees can do the field work while the franchisee oversees the financial and operational aspects of the business.
As for Farrell, she has one employee and recently was looking to hire a second as she expands. “With more employees, I can take on more jobs and grow.”
Work is plentiful because Just Let Me Do It franchisees have access to Pyle’s network of contracts spanning the United States. Farrell stays so busy that she sometimes works 60 hours a week.
In the meantime, after many years of office work, the entrepreneur enjoys the physical repair work that fills her schedule and makes her workday interesting. “I do like to be hands-on. You never know what you’re going to be doing that day.”
– Rochelle Miller
For details, call 602-469-7270 or visit https://justletmedoit.com/franchising-2.
1
10, 2019
October 2019: Featured Entrepreneur
FEATURED ENTREPRENEUR
Never take no for an answer
Even in male-dominated fields, women like Barbara Moran live their leadership dreams
by Rose Mango
Barbara Moran – daughter of Dennis Moran, founder of Moran Industries – was immersed in the family business as she grew up. Moran even dreamed of becoming president of her father’s company, which includes franchises that offer automotive repairs and aftermarket vehicle parts and services: Mr. Transmission, Multistate Transmissions, Dr. Nick’s Transmissions, Milex (tune-up, brakes, air conditioning) and Alta Mere (window tinting and auto alarms).
She was told that role was unattainable, that customers and franchisees wouldn’t be comfortable with a woman leading a company in a male-dominated industry.
Disappointed yet not completely giving up, she moved on to other things, including a stint as a legislative aide to an Illinois congresswoman. Years later, Moran returned to the fold as an owner of a Mr. Transmission franchise. And by the late 1990s, she held several positions within the company. “I was operating in a dual role as a franchisee and also as an employee of the franchisor, as personnel director and corporate secretary,” Moran says. She also advised her father, who was ill, about the company’s direction.
Moran refused to be swayed by others’ opinions about women in leadership roles. “When I was told no, I decided to disregard that no, and I was going to learn as much as I could in as many areas as I could and move on with a career in the legal field, the political field or the franchise field. I was going to utilize my employment as a way to educate myself further in business.”
Perhaps surprisingly, when Moran served as an aide to Rep. Jane Barnes, she polished her business skills. “Barnes became my mentor. She had been an elected official for 19 years and had started in a time when it was completely male-dominated. I saw how she interacted with her male counterparts, and I saw how she worked with them and moved beyond the glass ceiling. It helped me to understand that if I focused on the glass ceiling, then it was going be…a battle for me. However, if I focused on my objective and continued to pursue it and negotiate for it, then I had a better chance.”
Years later, Moran Industries selected a candidate to lead the company in her father’s absence. That person didn’t work out. Barbara Moran then asked an outside consulting firm to develop a profile for the next president as well as suggest a specific person to take over.
After three days of evaluation, the outside firm recommended that Barbara Moran be president of Moran Industries.
The board of directors approached her about taking the job. Even though the position had once been her fondest hope, “they had to spend several days convincing me,” Moran says, laughing, “because at that point, I had a different perspective on things in life. I had gone through some medical issues where I really had planned on being at home more and trying to focus on my family. So I was looking toward not taking that role. There was a lot of work ahead of the company at that point.”
Ultimately Moran said yes, of course. That was 1999, and she has been president and CEO ever since.
Today Moran is a firm believer that no one should ever take no for an answer, and she helps other women succeed in the traditionally male-dominated industry. “We have a good deal of women franchise owners now and that number is growing. I couldn’t be happier about that.”
To learn more about franchising with Moran Brands visit: https://moranfamilyofbrands.com.
FEATURED ENTREPRENEUR
Never take no for an answer
Even in male-dominated fields, women like Barbara Moran live their leadership dreams
by Rose Mango
Barbara Moran – daughter of Dennis Moran, founder of Moran Industries – was immersed in the family business as she grew up. Moran even dreamed of becoming president of her father’s company, which includes franchises that offer automotive repairs and aftermarket vehicle parts and services: Mr. Transmission, Multistate Transmissions, Dr. Nick’s Transmissions, Milex (tune-up, brakes, air conditioning) and Alta Mere (window tinting and auto alarms).
She was told that role was unattainable, that customers and franchisees wouldn’t be comfortable with a woman leading a company in a male-dominated industry.
Disappointed yet not completely giving up, she moved on to other things, including a stint as a legislative aide to an Illinois congresswoman. Years later, Moran returned to the fold as an owner of a Mr. Transmission franchise. And by the late 1990s, she held several positions within the company. “I was operating in a dual role as a franchisee and also as an employee of the franchisor, as personnel director and corporate secretary,” Moran says. She also advised her father, who was ill, about the company’s direction.
Moran refused to be swayed by others’ opinions about women in leadership roles. “When I was told no, I decided to disregard that no, and I was going to learn as much as I could in as many areas as I could and move on with a career in the legal field, the political field or the franchise field. I was going to utilize my employment as a way to educate myself further in business.”
Perhaps surprisingly, when Moran served as an aide to Rep. Jane Barnes, she polished her business skills. “Barnes became my mentor. She had been an elected official for 19 years and had started in a time when it was completely male-dominated. I saw how she interacted with her male counterparts, and I saw how she worked with them and moved beyond the glass ceiling. It helped me to understand that if I focused on the glass ceiling, then it was going be…a battle for me. However, if I focused on my objective and continued to pursue it and negotiate for it, then I had a better chance.”
Years later, Moran Industries selected a candidate to lead the company in her father’s absence. That person didn’t work out. Barbara Moran then asked an outside consulting firm to develop a profile for the next president as well as suggest a specific person to take over.
After three days of evaluation, the outside firm recommended that Barbara Moran be president of Moran Industries.
The board of directors approached her about taking the job. Even though the position had once been her fondest hope, “they had to spend several days convincing me,” Moran says, laughing, “because at that point, I had a different perspective on things in life. I had gone through some medical issues where I really had planned on being at home more and trying to focus on my family. So I was looking toward not taking that role. There was a lot of work ahead of the company at that point.”
Ultimately Moran said yes, of course. That was 1999, and she has been president and CEO ever since.
Today Moran is a firm believer that no one should ever take no for an answer, and she helps other women succeed in the traditionally male-dominated industry. “We have a good deal of women franchise owners now and that number is growing. I couldn’t be happier about that.”
To learn more about franchising with Moran Brands visit: https://moranfamilyofbrands.com.