30 06, 2019

July 2019: Featured Entrepreneur

Audra2019-07-02T12:21:54-04:00June 30th, 2019|Tags: expand customer base through referrals, freedom to make all of the decisions, NextGen Great Sealcoating, recurring revenue structure, seasonal service|

Featured Entrepreneur

by Rochelle Miller

Tim Smeltz
NextGen Great Sealcoating

Grueling. That’s how Tim Smeltz characterizes the 29 years he spent trekking into Manhattan from his New Jersey home to work as a chef. “The restaurant business is really tough. You have many bosses, the markup is small, and the failure rate is extraordinarily high,” he says.

Smeltz escaped the pressures of the food industry and his killer commute by creating a successful business from the comforts of his suburban house—his driveway, to be exact.

Recognizing a need
As a homeowner, Smeltz noticed that his driveway lacked curb appeal because the dark asphalt was cracking and faded, even turning white in spots. He wanted to fix it but was surprised to learn that only one business in his area offered seal-coating, a relatively inexpensive solution that prevents water from seeping through the asphalt. “They didn’t even return my calls,” he says.

That’s when he began researching how to do the job himself.

Smeltz established NextGen Great Sealcoating in 2005 and has been growing the business ever since. Five years after launching, he partnered to develop an environmentally-friendly formula that contains no cancer-causing ingredients, an advantage his product has over most on the market.

In 2018, NextGen Great Sealcoating began franchising across five states spanning the Mid-Atlantic region. Recurring revenue is a huge attraction for investors. “We recommend having [sealcoating] done every two to four years,” Smeltz says. “And we continue to expand our customer base through referrals,” he adds.

Other advantages for franchisees include a central call center that routes customers to the franchisee in their area by ZIP Code and gives price quotes. “We offer huge territories compared to most franchises. We start at two counties and go from there,” Smeltz says.

Finding solutions
As an outdoor business, winter months could mean downtime for NextGen franchisees. But Smeltz has found an innovative solution: He offers his own customers a seasonal service to design and install Christmas decorations to keep revenue flowing, and franchisees can do something on the side if they wish.

“In owning my own business, I have the freedom to make all of the decisions, knowing that I really only have one boss— my customer. For the right people, it’s the best way, which is why we’re looking for like-minded individuals to join us in our franchise.”

For more information, call NextGen Great Sealcoating at 888-201-6109, or visit the company website at www.greatsealcoating.com.

Share this story

Featured Entrepreneur

by Rochelle Miller

Tim Smeltz
NextGen Great Sealcoating

Grueling. That’s how Tim Smeltz characterizes the 29 years he spent trekking into Manhattan from his New Jersey home to work as a chef. “The restaurant business is really tough. You have many bosses, the markup is small, and the failure rate is extraordinarily high,” he says.

Smeltz escaped the pressures of the food industry and his killer commute by creating a successful business from the comforts of his suburban house—his driveway, to be exact.

Recognizing a need
As a homeowner, Smeltz noticed that his driveway lacked curb appeal because the dark asphalt was cracking and faded, even turning white in spots. He wanted to fix it but was surprised to learn that only one business in his area offered seal-coating, a relatively inexpensive solution that prevents water from seeping through the asphalt. “They didn’t even return my calls,” he says.

That’s when he began researching how to do the job himself.

Smeltz established NextGen Great Sealcoating in 2005 and has been growing the business ever since. Five years after launching, he partnered to develop an environmentally-friendly formula that contains no cancer-causing ingredients, an advantage his product has over most on the market.

In 2018, NextGen Great Sealcoating began franchising across five states spanning the Mid-Atlantic region. Recurring revenue is a huge attraction for investors. “We recommend having [sealcoating] done every two to four years,” Smeltz says. “And we continue to expand our customer base through referrals,” he adds.

Other advantages for franchisees include a central call center that routes customers to the franchisee in their area by ZIP Code and gives price quotes. “We offer huge territories compared to most franchises. We start at two counties and go from there,” Smeltz says.

Finding solutions
As an outdoor business, winter months could mean downtime for NextGen franchisees. But Smeltz has found an innovative solution: He offers his own customers a seasonal service to design and install Christmas decorations to keep revenue flowing, and franchisees can do something on the side if they wish.

“In owning my own business, I have the freedom to make all of the decisions, knowing that I really only have one boss— my customer. For the right people, it’s the best way, which is why we’re looking for like-minded individuals to join us in our franchise.”

For more information, call NextGen Great Sealcoating at 888-201-6109, or visit the company website at www.greatsealcoating.com.

Share this story

30 06, 2019

July 2019: Franchisee of the Month

Audra2019-07-02T12:23:12-04:00June 30th, 2019|Tags: after-school enrichment program, Challenge Island, children’s franchise brand, hands on franchise, home-based model, own and grow a business, working with children|

Franchisee of The Month

by Jill Abrahamsen

Toni Wren, Challenge Island
Central Long Island, New York

As a child, Toni Wren didn’t know what she wanted to do when she grew up. “I never had a real passion for anything. I just wasn’t one of those kids,” she says. She stumbled onto her first career, in finance, by accident and later discovered her ultimate passion, working with children.

Wren chose political science as a college major even though she wasn’t sure where it might lead. But her side job as a bank teller was what shaped her path. “By the time I graduated, I was a branch manager,” she says. This experience eventually led to a lucrative career in finance at top corporations, including a project manager role at Goldman Sachs.

The recession of 2008 came at a great time for Wren. Her company downsized and offered severance packages, and she jumped at one. “It was a no-brainer. Commuting every day was taking a toll. I needed a more flexible schedule to raise my family,” she says.

KID STUFF
After looking at different kinds of businesses, Wren decided that she wanted to work with children. “At one of my son’s baseball games, a parent asked me if I was available to run her kid’s party. It seemed like an odd request at first, but then she explained. She always saw me playing with kids at events. I was good at it. That’s when I realized my passion,” she says.

Raising her children on Long Island, New York, Wren knew that any type of kids-based business would do well in her area. “The parents here like to keep their children engaged in enriching activities.”

LOOK NO FURTHER
Wren investigated many children’s franchise brands, but when she came across Challenge Island®, she knew it was the right fit. “It was exactly what I wanted to do. I could own and grow a business, be hands-on, creative, and make a difference.” Wren was attracted to the flexible, home-based model and the fact that she could put her personal touch on the business. “You don’t get that with most franchises,” she says.

After her initial call with founder Sharon Estroff, Wren didn’t look further. “I could hear the passion in Estroff’s voice. She had me at hello,” Wren jokes. She opened for business in 2017.

The after-school enrichment program, which teaches science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), is designed to help kids develop skills such as collaboration, compromise, resilience, and critical thinking. The hundreds of themed lessons target specific age groups. “Kids have so much fun with us, they don’t even realize they are learning,” Wren says.

Wren has customized the business to suit her lifestyle. “At first, I wanted to do everything myself: teach the classes, shop for supplies, and so on. But as we grew, I added staff.” She also added offerings for more revenue streams including camps, field trips, and adult classes. Because of the low overhead, it’s easy for Wren to use the business to raise money for charities. “The possibilities are endless with Challenge Island. I can make a living, do what I love, and make a difference, all on my own terms.”

For more information, visit www.challenge-island.com.