After a decade in the restaurant business, Ari Brownstein was ready for a change. He closed his restaurant just before the pandemic and took a commission-based job, only to have his earnings cut with no clear explanation. “I decided that I wanted to get in control of my own destiny again,” he said. By Tamara Rahoumi
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FRANCHISEE
After a decade in the restaurant business, Ari Brownstein was ready for a change. He closed his restaurant just before the pandemic and took a commission-based job, only to have his earnings cut with no clear explanation. “I decided that I wanted to get in control of my own destiny again,” he said.
Franchise ownership offered that opportunity.
In October 2023, he opened his Blue Kangaroo Packoutz franchise, stepping into a field focused on contents cleaning and restoration – helping homeowners recover belongings after unexpected property damage. Without a background in home services, Brownstein saw franchising as the best way to climb the learning curve quickly.
For Brownstein, one of the biggest rewards of the business is being able to provide clarity and comfort to people dealing with stressful, often once-in-a-lifetime events. Whether helping a client understand the insurance process or delivering good news, these moments remind him why he chose this path.
Equally important, though, is the freedom the business provides. Unlike emergency services like plumbing, Brownstein’s work can be scheduled in advance, giving him more time to focus on aspects of his life that didn’t always receive his full attention before franchising; things like spending time with his family, staying active, and setting his own pace. “That was a big part of why I did this,” he reflects. “Now I have time for the things that matter most.”
Here’s a glimpse at a typical workday of a Blue Kangaroo Packoutz franchise owner:
- 8:30 a.m. After dropping his kids off at school, Brownstein heads to the office or a new lead site visit, if one came in overnight.
- 9:30 a.m. Brownstein conducts on-site assessments for new projects, gathering details for estimates.
- 11:00 a.m. The franchisee returns to the office where he prepares estimates, checks in with his project manager and lead tech and ensures team operations are running smoothly.
- 1:00 p.m. Brownstein shifts to administrative tasks and focuses on accounts receivable, generating invoices or refining internal processes, such as developing branded email templates.
- 3:00 p.m. Brownstein meets with his newly hired business development lead or holds team check-ins with his packout crew.
- 4:00 p.m. After he wraps up the workday, Brownstein reserves time for family, fitness and personal priorities.
Tamara Rahoumi