I first met Patrick and Carolette during the summer of 2006. They were both working long hours in the DC metro area; Patrick for a defense contractor and Carolette in the telecom industry. Their work hours plus their commute times added up quickly. Oh and by the way, they have three children.
When we first began our conversations, they were considering the possibility of Patrick leaving his full time position to start a business. They had a clear vision for the life they wanted to lead: more time for their family, less time commuting, more control over their days, the ability to give back in their community, the ability to create a legacy for their family. They just weren’t sure exactly how to accomplish it. Patrick had lots of ideas and in fact, was actually working on several of them. They wanted to explore what possibilities a franchise might offer them. After doing some initial research, Patrick decided to stick with his job and work on a real estate investment /development project with some other partners.
Patrick and I kept in touch and about a year later, he decided that he wanted to look at the possibility of a business again. This time the goal was slightly different. He still wanted all of the things we had discussed before, but now he saw that perhaps having a business that he could use to augment his other projects might be the way to go. So instead of looking at options that would require his full time participation, we started looking at some possibilities that he could hire a manager to run. This is a great example of how someone’s goals can change as we go through the discovery process. Patrick came to see that a franchise could be a part of his investment strategy; it didn’t have to be the entire strategy.
Here’s what Patrick and Carolette had to say about The Entrepreneur’s Source process: “We found the process to be both thorough and flexible. Robin provided us with the support, information and feedback we needed at every turn. We were able to complete due diligence at a pace that worked well with our schedule and mindset. Robin went above and beyond to understand our requirements and our goals and worked tirelessly to ensure that opportunities with which we were presented matched these as closely as possible. The whole process went more smoothly than we could have imagined from the outset. An added bonus is that through working with Robin we formed a friendship that extends beyond the process of finding a franchise match.”
Patrick and Carolette investigated several different semi-absentee options. Ultimately, they found that Great Clips provided them with many of the attributes they were seeking. It could be managed on a semi-absentee basis. It is a franchise that has a long history so there was plenty of data for them to assess and they had robust processes in place to assist new owners. They also felt it would be economy resistant (since everyone needs to get haircuts!).
Patrick and Carolette have recently opened their Great Clips location, here’s what they have to say about being business owners : “It’s hard work! No doubt about it. However, it is rewarding to know that the hard work invested benefits us and our children directly. We also work more closely together as a team and have more control over how we spend our time. That makes it all worthwhile. ”
You can visit them at their location:
7499 Somerset Crossing Drive, Gainesville, VA 20155
(703) 753 – 0559
Email: pcclips@comcast.net
Web Address: www.greatclips.com/salons/9364
Salon Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9 am – 9pm
Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
