For millennial franchisee Marco Zhao, his Inspiration Learning Center franchise is more than a source of income—it’s the cornerstone of his family’s life, and his hope for the future
By Georgie Binks
It’s a long way from Beijing, China, to Newmarket, Ontario, but it’s a journey Marco Zhao is happy to have made. The owner of Inspiration Learning Center’s Newmarket location, Zhao, who grew up in Beijing, is thankful his background led him to his eventual career as a franchisee, though it wasn’t necessarily a straight-line trajectory.
Zhao studied multimedia and 3D design in Australia at the University of Technology Sydney, before arriving in Canada 10 years ago. His first “real” job was working for an arts education company. “It laid the foundation for what I do now,” he explains. And what he’s doing now, along with his wife, Limin Yang, is running the highly successful education franchise in the picturesque community of Newmarket, northeast of Toronto.
Zhao explains the franchise is his first venture into business. Married with two young children, he’s aware of the value of a good education.
“I firmly believe the education industry holds the most promising prospects,” he says. “I chose to join Inspiration Learning Center because I was deeply drawn to its unique educational concept. It offers personalized education, which aligns perfectly with my educational philosophy.
“I believe every child is unique, with their own learning styles and needs. As an art student, I understand the importance of creativity, and I hope to help more children discover their potential and achieve their dreams through the educational model of Inspiration Learning.”
International influence
Inspiration Learning Center was founded by Angel Kuang in 2003 in Scarborough, Ontario, and now has 13 locations across the country, providing supplemental education to students from kindergarten to Grade 12, and even extending to university students and adults. The franchise’s concept revolves around personalized education combining the academic rigour of the East with the Western emphasis on imagination.
“We believe in tailoring our teaching approach to meet the unique needs and learning styles of each student. What sets us apart is our focus on holistic development,” Zhao explains. “Our programs not only aim to improve academic performance but also foster critical thinking, creativity, and confidence in our students.”
The franchise offers a wide range of subjects, including math, English, French, and all enrichment courses.
Zhao, a millennial who will celebrate his 37th birthday this fall, says being a young person working in franchising has its benefits and challenges. “As a young person, I’m more open to new ideas and technologies,” he shares. “I can adapt quickly to changes, and I’m willing to try new methods to improve the business. For example, in marketing, I tend to use social media and digital marketing strategies, which help attract more potential customers.”
At the same time, being younger has its challenges, of which Zhao is well aware. “I may lack some experience and industry knowledge,” he admits. “Sometimes, I face challenges when communicating with older employees or franchisees. But I overcome these challenges by continuously learning and listening to their advice, gradually gaining more experience.”
In the thick of things
A typical day in his franchise is busy, to say the least. After getting his two children off to school, Zhao and his wife head for work. Yang is the school director of the Inspiration Learning location, and the two run the school together. “My wife spends more time in the operation of the centre than I do,” says Zhao. “She is very hard working and a great wife and mother, providing the most important support to this family.”
Zhao oversees daily operations in the brightly painted classrooms at his Newmarket location. That job includes managing staff, ensuring quality control, and providing excellent customer service. The franchise has a special app to manage the class schedules of students and teachers. Zhao also interacts with parents and students, addressing any concerns or questions they may have.
Zhao also takes the lead on overseeing the curriculum, constantly reviewing and monitoring the educational programs offered at the centre, ensuring they align with their standards and meet the needs of students. He’s also responsible for marketing and outreach. “I participate in local marketing efforts to promote the centre and attract new students, as well as maintain relationships with local schools and organizations.” He adds that his role as a franchisee is to ensure that Inspiration Learning Center provides a high-quality educational experience for students while also maintaining efficient operations and fostering a positive learning environment.
Success for Zhao comes in big and small victories. As he explains, “For me, milestones can be big, such as our students getting offers from their target universities. Or it could be something smaller, like finding a good teacher or getting a student an actual score improvement on a recent exam.”
Zhao says after launching his location earlier this year, he has faced some hurdles, one of which was figuring out how to successfully manage his time for work-life balance. “As a dad of two kids, I need to strike a balance between work and family,” he says. “To address this challenge, I have created detailed schedules, prioritized the most important tasks, and collaborated with my wife and team members to share responsibilities.”
He says another challenge is fierce market competition. “In the education industry, we face many competitors, so we need to continuously improve our services and marketing strategies. To overcome this challenge, I actively participate in local community events to build brand awareness, while sharing experiences with other franchisees and learning from each other’s successes.”
Big effort, bigger benefits
Zhao says he has found working in a franchise system extremely rewarding. “Being part of a franchise allows me to benefit from a proven business model and established brand reputation, which provides a sense of security and support.” But what he enjoys most about working in a franchise system is the sense of belonging to a larger network and the opportunity to collaborate with other franchisees, share best practices, and learn from their experiences.
There are many benefits to joining a franchise like Inspiration Learning Center, according to Zhao. He says the business model is mature and provides him with sufficient support, reducing his risks. Brand awareness is also a bonus, and the training the brand provides has been great. “We participated in two weeks of online and offline training, which allowed us to transition smoothly in the early stages of opening. The headquarters helped with marketing and promotion—plus, the franchise’s flexible hours are attractive to people with families.”
For those considering franchising, Zhao has these words to share. “Franchising is an exciting opportunity, but it also requires hard work and commitment,” he advises. “Choose a brand that aligns with your values and interests, making it easier for you to become invested and committed to success. Conduct in-depth research on the market situation to ensure there’s a sufficient potential customer base in the area. Maintain communication with other franchisees, learn from their experiences, and support each other.”
He says the final key is perseverance. “Success takes time and effort. Be patient and keep working hard. Don’t give up easily.”
Zhao says it’s been a wonderful experience. “Joining Inspiration Learning Center is the first step towards realizing my educational dream,” he insists. “I can leverage my strengths to provide high-quality education services to more children, while creating a passionate and fulfilling career for myself.
“I am a lucky guy. I have a career I love, and a family that supports and loves me.”
Learn more about franchising with Inspiration Learning Center
