Discover four brands in a variety of industries that offer their franchisees the opportunity to pursue business ownership with flexibility and a healthy work-life balance
By Stefanie Ucci
Beyond the Classroom
Trish Petersen, owner of Beyond the Classroom Mississauga, found that the franchise business model was appealing because it provided a route to own a business with all of the details already fine-tuned, ready to lift and repeat. With an existing connection to the owner of the brand, Petersen established trust in the core of the business she was buying into. In short, it just felt right!
Beyond the Classroom was founded in 1991 and offers in-home and online tutoring for students in elementary and high school. Through one-on-one custom tutoring, students of all ages can develop the skills needed to achieve their academic goals and accelerate learning.
Petersen says that as a busy mom with teens who were heavily involved in sports and extracurricular activities, work-life balance was especially important when considering this franchise opportunity. “I wanted to be available for that part of my family life and needed the flexibility to do that. I also wanted the flexibility to work from anywhere, and this kind of business offers the opportunity to work remotely as we don’t have any brick-and-mortar assets. All operations are conducted remotely which also offers cost benefits and efficiencies,” she adds.
And while her life changes over time, “there is always that need and desire to have work fit in with my day-to-day,” notes Petersen. “In that balance equation, my life can often come first rather than work. And it can switch when needed. That’s the beauty of work-life balance.”
Conversely, she emphasizes that being a solo business owner does introduce a double-edged sword: while you can define your flexible work schedule, there’s also a need to be available at all times.
“Work-life balance is a nebulous goal, often hard to achieve and even harder to sustain,” says Petersen. “Be prepared to put in the hard work when needed in order to be able to enjoy the opportunities to slow down when they present themselves.”
COBS Bread
As a previous customer of COBS Bread, franchisee Stacie MacNeil says she had always loved that all the bread is baked fresh in-house daily. This customer-turned-franchisee is now one of the friendly faces who gets to provide freshly baked goods to her community in Lloydminster, Alberta.
It was quite a career shift for MacNeil, who transitioned into franchising after 21 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. “During my time in the military, I was missing birthdays, first days of school, awards presentations, and anniversaries,” she says, as a mother of two kids aged 13 and 15. Having a supportive stay-at-home husband made the decision to become a business owner even easier.
MacNeil, who owns COBS Bread Brentwood Commons, explains that she likes the flexibility that business ownership provides. “I can make my own schedule for most of my tasks and I can book my in-store hours around my family commitments. By being a business owner, I’ve been able to give my children their first job and I love being able to work with them and watch them grow.”
Prospective franchisees should note the uniquely flexible working hours of this particular business. MacNeil says she regularly works on a 2 a.m. baking shift, and finds that she prefers going into the store early, at 12 a.m. so that she can get daily productions done for the week with no distractions around. But for her, this just works! “I prefer this over completing them after my shift ends, so I’m able to go home and rest before the kids get home from school, and then I can enjoy eating dinner with my family.”
MacNeil encourages anyone considering the franchising route to do so because it offers abundant flexibility if you’re able to get the right team in place. “I’ve found that if you treat the people who work for you with compassion and empathy, then they’re more willing to work with you to achieve the best possible work-life balance for both them and yourself.”
Fibrenew
Life partners and franchise partners Daniel and Carman Capostagno own Fibrenew Oakville-Burlington in Ontario. They both had a desire to work for themselves and become entrepreneurs—and they’re one of many couples who found that franchising was the best route to make that dream come true.
Fibrenew is the home of “Experts in Leather, Plastic & Vinyl Restoration” according to the brand’s tagline, and there are more than 300 locations across North America and beyond. Fibrenew offers services to restore items including furniture, automotive, medical, commercial, marine, aviation, and more.
As a trusted brand since 1987, the name was familiar to Daniel, who previously worked for a friend’s father that owned a Fibrenew franchise 30 years ago. “Fibrenew has a proven business model that has worked for decades and it has an excellent reputation,” explain the Capostagnos.
It’s a business model that allows the couple to take control of their daily schedule while still building a solid financial future. “One of the benefits of this franchise is flexible scheduling. We can set our own working hours and have the ability to work on projects at home in our own workspace,” they note.
While the business does require the pair’s full attention—as does any large or small business—they say that they have more control of their time and can prioritize daily tasks. Gone are the days of working on someone else’s schedule!
In the spirit of a healthy work-life balance, the couple advises that future franchisees prioritize and make time for themselves and their family. “Take advantage of the system that’s in place for you because the system works,” they add. “And it may take time, but learn to work on your business and not just in it.”
WSI Digital
When Nicole King was looking for a new career opportunity that would offer more control over her future, she decided to join a seminar on becoming a business owner. At the time, WSI Digital—a digital marketing agency—was a new name to her, but she quickly discovered that it aligned with her own passion and goals.
“What drew me to WSI was the opportunity and the network. I found in my research that the growth opportunity is limitless and based on my own ambition. The ongoing training and support provided by WSI and the network is tremendous,” explains King, whose franchise serves the Ontario region.
It was important to King that she be able to work anywhere and have a steady schedule. With WSI, she’s able to set consistent working hours based on the clients she chooses to work with. That means she works Monday to Friday and gets to enjoy weekends and evenings off, with the choice to work outside of those hours if she desires.
In her previous career, King was responsible for business transformation. Now as a franchisee, her current work is very similar, with the addition of becoming a salesperson and selling her services to clients. Fortunately, she says that WSI provides abundant training and ongoing support in any unfamiliar areas. So, for King, the transition from a corporate job to running a business with WSI was seamless.
Reflecting on her experience, King explains that owning a marketing agency can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding and fun. She advises that prospective franchisees set boundaries and focus on what’s most important. “Embrace the learning journey, and don’t be hard on yourself. Ask others about their experiences when they started the business and try not to repeat their mistakes.”
