Kristin Flaherty had spent years building a career in healthcare. She was good at her job and well-established in her field. Then, in early 2025, her company let her go.
Rather than trying to scramble back into another corporate role, she decided to free herself from corporate reins and the prospect of the same thing happening again. She had a feeling that having her own business was the way to go. So, with the help of Scott Thompson, franchise consultant at Your Future Franchise, she explored home service franchises, found one that fit her lifestyle and financial resources, and went for it as a new business owner.
This is her story.
Key Takeaways
- A layoff often forces the questions people should have asked sooner.
- Most assumptions about franchising are wrong. It is not all restaurants and retail.
- A franchise consultant saves months of wasted research and expensive wrong turns.
- The right franchise business fits your lifestyle, not just your investment budget.
- Betting on yourself, with the right support structure around you, is less risky than it feels.
When a Stable Career Stops Feeling Stable
Kristin had been in medical imaging for hospitals for over a decade. She was part of a mid-sized organization, experienced in her role, and doing well in her career by all visible measures. However, the environment around her was changing.
Over 18 months, her company went through five separate rounds of layoffs. She watched the team shrink as good people left while the workload stayed the same, putting more pressure on those who remained.
“It was just the state of the economy,” Kristin says. “I had many colleagues and friends who were getting laid off for the first time.”
Then it happened to her.
When her position was made redundant, Kristin was 39. She had spent over a decade in corporate healthcare. And she found herself doing what most people do in that situation. She started applying for more corporate jobs that fit her expertise and industry experience. The interviews were fine. The opportunities seemed reasonable on paper. But something had shifted.
“As I was interviewing, it sounded less and less appealing to continue down that corporate path,” she says. “I was in one interview and they explained they had to let two people go in order to open this role. I thought, I might be in the same position again in a year.”
She’s not wrong.
Corporate job security isn’t what it was, as roles are cut and reorganizations wipe out entire departments. People who put their faith in stable careers find themselves starting over anyway, usually right when starting over feels the hardest.
Kristin decided she was done waiting for someone else to determine what happened next in her working life. She wanted to be her own boss. “I asked myself, “How do I make the most of it?”.
A Christmas Conversation That Opened a Door
A few weeks before her redundancy, Kristin and her husband Sean went to spend time with their family for Christmas. Her uncle, who had purchased a commercial cleaning franchise years earlier, talked about his experience, the possibilities and franchising advantages in a way he never had before.
“He was giving us more detail than he ever had,” Kristin says. “Hearing his journey and his success just really piqued our interest.”
Then the redundancy came, and that dinner conversation stopped feeling like mere table talk. She reached out to her uncle. He pointed her straight to Scott.
“My uncle was very clear,” she recalls. “The only path he would recommend was working with a franchise broker. And he particularly enjoyed working with Scott.”
So she called him, and from the very first conversation, it didn’t feel like a pitch. For someone with a lot of questions and no background in business ownership, that distinction really mattered.
Everything She Thought She Knew About Franchising Was Wrong
Before speaking to Scott, Kristin’s picture of franchising was a restaurant or a retail store. She envisaged high start-up costs and long hours in a crowded, competitive market.
She had no idea how far off her picture was.
“I had a very narrow view of what franchising consisted of,” she says. “Learning about all the different successful business models and the different options, including businesses that protect your evenings and weekends, was genuinely eye-opening.”
Most people carry the same assumptions about the franchise system. That owning a franchise require large startup costs. That independent business owners end up compromising their lifestyles to run their own business that’s all-consuming and exhausting.
Scott worked through all of that with her, pointing out all the advantages for a franchisee if approached the right way.
He started by understanding what Kristin actually wanted. Her values, her non-negotiables, what a good week looked like in practice.
“Rather than me spending months trying to understand what franchising even is,” Kristin says, “I was immediately being shown specific options that matched my goals and my life.”
Home service franchises offered a model she had never considered. Lower overheads, recurring commercial revenue and flexible hours. Best of all, it’s built around a demand that seldom goes away.
“I was surprised to hear there were initial investments within my range that were much lower than I ever imagined possible,” she says.
That was the moment things started to feel real. The benefits of franchising were becoming clear.
Why A Home Service Franchise Business Made Sense for Her Life
After working through several options with Scott, one type of business venture kept coming back up as one of the most successful business models for a franchisor: Surface Experts.
Surface Experts specializes in spot repair for countertops, cabinets, floors, and appliances. On paper, it wasn’t an obvious fit. Even though it was obviously a successful brand Kristin had spent her career in healthcare, not property services. The more she looked at the model, though, the more it made sense for her.
“I was thinking about what is AI-proof,” she says. “And what will stand the test of time. Rentals are continuing to grow. There are new properties popping up all around my area. I wanted something with consistent demand and room to grow.”
The recurring revenue model was a clincher. Surface Experts is built on ongoing commercial relationships rather than chasing new customers every month. Property managers need these services on a regular basis. That means constantly recurring work, creating a reliable franchise advantage.
Scott also put her in contact with the community of owners already in the franchise network. This helped allay some of her other fears.
“One fear I had going in was not wanting to feel like I was on an island,” she says. “So throughout my validation calls, I was listening carefully. Does the franchisor actually support you? Do other owners actually help each other?”
Every call came back with the same answer.
“They all said the people in the business are collaborative. They connect with each other, they share what they have learned, they actually help. That told me I would not be doing this alone,” she says.
Kristin began to understand that with the right business assistance and ongoing training, a home service franchise would give her all the benefits she needed without a big initial cost.
How Scott Thompson Made the Difference
One of the things Kristin gets asked now is why she used a franchise consultant. Couldn’t she simply have researched herself?
“Although I felt I could have done research on my own,” she says, “having someone who is knowledgeable, who has seen so many options and walked so many people through this, and who could answer every question I had… that was invaluable.”
Scott walked her through the entire process. He introduced her to FranFund to handle the initial fee funding and corporation setup. He recommended an attorney to review the franchise agreement. When she needed to speak with existing Surface Experts owners, he made warm introductions that got her answers ahead of the standard validation schedule.
But what really made an impression on her was the way he handled her doubts, reassured her and explained the both the many advantages and the how to lower risk.
“He was very good about not trying to shut down any fears I had,” Kristin says. “Instead of dismissing them, he would say, let us talk through that. Why are you feeling this way? What can we do about it?”
She also valued that while speaking about the benefits of franchising, he never hid the hard parts.
“Scott does a very good job of showing you both sides of the coin,” she says. “He gave me a list of questions to validate with the franchisor, and that is really helpful because it gets to all the unknowns that create fear. He actually wants you to explore the hard stuff.”
NFL star Malik Reed and his wife Cece went through a similar process with Scott. Their story shows what this journey can look like for a family becoming independent business owners as a team.
What She Has Now That She Didn’t Have Before
Kristin hasn’t opened her home service franchise yet. She is still onboarding, learning the business, and getting ready for her first customers however, something has already shifted and she can feel it.
“I have always wanted more control of my career,” she says. “But also of something larger beyond that. Right now, everything is my timeline, my decisions. I am just getting used to that. And I love it.”
One phrase Scott used stuck with her. “You are really betting on yourself,” she says. “And I liked that. There is some risk. But I would rather take a risk that I am responsible for than sit back while somebody else makes decisions that shape my life.”
Her advice for anyone wondering if this could work for them is short.
“Just go and learn. Just go and see what you find out. I had no idea there would be something within my investment range, within my interests, that would check all my boxes. I would not know any of that if I had not had that first conversation with Scott.”
Final Takeaway
Kristin’s story is not unusual.
A lot of professionals in their late thirties and forties are watching corporate careers get less predictable and looking for alternatives. The benefits of franchising are real, particularly for people who want a proven system and continuous support. Fast food and retail are not the only options.
The advantages for a franchisee who finds the right fit through an experienced consultant go beyond income. You don’t have to stumble in the dark. Scott is always on hand to help. He has assisted many dozens of franchise candidates and provided reassurance about investment decisions.
Thinking About Franchising?
Your Future Franchise works with people who want to honestly assess whether franchise ownership is the right move for them.
Scott is not here to sell you a franchise. His job is to help you work out whether you are a candidate, what kind of business fits your life, existing brands to explore, and whether the financing numbers actually make sense for your situation.
As Kristin puts it: “Just meet with Scott and hear what this world has to offer. You will never know what is possible if you never have the conversation.”
Book your free, low pressure consultation with Scott today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common risks associated with owning a home service franchise
Home service franchise owners often face challenges such as labor shortages, high upfront costs including initial franchise fees and ongoing fees for royalties, and limited control over business operations due to strict franchise agreements. Additionally, franchisees must share financial information with the franchisor, which can affect privacy.
How are home service franchises regulated legally?
Franchising is regulated at both federal and state levels. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires franchisors to provide a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to potential franchisees, detailing fees, expenses, litigation history, and financial performance. Franchise agreements typically last between five and thirty years and include penalties for early termination.
How does brand recognition benefit a home service franchise?
Established brand recognition is one of the biggest advantages of franchising. The parent company provides a built-in customer base, reducing the time and resources needed for marketing. Customers tend to trust recognizable brands, which helps attract clients more easily compared to independent businesses starting from scratch.
What profit potential do home service franchises offer?
Home service franchises often generate predictable income through recurring subscription models and provide recession-resistant services. Their established brand recognition and proven business models typically lead to quicker profitability and a lower failure rate than independent businesses.
What ongoing support can franchisees expect from franchisors in home service industries?
Franchisors generally provide initial knowledge training, launch assistance, and ongoing operational support, including marketing guidance and access to approved suppliers. This support helps franchisees maintain training standards and manage their franchised locations effectively.
What are the typical initial investment costs and financing options for home service franchises?
The initial investment for home service franchises can vary widely but often includes franchise fees, equipment, training, and setup costs. Many franchises offer low-cost entry points compared to other industries. Prospective franchisees can explore financing options such as small business administration loans, franchisor financing programs, or third-party lenders to help manage startup expenses and reduce financial risk.
