Young Parents Chart a Colorful Course for the Future with Fresh Coat Painters Franchise

Jared and Lauren Gallier, two new franchisees bringing the painting franchise Fresh Coat* Painters to South Denver, have had a busy year. Not only are they gearing up for their first entrepreneurial venture, but they also recently celebrated the birth of their second daughter last summer. Fueled by the desire for more flexibility and family time, the duo are thrilled to be getting their residential and commercial painting business up and running. 

“We welcomed our second baby in August, right in the midst of this whole franchising process,” said Lauren. “Our kids are only going to be young for so long, so we wanted to dive in early. If not now — when are you going to do it? This can really change our lives and really grow into something we can put our stamp on.”

Before venturing into franchising, Jared had a career in HR technology, working for various companies, including American Airlines, which led them to move to Colorado after the birth of their first child. Lauren, on the other hand, has been involved in software sales. Despite their successful careers, the Galliers yearned for the freedom and benefits of owning a business.

“We were really grinding away in our 9-to-5s, but we wanted more flexibility and those perks of being our own business owners,” said Lauren. “We knew it would allow us more time to spend with family.”

Fresh Coat Painters stood out to them among other franchises due to its flexible business model, which does not restrict franchisees to using subcontractors or W2 employees exclusively. Additionally, the brand's low startup costs, a dedicated division for commercial work and a supportive system from the franchisor level, including the provision of commercial leads, were key factors in their decision.

Their ambition with Fresh Coat Painters is driven by a desire for financial and job security, aiming to provide a stable and enriching environment for their family. Jared and Lauren's goals extend beyond personal gain; they aspire to contribute to their community by creating jobs and potentially expanding their business to include more territories and diversify into other home services. 

1851 Franchise spoke with the Galliers to learn more about their stories, their journey to franchising and their plans for the future. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Jared: I’ve been working in HR technology. I’ve done that for several companies across various roles. I used to work for American Airlines, for example. My wife and I met in Texas and got married there. After the birth of our first child, we decided to move to Colorado.

Lauren: I’m in software sales. We were really grinding away in our 9-to-5s, but we really wanted the flexibility and perks of being our own business owners. We knew it would allow us more time to spend with family. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Lauren: Starting something from scratch was never in the cards for us. We had looked at buying a business outright, but because neither of us had owned a business in the past, we knew franchising was the right way to go. You get that experience behind you. You can dip your toes in the water with proven processes that work. 

Jared: We were looking at businesses that were for sale and were connected to a different franchise. After that, we started learning more about the model and it put franchising on our radar. You are really getting a headstart. In my opinion, it is a step above starting your own business from scratch.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Jared: We started doing research and we realized there were a ton of options out there. We narrowed it down from home services into painting, and then narrowed it down to two or three different companies. 

After weighing the options, Fresh Coat had the strongest business model — they don’t pigeonhole you into only using subcontractors or W2 employees. You have flexibility with your workforce. Also, the start-up costs were lower than the competitors. They were also the only franchise that I spoke to with a specific division at the franchisor level related to commercial work. They have a built-in process to go after commercial accounts and they provide those leads to you. 

At the franchisor level, they also have a ton of experience with painting and the franchising industry. The support system was a step above the rest.

Lauren: The simplicity of the model also appealed to us. They weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. The most successful franchises are the ones that are doing something that everyone needs really well. We thought there was an opportunity in our community to stand out both in residential and commercial painting. In a state like Colorado, Fresh Coat can really fill a big gap.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Jared: It's all about financial security and job security. We started this with the intention of Lauren getting out of the workforce to be a stay-at-home mom with our two girls. Long-term, we want to grow the business and provide jobs for the community. This is something that we can build together as a family, and hopefully expand to even more territories down the road. 

Lauren: This is really just the beginning. Growth is the name of the game, and we hope to expand into other home service verticals as well. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Lauren: We welcomed our second baby in August, right in the midst of this whole franchising process. Our kids are only going to be young for so long, so we wanted to dive in early. If not now — when are you going to do it? This can really change our lives and really grow into something we can put our stamp on. I would encourage anyone who is thinking of this to dive in. There is no time like the present. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Lauren: For young people who want to start, it doesn’t have to be a huge capital investment. It is more about taking a leap of faith. That is what holds a lot of people back. 

For more information on franchising with Fresh Coat Painters, visit: https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info

ABOUT FRESH COAT PAINTERS:

Fresh Coat Painters, the residential and commercial painting franchise under the Strategic Franchising Systems umbrella, offers a low-cost, high-margin business model that gives entrepreneurs from all walks of life the chance to become successful business owners in the communities they serve. Since starting in 2004, Fresh Coat has expanded to over 170 franchise locations nationwide. Thanks to its unparalleled professionalism and affordable business model, it has become one of the leading concepts in the booming residential and commercial painting segment. With continued year-over-year growth, Fresh Coat is well on its way to achieving its overall goal of becoming a truly iconic painting brand.