1851

Deciding what you want out of a franchise is as simple as deciding what you want out of life. OK, maybe neither of those things are simple, but they are important. Successful franchisees dive into their businesses headfirst, so before a franchisee candidate signs on the dotted line, they should have a good idea of the lifestyle that comes with a brand.&nbsp;Candidates should consider their investment level, personal interests and expertise, core values, the time they’re willing to commit and an eventual exit strategy. With thousands of options to choose from within franchising, it’s likely candidates can find a close match that allows them to not only be their own boss but feel like it too.&nbsp;1851 Franchise has conducted extensive research on how happy franchisees picked their segments and picked seven examples to illustrate the right way to pick a segment.&nbsp;<h4><a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-great-franchisee-matthew-brandal-gymguyz-phoenix-2714403#most-recent">Matthew Brandal</a>, <a href="https://www.gymguyz.com/franchise-opportunities/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=7-franchisees-on-how-they-chose-their-segments-2715118" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GYMGUYZ</a>, Phoenix, Arizona</h4>It’s great to hustle, but work isn’t everything. What draws many of the most creative and energetic entrepreneurs to franchising is the potential for them to set their own schedule and make time for what’s important to them.“I’ve always wanted to own my own business. I wanted to open my own restaurant but it was too much time and too many weekends, which meant I wouldn’t have time to be with my family. I looked around at other positions first but wasn’t finding much that I was interested in, or had the background for. All this prompted me to reach out to a franchise consultant; I was actually working with two at the time. They came back with some work from home options and GYMGUYZ fell into place,” he said.<h4><a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-great-franchisee-bruce-brady-360-painting-atlanta-2714702#franchisee">Bruce Brady</a>, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/360painting">360° Painting</a>, Atlanta, Georgia</h4>Many feel most comfortable getting into an industry where they have some expertise already. For this real estate professional, getting into home renovations with a painting franchise made sense.&nbsp;“Since I knew the real estate industry and home renovations, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/360painting">360° Painting</a> felt like a natural fit in my life. The people from the corporate team whom I’ve interacted with have been great, and they showed how they would properly support me which really stood out to me.”<h4><a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-great-franchisee-matthew-horist-footprints-floors-western-michigan-2714570#most-recent">Matthew Horist</a>, <a href="https://footprintsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=7-franchisees-on-how-they-chose-their-segments-2715118" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Footprints Floors*</a>, Western Michigan</h4>Some entrepreneurs want to get in on a segment with momentum. During the pandemic, interest in home improvement has skyrocketed, and smart entrepreneurs took notice.&nbsp;“I started looking at franchises about two to three years ago and looked at everything under the sun from ice cream to fitness to fast food. I wanted to go into home improvement because it’s showing huge growth right now. I worked with a broker to find the right brand for me, and when he introduced me to <a href="https://1851franchise.com/footprintsfloors">Footprints Floors</a> I knew it was a perfect fit.”<h4><a href="https://1851franchise.com/810billiardsandbowling/why-i-bought">Ronak and Poonam Manek</a>, <a href="https://www.810bowling.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=7-franchisees-on-how-they-chose-their-segments-2715118" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">810 Billiards &amp; Bowling</a>, Chandler, Arizona</h4>Some franchisees never choose a segment. Instead, they choose a partner. For these accomplished entrepreneurs, they knew it was time to sign when they met the founder.&nbsp;“I had already made up my mind that we were going to go for the other franchise, a preschool. Then when I spoke to [<a href="https://1851franchise.com/810billiardsandbowling/executive">Michael Siniscalchi</a>, 810’s CEO and founder], I took a deep breath, I knew this was the one,’” he said.<h4><a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-great-franchisee-premal-dhebariya-and-bhautik-patel-lightbridge-academy-somerset-nj-2714493#most-recent">Bhautik Patel</a>, <a href="https://lightbridgeacademyfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=7-franchisees-on-how-they-chose-their-segments-2715118" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lightbridge Academy*</a>, Somerset, New Jersey</h4>When we live in pursuit of our core values, we most often find success and happiness. This entrepreneur picked his segment based on his family background and passion for supporting children.&nbsp;“I looked at restaurants, barbershops and all sorts of different brands. However, with my wife being a pediatrician and our desire to help kids, it was a no-brainer selecting <a href="https://1851franchise.com/lightbridgeacademy">Lightbridge</a>,” he said.&nbsp;<h4><a href="https://1851franchise.com/restaurant-veteran-harold-wallace-accelerates-slim-chickens-growth-in-nashville-2713213#most-recent">Harold Wallace</a>, <a href="https://slimchickensfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=7-franchisees-on-how-they-chose-their-segments-2715118" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Slim Chickens</a>, Nashville, Tennessee</h4>Sometimes, a franchisee’s eyes light up when they find out about a better mousetrap. This entrepreneur saw the fried chicken segment blowing up and jumped on the best chicken product he could find.“Chicken is a hot segment, and we do it better than our competition. Our product and offerings are better. It's a fun concept and we have a great story to tell. The southern feel of Slim Chickens really resonates well with people in the area,” said Wallace.&nbsp;<h4><a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchisee-spotlight-allison-bradley-and-erica-ames-of-burn-boot-camp-2712547#most-recent">Erica Ames</a>, <a href="https://franchise.burnbootcamp.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=7-franchisees-on-how-they-chose-their-segments-2715118" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Burn Boot Camp</a>, Oceanside, California</h4>Some franchisees don’t choose a segment as much as they fall in love with a brand. For this entrepreneur, she felt such a connection to service that she couldn’t wait to share it with her local community.“[My co-owner] and I became friends through Burn Boot Camp. It provided us another community to be part of in Charlotte. When I go back to Charlotte, many of the friends I see are people from Burn Boot Camp*. Since we know what it is like to be part of the Burn Boot Camp* community, we are looking forward to providing that experience to our future members in Oceanside and the surrounding communities,” she said.

7 Franchisees on How They Chose Their Segments

1851 Franchise

The wide world of franchising includes brands from nearly every industry. Choosing the right segment can have a huge impact on your quality of life.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

7-franchisees-on-how-they-chose-their-segments

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Koji Kanematsu Turned a 2,000-Year-Old Japanese Staple Into One of the Most Scalable Restaurant Franchise Models

koji-kanematsu-turned-a-2000-year-old-japanese-staple-into-one-of-the-most-scalable-restaurant-franchise-models

Lindora

Celebrating the Nurse Behind the Mission: How Melinda Endricks Is Powering Lindora’s Growth and Impact Nationwide

celebrating-the-nurse-behind-the-mission-how-melinda-endricks-is-powering-lindoras-growth-and-impact-nationwide

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

franchise-financial-reporting-analytics-and-business-intelligence-qvinci-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

7 Franchisees on How They Chose Their Segments

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS