After Years Working in Franchises, Liz Lebrecht Came Across an Opportunity to Buy Her Own With Footprints Floors

After spending some time working within the franchise and construction spaces, Liz Lebrecht began searching for her next venture. She knew she wanted to pursue something in the construction space, and it just so happened that the previous owner of Footprints Floors* of Asheville was looking to transfer ownership.

In the construction space specifically, Lebrecht says it is helpful to have the backing and support of a franchisor to provide additional stability. Now, through ownership with Footprints Floors, she is building her own business in the industry she loves and servicing often-overlooked communities in her area.

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

Lebrecht: I’ve worked for three or four other franchises. Two in the construction world and two in other businesses. I just really like the whole concept of the franchise, especially when it comes to construction, because people come and go so much in construction and there’s so much fraud. It’s more stable, and you get lots of support. I especially like franchise models, such as Footprints Floors, that provide a sort of corporate backup in case somebody can’t get a hold of you.

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?

Lebrecht: I always thought that there was lots of support with franchising, but I wasn’t necessarily seeking a franchise. It just so happened that I stumbled upon someone who was selling their Footprints Floors franchise. My husband and I were looking for something to do in construction, but we didn’t really want to start from scratch. The other owner has already put in the first three years of blood and sweat, and the fact that it was a franchise model kind of sealed the deal for me.

I would want people to know that when you join a franchise, you get the knowledge of all the other people in that network. If you don’t know something or haven’t run across things before, you can call on the experience of those other people. There’s always someone who has seen it before and knows what to do.

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

Lebrecht: I like the model and being able to work from home. It’s got a small company feel, but it also has the ability to grow to something very large.

I also love the resources Footprints Floors offer. They have 175 franchises, and I can draw from the resources of all those people sharing their history and experience. It’s really nice having people that you can call on for help and suggestions.

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

Lebrecht: We do have a business plan in place. By 90 days, we’re hoping to add a project manager or a field manager in the Asheville area. It’s hard for my husband to be able to go to every job. Within six months, we want to have a staff of about six people, and the long-term goal is to grow it enough that somebody can run it for us while we retire.

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

Lebrecht: My husband and I have a combined 50 years of experience in construction and home repairs. Because we live on the northern side of our territory, we know how difficult it can be to secure flooring service in the area. People just can’t get people to come up here and take care of their flooring needs. 

We may have to make a few trips or schedule more carefully, but we don’t mind, and we don’t give up. People up here will have contractors schedule an appointment with them and just never show up. We don’t do that.

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

Lebrecht: Take advantage of all of the resources. There are so many of them. And start early enough that you learn them all before you actually launch.

ABOUT FOOTPRINTS FLOORS:

Upon his return to Littleton, Colorado, after serving in the U.S. Air Force, Bryan Park noticed that Denver’s flooring industry lacked a higher level of customer service and sophistication. So, in 2008, he founded Footprints Floors, which today specializes in installing hardwood floors, tile floors, backsplashes and laminates. With more than 160 territories, Footprints Floors offers franchisees a robust support system, including a call center, flexible hours for work-life balance and a low cost of entry with outstanding economics.. For more information about the Franchise Times Top 500 brand, visit https://footprintsfranchise.com/.