Air Force Veteran Jonathan Fox Brings Footprints Floors to Waco, Texas

After a 21-year career in the Air Force and a successful tenure as an Occupational Safety Manager at Amazon, Jonathan Fox was ready for a new challenge. For Fox, it wasn’t just about changing careers — it was about finding a path that offered more work-life balance and the opportunity to be deeply involved in his community. That’s what drew him to Footprints Floors, a flooring franchise known for its customer-centric approach and strong support system for franchisees.

What excited Fox most about Footprints Floors was the brand’s commitment to delivering top-tier customer service and its streamlined business model, which allows franchisees to focus on project management rather than cold-calling or hard-selling. With plans to serve Waco and extend his reach into the Round Rock area, Fox is looking forward to helping homeowners transform their spaces while building a thriving business rooted in Central Texas.

1851 Franchise spoke to Fox about his franchise journey with Footprints Floors. Here’s what he had to say.

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

Jonathan Fox: I currently work at Amazon as an occupational safety manager, focusing on safety and health. Before that, I was in the Air Force for 21 years, working in aircraft maintenance. That experience helped me get started in the field of safety.

After spending over two decades in the Air Force and then transitioning to a large corporate organization like Amazon, I realized I needed a better work-life balance. I wanted to move beyond simply grinding it out every day and become more of a contributor and participant in life. That’s what led me to start researching franchising.

I chose Footprints Floors after watching some of their introduction videos and learning about the culture they’ve built. It’s pretty amazing. One of the reasons I wanted to go into business for myself was to have the ability to quickly react to challenges, make instant changes and avoid being bogged down by corporate bureaucracy. At Footprints, the structure allows direct access to the executive team. They’re very involved, holding regular calls and supporting franchisees, especially during the onboarding process. Their process is rock-solid and made the transition super easy. That’s how I ended up here.

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?

Fox: Before I started seriously looking into franchising, I assumed it was unattainable or out of reach for me. That belief delayed my decision to pursue it earlier in life. It wasn’t until a franchise broker reached out to me on LinkedIn that I started considering it. At first, I ignored the message, thinking it was spam, but something about it stuck in my head.

When I finally responded and started the process, the first phone call was nothing like I expected. I thought it would be a hard sales pitch, like buying a car, but it was very low-pressure. At every step, I felt like I had an out if I needed one.

The broker laid out a roadmap that broke everything into digestible steps, making the process easy and stress-free. Both the broker and Footprints Floors connected me with professionals I might need, like financing and legal advisors. The support system they provided made it so much easier than I expected.

To anyone else considering franchising, I’d say: if you have that desire, don’t hesitate to have a conversation. Find a good broker and explore the options. For me, Footprints was the right fit. As soon as I met the team and learned about their culture during the approval visit in Denver, I knew it was the one.

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

Fox: I liked the business model. The initial investment is relatively low compared to other franchises and the return on investment is much quicker. Some franchises I looked at projected breaking even by the third year, staying in the red for the first couple of years. Footprints, on the other hand, shows you can break even within the first year or even operate in the black.

The brand is also appealing because it’s project management with some people management involved, which suits me. Unlike other franchises, where I couldn’t see myself still working in the business 10 or 20 years down the line, Footprints offers the opportunity to grow. The longer you’re in it, the more experience and knowledge you gain.

What I also love is the customer aspect. People are excited to work with you — they’re asking for quotes and not being hard-sold or cold-called. I enjoy managing projects and working with customers, so this was a natural fit for me.

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

Fox: I’m looking forward to bringing a new franchise to the Central Texas area, particularly in Waco. There are people who do flooring here, but I don’t think anyone does it the way Footprints Floors does. I’m excited to introduce this business model to the community.

My territory extends from Waco to Round Rock, which gives me a lot of opportunities to establish the business and help customers in multiple areas.

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

Fox: If you want something, go after it. Don’t get stuck in a rut with a job that doesn’t make you happy every day. There’s a better way to live, so go for it.

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

Fox: Reach out to a broker and start with an initial call. It doesn’t hurt to have that first conversation and see if it’s the right fit for you. Don’t be afraid to take that first step.

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 150 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/.