For many entrepreneurs, franchising is a path to business ownership. For others, it's an opportunity to build something that can outlast a single career.

At America's Swimming Pool Co., an Authority Brands company, that long-term perspective is attracting families who see business ownership as more than a way to generate income. Parents are partnering with adult children, spouses are dividing responsibilities based on their strengths and families are creating businesses they hope to pass to the next generation.

"One of the things we see across Authority Brands is that franchising gives families a framework for building something together," said Jordan Wilson, chief development officer. "You're not starting from scratch. You're stepping into an established system with defined processes, training and support, which allows family members to focus on running and growing the business while building something that can have lasting value."

Different Strengths, One Shared Business

Family-owned businesses can work well when responsibilities are divided according to each person’s strengths. One family member may handle sales and customer relationships, while another takes the lead on operations, scheduling or technical work. A franchise system can make those roles easier to define and give the family a clearer structure for working together.

That's exactly how Kevin and Ben Lawson have approached their America's Swimming Pool Co. franchise in northwest Oklahoma City. After decades in sales, Kevin wanted to build something that would create opportunities for his family beyond his career in the oil industry. Rather than starting an independent business, he partnered with his son, Ben, who now oversees much of the day-to-day service work while Kevin concentrates on business development and mentoring. The operation has gradually become even more of a family effort, with Kevin's wife supporting bookkeeping and Ben's fiancée expected to contribute her marketing background as the business grows.

Their different personalities have become one of the business's greatest strengths.

"In sales, where I've spent my whole life, I would consider myself the gray area," Kevin said. "I'm always trying to make lemonade out of lemons. My son is definitely more black-and-white, and he likes the operations a lot more than I do. He likes the details and the intricacies. That's where we complement each other. We let our differences help us be a better team."

Wilson said that kind of role-sharing is common among successful family-owned franchises.

"When families are able to build around each person's strengths, they're often able to grow more efficiently," he said. "One person doesn't have to carry every responsibility, and that creates a business that's easier to scale over time."

Building a Business That Can Grow With the Family

Joel Davis had a similar vision when he left a career in telecommunications and engineering to open an America's Swimming Pool Co. franchise in Frisco, Texas. He wasn't simply looking for self-employment. He wanted a business built on established systems that could continue growing while creating opportunities for his son, Hunter.

Like many new franchise owners, Joel initially handled nearly every responsibility himself, from cleaning pools to meeting prospective customers. As the business expanded, those responsibilities shifted. Hunter now serves as service manager, overseeing field operations while Joel focuses on financial performance, customer relationships and long-term planning.

That shift shows how an established franchise model can support owners as the business grows. They may start by learning each part of the operation, then move into leadership as they hire a team and prepare others to take on more responsibility.

"Today, I work on my business, not necessarily in it every day," Joel said. "So for me, day-to-day operations is making sure my books are straight, looking at my numbers, making sure I'm meeting my own personal goals ... as well as just managing the day-to-day operations with my teams."

Wilson said that long-term progression is one reason franchising appeals to families thinking beyond their first few years in business.

"We're seeing more families look at franchising as a way to create something that can continue growing over time," he said. "They're building equity, creating flexibility and investing in a business that can support multiple generations instead of just one owner's career."

More Than a Business Legacy

For both families, success is measured by more than financial performance.

Kevin said the business has changed the way his family spends time together, creating opportunities for conversations and collaboration that simply didn't exist before.

"In all honesty, my daughter and I could talk every single day and be great. My son and I could go two weeks and not talk," he said. "But now that we have the pool business, it's three, four, five, 10 times a day, and it's so awesome. I think it's bringing the family closer together."

Joel also sees the business in long-term terms. As Hunter has taken on more responsibility, Joel has gained the flexibility he hoped business ownership would provide while building something that can continue after he steps away.

"It's allowing me to leave a legacy to give something to my son when I'm done, on a personal as well as a business level," Joel said.

For families exploring entrepreneurship, that's ultimately what America's Swimming Pool Co. represents: an opportunity to build a business designed not only to serve customers today, but also to create opportunities for the people who will help lead it tomorrow.

For more information on franchising with America’s Swimming Pool Co., please visit https://1851franchise.com/america-swimming-pool.