After 10 years as an owner in his Livonia, Michigan community, Ed Buison, a multi-unit BIGGBY® COFFEE franchisee and area representative, has built a network of team members and other supporters whom he now considers family and established a business that allows him to pursue his original purpose — supporting his family and executing on his vision of a life he loved. 

Now, though, Buison’s purpose has expanded to encompass others in his community. Whether it’s providing a great experience to a guest stopping in for coffee, creating a pathway to success for an ambitious team member or supporting coffee farmers around the world, including a special focus in the Philippines through BIGGBY® COFFEE’s Farm Direct program, Buison is dedicated to leveraging his position as a business owner to help others build lives they love, too.

“Many businesses view staff as a liability, but we see our team as our greatest asset,” he said.

With this approach, Buison has built a strong team across four locations and fostered community relationships that allow him to express his care. And people have noticed.

This September, exactly 10 years after he opened his first coffee shop, Buison was recognized with the BIGGBY® Purpose Award at the BIGGBY® Nation Summit.

Buison took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. 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?

Ed Buison: My background is in IT; I was a programmer for about ten years. In 2008, my company, which had many automotive ties, began struggling significantly. My wife Eileen and I both ended up working part-time jobs just to make ends meet. In 2010, we decided it was time to make a change and start our own business. I always thought I wanted to work for someone else in a corporate-type environment, but that wasn’t the path we ended up on.

We initially started in home health care, building everything from scratch and navigating all the red tape and documentation. By 2012, we were able to quit our jobs and run the business full-time. We realized we needed to diversify our income sources to avoid putting all our eggs in one basket.

Although we found success in home health care, the learning curve was steep, and we didn't want to repeat that experience. We considered various franchises like Little Caesars and Subway but eventually were recommended BIGGBY® COFFEE by a friend. 

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

Buison: We weren’t even coffee drinkers at the time, but we figured we would go check it out. On our first visit, we both got tea lattes, and I remember the experience so well. The staff was so friendly. They asked about our day, and I thought, “Why are they so invested in my experience?” It was an unusually high level of service, but that really boosted our confidence in the brand and what it stands for.

At the discovery day, what struck us most was BIGGBY® COFFEE's strong emphasis on community support. They are committed to being the neighborhood coffee shop, supporting schools, organizations and local initiatives. We’ve always believed in taking care of our community, so we knew this was the right fit for us. After considering the finances and logistics, we signed our first agreement in January 2014 and opened that September.

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

Buison: My wife and I have always envisioned owning multiple locations — ideally five to 10. We understand that, if we really want to scale our investment and impact, it will be necessary to have multiple locations. Currently, we have four open locations and another three to four in the works throughout Oakland County as a part of our area representative agreement. This will help us generate awareness in the market and strengthen our community presence.

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

Buison: Our journey has been riddled with obstacles and setbacks, which many small business owners can relate to. We had to scrape together every penny to open our first store, literally starting with digging in the couch cushions, especially since we couldn't secure a loan due to the newness of the home health care business.

One major setback occurred when the owner of the small business where I worked part-time failed to pay payroll taxes for two years. He had made me an owner in the business as well to give me stake in the company, but this also made me liable. Right before we opened our first BIGGBY®, the IRS drained all our accounts. We literally woke up one morning and everything was at zero. We faced a huge challenge and questioned if a business venture was even worth it if the money can be drained like that, but we refused to roll over. We found creative ways to generate income and started from scratch, with nothing handed to us.

I want people to know that, while starting a business is tough, it can be done with hard work and determination. It’s about resilience and refusing to accept failure.

1851: How do BIGGBY® COFFEE’s purpose and values align with your own? How has business ownership empowered you to pursue that purpose?

Buison: Many businesses view staff as a liability, but we see our team as our greatest asset. Our approach is to treat our employees as humans, but most importantly individuals, getting to know them personally. This builds relationships and fosters a positive workplace culture, which translates into better customer service.

Our primary goal is to create an environment where our employees can grow, both personally and professionally. We have regular conversations about long-term goals, helping them see opportunities within our company, as well as considering a pathway to become a BIGGBY® owner themselves.

I also feel a strong sense of personal purpose in being there to support my family. Entrepreneurship has given me the ability to be present with my wife, daughter and extended family, and it has given us the financial resources necessary to support our family how we want to. 

This was always a key purpose for me with any job I worked, but now as a business owner, the idea of “family” is even bigger. I now find a sense of fulfillment in providing a great experience to our customers and supporting our teams by providing a positive work environment and a clear pathway to growth and long-term success with us should they want that.

1851: How has your community played into your growth and success?

Buison: I grew up in Livonia and wanted our first store to be there. It was such a pivotal place for me, shaping who I am, and I wanted to give back to that community. I’m actively involved in local organizations, including serving as board member of the Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce and serving an appointment from the Livonia Mayor to the city’s Human Relations Commission. These connections have been instrumental in solidifying our presence in the area.

During COVID,  we had one drive-thru location open, and it was our prior relationships with the community that kept us afloat. While many businesses struggled, we were already invested in supporting our neighborhood and they supported us in return. 

By 2022, we were able to relocate our original non drive-thru location just down the road to get a drive-thru, ensuring we could continue serving our loyal customers in more ways without distancing ourselves, geographically, from them.

1851: What advice would you have for prospective franchise owners?

Buison: If you're considering buying a franchise, do your research and ensure you believe in the brand and its direction. Choosing a brand that resonates with you can provide so many opportunities. For example, my wife and I will be accompanying Bob and Michelle [Fish] on a trip to the Philippines early next year to begin the process of identifying a Farm Direct partner there. 

My parents are from the Philippines, as is my wife, and it means so much to us to be able to go back to our roots and be a part of taking care of everyone in the BIGGBY® COFFEE supply chain. This approach not only sets us apart from competitors but also strengthens our business model in a challenging market. It’s about building meaningful relationships, both locally and globally, and ensuring that our business survives and thrives even in competitive landscapes.

About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise

BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 400+ cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.