Dan Yangas Brings Family Flooring Legacy Full Circle With Footprints Floors Franchise in Naperville, Illinois

After 30 years in sales roles across industries like paper and security, Dan Yangas is finally returning to his roots. The new Footprints Floors franchisee, based in the Naperville area of Illinois, has officially launched his flooring business — a move that brings his career full circle and continues a family tradition that spans generations.

“When I was quite young — in high school and college — I did a lot of flooring installation on weekends and during breaks,” Dan said. “It was something I always enjoyed, but I got away from it after I graduated.” His great-grandfather owned a flooring store in Chicago. His grandfather worked as a tile setter in the 1950s. His father sold carpet, and his uncle owned a flooring business in St. Charles. For Dan, getting back into flooring wasn’t just about entrepreneurship — it was about honoring a legacy. “Flooring is in my blood,” he said.

Dan explored franchising for a couple of years before discovering Footprints Floors through a franchise consultant. He looked at more than 20 opportunities before finding the right one. “When this opportunity came along, it felt like a perfect fit,” he said. Unlike some of the other franchises he considered, Footprints Floors offered the structure and support that allowed him to focus on what he does best: building relationships, estimating jobs and managing crews. “They had a system in place for the day-to-day operations,” he said. “I probably wouldn’t have been able to build something like this on my own.”

His early goals are focused on growing smart — scaling without sacrificing quality or control. And while he’s not ruling out expansion, Dan is focused on laying a solid foundation first. “Certainly, if growth goes very well, the opportunity to get a second territory would certainly be something that would be intriguing to me,” he said.

1851 Franchise spoke with Dan about his family legacy in flooring and his franchising journey with Footprints Floors. Here’s what he had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Dan Yangas: When I was quite young — in high school and college — I did a lot of flooring installation on weekends and during breaks. It was something I always enjoyed, but I got away from it after I graduated. I went into sales and spent most of my career in other industries. I was in the paper industry for about 25 years, in various sales roles, and then spent the last five years in security. Still, flooring was always something I loved. I did a lot of the floors in my own home and helped friends out with theirs.

When this opportunity came along, it felt like a perfect fit. I’d been looking at franchising for a couple of years, and this combined what I enjoy with what I was looking to do for the rest of my career.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Dan: I worked for both distributors and manufacturers, many of them quite large. I was looking for a way to work for myself and be responsible for my own decisions. Over the years, I answered to shareholders and executives, and I didn’t always agree with the decisions that were made. I often felt like what was best for the customer wasn’t always what got prioritized.

I wanted to work for myself but never quite pulled the trigger. There was always another opportunity to work for someone else. Eventually, I decided it was time to take control and do something on my own.

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?

Dan: When people hear “franchising,” they usually think of fast food, and that definitely wasn’t what I was looking for. I didn’t want to manage a fast-food restaurant. I was shown all kinds of opportunities — from vending machines to elder care placement — and it opened my eyes to the range of franchises out there.

I worked with a franchise consultant for a couple of years and looked at quite a few options. When Footprints Floors came along, it didn’t feel like a typical franchise. They’d done all the footwork and laid the foundation, so I could focus on what I do best — meeting with customers, performing estimates and managing crews.

They had a system in place for the day-to-day operations. I probably wouldn’t have been able to build something like this on my own — especially the business side. I’d always worked for other people and never had to handle P&L or backend logistics. That structure and support made a big difference.

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

Dan: What stood out to me was the enthusiasm they have for their franchisees. That came across in every conversation I had with current owners. Then I went to Discovery Day at the headquarters, and that sealed the deal. You could tell they genuinely wanted every franchisee to succeed. The support has been unbelievable. They go above and beyond to make sure you have what you need to be successful. That was a big reason I chose Footprints Floors.

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

Dan: My plan is to grow quickly — but smart. I want to scale at a pace where I can maintain control and keep things organized. Down the road — maybe six months, maybe two years — I’d like to hire a project manager. I want to stay on the sales side because that’s what I enjoy.

If growth goes really well, I’d definitely consider a second territory. That’s not something I’m committing to right now, but I’ll reassess after the first six to eight months.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Dan: Flooring is in my blood. My father sold carpet. My grandfather was a tile setter in the '50s and '60s. My great-grandfather owned a flooring store in Chicago. My uncle owned one in St. Charles. It’s a family legacy, and that definitely appealed to me.

Something that really resonated with me was Footprints’ mantra: “Say what you’re going to do, and do it.” Years ago, my brother and I dealt with contractors on our own homes, and we said, “If we just started a business that showed up on time, did what we said we would do, and finished the job, we’d be ahead of 90% of the industry.” That’s the exact mentality at Footprints Floors, and it aligns with how I’ve always approached work.

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

Dan: Do your due diligence. Some franchises sound great but require big upfront investments or high overhead. Be sure it's something you actually want to do and that you’ll enjoy doing. Making money isn’t everything — if the day-to-day is worse than your old job, it’s not worth it.

Ask yourself if the hours and lifestyle make sense. I looked at around 20 different franchises over the course of a couple of years, and at times it felt frustrating. But the right fit takes time.

I didn’t know something like Footprints Floors even existed. My consultant brought it to my attention because of my background. Once I found it, I still took my time — talked to other franchisees, did Discovery Day and made sure it was the right fit. That process is worth the time it takes.

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/.