After years in corporate America and a range of roles in operations,  Ashley Anthony was ready for a change. Her journey to franchise ownership began when she was approached by a franchise consultant. Having thought passively about business ownership in the past, she decided to entertain a few conversations to gather additional information. “After speaking with him over a myriad of months, I realized that the entrepreneurial route really was the way I wanted to go,” she said.  Presented with four very different franchise options, Ashley and her husband,  Dustin , ultimately chose  ecomaids , drawn by its alignment with their lifestyle and commitment to the environment. “We want to give back to our community,” she said. “We want to be a  functioning part of our community — not just an asterisk off to the side. We want to make the world better. I mean, who doesn’t?” While the other franchise opportunities were heavily focused on monetary gain,  ecomaids offered a meaningful connection to the planet and community in addition to its strong, stable business model. “Ashley and Dustin embody exactly what we look for in ecomaids franchise owners — passion, purpose, and a commitment to healthier living and a healthier planet,” said Rachel Southard, CEO of ecomaids. “Their drive to make a positive impact in their community and offer families a non-toxic, safer way to keep their homes clean aligns perfectly with our mission. We’re confident their dedication and diverse professional backgrounds will serve them well as they grow their ecomaids business in Richmond.” Dustin, whose background includes managing teams and operations for medical supply companies to roles in the education space, saw a natural fit between ecomaids and his expertise. “I’d never thought about franchising as something I would be interested in because it feels like everything is food-related, but I didn’t realize how many other companies followed the franchise model,” he said. “The thing I liked about ecomaids was the general structure of the business. A lot of the jobs I’ve done in the past have been mobile, or very similar, so the infrastructure maps over well.” In the early days, Dustin will focus on getting the business built up as Ashley remains in her corporate role, but their long-term goal is to combine forces and run the business together. The couple’s eco-consciousness is deeply rooted in their daily lives — another reason why ecomaids was an ideal fit for them. The Anthonys are part of Hanover County’s Water Wise program, which means their home has been certified as one that uses sustainable practices. They keep bees, recycle, compost and garden, doing everything they can to minimize waste and protect the environment. “I’m the person who stops the car when I see a dog running on the side of the road because I want to help. I bring a grocery bag with me when we go on a walk because I’m going to pick up the trash,” Ashley said. “These types of things go beyond the type of green practices ecomaids uses, but they speak to how we live our lives. We want to protect our planet and support our community, and ecomaids is another way for us to do this.” “Being eco-conscious is a big thing for us because it’s something we already incorporate into our daily lives,” Dustin said. “ecomaids spoke to that in us, and it speaks to a lot of the people we know as well as those we want to be around and be aligned with.” As they ramp up, the Anthonys are looking forward to making ecomaids the premier choice for eco-friendly home cleaning in Richmond with the backing of the franchise team.  To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit  https://1851franchise.com/ecomaids .