1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-bral-4856b02?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=families-in-franchising-bral-family-filta-2730830" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Steve Bral</a> wanted a business that could bring his family together while giving him more control over his work life — the exact opportunity he found in a&nbsp;<a href="https://filtafranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=families-in-franchising-bral-family-filta-2730830" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions</a> &nbsp; franchise. After 35 years in corporate engineering, he was ready for work that offered flexibility, shared responsibility and space for his wife, Karen, and sons,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bral/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=families-in-franchising-bral-family-filta-2730830" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael</a> and Jason, to contribute.“[My wife and I] started looking at the next 10 or 15 years,” Bral said. “I decided I didn’t want to return to the corporate world. We narrowed it down from about 100 options to five or six, and I attended discovery days with those companies. When I went through the criteria, I rated each category for the five or six businesses I was considering. It gave me an objective score, and [Filta] ranked the highest across the criteria I was looking at.”&nbsp;Once he learned how Filta’s service model operated, he realized it was the kind of profitable family business they could build as a team. Today, the family owns and operates a growing&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/filta/info">Filta</a> franchise that focuses on fryer management and environmental kitchen sustainability in Michigan’s Oakland and Macomb Counties. They work side by side as they build a business rooted in service, opportunity and long-term impact.Once Steve made the leap, Michael joined him immediately. Jason joined later, once the business reached a place where it made financial sense to add another full-time role. The family began operating together, gradually shaping a business that each person could play a meaningful role in.<h2>Learning to Work Together — At Work and at Home</h2>Shifting from a parent-child dynamic to a business-partner dynamic wasn’t always simple. Bral had decades of leadership experience, but running a service business with a blue-collar workforce brought a new learning curve — and a new dynamic with his sons."You have to be able to draw a line between those disagreements at work and the time you spend together at home," he said. “When we go home and have family dinner, the business shouldn’t be part of that discussion.”The experience has brought them closer. Working together has meant learning together — and tackling challenges as a team.<h2>Why Filta Fit the Family’s Goals</h2>When evaluating franchise options, Bral approached the process with the same structure and discipline he applied throughout his corporate career. After narrowing down more than 100 options, he evaluated his top choices across nearly 20 criteria — including startup costs, growth potential and the business models.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/filta/info">Filta</a> rose to the top."I was looking for a management-based business, meaning I wouldn’t have to work&nbsp;in&nbsp;the business but could work&nbsp;on&nbsp;the business," Bral said. "If you’re working in the business, your growth is limited to how much work you can personally handle. I wanted a business where I could hire employees to do the core functions while we focused on expanding territories, trucks and so on."&nbsp;<h2>A Family-Owned Business With a People-First Mindset</h2>Running the business as a family has shaped everything from decision-making to leadership style. Though the Brals sometimes approach work differently across generations, they share a commitment to leading with fairness and accountability.Bral says that piece comes naturally — it’s the same leadership philosophy he carried in his corporate career. "I’ve always believed you have to treat employees well, look out for them and hold them accountable," he said.&nbsp;Most importantly, he sees the business as a way to create opportunity. The team is made up largely of workers with high school diplomas or GEDs, and Bral is proud to provide stable, competitive jobs that open doors for people who may not have had many options at the start."That’s my focus now,” he said. “Growing the business is more about everyone else in the company than it is about me. I don’t need it for myself.”<h2>The Hardest Parts — and the Rewards</h2>The Bral family has discovered that entrepreneurship rarely stops at 5 p.m. — calls come in late, equipment breaks unexpectedly and customers need support. The business follows them into holidays, weekends and family milestones.But the reward outweighs the strain.For Bral, the most meaningful part of owning a business with his sons is seeing the direct impact of every decision — good or bad. After decades in corporate environments where he was responsible for outcomes he didn’t always control, he finds deep satisfaction in knowing the business reflects their choices, their effort and their values."In your own business, you have no one to blame but yourself. If something goes right or wrong, I can look in the mirror and know it was truly my decision," he said. "That’s been the most rewarding part."&nbsp;The Bral family continues to grow their Filta territory, adding routes, building their team and shaping a business with room for everyone — now and in the future. Whether his sons remain involved long-term or eventually pursue something new, Bral sees the business as a platform for opportunity, purpose and growth.Above all, it’s something they built together.For more information on Steve Bral and franchising with family, check out the following 1851 Franchise articles:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/filta/from-automotive-to-oil-filtration-how-steve-bral-found-success-with-filta-2727804">From Automotive to Oil Filtration: How Steve Bral Found Success with Filta</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/family-franchising-winning-combination-2727664">Family and Franchising Make for a Winning Combination</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/choosing-the-right-franchise-for-your-family-2727865">How to Choose the Right Franchise for Your Family</a></li></ul>

How This Corporate Engineer Found Filta to Be the Perfect Business to Open with His Wife and Sons

How a Filta Franchise Helped the Bral Family Build a Profitable Business

1851 Franchise

After decades in a traditional career, Steve Bral wanted flexibility and a business his whole family could run together — a combination he found in Filta’s service-driven, profitable model.

families-in-franchising-bral-family-filta

Jollibee

Photo of Jollibee mascot and two smiling people in Jollibee pajamas

How Jollibee’s Culture Fuels a Global Brand People Love

franchise-culture-brand-success

petbar

petbar franchise logo tenth 10th anniversary

10 Years Strong: How petbar Turned One Dallas Boutique Into a Fast-Growing National Franchise

petbar-10-years-strong-franchise-growth

Griswold

Beaumont Enterprise: Local Woman Brings Griswold Home Care Franchise to Greater Beaumont, Texas

griswold-home-care-greater-beaumont-opening

Layne's Chicken Fingers

image of laynes chicken the Soon to be Famous™ Texas-based chicken finger franchise

Tasting Table: Layne’s Chicken Fingers Rising Fast in the Fried Chicken Market

tasting-table-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth-2025

Image Studios

IMAGE Studios Expands in Atlanta: Redefining Salon Suites in a Fast-Growing Market

image-studios-atlanta-expansion

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

How AI Is Transforming Restaurant Operations and Franchises

ai-impact-restaurants-franchises-human-centric-technology

Round Table Pizza Franchisees Take FAT Brands to Court Over Marketing Fund Mismanagement

round-table-pizza-franchisees-take-fat-brands-to-court-over-marketing-fund-mismanagement

FAT Brands Nears Bankruptcy as Creditors Demand Repayment of $1.3 Billion Debt

fat-brands-nears-bankruptcy-as-creditors-demand-repayment-of-13-billion-debt

Callaway Sells Majority Stake in Topgolf to Private Equity for $770 Million

callaway-sells-majority-stake-in-topgolf-to-private-equity-for-770-million

Keith Sizemore headshot, Radiance Holdings

Radiance Holdings Names Keith Sizemore Chief Development Officer

keith-sizemore-radiance-holdings-cdo

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of manar landis and maha zirn kashoor from griswold franchise in oklahoma city

Sisters Channel Humanitarian Experience Into New Griswold Franchise Serving Oklahoma City Families

griswold-franchise-oklahoma-city-north-manar-landis-maha-zirn-kashoor

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Eli Cohen, Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

C5 Restaurants Grows its Texas Footprint with 40 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations Planned Statewide

eli-cohen-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

What Makes Mellow Mushroom a Strong Franchise Investment? Insights From the Panos Family’s Metro Atlanta Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

The Top 15 Pet Supplies and Retail Franchises for 2025

the-top-15-pet-supplies-and-retail-franchises

AI-related job cuts, October U.S. job cuts, American job cut record

AI-Fueled Layoffs Reshape the U.S. Job Market — And Highlight Franchising’s Resilience

ai-job-cuts-franchising-path-forward

The 15 Top Pet Grooming Franchises To Consider for 2025

the-15-top-pet-grooming-franchises-to-consider

How This Corporate Engineer Found Filta to Be the Perfect Business to Open with His Wife and Sons

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS