Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantliddle/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tech-career-transition-corporate-layoff-reinvention-2732289" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Grant Liddle</a> was just another professional waiting for a train at D.C.’s Union Station, killing time at a newsstand. At the time, he was building a career in tech sales and would eventually spend nearly a decade with Oracle, but the idea of owning a business had been sitting quietly in the back of his mind for years. While flipping through a magazine, he came across a feature about an entrepreneur who had built a commercial kitchen filtration business. The article stuck with him and became one of those lingering "what if" moments he never completely forgot.When Liddle was forced to consider a career change last fall, he did not immediately start looking for another tech role. He had been thinking about business ownership for years, and the timing provided him a chance to take that idea seriously. Instead of treating the moment as only a career transition, he used it to think through what he wanted the next chapter of his life to look like.Rather than jump into a random franchise opportunity, Liddle chose a deliberate life reset. Today, he owns three&nbsp;<a href="https://filtafranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tech-career-transition-corporate-layoff-reinvention-2732289" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions</a> locations across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. While the daily work of recycling and collecting commercial fryer oil happens behind the scenes, the career pivot gave Liddle exactly what he was looking for: a way to create independence, protect the planet and have a lasting impact on the local communities he serves.Liddle sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss how he flipped the script on a corporate crisis and used it to finally build a dream life on his own terms. Here’s what he had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Grant Liddle:&nbsp;I’ve been wanting to start my own business for quite some time, probably within the last 10 years. It was always in the back of my mind, but I never made the leap until recently. If I could pick one thing for people to know about me, it is my genuine interest in others. I am very curious about what makes a person tick and about how they view the world. I was actually born in England and lived there for a gap year between high school and college, and those experiences traveling and being exposed to different cultures really shaped my perspective. I am the kind of person who likes to skip the shallow icebreakers and get into deep conversations to hear your story and understand how you look at the world.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Liddle: My entire career has been in high tech. I started in software development as a programmer and eventually moved into sales at Oracle, where I spent nearly nine years selling back-office SaaS applications. After being laid off last September, I realized I wasn't enthusiastic about just jumping into another sales job. I have a family — three kids and a wife — plus a mortgage, so I had to be reasonable. I knew that starting a business from scratch has its allure, but choosing a franchise felt like a better starting point in the race. It gave me a support system and proven systems already in place, which shortened the path to success and profitability, allowing me to continue to take care of my family.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?Liddle: I had a very rudimentary and ignorant view of franchises. When I thought of them, McDonald's was the first thing that came to mind. Just getting more into it, I realized that being successful in business requires a whole different set of skills beyond the technical work. Franchising basically gives you that business expertise in a box. It provides the documentation, processes and partnerships — from recruiting to accounting — that allow you to scale. It makes the transition to ownership much simpler than trying to figure out every single detail on your own.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Liddle:&nbsp;I was at Union Station in D.C. in November 2024, perusing magazines, and an article about Keri Gardner, a Filta franchisee, in Entrepreneur magazine jumped out at me. She came from a similar background to mine. I think she worked at Deloitte before and I was working at Oracle, so it was a very similar background in the high-tech industry. When I started reading about&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/filta/info">Filta</a>, I was really curious because I remember, about 10 to 15 years ago, picking up a newspaper article that talked about a big craze over cooking oil being converted into biodiesel. I was like, 'Wow, this is amazing. You can actually make it into something that people will need in large volumes.' The big difference I liked about Filta was its recurring revenue model. It would be like the difference between flipping houses and buying and holding.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Liddle: My opening day was Jan. 5 of this year. I purchased three territories. One was in southern Delaware — Dover and the beaches. And then the other one was Anne Arundel County in Maryland. What Filta did was include a territory between them. They call it the Eastern Shore. Hospitals are great. I have three of the four hospitals in southern Delaware. I got a no earlier this week, but to me, a no is just a no for now. It's not a no forever, so I’ve just got to keep working it. Hospitals are great because no matter what happens, they’re always open 24/7, 365 days a year.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Liddle:&nbsp;This is probably the second time I've been laid off. The first time, back in 2010, there was a lot of fear and anxiety, and it was just a lot more panic-driven. This time, I had more savings and I started thinking, 'Wait a minute, I was thinking about leaving anyway.' I knew that if I just went to another job, I’d get sucked in because I want to do the best possible job I can, and it’s hard for me to pull back and move to something else. I decided to use the time that was thrust upon me to actually figure out what I really wanted to do, rather than just rushing to the next job out of fear.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Liddle: Talk to existing franchise owners. I know 1851 also recommends this. It's huge. The franchise disclosure document is great. It gives you a lot of information, but it doesn't give you all the information and you need to supplement that with talking to real people and hearing their story. Find out how they got started. What were some of the challenges they had? Because there are always challenges. There isn’t a smooth road from start to success. It’s always filled with challenges and obstacles. And you know what? People are willing to share their story. I just really liked the personalities. They're just very approachable, easy to talk to, and they share information. They're very candid. They don't try to hold things back.About Filta Environmental Kitchen SolutionsSince its inception in 1996, Filta has positioned itself as the pioneering leader of active fryer management and environmental kitchen sustainability across the food and hospitality industries. Brought to North America in 2002 as a franchise concept, Filta is part of United Kingdom-based Franchise Brands (AIM: FRAN). The cornerstone of the company’s offering is FiltaFry, the complete fryer management service incorporating on-site micro-filtration as well as the removal, recycling and replacement of cooking oil. Furthermore, the brand provides humidity control in cold storage devices through FiltaCool, prevents drain blockage through its grease-free drain foam brand FiltaDrain, and deep cleans entire commercial kitchens through FiltaClean. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gofilta.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tech-career-transition-corporate-layoff-reinvention-2732289" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.gofilta.com</a> for more information and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.filtafranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=tech-career-transition-corporate-layoff-reinvention-2732289" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.filtafranchise.com</a> for franchise development opportunities.

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Tech Career Transition: Grant Liddle's Post-Layoff Reinvention

1851 Franchise

After nearly a decade at Oracle, Grant Liddle used an unexpected career disruption to finally pursue the business ownership goals he had been considering for years.

Former Maryland Tech Exec Turns a Layoff Into a New Start With Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions Franchise

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For many entrepreneurs, success is often measured by steady income and day-to-day profitability. But the most strategic business owners think beyond cash flow. They build with the end in mind by creating an asset that can eventually be sold for a meaningful return. That’s exactly what longtime&nbsp;<a href="https://filtafranchise.com/">Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions</a> franchisee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hanna-434a33321">Jeff Hanna</a> accomplished.After more than a decade of ownership, Hanna sold his&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/filta/info">Filta</a> business for $2 million, transforming a relatively modest initial investment into a life-changing financial outcome. Here’s how he did it.&nbsp;<h2>Building More Than Income</h2>When Hanna launched his Filta franchise, he was entering a business model designed for long-term stability. Filta operates in a niche but essential segment of the foodservice industry, providing services like fryer management, cooking oil filtration and eco-friendly kitchen cleaning.These aren’t one-time transactions. They’re recurring, operational necessities for restaurants, hotels, hospitals, stadiums, schools and other commercial kitchens.&nbsp;Because Filta’s services are ongoing, franchisees benefit from repeat customers and predictable revenue streams. Over time, Hanna built a strong portfolio of consistent clients."Filta wasn't just a job; it was a pathway to financial independence," said Hanna. "The steady income from our essential services kept my family comfortable year after year, and watching the business grow into a valuable asset was incredibly gratifying.”<h2>The Power of Recurring Revenue</h2>One of the defining factors behind Hanna’s successful exit was the strength of its recurring revenue model.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/filta/from-grease-to-green-how-filtas-recurring-revenue-model-fuels-franchise-success-2729054">Filta’s model is built around essential services that kitchens cannot operate without</a>. From extending the life of cooking oil through micro-filtration to maintaining safe and efficient kitchen systems, the brand embeds itself into the daily operations of its clients.That creates stickiness. Customers don’t churn easily, and revenue becomes more stable over time. For Hanna, this translated into a business that wasn’t dependent on constant customer acquisition.&nbsp;<h2>Low Overhead, High Leverage</h2>Another key driver of Hanna’s success was due to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/filta/top-reasons-to-buy-franchise-2727993">Filta’s mobile, low-overhead</a> business model. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar concepts, for example, Filta franchisees don’t need to invest in large retail spaces or staff.Since the business runs on a mobile service model, franchisees like Hanna can scale efficiently without getting weighed down by high fixed costs. Better yet, low overhead leads to stronger margins, which quickly boost both profitability and overall business valuation.For Hanna, this allowed him to reinvest in growth while maintaining a lean operation, ultimately building a business that was both profitable and highly attractive to buyers.<h2>Scaling Into a Sellable Asset</h2>Hanna wasn’t just going through the motions of running a business. Over the next decade, he focused on growing his client list, streamlining day-to-day operations, and becoming the go-to person for reliability in his area. As the revenue climbed, so did the actual worth of the asset he was creating.This is where many entrepreneurs miss the opportunity. They focus solely on income without considering how their business will be perceived by a future buyer.Hanna took the opposite approach. By building systems, maintaining consistent revenue and creating operational stability, he positioned his Filta franchise as a turnkey opportunity for the next owner. The result: a $2 million exit that reflects both years of effort and a well-executed long-term strategy.Today, Hanna is enjoying the rewards of that strategy.&nbsp;“Now, with the $2 million sale, I'm stepping into a comfortable retirement—spending my days on the golf course, fishing with my grandkids, and traveling without a worry,” he said. “If you're looking for a business that rewards hard work with both ongoing profits and a big payoff, Filta is the real deal.”For more information on franchising with Filta visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/filta/info">https://1851franchise.com/filta/info</a>

With a low initial investment and a service offering rooted in ongoing necessity, Filta provides a foundation for both immediate income and future equity growth.

How This Long-Time Franchisee Turned His Filta Business Into a $2 Million Exit

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Former Maryland Tech Exec Turns a Layoff Into a New Start With Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions Franchise

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