Finding a Franchise: The Motivation to Succeed

Beyond the excitement was a familiar feeling: fear. For Dan Renninger, becoming his own boss also meant putting his life savings on the line. It’s easy to see why he might start feeling some trepidation.

In fact, if it weren’t for Rick Robinson, franchise expert at Services4Franchising, there’s a good chance Renninger might’ve let the opportunity pass him by.

“[Robinson] helped calm those fears,” Renninger said. “He’s a great motivator to keep going. Ultimately, he helped me leave my dead-end job, which is not where I wanted to be.”

Robinson was on hand to guide Renninger down the path of entrepreneurship from the start, working with him to determine what franchise opportunity made the most sense while answering any questions or doubts.

“He was really good at staying on top of me,” Renninger said. “When you’re making a decision like that, you can drag your feet. He was the kick in the butt I needed to keep moving and get this thing going.”

And get it going he did. Renninger is now the proud owner of a Colors on Parade franchise, a mobile automotive repair business he runs out of southeastern Pennsylvania.

“At this point, I have six guys working for me,” Renninger said. “It’s definitely grown to a level I didn’t expect this quickly. It was definitely the right move.”

For Renninger, Robinson’s motivation was just as valuable as his help in finding the right opportunity.

“It’s a daunting thing in the beginning, to figure out what’s right for you in the first place, because there are so many franchises,” he said. “[Robinson] helps narrow it down based on your budget and interests to give you a more manageable list.”

Robinson knows there’s no shortage of opportunities available, and it’s his job to help match his clients with the perfect one for them.

“Some people want to be hands-on day in and day out,” Robinson said. “Other people want to build up a business so it can be run by a manager and they can have much more flexibility with their time. Some businesses can be semi-absentee, others can be pretty much completely absentee once you’ve gotten it off the ground.”

Of course, for Robinson, helping clients navigate these complexities is all in a day’s work.

“In my lifetime, I’ve helped over 800 people buy a great franchise, both as a franchisor and now as a consultant,” Robinson said. “Helping match people with the right business opportunity is my job description.”

Renninger may be one of many men and women Robinson has helped, but for him, Robinson is one in a million. He’s the guy who helped him change his life, become his own boss and find financial independence.

Most importantly, Robinson’s the guy who helped him face his fear and overcome it.