Why This Over-Road Truck Driver Decided to Pursue Franchise Ownership with Fresh Coat Painters

For eight years, Marcell Haythorne worked as an over-the-road truck driver, a career that demanded far more than simply driving from one destination to another. Trucking became a lifestyle - one that required discipline, sacrifice, long stretches away from home, and the ability to constantly adapt. The experience shaped his work ethic and perspective, but over time, Marcell began thinking seriously about how he could apply those same qualities toward building something of his own.

Before discovering Fresh Coat*, Haythorne gained his first experience in entrepreneurship while still working in trucking, purchasing a maroon Chevrolet Camaro convertible and launching a rental business on Turo. The demands of the road kept dividing his attention, though, and he soon realized he needed to fully commit to ownership or risk repeating the same cycle.

Even after Marcell stepped away from trucking briefly to focus on the rental business full-time, high vehicle payments, upkeep, and pandemic-related travel slowdowns meant the numbers simply didn’t add up. After much thought, he decided to wind down the rental business. Still, the experience served as a masterclass in entrepreneurship, teaching him how to set up an LLC, manage real expenses, deliver top-tier customer service, and recognize that splitting focus between a demanding job and a startup holds both back.

Determined to find a business with long-term staying power and a service he viewed as more resilient, Marcell began researching franchise opportunities. He considered different perspectives along the way, but ultimately understood that the decision - and the responsibility that came with it - rested on his shoulders. After thorough due diligence through Franchise Empire, Fresh Coat emerged as the opportunity he wanted to pursue.

The brand’s history, established systems, and operational support appealed to Marcell as he evaluated the opportunity. He began putting his time and energy into building the franchise while carrying forward the discipline, logistics experience, and work ethic he developed on the road.

Now based in North Las Vegas, Marcell is in the process of transitioning from trucking into business ownership as he prepares to launch his Fresh Coat territory. Rather than viewing his years on the road as something to be left behind, he is carrying the lessons and discipline of trucking into the next stage of his career. The transition also marks a new chapter for Marcell and his dog, Egypt, his longtime companion who spent years traveling the road alongside him. After sharing so much of the trucking journey together, this next chapter represents a transition for both of them.

Marcell sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss how his years as an over-the-road truck driver led him to Fresh Coat and what it has been like preparing to open in North Las Vegas. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story in one sentence.

Marcell Haythorne: After eight years as an over-the-road truck driver, I decided to begin transitioning toward business ownership and take the discipline and work ethic I developed in trucking and apply it toward building something for myself, my family, and my future by launching a Fresh Coat territory in North Las Vegas.

1851: What was happening in your life that made you realize it was time to make a change?

Haythorne: I was getting older, my family was getting older, and I realized trucking had a ceiling for what I ultimately wanted to build. I wanted greater ownership over the direction of my life and career. My family worked extremely hard and helped put me in a position to have opportunities, but I understood that taking the next step was my responsibility. I had tried starting a business before, but my attention was always divided between driving and building something of my own. After eight years, I knew that if I didn’t lock in and make a change, I’d keep repeating the same cycle instead of putting something in the asset column.

1851: Why did you choose this franchise over every other opportunity?

Haythorne: Fresh Coat has more than 20 years of brand history, and I was looking for a service-based business that I viewed as more resilient. Technology can change how a painting company operates, and no industry is guaranteed to remain untouched by it, but the hands-on nature of the work appealed to me. Between the brand history, established systems, and the opportunity to build in a service industry, I believed it offered the long-term business model I was looking for.

1851: What is it really like owning a Fresh Coat franchise?

Haythorne: It’s a complete mindset shift. Ownership allows you to see the world differently - you look at walls, neighbors homes, and your whole territory as opportunities. I’m still preparing to launch, so I’m learning what it means to build the business before I can speak to the full operating experience. What I already know is that it requires immense discipline and hard work, and I’m applying the same work ethic I developed in trucking to building something of my own.

1851: How has owning this franchise changed your life?

Haythorne: It’s allowed me to see the world from an owner’s perspective and put myself in rooms with successful, like-minded individuals where I can quiet down, listen, and learn. It’s also changed how I think about my time and what I’m building toward. Egypt has been beside me throughout much of my journey on the road, so being able to approach this next chapter with more intention means a lot to me. She’s been part of the journey, and she’s part of where I’m going next.

1851: If your best friend had enough money to buy this franchise tomorrow, what would you tell them?

Haythorne: I’d tell them to do their research. Understand the business model, the costs, the work involved and be prepared to own the outcome. For me, I wanted a service business grounded in real-world demand. Technology can change how we operate, but there is still a significant hands-on component to the work. I’d tell them to be clear-eyed about the opportunity and ask themselves whether they’re truly ready for ownership, not simply attracted to the idea of owning a business.

1851: What’s the one thing you wish someone had told you before you bought this franchise?

Haythorne: I had to learn to tune out voices that weren’t aligned with where I was trying to go. I realized I fear regret far more than failure. I didn’t want to look back years from now and wonder, “What if?”.

ABOUT FRESH COAT PAINTERS:

Fresh Coat Painters, the residential and commercial painting franchise under the Strategic Franchising Systems umbrella, offers a low-cost, high-margin business model that gives entrepreneurs from all walks of life the chance to become successful business owners in the communities they serve. Since starting in 2004, Fresh Coat has expanded to over 190 franchise locations nationwide. Thanks to its unparalleled professionalism and affordable business model, it has become one of the leading concepts in the booming residential and commercial painting segment. With continued year-over-year growth, Fresh Coat is well on its way to achieving its overall goal of becoming a truly iconic painting brand.