Johnny Stephens is no stranger to leadership — or to faith. After three decades working across various Christian organizations in roles ranging from publishing to large-scale production, he felt called to start something of his own. That calling led him to Fresh Coat Painters.
“I’ve worked in several different professional spaces — from the National Park Service when I was really young to becoming one of the first African American in-state missionaries with the United Methodist Church,” Stephens said. “From that stint, I spent pretty much 30 years working in some form or fashion within the scope of the Christian area — publishing, production and marketing. I’ve done everything as it pertains to doing God’s work without actually being a preacher, deacon or servant in any of those capacities.”
Launching a Fresh Coat franchise in Hermitage, Tennessee, felt like a natural extension of his life’s work — just in a new format.
“Even though I won’t be working for a church, the church is still in me,” Stephens said. “Having an avenue by which I can utilize the resources from this business allows me to do things for the community — to plant seeds and help others. That’s my thing. That’s what I care about.” That sense of mission and compassion informs everything he does, even his leadership philosophy, which he sums up with three simple words: grace, mercy and compassion. For Stephens, those aren’t just values — they’re daily practices that help him stay grounded and serve the people around him.
1851 Franchise spoke with Stephens about his franchising journey, his faith and his commitment to giving back to his community. Here’s what he had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Johnny Stephens: I’ve worked in several different professional spaces — from the National Park Service when I was really young to becoming one of the first African American in-state missionaries with the United Methodist Church. From that stint, I spent pretty much 30 years working in some form or fashion within the scope of the Christian area — publishing, production and marketing. I’ve done everything as it pertains to doing God’s work without actually being a preacher, deacon or servant in any of those capacities.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Stephens: I actually still own a business called Grassroots Consulting. It’s a publishing arm, and I’ve been publishing books for over 12 years. I’ve published over 120 professional Christian-based books in leadership, academics, etc. I’m also a producer. I’ve produced mainline conferences with five or six thousand people in attendance, and I produced services at a megachurch here in Nashville.
I was just looking for something more. A lot of the areas I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of were all higher executive leadership roles, and I wanted to have my own business outside the church realm. I decided that owning a franchise would be less stressful, yet it would allow for every single element of what I’ve been doing — dealing with customers, technology, organization, building budgets, making money. All those aspects have been part of my work for the past 30 years.
Once I went through the actual training, it was amazing to see how every little element of creating a franchise was already built into what I’ve been doing for over three decades.
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?
Stephens: I think you need to choose your franchise company with precision, with prayer and with an understanding of what you’re actually going to get out of it. A lot of times when you hear figures about the gross amount you can make, your mindset can shift to, “Oh, I can build substantial wealth.” I’m not saying you can’t, but it does take work.
You definitely need to have a background in business infrastructure. This isn’t a mom-and-pop thing — it’s a technical infrastructure build before you even launch. If you’ve never been exposed to that, you might get lost trying to handle everything that’s required before you even start.
And you need to understand the basics of dealing with corporate infrastructure. If you’ve never dealt with that before, you might get lost in the nuances — understanding the marketing department versus the commercial department. But one of the beauties of this particular franchise is that the coaches are very supportive. Their follow-through is immaculate, and if you get a little off track, they have a very strong organizational structure to get you back on course.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Stephens: What’s exciting is that I wanted to be involved with an industry that could be somewhat recession-proof. Everybody needs their homes painted. Every business needs their space painted or updated in some form or fashion. Within the landscape of where we are as a country, this seemed like the safest, most efficient way to maintain a living wage that I could find.
It’s not just that I love the painting side of it — the business infrastructure and the overall structure of the franchise create sustainability for me and my family.
And I have to give credit where credit is due. God was the ultimate purveyor of this decision. I was actually in the process of going with a different franchise and was just about to secure an SBA loan. I thought I was at the finish line, but then a minor student loan issue from three years ago came up and delayed everything. I was devastated.
I called my mom, and she reminded me of some money she had set aside for me in the stock market over 20 years ago. That same day, she checked on it, and it was enough to not only cover the franchise fee but to get started without debt. That was all God. Now, I’m in a situation where I don’t have to pay back a loan, and I can work at my own pace — not rushing just to meet loan payments. If God hadn’t chosen this franchise for me, it never would have happened.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Stephens: One of the things I shared with the executive team — even when I was in Cincinnati — is that I’m really into giving back to the community. Coming from a spiritual, Christian environment, it’s built into my psyche to give back.
Even though I won’t be working for a church, the church is still in me. Having an avenue by which I can utilize the resources from this business allows me to do things for the community — to plant seeds and help others. That’s my thing. That’s what I care about.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Stephens: There’s one thing I operate under as a business owner, and that’s what I call GMC — grace, mercy and compassion. Just like the truck.
Those areas are extremely important. They’ve helped me throughout my 30 years working in nonprofit Christian spaces, but they’ve also made me a permanent student of human personality. If you operate with an understanding of how to deal with people — if you listen more and speak less — you’ll get a lot more accomplished in these spaces.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Stephens: If you’re considering doing something on this level, it’s important that you have the right mindset and at least a basic business knowledge base. And I’m not only talking about understanding business, but also organization, structure and scheduling.
That’s not to make it sound harder than it is — but if those skills come naturally to you from years of work experience, franchising fits seamlessly. I’d especially recommend it to people with experience in corporate infrastructure, people who know how to deal with people. You have to be a people person. That’s probably the most important thing.
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.
Fresh Coat
SPONSORED
After decades of Christian leadership, Stephens brings his mission-driven mindset to Fresh Coat Painters, blending business with a calling to give back to his local community.
Johnny Stephens is no stranger to leadership — or to faith. After three decades working across various Christian organizations in roles ranging from publishing to large-scale production, he felt called to start something of his own. That calling led him to Fresh Coat Painters.
“I’ve worked in several different professional spaces — from the National Park Service when I was really young to becoming one of the first African American in-state missionaries with the United Methodist Church,” Stephens said. “From that stint, I spent pretty much 30 years working in some form or fashion within the scope of the Christian area — publishing, production and marketing. I’ve done everything as it pertains to doing God’s work without actually being a preacher, deacon or servant in any of those capacities.”
Launching a Fresh Coat franchise in Hermitage, Tennessee, felt like a natural extension of his life’s work — just in a new format.
“Even though I won’t be working for a church, the church is still in me,” Stephens said. “Having an avenue by which I can utilize the resources from this business allows me to do things for the community — to plant seeds and help others. That’s my thing. That’s what I care about.” That sense of mission and compassion informs everything he does, even his leadership philosophy, which he sums up with three simple words: grace, mercy and compassion. For Stephens, those aren’t just values — they’re daily practices that help him stay grounded and serve the people around him.
1851 Franchise spoke with Stephens about his franchising journey, his faith and his commitment to giving back to his community. Here’s what he had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Johnny Stephens: I’ve worked in several different professional spaces — from the National Park Service when I was really young to becoming one of the first African American in-state missionaries with the United Methodist Church. From that stint, I spent pretty much 30 years working in some form or fashion within the scope of the Christian area — publishing, production and marketing. I’ve done everything as it pertains to doing God’s work without actually being a preacher, deacon or servant in any of those capacities.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Stephens: I actually still own a business called Grassroots Consulting. It’s a publishing arm, and I’ve been publishing books for over 12 years. I’ve published over 120 professional Christian-based books in leadership, academics, etc. I’m also a producer. I’ve produced mainline conferences with five or six thousand people in attendance, and I produced services at a megachurch here in Nashville.
I was just looking for something more. A lot of the areas I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of were all higher executive leadership roles, and I wanted to have my own business outside the church realm. I decided that owning a franchise would be less stressful, yet it would allow for every single element of what I’ve been doing — dealing with customers, technology, organization, building budgets, making money. All those aspects have been part of my work for the past 30 years.
Once I went through the actual training, it was amazing to see how every little element of creating a franchise was already built into what I’ve been doing for over three decades.
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?
Stephens: I think you need to choose your franchise company with precision, with prayer and with an understanding of what you’re actually going to get out of it. A lot of times when you hear figures about the gross amount you can make, your mindset can shift to, “Oh, I can build substantial wealth.” I’m not saying you can’t, but it does take work.
You definitely need to have a background in business infrastructure. This isn’t a mom-and-pop thing — it’s a technical infrastructure build before you even launch. If you’ve never been exposed to that, you might get lost trying to handle everything that’s required before you even start.
And you need to understand the basics of dealing with corporate infrastructure. If you’ve never dealt with that before, you might get lost in the nuances — understanding the marketing department versus the commercial department. But one of the beauties of this particular franchise is that the coaches are very supportive. Their follow-through is immaculate, and if you get a little off track, they have a very strong organizational structure to get you back on course.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Stephens: What’s exciting is that I wanted to be involved with an industry that could be somewhat recession-proof. Everybody needs their homes painted. Every business needs their space painted or updated in some form or fashion. Within the landscape of where we are as a country, this seemed like the safest, most efficient way to maintain a living wage that I could find.
It’s not just that I love the painting side of it — the business infrastructure and the overall structure of the franchise create sustainability for me and my family.
And I have to give credit where credit is due. God was the ultimate purveyor of this decision. I was actually in the process of going with a different franchise and was just about to secure an SBA loan. I thought I was at the finish line, but then a minor student loan issue from three years ago came up and delayed everything. I was devastated.
I called my mom, and she reminded me of some money she had set aside for me in the stock market over 20 years ago. That same day, she checked on it, and it was enough to not only cover the franchise fee but to get started without debt. That was all God. Now, I’m in a situation where I don’t have to pay back a loan, and I can work at my own pace — not rushing just to meet loan payments. If God hadn’t chosen this franchise for me, it never would have happened.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Stephens: One of the things I shared with the executive team — even when I was in Cincinnati — is that I’m really into giving back to the community. Coming from a spiritual, Christian environment, it’s built into my psyche to give back.
Even though I won’t be working for a church, the church is still in me. Having an avenue by which I can utilize the resources from this business allows me to do things for the community — to plant seeds and help others. That’s my thing. That’s what I care about.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Stephens: There’s one thing I operate under as a business owner, and that’s what I call GMC — grace, mercy and compassion. Just like the truck.
Those areas are extremely important. They’ve helped me throughout my 30 years working in nonprofit Christian spaces, but they’ve also made me a permanent student of human personality. If you operate with an understanding of how to deal with people — if you listen more and speak less — you’ll get a lot more accomplished in these spaces.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Stephens: If you’re considering doing something on this level, it’s important that you have the right mindset and at least a basic business knowledge base. And I’m not only talking about understanding business, but also organization, structure and scheduling.
That’s not to make it sound harder than it is — but if those skills come naturally to you from years of work experience, franchising fits seamlessly. I’d especially recommend it to people with experience in corporate infrastructure, people who know how to deal with people. You have to be a people person. That’s probably the most important thing.
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.
Sign up for the 1851 Franchise newsletter to get our biggest stories before everyone else
By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.
No related articles found
