Having sold Fresh Coat Painters franchises for over three years, Leo Haley was incredibly fulfilled in his role. However, having watched countless entrepreneurs go from inquiry to successful growth in the franchise system, Leo began to think about how he may be able to secure a similar trajectory for himself. 

As Vice President of Franchise Development, he had a unique perspective on the opportunity; once he decided he was interested, the process was quick. Now, he has launched his Fresh Coat franchise in the Pataskala, Ohio area, aiming to provide a family-like culture for team members, and an unmatched quality of service for clients.

Leo took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Leo Haley: I’ve lived in Pataskala for 24 years and have raised my family here. I have a deep involvement in the community, including owning and coaching the PFC Extreme Soccer Club. 

My business will serve as a platform through which I can serve the community both with great painting services and by reaching out to support youth sports and eating disorder care — two issues close to my heart. 

I have a very people and community-focused approach, and I aim to replicate the family-like culture of the PFC Extreme within the Fresh Coat business.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Leo: I’ve been in sales my entire career. Prior to becoming a Fresh Coat owner, I was the vice president of franchise development for Fresh Coat for about three and a half years. Before that, I spent seven years in commercial construction sales.

I had a great income. I was completely satisfied with what my existing position was. I truly enjoyed helping individuals achieve their goals and dreams. At the same time, seeing all of these individuals coming through the system and being successful really led me to think, “This is something that I can do to be successful for myself.”

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?

Haley: I had a strong understanding of franchising before I became a franchisee, as I walked prospective franchisees through the investment process in my prior role.

I think people should know how important it is to work with a thorough, transparent franchisor. When I was selling franchises, I would go through things like the initial investment line-by-line and answer questions and provide context for potential owners. It was important to me that they understood what to expect from the investment and why they were paying these different costs. If a franchisor won’t be honest with you and answer your questions in detail, that’s probably a red flag.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Haley: I didn’t have to be convinced on Fresh Coat. But the constant flow of new owners, and having those discussions with them about operations, marketing and technology, really piqued my interest.

Fresh Coat really has a proven model. Anybody can open a painting business, but opening a business that has the potential to be a large-scale, profitable business requires structure and support. And Fresh Coat owners have that behind them.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Haley: I want to come out of the gate strong and be Rookie of the Year next year. I aim to expand in my market and achieve personal freedom and financial independence while offering a unique service that truly can transform the space for people in my community.

The opportunity to involve subcontractors, employees, the community and even my kids in the business, in different ways, is very important to me.

Another long-term vision is to give back to youth sports and eating disorder support organizations to lift up members of my community.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Haley: I really do care about the people and the community. A project isn’t just something for us to make money off of. It’s an opportunity to come into a client’s home and truly take care of them. I feel I’ve built a strong, positive reputation in the community, and I plan to build on that with what we do through Fresh Coat.

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.