Fresh Coat

The entrepreneurial story of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/leandroolmoscolina/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=international-love-story-leads-to-a-new-fresh-coat-painters-franchise-in-jacksonville-fl-2724518" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Leandro</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganocolina/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=international-love-story-leads-to-a-new-fresh-coat-painters-franchise-in-jacksonville-fl-2724518" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Morgan Olmos</a>, an international couple who recently signed on to bring residential and commercial painting franchise&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat">Fresh Coat Painters</a> to Southeast Jacksonville, FL, truly epitomizes the pursuit of the American dream.&nbsp;Leandro, an immigrant from Argentina, and Morgan, originally from California, both come from backgrounds in Customer Experience research and I.T. but have always had a shared passion for business ownership. Their journey began unconventionally amidst the global pandemic, finding love through a dating app and eventually meeting for the first time during a sojourn in Mexico due to travel restrictions. This unique beginning set the stage for what would eventually become a shared adventure into franchising.&nbsp;With their&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=international-love-story-leads-to-a-new-fresh-coat-painters-franchise-in-jacksonville-fl-2724518" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fresh Coat Painters</a> franchise, the Olmoses aspire to become a household name in Jacksonville, known for exceptional service and setting industry standards. Their future plans include investing in multiple businesses and potentially expanding beyond their current franchise. Their journey, marked by resilience and adaptability, has prepared them to face the inevitable challenges of franchise ownership.&nbsp;1851 Franchise magazine spoke with Morgan and Leandro to learn more about their international love story, their collective path to franchising and their plans for the future.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Morgan:&nbsp;Leandro is my husband, and we just celebrated our two year anniversary. He came from Argentina and immigrated to the U.S. two years ago. After he came here, he quickly realized how much opportunity was in the country; it was very eye-opening. Owning a business was ultimately something we both wanted to do, but he really took the lead. I joined to support him in that. I am still a full-time employee but I work remotely. We have a background in UX research for the I.T. industry.&nbsp;Leandro: It has really been the pursuit of the American dream. We originally met on a dating app and started talking in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was in California and I was in Argentina. At that point, the borders were still closed, so the only place we could go to meet for the first time was Cancun, Mexico. They were the only country letting in tourists. After spending two weeks together there, we were all in.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?Leandro:&nbsp;It was really the support and the business model offered by a franchise that appealed to us because we don’t have a background in business. Franchising really made sense to us.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Morgan: In general, we were drawn to the home improvement sector. The franchises that we were interviewing with were all in that space because they offered the types of business models that also fit within our financial parameters and budget. We considered a lot of options, but at the end of the day, there was more genuine support and care from Fresh Coat versus the other competitors. They were very consistent.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Leandro: We want to keep investing and own multiple businesses in the future, make sure we can deliver a really good experience for our clients and be known in the Jacksonville area as the best service. Really set the standard. For us, that reputation is very important. Ultimately, we want to scale this business and create something that has a good name for itself.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Morgan:&nbsp;We do not come from a business background, as this is our first franchise venture. We don’t even come from a professional home improvement background. But our tenacity, versatility and resilience is going to be very handy, and has provided many opportunities thus far. Our courtship and ultimately our marriage had a lot of hurdles. Leandro moving to the U.S. and getting his green card was full of challenges. We moved to Savannah and then to Jacksonville, all because we wanted to open a Fresh Coat. We’ve gone through a lot of changes in such a short amount of time but it has all made us stronger and adaptable. Now we’re going full speed ahead.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner? Leandro:&nbsp;You have to be diligent. You have to do your research. Ask questions and don’t be afraid of change. Talk to your wife. Don’t let challenges freeze you with fear and keep you from making decisions. At the end of the day, you are more likely to regret not taking that step forward because of fear than you are to regret doing it.&nbsp;For more information on the costs to buy a Fresh Coat franchise, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat">https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat</a>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 170 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.&nbsp;

International Love Story Leads to a New Fresh Coat Painters Franchise in Jacksonville, FL

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From navigating immigration hurdles to relocating multiple times, Leandro and Morgan Olmos have forged a strong partnership and are ready to tackle the business world. 

This brand page has been paid for by FRESH COAT. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fonsecaapr">Alex Fonseca</a>, owner of&nbsp;<a href="http://freshcoatfranchise.com">Fresh Coat Painters</a> of Muskegon, building a high-performing team has been crucial to business growth. As he has expanded, Fonseca has consistently focused on his team’s role in the business's broader trajectory, emphasizing culture and demeanor as well as more technical requirements such as accuracy and efficiency.“We get many of our customers through word of mouth,” he said. “So a customer being happy and telling their neighbors about us and our results… The painters who deliver that result are probably the most important people on our team.”<h2>Quality and Care as the Foundation</h2>What makes a “good team member,” for Fonseca, may be a bit more nuanced than expected.“Obviously, a very basic level would be someone coming in below the budget that we have for a project and being productive and efficient,” he said. “But for us, it’s just people who, when they show up, have a good presence about them.”In the home services space, a team's attitude is especially important, as they’re working in customers’ homes and often making significant changes to their biggest investment. Building teams that both make customers feel at ease and meet the quality expectations set for them lays a healthy foundation for Fonseca to further develop technically proficient painters.Shifting the definition of success from just speed and industry knowledge to a level of care, ability to build customer rapport, and potential for long-term value can be quite beneficial for the business.“Sometimes I would rather have a slightly slower painter who does a good job,” he said. “Customers are happy with that person and write reviews for them, and we’re going to get more jobs from those over time.”<h2>The Practical Approach To Building These Teams</h2>Since establishing these expectations, Fonseca has worked to develop a clear, actionable hiring and team development process. First and foremost, he focuses intently on hiring the right people, not just anyone who can do the job.“My initial thought was to hire people who have a lot of experience, but that’s when I realized that just because someone is a good painter doesn’t mean they’re a good person,” he said. “It’s really tough to teach someone how to be polite and mind their manners when they’re in someone’s home. We’ve been successful at hiring people based on their personalities and training them in the painting skills.”Fonseca doesn’t ignore the painting skills required to succeed as a part of the team by any means. He uses the resources available to him through the Painting Contractors Association and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">Fresh Coat</a> franchise system.“We’re a part of the PCA, and they put out a lot of material on how to train painters,” he said. “Fresh Coat also put together a painter advancement system. So we can place people in different categories based on their levels of expertise, and it shows them the skills they need to level up.”These tools allow Fonseca to hire and train effectively while also setting the stage for talent retention and increased profitability. As painters continue to learn and develop their skills, they can take on more complex, higher-paying jobs, boosting their earning potential and increasing revenue for the franchise.<h2>A Person-First Staffing Approach and Long-Term Vision</h2>As the scaffolding he has provided within his business supports the professional growth of his teams, Fonseca has also worked diligently to build and maintain a team that truly supports each other, collaborates naturally and celebrates one another’s wins.“Instead of seeing anything as a competition, we try to evaluate who is really great at something and pair them with someone else who is trying to develop that same skill,” he said. “Our painters are really open to giving each other feedback on the work that they do, and it comes from a place of love. They’re approaching it saying, ‘Hey, let me try to help you out.’”In addition to supporting painters’ professional development and advancement, Fonseca and his teams also celebrate one another’s personal successes.“I want my painters to enjoy their work, but I understand that they’re here to make money and support their families,” he said. “Understanding how work can be rewarding but also helps them meet their own personal goals encourages us to celebrate their wins outside of just work, too.”Over time, Fonseca has carefully and intentionally built a team that not only works well together but also brings the soft and technical skills that propel the business forward. Often, this requires a more disciplined approach and a true investment in team building rather than taking a “just hiring” approach, but the results are always worth the effort.“I’m willing to take longer to hire the right person rather than rushing to hire a bunch of people then realizing they’re not the right fit,” he said. “It’s important to try to envision, five years from now, what you want your company to look like. Who are the types of employees you want to have? And be intentional about hiring, supporting and developing those people now.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info</a>.&nbsp;

Fresh Coat Painters franchise owner Alex Fonseca and President Lisa Hudson

Focusing on soft skills and professional development pathways as much as he emphasizes technical skill, Alex Fonseca has built and retained a thriving team of painters who power his business.

Inside a High-Performance Fresh Coat Franchise: How This Owner Built a Team To Scale

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Former McDonald’s Technology Manager Opens Fresh Coat Painters Franchise to Beautify the Klein Community

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Keys to Team Retention for Fresh Coat Painters Franchisees

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MCALLEN, Texas&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://freshcoatpainters.com/locations/mcallen">Fresh Coat Painters of McAllen</a> has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office, as the 2026 Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year for the Lower Rio Grande Valley District. Owner&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/why-this-army-veteran-chose-fresh-coat-franchise-ownership-as-his-next-mission-2720664#stories">Gilbert “Gil” Perez</a>, a U.S. Army veteran, first pursued franchise ownership following military retirement as he searched for a way to build a business of his own while doing valuable work in his own community.&nbsp;“I’m honored to receive this recognition from the Small Business Administration, not only for myself but for the teams and community members who have made it possible,” Perez said. “Hard work and service have always been a way of life for me. I took those values to the Army, and I still use them today with every&nbsp;<a href="http://freshcoatfranchise.com">Fresh Coat</a> project. Being named Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year is a testament to the fact that, when you keep your values front and center and commit yourself to your community, the reward is immeasurable.”Perez was selected from business owners across the district, which spans 14 Texas counties, for his leadership, dedication and influence as a small business owner. In addition to his own resilience in business, Perez is celebrated for the commitment he has shown to positively impacting the community.Over his time as a&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info">Fresh Coat</a> franchise owner, Perez has served the McAllen community with quality, reliable painting services, and by thinking bigger, has been able to have a real impact beyond his organization. As a business owner, Perez is able to create opportunities for others, and he takes great pride in working alongside others who prioritize service and share his family-focused values. That commitment to service extends beyond his business, as Perez serves on the Board of Directors for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhporgv.com/">NHPO-RGV</a>, a professional organization dedicated to promoting enterprise and education for its members in partnership with the community.&nbsp;“After two decades of service, I was looking for another way to find purpose in my community,” Perez said. “Fresh Coat was my pathway, and I’m so proud of what I’ve built in McAllen. As a veteran, I know what it means to be a part of something bigger than myself, and business ownership has given me a platform to not only provide quality service but to become truly ingrained in the McAllen community, which has supported us every step of the way.”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.&nbsp;

image of freshcoat McAllen Named 2026 SBA Veteran-Owned Business of the Year

Following his service in the U.S. Army, Gil Perez pursued franchising with the national painting brand as a way to chase his dreams while serving the McAllen community.

Fresh Coat Painters of McAllen Named 2026 Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office

International Love Story Leads to a New Fresh Coat Painters Franchise in Jacksonville, FL

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