Joe Deitzer’s path to franchising is far from traditional. After finishing high school, he pursued a career in cooking, eventually landing as executive chef at a summer camp. A lifelong passion for writing soon led him back to the classroom, where he attended college, worked toward a degree in English and explored work opportunities in UX content writing before pivoting to a role in screen printing. Suffice it to say, joining his father, David Deitzer, in co-ownership of a Fresh Coat Painters franchise wasn’t quite on the radar yet.

Eventually, franchising became the perfect intersection where timing, opportunity and family could all meet. David, a seasoned small-business operator and CFO who’s helped grow many small businesses, was pondering the idea of a retirement investment while Joe sought greater stability and an opportunity to grow professionally. Together, the father and son settled on Fresh Coat Painters, a brand with a strong proven business model refined over more than two decades, clear processes and the ability to provide painting services that truly matter to their Northwest Arkansas neighbors.

“My dad and I get along well. We’ve had success together in the past, like hiking the Appalachian Trail together. So, we’re trying to build a family-focused, community-centered enterprise. It just seemed like the right fit for us,” Joe said. “We wanted to do something real, help our community and offer a service people would appreciate. Franchising gave us the support to get started without having to figure everything out ourselves.”

Now, as both partners and co-owners, Joe and David are ready to turn that vision into a family-focused, community-centered reality that blends entrepreneurial drive with a strong commitment to great quality and strong customer service.

1851 Franchise sat down with Joe to discuss his transition into the painting and ownership sector with Fresh Coat Painters, his experience learning alongside his father and the importance of strong franchising support. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Can you frame your personal story for us? How did you end up in franchising?

Joe Deitzer: Sure. My background is in cooking. After high school, I worked my way up to chef and became the executive chef of a Christian summer camp where I live. Later, I went back to school for an English degree because I’d wanted to be a writer since I was a teenager.

I graduated from John Brown University about a year and a half ago. While earning my degree, I did a UX content writing internship for three years. After graduating, I couldn’t find work in the UX industry, so I worked at a shop that screen prints t-shirts for just under a year.

My dad was a small business owner when I was growing up. He’s now a CFO for small businesses that can’t afford one full-time. And he’s great with small business operations. He was looking for a good investment for retirement, and I was looking for a better job. Franchising seemed like a good fit. Through one of his friends, who sells franchises, we explored several options. 

We wanted something real that could help the community and offer a service people would appreciate. Painting seemed like the right fit.

1851: How did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Joe: My dad instilled an entrepreneurial spirit in me and my two older sisters. He gets excited about business ideas. And I share that to some degree. We discussed different business options, like woodworking, but franchising made sense because we didn’t want to start from scratch.

Franchising offered support and processes to help us succeed from the start rather than figuring everything out ourselves.

1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a Fresh Coat Painters franchisee and what do you want people to know now as you get ready to launch the business?

Joe: I used to think franchising was for people who wanted it easy, maybe looking down on smaller operators. I also heard stories about people cutting corners, like operating without insurance or a business license.

Now, I see franchising as a way to help people succeed in what they love. For us, that’s painting. We equip others to run their business properly, handle finances and provide excellent service.

1851: What made you pick the brand and what excites you most about Fresh Coat Painters?

Joe: I like their commitment to quality, both in painting and customer service. One of our commitments is the “333” rule: pick up the phone on the third ring, provide a quote within three days and start painting within three weeks. The brand equips its Fresh Coat Painters to deliver on that promise.

1851: What are your goals for the business? Is there a plan for growth?

Deitzer: Like any business owner, I want to be successful and grow. My mission is to offer the best painting services in Northwest Arkansas, provide for my family and contribute positively to the community.

1851: What advice do you have for potential franchise owners?

Deitzer: I’m just starting out myself. But I’d say keep hope alive, work hard, take action, manage your to-do lists and provide great customer service. That’s how you’ll separate yourself from the competition.

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/info.

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.