From Coding to Construction: DevOps Engineer Ventures into Franchising with Anchored Tiny Homes

Marc Cousins, a seasoned DevOps engineer with a background in digital infrastructure, is venturing into the world of franchising with Anchored Tiny Homes, the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) franchise. 

After a long career in IT of “building infrastructures for clients,” Cousins decided it was time for a change. He began searching for available franchising opportunities and came upon Anchored Tiny Homes, whose mission of offering affordable housing solutions struck a chord with him. He’s currently working to bring Anchored Tiny Homes to Jacksonville, Florida, this May with hopes of becoming the city’s go-to resource for ADUs. 

1851 Franchise spoke to Cousins about his franchising journey with Anchored Tiny Homes and plans for the future. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Cousins: I'm currently a DevOps engineer in the IT field. I work on building infrastructures for clients, basically building everything on the internet — and now I’ve shifted into building everything in real life. I became interested in franchising, so I started searching for opportunities. When I saw Anchored Tiny Homes, I thought it was a very unique product. I can definitely see the demand for it, especially here in Jacksonville. I did more of a deep dive on the company and I liked what they stood for, so that motivated me to do it.   

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?

Cousins: I didn't know much about [franchises]. After getting to know the industry, I realized it’s more of a ready-to-go type of business, rather than starting from scratch and figuring out how to advertise and get the product off the ground. With a franchise, you definitely get that support. 

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

Cousins: Providing a comfortable living for elders. If you want a parent to live with you, they have their own space. This is a product I can really see being in high demand, especially with where the market is going and the cost of living. A home is much more expensive compared to a tiny home. 

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

Cousins: My plans are just to see how far I can take it. I want to be the main person when it comes to tiny homes in Jacksonville.  

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Cousins: One key aspect of my story that I want to highlight is my commitment to both entrepreneurship and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. While I'm dedicated to growing my Anchored Tiny Homes franchise in Jacksonville, I also prioritize spending quality time outdoors. On weekends, I often find myself exploring the natural wonders of Jacksonville or venturing out for kayaking adventures in the scenic springs of Ocala. This balance between work and leisure not only fuels my passion for business but also keeps me grounded and connected to the vibrant communities around me.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Cousins: Invest the time in looking into it.  Really spend the time just deep diving and figure out if it's something you'd like to try. Find something that you really enjoy as well; when you do a franchise, the journey is a lot easier [if] you're actually doing something you enjoy. 

ABOUT ANCHORED TINY HOMES

Anchored Tiny Homes (ATH) is on a mission to solve the housing crisis in the United States.Created by the Paulhus family, who hold over 40 years of combined construction experience, ATH is the only accessory dwelling unit (ADU) franchise on the market. 

With hundreds of completed and active projects in multiple states and growing daily, the ATH business model makes it easy for anyone to join this surging industry without a construction background and generate some of the best numbers shown in franchising!