1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-ellis-a5b716122/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=entrepreneur-he-grew-up-in-a-mcdonalds-dynasty-then-swapped-big-macs-for-lash-extensions-heres-how-hes-bringing-the-mcdonalds-framework-to-the-16-billion-lash-industry-2724297" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jonathan Ellis</a>, founder and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/honestlash/info">Honest Lash</a>, the Texas-based lash extension franchise, wasn’t always the boss. Growing up, he worked every job available in a McDonald’s restaurant, fixing air conditioners, sweeping the dining room, working in the kitchen and managing the team. The Ellis family was one of McDonald’s first franchisees in Texas and came to spend 50 years in the system, so he had plenty of opportunities to learn."I worked in restaurants as a kid, and my dad would put me up on the roofs to fix air conditioners in the summers," Ellis told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/one-entrepreneurs-journey-from-golden-arches-to-lash/463162?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=entrepreneur-he-grew-up-in-a-mcdonalds-dynasty-then-swapped-big-macs-for-lash-extensions-heres-how-hes-bringing-the-mcdonalds-framework-to-the-16-billion-lash-industry-2724297" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Entrepreneur</a>. “When I got older, I started working in kitchens and throughout high school and college, started getting some management training.”In 2017, as Ellis’ grandfather was aging and McDonald’s was rolling out a major remodeling effort, the family made the decision to sell. With this, Ellis was able to break into an entirely different industry — education.Ellis opened multiple Sylvan Learning centers between 2019 and 2020, then the pandemic hit, and mandatory shutdowns put the businesses in a precarious position."My monthly overhead was outrageous, and I just bought these franchises, so there [was] a significant amount of debt," explained Ellis. He was ultimately able to sell 12 of his 15 Sylvan locations, and he began brainstorming what he could do with the three remaining centers to make the most of the real estate he had just invested in."My wife and I came up with a lash concept, a liquor store concept and a pet wash concept," said Ellis. “What was intriguing about lashes was it seemed very niche, but I know once beauty finds its lane, it creates its own industry.”Valued at $1.6 billion in 2021, the lash industry was a strong investment option, and Ellis saw an opportunity to quickly rebrand and launch the business as soon as possible."On Friday, it was a tutoring center, and by Monday, it was a lash studio," he said. “We pulled up all the tables and chairs and the education stuff and moved in a bunch of massage-type chairs and hung some chandeliers.”This process began in 2020 during the week of Thanksgiving. Since then, Ellis has grown from three newly converted locations to four corporate locations and two recently sold franchises. As he continues to expand, Ellis is drawing on the framework he grew to love in the McDonald’s system — and rejecting the less favorable standards — to support his franchisees while maintaining a family business feel.“As we speak, I've got four or five in the pipeline," added Ellis. “We're going hard and heavy in Texas, and we're going to build out this market.”Read the full article&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/one-entrepreneurs-journey-from-golden-arches-to-lash/463162?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=entrepreneur-he-grew-up-in-a-mcdonalds-dynasty-then-swapped-big-macs-for-lash-extensions-heres-how-hes-bringing-the-mcdonalds-framework-to-the-16-billion-lash-industry-2724297" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit<a href="https://1851franchise.com/honestlash"> https://1851franchise.com/honestlash</a>

Entrepreneur: He Grew Up in a McDonald’s Dynasty Then Swapped Big Macs for Lash Extensions. Here’s How He’s Bringing the ‘McDonald’s Framework’ to the $1.6 Billion Lash Industry

1851 Franchise

Jonathan Ellis grew alongside his father and grandfather in the McDonald’s system, learning what he did and didn’t like. Now, he’s applying this knowledge to lashes.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. 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

entrepreneur-he-grew-up-in-a-mcdonalds-dynasty-then-swapped-big-macs-for-lash-extensions-heres-how-hes-bringing-the-mcdonalds-framework-to-the-16-billion-lash-industry

BooXkeeping

image of booxkeeping franchise graduation present

Why a BooXkeeping Franchise Might Be the Smartest Graduation Gift You Can Give

booxkeeping-franchise-graduation-gift

KidStrong Franchising, LLC

image of kidstrong franchisees NFL player Shaun Wade and his former Team USA Heptathlete wife Jordan

Why This Athlete Couple Chose To Open a KidStrong Franchise

nfl-player-shaun-wade-kidstrong-franchise-georgia

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Team of home inspectors exiting branded HomeTeam Inspection Service vehicle

HomeTeam Inspection Service Offers Franchise Opportunity With No Experience Required

hometeam-franchise-training

Comfort Keepers

image of comfort keepers employees franchise

Comfort Keepers® Partners With PocketRN to Enhance Dementia Care Nationwide

comfort-keepers-pocketrn-dementia-care-partnership

Right at Home

Right at Home Franchise - Q3 2025 Momentum - 1851 Franchise

Right at Home Continues Momentum as It Closes Out the Third Quarter and Looks Ahead To Hit Its Annual Signings and Openings Goal by the End of the Year

right-at-home-franchise-q3-2025

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Photo of Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza franchisee Lily Wilford

Entrepreneur: This 18-Year-Old Saves Babysitting Money for College — Then Decided to Buy a Business Instead

18-year-old-franchise-owner-lily-wilford

Amazon outage, AWS outage, Amazon AWS logo

The Day the Cloud Stalled: How Amazon's Outage Impacted Franchise Economy

amazon-aws-outage-franchise-impact-travel-dining-failure

Thursday 1851 Franchise Agg - NASAA’s Noncompete Push

NASAA’s Noncompete Push Puts Franchise Growth on Uncertain Ground

franchise-noncompete-nasaa-advisory-reasonableness-standard

How a Steady Economy Could Help Franchisors Plan Their Next Move

how-a-steady-economy-could-help-franchisors-plan-their-next-move

Bed Bath & Beyond - Franchise Expansion - Retail Strategy - 1851 Franchise

Bed Bath & Beyond Launches Franchise Model as Part of Comeback Strategy

bed-bath-beyond-franchise-expansion-retail-strategy

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

The Panos Family’s Role in Preserving Mellow Mushroom’s Character — and Expanding in Atlanta

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

graphic image of an 1851 franchisee spotlight brayden and johnny steven of teriyaki madness

Entrepreneur: He Grew Up in a McDonald’s Dynasty Then Swapped Big Macs for Lash Extensions. Here’s How He’s Bringing the ‘McDonald’s Framework’ to the $1.6 Billion Lash Industry

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS