1851

With just $20 in her pocket, Inson Byun came to the United States after a long journey from South Korea. This was in 1973. Byun was 23 years old and in search of opportunity.

Byun thought she found it when she fell in love and got married a short time after her arrival. But fate had greater plans in store, and a few years later, Byun found herself reeling from a divorce. Suddenly a single mother living in Dallas with only a high school education and very limited English, Byun was in desperate need of work.

Like many Korean women within Dallas&rsquo; immigrant community, Byun&rsquo;s solution was to go work for a sewing company as a seam-ripper. The hours were long for such trivial pay&mdash;she was making less than minimum wage, which was under $5 at the time. When she inquired how long it&rsquo;d take to see any sort of raise, her manager gave her the answer she was afraid of hearing: It would take five years before she&rsquo;d be able to even make minimum wage. His response was hard to swallow, but it gave Byun the clarity she needed&mdash;there was not future in a job like this.

Byun turned to her friends, who did manicures and pedicures at nail salons. Following their lead, she began taking classes at a local beauty school, where she first learned how to do nails, then moved on to cutting hair. She eventually found a job working for a salon, and it was there that Byun&rsquo;s diligent work ethic impressed management. She was promoted to shift leader, making around $2,000 a month. For that salary, she generated more than $9,000 worth of business a month. It was an important lesson.

&ldquo;That&rsquo;s when I discovered, wow, there is a lot of money to be made in this industry,&rdquo; Byun said.

By 1996, Byun had saved up and borrowed enough money to open her first business&mdash;a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.greatclips.com/about-us/own-a-great-clips-franchise?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-woman-found-her-big-break-in-the-us-through-franchising-11435" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Great Clips</a>&nbsp;franchise in Texas, the first-ever to hit the Lone Star state. It was a decision that paid off. Today, with the help of the brand&rsquo;s training program, Byun is now the owner of 19&nbsp;Great Clips&nbsp;franchises throughout Texas. She&rsquo;s proud to say that she&rsquo;s living comfortably and free of debt&mdash;thanks to franchising.

From humble beginnings to full-fledged success, Byun has achieved her realization of business ownership through hard work and by following the Great Clips system. She said franchising with Great Clips has helped her achieve her dream of being successful in America and she hopes to impart her wisdom on other women who are eager to do the same.

&ldquo;Great Clips taught me everything,&rdquo; Byun said. &ldquo;I knew I couldn&rsquo;t compete in this country based on my education, and I didn&rsquo;t speak the language fluently. So I realized that I would succeed through sheer hard work. My desire to succeed in this country pulled me through. I wanted to live a healthy, happy life. By buying a franchise and doing my best, I&rsquo;ve been able to achieve that. I hope I can help other hard working people that want to be successful in this country like I have been.&rdquo;

How One Woman Found Her Big Break in the U.S. Through Franchising

1851 Franchise

After coming to the U.S. from South Korea, Inson Byun found the opportunity of a lifetime through Great Clips


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

how-one-woman-found-her-big-break-in-the-us-through-franchising

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Koji Kanematsu Turned a 2,000-Year-Old Japanese Staple Into One of the Most Scalable Restaurant Franchise Models

koji-kanematsu-turned-a-2000-year-old-japanese-staple-into-one-of-the-most-scalable-restaurant-franchise-models

Lindora

Celebrating the Nurse Behind the Mission: How Melinda Endricks Is Powering Lindora’s Growth and Impact Nationwide

celebrating-the-nurse-behind-the-mission-how-melinda-endricks-is-powering-lindoras-growth-and-impact-nationwide

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

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 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

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

franchise-financial-reporting-analytics-and-business-intelligence-qvinci-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Health Care Professional in the Non-Profit Space Brings TruBlue to North Pittsburgh

health-care-professional-in-the-non-profit-space-brings-trublue-to-north-pittsburgh

How One Woman Found Her Big Break in the U.S. Through Franchising

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS