Amelia Courtney and Erica Baatz Bridges never planned on becoming business partners. Their friendship began through their children, who were in preschool together. But when the opportunity to create a new type of paint party brand popped up, they realized they couldn’t turn it down.

They had the idea for their concept—Pretty in Paint Parties—after Courtney attended in paint party at an art studio while on vacation with her friends. Realizing that there wasn’t anything like it in their Pennington, New Jersey neighborhood, they decided to organize a small party for their friends at one of their own homes. Soon after that, they started fielding requests from friends and neighbors to recreate the experience in their houses. So Courtney and Bridges decided to make their business official.

Neither Courtney or Baatz Bridges were strangers to the corporate world—they each worked their way up the traditional ladder. And even though building a business from the ground up was uncharted territory, the opportunity to launch Pretty in Paint Parties came at just the right time. The co-founders were both looking to get back into a professional setting after taking some time off to be stay at home moms. However, they weren’t willing to sacrifice time with their families to be successful.

“Amelia and I are perfect examples of women who put their careers on hold to be stay at home moms. But we both knew that we wanted to get back into the workforce one day—we just weren’t sure how we were going to do it while still making time for our families,” said Baatz Bridges. “That’s why we’ve designed a brand and business ownership opportunity that offers a balance between your personal and professional life. It’s possible for people to join our system and be successful while making their own hours and having the flexibility to stay at home with your children.”

That commitment to creating an environment that supports working parents continues to drive Pretty in Paint Parties forward as the brand expands through franchising. Establishing a supportive culture that fosters comradery and collaboration among its franchisees is a top priority for Courtney and Baatz Bridges—the brand is designed to give other working moms the opportunity to be successful without sacrificing quality family time.

According to Courtney, that trend is gaining traction across the entire franchising industry. As more women take on leadership roles, franchising is opening the door for even more women to become business owners.

“It’s more important than ever before to have examples of strong women leaders in business, especially in an industry like franchising that’s historically male dominated. That’s why we work so hard to maintain our unique culture—we want Pretty in Paint Parties to be a brand that provides hard working parents with an opportunity to run a creative and fun business that they otherwise never would have considered,” said Courtney.

With two franchises sold and another one expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, it’s clear that people want to be a part of the Pretty and Paint Parties brand. And as the brand continues to expand in markets across the East Coast, Pretty in Paint Parties is actively looking to give other entrepreneurs a platform to be successful business owners.

To make that goal a reality, Courtney and Baatz Bridges say that it comes down to believing in your concept. The co-founders work with business owners who share their passion for Pretty in Paint Parties—that attitude is infectious across franchise systems.

“If you’re confident and are knowledgeable about your brand and your industry, you’re going to be successful in franchising. That energy will flow through to your employees and team members, which will allow your brand to flourish,” Baatz Bridges said.