How Property Management Inc. Empowers Female Business Owners and Executives

Krishna Upadhyaya, Carey Jones, Katie Bedford and Shannon Cornell might live in different parts of the country, but they have one thing in common: all four women decided to become entrepreneurs with the help of Property Management Inc.’s franchise system.

PMI, which was founded in 2008 and has grown to more than 300 franchise offices across 42 states, helps franchisees maximize their profitability across four pillars — residential, commercial, association and short term rental.

Atlanta-based Carey Jones had been thinking of leaving her full-time benefits administration job for a while, especially after dipping her toes into property management as a side hustle. “After close to 20 years in my career, I was starting to get corporate burnout,” Jones recalls. “I was feeling like it was time to make a change, but I was really established, so that made it difficult to leave a steady income. You want to be a responsible adult.”

Then fate — and COVID-19 — hit. “The company I worked for since I was an intern in college laid me off,” she says. “I had been praying for a sign, and this was it.”

Even before she got laid off, Jones started working with a franchise coach, something she highly recommends for people thinking about opening their own franchise. “We did a personality assessment where we looked at my goals and identified a couple of areas that I would be well-suited for, including property management. I had the opportunity to meet with several Property Management Inc. owners and find out how they were able to grow their businesses. They made me feel welcome, and that spoke volumes to me.”

In August 2020, Jones officially joined the PMI family, launching PMI Cornerstone in Atlanta. Going from an office job to full-time property management means there’s no typical day for her. “There’s no groundhog day syndrome,” she says. “You’re never bored.”

Jones is currently focused on association property management but plans to expand into managing investment properties. “Having the ability to diversify your focus within PMI is one of the things that really makes it stand out from other property management companies,” Jones says. “They have systems in place that allow you to grow in many different directions.”

For Krishna Upadhyaya, who launched PMI Star of Texas Inc. in 2018, what made PMI stand out is the fact that it’s a nationwide company with a recognizable reputation. “A lot of consumers like doing business with national brands they can trust versus a company that may not have any longevity,” she says. “There are a lot of what I call ‘drive-by’ property management companies out there.”

Upadhyaya also appreciates the fact that PMI has systems in place to help her become successful. “There’s quite a bit of support and constant training on how to be a business person,” she says. “They help you with marketing and setting up your business properly. And they’re constantly putting out new information.”

Jones agrees. “PMI had great tools to help us get over many of the hurdles brought on by the pandemic,” she says. “They have social media experts that have helped us shift and find different ways to connect.”

“There’s just a lot of support there, and the price point to get into the franchise is doable,” says Katie Bedford, who launched PMI North Texas in 2012. “When you look at the fact that they’re a national brand, the service they offer and the fact that they’re affordable, they’re just unmatched.”

After graduating from college with a degree in business administration on the heels of the Great Recession, Bedford struggled to find a job, especially a job that would address her needs.

“I really had a desire to work for myself and be my own boss and have control over my schedule,” adds Bedford, who was one of PMI’s earliest franchisees — and at age 25, one of its youngest. “I really enjoy helping owners get their properties back on track and cash flowing again,” she says. “But as a mother now, it’s also a huge blessing that I have the flexibility to be home with my daughter and not be in a strict office setting.”

For Shannon Cornell, who opened PMI Arrico Realty in Lakeland, Florida in April 2017, it was all about the family feel that’s part of the PMI corporate culture. “Everybody seems to care for each other,” she says. “When my father passed away, franchisees and friends sent me flowers. There’s a lot of support, and that includes emotional support too.”

Marianne Heder, Director of Property Management Inc.’s new Short Term Rentals Division, says the company takes its relationships with franchisees very seriously. “We have a one-on-one franchise business coach assigned to every individual in our brand who takes them all the way from getting trained to opening their doors to building their business,” she says. “We care about their success and that’s what makes us great.”

Given the growing number of female franchisees at PMI, it might not be a surprise to learn that the company is backed by strong women executives. “As a woman in business myself, I’m proud to work for a brand that provides opportunities for other female entrepreneurs to become business owners with the support and backing of PMI,” says PMI President Danessa Itaya. “It’s gratifying to watch them grow.”

For Cornell, that growth is a huge source of pride and accomplishment. “I now have two employees, one of which is my mom, the other is one of my daughters friends who I think of as my other daughter,” she says. “Recently, my husband was out of work for about six months, and I was able to keep us afloat. It can be frustrating and hard work, but to look back from where we were with 85 properties and now we’re at 200 — It's exciting and I love having my mom see what we’re actually building here.”

Equally important for Upadhyaya has been her own personal journey as a business woman. “It’s important to recognize how much it changes you and how much you learn about yourself,” she says. “I’ve learned to stand my ground. I’ve learned that I can do it. And most of all, I’ve learned that even though some days are challenging, tomorrow is always a new day.”

The startup costs for a Property Management Inc. franchise range from $22,750 to $175,100. The franchise fee ranges from $16,200 to $128,600. To learn more about franchising with Property Management Inc., visit propertymanagementincfranchise.com.