Local Leaves Corporate Life to Open Dog Training Elite to Help Families in their Community Create Safe and Fun Environment for Their Pets

When Gosia Billedo moved to the U.S. from Poland in 2013, she never imagined that she would leave the corporate job that brought her here. Now, almost ten years later, Gosia is doing just that. The former strategic account manager and her husband, Michael, are following their passions and bringing the obedience and training franchise Dog Training Elite* to North Atlanta and surrounding areas.

Gosia Billedo can’t wait to apply the training she has received from Dog Training Elite. But, more importantly, she is looking forward to helping families with dogs have a better quality of life. The couple already has big plans for the brand in their area. The Billedos don’t want to be known as a business only concerned with the bottom line; they want to be an active part of their community and provide services that help people and dogs. After establishing their business, they have plans to grow within the three territories they own to better serve the nearly 700,000 people that live there. These plans include hiring more trainers and becoming involved in local charities.

1851 Franchise spoke with the Billedos to learn more about their franchising journey with Dog Training Elite.

PROFILE QUESTIONS

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

Gosia Billedo: I’m originally from Warsaw, Poland. I moved to the U.S. in 2013 with my son to work for a Polish company with operations in the U.S. For the last 20-plus years, I’ve worked as a strategic account manager for large corporations. The company that brought me here is a medical device manufacturer, and for the last 10 years, I was responsible for managing their largest accounts. As much as I loved my previous career, I decided that I needed something more than just a corporate position. Something a bit more fulfilling.

My husband, Michael, and I looked at several franchises. We both have a background in large corporations and had no business ownership experience. When we decided to open our own business, we looked at franchising because of the support it provides to help new business owners become successful. At the beginning of our search, we decided to focus on the dog industry because we have dogs as part of our family and are passionate about their well-being. Ultimately, following our passion for dogs and people was a big factor in our decision.

Michael: I was a Respiratory Therapist in Chicago for nearly 15 years until I took a leap of faith to go into medical device marketing in the early 2000s. Having a passion for improving patients’ lives, I have been successful in my marketing career for the roles I have held.

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?

Gosia: We didn’t know much about franchising going into this process. All Michael and I knew were corporate roles, and we hadn’t put much thought into any other path earlier in our careers. It was a huge leap of faith to go into franchising, and it definitely wasn’t the most obvious choice for us. It took some learning and discovering what different brands could offer before we made a choice. Dog Training Elite offered a lot of what we were looking for and plenty of support throughout the entire process.

Michael: Before this, I always thought of franchising as retail food chains like McDonald’s. I also always associated franchising with being expensive with high overhead. I’ve learned through this process that this isn’t always the case.

1851: What makes you stand out as business owners in your local community?

Gosia: I think the business model could stand out on its own. But overall, I want people to feel supported by us and know that we aren’t just a business concerned about the bottom line and making money. It’s so much more than that to us. We are offering a service that is so important for families with dogs and can make a true difference in their lives. That service is backed by a brand with over 40 years of experience, so I think that will bring a level of comfort to our clients.

We also plan on being involved in the community with our business. Dog Training Elite works with the Malinois Foundation and encourages its franchisees to be active in local charities as well.

Michael: If you look at dog training in most communities, you will mostly see large group classes offered by pet stores, trying to teach multiple dogs the same thing all at once, regardless of their age, breed or issues they have. Dog Training Elite’s formula is 40-plus years of successful training because we go into our client’s homes, see what the setting is, understand their needs and expectations, and train accordingly with the owner's involvement every step of the way. I think the community will appreciate the individualized approach that has proven success rates.

Aside from the proven business model, Gosia and I have this goal and desire to help people in our community. As an ex-clinician, I love helping people and seeing their lives improve.

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

Gosia: I could tell from the very beginning that Dog Training Elite was very supportive and truly cared about the success of its franchisees. Michael and I also really loved the service they offered. Overall, we hadn’t found a company that provided this kind of support and solutions. If we hadn’t found a brand as supportive as Dog Training Elite, I don’t know that we would have taken this step at all.

Michael: I’m so excited to give back to this community. It’s one thing to make money, but it’s so fulfilling to work with dogs and their owners, and doing something that helps them is just amazing. In the future, we plan on training therapy and service dogs as a way to continue our service to the community.

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

Gosia: For now, our goal is to just get started and reach out to the local community. The logistics of opening a new business can be a bit hectic in the beginning but once we are through this initial phase, our goal is to grow. Our territories have a total population of almost 700,000 people so we have a lot of room for that growth. We know we can’t take it all on at once, and for me, it’s important to do things right at every stage. We are in the process of hiring an administrator, and as we grow, we plan on hiring more trainers. That would allow me to take a step back and focus on growth strategy and working with charities.

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

Michael: Owning a Dog Training Elie is a very people-centric business. You have to be a people person, and we both love interacting with people. We also love challenges. We are looking forward to working through these challenges as business owners and helping those in our community in the process.

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

Gosia: Michael and I were completely new to the franchise world when we started this process, and it was a real discovery. I went in with an open mind, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking at franchises. The first thing you have to do is figure out what you want and what you need to be successful. Once you begin looking at specific types of franchises, make sure they match what you are looking for and that it will work for you in the long term.

Once you choose your franchise, be open-minded and ready to learn. Know that success isn’t going to come immediately. If you make a connection with Dog Training Elite specifically, know that they are fast-growing but still very willing to help you at every turn. They will treat you like family, and they really care about you. You can’t go wrong with Dog Training Elite.

Michael: My experience with Dog Training Elite has been nothing short of pleasurable throughout the entire process. So my advice to someone considering Dog Training Elite as a franchise is that you should take the leap. It’s the best experience you will have.