Franchisee Stories
A cross-country move to Bellingham gave Lucas Waldron an opportunity to re-evaluate his corporate job. He used the transition to build a business of his own.
For 10 years, Lucas Waldron pursued the conventional corporate path: earning his MBA, working his way up in corporate pharmaceutical marketing and building a steady career. When he and his wife relocated to Bellingham for a better quality of life, he knew that his corporate job couldn't come along. Waldron treated it as his moment to step out on his own. He spent two years carefully researching franchise options before choosing Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions, where he now owns three territories covering northern Washington.
"It's just something I've always wanted to do: own my own business," Waldron said. "With the move, it was like, do you want to go through all the trouble of trying to find a new remote job? No, I'm going to take this as an opportunity to do something I want to do anyway."
Waldron sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss what the early days of building the Filta business looked like, plans for regional expansion and how the move to Bellingham has reshaped his family's life. Here's what he had to say:
1851 Franchise: Tell us your story.
Lucas Waldron: Out of high school, I joined the Marine Corps infantry for four years. After I got out, I served as director of a nonprofit that housed homeless veterans, went back to school for my undergrad and MBA, and then spent 10 years at AbbVie Pharmaceuticals in marketing and sales. My wife and I moved across the country to Bellingham, and I couldn't take my job with me, so I began looking for opportunities to start my own thing.
1851: What was happening in your life that made you realize it was time to make a change?
Waldron: It was actually less about the move. I think I would have done something anyway. It's just something I've always wanted to do: own my own business. With the move, it was like, do you want to go through all the trouble of finding a new remote job? No, I'm going to take this transition as an opportunity and make it into something I want to do anyway.
1851: Why did you choose this franchise over every other opportunity?
Waldron: I looked at several opportunities and liked a few specific things about Filta. First, it's established and has been around for a while. Second, their accounts generate weekly recurring revenue, which is crucial from a cashflow perspective. Third, it's accessible without being so accessible that you face overwhelming competition. I also looked at another franchise that required buying about half a million dollars in trucks and equipment, which felt like too much to jump into. Filta offered a good balance.
1851: What is it really like owning a Filta franchise?
Waldron: Right now, the work is mostly administrative: setting up the LLC, contacting the IRS for S-corp status, ordering trucks, uniforms and business cards. At this stage, it feels manageable because there's no operational risk yet, but you're spending money rather than making it.
1851: How has owning this franchise changed your life?
Waldron: We moved here primarily because my wife loves hiking and trail running, and this is one of the best places for outdoor access. You have the ocean, proximity to the mountains, and access to a major metro area without living in dense city traffic. With those factors in mind, Bellingham is an ideal place to live. Owning a franchise gives me the flexibility to live where we want and pursue our own goals.
1851: If your best friend had enough money to buy this franchise tomorrow, what would you tell them?
Waldron: I'd tell them to evaluate their market and see if it makes sense. It has the potential to be a strong business because of the weekly recurring revenue. Landing customers takes work, but once you secure them, they tend to stick around because they fall in love with the service. If you're willing to put in the hard work to acquire customers, it could be a great fit. That said, I wouldn't strongly urge anyone to jump in until I have my own baseline performance data.
About Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions:
Since its inception in 1996, Filta has positioned itself as the pioneering leader of active fryer management and environmental kitchen sustainability across the food and hospitality industries. Brought to North America in 2002 as a franchise concept, Filta is part of United Kingdom-based Franchise Brands (AIM: FRAN). The cornerstone of the company’s offering is FiltaFry, the complete fryer management service incorporating on-site micro-filtration as well as the removal, recycling, and replacement of cooking oil. Furthermore, the brand provides humidity control in cold storage devices through FiltaCool, prevents drain blockage through its grease-free drain foam brand FiltaDrain, and deep cleans entire commercial kitchens through FiltaClean. Visit www.gofilta.com for more information and www.filtafranchise.com for franchise development opportunities.
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