1851

Michael and Megan Ren wanted to break into the world of franchising but weren’t sure where to start. The couple and their three children live in Solon, Ohio, and are active members of the community. The Rens knew they wanted to own their own business and use that opportunity to give back to their community, but didn’t have any prior franchising experience.One day, Megan Ren stopped into a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.biggbyfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ohio-couple-gives-back-to-community-through-their-biggby-coffee-franchise-2722866" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">BIGGBY® COFFEE</a> location in Toledo, Ohio, and it hit her. The pair loves coffee, and their local community seemed to be lacking a variety of coffee chains. With that in mind, the couple nervously contacted the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/biggbycoffee">BIGGBY® COFFEE</a> corporate team, and after doing their due diligence, decided to sign a franchise agreement with the brand.More than three years later, the Rens operate two BIGGBY® COFFEE locations, which has allowed them to become a staple in their community.1851 Franchise recently spoke to Michael Ren about the couple’s journey into franchising and their story.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Ren: Before my wife and I got into franchising, I spent a few years working in financial services. We ended up getting into franchising because we were looking for new investment opportunities. Megan is from the Toledo, Ohio, area, and she would occasionally stop at the BIGGBY® COFFEE location near the University of Toledo.She said, “Hey, why don’t we check into BIGGBY® COFFEE?” And honestly, it was a pretty quick decision for us. After we initially talked about it, we decided to contact the BIGGBY® corporate team directly. We really liked the idea of opening a coffee shop because there aren’t a whole lot of coffee choices in our area other than Dunkin’ and Starbucks.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?Ren:&nbsp;I didn’t know a whole lot about franchising beforehand. I mean, I worked in restaurants before but I never operated one. Franchising was totally new to me, but I’ve liked it so far. I like that the training is provided to you and that you’re given basically whatever you need to open and operate a store. I’ve found opening a franchise makes owning a business more approachable to new entrepreneurs.&nbsp;It's a lot easier when you have the support and backing from a franchisor.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Ren: I really like the BIGGBY® COFFEE culture and the way they encourage customers to come into their shops, make friends, share a great coffee, have fun and just be themselves. BIGGBY® also puts a lot of effort into supporting its local community, which stood out to us when we first researched the brand.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Ren: We want to continue growing our business and eventually, we’d really like to open one closer to our home in Solon. If everything works out, then we may open a few more. We’ll see what happens!1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Ren: Part of the reason we got into franchising was to get more involved with and give back to our community. We’re passionate about supporting our neighbors. We have three children ourselves, so we donate to the local Parent-Teachers Association and the American Lung Association. We just love giving back, and we love supporting and taking part in local events.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Ren: I’ll keep it simple. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, and there will be ups and downs, but keep with it because it’s worth it. About The BIGGBY® COFFEE FranchiseBIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 340 cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Florida. &nbsp;

Ohio Couple | Community Supporters | BIGGBY COFFEE Franchise | 1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise

Michael and Megan Ren didn’t have any previous franchising experience, but that didn’t stop the couple from opening their own BIGGBY® COFFEE location and becoming successful entrepreneurs.

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

Ohio Couple Gives Back to Community through Their BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise

ohio-couple-gives-back-to-community-through-their-biggby-coffee-franchise

Griswold

Griswold Awards $29,500 in Caregiver Scholarships as Program Prepares for $70,000 Winter Round

griswold-awards-29500-in-caregiver-scholarships-as-program-prepares-for-70000-winter-round

Biscuit Belly Franchising

A Day in the Life of a Biscuit Belly Franchise Owner

a-day-in-the-life-of-a-biscuit-belly-franchisee

Strategic Franchising

image of a woman business owner 1851 franchise

Am I Capable Enough To Run My Own Business? How Strategic Franchising Empowers Everyday Entrepreneurs

am-i-capable-of-running-my-own-business-strategic-franchising

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Onigilly Targets Los Angeles for Expansion as Part of Larger Southern California Growth Strategy

onigilly-targets-los-angeles-for-expansion-as-part-of-larger-southern-california-growth-strategy

Keke's Breakfast Cafe

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe Ranked No. 89 on NRN’s 2025 “100 Under 100” List of Emerging Restaurant Chains

kekes-breakfast-cafe-ranked-no-89-on-nrns-2025-100-under-100-list-of-emerging-restaurant-chains

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 Development Website Builder

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

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K to Support Texas Flood Relief - 1851 Franchise

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K To Support Texas Flood Relief

planet-fitness-texas-flood-relief

McDonald’s Is the Latest Franchise To Bet Big on Beverages with 500-Store Premium Drink Test

mcdonalds-is-the-latest-franchise-to-bet-big-on-beverages-with-500-store-premium-drink-test

Friendly’s Parent Company Acquired by Multi-Unit Franchisee as More Owners Take the Lead in Brand Acquisitions 

friendlys-parent-company-acquired-by-multi-unit-franchisee-as-more-owners-take-the-lead-in-brand-acquisitions

Subway - John Fitzpatrick Named CEO - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Subway Names Jonathan Fitzpatrick as New CEO, Effective July 28

jonathan-fitzpatrick-subway-ceo-leadership-change

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Open Caring Transitions in Texas

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Set Out to Build a Purpose-Driven Business With Caring Transitions in Texas

navy-veteran-and-professional-artist-couple-set-out-to-build-a-purpose-driven-business-with-caring-transitions-in-texas

Why This Real Estate Broker Decided To Bring Caring Transitions to Central Texas

caring-transitions-san-marcos-kyle-chad-hardin

graphic image of a franchisee spotlight jeff kinkade of trublue home service ally

After Building One Home Services Business, Jeff Kinkade Is Doing It Again — This Time With His Son

jeff-kinkade-trublue-north-johnson-county

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

Ohio Couple Gives Back to Community through Their BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS