1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-e-black/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pool-scouts-franchisees-open-in-time-for-black-business-month-and-hope-to-increase-visibility-for-people-of-color-in-business-ownership-2727168" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Francesca</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardblack/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pool-scouts-franchisees-open-in-time-for-black-business-month-and-hope-to-increase-visibility-for-people-of-color-in-business-ownership-2727168" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Leonard Black</a> decided to chase a new American dream by embracing entrepreneurship as a path to success. While Leonard has a background in corporate strategy and a family history of entrepreneurship, Francesca’s upbringing was in a traditional immigrant household, where she learned that the path to success involved working hard, getting a good education and working a traditional corporate job.However, when the couple realized that working for themselves would provide them with more flexibility so they could spend more time with their children and become more integrated into their community, they decided to redefine the American dream. Their decision to franchise&nbsp;<a href="http://poolscoutsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pool-scouts-franchisees-open-in-time-for-black-business-month-and-hope-to-increase-visibility-for-people-of-color-in-business-ownership-2727168" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pool Scouts*</a> in North Atlanta was driven by a desire to show others, especially other aspiring Black business owners, that there are alternative routes to success beyond traditional corporate roles. By entering the franchising world with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/poolscouts/info">Pool Scouts</a>, they aim to build visibility for people of color in the industry, demonstrating that entrepreneurship can be a viable and rewarding option for achieving financial independence and creating community impact.Francesca and Leonard took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Francesca Black: I’m an attorney and have been practicing for over 10 years. We have two young kids, and we’re at a point in our lives where we were looking for something that would afford us a bit more flexibility — allowing us to spend more time with them, be proactive in their school and extracurricular activities, and have something we can do as a family. Our desire is to create generational wealth and pass the business down to our children if they chose to follow in our footsteps .Leonard Black: My background prior to this is in corporate strategy, business development and consulting — management consulting, to be precise. I’ve done that for 20 years in various roles with increasing responsibility. Beyond spending more time with the family, I also wanted to spend more time in the community and have a greater impact there. Being tied to our community through the work we do is important to me. I would also mention that I’m a third-generation entrepreneur. My grandfather moved to Michigan from Tennessee in the 1940/50s and started his own business, eventually growing it into a series of local stores in his community. Though my father didn’t pursue entrepreneurship, some of his siblings did, and despite following a traditional route of going to college and working in corporate America, the entrepreneurial spirit was always in me. I just leaped out on faith and pursued it.Francesca: My background is different. Both of my parents were immigrants from Haiti, arriving in the U.S. in the early 1970s. They followed the traditional path of working hard, getting an education and securing traditional jobs. That’s the example I had. Leonard has been great in showing that there are alternatives, particularly the entrepreneurial path. He’s guided me based on his experience with his family.Leonard: It’s really about a new way of looking at the American dream.1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Leonard:&nbsp;Honestly, my perception of franchising before getting into it was limited. Growing up, my family started from nothing with their business, and I knew they were heavily involved in the community. The only stories I knew about franchising were about traditional restaurants — the big brands we all know. It wasn’t until I attended graduate school at Emory that I took an entrepreneurship class. A franchise consultant gave a presentation about the wealth of resources and variety of brands available in franchising, which opened my eyes. About 10 years later, we re-engaged with that consultant when it finally made sense for us as a family. Even though we didn’t own a pool business, this opportunity in franchising just made sense from a business standpoint. For anyone who hasn’t considered franchising, I’d say it can fit any family situation. It requires commitment and dedication, but it’s all about going out and doing it, like Nike says.Francesca: It’s important to have an open mind. Franchising goes far beyond fast food or restaurants. During our research, we discovered that there are so many different types of franchises, from service industries to non-service industries. That’s something we learned and would share with others interested in franchising.1851: What made you choose this brand? What excites you most about this company?Leonard:&nbsp;There were a few reasons we chose this brand. From a business model perspective, it had one of the strongest and most consistent models. The fundamentals of the business, the back-office support, the systems and the processes all looked stable and were attractive — easy to implement and replicate. From a brand perspective, I liked that it had a direct impact on the community. This opportunity also allows us to grow our business and potentially add on new opportunities. Lastly, the team and collaboration within the franchise system were very attractive. We all share similar backgrounds and have common goals.Francesca:&nbsp;In our research and conversations with current franchise owners, we got a good sense of what to expect, and it really aligned with what we were looking for.1851 Franchise: What’s your big goal in your first year with Pool Scouts?Leonard:&nbsp;Our number one goal is to build a dream team. The benefit of this business is that customers come easily because of the type of service we provide. However, it’s very team-dependent, so we’re really focused on building the right team to deliver services and exceed customer expectations consistently.1851: August is Black Business Month. Why is it important to acknowledge this, and what does it mean to you?Leonard:&nbsp;For me, it’s about showing that there are different paths to success.&nbsp; In my opinion, entrepreneurship offers a different way of thinking about success. There aren’t many people who look like me in this system, especially in this type of service industry. It’s important to create the idea that there’s more to entrepreneurship than the traditional paths like owning a Chick-fil-A or a McDonald’s. As a person of color and a father raising two young children of color, I want to show them that there are more options than the traditional path. It’s about educating others about possibilities they may not have considered and showing that you can pursue entrepreneurship at any age.Francesca:&nbsp;It’s about visibility and demonstrating that there are opportunities available — and that it can be done.ABOUT POOL SCOUTS:Virginia Beach, VA-based Pool Scouts is a premier pool service franchise focused on delivering a quality, consistent brand experience while providing pool cleaning, maintenance and minor repair services at residential properties. Technicians are trained in testing, monitoring, treating and servicing pools and can provide ongoing service as well as help at the beginning and end of the summer season. With nearly 100 territories across 18 states, Pool Scouts offers a great opportunity as a low-cost franchise in the pool services industry with available territories across the United States. For more information or franchising opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://poolscoutsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pool-scouts-franchisees-open-in-time-for-black-business-month-and-hope-to-increase-visibility-for-people-of-color-in-business-ownership-2727168" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://poolscoutsfranchise.com</a>.&nbsp;

Creating a New American Dream with Pool Scouts Franchise

1851 Franchise

Francesca’s parents were Haitian immigrants who chased the American dream, but her husband, Leonard, has shown her an alternative route to success through entrepreneurship.

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

Pool Scouts Franchisees Open in Time for Black Business Month and Hope To Increase Visibility for People of Color in Business Ownership

pool-scouts-franchisees-open-in-time-for-black-business-month-and-hope-to-increase-visibility-for-people-of-color-in-business-ownership

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Photo of two people, with white hair, sitting on couch, smiling at each other

Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Care Services Expands in Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia

seniors-helping-seniors-in-home-care-services-expands-in-manassas-and-fredericksburg-virginia

BooXkeeping

Tech-Driven Bookkeeping: How BooXkeeping Franchisees Are Embracing the Future

tech-driven-bookkeeping-how-booxkeeping-franchisees-are-embracing-the-future

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier's State-of-the-Art Facilities and Multi-Discipline Approach Fuels Franchise Owner Success

fitness-premiers-state-of-the-art-facilities-and-multi-discipline-approach-fuels-franchise-owner-success

Melting Pot

Melting Pot 50th anniversary photo, featuring three people enjoying celebratory drinks and fondue

Melting Pot Celebrates 50 Years of Fondue Magic With a Year of Special Menus, New Offerings and Unforgettable Moments

melting-pot-50th-anniversary-fondue-celebration

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

Kathy Turner: The Filta Franchisee Keeping LA's Kitchens Cooking (and Green)

kathy-turner-the-filta-franchisee-keeping-las-kitchens-cooking-and-green

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 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

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs To Retire in 2026 After 36 Years With the Company

yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company

Hooters Bankruptcy - Chapter 11 - April 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Files for Bankruptcy, Sells Restaurants to Franchisee Group

hooters-bankruptcy-chapter-11-april-2025

Fly Dance Fitness Expands With First Franchise Location in Georgia

fly-dance-fitness-franchise-expansion

&pizza - Fast-Casual Pizza Chain Begins Franchising - 1851 Franchise

&pizza Embraces Franchising To Fuel Bold New Growth Strategy

andpizza-franchising-ceo-mike-burns

CFOs See Recession as Likely in ’25; Why Now Is the Time To Water the Franchise Buyer Seeds

cfos-see-recession-as-likely-in-25-why-now-is-the-time-to-water-the-franchise-buyer-seeds

Florida Franchisee Reflects on Success and Growth with Sylvan Learning

florida-franchisee-reflects-on-success-and-growth-with-sylvan-learning

Military Veteran and Craft Beer Enthusiast to Bring Voodoo Brewing Co. to Toledo, Ohio

military-veteran-and-craft-beer-enthusiast-to-bring-voodoo-brewing-co-to-toledo-ohio

Franchisee spotlight featuring Ian and Dick Rydholm with gradient blue background and Sylvan logo

Ian and Dick Rydholm Celebrate 30 Years of Transforming Lives Through Sylvan Learning in El Paso, Texas

ian-and-dick-rydholm-celebrate-30-years-of-transforming-lives-through-sylvan

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

Pool Scouts Franchisees Open in Time for Black Business Month and Hope To Increase Visibility for People of Color in Business Ownership

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS