Strategic Franchising

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/kelly-johnson-x2mrv?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-nurses-harrowing-experience-with-hurricane-ian-inspired-her-to-start-a-new-chapter-as-a-pet-wants-franchisee-2722681" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kelly Johnson</a>, a nurse practitioner with 25 years of experience, recently embarked on a new journey as a&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petwants/info">Pet Wants</a> franchisee in Fort Myers, FL. Wanting a switch from healthcare and seeking new opportunities with animals, she discovered&nbsp;<a href="https://petwantsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-nurses-harrowing-experience-with-hurricane-ian-inspired-her-to-start-a-new-chapter-as-a-pet-wants-franchisee-2722681" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pet Wants</a> during a challenging time in her life. Having lost her home and belongings due to Hurricane Ian, Johnson was determined to find a way to be her own boss, spend more time with her grandson, and take control of her destiny, all while focusing on her passion for animal wellness.The owner of eight dogs (four of which were foster dogs that failed to find a home following the hurricane), Johnson's decision to become a Pet Wants franchisee was influenced by her first-hand experience with the brand's high-quality pet food. Johnson had struggled to find a solution for three of her dogs who were suffering from skin allergies. She received a 40-pound bag of Pet Wants dog food and within a week-and-a-half, her dogs were happy, healthy and allergy-free. Seeing the positive impact of the product on her pets, she knew this was a business she could wholeheartedly support.&nbsp;With plans to open her Pet Wants franchise in Summer 2023, Johnson is excited to bring a product to her community that will improve pets' quality of life and extend their years. She sees her new venture as an opportunity to spend her days pursuing wellness, instead of just fighting illness, and looks forward to being the person who brings good news to pet owners in Fort Myers, FL.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?Johnson:&nbsp;I’ve been a nurse practitioner for 25 years. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian, which unfortunately resulted in both my daughter and I losing our homes and our cars, I got burnt out. I had to build everything back up from scratch, and I was tired of the same-old same-old. I was in need of new opportunities, and I preferably wanted to spend my time with animals. Keeping the animals in our life happy and healthy is a big passion of mine.&nbsp;I actually stumbled upon Pet Wants online while I was still without internet in my house. I finally had enough power to submit an inquiry for the franchise on my cell phone and the team called back. From that moment on, I knew it was a perfect fit.&nbsp;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?Johnson: I work as a medical provider in a county jail, and the expectation is that, in the event of a disaster like Hurricane Ian, I need to stay locked in with the patients. That lack of control is what made me realize I needed to be my own boss. I didn’t want to have to worry about leaving my family and my pets. I wanted to take control, set my own hours and enjoy more work-life balance. My grandson is my best friend, so I want to be as flexible as possible to enjoy every minute with him. He is my biggest motivator.&nbsp;I had never owned a business before, so this has all been a huge learning curve. I didn’t really have any perception of franchising, I just knew I would have to work my tail off.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Johnson: Heading into the storm, I had four dogs of my own and four foster dogs. After the storm, the foster dogs weren’t able to find a home. I now have eight dogs, three of which have skin allergies. I was spending a fortune on veterinary medicines, trying different dog foods and allergy treatments, but their skin was always a problem.&nbsp;After I started talking with the team about franchising and told them about the skin allergies, Pet Wants was kind enough to send me a 40 pound bag of dog food. Within a week-and-a-half, my dogs were happy, healthy and had zero skin problems. It was amazing. When I saw the difference that food made, in both their lives and mine, I knew that it was an amazing product and one I could throw my heart and soul into.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Johnson: I hang out with a lot of pet owners, so I know that there is a huge population of dogs that are going through similar challenges. Most pet owners are like me — their dogs and cats are part of the family and they want as much time as possible with them. I’m so excited to open a business that will help them spend more time with their furry family members by improving their pets’ quality of life and increasing their pets’ years of life.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Johnson: A lot of my career has been about chasing illness — trying to get peoples’ health back into some sort of balance so that they can have their best quality of life. Now, it feels good to be chasing wellness instead. I’m not worried about fixing sick people. I’m just focused on giving dogs something that they already love to increase their health and vitality. I’m looking forward to being the person who brings good news from now on.&nbsp;&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Johnson: You should do it. You will have all the support you need. Since my first contact with Pet Wants, they’ve spent hours and hours on the phone helping explain the system. They’ve all been so supportive and have answered all of my questions. It can’t go wrong when you have such a passionate team of people behind you.&nbsp;The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Pet Wants franchise is from $131,350 to $202,500. This includes a total of between $57,500 and $62,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate. For more information, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/petwants/info">https://1851franchise.com/petwants/info</a>ABOUT PET WANTS:Pet Wants is a pet health and wellness company that strives to improve the nutrition, health, vitality, and well-being of pets. Founded in 2010, the brand’s specially crafted, private-label pet food formulas are made in small batches with fresh, natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced diet in every bowl, all made in the USA. Pet Wants has set a new standard in what you should expect in your pet food and has created the ultimate convenience with free, personal delivery through their 90+ locations across the United States. To learn more about Pet Wants, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petwants.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-nurses-harrowing-experience-with-hurricane-ian-inspired-her-to-start-a-new-chapter-as-a-pet-wants-franchisee-2722681" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.petwants.com/</a> or follow Pet Wants on LinkedIn, @petwantsusa on Facebook, @petwants on Twitter and Instagram.

How This Nurse's Harrowing Experience with Hurricane Ian Inspired Her to Start a New Chapter as a Pet Wants Franchisee

1851 Franchise

As a life-long lover of animals, Kelly Johnson is excited to take control of her own destiny with a business that will improve pets' quality of life in her Fort Myers, FL community.


This brand page has been paid for by STRATEGIC FRANCHISING. 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

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Franchise ownership is often sold as a shortcut to entrepreneurship: a proven model, a recognizable brand and built-in support. But even in strong franchise systems, things go sideways. Staffing headaches, cash flow hiccups, local marketing that doesn’t hit and plain old burnout can pile up fast.Within the&nbsp;<a href="https://strategicfranchising.com/">Strategic Franchising Systems</a> portfolio, those challenges are met head-on through coaching, peer support and a relentless focus on business fundamentals. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-brausch-28144410/">Tim Brausch</a>, a business coach with&nbsp;<a href="https://petwantsfranchise.com/">Pet Wants</a>, success starts with reframing what franchise ownership actually is.“Understanding it’s a business is the key,” Brausch said. “A lot of people get into franchising because they have a passion for the type of business they’ve chosen. In our case, it’s pet nutrition and wellness. But you also have to have a passion for business as well, margins, sales and understanding how everything fits together.”<h2>Shifting From Passion to Performance</h2>For many first-time owners, the early challenge is more about business acumen than motivation.&nbsp;“We spend a lot of time on KPIs and digging into P&amp;Ls,” Brausch said. “Those numbers tell the story of the business. Once owners understand them, they gain clarity instead of stress.”That clarity is critical in the early years.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-brascetta-aa376126">Pam Brascetta</a>, a Pet Wants franchisee in New Jersey, knows that firsthand. Now in her third year of operation, she describes the first year as both overwhelming and formative.“The biggest challenge in the first year was really getting a grip on purchasing and inventory,” Brascetta said. “What sells, what doesn’t sell — that’s a learning process. You’re figuring out events, figuring out what’s worth your time and making judgment calls every single day.”For Brascetta, franchising wasn’t new. She previously owned a travel franchise but ultimately sold it due to a lack of support.“I didn’t get the support that I really needed,” she said. “That experience taught me how important it is to have a system and people behind you.”<h2>Leaning Into the System&nbsp;</h2>One of the most common mistakes new franchisees make, Brausch says, is underutilizing the franchisor’s systems early on.“Many challenges come from not fully understanding the franchisor’s systems in the beginning,” he said. “Sometimes owners buy a business and think they’re on their own. But that’s not how franchising works. We are really the silent business partner here to assist you.”From onboarding and training to ongoing coaching,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising/info">Strategic Franchising Systems</a> is designed to reduce isolation, but only if franchisees engage.“Fully engage in onboarding, attend ongoing training and lean on the support team,” Brausch said. “That’s what it’s there for.”Brascetta echoes that sentiment, noting that access to knowledge and education has been one of the most rewarding parts of ownership. “Corporate enables you to learn as much as you want,” she said. “We’re very comprehensive in how we work with customers, and that comes from the training and support behind the brand.”<h2>Staffing, Scaling and Letting Go</h2>Labor is another challenge that consistently tests franchise owners. “One of the big problems when starting a business is thinking you have to do everything, from janitor to CEO,” Brausch said. “At some point, you have to learn how to scale by hiring the right people and giving up some of the day-to-day work.”In Pet Wants, Brausch says the best hires often come from the customer base itself.“They already have a passion for pets and pet nutrition,” he said. “But even then, training is critical. Your employees need to understand what success looks like and how they fit into it.”Brascetta agrees, noting: “There are so many moving parts. You need people you can delegate responsibilities to. This isn’t something you do completely on your own.”<h2>Overcoming Isolation Through Community</h2>Beyond operational challenges, franchise ownership can be taxing if owners feel isolated in the business. “It is a challenge,” Brausch said. “That’s why we focus on peer-to-peer sessions and connecting franchisees with others who are in the same position. You’re not in this alone.”Those connections can prevent burnout and accelerate problem-solving. “If there are issues you need answers to, that’s what the franchise community is here for,” he said. “Not just me, but the entire network.”For Brascetta, that sense of community is key. “It’s better to do this when you have support behind you,” she said. “You’re going to need help. It takes time financially, and you have to push through.”<h2>Playing the Long Game</h2>Perhaps the most overlooked challenge in franchising is maintaining a long-term perspective.“Having a plan in place when you purchase a franchise is incredibly important,” Brausch said. “Where do you want to be in one year, five years, 10 years? Are you building to sell? To pass it on to your children? This is long-term. You can’t just look at the next month.”That mindset shift can be difficult, especially for owners who are involved in daily operations. But for those who embrace it, franchising becomes more than a job.“You also really have to have that passion,” Brascetta said. “I wake up every day because of the pets. That’s what keeps me going. If you don’t truly care, it’s going to be very hard to push through the tough parts.”<h2>Growth Through Coachability</h2>At its core, overcoming franchise challenges comes down to humility and coachability.“Franchisees sometimes have a difficult time admitting they need help,” Brausch said. “But that’s what we’re here for. They are not in this alone.”Within Strategic Franchising Systems,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising/how-strategic-franchising-systems-empowers-franchisees-with-comprehensive-marketing-and-branding-support-2727244">that philosophy is embedded into the model</a>. Challenges aren’t signs of failure, they’re expected milestones on the path to sustainable ownership.For franchisees willing to learn, ask questions and lean into the system, those challenges become the foundation for long-term success.For more information about Strategic Franchising Systems and its portfolio of necessity-based brands, visit:<a href="https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising/info">&nbsp;https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising/info</a>.

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