1851

<div id="pastingspan1">
<div id="pastingspan1"><a href="http://franchise.wbu.com/the-numbers/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=wild-birds-unlimited-combines-business-pleasure-2700" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Wild Birds Unlimited</a> owner Barb Whipkey is no stranger to owning her own business. When she decided to open the franchise in August in Lexington Park, Maryland, it was not a new career move for her and her husband, Chip.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>In the past, she had owned her own pet sitting business for 10 years, along with owning a home day care&mdash;which spun off from her duty to take care of the grandkids full time.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Once the grandkids were off to school, it was time to get back to business. Whipkey always enjoyed feeding birds in the backyard and was starting to find it was difficult to get quality birdseed around town. At one point, they even started to mix their own birdseed. That&rsquo;s when it occurred to them this premise could be their next business opportunity.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>They decided to do a little research about opening their own store and stumbled upon the <a href="http://1851franchise.com/details/2591/Finding-Franchisee-Satisfaction---" target="_blank">Wild Birds Unlimited</a> franchise. Admittedly, Whipkey explained they were not specifically looking to open a franchise, but Wild Birds Unlimited stood out from the rest of the pack.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>When it came to franchising, Whipkey confessed she knew nothing before buying her own Wild Birds Unlimited. In the early stages of her discussions with corporate, the brand was diligent in making sure they were a good match. And having no knowledge of the franchise world, she was skeptical of how corporate would advise her.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>&ldquo;The first thing they told us to do was to go read Franchising for Dummies,&rdquo; Whipkey joked.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>But the franchise is determined to provide a strong support system with all of the information and tools necessary to prepare them for a successful business venture.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no one I couldn&rsquo;t pick up the phone and call with a question or any time something happens,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a family atmosphere, and they check in on you and send random emails asking what they can do to help.&rdquo;</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Whipkey said she feels comfortable calling all of the franchisors or even franchisees for help, something that differs with other businesses. A network of franchisees with the same goals and interests in mind seems like an amazing support system to lean on for any business owner.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>When choosing Wild Birds Unlimited, Whipkey said the name recognition was one of the many deciding factors. She said the brand would make marketing her location easier. Whipkey also said Wild Birds Unlimited had a great reputation based on her research. She was unable to find any negative feedback about the brand.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>&ldquo;They had a proven business model and great support system,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Why reinvent the wheel when they are already successful?&rdquo;</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Wild Birds Unlimited is not focused on selling only birdseed and bird feeders. The business strives to bring people and nature together through education, which includes informing and educating customers about the wonders of birding and nature. With this added element of education as part of the business along with her passion for birds and nature, Whipkey was sold on being a part of what Wild Birds Unlimited had to offer.</div>
</div>

1851 Franchise

Franchisee Barb Whipkey chose a brand that provided her with unwavering support.

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

Wild Birds Unlimited Combines Business, Pleasure   

wild-birds-unlimited-combines-business-pleasure

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Koji Kanematsu Turned a 2,000-Year-Old Japanese Staple Into One of the Most Scalable Restaurant Franchise Models

koji-kanematsu-turned-a-2000-year-old-japanese-staple-into-one-of-the-most-scalable-restaurant-franchise-models

Lindora

Celebrating the Nurse Behind the Mission: How Melinda Endricks Is Powering Lindora’s Growth and Impact Nationwide

celebrating-the-nurse-behind-the-mission-how-melinda-endricks-is-powering-lindoras-growth-and-impact-nationwide

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

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

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

franchise-financial-reporting-analytics-and-business-intelligence-qvinci-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

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

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Wild Birds Unlimited Combines Business, Pleasure

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS