Young Ones to Watch: Anthony Pisani, Lemon Tree Family Salons Multi-Unit Franchisee

 Anthony Pisani, 27, entered the franchising world at age 14 working for Hunt Enterprises, a large chain of independently owned McDonald’s franchises located in Long Island, New York. 

Pisani left the QSR segment and switched to the salon business, joining the Lemon Tree Family Salons team as the Director of Social Media and P.O.S. System Training. He worked his way up through the hair salon company, and in 2012, he became a Lemon Tree franchisee, further building on the term “family”, as his mom is a franchisee, too.

Now, at age 27, he is a multi-unit franchise owner—with three salons in his growing portfolio. 

In an interview with 1851 Franchise, Pisani shares what drew him to franchising, his advice for other up-and-comers and the advice he would give to his younger self.

1851: What initially drew you to franchising?  

Pisani: My introduction to franchising was with a multi-unit McDonald’s franchisee that owned a total of 27 locations in New York state. I worked as a swing manager and then later as a guest service manager and a people manager. Eventually, I had the opportunity to get involved with Lemon Tree Salons because my mother was a franchise owner with the brand. While I didn’t have a hairstylist license, I knew that Lemon Tree was a strong business opportunity that couldn’t be overtaken by the internet. After my mom was offered the sale of a new location in Long Island, she passed the opportunity over to me.

1851: Where do you see the most opportunity in franchising and why are you excited about the future of the industry? 

Pisani: The franchising industry is always changing, and it forces business owners to constantly reevaluate their model in order to keep up with the times. Franchising presents a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to break into a new industry with the security of a proven system. When the corporate team has experience owning and operating franchises, it creates a trustworthy system in which everyone is paddling up the same stream. 

I’m excited about Lemon Tree’s future. We’re a growing company that is spreading out and opening new locations strategically.

1851: What advice do you have for other young up-and-comers in the space? 

Pisani: Always follow the franchise system that is in place, but do what you can to make it your own. With a brand like Lemon Tree, we have a system in place that allows franchisees to add personal touches, whether that be through unique promotions or special giveaways. In the beauty segment, we are staffing creative and fun people who march to the beat of their own drum. Instead of just a simple Lemon Tree franchise, I combine my personality with our proven model to create Anthony’s Lemon Tree Family Salon.

1851: What advice would you give your younger self? 

Pisani: I would tell my younger self to be more patient and not be so hard on my staff and myself. There is no need to rush to a goal. As I get older, I’m starting to learn that the slow build is the best build because it is sturdy. 

1851: Who is someone you look to for inspiration?

Pisani: My mother was a huge inspiration. I give her a lot of credit because she has the patience of a saint and is an incredibly hard worker. Also, my old employer—Peter and Katie Hunt of Hunt Enterprises—were an amazing example of a successful multi-unit franchisee who treated their employees right.