Former Firehouse Subs Franchisee Transitions to Business Ownership With Fresh Coat Painters

Syed Bukhari may only be 30 years old, but he is already taking on his second franchise venture. At 23, he became an employee at Firehouse Subs and, two years later, became a business owner with the brand. After five years of entrepreneurial success, Bukhari decided to sell his business, move to San Jose, California, and search for his next opportunity.

Bukhari discovered his next opportunity with Fresh Coat* Painters. What motivated his transition from the food industry to a painting concept?

“I wanted to do something that wasn’t quite as hectic as the restaurant industry and puts more value into people’s lives,” said Bukhari. “That’s why I decided to go into the home improvement industry.”

Bukhari is providing painting services while meeting new people in his community and helping them improve their homes.

1851 Franchise spoke with Bukhari about his journey into franchising with Fresh Coat Painters and his plans for the future.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Bukhari: Before this, I did another franchise: Firehouse Subs. When I was 23, I started working as an employee at Firehouse Subs and became a franchisee when I was 25. It was quite successful, and I did that for five years in Colorado Springs. I moved here to San Jose in 2022, and I wanted to do something that wasn’t quite as hectic as the restaurant industry and puts more value into people’s lives. That’s why I decided to go into the home improvement industry. I came across Fresh Coat online and I was quite impressed with how they do business and how established the brand is.

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?

Bukhari: It’s a great system. After franchising with one company and going to another company, I had this belief that what I can get through franchising, I would never be able to do by myself; it’s the system they have in place, specifically for me in switching from a different industry to one I haven’t done before. I like that there is a plan in front of me to read and implement.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Bukhari: I am excited about painting and meeting people and helping them choose paint to increase their home value. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Bukhari: I would like to get into the top 10% of Fresh Coat franchisees; that’s my goal. I can only do that by doing well with the painting.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Bukhari: Fresh Coat Painters values are integrity, trust, quality, consideration, family and growth. These align with my own values. My core values are also responsibility, communication and transparency.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Bukhari: First of all, you should research what kind of franchising you want to do.There are so many franchises out there. 

Look for the brand’s experience, how long they’ve been in business and their growth, especially if they’ve had recent growth. For each person, what you want for your business is different. Meet with people in person before you go into a contract.

ABOUT STRATEGIC FRANCHISING SYSTEMS:

Strategic Franchising Systems has been creating and providing affordable franchise business models to help people achieve their dreams for over 30 years. The franchise development company has five unique home-based, low-cost franchise opportunities: Nationally recognized painting franchise Fresh Coat, senior home-relocation and estate sales concept Caring Transitions, business and sales coaching concept The Growth Coach, fast-growing natural pet food and pet grooming brand Pet Wants and the only national provider of total house care, inside and out, for seniors and busy families, TruBlue. Strategic Franchising Systems has been designed to help franchisees win.  For more information, visit https://strategicfranchising.com/.