Brian and Heather Biddulph are the husband-and-wife team behind Kitchen Tune-Up in the Akron-Canton area. Before starting their remodeling business, their careers looked very different. Brian spent years in real estate and renovating homes from top to bottom, while Heather taught math and later coached educators worldwide to strengthen mathematics instruction. After they met, Heather earned her real estate license, and together they discovered a shared passion for renovating homes and helping families love where they live. That journey eventually led them to Kitchen Tune-Up, where they now have the privilege of transforming kitchens into spaces that are both beautiful and functional for the families who gather there every day. They began with one territory and now have two, with eight employees.
Outside of work, Brian and Heather enjoy spending time with their daughter and their two Golden Retrievers, Winston and Mia, who keep our home full of laughter and adventure. They feel incredibly grateful to serve homeowners throughout the Akron-Canton community and help them create kitchens where memories will be made for years to come.
We spoke with Heather about what it’s like to own her Kitchen Tune-Up franchise.
What made you decide to look into purchasing a franchise?
As our home renovation business grew, we realized we wanted something that offered more than just another project—we wanted a business we could grow together as a family. We were looking for an opportunity that combined our passion for home improvement with the hope of creating more time for our family. While entrepreneurship hasn’t exactly given us more free time yet, it has given us the chance to build something meaningful together. We were also thinking about our daughter, who was in high school at the time and loved construction. The idea of creating a business she could someday join, if she chose, made the opportunity even more special.
When researching franchises, what criteria mattered to you most? How did your franchise meet that criteria?
We didn’t spend months researching dozens of franchise opportunities. In fact, we seriously considered only two. The first was in a completely different industry, but as we dug deeper, we realized it didn’t have the established franchise network, proven systems, or comprehensive training and ongoing support that we were looking for.
Kitchen Tune-Up immediately stood out for a different reason. It combined Brian’s experience in home renovation with Heather’s passion for helping clients create beautiful, functional spaces in what we believe is the heart of every home—the kitchen. Just as importantly, we were impressed by the strength of the franchise itself. The training, operational systems, and continuous support from the Home Office gave us confidence that we wouldn’t be building the business alone.
One of the biggest surprises since becoming owners has been the willingness of other Kitchen Tune-Up franchisees to share ideas, answer questions, and genuinely help one another succeed. That collaborative culture, combined with the support from the corporate team, confirmed that we had chosen the right fit.
Financing can be an obstacle and/or intimidating factor for aspiring entrepreneurs. How did you find financing options to purchase your franchise?
Starting our business required a leap of faith. We used a combination of a HELOC on our home, personal funds we had saved, and a loan from family to make our dream a reality. We were fortunate to have family who believed in us and supported our vision. While it was a significant investment, we knew we were building something we were passionate about and something we hoped would create opportunities for our family for many years to come.
Which of your prior skills and experiences do you use in operating your business today?
Although our careers were very different, we use skills from each of them every day. Brian’s years in real estate and whole-home renovations gave him a strong understanding of construction, project management, budgeting, and problem-solving. He knows how to see the potential in a space and understands what it takes to transform a homeowner’s vision into reality.
Heather’s background as a math teacher and instructional coach developed a different but equally valuable skill set. Teaching and coaching educators around the world required strong communication, organization, leadership, and the ability to listen, understand individual needs, and explain complex ideas in a way that builds confidence. Those same skills are invaluable when guiding homeowners through the design process and helping them make decisions they’ll be happy with for years to come.
Together, our backgrounds allow us to balance creativity, construction knowledge, customer service, and business management. We believe successful remodeling isn’t just about beautiful kitchens—it’s about building trust, communicating well, and creating an experience that makes homeowners feel informed and cared for throughout the entire process.
Our previous careers taught us that every family is different, and that listening first is just as important as providing solutions. That philosophy has become the foundation of how we serve every client.
When doing your research, which questions did you ask the franchisees?
We focused on understanding what it was really like to own the business. We asked about profitability, operating costs, overhead, staffing, and what a typical day looked like. We also wanted to hear about the biggest challenges, the support they received from the franchise, and whether they would choose Kitchen Tune-Up again. Those conversations gave us a realistic picture of the business and helped confirm that it was the right fit for our family.
Which questions did you ask the franchisor?
We don’t remember every specific question, but we focused on understanding what it would really take to build a successful business. We asked about the training process, the level of ongoing support after opening, marketing resources, startup timelines, and what the first year of ownership typically looked like. We also wanted to understand the expectations for new franchisees and how the Home Office supported owners as they grew their businesses. Those conversations gave us confidence that we would have the resources and guidance we needed to succeed.
What were your first 90 days like as a franchisee?
Our first 90 days were a whirlwind! Every day brought something new to learn, and we quickly discovered that owning a business means wearing every hat imaginable. We spent our days learning systems, meeting homeowners, building relationships with vendors, hiring employees, and trying to absorb as much information as possible. It was exciting, a little overwhelming at times, and incredibly rewarding.
Fortunately, we were never on our own. The Kitchen Tune-Up Home Office and fellow franchise owners were always willing to answer questions and share advice, which gave us confidence as we found our footing. Those first 90 days were busy, but they confirmed that we had made the right decision.
At what point did you feel like you “got the hang of it” and settled in as a business owner?
Honestly? We’re more than three years into the business, and we’re still learning something new all the time. I don’t know that there’s ever a moment when you feel like you’ve completely “arrived” as a business owner. Every new customer, employee, project, and challenge teaches us something. While we’ve become much more confident in our systems and decision-making, we continue to look for ways to improve our business, better serve our customers, and support our team. We believe the best business owners never stop learning.
How does the franchisor support and encourage your success?
One of the biggest reasons we’ve been successful is the incredible support network within Kitchen Tune-Up. We often refer to it as the “Tuniverse,” and that’s exactly what it feels like—a community of franchise owners and Home Office staff who genuinely want to see each other succeed. Whether we have a question about a project, need advice on a business challenge, or want to bounce ideas off another owner, there’s always someone willing to help.
The Home Office provides excellent training, coaching, marketing resources, and ongoing support, but what has surprised us most is the franchisee network itself. Everyone is willing to share ideas, celebrate wins, and help solve problems. Our annual convention doesn’t feel like a corporate conference—it feels like a family reunion. We reconnect with friends from across the country, learn from one another, and leave inspired with new ideas to bring back to our business. That culture of collaboration is something truly special, and it’s one of the reasons we’re so proud to be part of Kitchen Tune-Up.
What are you most proud of and why?
What we’re most proud of isn’t a number—it’s the impact we’ve been able to make. Every kitchen we complete becomes the backdrop for family dinners, holiday celebrations, homework at the island, and everyday moments that matter. Knowing we’ve helped create a space where families gather and make memories is incredibly rewarding.
We’re also proud of the business we’ve built together as a husband-and-wife team. We’ve taken two very different professional backgrounds, learned an entirely new industry, and built a company centered on integrity, relationships, and genuinely caring for our customers. Watching our team grow, seeing our clients’ excitement when they see their finished kitchens, and knowing we’ve built something our daughter could one day choose to be a part of makes all of the hard work worthwhile.
What advice would you give to potential franchise owners?
Do your homework, ask lots of questions, and talk to as many franchise owners as you can. The numbers are important, but it’s just as important to understand what day-to-day life as an owner really looks like. Ask about the challenges, the support you’ll receive, and whether they’d make the same decision again.
Also, be prepared to work hard. Owning a business is incredibly rewarding, but it requires commitment, flexibility, and a willingness to keep learning. There will always be challenges, but there will also be opportunities to grow—both personally and professionally.
Finally, choose a franchise whose culture and values align with your own. For us, Kitchen Tune-Up wasn’t just a business opportunity; it was a community. The support from the Home Office and the relationships we’ve built with fellow franchise owners have been invaluable. Finding a franchise where you genuinely feel supported can make all the difference.
Choose a franchise not only because you believe in the business model, but because you believe in the people you’ll be building it with.
More about the Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise Opportunity
Kitchen Tune-Up appears on a few of Franchise Business Review’s lists. We use data from franchisee surveys to rank the best franchise brands to own. We display only brands that exceed FBR’s franchisee satisfaction benchmark on our website. Here’s how Kitchen Tune-Up franchise owners rated their franchise.
Highlights include:
- 89% of franchisees agree that their fellow franchisees are supportive of the brand.
- 90% of franchisees agree that their fellow franchisees are supportive of each other.
- 89% of franchisees agree that their fellow franchisees actively participate in company programs and events.
Kitchen Tune-Up cares a great deal about transparency, so they actually share their full franchisee satisfaction report. Download that here.
Each franchise office is independently owned and operated. These testimonials represent that person’s experience and the opinions of a specific franchise owner. Individual results and experiences will vary. This is not a guarantee, promise, or prediction of future performance or outcomes. For a comprehensive understanding of the costs, risks, and performance data associated with this franchise opportunity, please refer to Kitchen Tune-Up’s Franchise Disclosure Document.
