When people think about buying a franchise, the goal is often flexibility and strategic control. Many believe that with the right turnkey system, the business will eventually run efficiently without their constant daily effort. While achieving this level of freedom is possible, the timeline for reaching it may vary greatly, and many systems make it impossible. Yet, take Derek and Jillian Pipkorn, Mathnasium franchisees from the Greater Milwaukee area. Their typical day now looks significantly different from the way it did in 2017, when they opened their first learning center. From Derek grinding in the business solo to now working on the business alongside his wife, their journey has evolved. Their story shows that a typical day for a Mathnasium franchisee can develop over time through delegation, team-building, and strategic leadership. Derek and Jillian’s current work lives are the kind of lives aspiring entrepreneurs dream about: flexibility, amazing employees, and financial freedom.
How It Started: From One Center to Six
Let’s rewind to 2017: Derek Pipkorn was a middle school math teacher. With his Master’s in Educational Leadership, he debated whether to pursue his PhD or open a Mathnasium Learning Center. Spoiler alert: he chose Mathnasium. He took the leap into franchising and opened a center close to their home. Jillian kept her job in corporate marketing as he began his journey in franchising.
The Early Days of Franchise Ownership
In the early days at that first center, Derek was in the building during business hours (12-7 daily), plus he would work from home. Derek managed their Mathnasium location, including hiring staff, marketing, building community relationships, and so much more. He was working longer hours in the early days of the center. “Opening more than one location was never the plan”, he says.
Yet, an opportunity arose, and he decided to open a second location in the area, but he couldn’t be in two places at once. So, he hired a center manager for the first location and stepped into the same role in the second. Between opening a second location and the birth of their first child, Derek learned the value of delegating. It became the necessary path to growth and balance in both his home and business.
Jillian Joins the Business
After the second location, Derek purchased a third Mathnasium Learning Center from an existing franchisee. Things started to snowball from there. He realized the businesses were bringing in enough money that he could step out of a lot of the day-to-day operations and continue scaling. Then came location number four and the promotion of his employee Ali to Director of Operations. Jillian joined the business in 2021 and brought her expertise and professionalism into the business. She took over managing and creating community partnerships. From then, it was onto locations five and six, turning them into a true math hub in Greater Milwaukee.
Scaling Up: From Owner-Operators to Strategic Leaders
Both Derek and Jillian agree that building the right team was the turning point in their transition from owner-operators to strategic leaders. In addition to their center managers, Angie serves as their managing director and Ali serves as their Director of Operations. White the Pipkorns speak highly of their entire team, these two women really allow them to focus on growth and optimization. Across their six centers, they have 90 employees and seem to operate like a well-oiled machine.
Because they have such a strong operations and management team, Jillian and Derek focus on strategy and the culture of their Mathnasium Learning Centers. They’re able to step away from the daily details of running a tutoring center and think creatively about how to get involved in the community. Because of their effective management team, they have achieved the kind of operational flexibility many entrepreneurs only dream of.
A Typical Day for a Mathnasium Franchisee Now
Things have changed a lot for Derek since he opened his first Mathnasium Learning Center in 2017. Derek used to work 60-70 hours a week at his single location. It seems impossible that with six locations, he’s working fewer hours. But, he is!
Derek and Jillian are able to bring their daughters to school in the morning. The first hours of his workday are spent in the books, while Jillian’s are spent planning for local community events. They often host Math Nights at local schools and even sponsor a Christmas tree lighting in town. They each spend time at the gym and then might have a staff meeting around noon. With six locations, Derek focuses a lot on the buildings themselves. Whether it’s fixing a security camera or negotiating a lease with a landlord, Derek juggles the bulk of the facilities work. He sees himself as a support system for his team.
It’s different for Jillian, whose schedule tends to be more fluid. She may have to shop for upcoming events or work on special projects. Additionally, she oversees a marketing intern. She’s constantly thinking about Mathnasium’s presence in the Greater Milwaukee area and how they can bolster the students and schools around them.
They both are able to pick their girls up from school and take them to their after-school activities. Their oldest often goes to Mathnasium–their first location right by their home! The whole family is often home for dinner, with small exceptions for Math Nights or other events that pop up.
Time as the Most Valuable Currency
Obviously, Team Pipkorn and their six Mathnasium Learning Centers are thriving. Yet, for Derek and Jillian, the biggest indicator of that success is their time flexibility. “Time is the greatest currency we have”, says Derek. Being able to spend quality time with their children and one another is the real mark that they’ve made it as franchisees. Thanks to their incredible staff, Derek and Jillian can step back and enjoy their success. For them: that looks like prioritizing their health, time with their kids, and even travel.
The Mathnasium Difference
In the end, no two paths in franchising are identical. But Jillian and Derek’s story is one many want to emulate. From the way they’ve scaled to the culture they’ve created, they make franchisee life look extremely attractive. They are proof that with intentional hiring and strong leadership, a Mathnasium franchise can become both fulfilling and flexible.
Mathnasium is a sought-after franchise brand. For one, they survey their franchisees yearly to find out how they’re doing. That means, they’re consistently asking for feedback. Additionally, they publish their surveys so that anyone can see what their franchisees are saying. It’s next-level transparency for people considering becoming a Mathnasium franchisee. Here are a few interesting stats from their survey:
- 91% of franchisees agree that they enjoy operating this business.
- 85% of franchisees agree that their fellow franchisees are supportive of the brand
- 84% of franchisees agree they enjoy being a part of this organization.
Mathnasium also appears on many of our lists. From the data we collect, we put together our “Top” franchises by category. These are the lists Mathnasium made just this past year:
- Top 200 Franchises
- Top Franchises for Culture
- Most Innovative Franchises
- Top Franchises for Women
- Recession-Resistant Franchises
- Top Franchise for Veterans
