What made you decide to look into purchasing a franchise?
Prior to owning a business, I was a software engineer for a large corporation. The long days and excessive travel were more than I bargained for. That eventually led my husband and me, along with my parents, to search for a business to open together that would allow more flexibility. Ultimately, we decided to open a Sears Dealer Store. It wasn’t a franchise, but a similar concept. Later in 2014, we purchased our Kitchen Tune-Up franchise as a complement to our appliance store. Through the pandemic, we shifted our focus and fully embraced the KTU system, realizing that it was much more sustainable than Sears was. It was a good decision, because in a little over a year, we grew our business from roughly $400,000 in annual sales to over $1M! s
When researching franchises, what criteria mattered to you most? How did your Kitchen Tune-Up meet that criteria?
Looking back at it, we didn’t find Kitchen Tune-Up as much as it found us. As I mentioned, we weren’t looking for another business. Yet when we looked at the KTU model, it made sense. I wanted a business that would allow me the autonomy to operate as an independent owner, but still have a home office team that provided support when we needed it. I appreciated that Kitchen Tune-Up had a well-defined business strategy and they were hyper-focused on building their brand. They had a steadfast commitment to franchisee training and development that I had not seen in my previous business. Having found success in family-owned business myself, I loved that the KTU President, Heidi Morrissey, was the daughter of the company’s founder, Dave Haglund. Heidi was a strong, passionate business leader who was also a wife and mother. I saw a lot of myself in her.
Financing can be an obstacle and/or intimidating factor for aspiring entrepreneurs. How did you find financing options to purchase your franchise?
We worked with our local Small Business Development Center to understand what options we had. We opted to go with an SBA loan to fund the initial purchase of our Kitchen Tune-Up franchise and the conversion of our commercial building from a retail space to a kitchen showroom. Because we own the commercial building, we were able to capitalize on some of the equity to provide a line of credit for use when we need it. We’ve quickly learned that growth requires capital!
When doing your research, which questions did you ask the franchisees?
The most impactful question I asked was, “Knowing what you know now, would you do it again?” Every KTU owner I spoke with said yes they would, which went a long way toward building my confidence in the system.
Which questions did you ask Kitchen Tune-Up?
How much hands-on training was provided for the core services? Did they teach how to order materials? What about the sales process? Did they teach project management skills? I also asked about the territories and how they were assigned. Can you work outside of your defined territory? What happens if someone works in your territory? How much does it cost to purchase additional territories? What did they consider a successful franchisee? How much marketing support did they provide?
How does Kitchen Tune-Up support and encourage your success?
The Kitchen Tune-Up franchisor does a great job fostering a culture of collaboration between the home office, or “Homies” and other franchisees, or “Tunies”. Facebook groups, Power Hour video calls, regional FAC calls, and even our annual KTU convention all provide opportunities for franchisees to get to know each other. They strongly support open communication and encourage us all to help each other. I would never hesitate to call or email a “Homie” if I need guidance, and I’m always willing to help out when another “Tunie” calls me with a question. In fact, 90% of franchisee owners agree that their fellow franchisees are supportive of each other.
What are you most proud of and why?
Oh, that’s an easy one! Kitchen Tune-Up recognized us as the “Franny of the Year” at the most recent Convention in Las Vegas. We are achieving our mission of helping our clients have a beautiful space for family dinners. Additionally, being recognized among our peers is such an honor because I truly look up to the previous years’ winners as role models. Finally, I am so proud that John and I accomplished this together. Owning a business with family is not always easy, but receiving this recognition reinforces the fact that we must be doing something right!
What advice would you give to potential franchise owners?
Make sure you understand why you want to own this business and that you are truly passionate about it. It shouldn’t just be to make money – you can do that a zillion other ways! Your “why” will help get you through times of frustration, stress, and doubt. It will also provide you with joy and fulfillment. Hanging on to that passion and drive will be a key to your success.
Owning a business with family isn’t easy but it can be rewarding! Franchises like Kitchen Tune-Up provide amazing opportunities for building a legacy, working with the ones you love, and that elusive work-life balance.
If you’re interested in learning more about why Kitchen Tune-Up is a great franchise to own, visit Kitchen Tune-Up Franchising Opportunity page to get more information.
