Tim and Michele Farmer weren’t looking to become franchisees. Michele was a customer of her local Wild Birds Unlimited because her passion for nature and birds. When the opportunity presented itself from the previous owner to purchase their local shop, they jumped at the chance to move from customers to franchisees with Wild Birds Unlimited. They purchased their Woodstock, GA location in 2001 and have 5 employees.
What made you decide to look into purchasing a franchise?
Tim, originally from Marietta, GA, is an accountant. I’m (Michele) from Ocala, FL, and worked in HR and Benefits before staying home to raise our 2 boys. I’ve been a customer of the store we purchased since we moved to Woodstock and am an avid birder and nature lover. We enjoy hiking and backpacking in our free time and have lived in Woodstock, GA for 24 years.
We actually were not looking into purchasing a franchise at all, but the opportunity presented itself through an email from the previous owner. Given that we had recently become empty nesters-and with my love of birds and long history as a customer-the opportunity felt worth exploring.
During your research, what resources did you use to determine if buying this franchise was right for you?
During our research, we visited and spoke with multiple Wild Birds Unlimited store owners and had numerous conversations with the franchise team. The franchise has a thoughtful process, which we truly appreciated. It gave us the time and space we needed to do our research thoroughly and make a well-informed decision.
Financing can be an obstacle and/or intimidating factor for aspiring entrepreneurs. How did you find financing options to purchase your franchise?
We were fortunate to secure a personal loan, which helped make this opportunity possible.
How does Wild Birds Unlimited support and encourage your success?
Wild Birds Unlimited has been incredibly supportive and hands-on throughout the process. They require comprehensive training, both at the franchise level and in-store training with an experienced store owner. The franchise team is also very accessible, and they provide dedicated business coaches who check in regularly and offer ongoing guidance. They also offer marketing support and provide opportunities to connect and collaborate with other franchisees, which is incredibly helpful.
What are you most proud of and why?
We are so proud to have taken over a store we love, made it our own, and grown sales in our very first year. We’re delighted to be a place where our customers can learn, grow and enjoy their hobby even more. We are proud to form community partnerships and do our part to make a positive impact.
What advice would you give to new or potential franchise buyers?
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone thinking about buying a franchise, it would be to really do your homework. Take the time to research the franchise you’re interested in, talk to as many store owners as you can and make sure the franchise provides solid training and support. Running a business takes a lot of time and commitment, so don’t rush into a decision.
More about the Wild Birds Unlimited franchise opportunity:
Wild Birds Unlimited shows a strong to commitment to the success of their franchisees because they have been surveying with Franchise Business Review for 20 years! With the amazing data we have from surveying their franchisees, we’ve placed them on many of our lists, including:
- Top 200 Franchises
- Top Franchise for Culture
- Recession-Resistant Franchise
- Most Innovative Franchise
- Top Franchise for Women
Consistently ranked high in core values, community, and leadership (among other things), Wild Birds Unlimited is a franchise FBR data stands behind. Find out more to see if opening a WBU is right for you.
