August 2024
AUGUST 2024 ISSUE
AUGUST 2024 ARTICLES
A dream without ambition is like a car without gas … you’re not going anywhere. — Sean Hampton
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Ajay Saini has a college degree in Electronic Engineering and a master’s degree in Telecommunication. Ajay spent 17 years in the corporate world, primarily working in sales & marketing for a Telecom company Ericsson in US and Sweden. Ajay met his wife Vinny in 2001 via family introduction. They have been married for over 22 years. Vinny has a master’s degree in business administration, and she is a Certified Internal Auditor and Risk Management professional with a solid background in financial services industry. She has worked and provided consultancy for big banks in US, Asia and Europe and various financial technology startups. Ajay and Vinny got to travel over 40 countries for both work and pleasure. Ajay left the corporate world in 2016 to start a business in the health care space. It allowed him to see the need of good home care service in the East Bay. Ajay enjoys working with people, seeing the connections people form with each other and the joy those connections bring. To be able to help seniors and their families live their very best lives provides a great feeling. He decided to go with ComForCare franchise in 2018 because the values of the organization very much align with his and also the support system allows him time to focus on what he likes most, connecting with the people. In the beginning of 2020, Vinny Saini decided to enter the business world and Ajay Saini was already in discussions with a franchise consultant Rick Morgin for almost 2 years about various options in the market. Ajay and Rick had a strong opinion that Payroll Vault would be a great fit for Vinny because of her strong background in audit and compliance. Payroll business requires attention to every detail. After spending time with 2 franchise businesses, there are a few things Ajay and Vinny would like to share – You have more fun when you work in a franchise business where your values are aligned with that of the franchise organization. Fulfillment and joy from the work you put in is immense when you enjoy solving the problem you care about. In a franchise business, the support system is there, but the buck stops with the franchise owner. If it is a right fit, it becomes the best of the two worlds – you are independent to run your own business and can also get the help from support system available as you can utilize the proven methods. On the contrary, if it is not the right fit, you may feel restricted. So, it is important to spend some time before making the decision to buy a franchise. If you like the values, system and the people at the corporate level, things become a lot more fun. If anyone wants to buy a franchise, Ajay and Vinny suggest the following: Do your homework by working with a reputable and trustworthy franchise consultant. We only have limited amount of time and trying to find out franchise options on our own may result in missing out on some of the good ones out there. Also, there is usually no cost in taking help from a franchise consultant. The corporate team will tell all the good stuff associated with the franchise, but it is important to ask about the challenges. Before signing the agreement, talk to other franchise owners and ask what they like and what are the most challenging tasks. Make a list of common challenges that other owners are facing. Then ask yourself if you are willing to go through those challenges because there is a very high probability that you will also face similar challenges. There is nothing planned for immediate expansion beyond ComForcare and Payroll Vault, but both Ajay and Vinny believe in having an open mind so that if something exciting comes up and there is bandwidth available, then there can be an opportunity to have more fun. About the Author Rick Morgan is a Franchise Consultant helps qualified people into business ownership. Whether you want to build an asset, build an empire, be your own boss, create an additional income stream, or keep your job while developing your business, He is able to coach you through the process. Rick is a trusted Advisor to executive leadership with strengths in dissecting, analyzing, synthesizing and presenting complex solutions to recommend strategic financial decisions. This is important to a business owner who wants to explore growing by creating a franchise system for their brand. Contact Rick at rick@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.
Reshma and Amit Patel have transformed their careers in health and wellness into a thriving franchise venture. Coming from families with deep roots in the business world, Reshma's professional journey began in 1998 when she became a pharmacist, while Amit established himself as a successful dentist. Most recently, Reshma worked at Yale University, where she witnessed firsthand the changing pharmaceutical landscape. With all of the changes happening in the pharma industry, she was inspired to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, the couple decided to dive into business ownership, embodying the American Dream. Their journey took an exciting turn when Reshma discovered The Fresh Monkee Healthy Protein Shakes, a brand offering delicious, wholesome and handmade protein shakes, during a visit to Amit's dental office. Instantly captivated by the product and the high demand with long lines of customers, she became a loyal customer herself. Recognizing a growing demand for tasty, nutritious food options, they saw an opportunity when The Fresh Monkee announced its franchise initiative. Eager to serve their community with healthy alternatives, Reshma and Amit opened their first Fresh Monkee Healthy Protein Shakes franchise. Their passion has driven them to remarkable success, and Reshma relishes the independence that comes with being her own boss while promoting a product she genuinely believes in. They plan to expand further with additional units across Connecticut. Congratulations to Reshma and Amit Patel for successfully achieving their dream of business ownership. The Fresh Monkee Leading the Way in Healthy Protein Shakes Franchising: The surge in preventive eating habits and a growing health consciousness are creating exciting growth opportunities within the juice, protein shake, and smoothie industry. With revenue reaching approximately $1.85 billion in 2021 and projections indicating over $2 billion by 2024, the market is poised for continued expansion, driven largely by people of all ages embracing smoothies and protein shakes as integral to their lifestyle. The Fresh Monkee Healthy Protein Shakes stands out as a cost-effective and easy-to-operate franchise option within this booming sector. Founded in 2014 by Judy Flynn, who boasts an extensive corporate leadership background in finance, the brand was born from a personal journey toward health. After facing multiple health challenges in her youth, Judy discovered that nutritious eating was key to her recovery. Coupled with her children’s fondness for monkeys, Fresh Monkee emerged as a vibrant concept dedicated to providing healthy food options for families. Starting with a single location, The Fresh Monkee quickly gained traction, expanding to five successful outlets across Connecticut. Today, the franchise has awarded over 40 locations, with even more set to open this year, signaling robust demand and brand loyalty. The Fresh Monkee Healthy Protein Shakes franchise appeals to a diverse range of potential owners, from full-time executive operators to semi-absentee investors looking to diversify their portfolios while maintaining corporate careers. With options for single-unit, multi-unit, and area-development franchises, The Fresh Monkee Healthy Protein Shakes franchise is strategically positioned to make a significant impact in key markets across the United States. If you’re interested in exploring the dynamic opportunities within this rising brand, let’s connect and discuss the future of healthy eating with Fresh Monkee Healthy Protein Shake Franchise. About the Author Michael Ciccarelli is a seasoned franchise consultant with years of experience and a deep understanding of the franchise landscape. Michael is dedicated to connecting aspiring franchisees with opportunities that align with their goals and values. For more information or to explore franchise opportunities, please contact Michael at michael@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com .
In the bustling city of Houston, Texas, a remarkable story of ambition and family ties unfolds through Shamim Memon and her daughters, Arsheen and Shareen. This trio exemplifies how passion, perseverance, and a shared vision can transform challenges into opportunities. Shamim Memon: The Visionary Leader At the helm of Discovery MM Services, Shamim Memon stands as a testament to dedication and expertise in the research industry. With a robust background in clinical research, Shamim's career is marked by her commitment to advancing medical science and healthcare practices. Graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Mumbai, Shamim’s extensive experience and leadership skills have guided her through significant roles in business and in her family. Her work not only highlights her professional acumen but also sets a strong foundation for her daughters’ future endeavors. Shamim has worked to ensure that her daughters understand and respect their Indian heritage. After moving to the United States, she and her husband Arif continued to make sure Arsheen and Shareen were proud of their family’s roots and culture. Even after Arif passed away a few years ago, this continues. Arsheen Memon: The Strategic Entrepreneur Arsheen Memon, the elder daughter, brings a blend of analytical rigor and entrepreneurial spirit to the forefront. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Houston and an MBA from the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, Arsheen embarked on a diverse professional journey. She has served as the COO of MM Services, President of Synergy Groups, and as Operations Manager at Zentigue, where she contributed to the evolution of the supplement industry. All of this before the age of 30! Later, she took on the role of Houston Area Manager for LIVE Hydration Spa Franchise, a venture that she co-founded with Shareen. They have the exclusive rights for LIVE Hydration Spa for the entire Houston Metro area. That encompasses nearly 30 possible spas! Arsheen's role at LIVE Hydration Spa reflects her strategic vision and dedication to wellness. The spa offers a range of IV therapies aimed at rehydration and overall health improvement. Under her leadership, the Houston pilot store in Upper Kirby has flourished, serving as a model for future franchises and offering a pathway for others to pursue their business dreams. Shareen Memon: The Creative Innovator In contrast to Arsheen’s methodical approach, Shareen Memon embodies a more creative and free-spirited persona. With a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston, Shareen initially explored corporate roles such as Center Director for Mathnasium Learning Center, Solutions Engineer for Vyrian, and a Systems Analyst for Discovery MM Services. However, she soon realized her true calling lay in real estate. As a Real Estate Agent at Nextgen Real Estate, Shareen utilizes her skills to guide clients through the complex world of property transactions, focusing on detailed CRM management and effective negotiation. Shareen's collaboration with Arsheen on the LIVE Hydration Spa project marks a significant chapter in their professional lives. Driven by the desire to fulfill their late father Arif’s dream of establishing an IV Hydration Spa, the sisters faced numerous challenges—from supply shortages to last-minute construction hurdles. Yet, their combined resilience and positive outlook turned obstacles into stepping stones, embodying their belief that hard work and perspective can shape their destiny. A Legacy of Ambition and Family Unity Shamim Memon’s drive and determination are also reflected through Arsheen and Shareen, whose professional paths, though distinct, reflect a shared commitment to innovation and excellence. Their story is a compelling example of how familial bonds and personal passions can converge to create impactful ventures. From Shamim and Arif’s foundational leadership to Arsheen and Shareen’s entrepreneurial pursuits, the Memon family’s journey is a testament to the power of vision, hard work, and the support of loved ones. As Arsheen and Shareen continue to build on their successes, they remain inspired by their mother’s example and their father’s memory, proving that the intersection of family values and professional aspirations can lead to extraordinary achievements. The continuing story of Shamim Memon and her daughters Arsheen and Shareen is more than just a tale of business success—it’s a narrative of dreams realized through determination and familial love. Their achievements highlight how embracing both individual strengths and shared goals can lead to remarkable outcomes. As they look to the future, the Memon family’s legacy of vision, resilience, and collaboration will undoubtedly continue to inspire others on their own paths to success. About the Author Joe has spent his professional career as a Senior Executive owning, operating, buying, and selling multi-site businesses. He believes entrepreneurship is a great vehicle to financial independence and career satisfaction. Joe is based in Nashville, TN and has helped startup businesses all over the US & Canada and has won numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. Contact Joe at joefox@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.
Veenu Parkash and her husband Raj embarked on their entrepreneurial journey unexpectedly, driven by a pivotal moment following the events of 9/11. Originally in the garment industry in New York City, the city's lockdown prompted them to seek a new path closer to their daughter's childcare in New Jersey. Impressed by the center's operations, they ventured into childcare themselves, eventually establishing Lightbridge Academy, which now spans four locations. As they approach two decades in business this August, their journey has been defined by resilience, family values, and a commitment to nurturing both their business and their employees, who have become integral to their success. What sort of business do you own, and why did you decide to go in that direction? Currently, my wife and I are involved with childcare centers under the brand name Lightbridge Academy. It's a franchise and we've got four locations. What happened was when 911 happened, we were in the garment business in New York City. And the way things were, the city was shut down, nobody could leave the city, or you could come in, and our daughter was at a childcare center in New Jersey. And they had nobody to pick her up from there. So we decided one of us needs to be New Jersey. And we started looking for businesses in New Jersey. And since we liked the way our daughter's childcare ran, we decided to ask the owner if he would be interested in opening another one. And he said, yes, and we got into it. And now we are actually completing this August, 20 years being in business, from our first location. We’ve got four now. What would you guys say is one of the biggest challenges that you've had in being business owners? It was when they started off, because you know, our kids were younger. So the biggest challenge was just having a balance between personal and work life. Especially with both of us in the same industry, in the same business together. That was one of the biggest challenges that we faced. But if you ask us what was the biggest challenge in the business itself was basically finding good employees. That was one of the biggest challenges because our expectations from day one were very different in what kind of people we wanted to work for us. And with that said, we actually, you know, we're very happy and proud that we have employees that have been with us for 20 years, 18 years, 17 years, and they're still with us. And that's really wonderful. So I guess the challenge we had of hiring good people, and retaining them is no longer a challenge for us. Because I think we did well, and we were very set in what we wanted. What do you think contributed to you being able to retain those employees, after struggling with it? That's a question we get all the time. I think, you know, a lot of people always think that, you know, you pay them their value. You do this, you do that. No, I think one of the biggest reasons is, and actually this is what I hear from my employees as well, is that we were very fair and treated them like one of us. You know, we were always very considerate, but always also had this fine line of workers work. And any other relation outside work is different. And treating them with mutual respect was one of the biggest things. Our employees really are very happy to be with us. And they're heard, they're heard in terms of what they want. And if they don't get what they want, they're still like, we leave it on good terms with them and have proper conversations from day one. So they feel that you know, their input is important. And we also always communicate with them the business side of why they're not getting and what they want. That mutual understanding and respect is what has really retained them for a long time. And I think what we've done is we've nurtured them over the years. For example, if we had an employee, she was going to school and she had to go to college, she needed financial help. She needed flexibility in working hours, and we listened. Similarly, if we had an employee who was facing challenges with a child, we listened to them and guided them through their processes to, you know, be there in the thick and thin of it, whenever they need us. It creates a family environment where they know that we will stand by them. And that's the reason they stand by us. Along with your employees, what would you say is one of the biggest things that has contributed to your guys' success? I would say a lot of hard work, a lot of consistency in what we do. We've seen lots of ups and downs, and especially with COVID and public pre K coming in. But we've never ever compromised with the quality and the values that we hold for our life centers. And I think that is one of the biggest things that has also contributed to our success. Because whatever times have been rough, we've still not compromised in any thing that we think we don't want to stop in terms of our values for the school. We've done as we've always been very innovative in doing things at our centers like we were teaching our pre K kids how to type on the computer, which was not something that was being taught. Then we started teaching them coding when computers became bigger and everybody needed to understand computers, we started teaching them coding in a classroom where nobody was doing it. Similarly, we brought up the whiteboards and started teaching them through interactive ways on a whiteboard, and to the extent when we were taking our kids to horseback riding lessons to a farm, we brought the horse riding lessons to the school as an extracurricular activity. So I feel you know, the parents always look at it, and they see that we are a premier place where the children will get the best of learning, nurturing and caring. Okay, and as an Indian American, do you think that this offers you a unique perspective on business owning? And can you speak to that a little bit? I think as an Indian American owning business, what it does is yes, definitely gives us the diversity angle to it. Because at our center, we have people from everywhere as employees and parents. So what we do is, since coming from outside us and settling in America, we are able to understand different cultures, and we are able to be flexible, so that we cater to their needs. So like for example, in India, parents give their kids milk, but they warm it before they give it which does not happen here. So we are able to understand those needs, and we are flexible, and making sure what gives comfort to the children, what their cultures are, what they're practicing at home. If we can accommodate it in our centers, we definitely try to. We also do once a year we do a heritage day. And you know, all the different classrooms, they pick a country and they learn about the different dances, the language, the currency, the food, and everything gets displayed on the Heritage Day. And all the parents are invited to come and see what the children have learned. So even the parents they kind of get to learn about different countries and where all the children are from. What are some highlights that you guys would have from you know over the last couple of years owning businesses with and you know doing the schools? I think the biggest highlight is that our daughter came into the business and she is a director at one of our locations. And a couple of years back she was,I think about 65 Lightbridge academies, the Director of the Year. She's the youngest Director in the system. That was quite an achievement as a second generation coming into the business. And doing well, because there was a criteria and they measured everybody across the board. And I think last year, we won quite a few awards, we had the highest revenue. Out of all the Lightbridge Academies, we had the highest score. And then we were one of the highest in contributing towards the foundation that Lightbridge has, so we used one of the highest funds for them. What advice would you give to anyone who wants to get into owning a business or who wants to start their own business? It's not easy, but it's not difficult. If you are consistent, and you don't give up and never compromise on the quality of whatever business you're doing, and the quality of the employees that work for you that you hire, you're good to go. So I think what you have to do is, first find the passion that you have, because you should get into a business that you're passionate about. Because sometimes people get into businesses they're not passionate about and think they just want to get in there for money. I think that's the wrong thing. Because you'll never do well. If you're not passionate about the business that you're running. I think a lot of hard work and believing in yourself and thinking out of the box. People are typically doing things the way traditionally it has been done. Sometimes we need to change it to be successful. So there's a lot of hard work that goes into it, and like we said, be consistent in what you're doing. Is there anything that you would want someone reading an article about you to know about you guys or about your businesses? I think I would just say that, you know, me and Raj started from nothing. And we were just determined, and we followed our dreams. So like Raj said, be passionate, follow your dreams. It's now or never just do it. And don't be scared. Because when you do a business, things will eventually fall in place, if you do not compromise. One thing I really want people to know is only focus on your business and on yourself. Do not worry about what the world outside is doing. And if you are focused on what you are doing and what you think is right. There is no failure. I can definitely say that. About the Author Seema Govil, Franchise Consultant and Vice President of the India Franchise Council, is also the Founder and CEO of Cosmo City Media. She seamlessly integrates her expertise in franchise consulting, media, and philanthropy. As a frequent contributor to Franchise Journal magazine and other media outlets, Seema continues to influence and inspire within the industry. Contact Seema at Seema@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com .
