“My father used to say, ‘Never go into business with a partner, much less a family member.’ And to some degree, he's right. But look, business is hard. It's hard to get something off the ground by yourself. You need to have other people with skin in the game. I think in our situation, a lot of divine intervention occurred. We filled in each other's gaps as far as skill sets go, and the things that we enjoy. I have more of a sales and marketing background. Josh enjoys administrative-type work. He enjoys creating things. He brought the IT aspect to the table; the things that he likes to do, I don't like to do, and vice versa. So it's just the way our personalities mesh. If anybody out there is looking for a partner, you can't have two yous. If you do, you might agree a lot, but you're going to butt heads, and neither one of you is going to want to do some of the things that you don’t do well. I think you need to find the right personality fit, and in any relationship, especially a business partnership, you have to be a good listener. You can't be dismissive of someone else's opinion.”

A successful partnership isn’t about finding someone just like you; it’s about finding someone who complements you.

In franchising, there’s a lot to juggle: marketing, operations, hiring, and customer experience. Having a partner with a different skill set and a shared vision can be a real game-changer.

But partnerships require more than diverse skills. They demand:
✅ Personality fit - understanding how you work best together
✅ Active listening - respecting each other’s perspectives
✅ Trust and communication - aligning on the big picture

Franchise systems provide the playbook. The right partner can help you execute it seamlessly.

📩 Thinking about business ownership or franchise opportunities and wondering if a partnership is right for you? Let’s connect. I help aspiring owners navigate decisions like this every day.