From Teaching to Franchisee: How One Woman Built a Successful Franchise During the 2008 Recession
In this episode of the Franchise Unfiltered Podcast, Wes Barefoot chats with Susan, a former teacher turned franchise owner, who started her Gotcha Covered window treatment business in the middle of the 2008 recession.
Now, 17 years later, Susan shares how she created a successful and flexible business that gives her control over her time, lifestyle, and legacy. If you're thinking about franchise ownership, making a mid-life career change, or just want to learn how to build a business that fits your life—this episode is for you!
👇 Timestamps & Topics
00:00 – Intro
01:00 – Susan’s background: from teacher to franchise owner
03:30 – Why she started a business during the 2008 recession
06:00 – Building through referrals & relationships
08:30 – What Gotcha Covered does (and why it’s a great franchise)
12:45 – Selling design services with zero prior experience
20:00 – What franchise training and support look like
26:00 – Designing a business around lifestyle and freedom
33:00 – Community involvement & business growth
36:00 – Hiring subcontractors and installers
42:00 – Why Susan hasn’t scaled her sales team (and that’s okay)
47:30 – Advice for aspiring franchisees and career changers
🌐 Susan’s Business: Gotcha Covered of Eastern South Dakota: https://www.gotchacovered.com/eastern-sd/
📱 Follow Susan on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanbtjarks/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-tjarks-811a3916/
7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:
https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising
If you would like to learn more about this particular franchise opportunity or discuss franchise ownership in general - feel free to use the link to my calendar below to schedule a free, no-obligation introductory meeting.
https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes
Connect with Wes:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/
💡 Who This Episode Is For:
✔️ Aspiring entrepreneurs
✔️ People exploring franchise ownership
✔️ Career changers in their 40s, 50s, and beyond
✔️ Women in business
✔️ Anyone wanting more flexibility and control over their career
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💬 Drop your questions and thoughts in the comments!
#FranchiseOwnership #FranchiseSuccess #CareerChange #GotchaCovered #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #BusinessOwnership #FranchisePodcast #LifestyleBusiness #HomeServicesFranchise