Interview

Interview

Faizun Kamal shares her journey into franchising

What led you into franchising?

In 2015, after an almost decade-long career as a Fortune 15 executive in Corporate America, I was laid off and became a corporate refugee. At the time, my life was out of whack. I was a real-life stereotype of the “stressed-out corporate executive.” My life was moving at a 100 miles an hour. My lifestyle was unhealthy. I had just had my daughter and barely saw her or my husband.

After getting laid off, I hit the reset button. I needed to be more intentional about the next chapter. Through the world of franchises, I found a way to create a life of peace, purpose, and passion. As a franchise coach, I own my own business. I set my hours and only work with people with whom I want to work. I don’t just help my clients find their “perfect fit franchise,” I help them move from career burnout to career love.

Who is your typical client?

My typical client is a professional in the midst of a career or life transition. This is someone who may have just gotten laid off or has been in the same career for a very long time and is seeking change—maybe a working mother who has hit the glass ceiling or a burnt-out dad who feels he has lost control over his life and has become a slave to his job. While the specifics of each client are very different, the driving force that leads them to me is one and the same—a desire to create a different life through business ownership.

I find that about 60 percent of my clients are professional women who no longer feel the corporate world is a viable option. These clients come to me seeking an alternative career option. They are looking for an opportunity to own what they do, create more wealth, and do work that they enjoy—all through their “perfect fit franchise.”

What is your favorite part of franchising?

My favorite part of this work is introducing clients to new franchises and having them “feel the fit.” A couple of weeks ago, I placed a client in a residential-cleaning franchise. After a series of consultations, I presented him with three franchises. He had the first call with all three and called me to say that he knew which business it was going to be for him. He spent the next eight weeks doing intensive due diligence to ensure that his instinct was validated by facts and figures.

While this client was unusual in that he quickly honed in on his perfect franchise, at some stage in the investigation process every client has that moment of finding “the one.” For me, that’s the satisfying part—placing another amazing professional in a franchise that will make him happy.

When clients ask what sorts of franchises are out there, I half-jokingly say, “If you can imagine it, it’s probably already been franchised.” I am continually amazed at the growth and innovation in this industry. New franchises are coming into the market with amazing business models. As a franchise consultant, I am continually learning about the potential of new businesses. I love this part of my work as well.

What is your greatest success story?

I once worked with a client who I’ll call Sam. At the time that he started working with me, Sam was a 24-year-old vet. At age 21, he worked in one of the highest positions at the White House, regularly interacting with the president of the United States. When we sat down for our consultation, Sam shared his incredible story with me. He had grown up in a dysfunctional family with one younger brother. His father was in and out of prison, and his mother left them when he was a young teen. Without role models, he stopped attending school and started selling drugs. At about that time, he met a man, a “father figure,” who helped him turn his life around. Under his guidance, he cleaned up his act, enrolled in the army and went on to serve his country. After leaving the service, he felt that entrepreneurship was going to be his path to financial security.

When he shared his story with me, he told me about the work that he had done in the construction industry as a teen. That in the midst of all his family upheavals, this work brought him a sense of peace and purpose. I took this small piece of information and showed him a franchise in the home and construction space. Today, he’s the proud owner of a successful construction business, one that is helping him get closer to the goals he shared with me so long ago.

As a franchise specialist, Faizun Kamal conducts franchise education workshops and coaches wouldbe entrepreneurs on how to make the transition from employee to business owner. Contact Kamal at 443-604-6276 or Faizun@TheFranchiseConsultingCompany.com