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WHY FRANCHISES CAN WORK FOR ANY GENERATION
Opening a franchise can be financially rewarding for people of any age, whether you’re a millennial, a baby boomer, or somewhere in between. By Page Grossman portunities without having to forge the path alone. Dogtopia, the fastest growing franchise in the pet industry, stresses to its franchise owners that they’ll get the necessary support in their business journey. “You’re in business for yourself, but not by yourself,” Samios says. Each Dogtopia franchisee undergoes four weeks of training and receives help from an experienced team before opening a new location. In addition to looking for a franchise with a solid foundation and existing resources, Gen Xers often seek a brand that aligns with their values and passion, Samios says. Through its care for canines, Dogtopia offers that. Samios’ advice? “Follow your heart and do what you love, and the money will come.”
HEADER: People have been trusting Dogtopia with their pups since 2002. ABOVE: Dogtopia’s facilities offer plenty of room for play.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DOGTOPIA
GEN XERS
Generally defined as being born between 1965 and 1980, members of Generation X are in the prime of their careers. At Dogtopia—a franchise that provides daycare, boarding, and spa services for canines—vice president of franchise development Alex Samios says that many of Dogtopia’s franchisees are Gen Xers who have worked in the corporate world and are looking for a change. “[They’re] first-time entrepreneurs and franchise owners who can bring transferable business skills and capital,” Samios says. By becoming franchise owners, Gen Xers move away from any corporate cap that limits the amount of money they can make. Owning a franchise also enables them to widen the scope of their professional op60 southwest august 2018
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