Lauren Vermette — How to Invest in a Franchise on the Side (Without Quitting Your Job)
Franchising could be your bridge between the stability of employment and the freedom of entrepreneurship – especially if you're strong on execution but don't have that million-dollar original business idea.
Lauren Vermette, founder and CEO of Franchisee Insight, reveals how she transitioned from corporate advertising to owning multiple successful franchise businesses. She discovered that franchising offered the perfect solution for someone who could lead teams and execute plans but didn't have their own business concept. Her story shows how franchise ownership can provide greater income and flexibility than traditional employment, without the full risk of starting from scratch.
What's fascinating is the semi-absentee model that allowed Lauren to maintain her corporate job while building her first franchise. After constructing a 9,000-square-foot salon suite facility – essentially a "WeWork for beauty professionals" – she hired a manager and now spends just a couple hours weekly overseeing the business. Ten years later, she still owns these profitable locations while helping others find their own franchise opportunities.
The podcast dives into practical aspects of franchise ownership – from the $100,000 to multi-million-dollar investment range, financing options like SBA loans and retirement fund programs, to the three main ownership models: owner-operator, executive/semi-absentee, and investor. Lauren explains how franchise systems provide tested playbooks, training, and built-in support networks that dramatically improve success chances compared to independent startups.
Most valuable is Lauren's framework for evaluating opportunities – understanding your "why," assessing franchisor support, examining track records, and ensuring alignment with your personal goals. She emphasizes that the right franchise might not be in an industry you're passionate about, but rather one that matches your skills and desired lifestyle.
Ready to explore if franchising could be your path to business ownership? Lauren offers free consultations to match your goals with the right opportunities. Her services, like an insurance broker's, are paid by franchisors when they find the right match – making this an accessible way to investigate your entrepreneurial options without upfront costs.
