Career Went to the Dogs after Leaving Corporate World

Business Wire, July 16, 2008

PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. -- Anna Gepson is enjoying her new lifestyle as an entrepreneur thanks to her business coach, Marcie Olinger, of The Entrepreneur's Source. And she runs a business she never would have dreamed of owning. Anna spent most of her former life in corporate settings defining communications and marketing strategy working for someone else. After more than 20 years and getting to a point where a career change was very much needed, Anna attended a seminar on business ownership.

"I had nothing to lose," says Anna. "I wasn't even thinking about business ownership as a career, but after listening to Marcie Olinger, a business coach with The Entrepreneur's Source, my eyes were opened to the exciting world of becoming self sufficient," she added.

Marcie Olinger began working with Anna, taking her through a "discovery process" to get a better understanding of her lifestyle, goals and needs for the future. She talked about the benefits, financial options and the various business concepts to consider, one of them being franchising. She also helped Anna understand the advantages of owning a franchise. Anna was presented with several different business/franchise concepts to research and evaluate. Narrowing it down to two, Anna went on to visit both companies to learn more about each business.

"I had some misconceptions of what it means to own a franchise and the amount of investment dollars needed," she stated. She learned that franchising is an awards process: they have to like her as much as she had to like them before investing in the business concept. She spent 4 months in validation - researching and talking to franchisees of the two concepts. One of the concepts that seemed appealing was a lawn care business, and they even extended her a franchise offer. However, she was feeling drawn to another business - Aussie Pet Mobile.

The concept of owning a grooming service resonated strongly with Anna. Having spent her childhood growing up on a Midwestern farm in Nebraska, she always had animals in her life. The current proud owner of two dogs was even known to frequently "adopt" stray cats as a young girl by bringing them into her farmhouse (despite father's wishes).

Having been in the corporate world for years with much of her time working in crisis mode, it was refreshing for Anna to buy into a business that lets her set the pace for her business. It took approximately six months for Anna to establish a presence for business in the Kansas City-based market - an exciting challenge because she is the only Aussie Pet Mobile grooming business in the entire state of Kansas. Nevertheless, Anna easily made a name for herself and the services she provides, evidenced by her re-booking rate in the 90th percentile.

At a recent annual conference for Aussie Pet Mobile, Anna was honored as the 2007 Franchisee of the Year by the corporate office.

With new business ventures like purchasing a second truck and hiring employees to work existing markets, Anna shares her thoughts on her decision to become a business owner. "I'm finally in control of my own life." "You work harder than you ever thought, but the benefits are well worth it," Anna remarks. I love what I do and I've never been happier. How many other people can say that?"