Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2013 | Page 70

By Michele Chandler

Family Business:
Not Child’s Play!
O

Three families succeed where many have failed

perating a successful franchise business is challenging enough. Add in family members and
things can get really interesting. Who’s the favorite child? Who gets to be CEO, president,
COO? When does the founder let go of the reins (and what
if he won’t)? Issues such as control or favoritism can sink an
otherwise healthy enterprise. And then there’s the problem of
taking the business home or leaving it at the office. Here are
three stories of family-run franchises showing that potential
problems with family dynamics not only can be overcome, but
can be the source of unique strengths that can be channeled
into building a prosperous, healthy enterprise—and family.

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Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s ue I, 2013

His three sons

Ever since his sons can remember, Matt Holker has been an
entrepreneur. In the go-go 1990s, he was a general contractor
and part owner of a home construction firm. “I knew housing
was going to eventually come to an end,” he says, “I just didn’t
know it was going to come to an end as it did.”
When housing dried up, Holker, then in his early 50s, wasn’t
ready to retire. And his son Greg, then in his early 20s, had
finished some college and was looking for a career. So in 2006,
Holker, who enjoys outdoor work, financed the purchase of a
Spring-Green Lawn Care franchise for $125,000 and set out
to find customers for the lawn and tree care business.