Women in Franchising: Women Poised to Take Over As Leaders in the Home-Service Industry
Both men and women possess the traits necessary to operate and lead franchises but as more women are choosing to invest in the home-service industry, they are poised to take over in the years to come.
One of the women positioned to be a female leader in this sector is Kim Marmolejo, a seasoned truck driver and single mother of four boys. She was always on the road away from home and finally came to the decision to make a career change that would allow her to be closer to family.
Kim considered a truck driving business as her first option but it wasn’t the most family-friendly business endeavor and the industry was not as safe as it had been in years past. With the desire to leave something for her family in the form of a business that would flourish for generations to come, Kim came across Hello Garage franchise opportunities. Immediately her boys were on board and Hello Garage of Naperville, IL was born.
All four of the Marmolejo boys currently play a role in the family business. The eldest who lives in Tennessee is interested in eventually purchasing a Hello Garage territory near him to allow the family business to continue to grow while Austin, the second eldest serves as the company’s Garage Guru and is in charge of sales. Alex, the second youngest works as the team’s lead installer while Adam, the youngest who is still in high school, manages all of the company’s social media and local marketing efforts. While all four have extremely different skills and roles, Kim says that their individual personalities are perfect for each position they hold in the company.
When looking for her next business endeavor, Kim was open to any and all opportunities. Her research included restaurants, coffee shops, even a flooring company – but she always came back to
Hello Garage in large part to the constant insight and support she would receive from the company’s team.
While franchising has been a historically male-dominated industry, gone are the days where women are expected to own and work in more feminine-oriented industries like beauty or food-related franchises. Working in a male dominated field most of her adult life, from driving trucks to roofing and construction, choosing to join the franchise world with her own business in that field wasn’t even a question for Kim. “I’ve worked as a laborer, a roofing contractor, and I have also done concrete work so a service-based franchise opportunity was one that I knew would be best for me and my family. With
all of my past work experience, I feel that being in male dominated industry is where I truly fit and belong,” said Marmolejo.
With Kim joining the Hello Garage franchising system, she has become the first female franchise owner under the company’s umbrella. “I have decades of work experience, but when it came to starting my own business, I had no idea what I was doing,” said Marmolejo. “While learning more about Hello Garage, I was immediately drawn to the high level of support that their home office provides to incoming franchisees. I knew that I would never be left hanging or have to figure anything out on my own. They have been by my side since day one, and the fact that we can reach out at any time of day with questions is so humbling and gives me so much more confidence.”
Playing both the mom and the boss role is a territory that Kim is still navigating. While it has been challenging, the boys have fallen in to their roles and are always open for positive feedback. “My kids are very good at letting me know they’ll do whatever is needed to get the job done,” said Marmolejo. “It’s been so amazing to see each of them grow in to their roles and I have learned so much from them along the way – and I still do! I feel I have found that happy medium between mom mode and boss mode, and this entire experience has brought our family much closer.”
As of late, with women taking over the franchising world, the business opportunities are endless for female entrepreneurs including Kim. Franchising models allow these entrepreneurs to get the business of their choice up and running more efficiently than if they were to build a business from scratch. “Joining the Hello Garage franchise system was a scary feat, but it also felt so natural,” said Marmolejo. “I am proud of what I been able to build for myself and for my family so far, and I know that the successes we will have in the service-based sector of franchising are endless. We are building a company that I will one day be able to pass on to my children and grandchildren, and that is an amazing feeling.”
“I’ve worked as a laborer, a roofing contractor, and I have also done concrete work so a service-based franchise opportunity was one that I knew would be best for me and my family.” - Kim Marmolejo, Hello Garage