This story appears in the
June 2001 issue of
Entrepreneur.
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Ah, the lemonade stand-the first beacon of the entrepreneurial
spirit, bringing playmates together in pursuit of profits and the
American dream. It's a heartwarming memory . . . until you
think of the best friend turned bossy partner that soured the
deal.
For franchisees Pam Chesney, 44, and Jill Kurowski, 39, it's
different. The two friends opened their first Jersey Mike's
submarine-sandwich franchise in 1998 in Nashville, Tennessee.
They've since added a second location and plan to open a third
this fall. Against conventional advice warning against partnering
with friends, they've found business success with their
friendship. "This is someone you'll have to work with
every day. It's crucial that you really like and trust
them," says Kurowski.
Jeff Elgin, president of FranChoice Inc., an Internet-based franchise
referral network, agrees. "The secret to success is upfront
communication that provides clear expectations of exactly what each
[partner] will be contributing to the business' success,"
he says. "Most franchisors encourage partnerships among
friends if the combination fills a need and they believe the
friends will make stable partners."
To prevent potential problems, Chesney and Kurowski set up an
agreement detailing all expectations for the franchise. "It
worked better for us this way-there aren't any hidden agendas
or secrets. If we don't communicate with each other about the
good, the bad and the ugly, we're going to have bigger problems
down the line," explains Chesney. "The best part about
our partnership is that we know each other so well. If one of us is
having a down day, the other is there to pick up the
slack."