According to recent research, an astounding 84% of consumers cite travel as a top-priority budget item. However, amidst the fast-paced world of the 9-5 daily grind, few people have the time or the financial resources to truly prioritize travel. 

Brandon Naughton knew that he wanted to be different. With a passion for adventure and exploration, he sought out a career trajectory that would allow him to take several months out of each year to travel throughout the US and overseas.

Naughton discovered something that approximately 675,000 other people have relied upon for financial freedom and time flexibility: franchising. 

The freedom of franchising

People gravitate towards becoming franchisees because franchises have established, recognizable brands and lower startup costs than independent businesses, which offers them an easier entry into business ownership. Additionally, franchise home companies typically offer in-depth training and marketing assistance to their franchisees, as was the case for Naughton when he decided to become a franchisee with Repicci’s Italian Ice and Gelato. 

A franchise owner since 2012, Naughton has discovered the freedom that franchising can bring. Those who decide to go in on a Repicci’s Italian Ice and Gelato food truck can structure their business in a way that works for their family’s needs and goals. 

Knowing that travel was important to his family, Naughton went the catering route with his Repicci’s, working events and delegating the onsite work to employees. “We prioritize a catering system and focus on building repeat clients, which allows us the freedom to travel at times throughout the year,” he says. 

As franchisees refine their operations, they will begin to operate through delegation, freeing up their personal time and creating passive income. Once Naughton had a process in place, he and his family could begin taking multiple two- to three-week vacations throughout the year without concern that their business would grind to a halt. 

“We were still working by getting events on the calendar during the winter. We can not only work hard but play hard,” Naughton explains. “We work hard for six months in the spring and summer and then prioritize travel in the winter. With the addition of hot products — hot chocolate, coffee, and cannoli — we are now booking catering in the winter but are still flexible to travel.”

Values and legacy 

Through the Italian ice truck franchise, Naughton has also passed down values he finds important to his children. The Repicci’s franchise has been an investment in their future as much as it has been a way to create passive income and generate wealth. By watching their father build a franchise business, delegate, and prioritize travel and personal time, Naughton’s children are learning a different way of working that diverges from the typical 9-5 corporate hustle.

Furthermore, by leveraging the established business model and marketing that a franchise like Repicci’s offers, Naughton is establishing a legacy that his children can choose to carry on if they wish. The money generated from the franchise can fund not only their travel-focused lifestyle but also their education and future plans. 

Franchising was a compelling option for Naughton’s family, and it remains a viable option for other families seeking financial freedom, flexibility in their schedules, and a way to pass along a legacy to their children. The comprehensive support from the home office, in addition to proven business models and a built-in customer base, provides a stable foundation for starting a business. This starkly contrasts with starting an independent business, which can often fail due to a lack of support, marketing acumen, or startup funds. 

The ability to delegate daily work tasks and leverage a franchise’s established systems can be an ideal set-up for someone seeking a more flexible lifestyle. Successful franchisees can also create financial security for their families, a security that can benefit future generations.

Franchising can be more than just a business venture; it can be a pathway to a more balanced and financially secure life. The potential for passive income, the freedom to explore the world through travel, and the opportunity to spend more time with one’s family create a strong pull towards becoming a franchisee. 

For those who desire something different than the typical ladder-climbing grind, franchising can be the ideal solution.