18-Year-Old Buys Franchise Instead of College

At a stage where most teens are focused on the transition to college, Lily Wilford is a franchise owner. Right before beginning her senior year of high school, Wilford purchased her Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza location in Sioux City, Iowa, where she had worked since she was 14.

As a junior, Wilford found herself uninspired by the traditional college path.

“By junior year of high school, I was touring colleges, but nothing felt right,” she told Entrepreneur. “I love science, but I couldn’t find anything that excited me enough to justify the big investment.”

Around this same time, the previous owner began considering selling. Wilford had set a goal to pay for college without taking out loans and had been saving diligently for years, but without a clear educational path, the Papa Murphy’s investment seemed like a great option for these funds.

“The more I thought about it, the more excited I got — this was something I loved and could learn and grow in,” she said. “We had to jump through a lot of hoops since I was only 17 and couldn’t legally sign on my own, but by August 2024, we officially transferred ownership.”

Since taking the helm, she has undertaken a store remodel, launched new marketing efforts and focused on nurturing a strong, customer-first culture. All of this contributed to over 22% year-over-year growth in her first year, earning her the Rookie of the Year award.

Wilford attributes much of her success to her focus on community involvement and her leadership principles of integrity and perseverance, which she developed through years of Taekwondo practice. Looking to the future, Wilford says college isn’t entirely off the table, but for now, she’s focused on building experience.

“For now, this is the right place for me,” she said.