Your Future Franchise Helps IT Professional Leave Corporate Uncertainty Behind

Frank Markesi had built a successful career in information security and compliance, working for large international companies and developing expertise in a field that had provided stability for years. But as more work moved overseas and companies asked leaner teams to carry the same workloads, that stability started to look less certain.

Markesi didn't want to wait for a restructuring or layoff to decide what came next. He and his wife, Carrie, had owned a franchise before returning to corporate life, and the changes he was seeing at work led them to consider business ownership again. This time, they wanted to make the transition deliberately and find an opportunity that could give them greater control over their future.

“I like being in control of my own destiny,” Markesi said. “If I’m going to make a change in my life, I want it to happen on my own terms. I don’t want somebody else making that decision for me.”

Markesi didn't see franchise ownership as a way to eliminate uncertainty. His experience in corporate America had taught him that remaining an employee carried risks of its own, particularly when decisions about staffing, outsourcing and restructuring were made far beyond his control.

For Markesi, the distinction came down to who would be responsible for those decisions and their consequences.

“With a franchise or staying in corporate, both have risk,” Markesi said. “The question is, which risk are you willing to take? Personally, I’d rather take a risk that I’m responsible for than sit back while somebody else makes those decisions for me.”

Deciding to look at franchises was one thing. Figuring out which opportunities were actually worth pursuing was another. Markesi found plenty of options online, but sorting through them and finding a model that made sense for both him and Carrie was more difficult.

A recommendation from a friend led him to Your Future Franchise founder and CEO Scott Thompson. Rather than starting with a particular franchise to sell, Thompson worked with the couple to build a profile around factors such as their investment comfort level, lifestyle goals, desired involvement in the business, long-term growth plans and operational preferences. He could then introduce them to pre-screened franchise brands that aligned with those criteria.

Surface Experts was among the opportunities Markesi considered, although it was not initially his first choice. He and Carrie also explored concepts with significantly different operating requirements, including a brick-and-mortar business requiring multiple employees and a hydraulic hose service concept.

As they worked through the options, they became clearer about what they did and did not want. They wanted a business that could scale without unnecessary operational complexity and that offered services with durable demand. Surface Experts, which specializes in surface restoration and repair for apartments, hotels, commercial properties and homes, continued to rise to the top.

The decision did not happen quickly. Over several months, Thompson helped the couple examine costs and fees, franchise agreements, Franchise Disclosure Documents, franchisor financial information, support systems and long-term growth potential. They also spoke with existing franchise owners to compare what they were hearing from the brand with the experiences of people already operating the business.

“Scott was kind of the voice of logic through the process,” Markesi said. “He helped us rationalize some of our concerns and put certain fears to bed.”

The couple is still early in their Surface Experts ownership journey, but they are already looking beyond simply replacing a corporate job with self-employment. Once the business is established, they plan to explore additional franchise opportunities as part of a longer-term growth strategy.

For Markesi, getting there required recognizing what he did not know. Even with previous franchise experience, sorting through opportunities, evaluating their risks and determining which business fit his goals was not something he wanted to do based on internet searches and sales pitches alone.

“The challenge is knowing what you don’t know,” Markesi said. “Having somebody experienced who can guide you, understand what you’re looking for, and align you with the right opportunities makes a massive difference.”

Markesi could not eliminate risk by leaving corporate America, but that was never the goal. By choosing franchise ownership before circumstances forced his hand, he could decide which risks he was willing to take and begin building a business whose future he could shape more directly.