5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A Franchise Owner With Martinizing Cleaners

By Ryan Hames, Owner of Martinizing Cleaners of Westerville

When you decide to become a business owner, you think a lot about the opportunities ahead. What you don’t always realize is how much you will learn along the way, and how different the journey can look from what you first imagined. I’ve spent more than two decades in the dry-cleaning industry, and as a second-generation owner, I’ve had the chance to grow a business, face challenges, and now work alongside the third generation of my family in the company.

Looking back, there are a few things I wish someone had told me before I started leading my own location. For anyone considering becoming a franchise owner with Martinizing Cleaners, these are lessons that can make the journey a lot easier.

1. Growth rarely happens the way you plan it, but it can turn out better than you expected

When I opened my first location in 2004, I had a clear idea of how I thought the business would grow. I assumed expansion would come from opening more storefronts in nearby communities. What I didn’t expect was that one of our biggest opportunities would come from a problem.

At one point, road construction shut down access to one of our main plants, and customer traffic dropped almost overnight. We had to react quickly, so we started offering pickup and delivery routes just to keep business moving. What began as a temporary fix turned into one of the strongest parts of our business.

That experience taught me that growth doesn’t always follow your plan. If you stay flexible and keep looking for solutions, the challenges you face can lead to your biggest opportunities.

2. Your reputation is built one customer at a time

In this business, people trust you with things that matter to them, whether it’s a suit for work, a wedding dress, or something they wear every day. Early on, I learned that consistency matters more than anything else.

There were times when we had to redo an order or stay late to make sure something was ready when promised. Those moments weren’t always easy, but every time we made the extra effort, it strengthened the relationship with that customer.

Being part of the Martinizing Cleaners brand gave us a strong name in the community, but the real trust comes from showing up every day and delivering the same level of service. For new franchise owners, that’s one of the most important things to understand. Your reputation is built in the small moments.

3. The right people will change your business more than the right equipment ever will

For a long time, I thought growth came from better machines, better locations, or better systems. Those things matter, but the biggest changes in our business have come from people.

The best example for me was when my daughter, Kate, joined the company after graduating from college with a degree in entrepreneurship. She brought a completely different perspective on marketing and community involvement, and she wasn’t afraid to try new ideas. Within months, we saw real results from those changes.

That experience reminded me that you can’t build something great by yourself. One of the advantages of being part of the Martinizing Cleaners system is that you’re surrounded by people who want to help you grow, and that support makes a huge difference.

4. You have to be willing to adapt, even when what you’re doing seems to work

Our family has been in this business since the 1990s, and for a long time, the traditional storefront model worked very well. Customers came in, dropped off their clothes, and picked them up a few days later.

Over time, people’s schedules changed, and convenience became more important. We added delivery routes, adjusted how we served customers, and paid closer attention to the data when choosing new locations. Having the research and support that comes with the Martinizing Cleaners franchise system helped us make smarter decisions.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that staying the same can sometimes be riskier than changing. The owners who are willing to evolve are the ones who last the longest.

5. Building a business is rewarding, but building a legacy means even more

The part of this journey I didn’t fully understand at the beginning is how meaningful it would be to build something that lasts beyond myself. I grew up watching my father run his business, and now I get to work alongside my daughter, as she’s the third generation in our family to be part of our operation.

Working in a family business brings challenges, but it also brings a level of pride that’s hard to describe. You realize that the decisions you make today don’t just affect you, they affect your employees, your customers, and the future of the people closest to you.

That’s something I wish I had understood earlier. Owning a franchise can be more than a job. If you stay committed, it can become a legacy.

My Advice to Future Martinizing Franchisees

If you’re thinking about joining Martinizing Cleaners, my biggest advice is to think long term. This business rewards consistency, patience, and the willingness to learn.

You don’t have to have everything figured out on day one. If you focus on taking care of your customers, building a strong team, and leveraging the support around you, growth will follow.

For me, this industry has given my family the chance to build something together, serve our community, and create a business that continues into the next generation. That’s something I’m proud of every day, and it’s why I still believe this is a great opportunity for the right person.