While it’s impossible to predict the ebb and flow of business, there are certain world events which one can nearly count on affecting most industries: hurricanes in the summer and fall can stifle global transportation, union strikes can halt supply chains, and political events can cause waves throughout the economy. While the U.S. heads into an election season, individuals and businesses are approaching this time with hesitation. That’s because people don’t make big decisions or take unnecessary risks when there is a period of uncertainty. While it’s important to remember that any period of change is temporary, the decisions that are made (or not made) now can have long-reaching consequences. As this Forbes writer puts it, “The world continues to evolve whether you choose to participate [in risk] or not.” And the reality is, not taking a risk is often the greatest risk of all.

Why Franchising Thrives in Times of Uncertainty

Believe it or not, there is good news about these periods of uncertainty. Although many businesses often depend on the outcome of specific events (such as logistics companies being influenced by the resolution of union contract negotiations), the Mint Condition Franchise model has proven to thrive regardless of political outcomes. That’s because the economy will likely do one of two things: grow or not. And either outcome leads to opportunities for our franchise model. If there is a boom in the economy, business opportunities increase which leads to more demand for essential services such as office cleaning. If the economy shrinks and employment opportunities decrease, people begin to explore revenue streams they might not have otherwise.

Time and time again, our business model has proven to be immune to these times of uncertainty. Whether it’s from behemoth corporations like Amazon beginning to turn a profit (which began in late 2001 according to Yahoo! Finance), or the 2008 recession, or more recently the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, our franchise programs have continued to grow as essential services. Why? For starters, during times when the overall business landscape is unsteady, there are two things that remain true:

  • Clean office spaces are as essential as electricity or heating and air conditioning, regardless of the economic climate.
  • Individuals seek additional revenue streams when there are unexpected salary or workload changes to their “day job.”

For individuals who are willing to play the offense, this can be a unique and fortunate opportunity for growth especially when many are too nervous to step onto the field.

There is Opportunity in Risk

Warren Buffett is perhaps one of the most famous American investors of the last century, and that’s not because he lives on the sidelines. During the mortgage crisis of 2007-2008, he made “a number of deals, though questioned at the time, proved highly profitable.” He was, undoubtedly, taking risks during a time where most businesses and individuals were frozen with uncertainty. Looking back, it’s easy to see how successful his bold moves were – but at the time, as is happening now – most businesses and individuals are fearful to make changes when there is instability in the marketplace. But Buffett didn’t have a crystal ball. He simply took advantage during a time when few others were. And he isn’t the only example of capitalizing during uncertainty.

Currently, 16% of the workforce are entrepreneurs and that rate has been trending upward in the U.S. for the last 19 years according to a 2024 blog by HubSpot. When we look back at the last two decades there are significant changes that have impacted this uptick including a weak economy in 2008 and a devastating pandemic in 2020. While this may seem like a counterintuitive action: “Why would people take more risk during times of uncertainty?” It actually makes sense. At the end of the day, if a person is not earning the income they need or there are cuts to their industry that they can’t control, entrepreneurship allows them the opportunity and flexibility to create wealth for themselves and their family.

We get it. Jumping into entrepreneurship can be just that – taking a leap. Regardless of where you are on the risk continuum, we have a team in place to support you throughout your journey. Our owner has been in your shoes and we understand the uncertainties and frustrations that are often part of the package when it comes to entrepreneurship. That’s why we built a turn-key system to help our Master Franchises get off the ground and retain success. We have multiple tools to set you up for success including:

  • Thorough training when you get started
  • Established roadmap built from our proven process
  • Support from our corporate team as well as other Master Franchises
  • Industry-leading technology to help with sales, customer service and accounting

Unlike other first-time entrepreneurs, you have an experienced team on your side, and you are not facing a barrage of business decisions that can feel overwhelming and untested. Working with us is like hitting the fast-forward button and skipping the first painful year of mistakes many entrepreneurs face to start running your business.

Get Ahead of the Curve

While many individuals are not making decisions right now, the reality is that they will start to make those shifts soon after there is relative “stability” in the marketplace. By acting now, you can get ahead of the curve by establishing a Master Franchise in a territory close to you, before someone else does. Our team will work with you to calculate a territory (these are typically determined by counties and population size) where we believe you will be successful. If history has shown us anything, it’s that our business will continue to grow no matter the outcome of upcoming political events. It’s not a question of if individuals will take advantage of franchise opportunities like ours, but it’s a question of how many will. One comment we hear often from our franchisees: “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”

            We understand that entrepreneurship and owning a franchise is a big decision and you have a lot of questions. Our Director of Master Franchise Development, Randy Abernathy is here to help. Contact him at randya@mintconditioninc.com or on his cell at 916-337-3532 and let’s continue the conversation.