With profitable investment properties and a lucrative career as a program
manager in Silicon Valley, Shareq Rahman has made quite a comfortable
life. However, with inevitable and cyclical economic fluctuations, job
security and real estate returns are not always a given. This reality
led Rahman to look at further diversifying his revenue streams and holdings
to create financial stability that withstands the ebbs and flows of the economy.
“Everything has a cycle. One of my revenue streams may be doing well
but the other may be experiencing less return,” Rahman explains.
“They are always in flux. This is why diversification of my investments
became a priority.”
In his quest to lay the groundwork for achieving his long term financial
investment goals, he turned his attention to the franchising business
model. Rahman knows what it entails to build a business from the ground
up. Having started, and subsequently sold, a software company, he knows
how much hard work and risk is involved in such a venture.
With small children at home and a career he did not want to leave, Rahman
was reluctant to making that type of financial and personal commitment
again at this point in his life. With proven business models and array
of support systems, franchising appealed to his desire to diversify while
still allowing him to be present for his family the way he wanted.
He had two main criteria for his next entrepreneurial endeavor. First,
Rahman did not want to leave his present job, so it had to be flexible.
And the second was it had to be something that has demonstrated more recession
resiliency than his other two revenue streams.
Rahman began looking into the various franchises available to him. Food
service was quickly eliminated. He found it to have a lot of overhead
and wrought with regulations. He narrowed his search down to two distinct
industries: healthcare and
haircutting. Once he started looking further into these top two industries, he soon
found the Sport Clips Haircuts offering.
Rahman says, “The franchise was a good fit for what I was looking
for. The semi-absentee business model is ideal for my current commitments
and overall goals.
The management structure of the business model aligned nicely with my experience.”
As he began to delve deeper into the company, he immediately found the
Sport Clips to be approachable and responsive, two important traits to
look for when establishing a business relationship. “I did not feel
like just a number to them.
There is a family-like, small company atmosphere at Sport Clips. I feel cared for and supported,” he states.
Knowing this was the business model to enable him to meet his goals, Rahman
purchased an existing Sport Clips store in San Mateo, CA. While the store
is profitable, Rahman saw an opportunity to do better. With an already
existing client base, he is looking for ways to grow that base and finding
more ways to further maximize profits.
Rahman says, “I am just a few weeks into ownership, and I am very
satisfied with my investment. I have a lot of support and was able to
hit the ground running. And I am having fun too!”
He goes on to say, “This was a good time in my life to do this. I
had been toying with the idea of franchising for almost a decade. The
time finally came where I had the means to do this and I was ready to
try something new. The Sport Clips business model affords me the flexibility
I need at this time in my life, but at the same time I am building a business
and diversifying my assets.”
For more information on how the Sport Clips business model can help you
reach your personal and financial goals,
click here.