Entrepreneur Finds Success in Both Work and Family

Handyman Connection Helps Franchisee Achieve Balance in Life

"I can control my time now," says Andy Hough. "I'm able to balance my work life and my family life. I couldn't do that before." Barely four years ago, Hough was far from home and still climbing the corporate ladder. Between the long hours his job required, a hectic travel schedule and a series of several work-related relocations, Hough began to realize he was missing out on some of life's most important moments. It was time for a change.

In 2002, Hough began looking for professional opportunities in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. That search quickly led him to Handyman Connection. "I felt franchise ownership would offer me the flexibility I wanted while still giving me a chance to succeed and grow professionally," says Hough. He eventually moved his family back to St. Louis and teamed up with his wife Diane, an accountant, and his brother-in-law Don, a former painting and remodeling contractor, to purchase Handyman Connection's St. Louis franchise.

Since opening the franchise, successes have been many — $1 million in sales in the first year of business, a seat on the prestigious Handyman Connection Advisory Council and double-digit annual growth. Hough attributes their phenomenal success to a solid business plan and an ownership team built around the complementary skill-sets of its members. But he is quick to point out that surrounding himself with a strong and supportive network of family and friends has made a difference as well.

"Stability in life and family are critical ingredients of success in any facet of our lives," Hough says. "The success of my business is a direct reflection of my personal mental outlook. If I'm not together personally, I can't offer my craftsmen what they need to stay motivated and engaged."

In less than three years of franchise ownership, Hough and his partners have paid off their startup debt and are beginning to enjoy the financial fruits of their labors. "The success of this franchise is going to be a big source of pride for our family," he says. But the real rewards of becoming a Handyman Connection franchisee were realized long before the profits began mounting. "I'm now one of the first parents to arrive at my kids' soccer and baseball games. No matter how you measure it, that's worth an awful lot."