Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Roy.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For most of my early career, I didn’t have a crystal-clear vision of what I wanted to “be.” I wasn’t someone who grew up knowing I’d be an entrepreneur or a coach. Opportunities simply kept falling into my lap through relationships, referrals, and people who appreciated my work ethic. I built a reputation as someone dependable, organized, and willing to step into complexity. That led to more responsibility, more projects, and steady growth.
I spent over 20 years in corporate consulting, process improvement, and program management roles. I was the steady paycheck in my household, the breadwinner with benefits, bonuses, and the security that comes with traditional employment. I genuinely believed that if I did great work, advancement would follow. And for a long time, it did.
But eventually, I hit a ceiling.
As leadership changed and restructuring happened, I began seeing things differently. I learned what I didn’t like. I experienced leadership styles that lacked integrity and emotional intelligence. I watched people step into positions they weren’t qualified for and saw the ripple effects it created on teams and culture. It was eye-opening. I realized I didn’t just want a promotion. I wanted autonomy. I wanted alignment. I wanted to build something rooted in values I believed in.
During a season where I was searching for answers and open to learning anything that might change my situation, I was introduced to the concept of business ownership through a structured discovery process with a coach from The Entrepreneur’s Source. What stood out to me was the franchise model. Because of my background in project management, evaluating systems, mitigating risk, and executing structured plans, a franchise made practical sense. I didn’t need a brand-new idea. I needed a proven framework I could operationalize well.
The Entrepreneur’s Source itself is a franchise organization, and after thorough exploration, I chose to invest in my own franchise with The Entrepreneur’s Source. That decision changed the trajectory of my life.
I’ve now been in business for three and a half years. I sometimes wish I had the courage to do it sooner. There were years of stress, missed family moments, and the physical and mental toll that comes from feeling stuck in the wrong environment. Today, I have autonomy, flexibility, and the ability to structure my work around my family instead of the other way around. I’m also earning an income that surpasses what I made in corporate America, but more importantly, I’m aligned with my values.
What started as uncertainty about my future turned into clarity about my purpose: helping other professionals realize they don’t have to stay stuck simply because something feels safe or familiar.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges in my work is mindset. Business ownership brings up fear, assumptions, and deeply ingrained beliefs about money, stability, and risk. Many professionals are extremely skeptical at first and aren’t always willing to take that initial exploratory call. People often believe they already know what business ownership requires, what funding looks like, or what they can or can’t do based on someone else’s experience. Those assumptions can keep them from being open to learning something new or stepping outside of what feels familiar.
The irony is that I don’t sell anything. My coaching services are completely free to clients. I’m compensated by businesses in my network if a client chooses to engage with them, similar to how a real estate agent or executive recruiter is paid. For example, if someone works with a funding partner or purchases a franchise through a partner in my portfolio, I receive a referral or placement fee from that business, not the client. Even with that transparency, some people still assume there must be something “off” about a no-cost service. Overcoming that skepticism requires patience, consistency, and integrity.
Another adjustment has been income variability. Unlike a corporate paycheck that arrives every two weeks, business ownership has peaks and valleys. Some months are strong, others are slower. It requires financial discipline, confidence, and a long-term perspective. That shift alone changes how you think about security and control.
Time management has also been a learning curve. When clients no-show or cancel at the last minute, it directly impacts my schedule and the time I could be dedicating to engaged clients. In corporate environments, meetings were mandatory. As a business owner, you quickly learn to set boundaries and protect your time while still leading with empathy and professionalism.
There’s also the reality of the broader economy. Layoffs, restructuring, and uncertainty push people to cling tightly to what feels safe. I’ve had clients who find a business model that aligns beautifully with their goals, have funding options available, and still choose to return to what’s familiar simply because it feels more predictable. I understand it, but it can be difficult to watch someone defer growth for comfort.
And while I believe deeply in the franchise model, it’s not without complexity. There are processes and requirements that can sometimes feel limiting. But those same structures are often what reduce risk and create long-term sustainability.
Through all of this, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t just about staying positive. It’s about staying steady. It’s about continuing to educate, show up consistently, and trust that the right clients, the ones truly open to growth, will lean in.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I own and operate a franchise with The Entrepreneur’s Source, a 40-year-old career ownership coaching organization that has helped thousands of professionals explore business ownership as an alternative to traditional employment. TES isn’t a franchise brokerage firm and it’s not a business brokerage firm. It’s a coaching organization focused first on education, self-discovery, and alignment before any business options are ever discussed.
In my practice, I work with professionals who are stuck, laid off, burned out, plateaued, or simply questioning whether the path they’re on still fits. Many are successful on paper but privately unsure about what’s next. Some are navigating toxic work environments. Others are hugging a paycheck because it feels safe, even though it no longer feels aligned.
What sets my work apart is that I explore all paths. This isn’t about pushing someone into buying a franchise or purchasing a business. It’s about clarity.
Through structured assessments and coaching conversations, I help clients define what success looks like in terms of income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity. From there, I explore options that may include franchises, licensing models, business resales, or even staying in corporate with a renewed strategy. The goal is alignment, not a transaction.
I’m different from an executive coach because I’m not just helping someone optimize their current job performance. I’m different from a traditional career coach because I’m not focused solely on resume strategy or job placement. I’m different from a franchise broker or business broker because I don’t start with inventory. I start with the person.
I treat business ownership as a vehicle, a tool that may or may not serve someone’s long-term goals. Sometimes the outcome is ownership. Sometimes it’s a career pivot. Sometimes it’s simply confidence and clarity. But every client leaves with greater awareness and informed perspective.
My coaching services are completely free to clients. I’m compensated by businesses within my network if a client chooses to engage with them, similar to how an executive recruiter or real estate professional is paid. If someone purchases a business or works with a funding partner I’ve introduced, I receive a referral fee from that partner, not from the client. That structure allows me to focus on education and alignment without financial pressure on the individual exploring.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is the integrity of the process. This isn’t hype. It’s structured discovery. It’s honest conversation about fear, finances, mindset, and possibility. It’s helping people challenge assumptions they’ve accepted as truth about what they can or can’t do.
If someone feels stuck, uncertain, recently laid off, plateaued in leadership, or simply restless, my message is this: you don’t have to have all the answers to explore your options. You just have to be open enough to ask better questions.
That’s where the work begins.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My childhood really revolved around my church community. We were very active, and in many ways it felt like a second family. I spent a lot of time in youth groups, helping with kids’ programs, attending church camp, and being involved in activities that centered around faith and service.
Some of my favorite memories are the simple ones in between those structured moments. Building forts in the rows of trees in our yard. Long summer afternoons swimming at the local pool. The friendships formed at church camp that felt big and important at the time.
Looking back, that sense of community and service shaped me deeply. It taught me responsibility, leadership, and the importance of showing up for others. I didn’t know it then, but those early experiences of mentoring, organizing, and helping are very connected to the work I do today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sroy.esourcecoach.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sararoy_tes_coach/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087102665603
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-roy-026a5840/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sararoy5704?si=Kkth7FdCkL1jdIML
- Other: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/sara-roy-119687441171
