Introduction / Executive Background
Brett Koedam wasn’t new to entrepreneurship.
Before exploring franchise ownership, Brett had already built and sold his own business to a Fortune 500 company. After the acquisition, he stayed on for four years running the company’s U.S. Financial Institution division.
But eventually, he knew something had changed.
Corporate America no longer felt like the long-term path.
At the same time, Brett had no interest in starting another company completely from scratch.
He wanted:
- A proven system
- Strong customer service infrastructure
- Operational support
- A business he could grow without reinventing the wheel
“I knew I was done with corporate America… but I also wasn’t at a point that I really wanted to go back and completely start something from scratch.”
The Trigger: Leaving Corporate Without Rushing Into Something New
When Brett first connected with Terry, he wasn’t looking to buy immediately.
In fact, he told Terry upfront that he wasn’t planning to make any moves for at least six months.
He had recently stepped away from corporate life and was intentionally taking a sabbatical after years of high-level leadership and entrepreneurship.
But even while taking time off, he knew he still had the drive to build something meaningful again.
“I think she knows it’s time for me to go do something with my energy…”
This wasn’t about desperation.
It was about finding the right next chapter.
The Initial Direction: Healthcare & Wellness
Like many candidates, Brett originally entered the process with a specific industry in mind.
He was initially drawn toward healthcare, wellness, and longevity-focused franchise opportunities after attending a webinar hosted by Terry and Ray.
At first glance, it seemed like the obvious direction.
But HYBB’s process encouraged him not to “marry the first idea.”
Instead of pushing Brett toward a specific concept, Terry challenged him to stay open-minded and evaluate opportunities through the lens of:
- operational fit
- long-term scalability
- customer alignment
- financial maturity
- lifestyle fit
That shift became a major turning point.
The Turning Point: Looking Beyond the Obvious Opportunity
One of the most important moments in Brett’s journey came when Terry encouraged him to compare newer concepts against more established franchise systems.
Rather than simply validating Brett’s original idea, Terry encouraged him to evaluate:
- financial history
- track record
- operational maturity
- franchisee support systems
- long-term sustainability
“He said, ‘Hey… let’s look at this other one because they have 10 years of financials. Let’s have an informed decision.’”
That guidance helped Brett avoid making a purely emotional decision based on industry excitement alone.
It also opened the door to a franchise he likely never would have explored on his own.
“Without Terry, I definitely would have never found this opportunity.”
The Franchise He Chose: Floor Coverings International
Ultimately, Brett invested in Floor Coverings International.
What stood out most wasn’t just the category itself — it was the operational model and customer experience.
As someone deeply focused on client relationships and referrals, Brett was especially drawn to the brand’s customer satisfaction metrics.
“They have a net promoter score of 87, which I’m very big on — customer service and building that referral network.”
The business also aligned perfectly with Brett’s background in:
- sales
- relationship-building
- commercial partnerships
- leadership
- operational scaling
Rather than immediately trying to operate at a distance, Brett planned to start close to the customer.
“I’m originally going to start off being a sales rep in a van… going back to my roots.”
That hands-on beginning wasn’t a step backward.
It was a strategic decision to fully understand the business from the ground level up.
The HYBB Difference: Guidance Without Pressure
One of the strongest themes throughout Brett’s story was the absence of pressure.
At no point did he feel pushed toward a particular franchise.
Instead, he consistently described the process as:
- collaborative
- educational
- supportive
- candidate-focused
“There was never any pressure. There was never any pushing one over the other.”
What stood out most to Brett was Terry’s focus on long-term fit — not just making a placement.
“We can go look at 50 of these and none of them fit. That’s fine. I’m looking for what’s best for you.”
Brett also appreciated that Terry evaluated fit from both sides:
- ensuring the business aligned with Brett
- ensuring Brett aligned with the franchisor
That mutual-fit mindset reinforced the credibility of the process.
Family, Lifestyle & Building Something Meaningful
At this stage in his life, Brett’s motivations extended far beyond income.
Yes, financial success mattered.
But more importantly, he wanted to build a life and business that aligned with the kind of lifestyle and family involvement he valued most.
His youngest daughter had even started showing interest in sales and entrepreneurship herself.
“She actually wants to go along… she wants to understand it.”
That created an entirely different meaning behind business ownership.
“I’m at my point in my career where it’s not just about the money.”
For Brett, this next chapter became about:
- freedom
- flexibility
- family
- purpose
- building something enjoyable
- creating a business that fit the life he wanted
The Outcome
Through the HYBB process, Brett found:
- a franchise aligned with his strengths
- a model that matched his lifestyle goals
- a business with strong systems and customer experience
- an opportunity he likely never would have discovered on his own
Most importantly, he moved forward confidently because the decision was fully informed — not rushed.
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