Chuck Holmes
From Corporate Tech Leader to Cybersecurity Franchise Owner
"Terry helped me see what questions actually mattered … especially in the FDD. Without his guidance, I would’ve missed important details or gone in the wrong direction."
Who Chuck Was When He Started
Chuck Holmes had spent 20+ years in corporate, building deep experience in leadership, sales, and tech. When his company started moving in a different direction, he began looking for a path that would let him own something—without starting from scratch or defaulting to the typical “fast food franchise” route.
Key context:
- Location: Orlando, Florida (launching in Broward County / Fort Lauderdale area)
- Background: Tech industry + leadership + sales
- Mindset: “I want ownership — but I want it to fit who I am.”
Chuck didn’t set out with a specific franchise in mind. The trigger was simple: he received a message asking if he was looking for franchise opportunities.
His response: “I kind of am… but I don’t know where to look.”
That opened the door to a bigger realization: there were franchise models beyond what most people assume.
The Problem (What He Was Really Trying to Solve)
Chuck had seen (and been invited into) the traditional ideas — including fast food — but he wasn’t interested.
He wanted something that:
- Matched his skillset
- Didn’t require a completely new identity
- Felt more like building a business, not buying a job
A franchise show helped him see there were options that leaned more “professional services / tech / management” — and that pushed him to ask:
“What else is out there that I don’t even know?”
The Informed Decision Process (What Was Different)
Chuck admits the early steps felt “deep” at first — especially the financial questions and questionnaires.
But the value became clear fast:
The process forced him and his wife to get specific about:
- what they actually wanted,
- what they didn’t want,
- and what would truly fit long-term.
Why it mattered:
Instead of chasing what sounded good, the process helped them define what was right.
“There’s a lot of questions and probing… but how else do you really find out what an individual likes?”
Narrowing The Field
With Terry’s guidance, Chuck ended up evaluating about four business concepts.
Some were appealing on paper — but didn’t fit reality:
- A “give back” style concept helping elderly with chores/moving: meaningful, but more physical than he wanted long-term.
- A pet-related business: he likes pets… but didn’t want to build a business around it.
- Two IT-oriented options that stayed on the shortlist:
- CMT (strong group)
- A cybersecurity-focused concept that ultimately won.
This step is important in the story: Chuck didn’t “fall into” the first shiny option — he filtered through real fit.
The Decision: Choosing the Right Fit
Final Selection: Temporary wall systems franchise
Why It Clicked Immediately
- Rental-based business model (deep prior experience)
- Commercial construction focus (early career background)
- Niche, unsexy industry with real demand
- Strong capital structure:
- Depreciable assets
- Scalable inventory
- Clear expansion paths
“It wasn’t a pretty business — but it had great fundamentals.”
This wasn’t about passion.
It was about strategic alignment.
The "Pitfalls" Avoided Moments
Chuck didn’t say Terry “picked the franchise.”
He said Terry helped him think better.
Examples of how Terry helped:
- He didn’t give answers — he planted seeds and shifted perspective.
- He helped Chuck compare pros/cons with better criteria (cost, resources, operational reality).
- He taught him how to read and use the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) without getting buried.
“Those are a beast… like trying to read War and Peace in a week.”
The win: Chuck learned where to focus, what to question, and how to avoid missing important details.
Chuck’s excitement comes through loud and clear:
- No more reporting to “higher ups”
- No more red tape
- Faster decisions
- Ownership and autonomy
“It definitely feels good that I don’t report to anybody… avoiding the red tape.”
Why Chuck Recommends Terry
Chuck recommended that if someone is exploring franchising, they should have an advisor.
He frames Terry as a “caddy”:
- someone who knows the course
- helps you avoid mistakes
- gives structure and next steps
- stays available through the process
And he also added that there is:
- no pressure
- no upfront cost
- risk-free to explore
- you can stop anytime
One Conversation Could Change Your Next Decade
Apply for a complimentary Corporate Exit Audit and get an honest, personalized assessment of whether business ownership fits your goals, your finances and your life.