Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bary El-Yacoubi, CEO and Co-Founder of Send Me a Pro, located in Miami, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Send Me a Pro is a Tech franchise business that you can own and operate in your local market that is ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the fastest-growing franchises. It’s like Uber for in-home services. Everything from fitness & sports trainers, pet care providers, tutors, music instructors, childcare providers, and much more. Historically speaking, every category is a standalone franchise business model. No one has ever aggregated multiple services with an Uber-like experience under one franchise until now.
Send Me a Pro recently evolved from Send Me a Trainer, which focuses on fitness and sports services. Based on high demand from clients and franchise owners, Send Me a Pro now connects clients with a variety of additional vetted local service providers beyond just fitness. Starting your Send Me a Pro Franchise is so easy because it doesn’t need a physical location, expensive equipment, or any construction, saving you the headache that comes with other franchises. With proprietary technology, low start-up costs, working from home, and passive ownership options, Send Me a Pro gives you the lifestyle that you have been looking for!
Tell us about yourself
I started my career as a personal trainer back in 2007 at one of those large “big box” gyms in the Washington DC metro area. I remember selling the 2nd most amount of personal training programs within the first two months of my employment. However, many of my clients would often cancel their sessions at the last minute due to various reasons, such as being stuck at work or facing heavy traffic on their way to the gym.
Despite their commitment to becoming healthy and losing weight, it was tough for them to maintain consistency with their busy schedules. To solve this issue, I suggested offering in-home personal training services to my clients. The idea clicked, and they were able to be more consistent in their workouts and achieve their fitness goals faster.
Around that time, my brother Muhssin El-Yacoubi (Co-Founder and CFO) was pursuing his MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where he specialized in entrepreneurship. Seeing the potential in my in-home training services, he worked on a business plan as part of his class project.
From there, we expanded the idea of in-home services to include connecting with other local service professionals, such as tutors and handymen services. What began as a simple concept of in-home personal training has grown into a successful business that provides various in-home services to clients, making their lives more convenient and stress-free.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Since launching our franchise model in 2020, Send Me a Pro:
- Awarded over 100 territories in the US
- Ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Brand in 2022
- Listed in the 100 Game Changers by Franchise Dictionary
- Listed in the Top Brands of 2022 by Franchise Journal
- Expanded to the UK, Dubai, and Canada.
- Featured on the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine
- Ranked 2nd by Franchise Gator for Top Emerging Franchise Brands in 2021
- Listed in the top 100 Fitness Franchises
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Staying focused on the goal and not getting distracted.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Understand how to size your market and quantify your total addressable market.
- Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
- Listen to the market and adapt.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sendmeaprofranchise.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sendmeapro
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sendmeapro/
LinkedIn(Bary): https://www.linkedin.com/in/bary-el-yacoubi-4636989/
LinkedIn(Muhssin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhssinyacoubi/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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