They Quit Their Jobs to Purchase a Snow Cone Truck Franchise | Business Owner Conversations

In this episode of Business Owner Conversations, Marisa shares how she went from a speech therapist with a master’s degree to taking a massive leap —quitting her career and buying a Kona Ice franchise with her husband.

She opens up about the real journey of starting a business from scratch—navigating financial hurdles, business loans, franchise ownership challenges, building a customer base, and the journey of entrepreneurship. Marisa shares how she and her husband learned to balance marriage, business, and family while growing from one truck to multiple territories and employees.

💡 What You’ll Learn:
The truth about leaving a stable job to start a business
How to buy into a franchise and scale it successfully
Balancing family, marriage, and entrepreneurship
The importance of systems, leadership, and intentional growth
How to recover from mistakes and stay motivated as a business owner
Start Up Costs for a Kona Ice Truck and Territory
Building a Business from Scratch
Expanding the Franchise: New Territories and Trucks
The Importance of Systems in Business
Transitioning from Hustle to Smart Business Management
Hiring and Managing Staff Effectively
Work-Life Balance and Family Dynamics
Learning from Mistakes and Continuous Improvement
Future Aspirations and Business Growth
Navigating Family Dynamics in Business
Intentionality in Business and Family Life
The Dangers of Comparison in Business
The Reality of Business Ownership
Finding Balance Between Work and Family
Scaling a Business
Overcoming Fear in Business Decisions
The Hidden Costs of Business Ownership

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just dreaming of owning a business, Marisa’s story is packed with real-world lessons in leadership, risk-taking, and perseverance that apply to any industry.

🎙️ About Business Owner Conversations
Every week, we sit down with real entrepreneurs to talk about business growth, money management, employee leadership, and the mindset of success. Different industries, same principles. Learn from those who’ve taken the leap.

If you are a business owner or entrepreneur and want to share your story, lessons learned and strategies for success, fill out this form to apply to be interviewed!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...


In this video:
0:00 - Intro to Business Owner Conversations
01:25 - Meet Marissa: Business Owner of Kona Ice Trucks
03:05 - How to Buy a Franchise
05:13 - Startup Fees to Buy a Franchise Business
09:30 - Getting started as a new business owner
12:40 - Buying a Coffee Truck Franchise
14:05 - Owning a Business and Working together with a Spouse
16:00 - Employee, Small Business Owner, Business Owner or Investor?
20:00 - Giving Employees More Responsibility
23:45 - Goal of being an investor, not just a small business owner
27:40 - Finding the right employees to put in place as a business owner
31:49 - Working in a small business with family
39:33 - Advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners
52:20 - Fear of a small business loan vs excitement of starting a business






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