Franchisees Make Achievement Their Password

We hope you will enjoy these profiles of some of the minority small-business owners highlighted here who help to "rev up" the powerful engine of franchising. Reflected in the profiles of these dedicated franchisees are examples of how the dreams of self-employment and self-determination are transformed

We hope this special feature will give you a better appreciation and understanding of the important and growing relationship between minorities and franchising.

Name: Arthur & Dianz D'Souza

Company's Name: Five Star Financials LLC, dba Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership

Affiliation (Parent Franchise Company): Aaron Rents Inc.

Years in Franchising: Two

Number of units: One open, and a second expected to open in several months

What was your occupation before you acquired a franchise?

Before we acquired a franchise with Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership, we were in Ontario, Canada where we ran a wholesale high-end cakes, pastries and dessert business. We supplied products to the airlines, the top hotels and resorts and other clients in wholesale food services. We ran this business for 10 years between 1993 and 2003 and sold it in 2003.

All through our stay in Canada, Dinaz worked with the Metropolitan Children's Aid Society as a social worker. Additionally, she undertook important functions in the running of our business; maintained all accounts, payroll and headed the marketing function. Prior to coming to Canada, in 1989, Dinaz was a human resources manager with an advertising company.

Prior to arriving in Canada, I was self-employed in the management consultancy field. And yet prior to that, in India, I consecutively headed human resources divisions of two multinational companies.

How did you hear about the franchise you eventually acquired?

A friend of mine is a franchisee with Aaron's and has three stores in Pennsylvania. I heard about the company through Khodi and his wife, Jeroo Irani.

What attracted you to this industry?

My previous experience with business was in management consulting and wholesale food. For various reasons, the food business proved very time- consuming. The way we managed it defied the possibility of delegation of responsibilities. In short, I was on location pretty much year round over a period of 10 years.