Family Support and Determination Helped Build a Business That Continues to Grow
In 2014, Robin McKenna became the first female owner of a Window Genie franchise, a home services business with over 100 locations offering window and gutter cleaning, window tinting, pressure washing and holiday lighting.
She was something of an anomaly in a male-dominated industry. “I did step into a business that most homeowners felt was a business owned by men,” McKenna says of her early days. “When I first launched the business, I had to work through the concerns of ‘as a woman, do you really know what you are doing?’”
She credits a strong work ethic, a supportive family and an established franchise partner with helping her to succeed. “My goal was to grow the business and be the leading service provider in my community,” she says.
Today, McKenna’s Window Genie of Princeton, N.J. is thriving. She has seven full-time employees and expects to bring on four more full-time employees to manage the increased demand.
Women-Owned Business
According to the 2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report, women entrepreneurs are on the upswing. Businesses like McKenna’s are opening and expanding at a faster rate than those owned by men. The report noted that from 2019 to 2023, the growth of women-owned businesses outpaced the rate of those owned by men by 94.3%. The reasons are as varied as the women entrepreneurs themselves.
For McKenna, a layoff in 2012 after 20 years at a medical device company got the ball rolling. After some initial panic, she realized losing her job “was a blessing in disguise.” She had two children at home, aging parents and a belief that her work and personal life were out of balance.
McKenna had contemplated owning her own business, but worried she had no experience. Then she remembered something her father always told her: “You can do anything you put your mind to.” In 2013, she committed to business ownership and began to work with a franchise coach to determine the best fit. Window Genie’s strong culture and emphasis on giving back to communities stood out.
“When I joined the Window Genie team, I gained another family,” she says. “The corporate office and the other owners have been very supportive. I felt this franchise would give me an opportunity to build relationships in the community and continue to serve those customers for years. With the many different services Window Genie offers, there’s something for every home and every budget. I like that,” she says.
Her decision did not come without some trepidation, however. “Purchasing a franchise was the scariest decision I had ever made,” she says. “Owning a business is not easy, regardless if you are a man or woman. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, tenacity, customer focus and doing the right thing for not only your customers, but for your employees as well.”
Work-Life Balance
One of the greatest benefits to entrepreneurship is managing her work-life balance, McKenna says. When her husband of 30 years was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma in 2021, she was able to care for him without worrying about being away from work.
“The personal freedoms you have are much greater than when working for corporate America,” she says. “As a business owner with the right team, I was able to support Mike along his journey until his passing without having to justify my time and not be judged by an employer.” Her daughter, Brianna, is having her first child soon and McKenna knows she will be able to take time to be grandma “Gigi.”
“I have a wonderful staff who supports not only my business and our customers, but they have also had my back during difficult times and good times.”
McKenna grew up and raised her family in the central New Jersey community, so it’s important that her business has a positive impact. The company supports a number of local nonprofits, offers discounted services to first responders and veterans and organizes food drives.
We also provide jobs to people in the community and help them build skills they can use in the future. ”And she intends for Window Genie of Princeton to have a lasting impact: Her son, Michael, has worked in the business with her since 2015 with the goal to one day own the franchise.
“My son and I are also evaluating taking on more responsibility and growing our commercial business,” she says, adding: “As my dad instilled in me, and I have told my children,‘ You can do anything you put your mind to’.”
For more information, visit Window Genie’s franchise website.
