Multi-Unit Salon Franchisee Pivots to Restaurant Brokerage

We Sell Restaurants Owner Partners with Daughter in Home-Based Franchise

Debra Sawyer spent years as a certified public accountant helping other people understand their businesses. Eventually, she wanted to own one herself.

She went on to build a 46-unit Sport Clips portfolio across four states. Running that many salons meant managing leases, buildouts and employees, along with everything else that comes with keeping dozens of locations open. Then the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of them all. “I began to think about what else I could build beyond hair care,” she says. 

She found her next opportunity at an International Franchise Association event where she met Robin Gagnon, co-founder and CEO of We Sell Restaurants. “We happened to sit together because we were both from Florida, and that conversation introduced me to restaurant brokerage,” Sawyer says.  

Putting Ownership Experience to Work 

We Sell Restaurants is the nation’s only business broker franchise focused exclusively on restaurants. Its brokers help owners sell their businesses, guide buyers through acquisitions, and assist with restaurant leasing, as well as franchise restaurant sales and resales.

The business caught Debra’s attention for several reasons. She understood buying and selling businesses. She was comfortable reviewing financials and negotiating deals. And, as opposed to her previous franchise experience, We Sell Restaurants offered a home-based franchise opportunity requiring no storefront or employees.

She also found someone she wanted to build the business with: her daughter, Samantha.

Seeing Beyond the Asking Price

For Debra, much of the work felt familiar. “The more I learned about We Sell Restaurants, the more I saw a connection to the work I had already done,” she says. “I had bought businesses, negotiated deals and spent years responsible for what happened after closing. Brokerage gave me a way to bring that experience to owners who were preparing to sell and buyers trying to make a sound decision.”

Her experience as a franchisee helps her look beyond the asking price. She knows buyers need to understand the financials, the lease and the responsibilities they will assume once they own the business. She also understands how much a sale can mean to an owner who has spent years building the business.

“I’ve spent years reviewing financials, buying businesses and dealing with landlords as a tenant. I also know how emotional a sale can be, even when everyone is trying to make a practical decision,” Debra says. “When a buyer or seller feels overwhelmed, I can draw on the times I’ve been in their position.”

From Marketing Assistant to Partner

Samantha first became involved in the restaurant brokerage franchise while studying accounting at the University of Central Florida. She helped Debra with marketing and later completed an internship at a national accounting firm. “That experience helped her recognize that she wanted to use her accounting education in a more hands-on role,” Debra says. “She attended the We Sell Restaurants annual conference and I could see that she was interested in the people and the business behind each transaction, not just the financial statements.”

Samantha also had previous restaurant experience, including work at a large entertainment venue with a full-service restaurant and bar from 2019 to 2022. Before graduating, she earned her real estate license and completed We Sell Restaurants’ broker certification.

Today, Samantha and Debra each bring something different to their clients. Samantha handles social media and creates 3D tours that help buyers get a feel for a restaurant before scheduling a visit. Debra draws on her accounting background and years of buying and operating businesses. “We each notice different things and that makes our conversations with clients more useful,” Debra says.

No Storefront or Staff Required

We Sell Restaurants’ home-based franchise model gave Debra and Samantha a way to work together without first finding office space or hiring a staff. For other parent-child teams, spouses or business partners considering a franchise, that structure may hold a similar appeal.

After operating 46 salons, Debra knew how much time and money could go into a physical location before it ever opened. We Sell Restaurants offered a different set of responsibilities and opportunities. The franchise requires no office, inventory or employees. Its website lists a total initial investment of $106,225 to $151,400, and the brand was recognized on Franchise Business Review’s 2026 Top Low-Cost Franchises and Top Franchises for Women lists.

New owners complete a four-week training program leading to restaurant broker certification. They also receive access to the brand’s proprietary operations system, which supports lead generation and closings. Owners must meet applicable real estate licensing requirements. Brokers also need to know their markets, develop relationships and help clients through decisions that can be financially and personally significant.

“The franchise system can give you training, processes and people to call, which is valuable. I’ve appreciated that support as an owner,” Debra says. “But the system can’t make every decision for you. You still need to lead the business, understand your market and be willing to do the day-to-day work.”

Strong Year-Over-Year Performance

While the restaurant business can be challenging, people are still dining out, even in the current economy. In 2026, restaurant spending continued at high levels according to the National Restaurant Association, which reports sales expected to reach $1.5 trillion this year. 

That spending correlates to openings: According to Restaurant Data, nearly 5,000 restaurants opened this year in the June-September period alone. 

We Sell Restaurants outperformed the broader market, posting a 67% year-over-year increase in sold restaurant units in the first quarter alone. The restaurant brokerage franchise entered 36 new markets between 2022-2025 as part of its national franchise expansion, extending its footprint across the country to now operate in 45 states. And, for the fifth consecutive year, We Sell Restaurants was named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies.

Learning to Work Together

Debra and Samantha have earned Million Dollar Club recognition from We Sell Restaurants. Along the way, Debra has learned that being Samantha’s business partner sometimes means setting aside her instincts as a parent.

“As a parent, it’s easy to want to step in with an answer,” she says. “As a business partner, I have to give Samantha room to bring her own ideas forward and take ownership of them.” 

That includes letting Samantha approach things differently. “She is a go-getter. If she sees something that could be improved, she wants to act on it,” Debra says. “I appreciate that because it pushes our business forward, and it’s rewarding to watch her build confidence in her own judgment.”

Debra’s first franchise business grew to 46 locations. Her We Sell Restaurants home-based franchise gives her the chance to use what she had learned, work alongside her daughter and leave the storefront and staffing demands behind.

To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit We Sell Restaurants.