Dave Schaefers and Alexandria Warren Use Franchise Ownership Experience to Guide Franchisors to Success
At BrandONE, a franchise development company, the team’s commitment to franchising is more than just a job — it’s a personal mission. Partner and Chief Development Officer Dave Schaefers and Vice President of Brand Development Alexandria Warren, are franchise owners themselves, giving them firsthand experience with the challenges and rewards of franchise ownership. Thanks to this unique perspective, they can “walk the walk and talk the talk,” offering franchisors and franchisees real, actionable advice that makes a difference.
Schaefers, Warren and the entire BrandONE team are dedicated to helping every franchisor they work with not just get started but truly take off. They ensure each client is equipped with the tools, guidance and support needed for long-term success. Both leaders believe that the key to thriving in franchising is a full commitment to the franchise model, driven by passion, responsibility and a clear vision for the future.
Their journey in franchising has not only shaped their careers but has also profoundly impacted their personal lives. It has given them the opportunity to live better lifestyles and create deeper connections with the brands they support.
Alexandria Warren, Vice President of Brand Development
Owning a franchise has made it easier for me to connect with our franchisors.
For Alexandria Warren, franchising has been a life-changing journey. Throughout her career, she spent years encouraging others to dive into business ownership while being fearful of it herself. But after she and her husband took a leap of faith and invested in a RestoPros home restoration franchise in 2022, she realized it was the best decision she had ever made. “I would do it 1000% times over,” she says.
“For me, it was about practicing what I preach. Owning a franchise has made it easier for me to connect with our franchisors and clients because I’ve walked in their shoes. I can now evaluate business models from a more realistic perspective and create content that’s more relevant because I’ve lived it,” she explains.
Franchising hasn’t just transformed her professional life — it’s had a profound impact on her personally. “Franchising is the path the Lord used to change my life,” Warren shares. Through franchising, she’s achieved financial freedom, bought her dream home, and created a family-like environment at work.
Dave Schaefers, Partner and Chief Development Officer
The most successful franchisees I’ve met genuinely love what they do.
Dave Schaefers brings decades of franchising experience to the table, but his passion for the industry runs deeper than his impressive resume. He’s invested in several brands, including Clean Eatz, a healthy meal prep franchise, and 1-800-STRIPER, a company that revitalizes communities by improving parking lot aesthetics.
His journey in franchising began in the late 1990s with various roles including president of Econo Lube, which was later acquired by Driven Brands Inc. This extensive experience eventually led him to join BrandONE. For Schaefers, “owning it” means fully committing to the franchise model and taking full responsibility for his investment. He believes that is the secret ingredient to success in franchising. “The most successful franchisees I’ve met genuinely love what they do. Passion drives pride in your work, and it’s hard to succeed if it’s just about the money,” he says.
Schaefers also stresses the importance of having a clear vision for the future when getting into franchising. “Start with the end in mind,” he advises. “Why are you buying the franchise, and where do you want it to be in five years? How do you plan to exit, and what do you want that exit to look like?” This approach, he believes, helps potential franchisees determine if they are the right fit and ensures they have the mindset needed to succeed.
For more information, visit https://brandonefd.com.
