Sonya Eddings is a busy woman. She works at a law office, runs two Coffee Beanery cafés, and is a full-time mother and wife. Sometimes it seems like she’d see her colleagues more than her husband...if her husband wasn’t her business partner.

She left her position as vice president in the technology department of a bank in Columbus, GA three years ago to help her husband, Michael, manage his private law practice. She handles the business’ finances and assists with the day-to-day duties imperative to the firm’s smooth operation. The job is challenging and fulfilling, but Sonya and her husband shared a dream of collaborating on a more "delectable" business venture.

"My husband and I love to travel, and really enjoy the atmosphere and culinary offerings of local cafés in Europe. We have always talked about owning a business together. It has been a dream of ours for many years, but we needed to wait for the right opportunity. Combining our entrepreneurial natures with our appreciation of good coffee seemed like a foolproof idea," she says.

After thoroughly exploring various options, the Eddings decided to take over a Coffee Beanery that was already operating in the Peachtree Mall in May, 2006. They still aspired to build a franchise location from scratch, though, so it appeared fortuitous when they discovered a building for sale in the historical district of Uptown Columbus.

"At first glance, it looked like a mess, but Michael and I saw potential for something wonderful. He turned to me and said, ‘This would be the perfect spot for that coffee shop,’ and I knew he was right! It was on a busy corner, with several banks, government buildings and post offices within walking distance. You could not beat the location," explains Sonya.

The couple completely restored the derelict structure and made it their second Coffee Beanery in August, 2006.

A strategic site is an important element of the Coffee Beanery’s philosophy. Part of the Coffee Beanery’s store development business system includes a dedication to finding the right location-a visible spot in a high-traffic area that matches the company’s proven criteria, which is a mix of 20 factors, including demographics, traffic patterns, and competition.

But of course, to run a profitable business, you need more than prime real estate. The Eddings methodically researched what it took to open a coffee house and found the answer was-a lot!

"You need product, equipment, a menu, a training process, etc. We didn’t want to recreate the wheel, so when choosing between opening a private business and joining a franchise program, the decision was simple. A franchise would allow us to capitalize on already established vendor relationships. We would be a part of a larger organization but at the same time, maintain our local autonomy. It was, and is, the perfect balance," Sonya says.

The couple’s experience running Michael’s private practice, which provides title insurance and escrow services, helped prepare them for their new adventure. They knew the level of commitment necessary to succeeding as business owners. They had worked together as colleagues before and knew they would be compatible as professional partners.

Like the Eddings, Coffee Beanery founders Julius and JoAnn Shaw also run a family business, something that attracted Sonya to the opportunity. "When I learned that the Coffee Beanery was a family business, and about how the Shaws had built the company from its first, single mall location to what you see today, I was very intrigued. I admired JoAnn’s dedication to family values, and of course, the franchise’s success," she says.

Sonya recently enjoyed an achievement of her own. In May 2008, Columbus County honored Sonya and her franchise’s devotion to the community and charitable endeavors by bestowing to her the Hometown Hero award. The Eddings’ Coffee Beanery shops support local hospital drives and have provided coffee and products to the American troops in Iraq.

Sonya credits some of her accomplishments to her two dedicated managers who run the shops’ day-to-day operations, including staff management, but franchising still keeps her busy. She visits both stores, which are seven miles apart, every day before heading to the law office. She also oversees all finances and vendor purchases, and holds weekly tactical meetings with the store heads.

"I spend an average of 25 hours per week on the management of the stores. I need to observe the store in action so I can consider quality control issues and answer important questions, such as how we are interacting with our customers, how clean the facilities are and whether the staff is up-selling and understanding the week’s specials. Then I provide feedback to the managers," explains Sonya, who also visits the stores every weekend to spot check.

The Eddings hope to open additional stores throughout the Columbus area, making them perfect candidates for the Coffee Beanery’s area franchising licensing agreement. The franchise offers three different types of domestic licenses: single unit; area development, which grants the right to develop multiple locations within a designated area; and area franchising, which allows existing franchisees to assist corporate headquarters in building the brand by helping to recruit and mentor new franchisees, in addition to running their own store, in a specific geographical region.

Sonya is currently fluent in all things Coffee Beanery. She is confident in the product and dedicated to opening new shops, but she spent a lot of time and research hours getting to where she is today. "Whenever you enter a new business venture, it is important to understand what you are getting into," she explains. "The Coffee Beanery’s Five Step Domestic Process of becoming a franchisee helps you do just that."

The first step of the system is the potential franchisees’ investigation of the company, which for the Eddings meant using the Internet to learn about management and corporate ideals. Prior to beginning the Five Step Domestic Process, she and her husband used The Franchise Handbook Website to glean unbiased, reliable information. They also called various franchisees from different companies to ask questions about the level of support they received, management style, red tape, and royalty fees.

When Sonya was satisfied with her findings, she completed the online application. The company contacted her, asked and answered some key questions, and instructed her to complete documentation. "Next, I learned what we really needed to do if we were serious about becoming part of the Beanery family-visit the headquarters and franchisees in the Michigan area."

Sonya continues, "This allowed us to ask the current owners questions and observe the daily operations and distribution process. I don’t know how other franchisors engage prospective partners, but this process was imperative to our decision. I trained for four weeks with my manager in Michigan. It was what I needed to ensure that I could successfully run our shops and understand our business inside and out."

She continues to rely heavily on the Coffee Beanery’s marketing support and appreciates the responsiveness of the corporate office. "Everyone is just an email away. If I have a question or concern, I can be confident that the appropriate person will respond to me immediately. That helps assure me piece of mind."

Sonya says the most important piece of advice she can offer to a prospective franchisee is to find a business that he or she loves, and to be sure to ask the right questions during the research phase.

"Ask about organization and management style. Ensure that the franchisor’s business philosophy is consistent with yours. Becoming part of a franchise is a long term commitment. You may be independent, but it’s a team approach that makes things work,' advises Sonya.

"Personally, I love having a level of independence, but also collaborating with other franchisees when needed. Having the franchisor focus on establishing a brand name through product placement and marketing on a national level complements what I do locally. To me, working as a franchisee is more attractive than working alone as a private business owner."