Two years ago, Robin Rapaport was distraught and floundering, realizing that her therapy horse nonprofit wasn’t bringing in enough money and unsure what else she could do to make a living. Her best friend took her overseas for a vacation and, during the trip, made the suggestion that turned Rapaport’s life and career around: Talk to my friend Cari Vinci at FranNet and look into buying a franchise. Since November 2009, Rapaport, 54, has owned a franchise that covers much of the San Fernando Valley and other parts of Southern California for a tutoring services company.

What’s your professional background? Most of my life has been dedicated to education. When I was younger, I was a teacher in public schools in Inglewood and Los Angeles, and I also worked with my then-husband for his painting and drywall installation company. I had a real estate license and did some of that, too. In 2000, I started a nonprofit called El Dustberry Ranch, which used rescue horses as therapy animals for special-needs people of all ages, cancer patients and at-risk youth. We were really at the leading edge of this kind of therapy. But in 2009, with the economy in the shape it was in, and me not being able to make a living for myself and pulling my hair out with worry, my best friend said to me, basically, “You’ve got to ditch the ranch and buy a franchise.”

When were you introduced to the idea of franchising? My best friend Lisa is an attorney, and she knows Cari Vinci (president of California-based FranNet West). Lisa had taken me on a vacation to Paris and Madrid, and she just gave it to me good: “You have to give up the ranch and get a franchise.” I had heard of franchising but had never considered doing it myself. At the time, when I thought of franchising, I thought of McDonald’s or Subway or Kinko’s — just blagh. It didn’t sound creative.

When and why did you decide to buy a franchise? When Lisa suggested that to me, it gave me hope. I heard it as a possibility, not, “Oh, this is not something I wanted to do.” I knew I’d come to the end of my possibilities with El Dustberry, and I just didn’t know what I was going to do for money. I needed a fishing rod, and I feel like — not to get dramatic about it — this saved my butt. At that point, I was kind of hopeless, and it was like throwing a rope to a drowning person.

Why FranNet? Lisa said, “Here’s Cari.” I didn’t have a choice. (Laughs.)

Why did you choose a tutoring franchise? With FranNet, you go through a rigorous questionnaire that you fill out, and then based on the results, she sends you different franchises to look at. Cari sent me 3 of them, and the only ones I was interested in were senior care and tutoring. I was initially drawn to the senior thing for the wrong reason, because I thought I potentially could make more money, then I realized I just didn’t have the passion for it. With the tutoring franchisor, the mission statement sounded like something I could have written. It sounded like me. It’s about people who care, and I could make an impact in the overall organization. The more I learned about it, the more I liked it.

Describe what you do. We provide one-on-one, in-home tutoring to people from grade school to senior citizens in any subject at all — anything. I go to consultations with families and students, sell the package of services, interview tutors, match tutors and students, network, organize events, do marketing, create partnerships with schools, speak at PTAs and other functions. There are so many hats, as many as you can imagine. I have about 170 tutors who work as independent contractors, plus a company I contract with that manages SEO, and someone who manages social media, Twitter and Facebook. Plus, the back of my car is wrapped in company bling. It’s a Mercedes GLK, fire-engine red. Her name is Dolores. I actually get business from the car.

What are the benefits of franchise ownership? Oh, my. Well, you can call your own hours. You are part of a team. You never have to be alone; there’s always someone to turn to when you need help. You’re buying a model that’s been proven; you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. To go it alone is … going it alone. I like being part of a worldwide organization that has 200 affiliates around the world. I think it builds credibility and trust. If you work the franchise well, it increases in value, and you can create your own exit plan. You can hire someone. You can work deep inside the business or out of the business. I would do it again in heartbeat.

What advice would you give a prospective franchise owner? You need to know you’ll be working long hours at first. For the first year or so, you need to have enough money to live on as you develop the business. It can’t be all about money; you have to love what you do. You have to have your family on board with what you’re doing, because you’ll be spending a lot of time with it.

Are you happy with what you’re doing? I love what I’m doing. I’m beyond happy. I love, love, love, love, love what I’m doing. I could not have dreamt up a better thing for me.

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