Desario Turner did not have classic Take This Job and Shove It Moment – No dramatic resignation, no sudden trade closed. In fact, he had a successful, stable career in Harley-Davidson, where he played a leadership role managing online ecommerce operations in the US and Canada. She could comfortably live in the corporate world indefinitely.
But Turner had other plans. She wanted ownership, autonomy and a chance to make something worthwhile in her hometown Rasine, Wisconsin. Therefore, in 2023, he opened a smoothing king franchise and ran on the ground. “I knew that if I wanted freedom and life I want, just a salary was not enough to me,” she says.
Related: Consideration of franchise ownership? Start now to find your personal list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.
Image Credit: Desero Turner | Smothi king
Bike for mixtures
Turner spent nearly 18 years in Harley-Davidson, serving various customer-honor roles, from the support of dealerships to management of North American Ecommerce. During that time, he also detected several side hustles-from the properties of the vending machines-as part of a large vision for degenerate financial freedom.
Turner wanted to go to a business that combined with her values and offered a product in which she believed. When he discovered the smoothie king, the concept clicked. This combined health and welfare, community effects and a scalable franchise model – all things that she felt emotional about bringing into her hometown.
After settling on the brand, he started the franchise application process at the end of 2021, while still working full -time and awakened both responsibilities for almost two years. “This is when it really stopped; it was certainly a busy time,” she remembers. “But I had to do that.”
Related: He was a lawyer with no restaurant experience. Now, she is reviving a reputed restaurant series.
Recipient of record
Turner’s smooth king place in Rasine broke the expectations of the exit outside the gate, breaking the franchise’s record for the first week’s sale when opened in 2023. Despite being in an unfamiliar market with the brand, its store generated more than $ 38,000 in its initial week and quickly became a destination for health-managed locals.
In addition to the construction of a prosperous business, the Turner made a priority to give it back. She regularly partnens with local schools, gym and youth programs and donates smoothies for events, supports money-ravages and provides healthy diet for students-athletes.
Catherine Miriman, VP of training and education in Smuthi King, says, “She believed in herself, worked and chose a place that gave her the best chance of business.” “She used to understand from the beginning that there is no better way to introduce a new community for a new community than authentic connections.”
By the end of his first year, the Turner had already crossed $ 1 million in pure sales – a milestone that placed his store in the top 50 of more than 1,200 places in the system.
Related: 70 small business ideas to start in 2025
Building for future
Now, Turner is watching the future. Her 19-year-old daughter has played a major leadership role in the store, which manages day-to-day operations and learns every aspect of business in advance. But this is not just a job-this is a long-term investment in its future. Turner is deliberately taking full ownership of one day to his daughter, not only a business, but a blueprint for freedom, responsibility and generational wealth. “After all, this is her business,” she says. “I am showing him everything now, so she understands what it takes – because it is for her future.”
And the vision does not stop there. With the plan to expand and already second place in work, Turner is just starting. His advice for others consider jumping into the ownership of business as he did. “Invest that current and energy in itself and make something for you and your family in the future,” she says. “Go for it.”
Related: I went away from a corporate career to start my small business – why should you do this here
Desario Turner did not have classic Take This Job and Shove It Moment – No dramatic resignation, no sudden trade closed. In fact, he had a successful, stable career in Harley-Davidson, where he played a leadership role managing online ecommerce operations in the US and Canada. She could comfortably live in the corporate world indefinitely.
But Turner had other plans. She wanted a chance to make ownership, autonomy and something worthwhile in her hometown racene, Wisconsin. Therefore, in 2023, he opened a smoothing king franchise and ran on the ground. “I knew that if I wanted freedom and life I want, just a salary was not enough to me,” she says.
Related: Consideration of franchise ownership? Start now to find your personal list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.
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