Meet Washington Papa Murphy’s Franchise Owners Eric & Heidi Schneider

Longtime patrons become franchise owners, fulfilling a legacy to own a family run business.

A lot of kids work a part-time job after school, or on weekends, nothing really new there. But what is uncommon is for their parents to wind up buying their employer, as happened in late 2020 when Eric and Heidi Schneider bought their nearby Papa Murphy’s pizza franchise. They now own and operate the Omak location, in the greater Spokane, WA, area and are “thrilled to have taken the entrepreneurial plunge,” says Eric, who shares his thoughts below.

How did you get started with Papa Murphy’s?

Our daughters worked there, so it really does give “family business” a whole new meaning! We were longtime fans and had told the owner that we’d love to talk about buying the franchise when she was ready. Two years ago, she reached out, and that was when we became Papa Murphy’s franchise owners.

What drew you to this business?

We get to coach the kids who are on our staff, teach them about how to run a business well. It really makes a difference in a young person’s life when they get those skills, because they can use them in so many different areas.

What are the attributes that make a good Papa Murphy’s franchise owner?

Pretty basic ones are: be willing to provide great customer service and show up every day ready to do that and be honest and fair with your customers, and your employees. Papa Murphy’s has a great reputation as a business, and our franchise shares that, because people know they can trust us to provide them with great pizza at a good price.

What does a typical day for you look like?

At first it was seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. which is a lot, but I needed to learn the business. Now that we’ve built such a great staff, I can spend more time coaching as well as being a hands-on operator, and also get out in the community. I am always looking for ways to partner with groups and other businesses to build awareness of who we are. People know the brand, so it’s just a matter of helping them get to know our store.

What does Papa Murphy’s do as a company to help you succeed in the business?

They are literally just a phone call away. Whenever we have an issue, or a question, I know we can reach out and get the right answer, right away. They’ve also connected us with other owners, which has been extremely beneficial. They helped us a lot when we were first getting started, and we still network with them. We’ve all had to find some creative solutions in the last couple of years, and it’s been great to have the corporate office, and our fellow franchise owners, to lean on.

What are the greatest rewards in being a Papa Murphy’s franchise owner?

It really is a family business. When I got to work with both my daughters, I told my wife that this is what it really is all about. We are building something for ourselves, and for them, and that is an amazing feeling.

What are some of the challenges you encountered?

Inheriting a store from a previous owner vs. opening a new one was a benefit, and also a challenge. Everyone runs their business a little differently. Even though we have processes and procedures in place, there were still some changes that everyone had to adjust to. But we had help getting through it, and we would do it again.

What do you see as your future with Papa Murphy’s?

I’d love to keep getting more involved with the community as those opportunities arrive, and maybe even expand at some point. This is a great business with a lot of potential if you’re willing to work at it.

Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake pizza franchise is a low-cost investment opportunity offering high growth potential. Join this dynamic brand as we expand our footprint across the United States. Initial investment costs range from $286,919 to $524,205, depending on numerous factors, including geographic areas, condition of the premises, and construction costs. We have grown to more than 1,250 locations thanks to a business model built for entrepreneurs who are passionate about quality, service, integrity, and most of all—pizza.

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