Former Assistant Principal Launches College Planning Franchise With Record-Breaking Success
Shawn Coats has had several firsts to celebrate since joining Class 101. She opened the first Class 101 college planning franchise office in Mesa, Arizona this summer, and she set a company record for first month’s revenue.
The former assistant high school principal with a background in real estate was looking for a new career, and upon discovering Class 101 knew it was a perfect fit. Shawn had helped her oldest son, now a sophomore in college, secure $180,000 in scholarship money using her passion and perseverance. While helping him she discovered she had a talent for navigating the complex college application process. She was soon helping local kids map out effective college plans, and it wasn’t unusual to find a half dozen high schoolers gathered around her kitchen table on Saturdays.
“I was helping them with the application process and apply for scholarships and financial aid, essentially walking them through the entire process,” Shawn says.
Shawn credits this natural affinity for helping kids apply for college and her strong business networking skills to her record-breaking startup month. “Several of my friends wanted to be first in line as Class 101 customers. Even the career and counseling adviser at my kids’ high school signed her child up, which is a testament to the much-needed services that Class 101 provides,” Shawn says.
“I knew college planning was a great business opportunity as long as I could make it affordable and of value — and Class 101 offers all of that” – College 101 Franchisee Shawn Coats
Class 101 national college planning franchise helps high school students get into better colleges and qualify for higher amounts of scholarships and financial aid. The college application process is complicated and stressful, resulting in students who get little, or no, financial aid and who often end up at the wrong schools. Class 101 addresses this need by meeting one-on-one with students throughout the year, resulting in improved ACT and SAT scores and GPAs. Additionally, our college planning experts guide students as they draft a high-performance resume and powerful essays, visit schools, complete applications ahead of schedule and navigate scholarship and financial aid processes. The results are phenomenal. Class 101 students receive more than $160,000 in scholarships and aid on average, compared with the average U.S. high school student who receives just $20,000 in scholarships and aid.
When Shawn found out last year that her assistant principal role was changing and that she’d be spending less time interacting with students, she began researching businesses and found Class 101.
“I knew college planning was a great business opportunity as long as I could make it affordable and of value — and Class 101 offers all of that,” she says.
Having a Passion for Helping Families Is a Strong Motivator
As a parent and former school administrator Shawn has seen firsthand the overwhelming need for organized college preparation services. “I have lived it, and I believe in the power of having the right knowledge about the college application process,” Shawn says.
In addition to saving families from the stress of the college application process, Shawn also helps families save money on college. In her real estate career, she saw many young people who were first time homebuyers burdened with overwhelming student loan debt. Shawn knows that with the careful planning offered by Class 101, this student loan debt can be largely avoided.
“Parents don’t realize that what they don’t know about the college planning process can end up costing their children a ton,” Shawn says.
Having a passion for helping young people successfully navigate the complex college application process is also very fulfilling.
“I love alleviating students’ and parents’ anxiety, and I love seeing them become more comfortable with the process and helping them manage it. I am working with a lot of students who have a lot of anxiety about their future, and I love seeing that look of anxiety leave their face,” Shawn says.
Join Class 101 College Planning Franchise
The initial investment to begin a Class 101 franchise is $40,940 and the potential for high revenue starts from day one. Several of our franchisees have surpassed the $100,000 revenue mark in their first or second year. The average gross sales for our top 5 franchises in 2015 was $137,000, according to our most recent FDD.
There’s never been a better time to join Class 101 college planning franchise. We’re enjoying unprecedented nationwide growth and are looking for new franchise owners who are passionate about helping young people find the right school and save money on college tuition.
Find out more researching our franchise website, call 859-759-0495 or request a copy of our free franchise information report.
