I've been a franchise owner for 17 years, and though the road has had its ups and downs, the journey itself has been fulfilling. Franchise ownership, for anyone, is a rewarding experience because you learn something new every single day.

I had been a stay-at-home mom for a number of years when I decided it was time to reenter the workforce. I had some interest and skill in taxes and finances. In fact, I'd always dreamed of owning my own business, so I assumed I'd go that route.

On a whim, I visited a Merry Maids office near where I was planning to begin my accounting business. Merry Maids franchises offer residential cleaning services, and I could immediately see the future and potential success in such a business.

I was so impressed after one meeting with that Merry Maids crew that I flew to a Merry Maids convention, eager to learn more. I was sold from that point forward. I have never looked back since I took those first scary steps into owning my own business, but it's fair to say that I had to overcome a rocky start.

My husband and I were divorcing, and in January of 1988 I found myself with a brand new business-it had been up and running for about two weeks-with only two employees and a loan payment. I had no working capital.

I was going through some dire straits, but I held on to what I believed had the potential to become a great success. I was casting about, looking for support, looking for a hand.

So, I got busy. I was cleaning during the day, and at night I'd do the accounting. I even cleaned homes myself on the weekends to earn working capital.

Again, just as I got my feet planted firmly on the ground, another obstacle was thrown in my path. A car accident in July of 1989 left me with a severe back injury, and I was unable to walk or work for four months.

My oldest daughter had just graduated from college, and she pitched in to help me with the franchise. Together, we stuck it out.

During my recuperation, I also discovered a great government program called the Women's Business Initiative, a Small Business Administration project that helps women begin a business with strategic planning help and financial assistance, including matching contributions. As I discovered in the course of my career as a franchisee, there are great tools out there for small business owners-you just have to find them.

With the $10,000 from that original grant, I was able to get back on my feet and continue growing my business. Today, it is with great pride that I can say I am the owner of Merry Maids of Greenfield, Wisconsin.

I own five franchises covering a territory of 900 square miles. I operate with 55 employees in four counties in the Milwaukee area, including Kenosha County, the fastest-growing county in the nation.

People have asked me why I didn't give up when the going was proving to be so troublesome. My answer is always the same: It's because I believed in what I was trying to do, and I still feel that way.

I believe in what I'm doing because I can't stand it when my house is dirty. When my house is a mess, I don't feel good. It makes me feel like my life is out of control. So I know what my customers feel like. I'm like them.

That is one of the reasons why I think a leader's vision is one of the most important aspects in owning a franchise. If you aren't inspired, if you don't believe in what you're doing, neither will your employees.

The people you hire are looking for something. They want more than "just a job;" they need something else. To be a successful franchisee, you have to be a leader and share your vision, your inspiration and the reason you're there, doing what you do.

I believe that is the only way it will work-you can only be as big as your vision is. Sharing that vision is the key to getting people to stay with you and to keeping them both happy and inspired.

It is also important not to let the daily problems and frustrations of owning and running a business overwhelm you. You have to learn to roll with the punches. If you don't, your employees will sense your discouragement and become disheartened.

It is the franchisee's responsibility to keep a positive attitude and to translate that attitude into a positive work environment. If you let your frustrations zap your energy and your self-confidence, that is exactly what they will do-and it will affect your ability to lead. You just need to roll with the punches and keep your focus on where you are headed.

You may have your ups and downs with customer and employee issues, but with focus you can build a business. Plus, you are learning a variety of skills. You are the owner, the trainer, the marketer, the accountant and more. You've got to get your name out there, so you're the public relations specialist, too.

I think I offer a very important service as a Merry Maids franchisee, and it's easy for me to believe in what I'm doing. I've watched how the business has changed over the years, and it is a different era than when I first started.

Back then, having a cleaning service clean your home was only for the rich. There was a stigma attached to not doing the cleaning yourself. Now, a much broader group of consumers have their homes cleaned. Merry Maids has played an important role in that transformation, and I'm proud of that.

Along with believing in yourself and what you're doing, you have to trust your franchisor. Luckily for me, Merry Maids has gone to great lengths to cultivate that trust. A critical step for any prospective franchisee is to thoroughly investigate the franchise before investing. I've been fortunate to have a good relationship with my franchisor, but you need to do the research before you buy.

We've been so satisfied with our positive experiences that the business is a family affair now. Owning franchises has changed our lives. We're involved, and we make a difference in our community. We've all cleaned and we've all learned to pitch in-when you own a franchise there is always something new to learn.

The same daughter, Wendy, who helped me out so graciously when I was out of work with a back injury owns her own Merry Maids franchise today. She bought her franchise in 1990, after helping me recuperate. And soon a dream of mine will come true: We'll have both our businesses under the same roof.

We've found a unique building in a great location, and we hope to incorporate a ladies' gym into the space. It seems like a natural match because many women like to work out, and we all want to be in better shape.

My other daughter, who has a degree in English, does public relations for our franchises, and she recently won an award for her contribution to the community. When she accepted the award, a newspaper reporter asked her if she had anything to say to people. She replied that her mother taught her not to be afraid of opportunity.

Needless to say, her words meant a great deal to me, and franchising played an important role in making them possible. Today I can say there is hardly anything I'm afraid of-and I'm not sure I could say that if I hadn't taken those first steps and started my own franchise business.