Hi! I'm Stacey

I'm the creator of Franchise Prep Academy,.

If you've ever wondered if franchise ownership may be the next career for you but don't really know much about the franchise industry, you're in the right place.

I'm going to teach you what it took me 15+ years to learn.

I didn't have any of these benefits before buying my franchise. Even though I was very successful, I had a rough patch too. And I'll tell you all about it when we're together!

Stacey Marmolejo Founder/CEO Franchise Prep Academy

Before we get there, here's a bit about me.

I come from a very long line of military service members. A VERY LONG LINE. I can trace my lineage back to when my great-great-great Grandfather served in the Revolutionary war! All told, nine generations of my family have served a cumulative 172 years in the United States military, including my father. And I'm proud to say Generation 10 entered the Naval Academy, in the Fall 2022.

My older brother enlisted and my parents wanted me to go to OCS. But at 22 when I finished college, I was too rebellious. I knew I couldn't make it with the discipline required to be successful in the military.

I really wanted to be an entrepreneur. I didn't know any entrepreneurs. I didn't know anything about owning your own business. There weren't courses, let alone degrees, in entrepreneurship back then.

Instead, I got a corporate job and worked my way up. After 25 years of climbing the corporate ladder, I gave up a prestigious Senior Vice President position in a national media company to purchase a start-up franchise. I loved my job. I loved the people I worked with. I was very well compensated. But I still had that entrepreneurial itch.

I was 45 years old and knew I had to try.

I started with one franchise location while still working my corporate job. Over the course of three years I added two more locations and left my corporate position. Because I was one of the first franchisees in this brand I experienced the start-up phase, the parent franchisor's acquisition by an investment group and the changes that come with going from 10 locations to over 400 locations.

As the franchise grew, we developed a Franchisee Advisory Board. [Most of the larger franchises have them.] I served on the Board for eight years. In that role, I spent a lot of time with new franchisees, teaching them, answering their questions and showing them how I went from nothing to $750k a year in revenue. That's what I want to do for you too.

I did it the WRONG way. I think most people do it the wrong way. I'll tell you about that when we're together too so you don't make the same mistakes I made. Fortunately for me, it all worked out.

16 years later I successfully sold my School of Rock franchise and now I spend my time helping others who want to pursue owning their own business with a focus on success and lifelong happiness. 

Five-time Grammy winner, founding member of the super-group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

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Victor Wooten, five-time Grammy winner and founding member of the super-group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, along with Stacey and her son Nate Beck at a School of Rock Conference.

Stacey on stage at guitar giveaway

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School of Rock, founded in 1998 in Philadelphia PA, began selling franchises in 2005. Stacey was one of the first five people to purchase a franchise. She purchased three locations and brought the music school to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/ St. Paul Minnesota.

Stacey with some of her St. Paul, MN students circa 2006.