When Rick Kimsey decided to start a business, a franchise seemed like the best way to go.
Buying a franchise — in his case, a Doctors Express urgent care facility — meant he didn’t have to start from square one. The business came with a concept and a service to sell. Urgent care centers treat a range of common non-life threatening medical conditions such as colds, sprains, broken bones, rashes and stomach ailments — usually without an appointment. For many people, the facilities are more appealing and less expensive than a trip to the emergency room. Kimsey just needed to get the franchise up and running, and then operate it. It didn’t even matter that he had no medical training. More.