Turning Burnout into Renewed Purpose by Investing in Franchise Ownership

After years of feeling his passion for his previous career fade, Eric Fulkerson knew it was time for a new direction.

He wanted to reconnect with work that energized him, challenged him, and allowed him to take ownership of his future. That clarity set him on the path to Precision Garage Door Service^®.

Eric and his family opened their franchise in Owensboro, Kentucky in April of 2023. For him, the shift was both meaningful and overdue. “I was losing passion for my day-to-day job,” he explains. “Becoming a Precision owner gave me the chance to get back to my roots and do things that I really enjoy.”

With a bachelor’s degree in construction management and experience as a commercial project manager, Eric had always been hands-on. Opening a franchise gave him a chance to return to that part of himself. “Now I get to work with my hands, meet customers, help them understand their needs, and provide solutions. It is work that feels personal and rewarding.”

From the moment Eric joined the Precision system, he felt supported. The corporate team provided a structured startup plan with regular check-ins, accountability, and clear steps.

“They follow the startup schedule to a tee,” he says. “They make sure you are checking off every box and getting everything done in a timely fashion.”

The Precision corporate team helped him secure software, vehicles, tools, and inventory so he would be fully prepared on day one. “They provide everything you need for startup,” he says. “It gave us confidence that we were ready.”

Long before Eric opened his doors, he leaned on the Precision Owners Network to understand the realities of business ownership. Multiple owners shared stories from their own journeys, explained what to expect, and talked openly about the hard moments and the wins.

“They shared information freely with us,” Eric says. “It gave us a lot of insight before we made the decision.”

Since opening, that community has only become more valuable. When questions arise, he can easily reach out to owners who have already been through similar challenges. “We reach out to other owners to bounce ideas off them so we do not repeat mistakes and can learn from their experiences.”

Eric’s franchise journey has been transformative not only for him, but also for his family. Being business owners has created a shared sense of purpose and pride at home.

“It has improved our quality of life because it gives us something we can both relate to,” he says. “We understand what each other is going through on a daily basis and it brings us closer.”

Eric is proud of the goals they have achieved in their first year and even more excited about the goals they continue to set. “We feel like Precision will be behind us the whole time we are doing that,” he says.

For Eric, the most meaningful change is the control he now has over his work and his future. “Things I can do now that I could not do before are set my own rules,” he says. “Taking that initial leap of faith was stressful and exciting, but it was worth it.”

Eric’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when someone is willing to leave comfort behind, return to their strengths, and build a business they can be proud of.