Sponsored content by Ziebart.

Every franchise owner hits a moment that tests them. For Ben Rogers, it came almost immediately.

In 2022, Rogers took over his father’s Ziebart store in Bay City, Michigan. He inherited a business with deep roots in the community and a brand with more than 65 years behind it. He also inherited the problem that keeps small business owners up at night: finding people who actually want to show up, learn, and do great work.

How he solved it is why he’s being recognized for IFA Franchisee of the Year, and why his story matters to anyone thinking about owning a business of their own.

Taking Over Dad’s Store (and Making It His Own)

Stepping into a family business is a different kind of pressure. You’re protecting something someone else built while proving you can take it further. Rogers didn’t get the luxury of easing in. He needed a team, and the usual playbook of posting job ads and hoping for the best wasn’t cutting it.

So he stopped looking where everyone else was looking.

Embracing a Legacy and Making it His Own

Rogers partnered with Do-All Inc., a Bay City nonprofit that provides skills training and job placement for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities. Through that partnership, his store welcomed a new team member who showed up motivated, eager to learn the detailing trade, and genuinely excited about the work.

That attitude spread fast. It raised the standard for the whole crew and helped push the store into a new stretch of growth. What started as an answer to a staffing gap became one of the biggest strengths of the operation.

A Shop Built on Mentorship

A partnership like this only works if the workplace is ready for it. Rogers made sure it was. He built a culture where teaching is part of the daily routine, where questions are welcome, and where everyone is expected to help the person next to them get better.

In 2024, Do-All Inc. named Rogers its Employer of the Year. The recognition was about more than one hire. It reflected a store where mentorship is simply how things get done, and where the whole team is stronger because of it.

People First, Every Day

Rogers leads the same way with everyone on his team. He gives them room to own their work, take pride in it, and treat every customer’s vehicle like it matters. When problems come up, he looks for the fix that builds the business long term, not the one that just gets through the week.

The result is a shop where customers get a team that cares, employees get a leader who invests in them, and Bay City gets a local owner who’s all in on his community.

What Ben’s Story Means for Future Owners

Rogers didn’t have a magic formula. He had a trusted brand behind him, a proven model to build on, and the freedom to solve problems his own way. That’s the balance Ziebart owners get: the backing of a system operating in more than 35 countries, paired with the independence to lead locally.

His story is proof you don’t need to follow the crowd to succeed. You need to know your community, invest in your people, and have the right brand in your corner.

Ready to Write Your Own Story?

If you’re looking for a business where you can lead with purpose and grow with a brand trusted for more than six decades, Ziebart could be your next move.

Learn more about owning a Ziebart franchise: https://www.ziebart.com/franchise-opportunities

Read about the 2026 Franchisee of the Year award winners HERE.

Sponsored Content. Created by or on behalf of the sponsor, who paid for its placement. Views expressed are the sponsor’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the IFA. Placement of this content is not an endorsement