If you were to open a very small storefront... I don't know that you would even need to have it in an expensive neighbourhood. You could probably get away with something in riverside industrial or one of those tiny little shops downtown, and run it from, say 4-8. I think that's what the guys at Red Coral Lethbridge are doing... evenings and weekends. That would allow you to keep your day job until the store was self sufficient. That would give you exposure + keep people OUT of your house and allow you the drop in traffic to expand the Red Deer market.
I don't think you need to buy a franchise, if you were to be the only game in town then the franchise fee is just an expense and it limits you to what you can bring in. I will guarantee that NOBODY in Red Deer would say "Oh boy, a new shop, if only it was a Blue world Red Deer, or Red Coral Red Deer" If there were 4 or 5 other shops in town then a recognizable name might give you an edge. For now, people will be happy to have something.
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