From Paint to Purpose: How Brian Launched the First Shot of Art Franchise in Orange County

Opening a franchise can be exciting — and a little terrifying. That’s why we love sharing real stories from our franchise owners.

Recently, we caught up with Brian, who launched the very first Shot of Art franchise in Irvine, California. In just two months, his studio welcomed over 1,700 guests and booked 575 sessions — but the numbers are just part of the story.

What’s it really like to open a creative business? What surprised him? And would he do it all again?

We’ll let Brian take it from here. 👇

“I wasn’t made for a cubicle life.”

Before opening Shot of Art, Brian’s path was already full of bold decisions.

“I started in healthcare IT, but pretty quickly I realized sitting at a desk from 9 to 5 just didn’t fit me,” he told us. “I’ve always been driven by independence and variety.”

So he left the corporate world and launched his own personal training studio. That gave him the foundation to build a business — but when it came time for a new chapter, he knew he didn’t want to start from scratch again.

“This time, I wanted a proven concept, something I could believe in, but also something fun. Shot of Art immediately stood out because it wasn’t just a business — it was an experience.”

A Family Trip That Sparked a Franchise

“The first time I experienced Shot of Art was during a visit to see family in Chicago. We all went together — and it was such a fun, memorable time,” Brian shared.

“We laughed, got creative, and left with artwork we were actually proud of. A few months later, I got an email saying they were starting to franchise — the timing was perfect. I knew I had to jump in.”

From the first discovery call, Brian says everything felt right:

“They were passionate and transparent. We felt like we were talking to real partners — not a corporate machine.”

And once he visited the LA studio for Discovery Day?

“By the end of that day, everything just clicked. We knew this was the right move.”

Building Something New — Together

Since Brian’s location in Irvine was the first franchise ever opened, the onboarding process was being built alongside him.

“That could’ve been intimidating — but it wasn’t,” he said. “They were open to feedback, and the support was there at every step.”

The studio itself became a full family effort. Brian’s daughter, who’s artistic, comes in to help. His wife uses her corporate skills to support the marketing and admin side.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to build this together — not just a business, but something we’re proud of as a family.”

Behind the Scenes: What a Day at the Studio Looks Like

“We usually open at 3 p.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends, but I get there about 30 minutes early to set up, check emails and voicemails, and prep for the day,” Brian said.

And then the energy kicks in:

“Right before we open, the lights go on, the music goes up, and our instructors arrive ready to create magic.”

“Some days I’m greeting guests and making sure everything runs smoothly. I love seeing people’s faces when they walk in and see the murals and the vibe — and then seeing them leave with huge smiles, holding their own artwork.”

On Social Media, Buzz, and Going Viral

Shot of Art is a highly visual experience — and that’s reflected in how the Irvine location grew its online following.

“We manage our own local account, and it’s been so much fun creating content that reflects our community,” Brian shared. “We’ve already grown to over 6,000 followers — mostly from organic posts and people sharing their experience.”

“Social media has been huge. Influencers reach out weekly because they’ve seen others post. That visibility has been a major driver of bookings.”

The First 2 Months: “Even better than expected”

Opening a business right before summer might sound risky. But for Brian, it worked — and fast.

“We’ve been open for about two months now,” he said. “Even though summer can be slower, we’ve been ahead of forecast from the start.”

“We’ve had more than 1,700 guests and made over 575 bookings already. The demand has been strong — we’ve expanded our available rooms and even started hiring new team members.”

The best part?

“People don’t just come once. Some guests have made it their mission to try every experience we offer. And they bring more people with them next time — that’s been incredibly rewarding.”

“It’s not just paint and music. It’s work — and it’s worth it.”

People often assume running an art studio is all fun and games. But as Brian explained, it takes coordination, attention to detail, and stamina.

“It looks like it’s just color and creativity — and it is — but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes,” he said. “Inventory alone has been a learning curve. We offer different types of experiences, with lots of materials, and keeping track of it all has been challenging.”

“But I’ve been surprised by how easy hiring has been. This is such a fun place to work that people want to be part of it.”

What He’d Tell a Future Franchise Owner

“For us, it came down to three things,” Brian shared.

“We had to believe in the product, the financials had to make sense, and we had to feel like we could trust and grow with the franchisor.”

“There are so many ways to analyze a business — but we also trusted our gut. From that very first call, everything in us was saying yes.”

His biggest piece of advice?

“Don’t try to do everything alone. Even with a proven concept, it’s still a brand-new business. It’ll be chaotic at times, but that chaos is temporary — the doors will open.”

Final Thoughts

“Openness and collaboration made the difference for us,” Brian said.

“We were flexible, we communicated honestly, and we stayed focused on the big picture — and the momentum we built carried right into launch.”

Thinking about opening a Shot of Art studio in your city?

Brian’s story is just the beginning — and we’re always looking for new partners who want to bring creativity, joy, and unforgettable experiences to their community.

👉 Click here to learn more about our franchise program.

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