How this Savvy Lawyer became a Franchise Owner with her NFL player husband

You need to be more than an athlete.

Everette and Tenisha met during his rookie season with the Panthers while she was studying at law school. Tenisha persisted in convincing Everette to think about his post-NFL career while he was still early in his playing days. As a result, Everette became a franchisee at 25.

Everette as a pro player with the Panthers. (Photo: Michael DeHoog, Getty)

Why Tropical Smoothie Cafe?

On a trip to Tallahassee, Tenisha and Everette noticed how popular Tropical Smoothie Cafe was, with several locations across the city. They loved the product and believed in its potential—so much so that they wanted to bring it back home to Charlotte. At the time, the brand was still growing but eager to partner with athletes.

Tenisha and Everette at the Tropic Smoothie Cafe

Build and use the network while you’re still playing

With Tenisha’s guidance, Everette made the most of the NFL’s resources while still on the field—laying the foundation for their future success. “Go to the programs, apply for the grants, find business partners,” she advises. “Use the platform while you have it.”

You cannot be absentee unless you own many locations.

Although the couple planned to operate the franchise passively, it turned out to be an active business. Most franchise portfolios require an active owner until they scale to around four locations and can afford the overhead of hiring an area manager.

Tenisha also stresses the importance of having the right team. With many people trying to get to Everette, Tenisha serves as an important filter between the influx of requests and the needs of the business.

As a lawyer who works with pro athletes, she also strongly advises having clear agreements in place—even between spouses. “Put everything in writing,” she says. “Protecting each other is how you set yourselves up for long-term success.”

Everette’s fellow athletes supporting the store launch

You can listen to the full recording where Tenisha shares tips on funding and finding a franchise: