What started as a $500 college fund goal turned into a frozen custard empire spanning multiple states. Jessica Mortensen shares her unexpected journey from buying a college student's yellow trailer business for $40,000 to building Karie Anne's Frozen Desserts into a thriving franchise operation. In this episode of Startups with Stu, Jessica reveals the pivotal moments that transformed her "summer side gig" mindset into a serious growth strategy, including the leap from eight seasonal trailers to year-round brick-and-mortar locations. She breaks down the harsh realities of franchising - from the massive upfront costs to finding franchisees who won't let high schoolers run their operations unsupervised. Jessica opens up about the internal struggle between her competitive drive and family priorities, sharing why she's considering either bringing on a strategic partner or leveraging debt to reach her next growth phase. Her transparent approach to business challenges, combined with practical insights about managing seasonal cash flow and building systems that work across multiple locations, makes this essential listening for anyone considering franchising or building a family business. Jessica's story proves that sometimes the best business opportunities come disguised as small investments that "feel right."

Connect with Jessica Mortensen:

LinkedIn: @jessica-mortensen

Instagram: @karieannesdesserts