Krishnan contemplated starting a business along similar lines as Cybertary for several years. She had the intention of setting up the business while still working full-time at an insurance company "and that just didn't happen," she says.

Through a friend, Krishnan was introduced to the Cybertary franchise network and chose in late 2009 to open a franchise because "my time to market would be drastically reduced" and she'd have support on the back end if needed, she says.

"I quit my job and started this at the height of the recession," she says. "It was definitely a big risk, but one that I haven't regretted."

Being prepared can be the best groundwork for growth. She believes hard work, preparation, and even a little "doing nothing," when necessary, prepared her for the fairly rapid growth of her business.

“Good business sense means knowing when to be hands on and when it pays to just sit back and let the magic of good business preparation take its course,” she said.

“Everyone has their ‘a-ha’ moment. Sadly mine was over fish sticks,” Beckman said. The “fish sticks” moment occurred when Beckman was preparing dinner for her girls and didn’t know which one wanted ketchup and which one wanted tartar sauce.

“It hit me that a mother should know these things,” she said. “Since I worked such long hours and traveled often on business, I had lost touch with my family. I didn’t know my daughters’ friends, missed school events and recitals, and the girls had even stopped coming to my side of the bed in the middle of the night, since Dad was the one who was always there for them. I thought – ‘I’m the Mommy!’” So, Beckman resigned from her corporate job and set out to create her own perfect “dream job” that would allow her to be more available for her family while meeting her professional objectives and financial goals.