Melissa Fowler is a long-time franchise partner at Stellarossa Café in Queensland and a mother of four who balances family life with business ownership.

Starting her day at 4:30 a.m., Melissa oversees every aspect of her café’s operations from opening the store and managing staff to handling rostering, orders, and community events.

Over 14 years, Mel’s learned to master the art of multitasking, creating a workplace where staff develop diverse skills and enjoy meaningful customer interaction.

Melissa shares how flexibility, strong family support, and a hands-on approach help her manage the daily challenges of running a franchise. Beyond operations, she actively supports local charities and community events, such as fundraising for kids’ cancer and Project Pink for breast cancer awareness.

For Melissa, franchise ownership is both demanding and deeply fulfilling. Backed by systems like TANDA and Lightspeed and guided by Stellarossa’s supportive structure, she continues to grow her business while maintaining balance and purpose—proving that success in franchising comes from dedication, adaptability, and heart.

0:00 Introduction

0:43 A day in the life of a Stellarossa franchise partner 

5:07 What café owners really do after the morning rush

7:08 Staffing the café and the different roles that keep daily operations running 

9:38 Hiring staff and why showing initiative matters more than online applications

11:14 Starting a franchise journey without prior business experience and learning flexibility within a growing brand 

13:29 Getting involved in community and charity events like fun runs and fundraisers to promote the brand while giving back.

15:47 Unexpected challenges of running a franchise business 

18:44 Involving her sons in the family business — from early hands-on experience to school-based apprenticeships

20:00 Using tools like TANDA and Lightspeed to simplify rostering, wages, and reporting 

21:33 Describing franchise ownership in a few words

Podcast Produced by: Franchise Business HUB

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