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Celebrating Class 101 “Power Couple” Franchisees Jim & Jenn Donohue This Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is about more than flowers and dinner reservations. It’s about partnership, the kind built on trust, shared purpose, and showing up for one another on the days that are hard and the days that are worth celebrating.
For Jim and Jenn Donohue, owners of Class 101 Fort Mill, South Carolina, partnership isn’t just part of their marriage, it’s the foundation of the business they’re building together. And after a year and a half of ownership, they’re proof that when two people bring different strengths to the table and stay anchored in the right “why,” incredible things can happen for families in the community.
From a College Friendship to a Life Built Together
Jim and Jenn met in college when Jim transferred to Jenn’s school and joined her friend group. What started as friendship turned into a relationship that’s lasted ever since, and eventually became the partnership behind their Class 101 business.
Their path to franchise ownership began in an unexpected way: Jim was contacted by a Class 101 franchise expert who thought his background was a great fit. He brought it to Jenn, and her reaction said everything.
“Wow, this is what I’ve been looking for,” she told him.
Jim admits that at first he was unsure. He kept thinking, “This sounds cool, but no way are we ever going to do this.” But after a few conversations, everything changed.
“If we don’t do this, we are going to regret it for the rest of our lives.”
They took the leap, and they’ve never looked back, with many franchisees experiencing growth and success within the first [specific timeframe, e.g., 12-24 months], demonstrating that with dedication, results can be achieved sooner than expected.
And looking back now, they’re quick to say it plainly: Class 101 changed their lives. One ad sparked a conversation, then a few calls, then a decision that reshaped their family’s future, inspiring potential franchisees to see the community impact of their choices.
A Partnership Built on Staying in Your Lane
One of the most common questions couples ask when considering business ownership is: How do we work together without stepping on each other’s toes?
Jim and Jenn are clear on what makes their partnership work: defined roles, mutual respect, and trust, helping readers feel assured about the importance of clarity in teamwork.
Jim is the “business engine” behind the scenes, managing marketing, HR, and accounting. Jenn is the heart of the work, leading the college planning experience, working directly with students, and managing daily operations.
Jenn emphasizes that if someone lacks business or educational experience, they need support to fill the gaps, encouraging potential franchisees to feel confident about seeking help.
“If you are not a business owner or not in the education space, you need to have someone handy that can fill in what you don’t have.”
And for couples considering business ownership together, their best advice is practical and proven:
Figure out what your lanes are and stay in them.
The Secret Ingredient: A Teacher’s Heart
You don’t have to be a former teacher to own Class 101, but Jim believes there’s something essential that matters just as much:
“You don’t have to be a teacher to do this, but it sure helps… a big part of that is the teacher’s heart.”
Jenn spent 18 years in education before stepping out of the classroom. She describes her transition with humor and pride:
“In my former life I was a teacher… now I’m a business owner… and thoroughly enjoying the ride.”
That teacher’s heart shows up in the way they serve families, especially in the moments where parents are anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure how to navigate the college process. That level of care builds trust, and in a business built on guiding families through one of the biggest decisions of their child’s life, trust is everything.
“I Don’t Do the Sales Anymore”
Jim has a sales background and even trained sales teams internationally. Naturally, you’d assume he would lead the “selling” side of the business. But Class 101 flipped that assumption on its head.
“I will not sit down with parents anymore… my wife has become literally the best salesperson that I could have ever imagined.”
And Jenn is the first to admit she didn’t start out confident in sales.
“I let Jim do all the sales at first… I was frankly afraid of doing that.”
But once she began working with students, the confidence came naturally because it’s not a traditional “sales pitch.” It’s simply helping families understand what’s possible.
“This is what I do. This is what I can do for you. You can do it yourself, but wouldn’t you rather have someone help you?”
Impact That Lasts Long After Graduation
Ask Jim and Jenn what the most rewarding part of ownership is, and the answer comes back to one thing: watching students step into the future with confidence.
They love seeing students reach their goals and find schools where they can thrive — and they especially love hearing updates after students move on to college.
One story captures their mission perfectly.
They worked with a set of twins who almost didn’t meet with them because the services felt out of reach financially. One of the twins scheduled a consultation herself. Jenn felt compelled to help — and eventually supported both sisters through the transition from virtual high school to in-person college.
Seeing them “blossom into independent young women” at two different schools remains one of the Donohues’ proudest moments as owners.
What They Wish They’d Known in the Beginning
Even strong partnerships face a learning curve in business ownership, and Jim and Jenn are honest about where things were challenging early on.
Jenn describes the reality of operations clearly: it’s not only working with students.
“It’s not just walking in and working with students… it’s all of the other piece of it.”
They quickly learned the importance of having systems, support, and professional help in place, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, legal, business setup, and not waiting until later to fix what you didn’t know at the start, emphasizing the comprehensive training and ongoing support that helps new franchisees succeed.
Supported by a System, Powered by a Community
When people explore franchising, one of the biggest concerns is support. Jenn describes entering ownership with very little business experience, and feeling reassured every step of the way:
“I always felt supported… I felt 100% that no one was in it to make a quick buck and to let anyone else fail.”
Jim agrees — and says one of the most valuable forms of support comes from fellow franchisees. He recalls a moment when they needed a specific answer on a Sunday night, emailed another owner, and received a detailed response in minutes.
That kind of culture is hard to manufacture; it comes from owners who truly care about the mission and about helping each other succeed.
This Valentine’s Day, take the first step: reach out to a recruiter and see if Class 101 could be the opportunity that changes your lives, too.