When Andrew and Shara Limoges began exploring their next business venture, they were not looking for just any opportunity. They wanted something they could build together, something that offered flexibility, long-term potential, and a business they could truly own.
Before finding Grand Welcome, they were close to purchasing a small property management company in Colorado. But at the last minute, they walked away. As Shara shared, “It just didn’t seem right.” So they kept looking for a business that fit not only their goals, but also the lifestyle they wanted to create. That search led them to Grand Welcome. “We wanted something that we could build and still have some flexibility… and have something to show for it and just kind of be in control of our own,” Shara said. “We came across Grand Welcome and made that initial introduction and it all just seemed to fit.”
That sense of fit mattered, especially because Andrew and Shara did not come from traditional vacation rental backgrounds. Shara brought years of experience in sales, marketing, and production coordination for major brands and sports organizations. Andrew came from manufacturing, operations, and maintenance leadership. Together, they also brought something equally valuable: real hands-on experience with homes, renovations, investment properties, and understanding what property owners need.
That mix of skills helped set the stage for what would become a standout first 18 months. Grand Welcome Broken Bow officially launched in August 2024. They landed their first property in October. What followed was not instant success, but steady, disciplined growth built through smart outreach, local awareness, and consistent follow-through. One of their most successful early strategies was surprisingly simple. “My most successful piece of marketing has been postcard mailings,” Shara said.
That direct outreach helped open doors with homeowners during the slower season. Then opportunity accelerated when another local management company exited the market. Andrew quickly reached out, started the conversation, and Grand Welcome Broken Bow ultimately onboarded six of those homes. Today, they have grown to 32 live properties, with more signed and preparing to come online.
What makes that growth especially compelling is that they surpassed their own expectations. “My goal for the end of 2025 was to have 20 properties and I had 30,” Shara said. That kind of momentum does not happen by accident. In a highly competitive destination like Broken Bow, the Limogeses built their business by doing the fundamentals exceptionally well: being responsive, staying visible, learning the market, and building trust with homeowners.
Responsiveness, in particular, has become one of their biggest differentiators. “It’s not a callback in three days or two days or even a couple hours,” Shara said. “Typically it’s immediate.” That philosophy has helped them stand out in a market where many owners are frustrated by slow communication from other management companies. It has also strengthened the guest experience, which supports better reviews, repeat stays, and stronger homeowner confidence.
But Andrew and Shara are quick to say they did not build this entirely on their own. When asked what parts of the Grand Welcome platform helped them ramp faster, Shara pointed to the onboarding support, OTA setup, revenue management, guest services, and platform distribution. “There’s so much they do behind the scenes,” she said. “If I didn’t have those teams in place, I would be spending so much time trying to figure out what am I supposed to do to make this listing work.” That support gave them a stronger foundation, while still allowing them to focus on growth in their market.
Just as important, they leaned into the Grand Welcome team when they needed guidance. “The franchise success team has probably been the biggest help to us,” Shara said. “The team is extremely helpful… we don’t have to necessarily reinvent the wheel.” For prospective franchisees, their story offers both encouragement and realism. Shara’s advice is clear: do your market research, ask a lot of questions, and do not expect overnight success.
Looking ahead, their next chapter is about scale. Shara says the goal now is to continue growing, add at least 10 more properties, and build a business that becomes more sustainable without requiring her to manage every daily detail personally. “I would like to focus more on the marketing side,” she said. “Let someone else kind of take that day-to-day.”
Shara described the larger vision this way: “Transitioning to being able to really focus on growth… having it scalable and sustainable without a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute touch.” That is the kind of growth many entrepreneurs are ultimately working toward: not just adding units, but building something durable.
And if they had the chance to do it all over again? “Yes, I would.”
For anyone considering franchise ownership with Grand Welcome, Grand Welcome Broken Bow is a strong example of what can happen when entrepreneurial drive meets the right support, the right market, and the willingness to keep showing up.
Ready to explore what franchise ownership with Grand Welcome could look like in your market? Contact Grand Welcome Franchise to learn more.