For many veterans, the transition from military service to civilian life comes with a single pressing question: What’s next?
For Roland Cousins, the founder of Get A Grip, the answer was not found in a business plan or a boardroom. It began with a family to support and a determination to create opportunities where none seemed to exist.
After leaving the Army, entrepreneurship was not part of the plan. Survival was.
Armed with little more than ambition and a stack of homemade cleaning flyers, he began knocking on doors throughout his neighborhood, offering cleaning services to anyone willing to give him a chance. One customer led to another. Referrals followed. What started as a small effort to provide for his family steadily grew into a successful commercial cleaning business serving churches, organizations, and major hospital kitchens throughout the region.
The experience taught him a valuable lesson: success is often built one relationship at a time.
As the business matured, another passion began calling his name. Long interested in real estate investing and home improvement, he sought an opportunity to combine entrepreneurship with his love of transforming spaces.
That search led him to franchising.
Like many aspiring business owners, he initially assumed franchise ownership was financially out of reach. Through guidance from a mentor through the SBA, he began exploring what would actually be possible. His mentor encouraged him to attend the SCORE Conference, a decision that would prove to be a turning point in his entrepreneurial journey.
While attending the conference, he met Yolanda Nelson and Peyton McGovern from Justine PETERSEN. Their conversations introduced him to the resources, guidance, and financing opportunities available through the organization. More importantly, he found people who understood the challenges many entrepreneurs face when trying to grow a business and access capital.
“Justine PETERSEN wasn’t simply offering a loan,” he explained. “They were offering a pathway.”
As he continued researching franchise opportunities, one company continually stood out: Get A Grip.
The more he learned, the more convinced he became. Existing franchise owners spoke highly of the support they received. The company’s culture focused on helping franchisees succeed. Most importantly, the business model aligned with his vision of creating something lasting while delivering real value to customers.
With support, guidance, and access to resources through Justine PETERSEN, he was able to move forward with confidence and turn that vision into reality.
Roland Cousins and Get A Grip offer homeowners and businesses an innovative alternative to traditional remodeling. Rather than tearing out countertops, bathtubs, and shower surfaces and sending them to landfills, the company utilizes patented equipment and proprietary materials to restore and transform existing fixtures. The result is a beautiful, high-end finish achieved at a fraction of the cost and waste associated with full replacement.
For the founder, this approach represents more than a business opportunity. It reflects a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and responsible growth.
The launch of Get A Grip has also become a family endeavor. Drawing on the experience of a relative with extensive construction and home improvement expertise, the business combines technical knowledge with a shared dedication to quality workmanship and customer service.
While the company continues to grow, its mission remains simple: create opportunities.
Whether that means helping homeowners reimagine their spaces, reducing unnecessary waste, or creating stable jobs within the community, the goal is to leave things better than they were found.
Looking back, it is remarkable to see how far the journey has come. What began with a handful of flyers and a determination to provide for a family has evolved into a specialized business serving residential and commercial customers throughout the community.
His story is a reminder that entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line. Success often comes from being willing to learn, ask questions, build relationships, and seize opportunities when they appear.
For one veteran turned entrepreneur, a conversation at a SCORE Conference, the support of a trusted mentor, and a connection with Justine PETERSEN helped transform a dream into a thriving business.
Roland Cousins and Get A Grip stand as proof that with determination, the right support system, and a commitment to quality, it is possible to build more than a business. It is possible to build a legacy.