Meet Calandra France | Financial Literacy Advocate & Serial Strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Calandra France and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Calandra, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I studied finance and economic systems in college and then ended up working for the nation’s largest bank in their affluent client division. I knew how money systems worked from a mechanical standpoint, but really hadn’t grasped how to apply that knowledge in the real world. Through helping those high net-worth clients I learned how to bridge the missing pieces of information between what I learned in school and how to apply it successfully to manage my own personal finances.

What should our readers know about your business?
I own and operate France Financial Services here in Houston, TX. I initially started the business 5 years ago as a side hustle performing tax prep and bookkeeping for my friends and family members who were emerging entrepreneurs. After 2 years of doing that, a lot of people were asking if I could help them with budgeting, credit repair, personal finance management, etc and I said NO – absolutely not. I was still struggling with my own personal credit/finances and did not know how I was going to help someone else. I hired a company to repair my credit, they didn’t, so I learned how to do it myself while also paying down debt. I realized that there were a LOT of people who like me didn’t know how to manage their money responsibily or take advantage of being able to leverage excellent credit to build wealth. Fast forward and I shifted the focus of my business to soley credit restoration, personal finance management, and financial literacy advocacy. It was not easy by any means. I have changed my business model so much over the course of the last 3 years according to the industry and also just learning what works through trial and error. The biggest challenge for me was delegating work. My business is my baby and I didn’t feel like I could give up so much of the things that I enjoy. So, FINALLY, I hired a small team (this year) and I could focus on scaling and growing to the next level. The most important lesson I learned is that I never have to be the smartest person in the room and to HIRE my weaknesses. It has proven to be the most advantageous decision for my business. Ultimately what I want the world to know about my story is that life happens to all of us and if you happen to have made a mistake or mistakes with managing your personal finances, it’s not too late to get it right. It does take some diligence, patience, and persistence, but life is so much better on the other side.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There is SO MUCH to do here in Houston! First, I would take her on the underground tunnel tour and then stop off at the mural on Travis Street. We would have to stop and eat at Ninfa’s downtown and also enjoy a nice brunch at the Breakfast Klub. She’s a shopaholic, so the Galleria and the waterwall are also on the list. My absolute favorite place to hang out in the city is The Heights area because it’s so eclectic and there are many different things to do.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be where I am today without the support of my amazing family. My daughter is the motivation that drives every single thing that I do. My sister Candance has about 37 brains on one side of her head – she is the smartest person I know. Her truth in love and fierce guidance help shape me as a person. My mom, Mary, is the absolute rock of my life – she instilled in me to shoot for the moon and to always be a person of integrity.

Website: www.francefinancial.net
Instagram: instagram.com/calandrafrance
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calandrafrance/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calandra.b.france