MANILA - A former balut vendor and his wife are now running one of the most successful local coffee shops in the country, thanks to franchising.

Israel Romano, the founder of Redbuck's Coffee Shakes, came from a poor family and tried his hand at entrepreneurship at a young age selling balut on the streets.

“’Yung experience, siguro nahihiya. Makikita ka ng mga classmate mo, makikita ka ng mga kapitbahay mo, bakit ka nagbebenta ng balut. At the same time, ‘yung mga kakilala mo, mababa ang tingin sa iyo,” Romano told "My Puhunan."

To make ends meet, Romano also worked long hours in a factory when he was a teenager. His hardships growing up, Romano believes, prepared him to take on the challenge of starting his own business.

“Mahirap kasi minsan you work 16 hours in a factory at the age of 18. I questioned god kung bakit ko na-experience ‘yung ganoong bagay, bakit ko na-experience ‘yung ganoong buhay. Mayroon palang dahilan, God has a purpose. Kaya na-experience ng tao nag mahirap na buhay kasi there is something na nakalaan para sa iyo,” he said.

But before he had the money for capital, Romano faced the struggles of working on a cruise ship, where he met his future wife, Michelle.

It was overseas where Romano and his wife, a coffee lover, built the idea of opening their own coffee shop.

In 2009, the Romanos opened the first stall of Redbuck's inside a mall in Bulacan.

From selling iced coffee-based beverages, Redbuck's expanded its menu to burgers, pastas, and rice meals.

Redbuck's now has over 40 branches in the country, and offers the business up for franchising for a fee ranging between P250,000 to P2 million.

"Kailangan sa ating mga Pilipino, hindi lang dito local, kailangan ang thinking natin global. Tayong mga Pilipino, dapat may karapatan ding mag-negosyo," said Romano.

According to franchise expert Jorge Weiniki, franchising has advantages and disadvantages.

“Ang advantage ay hindi ka na mag-iisip ng konsepto kasi napag-isipan na ‘yan. Number two, mayroon na siyang set and tested operational system na gagawin mo nalang. And third, medyo strong na ‘yung brand niya. Fourth is ayos na ayos na ‘yung kanyang backbone, which means yung suppliers niya. Fifth, mayroon kang umaalalay sa iyo. Mayroon kang guidance,” he said.

One of the disadvantages of franchising, however, is the limited freedom it gives the franchisee.

Weiniki advises those planning to buy a franchise to first check the franchisor's track record; sales performance; and operational support.