"Being able to directly move somebody — to walk alongside them long enough that they can walk on their own — that is such a compelling thing to me."
Mark Ayasse, Tutor Doctor Franchise Owner
How Mark Ayasse Finally Made It His Turn to Make a Difference
Mark Ayasse
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The Man Who Didn't Want to Be an Entrepreneur
For most of his career, Mark Ayasse focused on helping people succeed.
He led teams, mentored employees, and spent decades building a career in the software industry. What he enjoyed most was developing people and watching them grow.
Business ownership, on the other hand, wasn’t something he aspired to.
“Teach? Yes. Help people? Absolutely. Find a way to change the trajectory for somebody? Yes,” he said. “Be an entrepreneur? No. Own a business? Absolutely not.”
But sometimes the path to making a bigger impact looks different than expected. As Mark began exploring new opportunities, he realized that owning a business could provide a unique way to serve others while building something of his own.
A Family Built on Giving Back
To understand why Mark Ayasse eventually chose business ownership, it helps to understand what mattered most to him.
Service had always been a central theme in his family’s life. His wife spent more than two decades in education, while his children pursued careers focused on helping others through counseling, ministry, and cognitive neuroscience.
Throughout his own career in the software industry, Mark found fulfillment in leading teams and developing people. But as he looked ahead to his next chapter, he found himself reflecting on the impact his family members were making through their work and the difference they were creating in the lives of others.
“They’ve all gotten to pursue work they’re passionate about,” he said. “After supporting those dreams for so many years, I started thinking: maybe it’s my turn to do the same.”
For Mark, business ownership wasn’t about becoming an entrepreneur for the sake of entrepreneurship. It was about finding his own way to help people, share his experience, and make a meaningful impact. That realization ultimately became the catalyst for everything that followed.
The Leap Nobody Saw Coming
In early 2023, Mark Ayasse found himself considering what came next.
The startup where he had been working was beginning to slow down, and after decades in the software industry, he was suddenly facing a question many professionals encounter later in their careers: what do you do when the next chapter isn’t clearly defined?
Like many people in that position, Mark explored a variety of possibilities. He updated his resume, interviewed for new opportunities, and leveraged the professional network he had built throughout his career.
One of those conversations introduced him to James Schrage, a consultant who helped professionals evaluate both traditional career paths and business ownership opportunities. During one of their discussions, Schrage raised a possibility Mark hadn’t seriously considered before: franchise ownership.
“I thought, nah, probably not,” Mark recalled. “But you know – what do you got?”
What followed was a period of exploration. Mark researched several industries, including medical programming, home care, and even restaurant ownership, reflecting his longtime passion for cooking. While each opportunity had potential, none felt like the right fit.
Then he came across Tutor Doctor. Unlike the other businesses he had explored, this one aligned closely with what had motivated him throughout his career: helping people grow, learn, and reach their potential. For the first time, business ownership felt less like an entrepreneurial venture and more like an extension of the work he already loved doing.
A Junk Drawer Full of Possibility
Once Mark decided to move forward with business ownership, the next question was how to fund it.
Over the course of their careers, Mark and his wife had accumulated retirement savings across multiple accounts. Like many professionals who have changed jobs over the years, they had a mix of 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other retirement plans spread across different providers.
The challenge wasn’t whether the funds existed. It was determining the most effective way to use them.
As Mark explored his options, he learned about 401(k) Business Financing, also known as ROBS (Rollovers as Business Startups). The structure allows eligible entrepreneurs to invest retirement funds into a business without taking an early withdrawal, avoiding the taxes and penalties that can apply to distributions.
Through Guidant Financial, Mark consolidated eligible retirement accounts and used 401(k) Business Financing to invest in his Tutor Doctor franchise.
For Mark, the approach provided a way to pursue business ownership without taking on additional debt or bringing in outside investors.
“There’s enough material here to build a boat,” Mark said, reflecting on the retirement savings they had accumulated over the years. “So we did.”
Throughout the process, his wife remained an important sounding board. Like many spouses, she wanted to understand the opportunity and feel confident in the path forward. As the business began to take shape and grow, so did her enthusiasm for what they were building together.
“Now that we’ve gotten into it,” Mark said, “she’s more and more going: this is pretty cool.”
Looking back, the decision wasn’t simply about funding a business. It was about finding a way to put years of planning and saving toward a goal they believed in and a future they were excited to pursue.
Walking Beside People
At its core, Tutor Doctor provides personalized tutoring and academic support by connecting students with qualified tutors.
For Mark Ayasse, however, the work goes beyond academics.
What drew him to the business was the opportunity to help people build confidence, develop new skills, and reach goals that once felt out of reach.
“If you can walk beside somebody for long enough, they can then walk on their own,” Mark said. “And then they’ll repeat that process for somebody else.”
That philosophy continues to guide the business today.
The students and families Mark serves come from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. Some are young children just beginning their educational journey. Others are adults looking to strengthen specific skills or pursue personal goals.
One client, for example, came to Tutor Doctor in their late 80s seeking help with computer literacy so they could continue operating their business independently.
Experiences like that reinforce what Mark believed from the beginning: learning doesn’t have an age limit, and a little guidance at the right time can have a meaningful impact on someone’s future.
Nearly Three Years In
By the time Mark Ayasse spoke with Jeremy Ames in 2026, he was approaching his third year as a Tutor Doctor franchise owner.
The business had been profitable from the start and was on track for its strongest year yet. What began with yard signs, flyers, and local networking had evolved into a business driven largely by online search and referrals.
“The graph is moving upwards to the right,” Mark said. “For sure.”
As the business continues to grow, Mark’s focus has shifted beyond customer acquisition. He’s thinking about how to scale while preserving the personal approach that attracted families in the first place.
Like many business owners, he’s discovering that growth isn’t just about serving more customers. It’s about building a team that shares the same commitment to making a difference in the lives of the people they serve.
The Guidant Foundation
Funding the business was one of the final pieces of the puzzle.
Like many entrepreneurs, Mark Ayasse explored a variety of options before realizing that the retirement savings he had accumulated over the years could help make business ownership possible.
Through Guidant’s 401(k) Business Financing solution, he was able to invest in his Tutor Doctor franchise using eligible retirement funds, allowing him to move forward without taking on additional debt.
More importantly, the process gave him clarity.
“For somebody to take away all of the mystery on that section of the equation,” Mark said, “just makes it an easier thing to go: okay, I get all that. Now all my angst and stress can be focused on making this business succeed.”
Today, with a growing business and students whose lives are being changed through education, Mark can see the impact of that decision every day.
What once felt uncertain has become an opportunity to build something meaningful, both for himself and for the families he serves.
Want to See More?
If Mark’s story resonates and you’re ready to make it your turn, Guidant Financial’s team can walk you through how 401(k) Business Financing (ROBS) works and whether it’s the right fit for your situation. For more stories like this one, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Dont-Quit-Your-Daydream
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