Young Entrepreneurs Jumped into the Diner Business – Franchising Opened the Door to Entrepreneurship
28.10.2025
Building your own company from scratch is a long road. Franchising can be a good first step into entrepreneurship.
Outside glows a real yellow American school bus, familiar to locals around the Lahti region. At Bus Burger’s restaurant in Hollola, two young entrepreneurs are preparing for the hectic lunch rush that is about to begin.
“It started off as a bit of a joke, then became half serious – and eventually real,” says Pipsa Uimonen, describing the starting point for entrepreneurship shared with Viia Floor.
Just over twenty years old, Floor and Uimonen had already worked for several years at Bus Burger’s Lahti location, on the old Heinolantie road. The idea of having their own business had, however, been developing for some time.
“We had a notebook and a pen where we’d scribbled various plans just for fun. That’s where it started to turn into something real,” Floor explains.
A Safe Leap into the Unknown
The decisive moment came when they bought Bus Burger’s Hollola business through a franchise model in 2022. Once they got started, they got down to work. A fast stream of practical lessons followed – paperwork, financing and contracts.
“There were definitely moments at the start when we didn’t really understand anything. But you learn quickly by doing,” Floor smiles.
They received support from Lahti Region Development LADEC. Together with an expert, the young entrepreneurs were able to spar, reflect on their business ideas and evaluate their feasibility.
“It was a relief to have someone ask the right questions and help structure our thoughts. We think similarly about many things, so it was important to have someone external challenge us and look at the plans from other angles as well,” Uimonen says.
Bus Burger Hollola's entrepreneurs Pipsa Uimonen ja Viia Floor by the enticing Bus Gelato stand.
Friendship and Shared Responsibility
Although many restaurant professionals dream of owning their own restaurant, the leap into entrepreneurship can feel too big or uncertain. Franchising has been an excellent choice for the Bus Burger duo.
Signing a contract with a familiar operator felt easier than joining some distant international giant. Bus Burger’s practices, recipes and menus were already familiar, and the parent company provides a ready made concept while still allowing enough freedom.
“We wouldn’t have dared start a business from scratch. Now we get support, and we can also bring our own ideas into the operation, which we discuss together as a group. That’s a big benefit in a small chain,” Floor says.
Uimonen and Floor are not only business partners but also good friends. Friendship and entrepreneurship run smoothly side by side, and their bond supports them even through difficult moments.
“We trust each other, and it’s great when both are ready to put in the work. Starting out alone would have been much more frightening,” Uimonen reflects.
Entrepreneurship is Continuous Learning
Business is going well at Hollola’s Bus Burger (ViiPii Oy). The distinctive restaurant, with its gritty interior and school bus where customers can also dine, is well known. Diners come from further away too, and school holidays always bring a positive rush.
The company has six employees, but a large part of the daily work is in the hands of the entrepreneurs themselves. Entrepreneurship comes with plenty of responsibility, a bit of uncertainty and the occasional sleepless night.
“But it also includes successes and freedom. You constantly learn, and the basics of entrepreneurship are becoming familiar,” the restaurateurs say.
They are also developing through further training. Floor is interested in leadership training, and Uimonen is completing a supervisor qualification through an apprenticeship. They do not want to plan the future too strictly. They have dreams, but for now they are focusing on running the core business.
“Franchising has been a safe way to start, and support is available from many directions. Sure, everything felt a bit terrifying at the beginning, but it’s always worth trying,” Uimonen laughs.
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Text: Sami Turunen
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Main image: Bus Burger entrepreneurs – on the left Pipsa Uimonen, on the right Viia Floor.
Photos: LADEC