Former KPMG Auditor Finds Success as Smoothie King Franchisee

Lorraine Pater left behind a promising Big Four career to stay home with her kids, then re-entered the workforce on her own terms as a multi-unit franchisee.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Lorraine Pater had her sights set on making partner at KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms, but after having her first child, she decided to take a 10-year break from work to stay home with her two daughters. When her kids were in school, Pater looked into buying a franchise and chose Smoothie King, a brand she and her family had been loyal customers of for years. Starting with one store in 2016, Pater and her husband Todd have steadily grown the business to 10 locations in the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota-Bradenton area of Florida, with one store surpassing $1 million in annual sales.

Why it matters

Pater's story highlights how the franchise model can provide a pathway for professionals to re-enter the workforce on their own terms and build a successful business while maintaining work-life balance. Her background in accounting has also been a major asset in scaling the Smoothie King operation, allowing her to closely manage the financials and mentor her store managers.

The details

Pater left KPMG after having her first child, when her husband Todd suggested she didn't have to go back to work. She ended up taking a 10-year break to stay home with her two daughters. When the girls were in school, Pater looked into buying a franchise and chose Smoothie King because it fit their active lifestyle and they had seen a neighbor successfully scale to 40 locations in Houston. Pater and Todd opened their first Smoothie King in 2016, and have since grown to 10 locations in the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota-Bradenton area, with one store surpassing $1 million in annual sales. Pater's accounting background has been a major asset in scaling the business, as she personally handles all the bookkeeping, payroll, and financial reporting.

  • Pater left KPMG after having her first child in the early 2010s.
  • Pater and her husband Todd opened their first Smoothie King location in 2016.
  • Pater and Todd have grown the business to 10 locations as of 2026.

The players

Lorraine Pater

A former KPMG auditor who left her promising career at the Big Four accounting firm to stay home with her two daughters for 10 years, before re-entering the workforce as a multi-unit Smoothie King franchisee.

Todd Pater

Lorraine's husband, who provided the funds to get the Smoothie King franchise started and is described as the "visionary" of the business, while Lorraine handles the day-to-day financial and operational details.

Smoothie King

The health-focused smoothie franchise that Lorraine and Todd Pater chose to invest in, as they were longtime loyal customers of the brand.

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What they’re saying

“After being home for five weeks with her [Brooke], I didn't want to leave her. So we always laugh about that.”

— Lorraine Pater (entrepreneur.com)

“This is my favorite part. I like all the numbers and I like them all to be put together. Everything's got to equal a certain number at the end of the month.”

— Lorraine Pater (entrepreneur.com)

What’s next

Lorraine Pater and her husband Todd plan to continue expanding their Smoothie King franchise, with a letter of intent out for an 11th location in the Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota-Bradenton area.

The takeaway

Lorraine Pater's journey from KPMG auditor to Smoothie King franchisee demonstrates how the franchise model can provide a pathway for professionals to re-enter the workforce on their own terms and build a successful business while maintaining work-life balance. Her background in accounting has been a key asset in scaling the franchise operation.