Opening the Shades to Success: A Bright Future for Tampa Bay Franchise Owner
Gotcha Covered Central Tampa of Hillsborough County
After years in corporate America, Khaled Alhamzawi, decided it was time for a new chapter. With help from a franchise consultant, he discovered a business that aligned with both his professional skills and his passion for helping others—custom window treatments. Today, as the franchise owner of Gotcha Covered of Central Tampa, serving clients throughout Hillsborough County, including Carrollwood and South Tampa, he helps homeowners transform their spaces with blinds, shades, shutters, drapes, and motorized solutions integrated with smart home technology.
“The reason why I chose Gotcha Covered is because of the company, the support that we get on different levels and more importantly, I like helping people and I wanted to help people decorate their home and make them nicer,” Alhamzawi shared.
Since launching his franchise over two years ago, Alhamzawi has found valuable support through the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County and business consultant Retta Parsons, who guided him through mentorship and government contracting opportunities.
“What really helped me was learning about capability statements, how to work with general contractors, and how to navigate the city and county contracting process,” he said. “That’s something I wasn’t familiar with and the consultant [Parsons] was very experienced, guided me through the process, how to fill the application, how to become a registered business and a lot of resources, workshops,” he added.
Through this support, Gotcha Covered of Central Tampa has grown significantly, expanding its client base to include interior designers, subcontractors, and local agencies. “Working with the Florida SBDC helped me increase my business significantly and put me on the right track for future opportunities,” he added.
Financially the business is successful, but the business owner also mentions how seeing a happy customer feels like true success. “I definitely grew financially, but I think building relationships, seeing a smile on a customer face when I finish a project with them and how happy they are with the project and they personally thank me for what I did, and guiding them through the process… that makes me happy,” Alhamzawi said.
Gotcha Covered of Central Tampa continues to grow—proof that with the right guidance and resources, small businesses can thrive.
