Client Overview
Cindy Ritter is an entrepreneur with more than 23 years of self-employment experience and a professional background in sales, marketing, education, and management. Her experience building and managing a business gave her a strong foundation for pursuing a new entrepreneurial opportunity.
For Cindy, entering the autism therapy industry was also a personal decision. As a mother of seven, she understands the challenges families can face when raising a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism. Her sixth child has these challenges, giving her a personal connection to the families her center serves.
On April 24, 2023, Cindy opened a Success On The Spectrum franchise in Castle Rock, Colorado, bringing autism therapy services to her community.
The Starting Point
A Foundation Built on Entrepreneurship
Before joining SOS, Cindy had spent more than two decades working for herself. Her experience in sales, marketing, education, and management had helped her develop the skills needed to build a business and manage its operations.
When she began exploring her next opportunity, she wanted to apply that experience to something more meaningful than business ownership alone.
Autism therapy offered a way to combine her entrepreneurial background with a mission that was close to her family. Through Sos Franchising, Cindy found an opportunity to build a business while supporting children with autism and the families who care for them.
The Challenge
Turning Entrepreneurial Experience Into an ABA Business
Although Cindy had extensive business experience, operating an autism therapy center presented a different set of responsibilities. Building a successful ABA business involves more than general management; it requires attention to clinical quality, family relationships, staffing, and the operational demands of a growing center.
As SOS Castle Rock established itself in the community, the business needed to support its growth while keeping the needs of clients and families at the center of its operations.
Key priorities included:
- Building a strong service environment: Supporting children with autism and IDD requires an environment that prioritizes their individual needs and provides consistent care.
- Managing business growth: As demand increased, the center needed to grow its operations while maintaining a dependable experience for families.
- Supporting staff and families: Creating a positive environment for employees, parents, and clients remained an important part of the center’s development.
- Balancing performance with purpose: Growing revenue was an important business milestone, but maintaining a people-first approach remained central to Cindy’s mission.
Approach
Building on an Established Franchise Model
Cindy brought 23 years of entrepreneurial experience to SOS Castle Rock. Her background in sales, marketing, education, and management provided a foundation for leading the business while working within the Success On The Spectrum model.
This combination allowed her to pursue business growth in an industry that aligned with her personal values and commitment to families affected by autism.
Keeping Families at the Center
Cindy’s connection to the autism community extends beyond her role as a business owner. As a parent of a child with IDD and autism, she has personal experience with some of the challenges families navigate.
That perspective informs her commitment to the people who make up the Castle Rock center. She cares deeply about every client, parent, and staff member, keeping relationships and individual needs central to the business.
Growing With a Clear Purpose
As SOS Castle Rock’s revenue increased, Cindy continued building a business around the purpose that brought her to the industry in the first place. Her journey demonstrates how entrepreneurial experience and a personal connection to a cause can come together in an ABA franchise.
Timeline
Results — Revenue Growth
Operational Impact
From a New Center to Multi-Million-Dollar Revenue
SOS Castle Rock generated $280,243.36 in gross revenue during its first partial calendar year in 2023. By 2025, annual gross revenue had reached $2,305,596.46, demonstrating substantial business growth.
Entrepreneurial Experience Applied to ABA
Cindy's 23 years of self-employment, combined with her experience in sales, marketing, education, and management, gave her a foundation for building and leading a business in the autism therapy industry.
A Personal Connection to the Mission
As a mother of seven whose sixth child faces challenges associated with IDD and autism, Cindy brings a personal understanding of the experiences many families navigate. Her commitment to clients, parents, and staff keeps that perspective central to her work.
Recognition for Business Performance
Earning the Commodores Club designation in 2025 marked another milestone for SOS Castle Rock, following two years of significant revenue growth.
CEO Perspective
Cindy Ritter’s journey demonstrates how long-standing entrepreneurial experience can support a business built around a deeply personal mission.
After 23 years of self-employment, she chose to enter the autism therapy industry not simply to pursue another business opportunity, but to serve families facing challenges she understands personally.
Through SOS Castle Rock, Cindy has combined her background in business with a commitment to the children, parents, and staff members who make up the center’s community. Its revenue growth and 2025 Commodores Club recognition mark important milestones in that journey.
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Watch Their Story
Takeaway
Cindy Ritter’s journey shows how entrepreneurial experience and a personal connection to autism can come together in an ABA franchise.
Her 23 years of self-employment provided a foundation in business leadership, while her experience as a parent gave her a meaningful connection to the families her center serves. By opening Success On The Spectrum in Castle Rock, Colorado, Cindy built a business that generated more than $2.3 million in annual gross revenue by 2025 and earned Commodores Club recognition.
Her story reflects the opportunity to combine business ownership with a purpose-driven mission through the Sos Franchising system.
Client Profile
Background & Ownership
Investment & Complexity
