Ready to plan your perfect business exit?

Prepare for a once in a lifetime exit and secure your legacy at the Scottsdale founders forum.

The Scottsdale Founders Forum is tomorrow! Register now at scottsdalefoundersforum.com

In Ep. #56 of the #FoundersGuidePost Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Doug Ducey, the co-founder of Cold Stone Creamery and former Governor of Arizona. We talked about his journey of transforming Cold Stone from a single store into a global brand and the key decisions that led to its successful sale in 2007. Doug shared strategic insights on scaling a business, leveraging franchising as a growth strategy, and navigating the complexities of preparing for an exit - offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

What You’ll Learn:

Building a Scalable Business: Learn how to strategically grow a company by leveraging unique value propositions and past experiences to build a scalable, sustainable brand.

Using Franchising as a Growth Model: Discover how franchising can be a powerful tool for expansion when capital is limited, with a focus on empowering franchisees and maintaining consistency.

Preparing for a Strategic Exit: Understand the importance of thorough preparation, assembling the right advisors, and timing the market to achieve a successful and strategic business exit.

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Links & Resources:

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About the Guest: Doug Ducey is a renowned businessman and leader who served as Arizona’s 23rd governor from 2015 to 2023. Before entering public service, he gained recognition in the corporate world as the CEO of Cold Stone Creamery. Under his leadership, the brand expanded from a single shop in Tempe, Arizona, to over 1,400 locations worldwide, making it a global success story by the time of its sale in 2007.

As governor, Ducey focused on economic growth, education reform, and tax reduction, transforming Arizona’s economy with a balanced budget, record surplus, and the implementation of the nation’s lowest flat tax.

Now serving as CEO of Citizens for Free Enterprise, Ducey brings a wealth of experience in business, governance, and strategic leadership, offering unique insights into scaling operations, fostering innovation, and achieving impactful growth.