Best Franchise Brands Podcast: Recent Episodes
James Butler
Welcome to the Best Franchise Brands Podcast where in each episode, we will explore a specific franchise brand with details about their business, requirements for franchise candidates, how they train their franchisees, and details about the systems they’ve set up so franchisees get a great start. Interviews with industry leaders of the best franchise brands will give you insights and help you discover important details about which franchisors you should engage with in the discovery process as you prepare to start your franchise business.
In this episode, I talk with Garr Russell, who is the founder and CEO of Fireside RV Rental. He shares his story about how he recognized a need for helping RV owners rent out their vehicles when they weren't using them and has grown a national franchise brand as a result. He shares lessons that he has learned as they have experienced remarkable growth, how they help their franchise partners succeed, commonalities amongst their top franchisees, and what he is most excited about as he continues to build their growing brand.
In this episode, I talk with Bobbie Lloyd, who is the CEO and Chief Baking Officer of Magnolia Bakery about their decision to start franchising. Magnolia Bakery started in the West Village of New York City in 1996. Bobbie started at Magnolia Bakery in 2006 and became the CEO back in 2020. They started franchising in 2010 in Dubai and they are opening their first U.S. franchise location in the United States in Salt Lake City in 2026. They have corporate locations in New York, Illinois, and California. We discuss the history of Magnolia Bakery, how they expanded corporate locations across New York City, why they decided to start franchising, how she became founder 2.0 of Magnolia Bakery, fun details about their product line and delicious sweets, requirements for starting a Magnolia Bakery franchise, and what she is most excited about as they continue to expand their iconic brand.
For the first time, they are opening our doors to franchise ownership in the U.S., almost 30 years after they opened their first store on Bleecker Street. As they expand, they're looking for franchise owners who share that mission and see the extraordinary in the everyday. For more information go to https://www.magnoliabakery.com/pages/us-franchise to learn how you can be among the first to bring Magnolia Bakery to your neighborhood by joining a beloved brand with generational appeal and a strong foundation for long-term success.
In this episode, I talk with Mel Richards, who is the founder and CEO of goGLOW about how she started her tanning and skincare brand, the reasons for their explosive growth, and lessons she has learned along the way as she has been supporting and serving her franchise partners.
In 2010, founder Melanie Richards recognized the demand for healthy tanning products and services. She used her Esthiology skin care background to develop a better solution to custom spray tanning, one that did not use toxic ingredients and was harmful to the skin. After considerable product and equipment research, a new approach was discovered that uses only high quality ingredients, produced a completely natural looking tan and actually helped heal the skin.
Along with developing proprietary products and equipment, Melanie applied her talented aesthetic vision to develop the complete goGLOW brand that is sleek, modern, unisex and classic. The passion for this brand is an integral part of their growth and because of their differentiation from anything else in the traditional ‘tanning’ market.
goGLOW is made up of a group of highly educated skin experts. They strive to provide a high end and professional experience for their clients. They begin each interaction the minute a client books an appointment and continue all the way to post appointment follow up. They believe client education is essential to ensure the best goGLOW experience. Perhaps that’s why they’ve received 5 stars from ALLURE magazine, been named best spray tan from LA to NYC and then later awarded with the coveted ALLURE Best of Beauty award.
Mel shares details about their discovery process, what franchise partners love most about goGLOW and why you should check out the opportunity to be a part of their brand at www.goGLOW.co.
In this episode, I talk with Belina Calderon-Nernberg, who is the founder and CEO of 1 Heart Caregiver Services, Kevin Tagarao, who is the Chief Operating Officer, and Randy Neil Clarito, who is the VP of Franchise Development about their start in the non-medical senior care business in 2003 and how they got into franchising in 2015. Belina shares her story, their growth to franchise locations across the country, how they offer E-2 visas for immigrants seeking to start a business in the United States, how they support their franchise partners, and what they are most excited about as they continue to grow their brand.
In this episode, I talk with Kia and Shane Binger who are the CEO and COO and founders of the Lemon Fresh Cleaners franchise based out of Rapid City, South Dakota. Kia and Shane share their story of how they got started and got into franchising, how they've been growing, lessons they've learned from their initial growth, memorable experiences, and what they are most excited about as the continue to build their exciting new brand. Visit www.lemonfreshcleaners.us for more information.
In this episode, I talk with David Grossman, who is the President of Renue Systems, about the start of the franchise, how it has grown over the years, how he acquired the company and became its president and the track the company is on as it continues to grow across the country and internationally.
Renue Systems focuses on deep-cleaning and disinfecting of hotels, resorts, and other high-end commercial properties since they were founded in 1991. They started franchising in 2001. David bought the franchise operations in 2010 and has been the president since that time. He shares details about their story, lessons they have learned as they have experienced expansion, the benefits of being a part of Renue Systems (including their relationships as a preferred vendors with many large international hotel operations), commonalities amongst their franchise partners, and what he is most excited about as they continue to expand the Renue Systems brand.
In this episode, Karen Riker, Beth Williams, and David Montanez, who all work with Authority Brands, discuss the opportunities available with buying existing franchise businesses for sale. They discuss their backgrounds and how they got into franchising, why franchisees should consider buying an existing franchise business, red flags to consider in the discovery process, financing options for buying an existing business, and the many reasons why franchisees across multiple brands choose to start or acquire a business in home services with Authority Brands.
In this episode, we talk with Matt O'Rourke, who is the founder and brand president of Z Plumberz with Belfor Franchise Group about how he started Z Plumberz and has grown the franchise brand across the country. Matt shares what separates them from other plumbers, the advantages of being a part of the trades with Belfor Franchise Group, and the growth they are seeing across their brand.
In this episode, Josh Minturn, who is the VP of Franchise Development at Authority Brands, returns to the podcast to discuss Screenmobile and Lawn Squad as well as discuss the advantages of being a part of the Authority Brands franchise family.
In this episode, I talk with Scott Ball, who is the brand president of FiiZ Drinks which started in 2014 in Bountiful, Utah. Scott shares his story about how he got into franchising, started a Dunkin' Donuts franchise, and ultimately became the president of FiiZ. He shares their story about how they have been scaling and growing to locations all across the United States and Canada. He shares leadership lessons that he has learned over the years, details about the opportunity with FiiZ in the specialty soda market, and how you can be a part of their explosive growth in your market.
In this episode, I talk with Jade Winter, who is the founder and CEO of Studio Pilates International, based out of Brisbane, Australia. Jade tells his story about how he and his wife Tanya started Studio Pilates International in 2002 and opened their first franchise location in 2013. Today, they have over 115 locations internationally. They opened their first franchise in the United States in 2020 and have had remarkable growth all around the world. Jade shares what sets their studios apart, how they support their franchise partners with training and marketing, as well as many of the valuable lessons they have learned that have sparked their remarkable growth across the world.
In this episode, I talk with Nick Scaccio, who is the Chief Development Officer at Paris Baguette on their exciting brand and explosive growth. They've awarded 76 new franchise locations in Q1 of 2025, signed 20 leases, and opened 15 new cafes and are on track to opening a total of 100 total new cafes by the end of 2025. Nick shares how they've scaled and grown such a remarkable franchise brand, how he and the leadership team at Paris Baguette find the right franchise partners, insights into how he and CEO Darren Tipton grow their teams and support their franchise partners.
In this episode, Jeff Salter, Founder and CEO of Caring Senior Service returns to the podcast to talk about recent innovations with AI which allow them to better serve their clients. Jeff shares updates on their growth and how they are using technology and AI to update caregivers on needs of their senior clients and assist them with their needs as they age in place at home.
In this episode, I talk with Zach Peyton, who is the CEO of Superior Fence and Rail about how he got started with his business in Jacksonville, Florida, why he and his partner made the decision to franchise, stories about their incredible growth, his commitment to seeing franchisees succeed, why they made the decision to join forces with Empower Brands, and what he is most excited about doing to celebrate the successes of franchisees within their system.
In this episode, I talk with Hagan Kappler, who is the CEO of DaisyCo.com. Daisy is more than just a smart home provider—they're a national network committed to enhancing everyday life through technology. They specialize in creating reliable, intuitive, connected technology that solves real problems for homeowners. Hagan shares her story, how she got started in franchising, and how they're building DaisyCo.com to be an exciting franchise opportunity.
In this episode, we talk wtih Ashley Gundlach, who is the Brand President of British Swim School with Buzz Franchise Brands. We talk about how Ashley got involved in franchising, what attracted her to lead British Swim School, and why her marketing background has been so helpful in promoting and leading the brand forward. She shares memorable experiences she has had with the brand and the reasons why she feels that their franchisees are so excited to be a part of their brand and their mission.
In this episode, I talk with Brian Garrison who is the Brand President of Wonderly Lights with Buzz Franchise Brands. Brian shares his story about how he got started in premium outdoor lighting services in the summer of 2022 and how they became affiliated with Buzz Franchise Brands. Wonderly Lights started with holiday lighting and has now expanded to permanent outdoor lighting systems. Brian shares insights into this unique business model and why service business owners are flocking to the opportunity to add this business on to their existing business.
In this episode, I talk with Scott Sutton, who is the Chief Development Officer at Empower Brands about how he got into franchising and eventually moved into franchise development at Empower Brands. Empower Brands is located in Richmond, Virginia and currently offers ten brands (Archadeck Outdoor Living, Bumble Roofing, Canopy Lawn Care, Conserva Irrigation, FRSTeam, Jan-Pro, Koala Insulation, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, Superior Fence and Rail, and Wallaby Windows) and eight that are in active development (as Jan-Pro is essentially sold out and Wallaby Windows is a new, emerging brand). Scott shares insights into commonalities amongst their franchisees, what franchise partners love most about Empower, their franchise development process and Empower Days, and the excitement he and their team have as they welcome new franchise partners and help them to succeed.
In this episode, I talk with Zach Beutler, who is the founder, owner, and CEO of Jungle Driving, a unique franchise concept designed to transform driver's education for teenagers based in Omaha, Nebraska. Zach talks about his background in franchising and franchise development, how he found the Jungle Driving concept, how they set franchisees up for success with marketing / systems, and what he is so excited about for the future of this unique franchise model. Zach has helped to build out fifteen franchise concepts and shares his vision for the launch of this franchise brand which he found from an existing business in Michigan. They are building a really built a unique experience for the teen driving concept to help save teenager's lives through better driving instruction.
In this episode, I talk with Colt Florence, who is the Senior VP of Franchise Development for Five Star Franchising, about how he got into franchising, the six brands he currently represents at Five Star, commonalities between the best franchise candidates, and what he is most excited about as Five Star continues to grow and expand their opportunities for entrepreneurs.
In this episode, I talk with David Bitan, founder and brand president of Bumble Roofing. David shares his story about how he started his roofing company, why he chose to start franchising and how he was acquired by Empower Brands. He shares stories about their growth, the specifics of the opportunity, and why franchise partners are choosing to be a part of their brand.
In this episode, I talk with Tim Fagan, who is the Brand President of 1-800-WATERDAMAGE and Chad Fallows, who owns two franchise territories in Georgia. They share their stories and the value of being a part of the Belfor Franchise Group and why they are so excited about the future with 1-800-WATERDAMAGE.
In this episode, I talk with Russ Jundt, who is the president of Conserva Irrigation with Empower Brands. Russ shares his start in franchising, the growth of their unique franchise concept, what thye do to give back to Charity: Water and what he is most excited about as their brand continues to grow across the country.
In this episode, I talk with Sean Foley, who is the Brand President of Redbox+ Dumpsters and one of their franchisees, Larry Oglesby, who is located in the greater Athens, Georgia region. They share their stories about how they got started with Redbox+ Dumpsters and with Belfor Franchise Group about a fascinating franchise business model.
In this episode, Danessa Itaya, Brand President of Bio-One returns to the Best Franchise Brands podcast to share updates on their exciting growth and expansion. Danessa shares details about their growth, how franchisees are living by their motto to Help First, Business Second, and the good they are doing in the communities across the country. You can learn more about Bio-One at: https://bioonefranchising.com/
In this episode, I talk with Cory Lyons, who is the Brand President of Koala Insulation, his background in franchising, how he was recruited to lead Koala Insulation, what he is most excited about in the future with Koala, and his experiences with growing the brand with their franchise partners. Check them out at www.KoalaInsulation.com.
In this episode, I talk with Stefan Figley, President of 1-800-PACKOUTS about their franchise which specializes in the contents restoration industry when a disaster happens. Stefan shares recent innovations that have helped 1-800-PACKOUTS franchisees grow and succeed. This franchise offers a very unique business model with top-notch contents restoration services and support their franchise owners and are deeply invested in the betterment of communities where they serve their clients.
In this episode, I talk with David Dunsmuir, Brand President of Gotcha Covered about their window covering franchise, how he got started in home improvement and in franchising, and how the franchise has grown over the past several years to be a leader in their industry. David also shares the benefits that franchisees enjoy as they are a part of the Five Star Franchising operational family.
In this episode, I talk with Amy Addington, who is the co-founder and brand president of the Woofies pet care franchise with Authority Brands. Woofies offers pet sitting and mobile pet grooming. Amy shares her story about how they got started, how she got into franchising, and partnered with Authority Brands. She also shares lessons she has learned as they have built their franchise brand and what she is most excited about in the pet care space moving into the future.
In this episode, I talk with Todd Houghton, who is the brand president of Homewatch CareGivers and Authority Brands. Homewatch CareGivers was started in 1980 and has been franchising for over thirty years. Todd has been the brand president since December of 2022 and shares his story about how he got into franchising, what is most excited about at Homewatch CareGivers, and the opportunity to be a part of this exciting brand.
In this episode, I talk with Michael Jacobson, who is the CEO of French Florist about how he acquired an existing florist, built out technology, opened additional stores, and decided to get into franchising. Michael's story and the opportunity that he and his team have created may be just the opportunity that you are looking for as you consider what franchise will be best for you and your future.
In this episode, I talk with Justin Waltz, who became the brand president of the Junkluggers franchise in early 2024. Justin shares his story about how he got into franchising, how he became affiliated with Junkluggers and Authority Brands, what helps their franchisees stand out and get started, lessons he has learned on leading, and what he's most excited about doing now in the Junkluggers franchise.
In this episode, we talk with Lance Sinclair about his background in franchising and how he became the brand president of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky, and One Hour Heating and Air with Authority Brands. He shares his story, his philosophy of success, and the four elements of onboarding their franchise partners that help them get off to a great start in their new franchise business.
In this episode, I talk with Ryan Wimpey, who is the Founder and CEO of the Tip Top K9 Dog Training Franchise. Ryan started dog training with his first dog Curly. He became obsessed about dog training and learned how to train him through Curly's behavioral problems that were affecting his relationships and built out a training program with classical conditioning that he started doing full time in 2008. In 2019, he started franchising and has grown locations all around the country over the past several years. Ryan shares his story, the advantages of his franchise system for dog training, the opportunity for being a part of his franchise, and the most exciting things that he is doing in his franchise now.
In this episode, I talk wtih Josh Minturn about his background in franchising up to now where he is a Vice President of Franchise Development for Authority Brands for several specific brands (on this episode we discuss three of them): Mosquito Squad, ASP (America's Swimming Pool Co.), and Doody Calls. We talk about each of these brands, the benefits and vision of being a part of these brands for franchise candidates, and what he is personally most excited about at Authority Brands as they continue to build these franchise brands.
In this episode, I talk with Bron Launsby, who is the CEO and Founder of Slick City Action Park. Bron shares his story about how he left the corporate world in retail to become a franchisee in a trampoline park concept. He did a lot of research and left the Discovery Day and purchased three locations in 2011 and 2012. He scaled that business to have nine locations. Later, he developed Slick City Action Park in early 2021. At the time of this recording, they have four parks open and have seven more locations that they are opening this year. They started franchising in early 2024. Bron shares his story about how they got started, why they're growing so quickly, how they layout their parks, and the excitement that is building with their brand.
In this episode, I talk with Rob Palmer, who is the Founder and Brand President of Lawn Squad. His business was acquired in April of 2023 by Authority Brands. Rob started the original brand in early 2001 in Northeast Ohio and built it up to multiple locations in Ohio before they were acquired by Authority Brands and started to franchise their brand. He shares how they build systems around growth, scaling, and how he made the transition from working in the business to working on the business over 23 years. Once they were acquired by Authority Brands, they focused on how they could clone and scale their business success to any city in the country with their franchise model.
In this episode, I talk with Tim Conn, Founder and President of Image One Facility Solutions located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. He shares his story about how he got into commercial janitorial services while he was still in high school and why he ultimately decided to franchise their business concept around the country. He shares lessons he has learned (good and bad) along the way and the reason why their franchise is growing so well as well as recent advances in technology and why that is so exciting for him and the franchisees of Image One.
In this episode, I talk with Steve Hart, who is the founder and CEO of Property Management Inc (PMI) based in Lehi, Utah. Steve and his partner Christopher Layton started PMI in 2008 and today have over 425 franchise locations around the United States and a few international locations. Steve shares his story about how they got started in property management and how they have built four pillars of opportunity for franchisees in residential, commercial, short-term, and association management with their franchise brand. Steve shares why he feels that PMI has grown so widely across the country and why property management is such an appealing opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs.
In this episode, I talk with Jeff Dudan, CEO of Homefront Brands in Huntersville, North Carolina. Jeff talks about how he got into franchising and lessons he has learned about how to help franchisees get off to a great start over the past thirty years in multiple brands. He also details about their five franchise brands (Window Hero, Top Rail Fence, Temporary Wall Systems, The Designery, and Yard Patrol Pros). He also shares how he is coaching new franchise candidates and helping owners through his weekly and monthly coaching sessions and how their discovery process works. His mantra of "Start Well, Go Well" is a key part of what has helped them grow their franchise brands so successfully over the past few years.
In this episode, I talk with Paul Flick, founder and President of Premium Service Brands (PSB) on new innovations that are benefitting franchise partners across their nine brands. He shares updates with their customer acquisition app Nesto (which is launching in April of 2024) and the innovative changes they've made with their onboarding and training processes that have benefitted the new 124 franchise locations that were added in 2023 and those who are stacking brands within PSB. He shares insights and examples of how Nesto works, how Kid's Lift is impacting local franchise partners, and the excitement of franchise partners about what was launched at their most recent convention to help franchise partners get an immediate impact in their businesses.
In this episode, I talk with Cliff Kennedy, CEO of FRIOS Gourmet Pops, about how he became a franchisee of FRIOS and then ended up buying out the franchisor. He talks about lessons he has learned from becoming a franchisor, how he supports his franchisees, the benefits of the FRIOS franchise opportunity, and how their organization has grown so rapidly to nearly 100 franchise locations since he became the CEO.
In this episode, I talk with David Sauers, Founder and Co-Owner of Royal Restrooms about their unique franchise concept that has been in business for over twenty years. He shares his story about how they got started, lessons they've learned as they've grown across the country, some of his favorite experiences and memories as the brand has grown, and what he is most excited about seeing implemented in the future in the Royal Restrooms franchise.
In this episode, I talk with Devan Kline, Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Visionary of Burn Brands and Burn Boot Camp. Devan and his wife Morgan have build a remarkable franchise business located in 41 states with over 400 franchisees in 550 territories around the country. Devan shares their story about how they got started, how they grew their business so quickly, and the power of systems in accountability in helping their franchise partners succeed.
In this episode, I talk with Doug Smith, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development with Belfor Franchise Group about their numerous brands in the home restoration and home services industries. Doug shares how Belfor got started, how he became involved, why they're growing so quickly, and why the future is so bright in their market niche across numerous brands that have been acquired and developed.
In this episode, Richie Huffman, CEO of Celebree Schools, returns to the Best Franchise Brands podcast to talk about their recent growth and how their vision and strategic growth plan is attracting new franchise partners as they are growing now and into the future. Richie shares his philosophy on personal development and why growing people both big and small is such an important foundation behind the success of Celebree Schools as well as their philanthropic efforts and focus on improving lives behind parents and children who are a part of their curriculum and programs.
In this episode, I talk with Jeff Salter, who is the CEO of Caring Senior Service and Jeff Bevis, who is the COO of Caring Senior Service, about their experiences in the home health care market over the past 34 years that they have been in business (and in franchising since 2003). They share how they individually got started, how they got together, details about the opportunity within Caring Senior Service, and their outlook for the future.
In this episode, I talk with Dan Collins, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development at Stretch Zone about their founder Jorden Gold, their concept and what is attracting franchisees to start a business with them, their incredible growth in recent years, and how they train and help franchisees to succeed.
In this episode, I talk with Courtney Harmon who is the President of Emerging Brands, and in particular the two brands that they currently offer - bluefrog Plumbing + Drain® and Softroc®, which is a premier provider of poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing solutions in the United States. Courtney shares her story about how she got involved in franchising and the growth their brands have experienced in the past few years. She shares details about the opportunities, their discovery process, and stories about franchisees who have shared how much they enjoy the culture and opportunities available through franchising. She also shares how their franchise organization supports franchisees and her thoughts on why they're growing so quickly across the country with their unique franchise concepts.
In this episode, I talk with Roger Martin, who is the CEO of Thrive More Brands about their brands RockBox Fitness, beem Light Sauna, and Leverage Nutrition. Roger shares his story about how he exited corporate America and got involved in the franchising industry and he and his partners have grown the Thrive More Brands family over the past several years. He shares more details about the benefits and opportunities available with RockBox Fitness and beem Light Sauna and why they've been growing so rapidly over the past few years.
In this episode, I talk with Ben Crosbie, CEO of The DRIPBaR IV Vitamin Therapy, about his background in franchising and how he became affiliated with The DRIPBaR. He also shares why he feels they've been growing so quickly since they started franchising in 2019 with their unique concept.
The DRIPBaR provides an extensive menu of IV drip cocktails and specialized plans that can help clients in a variety of ways. While all locations offer IV drips and IM shots; additional services may vary from location to location, including Botox®, Red Light Therapy, Infrared Saunas, and more.
Their IV vitamin drips are broken down into two categories:
- IV Lifestyle Drips, which focus on increasing energy, boosting immunity, enhancing recovery, and fighting the signs of aging
- IV Health Support Drips, which can provide supplemental support for those with cancer, heart disease, chronic illness, and more
In this episode, I talk with Doug Schadle, CEO of Rhino 7 about the currently ten brands that they represent: Fetch! (Pet Care), Yardsweepers, Furry Land, Playful Pack, QC Kinetix, Door Renew, Spray Foam Genie, Silicoat Roofing, and 76 Fence. Doug shares his story about how he and his partner John Cohen, Jr. got started, how they decide which emerging franchisors to work with, and the patience and dedication it requires as a franchisor to help franchisees get a great start.
In this episode, I talk with Michael Moorhouse, President of Mosquito Shield about the origin of their brand in 2001, their acquisition by Five Star Franchising, what makes their brand unique, and why they've grown to over 360+ franchise locations with 120+ owners around the country.
In this episode, I talk with Aaron Harper, who is the CEO of Rolling Suds about how they got started over three decades ago (with founders Brian Wendling, Sr. and Brian Wendling, Jr.) and their start in franchising in early 2023. Aaron shares his journey in franchising, how he became affiliated with Rolling Suds, his vision for the future, what he is most excited about today, and his philosophy about franchising and supporting new franchisees.
In this episode, we talk with Charles Bonfiglio, who is the CEO of about his entrance into franchising, how he started Tint World®, his vision for the future, and what he is most excited about developing in his franchise today. Charles was initially part of a well-known international auto repair franchise and built several locations before he decided to start his own auto accessories franchise. He believed that Tint World® would be the perfect concept to re-formalize into a franchise system. Bonfiglio pursued and completed the acquisition of the Tint World® brand, and established Tint World, LLC with its corporate office in Boca Raton, Florida to create a world-class Franchise Headquarters and Training Center. Today, the “Tint World® Franchise System” is revolutionizing the Automotive Accessories and Window Tinting concept that started back in 1982 with over 200 locations open or in development and a target for 600 franchise locations in North America, and has become a “world-class place” for drivers to bring their vehicles for quality products and services that protect and personalize their rides, homes and buildings.
Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™ has become America’s largest and fastest growing auto styling and window tinting franchise; specializing in window tinting, protective film, vehicle wraps, audio and electronics, security systems, car and truck accessories, wheels and tires, detailing and ceramic coating, maintenance, and installation services and you can hear how it all started in this informative interview with its founder and CEO.
In this episode, I talk with Paul Linenberg, President of Gotcha Covered about their window covering franchise, how it got started, and how they've grown over the past several years to be a leader in their industry space. Paul also shares the benefits that franchisees enjoy as they are a part of the Five Star Franchising operational family.
In this episode, I talk with Stefan Figley, President of 1-800-PACKOUTS about their franchise which specializes in the contents restoration industry when a disaster happens. They have a consistent and professional process ito help homeowners and business owners store and clean the contents of their properties that have been affected by disasters. Stefan shares his story about how 1-800-PACKOUTS got started, when they started franchising, their affiliation with Five Star Franchising, and how he became involved with the brand. They offer a very unique business model with top-notch contents restoration services and support their franchise owners and are deeply invested in the betterment of communities where they serve their clients.
In this episode, I talk with Mike Minitelli, Senior Vice President of Business Development with Benetrends Financial about 401k rollovers, SBA loans, and all of the types of financing that are available to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start or scale a business.
In this episode, I talk with Ben Gergis, who is the co-founder of DRYmedic and currently the VP of Operations and Integration at Authority Brands, and Dominic Hesano, who is the Franchise Development Manager at DRYmedic, about the opportunity available to franchisees who want to get into the restoration business. When a disaster occurs, homeowners and business owners need cleanup services without the hassle of insurance, red tape, and long waits. DRYmedic was founded with one mission – to restore life after disaster quickly, affordable, and compassionately. Ben and Dominic share their story and why DRYmedic is growing so quickly across the country.
In this episode, I interview Heidi Morrissey, President and CEO of the Kitchen Tune-Up and Bath Tune-Up franchise brands. Kitchen Tune-Up was founded in 1988 by Heidi's father and she joined him in 2003. In 2020, they launched their 2nd brand, Bath Tune-Up. In 2021, they joined Home Franchise Concepts as their 5th & 6th brands. Heidi shares her story about working with her father, the rapid growth of their franchise, what she's most excited about implementing in her franchises now, and why franchise candidates are so drawn to their brands.
In this episode, we talk with David Graham, who is the founder and CEO, of the Valhallan Esports Training franchise with the FranchiCzar group. David shares his story about how he started his franchise, why they've been experiencing such remarkable growth, and the opportunity available to those who want to get into Esports training space.
In this episode, we talk wtih Henrique Chemines De Melo of Formah Brazilian Beauty about their franchise that originally started in Brazil and is now taking off with locations in the United States. Henrique shares his story about how he started his franchise and details the opportunities available to those who decide to join the Formah Beauty franchise.
In this episode, we talk with Danessa Itaya, President of Bio-One, about their unique business model with Five Star Franchise Brands. Danessa shares details about the business model, unique experiences she and other franchisees have had, and the valuable service that franchisees provide to the community for clean up of biological materials from a variety of situations.
In this episode, we talk with Roxanne Conrad, President of 360 Painting (which is part of the Premium Service Brands family of franchise brands). Roxanne worked in corporate America for 15 years prior to starting her own 360 Painting franchise with Premium Service Brands and later opened a second location. She recently became the President of 360 Painting and on this episode she shares her story about how she got started and why she is so enthusiastic about the 360 Painting franchise opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs.
In this episode, Paul Flick, President and Founder of Premium Service Brands, returns to discuss Kid's Lift, Nesto, and more new initiatives that are exciting franchise partners and franchise candidates.
In this episode, I talk with Jay Shaw, who is the founder and CEO of Marigold Academy with his wife Kruti. They founded the Marigold Academy in 2023. Jay shares his story about how he got into early childhood education and why he and his wife decided to open a school and eventually start franchising. Jay holds an Electrical & Computer Engineering degree from Wayne State University and MBA from Michigan State University. He spent the first 15 years of his career in corporate America in various capacities within Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance & Accounting related positions. He and his wife have been part of the early education and childcare industry since 2019.
Jay is a huge advocate of high-quality early education for children in all communities to build a strong foundation for successful lives and careers. Jay is also very passionate about helping other professionals build a strong foundation and legacy for their families and communities. In his current role, Jay utilizes his leadership, experience, and vision to build a strong brand and associate with highly motivated individuals that want to make a difference in their communities while building a strong foundation and legacy for their own families.
In this episode, I talk with Jason Sant, who is the founder and CEO of the Team Up Athletics franchise about how he got into the sports apparel business and decided to offer franchises. He shares how they currently help new franchisees succeed, how the discovery process works for the Team Up Athletics franchise, and shares his optimism and excitement for the brand as it continues to grow.
In this episode, I talk with Bary El Yacoubi, who is the co-founder and CEO of the Send Me a Pro franchise. Bary and his brother started the Send Me a Trainer franchise and over time have transitioned it into offering multiple professional services delivered to an individual's home. Bary shares his story about how he got started in franchising and the journey they have been on as they've grown to 110 franchise locations today.
In this episode, I talk with Scott Oakley, CEO and co-founder of the Homekeepr franchise about how he got his start in franchising and the AI tools that he has helped to develop and acquire over the years to provide an exciting franchise opportunity for realtors, brokers, title companies, and insurance agencies. These tools help real estate professionals expand their outreach to homeowners (providing them with resources and connections to home professionals and utility companies) and providing them with real time data indicating when homeowners will be moving in the near future so they can reach out and offer their professional services. Scott shares his story and exciting details about the opportunities available to franchisees across the country.
In this episode, I talk with James and Shiva Boecker of RockStar Martial Arts franchise about how they got their start and the benefits of their franchise brand for new franchisees. They share insights about how their business has grown and the incredible systems and processes they've established after years in the martial arts business and the unique nature of their anti-bullying programs and child development programs available through their brand.
In this episode, I talk with Scott Abbott, who is the CEO of Five Star Franchising about their start with the FIve Star Painting brand (which was sold to Neighborly) and how they've grown to represent seven brands (Bio-One), Five Star Bath Solutions, Gotcha Covered, Pronexis, 1-800-PACKOUTS, 1-800-TEXTILES, and Mosquito Shield). Scott shares his philosophy about their brands, why've they've grown and scaled so quickly, and how they've helped their franchisees to scale and grow their businesses.
In this episode, we talk with Paul English, President of Refresh Renovations, which originated in New Zealand and Australia and has now spread to the United Kingdom and the United States. Paul shares the story of how Refresh Renovations got started, the benefits of the franchise brand, and why entrepreneurs are finding the home renovation business to be such an exciting opportunity today.
In this episode, I talk with Josh York, CEO and Founder of GYMGUYZ about how he started his franchise in his parent's living room and has grown it into one of the largest in-home workout and personal training brands in the world with locations offering personal training in over 1,000 cities in the United States.
Josh started the GYMGUYZ business in 2008. However, it was many years prior that he began creating the path that would lead to a successful mobile personal training business. In 2007, after graduating from college, Josh began working for a marketing firm and continued working as a personal trainer in the evenings. It was on one of these evenings at the gym that something clicked. He noticed that gym members were inconsistent. They had too many excuses not to show up at the gym and work out. Whether his clients were working late, unable to leave the house after a busy day, or just needed to get dinner on the table, Josh realized that there are dozens of rational reasons why many people aren’t consistent gym-goers. This is when he started developing a solution.
Tapping into his creativity, his professional background in marketing, and his solid knowledge of health and fitness, Josh decided to launch his own company. He would offer an experience that was completely different by bringing customers a unique service: a mobile fitness company that comes to the setting of your choice. GYMGUYZ was invented, with a fully equipped van containing weights, resistance equipment, body bars, and so much more. The personal trainers would develop personalized exercise and nutrition programs designed to ensure clients achieve their fitness goals.
Josh created GYMGUYZ from an idea and, like many great entrepreneurs, he started the GYMGUYZ business in his parents’ house in 2008. The dining room became a mini GYMGUYZ office. He started with a vision, a laptop, and one van. He conducted business at the dining room table with a cordless phone and one folder with a few client names.
Josh was not only running the business, but he was training the clients as well. When not training his clients, Josh drove the GYMGUYZ van every day, up and down the Long Island Expressway, in an effort to market the GYMGUYZ brand and attract new clients. Soon that one folder became multiple files, and the dining room became crowded with file cabinets, a printer, a fax machine, and marketing materials. Today GYMGUYZ is a leader in the in-home personal training space and you'll learn about their start and growth strategy in this informative interview.
In this episode, we talk with Paul Hanson, President of Epcon Communities, a franchise that specializes in building 55+ communities. This franchise is an ideal fit for custom home builders who want to scale their business bigger and have the support to select the best sites with designs and floor plans that have been proven to be best-sellers in markets across the US. Paul shares the Epcon Communities story, details about their discovery process, and why this opportunity is so exciting for those who are considering serving this rapidly expanding demographic.
In this episode, I talk with Paul Flick, the president and founder of Premium Service Brands in Charlottesville, Virginia. Paul discusses how he got started in franchising, what differentiates his nine brands within the Premium Service Brands family, and shares details about their discovery and training processes. With over 1,100 franchise partners across nine brands, Paul has led the collective team to over $100 million in revenue across their brands and has a built a profitable and sustainable business model that new franchisees can benefit from whether they are new to the journey of entrepreneurship or already have an extensive background in business ownership.
In this episode, I talk with Cheeky Monkeys founders Shazad Ali and Saima Khan about how they started their brand in the UAE and how it is now expanding across the world. They share their story, the appeal of their brand, how their discovery process works, and what new franchise partners experience as they launch their new Cheeky Monkeys locations.
In this episode, I talk with Aaron Cash, who is the President and Co-Founder of Garage Living. He shares their origin story and how they've expanded and grown through franchising. He also shares details about the remarkable work that they do in "transforming garages from the floor up", their discovery process, and their ideal candidate. He shares details about their Item 19 and how they train and provide ongoing support to their franchise partners. If you're looking for a fascinating, creative, and fulfilling business to start, Garage Living offers many benefits for entrepreneurs as they create stunning "before" and "after" garage living experiences for their clients.
In this episode, I talk with Bob Lewis, who is founder and president of Closet and Storage Concepts about the start of his business in 1987 and how they started franchising in 2000. We also talk about their acquisition of More Space Place in 2013 as well as the opportunities available for franchisees today. Closet and Storage Concepts designs, sells, and installs space-saving home furnishings products such as Closet Systems, Murphy Wall Beds, Home Offices, Garages, Pantries and Laundry Rooms.
In this episode, I talk with Director of Brand Management Alyssa Wilson-Corcione of the Science Made Fun (Hi Tech Hi Touch) Franchise about their education franchise and the benefits of working with schools to provide scientific discovery opportunities for children. Hi Tech Hi Touch started in 1992 and started franchising the Science Made Fun franchise in 1994 and currently have franchises in twelve countries. Alyssa shares their brand story, the benefits of their franchise, and opportunities they provide for their franchisees.
In this episode, I talk with Dave Pazgan, former President of the Kidokinetics franchise. Dave talks about their business model, why they are experiencing tremendous growth, and specifics about the marketing and opportunity within the Kidokinetics franchise family.
Kidokinetics offers fun, high-energy sports and fitness classes to boys and girls of all ages. They are a premier sports, fitness, health, and recreation program provider that comes to your preschool, elementary school, local park, or community center. They bring their elite physical education program, along with all the sports equipment needed, to the school and have been offering their training since 1996.
In this episode, I talk with Jesse Johnstone, who is the President of Fibrenew. Fibrenew has been offering franchises for over three decades, and now has 300 franchise locations and 375 technicians across the USA, Canada, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia who provide expert restoration of leather, plastic, and vinyl wherever it’s found. Jesse shares his story about how he became involved with Fibrenew and the benefits his franchise offers to those seeking to start their own business.
In this episode, we talk with Richie Huffman, CEO of Celebree School, who offer franchises and help families raise independent, thoughtful children who are excited about learning. Their child care centers on the concept of community and build schools full of parents and educators who focus completely on a child’s well-being and happiness. Celebree's approach to early childhood education is a holistic one. Because children are capable of absorbing information on many levels, they emphasize educating the whole child.
Richie shares his story about how he got into the child care industry in 1994 and what led to them starting to offer franchises in 2019. They have 26 corporate locations and are rapidly growing across the U.S. with franchise partners in many states. They have an exciting franchise opportunity and we discuss the benefits of the Celebree School curriculum and how they are working with parents to prepare children for life in a fast growing industry that is estimated to be a $61 billion industry by 2024.
In this episode, we talk with Colorglo International President Gary Smith about the franchise his father started and that he and his brother run today with members of their family. He shares how they got started in the color restoration and repair business, the advantages of their franchise model, details about their discovery day and training, and what Colorglo looks for in ideal franchise candidates who want to join their brand.
In this episode, I interview Dr. Gene Landrum about his extensive career including how he started the Chuck-E-Cheese brand. He also shares lessons from his numerous books about what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur. Even though we don't talk extensively about the Chuck-E-Cheese franchise brand in this episode, I wanted to share our discussion about lessons that Dr. Gene has learned about what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur today.
In this episode, we talk with Ben Reist, who represents the Moran Family of Brands in the aftermarket automotive industry (Mr. Transmission, Milex, and Turbo Tint). He discusses each of the brands, requirements for starting each franchise, and why even those who don't have a background as mechanics can succeed in this impressive brand with over three decades of experience working with franchisees across the United States.
In this episode, I talk with Cody Hofhine, who with co-founder Mark Stubler started the Joe Homebuyer real estate investing franchise in the fall of 2019. We talk about how Cody and Mark started their own successful wholesaling operation and build out two successful businesses in different markets before beginning to franchise their brand. This is a franchise brand that you should check out if you have interest in getting into real estate investing.