Franchise Canada Chats: Recent Episodes
Canadian Franchise Association
Get to know experts in the Canadian franchising community! Season 5 of the Franchise Canada Chats podcast features franchisors, franchisees, and leaders in the industry. Check back every week for the latest episode and subscribe today!
To cap off Franchisee Appreciation Month, Franchise Canada Chats is releasing a bonus episode hosted by Steve Buors and featuring David Druker, president and CEO of The UPS Store Canada.Join David and Steve on this special bonus episode, sponsored by The UPS Store, as they discuss the world of franchising, the opportunities it affords business owners, and the hard work that franchisees put back into their communities.
On the final episode of Franchise Canada Chats season 9, Renée Boudakian is speaking with Pizza Pizza franchisee, Tahir Siddique, to discuss his 25 years of experience in the franchising industry, from working in the kitchen to owning his own location. Listen in as they dive into Tahir’s transition from employee to franchisee, what goes into operating a top-performing location, the role that community has played in his journey, and so much more!
Franchise Canada Chats and Renée Boudakian welcome Kimberly and Andrew Severson, two franchisees with Wild Birds Unlimited in South Surrey, BC, to talk about their experience as franchise business owners. They share insights from their experience in accounting and finance, buying franchise units through resale, moving locations, proper franchisor-franchisee communication, and everything that goes into the business of connecting people and nature, and doing it with excellence as part of a franchise community.
Renée is talking with Elijah Mack-Stirling about what it’s like to be a franchisee with Canada’s first Indigenous fast-casual cuisine franchise, Kekuli Cafe. Learn more about different financing considerations, leadership tactics integral to multi-unit success, the importance of safe spaces for Indigenous youth, ensuring adequate support systems in difficult times, and more.This episode was recorded on May 18, 2025.Content note: This episode includes mention of familial grief and missing persons.The Canadian Small Business Financing Act: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canada-small-business-financing-program/en
On Season 9 Episode 12, Renée Boudakian, CFE, is joined by David Everitt, a longstanding franchisee with The UPS Store in Thunder Bay, Ontario. David’s family was part of The UPS Store’s original move into Canada. Today, David shares with listeners the nuances of working in a family business, operating in a rural area, supporting staff to ensure their success, the importance of forming connections with your local community and franchise community, and what it means to be an Area Franchisee.
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa franchisee, Christopher Fisher, joins Renée Boudakian, CFE on the Franchise Canada Chats podcast to share his experience as a multi-unit owner in Ottawa, Ontario. Tag along to hear about Christopher’s decision to join a franchise instead of opening another independent business, various financing options for franchisees, the difference between an Area Developer and a Master Franchisee, and the importance of conducting adequate market research during the discovery process.
Renée Boudakian is sitting down with Justin Enns, a multi-unit franchisee with CertaPro Painters. Justin and CertaPro’s story first began in 2017 when he joined his father’s team. In 2023, he took over his father’s franchise and has continued to grow the business year over year. Justin’s passion really lies in business itself, and in this week’s episode he shares the work that goes into fostering a successful business, curating the right team, taking over an existing franchise, and getting involved with one’s franchise community.
Meet Jesse Pooni, a multi-unit franchisee with Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop in British Colombia’s lower mainland. This week, Renée and Jesse are sitting down to discuss what can happen when one embraces an unexpected opportunity; the differences between taking over an existing franchise location and opening a brand new one; creating balanced partnerships in business; and the impact of forging connections in a local community.
On episode 8 of Franchise Canada Chats season 9, Renée is speaking with Shailen Vadera, a Crock A Doodle franchisee who's seen the system from all sides. As the founder’s daughter, Shailen has worked in the stores, with corporate, and now as a franchisee. Today she’s sharing all the insights she’s gained from this business, and shining a light on how a mathematical mind can help a creative business flourish. Pop in to hear about the relationship between a franchisor and its franchisees, why finding the right location for a unit is integral, different avenues for financial backing, and local store marketing as a key to success.
Renée Boudakian is sitting down with Christina Strudwick, an entrepreneur who’s personal experience with CEFA Early Learning led to her becoming a franchisee with the brand. Christina worked as the manager of a bank branch and oversaw a real estate portfolio before delving into the business world and opening her own CEFA location. Renée and Christina discuss the value of brand awareness, navigating business ownership during a global pandemic, financial preparedness, and the impacts of early learning opportunities on children… plus so much more!
Joining Renée Boudakian this week is Salima Mussaji, a franchisee with Spirit of Math—an after-school program for high-performing students. Salima and her husband had always been interested in owning their own business, and with Salima’s experience as a teacher, plus Spirit of Math’s reputation, they found the right fit for them with this franchise system. Tune in to hear about franchising in the supplemental education industry, the nuances of introducing a business to a new territory, and the impacts of supplemental education.
Renée Boudakian and Cédric Léveillé are sitting down to discuss his experience as a Fibrenew franchisee. Cédric worked with Fibrenew as a technician for 3 years before taking over his uncle’s franchise, and has gone on to expand the team, open a workshop, and move to a larger space. In this episode they’ll explore franchise growth, the importance of leadership skills, and how to build and care for a team of dedicated employees.
This week, Renée Boudakian explores franchising from two different viewpoints as she’s joined by Sabai Thai Spa’s CEO and founder, Nuttha Goutier, and their newest franchisee, Stella Hoang. See both sides of the franchising coin as we explore onboarding and training processes, franchise tradeshows, franchisor/franchisee alignment, and creating an immersive experience for customers.
Renée Boudakian is joined by Sean Bannerman, a former member of law enforcement who saw an opportunity to leap into the world of franchising. Now a master franchisee with Oxygen Yoga & Fitness, Sean shares the mechanics of making a career change with franchising, multi-unit ownership, master franchising, and the significance of work-life balance.
Join Renée Boudakian and Priya Vadivel as they discuss Priya’s experience as a franchisee with British Swim School. Learn about her business, the importance of swimming lessons for kids and infants, the unique opportunities that come with opening a franchise, and the ins-and-outs of multi-unit franchising.
Renée Boudakian is talking with Foxy Box Laser & Wax Bar master franchisees Mathieu Doyon and Valerie Bacon, about bringing the franchise to their province. Find out how a former cosmetic nurse and a serial entrepreneur joined forces to grow Foxy Box throughout Quebec!
After 17 years working in IT, Sohail Iqbal felt the urge to start his own business. He considered the food industry, but first consulted friends who also had their own businesses. He landed on The UPS Store as the right choice and has since grown his franchise empire to over six locations. Guest host Angelee Brown of FranOvation joins Franchise Canada Chats as we sit down with Sohail to discuss: -How he consulted friends and family in order to find his ideal business opportunity; -How franchising allowed him to automate systems between locations; -The technology he leverages on a day-to-day basis for his business; -The challenge of learning new systems while teaching new employees.
Franchise Canada Chats is proud to welcome the CFA's 2024 Franchisees of the Year, Alicia Baker and Candice Parent. The franchisee of the year award recognizes top performing franchisees who build strong connections with their communities. Alicia Baker started as the sole employee of DermaEnvy Skincare’s Halifax location before opening her own location in St. John’s at just 21 years old. This year, she won the Franchisee of the Year award in the brick-and-mortar category. Where many join with years of working experience and working capital, Alicia’s previous part-time employment provided the pipeline to small business ownership. Candice returns to Franchise Canada Chats as the Franchisee of the Year in the home- and mobile-based category. After taking over the Windsor MOLLY MAID Canada franchise in January 2022, she grew the revenue by 47 per cent. The next year she continued that growth, exceeding the company average in both years.
Welcome back to Franchise Canada Chats. Today’s guest is Anita Mushitsi, a multi-unit franchisee with British Swim School. Anita got involved in the aquatics industry following a near-drowning incident in her family. She began to take pool safety seriously—seriously enough to invest in a franchise. So, on this episode, we’re going to take a deep dive into the aquatics franchising industry.
This episode's guest is Ken Regular, a franchisee with The UPS Store. He came to franchising after two decades as a journalist where he met criminals, celebrities, politicians, artists, and business leaders. During one interview the CEO of a multinational company told him, “The most honest people I know are in business because you can’t strike a deal with someone you don’t trust.” As a skeptical reporter, Ken found the statement difficult to believe but the words stuck in his mind. As his media career grew, so did his interest in business. Juggling family life and their employers' demands during COVID-19, Ken and his partner Vicky decided it was time to make a move. They opened The UPS Store in Brooklin, Ontario in the middle of a pandemic lockdown. Now more than three years later, their business is growing as they build relationships and trust with their clients. In addition to running their business, Ken is a board director with the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, and Vicky serves on The UPS Store's Franchise Advisory Council.
Welcome back to Franchise Canada Chats. This episode's guests are Adam Janke and Christian Johannsen. Adam is the master franchisee of Foot Solutions, a foot care specialist franchise that designs custom orthotics and provides service addressing the foundation of customers’ health. Christian Johannsen is a franchisee for Foot Solutions based in British Columbia. We're excited to discuss the benefits of the healthcare industry in franchising (especially when it comes to foot care), why absentee and semi-absentee franchising isn’t always the right choice, and how they stay on the cutting edge of technology as a legacy brand.
Welcome back to Franchise Canada Chats. Today’s guests is Alicia Armstrong, who, with her husband Mark, is a franchisee with Fully Promoted in Belleville and Peterborough. The brand provides product customization, embroidery, and screen-printing services. "Whatever you can put your name on, we can help with," says Alicia. She brings her expertise to creating branding and products for local sports teams, trades groups, and artists, and we're pleased to have her on today's episode.
Welcome back to Franchise Canada Chats. Today’s guest is Jason O’Connor, a regional franchisee with JDI Cleaning. He currently owns and operates two territories, in the Hamilton-Burlington and Niagara areas. He came to franchising from the world of real estate with a specific focus on working with investors.
“This is the worst version of AI you’re going to see,” says Robert Mitchell on the future improvements of digital intelligence and language learning models. "Six months from now, it'll be blowing you away." Mitchell is the chief AI officer for WSI Digital Marketing, which is adding artificial intelligence performance tools to their digital solutions toolbox. On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, looking into how WSI deploys AI resources in its consulting, how it tracks its franchisees’ success, and more upcoming tech trends for the franchise industry!
If there’s one thing everyone agrees on, it’s that something will always need to be cleaned. Today’s guests are from Anago Cleaning Systems. Adam Povlitz, CEO, and Rafiq Punjani, the master franchisee of Manitoba for Anago Cleaning Systems, discuss putting a novel spin on the cleaning industry through unit mastery, increasing technology, and bringing client satisfaction to an underacknowledged sector.
Pizza Nova has long been a mainstay of Canada’s food and franchise landscapes and it’s thanks to people like today’s guest, franchisee Tracy Tran. Tracy joins the podcast today with Pizza Nova’s president Domenic Primucci to talk about: -The history of the brand; -Maintaining a family culture through immense growth; -And how the brand is using technology to meet customers' needs.
Franchise Canada Chats is thrilled to welcome the Gold winners of the CFA's 2023 Franchisees of the Year award.Annalisa Cilla of Scholars Education and Brad Wheeler of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Canada reflect on the insights and experiences that led to their success.On this episode, we discuss: -Using policy and procedures to ensure uniformity across franchise locations;-Leveraging business ownership to provide opportunities to community members; -Taking pride in success and winning Franchisee of the Year;-and so much more!
Today we’re joined by Ellena Francey, of Mr. Appliance of Newmarket and Barrie and Katharine Leaman of Glass Doctor of Durham region. Ellena made the jump from a career in print media into her Mr. Appliance franchise, while a recession raged on. Katharine embarked on her entrepreneurial journey in the spring of 2021 after a varied career with stints as a nurse and as a ballerina. Tune in to hear more about their journeys into franchising and their strategies and advice for other women in franchising.On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, we discuss:-The benefits of working with a franchise broker in the due diligence process;-Removing the barrier toward women in leadership in franchising;-Strategies for women entrepreneurs considering franchising as a career path;-And so much more!
Matt Hickman was the owner of a water treatment services company, Kean's Pump Shop, in St. John's before joining the Neighbourly family as a multi-brand owner. As a former business owner, the jump to franchising seemed counterintuitive, but in trying to pivot his existing HVAC business, he found the appeal in partnering with "an ethical company.""They had something I didn't: they had a system that was replicable and scalable," he says. "And that's what sold me on it, the fact that they were delivering value."In spite of not being a "trades guy," Hickman found success in the industry by leveraging his financial skills.
Jeff Palla joined Neighbourly with more than 25 years of senior operations leadership experience as a franchise owner and leader in the hospitality industry.
Jeff previously held leadership roles in the hotel industry where he played an integral role in the launch of franchise programs.
On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, we discuss: -The security of having a well-vetted handyman in clients’ homes; -Benefits of Neighbourly's complementary businesses; -Retirement not being all that it’s cracked up to be; -And so much more!
The majority of Jalal Mir’s working life has been dedicated to paws and claws. In Iran, he became a vet and he was in the wholesale business, importing high-quality pet care goods and overseeing a team of more than 100 employees.
After immigrating to Canada, he brought that level of understanding to Pet Valu, being on the sales floor, rather than being “one man in a room with a laptop.”
The Richmond Hill, Ontario-based franchisee opened his location 11 months ago and is already looking to expand to multiple units.
On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, we discuss: -Balancing novelty, risk, and trustworthiness in the retail franchise industry; -Creating trust when handling customers’ loved ones; -Standing out in the booming pet care industry; -And so much more!
Today’s guest on Franchise Canada Chats is B-Protek's Brian Lemon, based out of Winnipeg. After a 34-year career as a government relations specialist in the agriculture industry, he decided to retire and go into business for himself."The idea of being a franchisee, you're still a private entrepreneur but it brings with it all these other supports," says Lemon.He breaks down his franchise search on this episode of Franchise Canada Chats. We also discuss:
"We always knew we wanted to do this on a large scale,” says Florence Gaven Rossavik of Fuzz Wax Bar. Since co-founding the company in 2012, she’s ventured on to seal her commitment to waxing as the brand grows. “We thought about franchising from the get-go, because it’s obviously a way to grow a bit faster,” says Rossavik. That growth relies on multi-unit franchisees like Dawn Flowers, who heads three locations across Ontario and B.C., and is the owner of the company’s top-performing location. Florence and Dawn join us on Franchise Canada Chats to discuss: -How the corporate and franchise landscape changed for women in the industry in the last 10 years; -How the tiered membership base model benefits clients and franchisees; -Being open to new revenue streams while remaining clear and consistent with the brand’s focus.
In this episode, guest host Gary Prenevost from FranNet chats with Jordan Levine, chief operating officer for Sola Salons, and Larry Lloyd, a Whitby, Ontario-based franchisee. Sola Salons is a real estate rental concept for cosmetologists and other care providers. The brand recently expanded into Canada and Lloyd is only the fifth franchisee for the brand in the country.Jordan and Larry join Franchise Canada Chats discuss creating passion in franchising, protecting the brand's culture, and the interdependence between franchisees and franchisors.You can expect these key takeaways from this episode:-The unforeseen benefit of opening multiple units in similar locations;-Attracting interest from high-quality leads in prospective franchisees;-How culture is the driver that sets a brand apart, even with a brand with strong offerings;-And so much more!
Candice Parent joins us on Franchise Canada Chats to discuss how she took over her MOLLY MAID franchise in Windsor: with a lot of research, a lot of conversations with franchisors and with family members, and while applying her 20 years of teaching experience to creating a culture within her team.Now she manages a team of 12 loyal and committed cleaners while meeting and growing her client base.You can expect these key takeaways from this episode:-Why demographics and knowing your territory is important for growth; -Teachers have soft skills that are perfect for franchising; -Imparting a wellness policy to protect staff members' free times and generating ideas in the downtime;-and much more!
Jon Martin says he fell into franchising with both feet. About 20 years ago, he decided to expand his mother's health care business as a franchise model, building 50 locations over 15 years before deciding to seek out a new venture. He wanted something new, something lucrative, and something he could feel passionate about. Maverick’s Donuts was just the answer. With his years of franchise development under his belt, Jon now plays double-duty, perfecting the company’s franchise system and managing four locations in the Ottawa area. On this episode of Franchise Canada Chats, Jon Martin discusses the knead-to-knows about the donut business, including: -Refining the flavours and the concept to build a better brand system; -Developing connections with local organizations to engage the community; -Using online SEO to capture new attention; -Franchising to improve quality of life;-and so much more!
Steven Vanlofffeld was elected to his First Nation’s Council in 2016. “I looked at our government, our First Nation, and what our revenues and expenditures were, and where that revenue was going,” he says. Instead of having revenue go to outside communities and business, he challenged the big-box systems to keep revenue in the hands of Indigenous communities. eSupply was born from this thought. Vanloffeld wrote a business plan and launched it in February 2020. Today, Vanloffeld is on the precipice of signing eSupply’s first franchisee. Moreover, he’s created an Indigenous community ownership model to stop the “economic leakage” and support community enhancement and development, on top of the opportunity available to everyday Canadians. Vanloffeld joins us on Franchise Canada Chats to discuss: -Reducing capital and storage costs to save value -Addressing economic leakage in Canada’s 50,000 Indigenous communities -Removing barriers for marginalized people communities to enter franchising -And so much more!
Juan Arboleda and Paola Montoya's first interaction with JDI Cleaning was through covering a couple of cleaning jobs. The local franchisee was so impressed by their work ethic that he offered them a franchise. They took that and ran with it, growing into multi-unit owners over the 20 years they've been with the company.In their tenure, they've increased sales in their Milton, Brampton, and North Halton region by 300 per cent, including making the jump from franchisee to franchisor. Within the last six months, their son Simon began assisting them on cleaning jobs, making it a true family franchise.Juan and Paola join us on Franchise Canada Chats to discuss:- JDI franchises are in the communication business, not just the cleaning business;- Engaging with cultural changes in a new country and how onboarding new Canadians reflects the franchisor/franchisee relationship;-Splitting the workload and responsibility to divide and conquer, keeping family issues at home and leaving work at the office;-and so much more!
Today's guest, Steve Geddes, parlayed his combined furniture repair and sales experience into a franchise business with Fibrenew. As Geddes found through the pandemic, there’ll always be a need for repairs. He took over a Kelowna-based Fibrenew location and began growing the business from a stagnant location to a top-ranking powerhouse. In moving from a technician role into an operational management role, Geddes found his life changing in more ways than one.You can expect these key takeaways from this episode:-The pros and cons of buying an existing franchise vs. a new build; -Appealing to the highly educated consumers through the brand promise; -Creating incentives and quality working environments in order to retain staff; -and so much more!
Everything was great for Jamie Berube, until it wasn’t. As a Wells Fargo banker, she was front and center for the 2008 market collapse that would define her career. Furthermore, she became the mother of a child with medical disability, navigating a medical system with no precedent. She needed a plan B, one that would recession-proof her if another market collapse ever occurred. She turned that life experience into a franchising journey through self-employment. Jamie joins us on Franchise Canada Chats to tell us how it happened. On this episode, we discuss: - Developing confidence in new leadership roles; - Knowing the value and limitations of passion in business decision-making; - Overcoming the challenges of remote work with children; - and so much more!
Franchise Canada Chats is thrilled to welcome the Gold winners of the CFA's Franchisees of the Year Award.
In this episode Carolyn Genest of Days Inn by Wyndham and Sylvie Levesque of Paul Davis Restoration reflect on their introduction to franchising and the steps that led them to becoming the recipients of this year’s awards!
Franchise Canada Chats is excited to welcome Michael Curran, President and CEO of Dominos Pizza of Canada, to the podcast!
In this episode, guest host sponsor Kirk Allen from Reshift Media and Michael Curran discuss the Dominos' digital transformation through the years that helped lift the franchise brand to become one of the most iconic pizza brands in the world!
Franchise Canada Chats is overjoyed to welcome motivational leader and former NBA player, Walter Bond to the podcast! On this episode, guest host Kirk Allen from Reshift Media breaks down the fundamentals of franchising with Bond.
Franchise Canada Chats is excited to welcome Brian Woods, the Group Vice President of Franchise Development at Neighborly, to the podcast!
In this episode, guest host sponsor Kirk Allen from Reshift Media and Brian Woods discuss the key factors that every entrepreneur must consider when deciding between franchise ownership or self-employment. Discussions of the proven development and structural model that Neighborly offers its franchisees is also discussed.
Season 6 Episode 10 | History and Evolution of Franchising: What Have We Learned? by Canadian Franchise Association
In this episode, guest host sponsor Travis Tinning from Franchise GrowthLab chats with We Wash Windows CEO, Jason Primmer, and Calgary-based franchisee, Lynden Brass.
We Wash Windows has been in business since 2001, offering interior, exterior, and solar and speciality window cleaning services. Jason says he’s been a member of the company for 17 years, and transitioned into the sole owner 8 years ago. Lynden owns a franchise in Calgary South, and as a 31-year-old entrepreneur and new business owner as of 2022, says that his business journey so far has been an exciting one.
You can expect these key takeaways from this episode:
- How Jason’s late father-in-law inspired and mentored him in his business endeavours with the We Wash Windows brand
- Lynden’s biggest learnings as a new and young franchisee, and how he stepped into the role of franchisee after working for the business for six years prior
- Tips and advice for how to find business success within an emerging franchise system
In this episode, guest host sponsors Patrick Wyness and Travis Tinning from Franchise GrowthLab chat with John Dobelbower, Director of Franchise Development for Neighbourly, a home services company with more than a dozen franchise brands under its umbrella.
As lead developer for all Neighbourly brands, with global headquarters located in Waco, Texas, John helps prospective franchisees find the ideal fit for their lifestyle and business goals.
You can expect these key takeaways from this episode:
- How owners can scale with Neighbourly whether as multi-unit owners, by purchasing different brands under the parent company, or an exciting mixture of both
- The ideal franchise owners for Neighbourly, and the level of support they can expect from head office
- Some of the many benefits of being in the home service space as a budding entrepreneur
For any inquiries about the Neighbourly system, John can be contacted at: john.dobelbower@nbly.com
In this BONUS episode of Franchise Canada Chats Season 6, guest host sponsor Travis Tinning from Franchise GrowthLab has an in-depth chat with Brian Leon, CEO of Choice Hotels Canada, Frank Zaid of Frank Zaid Franchise Legal Support Service, and fellow colleague Patrick Wyness, Vice President of Operational Systems at Franchise GrowthLab.
This exclusive episode for CFA members is all about Franchisee Advisory Councils, and how franchise systems can get great results from establishing these vital councils for their franchisees to participate in.
You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: 1. Why Franchisee Advisory Councils are so important in the successful operation of an emerging franchise system 2. How franchisors at all levels can understand how Franchisee Advisory Councils operate 3. How to run an effective Franchisee Advisory Council meeting, and much more.
Franchise Canada Chats is pleased to welcome Boston Pizza co-owner and Canadian businessman, Jim Treliving for an exciting episode about his franchise success story and so much more!
In this episode, guest host sponsor John DeHart from Franchise GrowthLab sits down with Treliving to have a Leaders in Franchising chat as two successful franchisors of national franchise brands.
You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: 1. Jim Treliving's Boston Pizza origin story that began back in 1968 with one restaurant in a small town in B.C., and how he transitioned from a member of the RCMP to a budding entrepreneur 2. What his Dragons' Den days taught him about what to look for in aspiring business owners 3. The importance of treating Boston Pizza franchisees like family, and his advice for how to make a successful first impression as a new investor.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté talks to David Druker, president of The UPS Store Canada to discuss its recent successes and vast achievements as an iconic brand within the franchise community. The UPS Store Canada is a new national sponsor for the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA), and recently received the Hall of Fame Award in the CFA's 2021 Recognition Awards for its active and immersed participation with the CFA, including in mentoring, speaking events, lead generation opportunities, and David's time serving on the board of directors.
As a mature franchise system that was founded in 1980 in the U.S. and arrived in Canada in 1988, The UPS Store Canada has just under 360 open/operating units, with 15 set to open throughout 2022. Brand awareness is vital to The UPS Store Canada, and its selection process to award franchises to new owners takes particular interest in finding franchisees who have the ideal traits to drive their business success.
The UPS Store Canada is eager to increase brand awareness and grow the franchise system throughout the country and beyond. Here, David shares: • The history of The UPS Store and how he came to join the franchise system through a chance encounter while vacationing down south • What products and services The UPS Store Canada offers and how that's evolved and adapted throughout the decades • How The UPS Store Canada's franchising efforts have changed over the years, and what prospective franchisees and customers can always expect from this iconic brand, among much more.
For more information, please visit www.theupsstore.ca.
In this episode, guest host sponsor Patrick Wyness from Franchise GrowthLab chats with Lexi Miles Corrin, founder and CEO of WAXON Laser + Waxbar, a beauty bar that specializes in hair removal for men and women. WAXON was launched launched in 2012, and currently has 13 locations across the country, with plans for further expansion this year.
You can expect these key takeaways from this episode: 1. Why it’s important to empower women in the franchising space 2. How WAXON pressed pause on franchising in recent years, and why right now is the perfect time to relaunch its growth plans 3. The commitment the WAXON team has to its franchise partners, as well as the support tools it provides to ensure all locations are profitable and successful
In this sponsored episode, guest host Angela Coté sits down to chat with Brad Stevenson, chief development officer for Neighbourly, a home services platform that connects customers to service professionals in their local communities. Neighbourly originated in 1981 with headquarters located in Waco, Texas and recently opened a second headquarters in Irving, Texas this past summer. There are 17 brands operating in the United States, and 13 brands in Canada including:
• Aire Serv • Five Star Painting • Glass Doctor • The Grounds Guys • Mr. Appliance • Mr. Electric • Mr. Rooter • Rainbow International Restoration • Mr. Handyman • Dryer Vent Wizard • ShelfGenie • HouseMaster
As chief development officer, Brads works with the Neighbourly development team consisting of nearly 80 people, and helps people get into entrepreneurship opportunities across Canada and the U.S. Brad also works with the team to understand people’s lives and journeys in franchising to identify who would be a great fit as a prospective franchisee candidate with the Neighbourly brand.
Listen to this episode to learn more about the Neighbourly franchise opportunity including: • What’s different about Neighbourly’s training platform and how the brand provides exceptional support to its franchisees • How a prospective franchisee can know if franchising is right for them, including how to find the right fit in a dynamic franchise system • How the franchise business model, and Neighbourly in particular, helps everyday people go into business for themselves by leveraging the power of a brand's collective wisdom, among much more. For more information about franchising opportunities, go to neighborly.com.
In this sponsored episode, guest host Angela Coté chats with British Swim School president Ashley Gundlach, and director of aquatics, Melissa McGarvey. British Swim School is Canada's premier "learn-to-swim" program, that offers water survival and stroke development instruction to children and adults of all ages. It offers a low investment opportunity and an easily scalable model for franchisees, who can benefit from the added bonus of joining a purpose-driven brand that provides vital life-skills within communities across the country.
As the recently appointed president of British Swim School, Ashley is responsible for driving all aspects of the brand forward, and leads the home office team to help support franchisees. As director of aquatics, Melissa supports franchise owners on the aquatics program, including teaching and training, as well as offering continual support for the program itself to keep students safe and comfortable in the water.
With three franchises in Canada and two more set to open in early 2022, British Swim School is eager to dive deeper into the Canadian market! Check out the episode to learn about the franchise opportunity including: • What sets the British Swim School model apart from other swim school concepts • The ideal traits and characteristics British Swim School looks for in franchisees (no, you don’t need to have swimming skills!) • British Swim School’s desire to help Canadians from coast to coast learn how to swim, and much more.
Visit www.britishswimschool.com to learn more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté discusses female empowerment in franchising with Jennifer Blair, founder and co-CEO of Deka Lash, based in the U.S. and currently looking for vast expansion throughout Canada. Founded in 2011, Deka Lash is an international retail beauty company that specializes in eyelash extension services and products with the goal of making clients feel and look their best.
Jennifer says she realized there was a gap within the eyelash extension market for artists that offer convenient and affordable services, and realized she could introduce a business concept that would fill the gap and attract clients like herself. And so was born a franchise concept that helps to empower and build confidence for women!
Here, Jennifer shares: • How Deka Lash has achieved quick growth and opened more than 100 studios in less than five years • Why it's common for franchisees to have a woman to be the face of the brand with business support from her husband • What the response has been like from clients and franchisees, and what key traits can help new Deka Lash franchisees succeed, among much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté chats with Steve Collette, co-founder and CEO of 3rd Degree Training, and Fiona Styant, director of franchise development at MOLLY MAID Canada. Here, they discuss why innovating during periods of uncertainty and changes—most notably the COVID-19 pandemic—are vital to help a franchise system survive and stay ahead of the competition.
Steve and his wife Pam founded 3rd Degree Training back in 2008, with the desire to introduce a program that would offer a fitness program that could appeal to anyone and everyone. It provides group HIIT classes, personal training, small group training, weight circuits, and more for customers looking to keep fit.
MOLLY MAID has dominated the maid service industry since being founded in 1979, offering consistent, reliable, and affordable cleaning services for customers, as well as an experienced support office team (including Fiona!) to help its franchisees succeed.
Here, Steve and Fiona share: • How each brand has adapted its business model throughout the years to stay ahead of the competition • MOLLY MAID’s new Neighbourhood Franchise Model that offers a unique franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to grow • How both brands introduced innovation into the system, paying special care to those franchisees who might be uncomfortable with change, and much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté sits down with WSI franchisee Taylor Russell to discuss how franchisees can search for franchise opportunities that offer them flexibility to create a healthy work-life balance as a business owner.
WSI is a digital marketing franchise that works with businesses across all industries to help them connect with their customers online. Its headquarters is in Toronto, Ontario, also where Taylor is based, though her freedom as a business owner allows her to interact with clients and complete her work from anywhere in the world — which was especially important to her while choosing a franchise to invest in!
Here, Taylor shares: • What advice she has for prospective franchisees about how to choose a franchise that suits their goals, passions, and lifestyle • How to differentiate yourself in the franchising industry and create a unique selling proposition (including what this is and how you can use it!) • What she's learned about creating effective work-life balance as a wife and mother, and much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté examines the importance of creating a positive culture within a franchise organization with Paul Paquette, country manager for Canada, and Chad Bishop, shipping consultant and owner-operator.
InXpress provides shipping solutions and savings for small and mid-sized businesses, acting as a unique concept within the shipping and logistics industry. Paul, who's based in Burlington, Ontario, shares insight into what makes InXpress an inspiring and positive franchise opportunity, and Chad dives into his success as a multi-unit franchisee with two locations in Calgary, Alberta.
Here, Paul and Chad share: • The specific things that Paul does at InXpress to ensure that customers always have a positive and satisfying experience • Why Chad chose InXpress as the brand to grow his franchise businesses with • How the InXpress brand works to foster a sense of collaboration and culture within the organization, and much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté discusses brain based coaching for business owners with Conny Millard, co-founder and master coach of PowerPods, and Kelly Gould, franchisee of Bark Busters in Windsor/Chatham.
PowerPods is an Franchise Support Services/Supplier provider that operates with an innovative and unique neurocoaching platform for franchise systems. As master coach, Conny works to show franchisees how the power of the mind can unlock their full potential as business owners. Kelly purchased her Bark Busters franchise with a desire to help other dogs like her own to have a happier and healthier life.
Here, Conny and Kelly share: • How they worked together while Kelly was starting up her franchise, and how Conny helped her to change her mindset and become a confident business leader • Conny's success stories with helping franchisees through neurocoaching to develop intrinsic success traits as business owners • The unexpected challenges that Kelly faced in her franchise career, including how she works to train not only dogs but their owners too, among much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté chats with franchise specialist Grant Bullington from FranNet, which offers consulting and guidance to prospective franchisees looking to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true through franchising.
Grant helps his clients through the often daunting franchise investment process by educating them about how to find the right franchise brand for their goals and lifestyle, to save time and money before becoming a business owner.
Here, Grant shares: • What suggestions and advice he has for prospective franchisees while working with franchise brokers • Vital questions that prospective franchisees should ask in their franchise search, and some red flags they might miss when meeting with the franchise team • The services and support that FranNet provides to retail business owners and entrepreneurs in their franchise investment journey, among much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté sits down to chat with Frank Zaid, retired franchise lawyer and head of Frank Zaid FRANlegal Support Services. Today, he uses his decades of experience as a lawyer and senior partner, combined with his exceptional knowledge, proven practicality, and reputation in the community to offer franchise legal support and advice.
Since retiring from active law in 2012, Frank has harboured his unique legal and business experience in the franchising sector to offer support including mediation and arbitration, ombudsman services, advising and consulting, acting as an expert witness, and as a speaker at franchise conferences.
Here, Frank shares: • The many franchise brands he's worked with and what he's learned from them • Major changes that he's witnesses within the franchising industry throughout his 40 years of franchise law experience • The numerous awards he's received from the CFA and which he's most proud of, among much more.
In this episode, guest host Angela Coté talks to Code Wiz franchisor Ruth Agbaji who shares her experience journeying from Nigeria to the U.S. and recently partnering with the Canadian parent company, Clear Summit Group, to amplify the growth and impact of the brand.
Code Wiz helps students gain the programming skills needed to learn how to code, regardless of age, tech proficiency, or personal interests. The brand was established by Ruth in 2017, and provides coding and robotics classes, team-based activities, birthday parties, summer camps, and a Girl Scouts program.
Here, Ruth shares: • What fuels her through the challenges that get tossed her way, including being a young, female entrepreneur who's also a wife and mom of two • What led her to making the decision to join forces with parent company Clear Summit Group and Tutor Doctor, and what that means for franchisees in the Code Wiz system • Her big vision for herself and Code Wiz, including the bold goal of reaching one billion children across the world.
In this episode, we talk to LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic CEO Sara Hodson and franchisee Michelle Dunbar who opened her Bowmanville, Ontario location in July 2020.
LIVE WELL is a medical fitness clinic that specializes in providing supervised exercise and healthy lifestyle coaching for people who have chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, and provides fitness support for those wanting to prevent them.
Here, Sara and Michelle share: • Why Michelle chose LIVE WELL over other franchise opportunities and instead of starting her own business from scratch • How LIVE WELL's core values impacts Sara's ability to find franchisees aligned with the same mission • The challenging surprises (and joys!) that emerged from COVID-19 for the LIVE WELL system and for Michelle's brand new franchise that was opened in the midst of the pandemic
Season 4.5 Episode 3 | Achieving Franchise Success Amid COVID-19 by Canadian Franchise Association
In this episode, our new guest host Angela Coté of Angela Coté Inc. sits down to chat with three franchisees to celebrate and share their stories as women in the franchising industry.
Angela Rollins is a Great Clips franchisee located in the Vancouver area, who operates salons in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. As the world's largest and fastest growing salon, Great Clips operates nearly 4,500 salons across North America.
Shauna Browne is a MOLLY MAID franchisee with locations in Langley and East Surrey, British Columbia. MOLLY MAID has been the number one maid service company in Canada since 1979.
Dr. Mahsa Shekari is a Pearle Vision franchisee with two locations in Toronto, Ontario, and is a sublease optometrist for two Target Optical locations in New Jersey. Pearle Vision is a one-stop, total eye care clinic and was founded by Dr. Stanley Pearle in 1961.
Season 4.5 Episode 1 | Franchisees in the Children's Products and Services Industry by Canadian Franchise Association
In this episode, we talk to Steve Buors, CEO of Reshift Media, a Toronto-based digital marketing company.
The Canadian Franchise Association and Reshift Media have designed a three-part webinar series, Creating a Post-Pandemic Digital Growth Plan. The webinar explores how franchise systems have been impacted by the pandemic, what they’ve done to adapt, and what they can do to emerge with a strong plan for growth.
Each part of the webinar series highlights a unique and crucial part of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Day 1: How the Pandemic Changed Consumer Buying Day 2: How to Create a Winning Post-Pandemic Growth Plan Day 3: How to Find the Right Franchisees to Fuel Growth.
You can register to attend the sessions that are taking place on June 8th, 9th, and 10th, from 2pm-3pm EST. For those listening after these dates, the webinars will be available to listen to at your leisure at CFA.ca.
In this episode, we talk to Piinpoint’s chief product officer, Sarah Steiner, and location specialist, Adrian Polidoro. Piinpoint uses location intelligence powered by AI to help businesses and retailers find the best locations for expansion.
Here, Sarah and Adrian share: • How the company uses a variety of useful and unique data collection techniques to help business owners find prospective retail locations • The many brands that Piinpoint has successfully worked with (including some fellow CFA members!) • And the new Piinpoint Grant Program that Adrian introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the value it brings to business owners and franchisees looking to expand in their communities, among much more.
In this episode, we talk to d3h Hotels chief strategist, Carolyn Genest. d3h Hotels operate under the Realstar Hospitality brand, which is a property management company based out of Toronto, Ontario.
Carolyn explains how all 13 hotels in the chain have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic and are still being reserved by guests.
Here, Carolyn shares: • How Realstar Hospitality has supported d3h Hotels through regular calls for franchisees to normalize what’s happening during the pandemic • How the brand has worked to help guests find places to visit in the vicinity of hotels that stayed open over the past year • And the five key lessons she’s learned as a franchisor that can help franchisees find success within their business endeavours, among much more.
In this episode, we talk to Mad Science Group president and CEO Shafik Mina, and franchisee Kyle Upton, who has more than 20 years of experience in franchising as he owns two locations in St. Catharines and London, Ontario.
Mad Science Group is a science enrichment program for children that has 165 franchise locations in more than 20 countries worldwide.
Here, Shafik and Kyle share: • Why franchisees having passion for the industry they join is so vital to their success and overall happiness as business owners • The new Crayola Imagine Arts Academy franchising opportunity that Mad Science Group created to reach children with an interest in the arts • And how the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the brand to transition from an in person and hands-on learning approach to an entirely virtual process that’s been implemented for the past year, among much more.
In this episode, we talk to Katelyn, Carly, and Paige Fulton, a trio of sisters who own a Century 21 franchise in Scarborough, Ontario. Century 21 is a Canadian owned and operated real estate company with more than 400 offices across the country.
The sisters explain how their family has been in franchising for decades with the Percy Fulton Century 21 franchise that’s been operating for more than 40 years.
Here, Katelyn, Carly, and Paige share: • Why they each made the switch from corporate careers into the increasingly popular real estate industry, and how their father’s franchising experience helped support that career change • The benefits of franchising with your family members, such as knowing each other’s strong suits and how to motivate each other • And the best thing they did for their business before starting off, including conducting personality tests to learn their strengths and weaknesses as business owners, and much more.
In this episode, we talk to Clark Harrop, a partner at Dale & Lessmann LLP. The business law firm is a franchise support service/supplier that represents franchisors and franchisees in the franchise agreement and disclosure document process.
Clark has been in the franchising space since the year 2000, and has worked with brands including Tim Hortons and McDonald’s, where he says he learned how good franchise systems work and adapt to changes as necessary.
Here, Clark shares: • Why he decided to take his decades of franchise experience to a private practice to work more closely with franchisors and franchisees • How to best implement system change within a franchise system, including the challenges this poses for franchisors • And the importance of communication between franchisors and their franchisees, especially as we continue to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, among much more.
In this episode, we talk to Spiritleaf franchisee, Cara Rose-Brown, who opened a franchise in Stitsville, Ontario with her husband Tim in July 2020. The couple have been franchising together for more than 20 years.
Spiritleaf is a Canadian cannabis brand that currently has 68 franchise units across Canada. They operate with the goal of being the most knowledgeable and trusted retailer of recreational cannabis.
Here, Cara shares: • Why she and Tim decided to open a Spiritleaf franchise to help bring cannabis to their small community in Ottawa • How she and Tim won Spiritleaf’s Franchise Partners of the Year award in December 2020, just five months after opening their franchise • And how the entrepreneurial spirit runs in the family, as the couple also introduced their son Mitch to franchising and hope to leave a legacy for him with their Spiritleaf franchise, and much more.
In this episode, we talk to Lice Squad.com franchisee, Malika Rezgani, who owns three territories and built three clinics that service Burlington-Hamilton, Niagara-St. Catharines, and Mississauga-Oakville in Ontario.
Malika explains how she discovered the Lice Squad.com opportunity through reading a Franchise Canada magazine, and how she spent about a year working for the franchise before deciding to purchase her own clinic.
Here, Malika shares: • What she enjoys most about owning her own businesses with the Lice Squad.com system • How she juggles being a mom of three who also operates three franchises, and what gave her that push to expand her business with Lice Squad.com • And her advice for success to those interested in purchasing more than one franchise location as they expand their business, among much more.
In this episode, we talk to 30 Minute Hit franchisee, Jodie Peck, who owns two successful locations in Halifax and Bedford, Nova Scotia. 30 Minute Hit is a high intensity and empowering boxing and kickboxing circuit designed specifically for women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities.
Jodie is a military veteran who moved to Canada from the UK with her husband’s job. While there, she worked in the Royal Air Force as an engineering officer for 18 years. Jodie says she became a 30 Minute Hit trainer after moving to Canada and loved it and wanted more, then the opportunity to buy into the Halifax location popped up.
Here, Jodie shares: • The huge learning curve she experienced when transitioning from being in the military to working in the service industry • Why she decided to invest in a second franchise location following the success of her first • And 30 Minute Hit’s new online training program that was launched during the pandemic, which offers an online library and mimics all training and techniques that would normally be done in person, and much more.
In this episode, we talk to EverLine Coatings and Services president John Evans and franchisee Simon Jawanda from Winnipeg, Manitoba. EverLine Coatings and Services provides pavement marking and parking lot maintenance services.
Here, John and Simon share: - How the brand has achieved franchise growth even during the challenges introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic - How Simon keeps motivated as a triple threat, balancing his career and personal life as a franchisee, full-time firefighter, and a new dad - The learning curve that EverLine Coatings and Services has given Simon, while John continues providing round the clock support for franchisees, among much more.
In this episode, we talk to WP Creations franchisor Jamie Berube and franchisee Rachel Seabrook from Airdrie, Alberta. WP Creations is a work from home franchise concept that allows women and moms to gain work-life balance while helping customers create life casting keepsakes of their children.
Here, Jamie and Rachel share:
• How COVID-19 changed Rachel’s training and entire business start up as she joined WP Creations in February 2020 just before the pandemic began • Jamie’s key learnings that help her motivate and support her female franchisees • How WP Creations quickly and effectively pivoted their business strategy from touching babies in person to an entirely virtual process where clients complete the life casting from their own homes using Zoom calls with franchisees to help out where needed, and much more.
In this episode, we talk to Nina Choma, a Molly Maid franchisee who owns a location in North Mississauga, Ontario. Molly Maid is a Canadian maid service company that’s been cleaning homes since 1979, and Nina has been a franchisee with the brand for 17 years.
Nina says she was attracted to franchising for the generous support that comes from the business model. Plus, she keeps motivated and inspired with the continuous encouragement from her family, friends, and fellow franchisees.
During this episode, Nina shares: - Her advice to prospective and existing franchisees about the often-unexpected task of hiring and staffing for your franchise - How COVID-19 has changed the structure of her small business - And the new Healthy Home Cleaning System that was introduced by Molly Maid to protect staff, franchisees, and clients which has helped the brand stay above the curve during the pandemic, and much more.
In this episode, we feature Greg Nathan, a registered psychologist and founder of Franchise Relationships Institute. He explores how franchisors can maintain their franchisees’ confidence as they work together to battle the challenges and changes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here, Greg shares his expertise as a leading global expert on the psychology of the franchise relationship to explore a variety of tips and tools that franchisors can use to lead their teams.
This episode was adapted from Greg’s keynote presentation titled “Getting Franchisee Buy-In to Change” as part of the Canadian Franchise Association’s Business Recovery Summit Series. The month-long series of webinar presentations took place throughout October. You can learn more at CFA.ca.
In this episode, we feature Catherine Monson, CEO & president of FASTSIGNS International. She explores how franchises across the country have been put to the test throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here, Catherine shares:
- How to confront crisis as an opportunity for change, to refocus, and to capitalize on what’s coming in the future
- Franchising best practices
- How being an inspirational and effective leader involves learning how to develop a positive mental attitude with your team using goal directed behaviour.
This episode was adapted from Catherine’s keynote presentation titled “Leading Through Challenging Times” as part of the Canadian Franchise Association’s Business Recovery Summit Series. The month-long series of webinar presentations took place throughout October. You can learn more at cfa.ca.
In this episode, we feature Demetre Eliopoulos, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Public Affairs at Angus Reid Group. He shares advice as a public opinion expert about how Canadians have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they’ve changed their lives and the ways they would like to be communicated with.
Here, Demetre shares:
- How Canadians’ jobs and finances have been impacted by the pandemic
- What businesses they’re interacting with most
- How they feel about advertising today, and much more.
This episode was adapted from Demetre’s keynote presentation titled “Consumer Insights Today: Understanding the Perceptions and Needs of Canadians in a COVID-19 Environment” as part of the Canadian Franchise Association’s Business Recovery Summit Series. The month-long series of webinar presentations took place throughout October. You can learn more at cfa.ca.
This episode features keynote speaker and author, Todd Cohen, who shares how to crush the negative stereotype of sales in order to cultivate a team that is dedicated to the process of getting a customer to say “yes!”
Here, Todd shares:
- How every interaction with a customer is a selling moment
- How to empower your staff to embrace their unique talents
- How to redefine our culture and go beyond business recovery into business acceleration, among much more.
This episode was adapted from Todd’s keynote presentation titled “Everyone’s in Sales in YOUR Franchise Store” as part of the Canadian Franchise Association’s Business Recovery Summit Series. The month-long series of webinar presentations took place throughout October. You can learn more at cfa.ca.
In this episode, we talk to Angela Coté, an international Franchise Growth Catalyst with both franchisor and franchisee experience who uses her knowledge to help growing companies get their start as they join the franchising community.
Having grown up the daughter of M&M Food Market’s founder, Angela joined the franchising industry at just 18-years-old and has developed an abundance of wisdom in her 25 years in the field. Now, she runs Angela Coté Inc. as a franchise business coach who guides brands through all the stages of franchising.
During this episode, Angela shares:
- The top traits of the ideal franchisee
- The “5 Rockstar questions” that franchisees should ask prospective franchisors (spoiler alert: having passion is a key to franchising!)
- How the COVID-19 pandemic has created an increase in collaboration for franchising, and much more.
In this episode, we talk to Robert Bruski, CFO of Ctrl V, a virtual reality arcade franchise. Robert teamed up with his long-time friend and CEO, Ryan Brooks, and Ryan’s cousin and COO, James Elligson, to come up with a compelling and unique way of incorporating technology and virtual reality into their everyday lives.
Since their launch in 2016, Robert and his team have expanded Ctrl V to over a dozen locations across Canada, the US, and Costa Rica, and are the world’s largest virtual reality arcade franchise.
During this episode, Robert shares:
- Why franchising with Ctrl V is a great opportunity for Generation Z members
- Key learnings he’s picked up about owning a business
- How business was affected by COVID-19
- His proudest accomplishment with the brand (spoiler alert: Ctrl V has tons of achievements!), and much more.
In this episode, we talk to Jamie Berube, president and CEO of WP Creations, who joined the head office team in 2013 and eventually became sole franchisor after their founder retired.
Originally called the Wee Piggies foundation, Jamie used her experience in sales and training to build her team of home-based franchisees by offering extensive training and an ongoing support system. Now, WP Creations is thriving with more than 30 locations spread coast to coast while keeping the company’s original traditions.
During this episode, Jamie shares:
- The perks of running a home-based business
- How she supports her female-led team of entrepreneurs
- How to keep franchisees connected through the long distance (including a newly introduced buddy system!)
- What she adores most about running WP Creations, and much more.
In this episode, we talk to Dawn Mucci, CEO and founder of Lice Squad.com, the leading head lice removal franchise system with a mission to stop the stigma around head lice.
Dawn founded Lice Squad.com in 2001 after she discovered head lice on her son and found that she had very few options to get rid of the pesky problem. Since then, the franchise has expanded to 36 franchise and corporate locations with over 250 service providers spread across Canada.
During this episode, Dawn shares:
- The benefits of being a Lice Squad.com franchisee
- How COVID-19 has impacted the business (including some surprisingly severe lice cases!)
- Her biggest learnings over the past difficult year
- What keeps her smiling and motivated as she runs the Lice Squad.com brand, and so much more.
In this episode, we talk to Rosemarie Reid-Julien, a Beyond the Classroom franchisee who owns a location in North Brampton. Beyond the Classroom has been in business since 1998 and there are currently a dozen locations around Ontario. They offer online and in-home tutoring for students in grades JK to 12 for subjects including math, English, reading, writing, and French.
Rosemarie recently celebrated her first anniversary with Beyond the Classroom. She joined the tutoring industry with 16 years of experience as a high school teacher and decided to become a franchisee to combine her love for teaching with a desire to become an entrepreneur.
During this episode, Rosemarie shares:
- How she uses an online tutoring platform to follow the social distancing protocols of COVID-19
- What she enjoys most as a Beyond the Classroom franchisee (including working on her public speaking skills!)
- Her biggest inspiration and motivation, and much more.
In this episode, we talk to CEO Brian Bazely and franchisee Rahul Kumar of Driverseat, a transportation franchise that offers two-fold services as a chauffeur and shuttle provider. Brian and his brother Luke Bazely co-founded Driverseat in 2012, with the goal of doing something good for the community.
Driverseat is in over 400 communities in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, with one location in the US. Rahul owns a location in Calgary which he operates alongside his wife, and he says he was drawn to Driverseat because of their values as a socially responsible franchise.
During this episode, Brian shares:
- How he and his brother support their many franchisees,
- The impact COVID-19 had on business
- Key learnings from this challenging year
Rahul shares:
- His goals for his Driverseat franchise
- His favourite thing about running his own business (including a lot of emotions and learning opportunities!)
- His new Grocery Shop & Drop program that was created to support seniors during the pandemic
In this episode, we feature keynote speaker and author Todd Cohen, who shares strategies for Staying Present and Profitable Working Virtually.
Virtual work is the temporary new normal as a result of COVID-19, and it’s created new challenges for many businesses when it comes to reaching their clients.
In this episode we disscuss:
- Todd's thoughtful ideas for how to stay present and profitable in this unprecedented time.
- Todd's passion for the power of being virtually present to sell ourselves more effectively, and make no mistake: this message is more important than ever, because it’s not your client’s job to remember you.
This episode was adapted from Todd’s Staying Present and Profitable Working Virtually keynote session as part of the Canadian Franchise Association’s Navigating Through Turbulent Times webinar series in early April. You can learn more at cfa.ca.
For more information, you can reach Todd at:
Todd Cohen 215-275-3416 todd@toddcohen.com toddcohen.com/book-todd/
In this episode, we feature Erik Therwanger, founder of Think GREAT. Erik draws from his experiences as a U.S. Marine, executive business leader, sales professional, and entrepreneur to help organizations achieve new levels of success.
In this episode we discuss:
- the leadership strategies and techniques necessary to inspire, motivate, and influence teams and co-workers during this difficult time of economic uncertainty.
- strategies to raise expectations, understand techniques to unify culture, discover new ways to communicate dynamically, and more.
This episode was adapted from Erik’s original presentation in late April as part of the Canadian Franchise Association’s Navigating Towards Recovery Webinar series.
In this episode, we talk to multi-unit Subway Canada franchisee Kelly-Anne Pelley, who operates six Subway restaurant locations in Newfoundland & Labrador and 10 more in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia with her husband and daughter.
Kelly-Anne was recently named the Best Franchisee of Canada Gold winner, and travelled to Florence, Italy this past winter for the Best Franchisee of the World global competition. As the Canadian finalist, she participated alongside finalists from other regions, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and DACH (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).
Here, Kelly-Anne gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her whirlwind trip to Italy and her experience participating in this global competition with top franchisees from other parts of the world. She also shares her path to success (spoiler alert: it involved an awful lot of hard work), the secrets to franchising with family, advice for future franchisees, and much more.
Josh Robinson is the Vice President of Licensing & Development at Pearle Vision. Pearle Vision was founded in 1961 by Dr. Stanley Pearle, who began the concept of one-stop, total eye care with the opening of the Pearle Vision Center in Savannah, GA. Pearle Vision now has more than 500 EyeCare Centers located throughout North America.
In this episode we discuss:
-Josh’s past experience as a franchisee in the food sector -the benefits of franchising with Pearle Vision, including its strong support system -his advice for those looking to get started in franchising -and so much more!
Kim Chapman is an Oxford Learning franchisee. With over 35 years as a proven franchise system, Oxford Learning is best known for helping children succeed in their academics.
In this episode we discuss: - What is a typical day looks like for Kim - The best thing about Oxford Learning's support system - What Kim enjoys most about running her own business - and so much more!
David Buckler is a MaidPro franchisee. MaidPro is a business that prides itself in providing the highest quality cleaning services for homeowners across North America.
In this episode David discusses:
- How his business has evolved since opening a decade ago
- MaidPro’s recruitment process
- What he wasn't prepared for when he first opened his business
- And so much more!
Cathy Thorpe is the President of Nurse Next Door, one of the nation's most successful senior care services brands.
In this episode we discuss: - The challenges and opportunities of Nurse Next Door's global expansion - The benefits of franchising with Nurse Next Door - What Cathy was doing before she became President of Nurse Next Door - and so much more!
Mike Malleck is a long-time business owner of Clintar Commercial Outdoor Services. Clintar offers franchise opportunities across Canada and serves clients in a variety of key areas like Landscape Management and Landscape Enhancement.
In this episode, we discuss: - The key phases of franchise ownership - What Mike has learned about running a business with nearly two decades of experience - The future of Mike's business - and so much more!
Tamara Leniew is a Beyond the Classroom franchisee. Beyond the Classroom is a tutoring organization focused on boosting confidence in the children they tutor.
In this episode, we sit down with Tamara to discuss: - Why it's important to be passionate about the business? - Why it's important to take care of your mental health as an entrepreneur? - How to prepare for business ownership - and so much more!
Lindsey Caron is a Quesada Burritos & Tacos franchisee. With 130 locations and counting, Quesada Burritos & Tacos is a Mexican-inspired restaurant focused on serving its communities fresh and tasty food.
In this episode we discuss:
- Why she chose to invest in a Quesada restaurant
- The challenges of being a young business owner
- How she got the investment needed for her franchise
- and so much more!
Gary Prenovost is the Market President of FranNet. FranNet provides education and support to individuals who are interested in franchised business ownership.
In this episode, we discuss: - The steps he takes to match prospective franchisees with the right business opportunity - The biggest lesson Gary has learned from working as a FranNet consultant - How to measure success as an entrepreneur - And a whole lot more!
Nancy Esson is a Right At Home Canada franchisee. Right At Home is a home healthcare company with a focus on wellness for seniors and those in need of assistance.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why she chose to buy Right at Home franchise
- How to set and reach big business goals
- Key lessons she's learned as a new owner
- and so much more!
Robert Bruski is one of the Co-owners of CTRL-V, one of the world's fastest-growing and virtual reality arcades.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he transitioned from being an investment specialist to a business owner
- CTRL-V’s initial and ongoing training process
- What CTRL-V’s initial and ongoing training process is like
- and so much more!
Enjoy this bonus episode with Peter van Stralen, former CEO of The Ground Guys, author and certified franchise executive as he discusses his principles of C.A.R.E. leadership.
Craig Jooste is the CEO of Canadian brand, Local Handyman Group.
In today's episode, we talk to Craig about:
- Why he started Local Handyman Group
- What the future of the franchise looks like
- What he's looking for in a franchise partner
...and so much more!
Brian Bazely is the CEO and co-founder of Driverseat, a personal transportation company that provides vehicle and chauffeur services across Canada and the U.S.
In this episode we cover:
Why Driverseat uses a royalty payment model for their franchisees rather than taking a percentage of gross profits over a certain period of time? How Driverseat sets himself apart with so many mobile driving apps available? The franchisee recruitment ongoing training process and so much more!
Dawn Mucci is the CEO and Founder of Lice Squad.com, one of the largest lice removal organizations in North America.
In this episode, we cover topics like: - how franchising has helped newcomers to Canada - the realities of business ownership - the most rewarding part of being a business owner - and so much more!
Ryan Kelly is the VP of Sales and Marketing, COO and co-owner of WSI Smart Marketing, one of the world’s largest and most innovative digital marketing agencies.
In this interview, we cover topics like: - how a career in franchising gave him the means to help his community affected by the California wildfires - the most difficult thing he had to do as a new franchisee? - how to work effectively with family members?
Ken LeBlanc is the co-founder, President and CEO of PropertyGuys.com, one of Canada’s largest private real-estate franchises.
In this episode we cover: - How to get others to buy into a unique idea - The franchisee recruitment process - Can you pick your own location as a prospective franchisee? - and so much more!
Michelle Burton is the Founder of Qozen Yoga Studios.
In this episode we cover:
- Her advice to people with disabilities running a business
- How to know a franchise is the right fit for you?
- The buried secrets to running a franchise?
- and so much more!
Wayne Maillet is a leading Canadian franchise management consultant and author of Franchising Demystified - you can find it here: https://www.cfa.ca/our-services/education-information/research/publications/
In this episode we cover: - How to ensure the Franchise Disclosure Documents work in your favour - The signs of a strong franchise system - The dangers of using a non-approved support supplier - and so much more!
Nicole Hyatt is the Founder of Tan on the Run, a mobile spray tan business.
In this episode we cover:
- Why franchising can be an ideal career option for women
- What her experience was like on Dragons' Den
- The unexpected challenges she faced starting the business
- and so much more!
Matt Crowell is the Founder and CEO of GetinTheLoop.
In today's show we cover:
- How do you take the leap of faith and buy a franchise
- The challenges of being a small business owner
- What it's like to be a franchisee in the mobile marketing industry
- Why being in business for yourself but not buy yourself is the best decision ever
- and so much more!
Jon-Anthony Lui is the multi-franchise unit owner of Tutor Doctor.
In today's episode we cover:
- how to invest in a franchise?
- the key lessons he learned as a young franchisee
- important values you should have as a business partner
- the advantages of running a home-based business
- and so much more!
Steve Collette is a motivational speaker, co-owner and co-founder of 3rd Degree Training.
In today's episode we cover:
- the top qualities of successful franchisees
- how to reach and set big business goals
- why the health and fitness brand has been experiencing such significant growth over the past five years
- what franchisees and new business owners typically underestimate about running a business
- and so much more!