Franchise Interviews

Did you miss our podcast with Tootl Transport Founder, President Michelle Dacy, and Steve Greenbaum, Board Member and Advisor? I was excited to have this opportunity to interview Michelle and Steve for several reasons. My dad suffered from Parkinson’s disease. Getting him from Point A to Point B was complicated towards the end of this disease, so I think Tootl Transport is such an essential service. Next was my opportunity to interview Steve Greenbaum. I have been following Steve’s career for a long time, and this was the first time I got to interview Steve. Tootl Transport has a strong advisory board. Besides Steve, other members include Brad Fishman, Debra Vilchis, and Jeff Matthews. As the nation’s first special needs non-emergency transportation concept, Tootl is committed to providing individuals with temporary or permanent mobility and cognitive challenges with the reliable and comfortable rides they need. The brand has seen success with its two corporate locations in Milwaukee and Chicago and is looking to open 20 locations in 2023, choosing to focus on streamlining operations in its first year of franchising. Tootl approaches their business, employees, and customers through TREK, which stands for their core values of Trust, Respect, Empathy, and Kindness. With a low-risk, low-investment business model, Tootl is the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to break into the franchising space while providing a necessary and meaningful service to the underserved members of their community. We play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast in Part Two.

According to the History Channel, Cinco de Mayo, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army's May 5, 1862, victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, a popular misconception. Instead, it commemorates a single battle. The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated, they had lost nearly 500 soldiers. Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as celebrating Mexican culture and heritage in the United States, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations. We thought a great way to kick in Cinco de Mayo was to play our interviews with the Margaritas Mexican Restaurant franchise opportunity. Over the years, we had two chances to interview Margaritas Mexican Grill. Our first interview was with Bob Hofmeister, President and COO of Margaritas. Next, we will play a clip of our interview with John Pelletier, Founder and CEO of Margaritas. According to the Margaritas website, for over 40 years, Margaritas has built a cult following by staying focused and not chasing trends. Margaritas brings the spirit of Mexico to the U.S. through our scratch-made Mexican food, warm hospitality, celebratory environment, and of course - our world-famous Margaritas! While their decor and technology have changed over the decades - the big idea has always been the same. Deliver great Mexican food, fun, and the world's best Marg! https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo Introduction Music Music by FreeGroove from Pixabay

According to the History Channel, Cinco de Mayo, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army's May 5, 1862, victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, a popular misconception. Instead, it commemorates a single battle. The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated, they had lost nearly 500 soldiers. Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as celebrating Mexican culture and heritage in the United States, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations. We thought a great way to kick in Cinco de Mayo was to play our interviews with the Margaritas Mexican Restaurant franchise opportunity. Over the years, we had two chances to interview Margaritas Mexican Grill. Our first interview was with Bob Hofmeister, President and COO of Margaritas. Next, we will play a clip of our interview with John Pelletier, Founder and CEO of Margaritas. According to the Margaritas website, for over 40 years, Margaritas has built a cult following by staying focused and not chasing trends. Margaritas brings the spirit of Mexico to the U.S. through our scratch-made Mexican food, warm hospitality, celebratory environment, and of course - our world-famous Margaritas! While their decor and technology have changed over the decades - the big idea has always been the same. Deliver great Mexican food, fun, and the world's best Marg! https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo Introduction Music Music by FreeGroove from Pixabay

We have a great show. We are meeting with Chad Harrison, Franchise Development Representative at Authority Brands, and Michael Hutchins, Franchise Development Manager. Authority Brands is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and is the parent company of several leading home service companies. Over the years, Franchise Interviews has interviewed many of the franchises for Authority Brands. The brands include the following: America's Swimming Pool Company, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, Color World Painting, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Mister Sparky, Mosquito Squad, Monster Tree Service, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, and STOP Restoration. Combined, these brands have over 1,900 locations throughout the United States and the world. We will also play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast in Part Two.

Today's Great Quote in Franchising comes from Giuseppe Grammatico. Giuseppe is a franchise veteran who simplifies the process of franchising and excels at guiding his candidates to the model that best suits them. His greatest joy is helping people realize the American dream.

We are meeting with Laura Eich, BIGGBY® COFFEE’s Chief Purpose Officer, to discuss how the coffee house’s unique and innovative approach to employee culture and team health through its LifeLab® Program has poised BIGGBY to succeed in today’s challenging labor market. Formerly known as BOOST, LifeLab® is a culture incubator as the company works toward its vision of refined human leadership. As the current labor market continues to be challenging, with as many as 11 million job vacancies in the food service industry, BIGGBY® COFFEE’s culture centers around uniting the entire BIGGBY® population, ensuring baristas feel they are part of a healthy team and can see a future with the company. Through the LifeLab® program, a remarkable result has been a strong tenure among baristas. Some franchise owners have built an average barista tenure of 3 years, while some have been with the brand for over 20 years! With a strong company culture and a team dedicated to the mission, the concept offers something unique to employees of all levels. In Part Two, we play a clip from one of our most listened to, "Great Quotes in Franchising" podcasts with Gary Occhiogrosso.

Every Business Has A Story In 1958, two guys started making mattresses for their furniture store in Illinois. The mattresses were a bigger hit than the furniture and soon became the focus of their business. Later, when they incorporated in Wisconsin, they renamed their mattress company by combining their wives' first names. Find out what happened next. We are meeting with Dirk Stallmann, President of Verlo Mattress. With a Verlo Mattress® franchise, you can become the local mattress expert and bring a better night's sleep to the people in your community. Verlo's unique mattress franchise model combines building personalized mattresses locally and selling them directly to the customer. This notion cuts out the middleman markup and allows us to offer a Lifetime Comfort Guarantee — the only guarantee in the mattress industry! In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We are meeting with Prakash Karamchandani (PK), the Co-founder of Balance Grille. Balance Grille, the Asian Fast Casual concept that is redefining the franchising and restaurant industries. The brand is focused on clean eating, menu transparency, authenticity, and tech innovation, setting it apart from its competitors and position itself as the rising leader of the Asian Fast Casual Category.Balance Grille has been turning heads throughout the fast-casual industry since it was founded in 2010, solving for nearly every issue facing the restaurant arena today and instead turning them into key differentiators for the brand. Every Business Has A Story The innovators behind this industry disruptor are co-founders Prakash Karamchandani (PK) and HoChan Jang (CJ) — two buddies-turned-business-partners. CJ handles all kitchen operations, while PK’s focus is on the business side of things, including refining kitchen efficiencies, overall customer experience, and franchising. In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We are meeting with Michael Kraner, founder of My Backyard Sports. Founded in 2017, My Backyard Sports has been committed to providing its clients with high-end products and services that create unmatched sports experiences at home or in the community—offering customized small, medium, and large-sized sports projects, My Backyard Sports services residential and commercial clients - including homes, schools, churches, recreation centers, condominiums, real estate developers, and businesses. The brand offers a unique and valuable concept by promoting health and staying active both physically and psychologically. We play a clip from our Great Quotes in Franchising podcast in Part Two.

Over a decade ago, we met with Sam Ballas, the founder of East Coast Wings + Grill. Today we are meeting with Mark Lyso, CFE, Chief Development Officer at East Coast Wings + Grill. East Coast Wings + Grill is a full-service, family dining wings franchise that spotlights buffalo wings. Guests can choose from 60 award-winning wing flavors and seven heat indexes to create over 420 combinations of Buffalo-style wings. Our secret East Coast Wings + Grill wing sauce has been a catalyst in winning the Best Hot Sauce at the National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo, NY. East Coast Wings + Grill prides itself in offering a complete dining experience by providing a warm and inviting atmosphere and a variety of menu items, including signature burgers, flatbreads, skillets, craft beer, and exceptional hospitality. Their mission is to find the best entrepreneurs to join our chicken wings franchise and stay committed to helping these franchisees succeed. In part two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast from entrepreneur Darren Guccione.

On this date (2/13/2009), Franchise Interviews met with the Jersey Mike’s franchise opportunity. While the brand has grown significantly, Jersey Mike’s still makes sub sandwiches the same way they have been since 1956. Here is our original interview from 14 years ago!

We are meeting with Charlie Graves, Chief Executive Officer of Athletic Republic, the pioneers in the sports training industry. Athletic Republic offers state-of-the-art training that unlocks the potential of any athlete, helping them perform at their best. Over the past 30 years, their science-based protocols and specialized equipment have helped more than two million athletes of all ages achieve their goals. The brand takes safety seriously and trains every athlete to perform at the highest level. In Part Two, we play a clip form our Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

Many years ago, we created a spinoff podcast called Great Quotes in Franchising. Great Quotes in Franchising features some “aha” moments from our weekly podcast. Today’s Great Quote in Franchising comes from Tom Scarda. Tom is a franchise consultant for FranChoice and the author of The Magic of Choosing Uncertainty. Tom is excellent at providing analogies on topics like motivation and entrepreneurship. Today’s Great Quote in Franchising is called, “It Doesn’t Hurt Enough,” but we will let Tom explain this notion.

We are meeting with Joshua Malik- CEO of the Joshua Tree franchise opportunity. Since 2005, Joshua Tree has built a reputation in the Lehigh Valley & Buxmont areas as one of the most trusted names in tree services, lawn care, and pest control. From its humblest beginnings, Joshua Tree has dedicated itself to standing out from our competition with a strong focus on training and professionalism. Every Business Has a Story The idea of being able to climb trees for a living sounded like a dream job but starting his own business by the time he was 30 years old was still daunting. Joshua grew the business slowly and steadily, getting all the right systems and processes for tree pruning, removal, plant health care, and other services. This systematic approach has made Joshua Tree Experts what it is today, a thriving organization with happy team members and thousands of satisfied customers. A recognizable and tested brand with 16+ years of experience and multiple branch offices Proven and refined systems/processes for operations, training, sales, and more Proof of recurring revenue streams Excellent gross profit margins across tree pruning and removal, plant health care, and other divisions Key employee retention Excellent client retention rates An established and healthy network of vendors, resources, franchisees, and discount programs In Part Two, we play a clip from Steve Beagleman from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

According to Parys et al (2023), "the deadline for filing a federal tax return is April 18, 2023. If you request a tax extension by April 18, 2023, your tax return will be due on October 16, 2023. But there's a catch — your tax bill will still be due on April 18. Getting a tax extension gives you more time to file your tax return, but it does not provide more time to pay your taxes." PA Josh Horn once suggested there would be so many more valuable private businesses if they would redirect the time and energy used on tax avoidance into value creation. First, we discuss tax tips with Craig Cody. As a Certified Tax CoachTM, Craig Cody belongs to a select group of practitioners throughout the country who undergo extensive training on various tax planning techniques and strategies to become and remain certified. Craig has co-authored an Amazon bestseller, Secrets of a Tax-Free Life, with this organization. Their clients include, but are not limited to, Medical Professionals, Clothing Sourcing Businesses, and Commercial Electrical Companies. Craig answers the following questions: What is the biggest mistake you see small business owners making regarding taxes? How can business owners use their CPA to their Advantage? Next, we play a clip from our interview with Tab Burkhalter: Founder and CEO of Numbers House, which specializes in helping entrepreneurs legally start their businesses, Tab will discuss the following topics on this show: * The most common tax deductions franchise owners overlook * You can borrow from your 401k to start a franchise, but should you? * Financial and tax implications of opening a second franchise location * Exit strategies for franchise owners

We have a great show. For our first show for 2023, we are remembering James Lipton. James Lipton was the iconic dean of the Actors Studio. You might know James Lipton for his popular show "Inside the Actors Studio." On each episode, Mr. Lipton would ask actors a series of questions in front of a live audience, which typically consisted of students. What I loved about Mr. Lipton's interview style was that he knew more about his guests than they knew about their own lives. At the end of each show, he would ask a series of questions inspired by Bernard Pivot. In one instance, I interviewed actor, friend, and founder of Telephone Doctor Nancy Friedman on my weekly podcast Franchise Interviews. Listen to Nancy's responses. What is your favorite word? What is your least favorite word? What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally? What turns you off? What sound or noise do you love? What sound or noise do you hate? What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We are meeting with Shelly Sun, CEO & Founder of BrightStar Care. BrightStar Care boasts more than 365 locations nationwide that provide medical and non-medical services to clients in their homes and supplemental care staff to corporate clients. BrightStar Care franchise agencies across the country employ over 15,000 caregivers and 5,700 registered nurses who oversee the care and safety of each individual client. In addition, BrightStar Care is the only national home care franchise to receive The Joint Commission's Enterprise Champion for Quality award consecutively for the last decade.In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

I told my friend Nancy Friedman on her recent podcast that one of the many benefits of hosting a podcast is meeting and speaking to people you wouldn't ordinarily get to talk to daily. In other words, people you admire and respect. Some examples include Warren Greshes, Nancy Friedman, Dr. John Tantillo, Michael Gerber, Dr. Scott Shane, and previous guests from favorite shows like Shark Tank and Under Cover Boss.The list is too long! Today we will discuss four books that make great stocking stuffers or holiday gifts. They include: The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About ItAwakening the Entrepreneur Within: How Ordinary People Can Create Extraordinary CompaniesThe Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths That Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers Live ByBorn Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders: How Your Genes Affect Your Work Life The E-Myth Revisited, by Michael Gerber, is the entrepreneurial myth"...the myth that entrepreneurs start small businesses. Many have been fooled into believing that only entrepreneurs venture bravely to establish new businesses. But most companies are not formed by entrepreneurs. Instead, the people who are technicians start them. We will also discuss Michael's fantastic follow-on book, Awakening the Entrepreneur Within, which interestingly precedes the E-Myth Revisited. Next, we will play our interview with one of my favorite authors, Dr. Scott Shane, to discuss his two popular books, The Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths That Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers Live By and Born Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders: How Your Genes Affect Your Work Life. PS – Also, check out Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think! I spoke about this great book on Nancy Friedman's podcast Happy Holidays. Best regards, Marty McDermott, DBA

We have a great show. We are meeting with Jon Ostenson. Jon Ostenson is a Consultant, Owner/Investor, and Author specializing in Non-Food Franchising. He draws on his experience as a former Inc. 500 Franchise President and Multi-Brand Franchisee in serving his clients. We discuss Jon’s new book “Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Franchise Ownership.” In part two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

We have a great show. We are meeting with Ryan Tuchman, CEO and Founder of Hi-Five Sports Franchising. Hi-Five’s mission is to enrich the lives of children through team sports in a fun and non-intimidating manner. They emphasize fun and entertainment that provides children with an unparalleled youth sports experience. Every Business Has A Story Founded in Chicago’s North Shore by Marvin Tuchman in 1990, Hi-Five Sports has since been handed down to his sons, Ryan and Danny, making it a business run by families for families. Hi-Five’s commitment to changing the mindset around youth sports programs has resonated with families nationwide because their kids leave each session feeling more confident and ambitious than before.