Founder growth and managing up

What separates great franchise founders from the ones who hold brands back?

In this unfiltered episode, Erik Van Horn and Bobby Brennan break down:

-The traits elite founders all share

-The biggest red flags Erik sees behind the scenes

-Why "franchisee-first" founders always win

-How to succeed even if your brand doesn't have a strong founder

-The mindset shift founders MUST embrace ("It's not my fault, but it's my problem")

-Why honesty, transparency, and problem-solving beat charisma and hype every time

-How the best founders build trust with franchisees

-What happens when ego gets in the way of growth

Whether you're a franchisee evaluating leadership, a founder trying to improve, or part of a growing system, this episode is PACKED with insider truths you won't hear anywhere else.

Timestamps:

00:00 – People are people: why founders and franchisees both make mistakes

00:47 – Why this episode exists: what Bobby has learned from 20+ founders

02:15 – "Great founder vs. disaster founder" — why it matters to franchisees

03:51 – Early red flags when evaluating a founder

04:17 – The power of a clear vision + the "bridge" analogy

05:16 – The problem with visionary founders hiring clones

05:44 – Why founders need charisma AND scars

06:37 – Hard times create seasoned leaders

07:33 – Behind closed doors: the questions Front Street gets to ask

09:49 – Franchisee-focused founders vs. bottom-line founders

11:37 – The integrity test: Item 7, Item 19, and honesty

13:25 – Ego, feedback, and what founders must get right

16:07 – The rough-around-the-edges founder who became a rocket ship

18:21 – Why selling "the hard truth" builds stronger franchisees

19:50 – The problem-solving mindset: "It's not my fault, but it's my problem"

21:40 – What GREAT founders do every day

25:30 – Who gets credit for success? (Spoiler: not the franchisor)

27:05 – How the best founders deal with unfair criticism

30:46 – How founders build trust

34:47 – Trust killers: legal letters, pointing to the FA, hiding problems

36:48 – Do the best founders invest in coaching and mastermind groups?

41:53 – How two top founders grew in totally different ways

45:49 – Why franchise brands must lean into AI NOW

46:37 – The final takeaway: quantify the leader YOU want to follow

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#Franchising #Leadership #Founders