In this episode, Taco John’s CEO, Heather Neary, shares her full-circle journey, the five C’s of franchising success, and what it takes to grow a legacy QSR in today’s competitive market. From franchisee empathy to marketing/ops integration—this is a masterclass in modern franchising.

Timestamps:

00:00 – The lawnmower hustle: Eric's childhood story

01:25 – Meet Heather: CEO of Taco John’s

03:46 – Her path from cheesesteaks to CEO

04:49 – Uniting marketing & ops under one vision

06:55 – How to support struggling franchisees

09:37 – Food vs. non-food franchising insights

14:56 – Taco John’s legacy and brand refresh

17:54 – How to lead meaningful brand change

20:20 – Listening tours and building trust

26:08 – Franchisee ROI and capital investment strategy

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/

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#Franchising #Leadership #QSR

Taco John's CEO Reveals the Secret Sauce of Franchising Success