Buying Brand #2? This Is Where Most Franchisees Go Wrong

Everyone wants time freedom, but few understand what it costs.

Franchisee Alex Read joins Erik Van Horn to share his journey from the early days of 1-800-GOT-JUNK to building with Modern PURAIR. After years of experience and a few expensive mistakes, Alex reveals why you can't just throw money at the problem — and why real success requires being two feet in.

They unpack the difference between delegating and abdicating, the truth about semi-absentee ownership, and why emerging brands demand leaders, not investors.

If you've ever dreamed of owning your time through franchising, this episode is a wake-up call.

Topics Covered:

-Why "semi-absentee" can become "fully absent"

-The reality of emerging franchise brands

-Building culture vs. hiring for convenience

-The value of failure and how it shapes real entrepreneurs

-What 1-800-GOT-JUNK taught Alex about leadership and growth

Timestamps:

00:00 – You Can't Shortcut Time Freedom

02:55 – From the UK to Canada: Starting Over from Scratch

04:30 – Discovering 1-800-GOT-JUNK

07:28 – Hire for Spark, Not Just Skill

09:30 – The Power of Vision and Accountability

12:34 – Why I Bought a Second Brand

15:48 – The Brand I Said I'd Never Buy

21:50 – The Truth About Semi-Absentee Ownership

25:54 – You Can't Outsource Grit

29:03 – When the GM Leaves, So Does Your Freedom

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

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