The Best Ever CRE Show JF 4024: Unsexy Winners, Exit Multiples and When Franchising Beats Going Solo ft. Jon Ostenson
Sep 10, 2025
Jon Ostenson, Founder & CEO of FranBridge Consulting, shares insights on non-food franchises and their hidden profitability. He explains why home services can outperform traditional food businesses, delves into effective territory strategies, and highlights the crucial role of franchisor support. Jon also discusses the risks associated with food franchises, due-diligence practices, and the importance of company culture. Expect a lively exploration of how 'unsexy' ventures like dumpsters and asphalt can lead to substantial success in franchising.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Unsexy Niches Win Consistently
- Home and property services outperform trendy niches because demand persists across economic cycles.
- Investors favor non-sexy categories like dumpsters, asphalt, and temporary walls for stability and predictable spend.
Real Portfolio Example
- Jon owns four franchise businesses across equipment rental, asphalt, retail orthotics, and franchisor operations.
- He uses operating partners to manage day-to-day work while retaining advisory roles.
Buy Scale To Afford Managers
- Buy multiple territories up front if you plan to hire a manager so payroll is justified.
- Treat territory bundles as the unit economics that make a manager-run business viable.
