Ep 286 The Profit Pitfalls Most Business Owners Miss with Lisa Hennigar

The Profit Pitfalls Most Business Owners Miss with Lisa Hennigar

 

Most business owners don’t lose profit because of one big mistake — it’s usually a thousand tiny leaks. From not knowing your why, to ignoring customer service, to failing to track the right numbers, the truth is this: profit slips away quietly while you’re busy working hard.

 

In this episode of Profit Answer Man, I sit down with Lisa Hennigar, Vice President of Franchise Development at ERA Group and a nationally recognized franchise strategist with over 22 years in the industry. Lisa has worked with everyone from household-name brands to emerging concepts, and she knows exactly where businesses get stuck — and how to turn things around.

 

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why your “why” matters more than you think — and how it fuels resilience, team buy-in, and long-term success.
• The danger of ignoring your P&L — why most owners don’t understand it, and what metrics you actually need to track.
• Scaling without losing profit — why growing too fast, or in the wrong way, can turn you into an employee of your own business.
• Customer service as a profit driver — how fast response times and the right client mix can outperform bigger competitors.
• The hidden costs that eat your margins — from bad leases to auto-renew contracts, to discounting that destroys profitability.

 

Key Takeaway:

Profit doesn’t come from working harder — it comes from working smarter. That means knowing your numbers, understanding your why, and being intentional about both the clients you serve and the systems you build. As Lisa reminds us, “Doing simple is hard — but simple is where the money is.”

 

About Lisa Hennigar:

Lisa Hennigar is a nationally recognized franchise growth strategist with over 22 years in the franchising industry. She currently serves as Vice President of Franchise Development at ERA Group, an executive cost intelligence consulting firm, where she has been instrumental in helping ERA achieve its highest ranking in 30 years in Entrepreneur Magazine and secure the #1 Global Franchise Brand designation.

 

Her expertise spans franchise recruitment, operations, and unit economics—bridging the gap between sales and ongoing franchisee success. She has worked with brands from iconic household names to emerging concepts, creating scalable growth strategies, improving validation, and streamlining onboarding.

 

Lisa is known as a true change agent, keeping culture, unit economics, and KPIs at the forefront of every transformation she leads—powered by grit, resilience, and a relentless work ethic.

 

Beyond corporate leadership, Lisa served as Chair of SCORE in Michigan, sat on the YMCA Board in Michigan where she helped drive donor fundraising, and was active in Toastmasters, contributing to membership growth.

 

Earning a Certified Franchise Executive, with the International Franchise Association in 2011, Lisa has also been instrumental in attracting top-tier executive talent into franchising and converting independent businesses into thriving franchise locations.

 

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisahennigar/

 

Conclusion:

Profit isn’t accidental — it’s the result of clarity, discipline, and intentional choices. As Lisa Hennigar reminds us, too many business owners ignore their why, overlook their numbers, or scale without strategy — and those blind spots quietly drain their wealth. The good news? Profit is always within reach when you track the right metrics, serve the right clients, and make simple, focused improvements.

 

Remember, your business should give you both time and money. If it’s not, it’s time to plug the leaks and reset your strategy.

 

#ProfitFirst #BusinessProfit #SmartScaling #EntrepreneurFinance #CashFlowFix #RevenueLeaks #BusinessClarity #OwnerPay

 

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@profitanswerman

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Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast

Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.