Franchise Interviews

We are meeting with Jeff Connally, the President and CEO of CMIT Solutions.  CMIT Solutions (CMIT) is a leading provider of information technology (IT) professional services and products to small and medium-sized businesses, and is uniquely capable of supporting small businesses anywhere, coast to coast in the United States and Canada. By focusing on developing and maintaining local, trust-based relationships with its customers, CMIT is able to meet all of their IT needs. CMIT, which has 170 plus locations, offers a wide variety of services and products, including enterprise-class solutions, at prices small businesses can afford.   CMIT Solutions has been ranked number one in its category in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500® list for six consecutive years. Because of its growing geographic presence and partner programs, CMIT is a very attractive sales and/or support channel for larger firms desiring to reach the millions of small and medium-sized businesses in the United States. In part two we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.   Today’s show is being sponsored to you by Neopost and the IS-280.  The IS-280 weighs and then automatically tells me what postage amount my mail or package needs. Not only will you pay 6% less to send First-Class mail but time is also saved by not having to run to the post office for postage.   The IS-280 allows you to spend more time managing business and less time managing mail.  For a limited time, our listeners could get up to 6 months FREE by using the promo code – FRANCHISE Visit Neopost280.com/FRANCHISE and enter your zip code to see if you qualify, followed by the promo code, FRANCHISE, to lock in 6 months free!

We have a great show today.  We are meeting Jeff Oddo, the CEO of City Wide Maintenance, a building maintenance franchise which was started by his father. Jeff is credited with turning the business into a franchise. He is very passionate about expanding the brand and making an impact on the communities they serve. Jeff will talk about what he calls the “Ripple effect” Founded in 1961, City Wide has become synonymous with building maintenance in its home Kansas City market and the 50-plus U.S. regions where it has grown through franchising since 2001. A single-source solution for all building maintenance services, City Wide contracts with independent contractors to give clients access to dozens of interior and exterior services. City Wide simplifies the maintenance matters that mean most to building owners, operators, and management companies, easing the time, stress, and resources typically required to oversee an entire facility.  In part 2, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast. Today’s show is being sponsored to you by Neopost and the IS-280.  The IS-280 weighs and then automatically tells me what postage amount my mail or package needs. Not only will you pay 6% less to send First-Class mail but time is also saved by not having to run to the post office for postage.   The IS-280 allows you to spend more time managing business and less time managing mail.  For a limited time, our listeners could get up to 6 months FREE by using the promo code – FRANCHISE Visit Neopost280.com/FRANCHISE and enter your zip code to see if you qualify, followed by the promo code, FRANCHISE, to lock in 6 months free!

We have a great show.  We are meeting with Ken McAllister, the President of MY SALON Suite.  Founded in 2010, MY SALON Suite is raising the bar in luxury for salon entrepreneurs and consumers across North America. MY SALON Suite attracts and inspires experienced professionals from all facets of the health and beauty industry to individually own and operate their own businesses in one of several private suites, each fully equipped with a styling center, state-of-the-art security system and other eco-salon suite amenities. The resources offered by MY SALON Suite empower salon members to achieve business ownership and present them the opportunity to earn a six-figure income. The brand’s success in recent years has been momentous, and a strategic alliance partnership with Ratner Companies, the nation’s largest family-owned collection of salons, has further propelled the brand’s success and rapid expansion. With more than 45 locations in 16 states across the United States and Canada, the New Orleans-based franchise company plans to add 200 franchise partners and 300 salons in the next five years.  In Part Two, we will play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.  Today’s show is being sponsored to you by Neopost and the IS-280.  The IS-280 weighs and then automatically tells me what postage amount my mail or package needs. Not only will you pay 6% less to send First-Class mail but time is also saved by not having to run to the post office for postage.   The IS-280 allows you to spend more time managing business and less time managing mail.  For a limited time, our listeners could get up to 6 months FREE by using the promo code – FRANCHISE Visit Neopost280.com/FRANCHISE and enter your zip code to see if you qualify, followed by the promo code, FRANCHISE, to lock in 6 months free!

In today's podcast, we are meeting with Mary Jane Riva, CEO of Pizza Factory.  Founded 30 years ago, Pizza Factory has become well known for serving fresh, high-quality pizza, sandwiches, salads and more. The brand is also widely recognized for its close community connection, which includes its iconic “No Bully Zone” program and impactful fundraising partnerships. Currently, there are more than 100 locations based in five states throughout the West Coast. Pizza Factory looks to add additional franchise locations in key markets throughout the country, with a special focus on Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Montana.  In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast. Today’s show is being sponsored to you by Neopost and the IS-280.  The IS-280 weighs and then automatically tells me what postage amount my mail or package needs. Not only will you pay 6% less to send First-Class mail but time is also saved by not having to run to the post office for postage.   The IS-280 allows you to spend more time managing business and less time managing mail. Here is the great part.  For a limited time, our listeners could get up to 6 months FREE by using the promo code – FRANCHISE Visit Neopost280.com/FRANCHISE and enter your zip code to see if you qualify, followed by the promo code, FRANCHISE, to lock in 6 months free!

It is hard to imagine it was 11 years ago we launched our first podcast.  Today, Franchise Interviews is celebrating our 11th year anniversary and 550th show.  This show will feature Marty McDermott, the founder of Franchise Interviews, LLC as the interviewee discussing the history of the show.  Interviews on this show will be conducted by the amazing Jaime Jay, the popular host of Stop Riding the Pine, the great Elizie Flenard, host of the popular show Enterprise Now, the popular John Tantillo, AKA the Marketing Doctor and we even play a clip from our very first show with PB Loco. Today's show is being brought to you by Ceterus.  Ceterus specializes in franchise accounting and takes care of all of that work for you, while giving you full access to your financial data and benchmarked reporting through their platform.  If you sign up through this podcast, you will get 50% off your first two months! To learn more about Ceterus' franchise accounting and benchmarked reporting solution, please visit www.ceterus.com/franchiseinterviews

This week we are meeting with the Totally Nutz franchise opportunity - Matt Barker and his wife Yvette were successful marketing executives who became worn-out of the rat race and began looking for their "next big thing." That light bulb moment came as they recalled all the conferences they used to be present at and the thousands of people walking around each show with some kind of handout. Under the name Barker's Olde Fashioned Almonds, Matt and Yvette started roasting Cinnamon Glazed Almonds in 1990 and began selling their product at different fairs and festivals. Over the years, their customers would inform how much they enjoyed the product and wished more variety would be offered. Matt and Yvette started experimenting and came up with several delectable flavors and varieties. They changed the name to Totally Nutz in 1992 and launched their franchise opportunity in May 2014. In Part Two, we play a clip from our Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.  Today's show is being brought to you by Ceterus.  Ceterus specializes in franchise accounting and takes care of all of that work for you, while giving you full access to your financial data and benchmarked reporting through their platform.  If you sign up through this podcast, you will get 50% off your first two months! To learn more about Ceterus' franchise accounting and benchmarked reporting solution, please visit www.ceterus.com/franchiseinterviews

First, we are meeting with Kevin Wilkerson. Kevin and Laurel Wilkerson own a Marco's Pizza franchise in Broken Arrow, OK. Kevin spent 24 years as an Army Infantry Officer and retired in 2005 as a full Colonel. Laurel served on active duty with the Army as an attorney for over 20 years, retiring in 2008. He later learned of Marco's and decided to get involved in entrepreneurship.  Next we meet with Sean Falk – A former US Marine infantry officer who served more than 8 years in active duty and reserves, including tours during Operation Desert Storm and in Bosnia.

Electric Scooters, Electric Bikes, Electric Skateboards and more!  We have a great show today.  We are meeting Jerry Szylwanski of the Whizzyride franchise opportunity.  Whizzyride is a Miami based intelligent technologies company- specialized in small electric vehicles. Whizzyride is an exclusive importer of the newest market inventions such as electric scooters and electric bikes. Whizzyride provides guaranty and post-guaranty service and the satisfaction of their clients in the most important thing for their franchise! In Part Two, we play a clip from our Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.  Today's show is being brought to you by Ceterus.  Ceterus specializes in franchise accounting and takes care of all of that work for you, while giving you full access to your financial data and benchmarked reporting through their platform.  If you sign up through this podcast, you will get 50% off your first two months! To learn more about Ceterus' franchise accounting and benchmarked reporting solution, please visit www.ceterus.com/franchiseinterviews

Today Franchise Interviews is celebrating National Sandwich day with three fantastic sub franchise opportunities.  They include Erbert and Gerbert’s Subs, Milios Subs, and Penn Station East Coast Subs.  National Sandwich Day is observed annually on November 3. The sandwich is believed to be the namesake of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, following the claim that he was the inventor of the sandwich.  This day honors one of America’s most popular lunch items.  https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-sandwich-day-november-3/ In part four, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.  Today's Franchise Interviews shout out goes to Ceterus.  As a franchise entrepreneur, dealing with your finances, accounting, and tax preparation can be a headache. Ceterus specializes in franchise accounting and takes care of all of that work for you, while giving you full access to your financial data and benchmarked reporting through their platform. Ceterus Edge, is built on top of QuickBooks Online. While they offer tax accounting, many of their customers also retain their current CPA and use Ceterus for month-to-month accounting and benchmarked reporting, which their CPAs love. If you sign up through this podcast, you will get 50% off your first two months! To learn more about Ceterus' franchise accounting and benchmarked reporting solution, please visit www.ceterus.com/franchiseinterviews.

We have a great show today.  We are meeting George Vodin of Fancy Art, NFP.  Fancy Art, NFP is Your One Stop Shop For All of Your Wall Décor Needs.  Imagine owning a business that is not only profitable, but where it is fun to go to work every day. At Fancy Art, NFP®, you will be surrounded by beautiful artworks and soft music, dealing with a cultured clientele, who appreciate the finer things of life and have the discretionary income to afford them. Each job is different so it will never be monotonous or mundane and once your work is finished, it will reside prominently in a home or business, where it will not only bring joy and brighten the living environment, but also become a focal point of conversation whenever there is company, which is why, word of mouth will always be your best publicity. Oh! And did we mention that it is a big ticket item with high profit margins.