Franchise Advisory Board | Expert Franchising Advice for Franchise Leaders

Welcome back to another insightful episode of The Advisory Board Podcast, where we bring you thought leadership and actionable advice from the world of franchising and business ownership! This episode is sponsored by ClientTether – thank you for supporting us!Today’s episode features a conversation with the remarkable Jerry Akers, an expert in franchise ownership and succession planning. With over 20 years of multi-unit franchise experience (34+ Great Clips salons and multiple The Joint Chiropractic clinics), Jerry shares his journey and expertise on an often-overlooked but critical topic in franchising: succession planning and transitioning to the next generation.Did you know that 60% of all franchise owners are Baby Boomers? What happens to those businesses when they retire or, in some cases, pass away unexpectedly? Jerry dives deep into this issue, explaining why franchise systems need to have a transition plan in place to avoid costly and chaotic disruptions. We cover the risks of not having a succession plan – from frozen bank accounts and stalled payrolls to the long-term impact on franchise value – and why it's crucial to prepare for the unexpected.Jerry also shares his own experience of transitioning his Great Clips business to his children, showing how involving the next generation can not only protect the legacy but enhance the business by tapping into their tech-savvy skills and fresh perspectives. From building wealth to maintaining profitability, Jerry’s insights are invaluable for any franchise owner.We then shift gears to explore how franchise brands can help their owners grow from single-unit operators to multi-unit owners. Jerry highlights the importance of education, mentoring, and creating pathways for franchisees to scale successfully. If you’re a franchisor or franchise owner looking to expand, this episode is packed with tips on how to develop a scalable growth strategy.Whether you're a franchise veteran or just getting started, you won't want to miss Jerry’s stories, advice, and actionable insights on planning for the future. Tune in now to learn how you can secure your business legacy and scale to new heights!Don't forget to check out Jerry's best-selling book, "Live It 2 Own It," for more franchise wisdom. And once again, a big thank you to ClientTether for sponsoring this episode. Happy listening!

Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Advisory Board Podcast, where we bring you the best insights from business leaders and franchise experts. Today, we have a special guest, Sean Bock, a franchising powerhouse known for scaling Drybar and now leading Pure Glow, a cutting-edge airbrush tanning brand.In this episode, Sean shares his 20-year franchising journey, from his start as a corporate attorney at Cold Stone Creamery to becoming a key player in the beauty franchise world. We dive deep into Pure Glow’s mission to provide a "better for you" airbrush tanning solution with organic ingredients, tapping into the intersection of health and beauty.A key focus of our conversation is on funding and capitalization in franchising, a timely topic given the current challenges in financing franchise purchases. Sean shares his experience navigating the often tricky process of securing capital, discussing how franchisors can best capitalize their brand and offer strong fundraising options to franchisees.Some key takeaways include:The importance of raising capital upfront to ensure the right executive team and growth infrastructure are in place.How emerging brands like Pure Glow can leverage strategic investment to attract franchisees, particularly in competitive beauty markets.The increasing role of private equity in franchising and why smart franchise management is becoming a game-changer for emerging brands.We also discuss how crucial it is to be selective with your first 10 franchisees, building a strong foundation for future growth. Sean’s mantra: “Go slow to go fast” is a valuable reminder for emerging franchisors to invest in their system’s long-term success.A huge thank you to our sponsor, ClientTether, for making this episode possible. ClientTether is a powerful CRM and franchise sales software, helping businesses streamline their processes and close deals faster.Tune in for more insights from Sean Bock on how to capitalize, scale, and succeed in today’s competitive franchising world!

Welcome back to The Advisory Board Podcast, where we bring in experts from the business and franchising world to share insights that can boost profitability and efficiency in your franchise operations. Today's episode features a fascinating guest, Tommy Yionoulis, co-founder of OpsAnalytica, a cutting-edge SaaS platform that empowers franchises to pinpoint profitability issues in real time.Before we dive into the meat of the conversation, we want to give a special shout-out to our sponsor, ClientTether.Thank you for supporting this episode and helping us connect with industry leaders.In this episode, Tommy shares his unique journey from managing restaurants to becoming a stand-up comedian and ultimately co-founding a tech platform that merges his love for hospitality and data analytics. We explore how OpsAnalytica was born out of Tommy's experience with franchising and his innovative approach to solving operational challenges. He also shares how the platform helps franchises tackle three major profit killers: labor inefficiencies, material costs, and speed of service.We delve into actionable strategies for managing labor costs in real time, optimizing processes, and maintaining accountability across your franchise operations. Tommy emphasizes the importance of consistency, the value of putting systems around tasks, and how even small, incremental improvements can significantly impact your bottom line.Tommy's entertaining background as a comedian adds a fun twist to our discussion, making this episode as informative as it is engaging. If you're looking for a way to ensure operational excellence and drive profitability in your franchise, this episode is a must-listen.Connect with Tommy on LinkedIn or check out OpsAnalytica to learn more about how his platform can transform your franchise operations.Thank you for tuning in, and thanks again to ClientTether for making this episode possible. Don't forget to subscribe for more expert insights on franchising and business success!

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Advisory Board Podcast, where we dive deep into franchising strategies that can boost your business success! Today's episode is sponsored by ClientTether, our go-to platform for lead management and customer engagement.In this episode, Dave Hansen hosts Ryan Wimpey from TipTop K9, a successful dog training franchise that has rapidly grown to 19 units across the U.S. Ryan shares valuable insights into how exceptional brands like TipTop K9 scale their support systems and maintain operational excellence during expansion. From his innovative approach to franchisee training to his hands-on experience of running both corporate and franchise locations, Ryan highlights how investing in robust training and systems sets franchisees up for long-term success.We also discuss their unique training model—combining two weeks of virtual training with six weeks of intensive, hands-on training at their Tulsa headquarters—and how this commitment has significantly reduced support calls and increased franchisee confidence. The episode touches on the importance of simplifying operations to avoid unnecessary complexities, and how TipTop K9 maintains consistency across locations with a centralized call center, billing, and scheduling system.Ryan and Dave also explore the importance of aligning franchisees’ goals, offering both semi-absentee and multi-location ownership opportunities based on individual preferences. TipTop K9's coaching model—complete with operational and sales coaching, and detailed growth roadmaps—demonstrates how Ryan ensures his franchisees are not only growing but thriving.Tune in to learn how TipTop K9’s blend of operational structure, personalized coaching, and simplified systems has allowed it to scale effectively while empowering franchisees to succeed!Special thanks to ClientTether for sponsoring this episode. Their platform ensures your leads are never missed and helps businesses convert prospects faster, making it a must-have for growing franchises.

Welcome to another insightful episode of The Advisory Board Podcast, where we bring together industry experts to share their wisdom on building successful and thriving franchise brands. In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Karen Wenning from Suttle-Straus. Karen is a seasoned professional in franchising, with a deep understanding of marketing automation, brand compliance, and customer journey optimization.Episode Highlights:Customer Journey Insights: Karen dives into the importance of fully understanding the customer journey, emphasizing that many brands miss out by not mapping it out effectively. She explains how this lack of insight leads to marketing strategies that fail to resonate with the target audience, resulting in wasted resources. By adopting a multi-channel approach that maximizes customer touchpoints, brands can enhance engagement, speed up conversions, and ultimately build a loyal customer base. Karen shares specific examples and strategies that franchises can implement to create a seamless and effective customer journey.Blending Digital and Physical Marketing: In a world increasingly dominated by digital marketing, Karen highlights the ongoing relevance of physical marketing channels like direct mail. She explains how the integration of digital tools, such as QR codes and social media retargeting, with traditional direct mail can significantly boost the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Karen introduces the concept of "direct mail on steroids," where digital and physical marketing efforts are synchronized to create a more immersive and impactful customer experience. Her insights into using big data to re-engage potential customers who have visited a website but did not convert offer a sophisticated approach to improving marketing ROI.Understanding Lifetime Value (LTV): Karen brings attention to the often-overlooked metric of lifetime value (LTV). She discusses how franchises can accurately calculate LTV to assess the true effectiveness of their marketing efforts. Understanding LTV allows brands to see beyond the immediate returns and focus on the long-term value of customer relationships. Karen provides actionable advice on how to convert one-time customers into repeat clients, thereby maximizing the return on marketing investments over time. She also touches on the importance of ongoing customer engagement and how it contributes to sustaining revenue growth.The Power of Brand Compliance: Karen addresses the critical issue of brand compliance, especially in the franchising sector where maintaining a consistent brand image is crucial. She explains how inconsistent branding across franchise locations can undermine brand equity and confuse customers. Karen offers practical solutions for franchises to enforce brand standards without restricting local operators' ability to adapt to their markets. By using brand portals and other tools, franchises can ensure that all marketing materials adhere to brand guidelines, which helps in building and sustaining customer trust across all locations.A big thank you to our episode sponsor, ClientTether. Their comprehensive CRM and marketing automation tools are designed to support franchises in managing customer relationships and executing effective marketing strategies. Visit ClientTether.com to learn more about how they can help your franchise grow and thrive.In this episode, Karen Wenning shares her deep expertise, offering franchise owners and marketers practical tools and strategies to excel in a competitive marketplace. Whether you're managing an emerging brand or an established franchise, the insights Karen provides are invaluable for optimizing your marketing efforts and ensuring long-term success. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business and take your franchise's marketing strategy to the next level!

Welcome back to another episode of The Advisory Board Podcast! Today, we dive deep into the world of SMS marketing with a special guest, Shane Murphy, the founder and CEO of Boostly, the leading SMS provider for the restaurant industry. Shane brings his decade-long expertise in franchising, marketing, and operations to the table, offering invaluable insights for businesses looking to level up their SMS marketing game.In this episode, we tackle the complexities of SMS compliance, emphasizing the importance of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and how businesses can navigate the rules to avoid costly fines. Shane shares expert advice on building a compliant and effective SMS marketing strategy that keeps your brand top-of-mind while staying within legal boundaries.We also discuss innovative ways to drive engagement through text messaging, from gamified promotions to non-discount strategies that enhance customer loyalty. Shane highlights how creativity and personalization can significantly boost engagement, offering examples of brands sending out fun dad jokes or gamified messages to strengthen customer relationships. Finally, we explore how businesses can measure the effectiveness of their SMS campaigns and adjust strategies for maximum ROI.Thank you to ClientTether, our episode sponsor, for making this insightful conversation possible. If you’re in the franchising industry or simply looking to refine your SMS marketing approach, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help your business thrive.Tune in, take notes, and let's boost your business through smarter SMS strategies!

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Advisory Board Podcast! This week, we're thrilled to be sponsored by ClientTether, a leading CRM and sales automation tool that helps franchise brands grow and manage their operations seamlessly. Big thanks to ClientTether for making this episode possible.In today’s episode, we're joined by branding wizard Gary DeJesus, a seasoned expert with over 31 years of experience building strong, lasting brands in both the corporate world and the franchise space. Gary spent 18 years with Procter & Gamble before transitioning into the franchise sector, where he’s helped brands like CycleBar through his consulting firm, GDJ Branding.Gary walks us through five crucial strategies for building an enduring franchise brand, starting with a deep dive into what he calls “brand fundamentals.” This isn’t just about logos and slogans—Gary explains how your brand's DNA, purpose, and differentiators should align with unmet market needs to create an authentic and powerful presence. We also explore his "OGSM" method—Objective, Goals, Strategy, and Measures—which simplifies your brand's path to success on a single page.But it doesn’t stop there—Gary shares valuable insights on creating brand differentiation, focusing on unique aspects that can’t be claimed by anyone else. We also dig into the importance of customer experience and how pricing strategy plays into building your brand’s value proposition.As Gary reminds us, branding without strategy is just art, and he’s here to help you understand how to integrate the right tactics with the right strategic foundation. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear sense of what it takes to elevate your franchise brand and ensure it stands the test of time.If you’re looking for actionable strategies to build a strong franchise brand or are just passionate about marketing, this episode is packed with valuable advice you don’t want to miss!Tune in, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with others who might benefit from these branding insights!

In this exciting episode of The Advisory Board Podcast, host Dave Hansen welcomes a long-time friend and franchise expert, Ken Doty, CEO of The Maids International. Ken shares his extensive knowledge of franchising, technology, and operations, offering invaluable insights for franchise owners looking to optimize their businesses.Ken dives into The Maids' unique approach to leveraging technology as a differentiator in the home cleaning industry. From their partnerships with giants like Amazon and Procter & Gamble to their data-driven strategies, Ken highlights how a focused technology stack can transform a franchise's operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.He emphasizes the importance of real-time data, the integration of CRM systems, and how these tools enable franchisees to make swift, informed decisions that drive success. Ken also discusses the challenges and opportunities of evolving franchise support models, especially for mature brands, and why investing in technology early on can be a game-changer for emerging brands.Whether you’re an established franchise owner or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you stay ahead in a competitive market.A big thank you to our episode sponsor, ClientTether, for supporting The Advisory Board Podcast and helping us bring these valuable conversations to our listeners.Tune in to learn more about the future of franchising and how to harness the power of technology to grow your business!

Welcome back to another enlightening episode of The Advisory Board Podcast, where we bring you actionable insights from the franchising world. This week, we're thrilled to be joined by Ben Fox, the mastermind behind customer experience at Five Star Franchising. If you haven't met Ben, you're in for a treat as we dive into the art of franchise lead generation and customer engagement.First off, a huge thank you to our sponsor, ClientTether, for making this episode possible. ClientTether provides innovative CRM solutions to help businesses streamline their lead engagement process and enhance customer relationships.In this episode, Ben takes us on a journey through his transition from aspiring police officer to a pivotal player in franchising. Now leading ProNexus, Ben's expertise in the home service industry shines through as he shares how his team effectively supports franchisors with cutting-edge call center solutions.Ben gives us the inside scoop on Five Star Franchising's diverse portfolio, featuring brands like Mosquito Shield, Five Star Bath Solutions, and Bio-One, with their unique services in crime scene cleanup. He highlights the importance of a multi-channel communication strategy, which has become a crucial differentiator in a competitive market.Key takeaways from Ben’s insights include:Lead Costs and Engagement: With lead costs on the rise, it's more important than ever to fine-tune every stage of customer interaction. Ben emphasizes the value of omni-channel communication, where customers can engage with brands via their preferred method—be it phone, text, or chat.Speed to Lead: Ben stresses that the speed at which a business responds to a lead is critical. Ideally, businesses should aim to engage with leads within the first 15 minutes to maximize conversion rates.Quality Over Quantity: As the FCC's upcoming regulation changes loom, Ben advises businesses to focus on quality interactions rather than merely churning through leads. The future is all about providing authoritative and empathetic customer service.Outsourcing and Training: Ben outlines the pros and cons of outsourcing call centers versus in-house management. He highlights the importance of robust training and continuous quality assurance, regardless of the approach.Preparation for Industry Changes: With significant shifts on the horizon, Ben encourages franchisors to proactively strategize for potential disruptions in lead volume and costs.Ben is not just a wealth of knowledge; he's also approachable and generous with his time. He invites listeners to reach out via LinkedIn or email for further discussions, whether or not you’re looking to partner with ProNexus.Thank you, Ben, for sharing your insights with us today. And remember, if you're ever at a conference with Ben, he'll treat you to ice cream—just save it for after karaoke! Stay tuned for more expert advice on The Advisory Board Podcast.For more information, reach out to Ben at ben@fivestarfranchising.com.

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Advisory Board Podcast! Today, we dive deep into the world of franchising with the brilliant Joe Matthews, founder and CEO of Franchise Performance Group (FPG). With over 40 years of experience and a remarkable track record of closing thousands of franchise deals, Joe brings a wealth of knowledge that is sure to provide actionable insights for anyone looking to build a thriving franchise business.Before we jump into the conversation, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our episode sponsor, ClientTether. Their support helps us bring you these insightful episodes, and we couldn't do it without them.In this episode, Joe shares his unique perspective on responsible franchising, emphasizing the importance of aligning with ethical practices to ensure long-term success. He also highlights the evolving role of franchise sales professionals, stressing the need to stay ahead of the curve by integrating digital marketing knowledge and brand storytelling into their strategies.We also touch on the rising popularity of pickleball, Joe's newfound passion, and how it's unexpectedly connected to franchising through innovative concepts like the Pickler franchise. Joe's journey from playing pickleball in high school to becoming an advanced player today adds a delightful personal touch to our discussion.Our conversation takes a deep dive into the franchise salesperson of the future. Joe emphasizes the necessity for sales professionals to adapt to the changing buyer journey, which now involves extensive online research and content consumption. He shares how FPG's approach to content creation and lead nurturing significantly boosts conversion rates, offering a blueprint for success in modern franchise development.Joe also addresses the critical role of collaboration between marketing and sales teams. He shares his no-nonsense approach to breaking down silos and ensuring that content creation aligns with the actual needs and experiences of franchise leads.Towards the end of our chat, we delve into the importance of responsible franchising. Joe passionately advocates for a shift from merely selling franchises to genuinely ensuring that franchisees are set up for success. He shares real-life examples and insights on how responsible franchising can lead to more sustainable and profitable business models.For those interested in learning more about Joe Matthews and Franchise Performance Group, you can visit their website at www.franchiseperformancegroup.com. Joe is also open to direct conversations and can be reached at 860-309-1484, as long as you're not pitching something!We hope you enjoy this episode filled with practical tips, expert insights, and a touch of humor. Tune in, take notes, and get ready to elevate your franchise game with the wisdom shared by Joe Matthews.Thank you for listening to The Advisory Board Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your network. And a big thank you once again to ClientTether for making this episode possible. Stay tuned for more episodes where we bring you the best minds in the franchise industry.