Imagine you're 17 years old, living with your little brother in a tiny house with no heaters, the roof leaking and caving in, and cockroaches everywhere. The only job you can get is a minimum-wage job at a flag pole factory, so you and your brother lived on fast food and ramen noodles. What will you do to reset the standards of your life? Do you even think you have a chance at a good life?  When you're down on your luck, it's easier to go on a downhill trajectory than try to get up, but not Dave Allred. Growing up in a dysfunctional and impoverished family, he knew deep down that he had unlimited potential and the power to uplevel his life as long as he was willing to do whatever it would take.  Fast forward to today, he's living the life he'd only dreamed of with his beautiful family. He built a real estate fund, Axia Partners, and created the Allred Family Foundation. He has multiple investments. Yet, Dave still wakes up every day to remind himself, “Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can have what others can’t.”  In this episode, Dave shares his inspiring journey about creating a life of your design. Erik and Dave also discuss franchising, passive investing, real estate, tax advantage, and parenting. So stick around and be inspired by Dave's incredible adventures in life and business.    “The motto in our home is: Nothing is given. Everything is earned.” - Dave Allred   In This Episode: - What pushed Dave to strive to change his life for the better? - Valuable lessons Dave got from making door-to-door sales - How Dave invested his money - Why Dave allowed his 15-year-old daughter to buy a Tesla Model 3 (there's a huge lesson here) - Does losing money on investments make you a bad investor? - Dave talks about his investments in multiple brands as a franchisee and a franchisor - What does Axia Partners do? And more! Resources:  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisee mastermind here - www.franchisetribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisor mastermind here - www.franchisortribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s passive investing mastermind here - www.tribeofinvestors.com  - Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Podcast Episode with Tom Wheelwright on Tax-Effective Investing Strategies - https://franchisesecrets.com/podcast/too-many-entrepreneurs-are-missing-out-on-these-tax-effective-investing-strategies-%f0%9f%a4%af/ - Tiger 21 - https://tiger21.com/ - Top 21 Books That Helped Dave Allred Achieve Financial Freedom at 36 - https://www.businessinsider.com/best-real-estate-investing-financial-freedom-books-money-building-wealth-2023-3?_gl=1*11oowny*_ga*NTAxOTU2NDkwLjE2NzY0MDU1NDk.*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY3ODEzMTI3Ni44LjEuMTY3ODEzMTI4OS4wLjAuMA   Connect with Dave Allred: - Website - https://www.daveallred.com/ and https://www.axiapartners.com/ - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdaveallred/ - Facebook - https://web.facebook.com/dave.allred.7 - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/daveallred/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: - Website  - Instagram  - Facebook  - Facebook Group  - LinkedIn - YouTube - Medium  

Are you ready to dive into the world of franchising and discover the next big thing? In this episode, Erik and his guests, Jeff Herr and Zack Fishman, explore the exciting world of franchising and its evolution, focusing on emerging trends and brands. They also talk about the younger generation in franchising, labor issues and how to solve them, the importance of branding, and why consultants do what they do.  Jeff Herr is an entrepreneur with many interests including franchising, financial services, consulting, and administrative outsourcing. He is Erik's business partner at Front Street Equity Partners, so you'll hear his insights on private equity firms buying into brands.  Zack Fishman has been the face of Fishman PR’s business development efforts since 2019, leading the sales process, speaking at industry conferences, and co-hosting the podcast, Modrn Business. Additionally, Zack is the key contact for vendor relationships through Franchise Supplier Network, a supplier consultancy he is a partner in. Tune in to gain valuable knowledge about the dynamic landscape of franchising and the role of the younger generation in shaping its future. Be part of the franchising revolution!   “I believe that consultants serve a really awesome purpose if they're used responsibly, and I think there are a lot of people that do that today.” - Zack Fishman   In This Episode: - Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha and the franchising industry  - Trends, emerging brands, and the evolution of the franchising industry - Labor issues and how to solve them - Franchisors bragging about the wrong stats - Why is branding so important, especially for an emerging brand? - Why are some private equity firms buying off on units sold? - Why territory is the gold when it comes to franchising And more! Resources:  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisee mastermind here - www.franchisetribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisor mastermind here - www.franchisortribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s passive investing mastermind here - www.tribeofinvestors.com  - Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  Connect with Jeff Herr: - Website - https://www.frontstreetep.com/ - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-herr-606b74a/   Connect with Zack Fishman: - Website - https://www.fishmanpr.com/ - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-fishman/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: - Website  - Instagram   - Facebook  - Facebook Group  - LinkedIn - YouTube - Medium

Who would have thought that a janitor could be responsible for boosting the revenue of over 2,100+ small businesses since the 2020 pandemic? Adam Lyons used his unique skillset to launch The S.M.A.R.T Blueprint to help companies thrive during these challenging times. And it's not just small businesses that have benefited from his expertise.  Some of the biggest brands in the world, including PepsiCo, Nike, Nescafé, and Discovery Digital Networks, have worked with Adam. In addition, his impressive achievements have caught the attention of major news outlets such as CNN, Forbes, the Today Show, and even the NY Post, cementing his status as one of the most sought-after business consultants in the game.  In this episode, Erik and Adam discuss business strategies, AI, raising your fees as a consultant, KPIs, building relationships, and when to stop chasing money, among other things.  If you're interested in learning from someone who knows what it's like to take businesses to new heights but values his family more than money, there's so much you can learn here today.   “I don't go into a business to make money. I go into a business to look at it.” - Adam Lyons   In This Episode: - What can you learn from listening to Adam's podcast? - Can you train AI to function as a business consultant (or any other role)? - How do you lead with value as a business owner? - What are some misconceptions about AI, and what is the biggest mistake people make when using AI? - What sets smart people apart from AI? - How do you raise your fee as a consultant? - How does Adam apply prediction and solution as a business strategy? - What is it like working with Adam? - What The SMART Blueprint is all about - How to make people care about the KPIs - Adam shares his top takeaways from Roland Frasier, Ryan Stewman, Perry Belcher, and other mentors - How Adam overcame his skepticism about the power of creating a vision (as taught by John Assaraf) - How Adam builds genuine relationships - When do you stop chasing more money? And more! Resources:  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisee mastermind here - www.franchisetribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisor mastermind here - www.franchisortribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s passive investing mastermind here - www.tribeofinvestors.com  - Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Grab some gifts from Adam Lyons - https://thesmartblueprint.com/gift/ Connect with Adam Lyons: - Website - https://thesmartblueprint.com/ - Facebook Group - https://web.facebook.com/groups/smartbusinessesdothis - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/theadamlyons/ - Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smart-businesses-do-this/id1606008411 Connect with Erik Van Horn: - Website  - Instagram  - Facebook  - Facebook Group  - LinkedIn - YouTube - Medium

Is it better to run a business alone or with a partner? Of course, there are pros and cons to both. However, partnerships certainly offer fantastic benefits. Take Alex Yeater, for example. He is an everbowl Area Representative who has partnered with people to build something bigger.  Alex is an Area Representative with everbowl in the Midwest, South, and Southeast. He and his wife of almost 20 years, Kelli, have four sons between the ages of 18 and 5. Before everbowl, Alex and his business partner Mitch grew a Wireless Zone franchise from 2 stores to 32 before exiting in 2021. In 2022, Alex and Mitch partnered with Drew Brees to form EB Masters, one of the largest Area Representative companies in the US. By forming partnerships, major franchise investors can tap into the existing expertise of owners and operators, adopt proven best practices, and expand into new markets by leveraging their resources and complementing each other's skill sets. But where can you find people who share your passion? How do you form genuine connections and build partnerships? Alex and Erik share valuable insights into this topic, so make sure to catch this episode!   “Long-term partnerships, they're like marriages, man. The first couple of years were hard, trying to figure out what was my role, what was his role. Now we've really gotten into this groove.” - Alex Yeater   In This Episode: - A quick story on how Alex left the cellphone business and got into franchising - What makes a partnership work well?  - What is it like being business partners with Drew Brees, and how do you manage expectations when partnering with someone with star power? - Alex talks about the benefits of joining the Mastermind Group (other than meeting Erik) And more! Resources:  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisee mastermind here - www.franchisetribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisor mastermind here - www.franchisortribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s passive investing mastermind here - www.tribeofinvestors.com  - Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  Connect with Alex Yeater: - Website - https://www.everbowl.com/ - Impact Vacation Rentals Website - https://impactvacations.co/ - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yeater.alex/ - Facebook - https://web.facebook.com/AlexYeater - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-yeater-67b66814/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: - Website  - Instagram  - Facebook  - Facebook Group  - LinkedIn - YouTube - Medium  

Navy Veteran Clement Troutman, a top Tropical Smoothie franchisee in Maryland, shares his journey from military service to franchise success. He emphasizes on building strong relationships with his team, achieving personal growth, and setting ambitious goals. Clement's insights on leadership, team synchronization, and family dynamics make this a must-listen for aspiring franchise owners.

Are you a business owner looking to maximize the value of your business? Do you want to understand how cash flow is critical in business valuation? In this episode of the Franchise Secrets Podcast, host Erik Van Horn and his guest, Luke Andrus, share valuable insights on the multiples approach to business valuation and helpful tips for navigating the complexities of buying or selling a business. Luke is the founder and CEO of Blue Star Investments, a private equity firm based in the United States that focuses on investing in and growing small to mid-sized companies. He also co-owns multiple Anytime Fitness franchises in the United States, which makes him understand firsthand what makes a business valuable to buyers. Whether you're a business owner looking to sell or a buyer interested in acquiring a business, this episode is packed with valuable insights you will want to take advantage of!   “No matter how good you are, it's still a gamble. Maybe the location's terrible, you know. I'd rather have a bad product in a great location than a great product in a bad location.” - Luke Andrus   In This Episode: - A brief background on Luke, how he became a co-owner of multiple Anytime Fitness franchises, the value he brought to the business, and what sets him apart from other franchisees - The three significant KPIs to monitor in the gym industry and how to monitor reviews - Why it's crucial to teach employees how to solve problems and understand P&L statements - Understanding company valuation using the multiples approach - How do you avoid the usual mistakes sellers make? - Why you should avoid buying into companies where the owner is too involved - How to negotiate the terms of the sale and the benefits to seller and buyer for certain sale agreements - When should you inform your employees that a new owner is taking over the company?  - Buying healthy assets vs. distressed assets  And more!   Resources:  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisee mastermind here - www.franchisetribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisor mastermind here - www.franchisortribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s passive investing mastermind here - www.tribeofinvestors.com  - Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - The Accidental CEO by Thomas Voccola - https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-CEO-Leaders-Journey-Purpose/dp/1411688570 - Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz - https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended/dp/0062407805 - The Messy Marketplace by Brent Beshore - https://www.amazon.com/Messy-Marketplace-Selling-Business-Imperfect/dp/0998030007   Connect with Luke Andrus: - Anytime Fitness Website - https://www.anytimefitness.com/ - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukeandrus/   Connect with Erik Van Horn: - Website  - Instagram  - Facebook  - Facebook Group  - LinkedIn - YouTube - Medium

Are you considering franchising as a way to start or grow your business? As shared by today's guest, franchising can be a great stepping stone into other business opportunities.  In this week's episode of the Franchise Secrets Podcast, host Erik Van Horn shines the spotlight on Yoel Gutierrez, co-owner of Mosquito Joe of Miami and leader of a Mastermind group called Franchise Empire Builders.  Most of Yoel's professional career has been spent working in IT, but he always knew he wanted to own a business. He initially didn’t think it would be a franchise that kills mosquitoes. But, as his wife complained about mosquito bites, Yoel knew Mosquito Joe would be an excellent place to start. And he's happy with how it all turned out. His franchise has grown 4x since he opened it in 2015, making it one of the top Mosquito Joe franchises nationwide. With the business doing great, Yoel takes great pride in his employees and what they do. The success of Mosquito Joe was just the beginning. He is now an owner and partner in a mold assessment company, a high-end auto detailing business, and many other companies.  Tune in and discover how to use franchising as a pathway to diverse business ventures.    “The only reason we succeeded in Mosquito Joe so much was because we dove in a hundred percent.” - Yoel Gutierrez   In This Episode: - A brief background on Yoel Gutierrez and how he got involved with Mosquito Joe - What makes a franchisee successful? - How Yoel started leading a convention (which led to the Mastermind Group) for Mosquito Joe franchisees - The pricing structure for Yoel's Mastermind and what you will get out of it - What are the benefits of leading a Mastermind? - How franchising launched Yoel's success as a business owner and opened more opportunities for him And more! Resources:  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisee mastermind here - www.franchisetribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisor mastermind here - www.franchisortribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s passive investing mastermind here - www.tribeofinvestors.com  - Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Scalable Franchise - https://scalablefranchise.com/ - The CASHFLOW Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki - https://www.richdad.com/the-cashflow-quadrant Connect with Yoel Gutierrez: - Website - https://miami.mosquitojoe.com/ - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoel-gutierrez-20122723/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: - Website  - Instagram  - Facebook  - Facebook Group  - LinkedIn - YouTube - Medium

Are you wondering how to navigate the complex world of franchising in these uncertain times? With the looming recession, bank collapses, and tighter government regulations, it's natural to feel concerned about your future. But there's good news.  In this week's episode of the Franchise Secrets Podcast, host Erik Van Horn chats with the "Franchise Economist" Darrell Johnson, CEO of FRANdata, a leading research and consulting firm specializing in analyzing the franchise industry. Together, they discuss the current state of the economy, banking, and how federal regulations impact franchising. They also explore how franchising can be resilient during financial uncertainty with the help of FRANdata. Darrell has over 30 years of experience in the franchise industry and is a nationally recognized franchising authority. Under Darrell's leadership, FRANdata has evolved from a data/FDD database company to a world-class franchise-focused advisory firm. Through his work at FRANdata, Darrell has helped to promote transparency and accountability in the franchise industry, making it easier for entrepreneurs to make informed decisions about investing in a franchise. During the podcast, Darrell provides valuable insights and tips for franchisees and franchisors on navigating complex issues that affect franchising and using reliable data to make informed decisions. So be sure to tune in to this enlightening and informative episode.    “The franchising business model is very resilient and very flexible. What it would require is that franchisors pay close attention to what the implications are of how the banking system is changing and to take actions on them.” - Darrell Johnson   In This Episode: - What is FRANdata and how does it help those involved in the franchising industry make informed decisions? - The Feds' unintended consequences impacting franchising - Will franchising survive the financial crisis? - How the bank credit report changed the game - How VC, PE are going to value brands (forward earnings and cost of capital) - What do MU owners really want in a new brand (it's not what your think) - When should franchisors be in learning mode vs leader mode? - What does good, better and best look like? - Take a look at the IFA 2023 Franchising Economic Report - https://www.franchise.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/2023-Franchising-Economic-Report.pdf And more! Resources:  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisee mastermind here - www.franchisetribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisor mastermind here - www.franchisortribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s passive investing mastermind here - www.tribeofinvestors.com  - Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - The IFA 2023 Franchising Economic Report - https://www.franchise.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/2023-Franchising-Economic-Report.pdf Connect with Darrell Johnson: - Website - https://www.frandata.com/ - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrell-johnson-cfe Connect with Erik Van Horn: Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  LinkedIn YouTube Medium

Salem Najjar, CEO of SERVE Hospitality Group, shares his franchising journey and the importance of investing in people. He discusses criteria for evaluating brands, leadership team breakdowns, balancing financial and people-driven mindsets, and effective hiring strategies. Salem emphasizes the value of key individuals, navigating cash flow challenges, and prioritizing quality over quantity in business decisions.

When investing in a franchise or a passive income deal, you always have to follow specific criteria.  Surprisingly, looking for fast cash flow or a substantial ROI are not the only factors to consider.  Connections, education, and tax strategies are even more important than cash flow. And today’s guest explains why.  Ryan Casey is a successful franchisee of Orangetheory Fitness. One of his studios is in the top twenty locations in the country, and another is number four. He’s living proof that with the right systems in place, you can create entirely passive income, thanks to franchising.  Together with Ryan, Erik shares different takeaways on semi-absentee ownership and how to start passive investing on the right foot.  Listen in for a list of the criteria to follow when trying to acquire a new franchise and extra skills you need to develop to make your franchise successful.    “Franchisees should have criteria for brands they are getting into.” - Erik Van Horn   In This Episode: - Keys to semi-absentee ownership and passive investing - Why you should choose well-known brands rather than emerging ones - Importance of hiring the right director of operations for your franchise - Why cash flow ROI is not the most crucial factor when choosing a franchise - How to ask appropriate questions and conduct due diligence when looking for deals  - Skills needed to be a franchise owner    Resources:  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisee mastermind here - www.franchisetribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s franchisor mastermind here - www.franchisortribe.com  - Learn more about Erik’s passive investing mastermind here - www.tribeofinvestors.com  - Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  - Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617  Connect with Ryan Casey: - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-casey-a80802a0   Connect with Erik Van Horn: - Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/    - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/   - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/   - Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/franchisesecretsfb  - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/  - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGL_DGqEd54pcu_zgOICdSA  - Medium - https://medium.com/@erikvanhorn