How does the co-founder of beem Light Sauna think about scaling a thriving health and wellness franchise? The Wolf talks with Cynthia May, CEO and Co-Founder of beem Light Sauna, to discover her secret to scaling from 0 to 65 locations in a little over four years.Cynthia reveals her biggest challenges and successes in scaling a franchise brand, unraveling how she and her team developed systems that allowed their franchisees to truly thrive. How did culture and values fundamentally shape the nature of her franchise?Cynthia also shares her insights into the unique benefits of light therapy— from mental health to weight loss and detoxification, she explains why customers are drawn to their private individual suites and rooms and how their membership-based business model sets the stage for success.Plus, what’s in store for beem Light Sauna? And how has partnering with prelaunch partners and vendors upped their marketing game?Tune in now to find out! Join the fastest-growing VR franchise in the world and be among the first to bring premium immersive VR experiences to your community.Invest in the future of entertainment by visiting franchise.sandboxvr.com. 00:01:30 - Scaling a Franchise Brand Successfully00:05:43 - Finding the Right Location for Brands00:08:46 - Partnering for Membership Sales Success00:15:16 - Customizable Infrared and Red Light Therapy00:21:25 - Top 3 Reasons for Wellness Retreats00:25:29 - Transitioning from Founder to CEO00:34:18 - Establishing Culture and Values for Business Success00:40:50 - Goals for beem Light Sauna Beyond UnitsLearn More About beem Light Sauna:Website: https://franchise.beemlightsauna.com/ Follow Cynthia:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiamay/ Follow The Wolf:Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchisesTwitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolfWebsite: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel.Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

Before it became a media franchise sensation, Dave’s Hot Chicken was a pop-up shop in East Los Angeles creating a line as long as the eye could see. Now it has a national cult following with investors like Drake and Usher invested in the Nashville-style chicken chain.The Wolf sits down to chat with founding franchisees, Andrew Feghali and Lawrence Kourie about the challenges and triumphs of starting a franchise in a new market and the excitement of becoming part of a rapidly growing brand. Hear how Dave's Hot Chicken has gained attention not only for its mouth-watering menu but also for its celebrity investors. How do its chef-inspired offerings set it apart from the competition? And how has Dave’s made the art of the simple menu work in their favor?Can Dave’s Hot Chicken compete with In-N-Out? Lawrence and Andrew explain how focusing on the people behind the brand and creating room for growth has led to a fantastic working culture and a high degree of scalability.Plus, don’t miss out on an exclusive sneak peek into the future of Dave's Hot Chicken, including plans for expansion and international growth.Sandbox VR is the world’s most advanced virtual reality experience. With more than 45 locations across 7 countries, this full-body gaming provides unprecedented realism and complete immersion that’s not possible anywhere else. Groups of up to six can roam the VR space together, exploring exclusive virtual worlds and relying on each other to succeed while surviving a zombie apocalypse, battling a mighty dragon, hunting for lost treasure, and more.Visit Franchise.SandboxVR.com to learn more.00:00:00 - Franchisees Share Dave's Hot Chicken Story00:03:53 - Dodgers Game Meeting Leads to Successful Store Opening00:06:06 - Opening a Franchise in San Diego00:12:55 - Balancing Speed and Patience in Expansion00:18:52 - Simplicity Key to Dave's Success00:22:14 - Celebrity Investors Back Dave's Hot Chicken00:26:18 - Third-Party Delivery: A Big Model Follow Lawrence:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencekourie/ Follow Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-feghali-6728197a/ Follow The Wolf:Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchisesTwitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolfWebsite: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

Did you know when it comes to where your franchise is situated, there’s a breakfast side and a dinner side of the street? Dinesh Goswami certainly does, and with 125+ franchise locations open, including Pizza Hut, Popeye’s, , Taco Bell, and Checker’s, he knows why understanding your location is the #1 thing you can do to ensure the longevity of your franchise. Dinesh talks with the Wolf about his diversified portfolio and the valuable lessons he’s learned from his extensive franchising career about staying resilient and consistent in the face of economic fluctuations. How have specialized franchise lenders and SBA loans helped Dinesh to scale? Plus, discover his unique approach to acquiring talent and fostering a people-centric business.From understanding the importance of location selection to leveraging organic growth opportunities, Dinesh provides his incredible insights into the challenges of franchising at a high-level scale.  00:00:48 - From Banker to Popeyes Owner00:02:12 - Corporate Dropout Opens Successful Franchise00:05:03 - Considerations for Choosing Restaurant Locations00:12:39 - Avoid Costly Mistakes When Opening a Restaurant00:14:03 - How to Convince Someone to Switch Jobs00:18:41 - Capital Strategy for Business Expansion: SBA Loans or Profit Funneling?00:21:06 - Specialized Lenders for Franchise Industry00:29:25 - Diversifying Brands for Steady Growth00:36:04 - Understand Your Strengths Before Marketing Follow Dinesh:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinesh-goswami-463547130/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dineshvgoswami/ Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchisesTwitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolfWebsite: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much! 

Self-made entrepreneur Chris Hellgeth, known as Gas Biz Guy, shares secrets to success in the gas industry, from building a strong brand to seizing opportunities. He discusses evolving trends in convenience stores, synergy between quick-serve restaurants, and customer experience focus. The podcast delves into scaling businesses, strategic acquisitions, and the journey of Hack Creek food truck to 26 locations.

How did a West Point flight school graduate become the founder of 79 optical stores across the US? Bill Noble, Pearle Vision’s largest multi-unit franchise owner, joins the pod to chat with the Wolf about his fascinating journey from sitting in the cockpit to building a nationwide franchise empire.  From his early days at Harrah's Entertainment to his transition into the retail industry, Bill shares valuable insights on leadership, partnership, and the challenges of growing a franchise business. Discover how his military background and experience in the gaming industry shaped his approach to leadership and motivated him to start his own franchise.Bill discusses the importance of maintaining a true partnership between franchisors and franchisees and reveals how honest feedback and open communication contribute to the growth and success of a franchise organization.He and the Wolf dissect the strategies and considerations involved in acquisitions and growth and uncover how market conditions and lending criteria can impact a franchise's expansion plans.Whether you're a seasoned franchise owner or considering starting your own business, gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics and intricacies of building a successful franchise empire. 00:00:23 - Military Veteran's Journey to Retail00:03:27 - First Leadership Role Outside Military00:05:42 - Transitioning Leadership Skills from Gaming00:08:11 - From Lenscrafters Employee to Franchise Owner00:15:12 - Navigating Pressure as a CEO00:18:31 - Converting Corporate Locations to Pearle Visions00:21:21 - Transitioning from Corporate CEO to Franchise Leader00:24:37 - Navigating Growth in Changing Markets00:29:38 - Approaching Leadership as a Franchise Owner00:38:07 - Balancing Personal Identity in Competitive Organizations00:45:27 - Franchise Concept Evolves into Partnership Follow Bill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamnoble1/ Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchisesTwitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolfWebsite: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

Deb Merrill had no idea she was destined for franchise management until her brother-in-law asked if she’d be interested in running a Jimmy John’s. Realizing that stage management wasn’t the dream job she had hoped it would be, Deb left her theater career behind for the food service industry.In this candid conversation with the Wolf, Deb opens up about her rise from the bottom of the food chain to the top of the Jimmy John’s game. How did she take the dive into franchising with zero experience in the industry and eventually open 12 different locations? And what was it really like working with family?  Deb also shares her wisdom into the daily rewards and challenges of running a Jimmy John’s franchise from the physical demands of the job to the importance of finding the right team members. What should the structure and setup of a fair franchise agreement look like? And what’s the importance of maintaining positive relationships with franchisees?Plus, learn about the early days of Jimmy John's, including the impact of the economic crash in 2008 and the struggles of balancing construction schedules and employee training. What kinds of unique opportunities does Jimmy John’s provide for franchise owners?Tune in now to find out! Workstream is the all in one tool for restaurants to run their HR, hiring, and payroll operations. Trusted by over 25,000 restaurant locations, Workstream is the people management tool built for managing hourly workers.Visit http://www.workstream.us/thewolf to learn more!00:00:00 - Transitioning from Theater to Fast Food Franchise00:03:06 - Navigating Responsibility and Control in Business00:04:35 - Balancing Construction and Opening Schedules00:07:03 - Corporate Training at Jimmy John's00:08:47 - Opening Two Stores in Six Months00:14:41 - Arranging Fair Structures for Collaborations00:15:48 - Navigating Family Business Dynamics Successfully00:18:59 - 16 Years of Steady Store Growth00:21:57 - Expanding Store Locations: A Timeline Workstream is the all-in-one tool for restaurants to run their HR, hiring, and payroll operations. Trusted by over 25,000 restaurant locations, Workstream is the people management tool built for managing hourly workers.Visit http://www.workstream.us/thewolf to learn more!  Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchisesTwitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolfWebsite: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much! 

Drew Gressett’s sitting down with the Wolf to discuss his personal journey in the restaurant industry—from his journey founding Hat Creek Burger Company to owning 60+ Zaxby’s.Hear Hat Creek Burger Company’s humble origin story—from starting as a food truck in 2008 to now having 26 brick-and-mortar locations, Drew shares the challenges and triumphs of scaling his business. He shares how building a strong restaurant management team and securing financing helped fuel his exponential growth.What are the unique dynamics of running both independent restaurants and franchise locations? And does Drew have plans to expand into other franchise brands or industries in the future?Tune in now to find out! 00:00:23 - From Food Truck to Restaurant Success00:07:13 - Lessons Learned from Hat Creek's Expansion00:08:10 - Growing Hat Creek to 26 Locations00:15:12 - Expanding the Zaxby's Franchise Portfolio00:18:23 - Scaling Hat Creek 00:20:37 - Building a Strong Restaurant Management Team00:24:36 - Leveraging Seller Financing for Growth00:28:56 - Franchise Friction: Running Own vs. Franchise00:33:03 - Exploring New Franchise Opportunities and Industries00:34:37 - New Builds vs. Acquisitions: Pros and Cons Learn More About Zaxby’s:Website: https://www.zaxbys.com/franchise Learn More About Hat Creek Burger Company:Website: https://hatcreekburgers.com/who-we-are Follow Drew: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-gressett-96891621a/ Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchisesTwitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolfWebsite: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel.Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

You’ll never be able to operate 90+ franchises if your first franchise isn’t golden to begin with. Take it from Adam Saxton, operator of over 90+ McAlister’s Delis and co-CEO/Owner of the Saxton Group. With territories in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, Adam chats with the Wolf about his unusual philosophy for franchise expansion, including a unique organic unit model development approach entailing zero acquisitions.With over 20 years in the fast-casual space, Adam reveals why he remains optimistic about the ROI potential in this industry and explains how his family's background in restaurant franchising influenced his decision to join McAlister's Deli. How has he managed to maintain slow and steady growth since his first bought unit in 1999?Discover the importance of building a strong culture and brand within your organization, and how investing in internal development leads to long-term success. Adam discusses the growth opportunities that come with expanding your franchise and the value of promoting from within.Plus, what are Adam’s perspectives on investment levels and the potential return on capital for first-time franchisees?Tune in now to find out!  00:00:00 - Locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas00:00:30 - Adam Joins Family Restaurant Business00:08:17 - Organic Growth Strategy of the Saxton Group00:11:46 - Community Outreach Boosts McAlister's Brand00:13:34 - Fostering Growth and Opportunity at McAlister’s00:17:13 - Franchisees Expand with New Brands00:18:45 - Saxton Group Acquires Jaggers00:22:29 - Staying Optimistic in the Fast Casual Industry00:26:49 - Investment Returns for New Franchisees00:32:54 - Room to Grow for McAlister’s Follow Adam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgsaxton/ Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchisesTwitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolfWebsite: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

Buckle up because the Wolf is taking another stab at your best Twitter questions in this solo question-and-answer pod.Should you be able to negotiate a franchise agreement? If so, how much of an agreement is negotiable, or are most franchise agreements a take-it-or-leave-it proposition? Then the Wolf uncovers his #1 recommendation for back-office franchisee solutions (hint: it’s a software that’s near and dear to his heart), before dissecting the differences between chains and franchises.  Plus, who will win the Nashville Chicken Wars? Or do all chicken franchises come out the loser if the market has hit its peak saturation point?  Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchisesTwitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolfWebsite: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

The Wolf chats with french fry master, Lucas Mitchell, a successful entrepreneur and franchisee of Five Guys, to discuss the ins and outs of scaling a franchise business. From building strong relationships with franchisees to managing shiny object syndrome, Lucas shares valuable insights and lessons learned along his journey.How did Lucas go from owning five stores to over 20? What were the challenges and rewards that came with his rapid growth? He details his unique strategies for managing debt covenants and explains how he leveraged specific relationships to fuel his franchise’s expansion.Hear how Lucas has kept his composure and avoided the temptation of shiny object syndrome to maintain a consistent relationship with Five Guys. He reveals his philosophy for scaling a sustainable organization and tells the Wolf how he managed to escape with his sanity intact while growing Five Guys. Lucas also explores why continuous learning and evolution were essential to his role as a leader. Find out how he has leveled up his leadership skills and implemented guidelines to run his business effectively. Plus, get a glimpse into Lucas's future plans for growth, including the potential for expanding into other brands.  Paylocity offers the only modern HR and payroll solution that makes real-time recommendations to drive better business outcomes.Paylocity is the modern, all-in-one platform that makes HR and payroll easier — so you can focus on your employees. We’ll make onboarding faster, recruiting smarter, and compliance simpler. To learn more visit https://paylocity.com/restaurants. 00:06:13 - Leveraging Relationships to Buy Locations00:12:12 - Investment Strategy: Equity vs. Debt00:16:04 - Navigating Debt Covenants in Restaurant Ownership00:18:43 - Understanding Debt Covenants in Franchising00:23:25 - Combining Five Guys with Another Brand00:25:40 - Managing Shiny Object Syndrome as an Entrepreneur00:31:18 - Avoid Entrepreneurial Mistakes: Focus First00:34:57 - Building Relationships Key to Franchise Success00:41:37 - Evolving Leadership Skills in Business Follow Lucas: Twitter: https://twitter.com/lmitchellhq?lang=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmitchellhq/ Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchisesTwitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolfWebsite: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!