

Franchise Empires
The Wolf, A Workweek Friend
Most startups are doomed to fail. But there’s an alternative route to financial freedom for hungry entrepreneurs. One that involves far less risk, far more work-life balance, and just as much profit. Franchises. Franchise Empires gives aspiring franchise owners the playbook to build a multi-unit franchise empire of their own. Every episode we hear from guests who are building their franchise empire: Franchisees who started with one unit and aren’t stopping until they get to dozens, hundreds, or even thousands more locations. Hosted by The Wolf, you’ll hear exactly how to turn your ambition into tangible actions and take your first steps up the franchise ladder. We’ll break down the steps you need to take open your first franchise, your second location and beyond, along with the many pitfalls to avoid. Wolf answers all your questions about owning and running your franchise, and interviews guests with first hand experience like Greg Flynn, the multi-billion dollar restaurant franchisee, Jamie Weeks, the largest OrangeTheory franchisee in the world who’s launching his own fitness franchise SweatHouz, and Jason McGowan, Co-founder and CEO of Crumbl cookies. Want to get started on your franchise owning journey? Tune in every Tuesday for a new episode. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.Interested in participating as a guest at Franchise Empires? Submit your request here!
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 9, 2023 • 48min
S5 Ep6: How Shelly Sun Built a $639 Million Dollar Franchise
What’s the best way to drive franchise growth in the senior healthcare industry? According to Brightstar Care CEO Shelly Sun, it’s paying the best people the best salary possible, encouraging accreditation across all locations to ensure franchise consistency, and aggressive nationwide marketing tactics. Shelly talks with The Wolf about her top components for a scalable franchise model, the challenges and lessons she’s learned from staying 20% company-owned, and the coming obstacles the home healthcare industry will face as the Baby Boomer generation ages. Shelly's passion for providing quality care and her strategic mindset for driving brand growth make for an inspiring interview you won’t want to miss. 0:00 Intro4:28 Brightstar Components10:40 Stepping Stones to Evolution19:41 National Accounts Program22:54 Early Lessons30:03 Not Selling Out36:20 Aging Baby Boomers41:58 Contact Us Follow Brightstar Care: https://www.brightstarfranchise.comhttps://www.brightstarcare.com Follow Shelly: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brightstarshellysun/ Built by hospitality for hospitality. Empower your employee experience by using Harri to build, manage, engage, and retain your team. Don’t you think it’s time to utilize a platform designed to elevate your greatest asset— your employees? Visit Harri.com to learn more. 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! Check out The Wolf’s newsletter. Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf

May 2, 2023 • 48min
S5 Ep5: How Chris Kenny Raised $300M To Invest in The Biggest Franchises of Tomorrow
What do fitness, skincare and swim schools have in common? Get ready to make a splash with Chris Kenny as he dives into the success of consumer service brands, from Heyday to Orangetheory to Big Blue Swim School.Chris is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Level5 Capital Partners. With over a decade of experience investing and operating in the consumer services sector, Chris has been an instrumental part in making L5 a standout player in the franchise industry.The Wolf and Chris delve into his origins in the business, explore L5’s unique approach to investing in franchises, and talk strategies for accelerating growth and enhancing brand value.And great customer experience starts with great employee experience. Create business success with Harri, the platform to build, manage, engage and retain your team. Care for your people, and they will care for your customers.Visit www.harri.com todayFollow Chris:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-kenny-09a4271/ 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!Check out The Wolf’s newsletterStay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf

Apr 25, 2023 • 56min
S5 Ep4: Turning Thrift Store Shopping into Franchise Gold with BaseCamp CEOs Zach and Tyler Gordon
How do resale employees determine how much that five-year-old Lululemon shirt is actually worth? The Wolf sits down with BaseCamp Franchising owners Zach and Tyler Gordon to discover exactly how Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid streamlined resell value subjectivity and turned it into a finely-tuned, fully systematic, operational process across over 200 different locations. Plus, how are Zach and Tyler inverting the stigma of used clothing and turning it into their personal franchise goldmine in the face of online reselling giants? And why is value one of the biggest motivators of consumer behavior? Tune in to find out! 00:00 Franchising Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate9:45 Exploring the Tailwinds of the Resale Market16:14 A New Way to Shop and Sell Clothing22:08 Operational Challenges in Resale Businesses35:10 The Future of Thrift Shopping43:28 Exploring the Benefits of Resale Franchise Ownership 47:09 The Resale Clothing Industry50:32 Contact Us Built by hospitality for hospitality. Empower your employee experience by using Harri to build, manage, engage, and retain your team. Don’t you think it’s time to utilize a platform designed to elevate your greatest asset— your employees? Visit Harri.com to learn more. Follow BaseCamp Franchises: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/basecamp-franchising/https://kidtokidfranchise.com/https://uptowncheapskatefranchise.com/ 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! Check out The Wolf’s newsletter Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf

Apr 18, 2023 • 56min
S5 Ep3: Always Have a Playbook for Scaling, with Voda CEO Dan Claps and Zach Nolte
How do you create a 1.7 million dollar franchise beast from a small-scale cleaning company? According to Voda Cleaning and Restoration franchise owners Dan Clap and Zach Nolte, the secret to scaling lies in franchising a business that naturally lends itself to marketing multiple services. Dan and Zach chat with the Wolf about how Voda Cleaning and Restoration cornered a large chunk of the home restoration market after discovering that the water damage cleaning business went hand-in-hand with other services like mold remediation, air duct cleaning, and more. Plus, find out why all future franchisers must have a brand playbook, why franchising is a team sport, and why investing in the right technology is crucial if you ever want to scale. Built by hospitality for hospitality. Empower your employee experience using Harri to build, manage, engage, and retain your team. Don’t you think it’s time to utilize a platform designed to elevate your greatest asset— your employees?Visit Harri.com to learn more. Follow Zach:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/znolte/ Visit Voda:https://myvodafranchise.com/ 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! Check out The Wolf’s newsletter Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf0:00 Intro and Background2:41 The Perfect Franchise Marriage6:36 Choosing Restoration10:24 Building a Business17:54 Technology and Branding are Key29:01 The Power of Having Systems in Place 37:35 The Hard Data47:08 Vision for Voda49:10 Contact Us

Apr 11, 2023 • 45min
S5 Ep2: Using Life Obstacles to Fuel Your Franchise, with Cynthia May
How does a single, 17-year-old mother find the motivation to build an 83-territory health and wellness empire? Cynthia May, co-founder of Beem Light Sauna, chats about how becoming a single mother at an early age gave her the strength to find financial stability by taking calculated risks and trusting her gut instincts. Cynthia explains how she went from owning a high-end salon to transitioning to the health and wellness space after her daughter became ill with Lyme Disease. Then, she discusses the importance of mentorship in business partnerships, designing a consumer-first experience for customers, building a lean store infrastructure, and how franchising allowed her to help others at a crossroads in their own careers. Built by hospitality for hospitality. Empower your employee experience by using Harri to build, manage, engage and retain your team. Don’t you think it’s time to utilize a platform designed to elevate your greatest asset— your employees?Visit Harri.com to learn more. Follow Cynthia: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiamayOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplimay/ 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! Check out The Wolf’s newsletter. Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf

Apr 4, 2023 • 35min
S5 Ep1: Cookies And Cream: How To Open A Multi-Brand Desserts Franchise
Who doesn’t love a cookie, or a pretzel…or ice cream? CJ Adams is the multi-brand franchise owner growing his sweet treat empire. Find out how.CJ is the Owner of Nashville-based Cookies And Cream, the multi-brand franchise of Great American Cookies, Maggie Moo's, Marble Slab Creamery, and Pretzelmaker.The Wolf and CJ get into the logistics of cross training employees to work across all brands, how to find the right opportunities, and why, at the end of the day, CJ’s a cookie guy.And great customer experience starts with great employee experience. Create business success with Harri, the platform to build, manage, engage and retain your team. Care for your people, and they will care for your customers.Visit www.harri.com todayFollow CJ:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamcjadams/Twitter: https://twitter.com/seejayadamsIf 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!Check out The Wolf’s newsletterStay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf

Mar 28, 2023 • 49min
S4 Ep12: The Franchise Growth Expert Turned Pub Franchise Owner, With Brent Dowling
From pro snowboarder to CEO, find out how Brent Dowling grows promising young franchises - including his own brewery pub brand.Brent is Co-founder and CEO of Raintree, the company packed full of seasoned professionals, dedicated to growing promising young franchises into industry giants. The Wolf and Brent discuss why it was time for Brent to put his money where his mouth is and get in on the franchise ground floor, how the average American feels about franchise ownership, plus how Raintree goes about branding its products.You know how hard it is to hire at scale. That’s why successful franchise owners use Wizehire. Shift to a new way of hiring and learn more at wizehire.com/pod.Follow Brent:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-dowling-/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!Check out The Wolf’s newsletterStay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf

Mar 21, 2023 • 40min
S4 Ep11: How To Become A Multi-Brand Franchise Owner, With Andrew Garcia.
How do you succeed in franchising? Invest in what fascinates you and makes a positive impact.Andrew Garcia is the entrepreneur who hated the 9 to 5 and turned to franchising.He is a partner and co-owner of ServPro, the 24-hour mitigation and restoration service, and partner at Ellie Mental Health, a franchise offering mental health services at the office and at home for individuals, children and families.The Wolf and Andrew get into why creating a legacy for good is a top priority for this entrepreneur, why dealing with insurance companies draws the emotion out of tough situations, and why saying yes to a haulage and junk removal franchise was the risk that kickstarted his franchise career.You know how hard it is to hire at scale. That’s why successful franchise owners use Wizehire. Shift to a new way of hiring and learn more at wizehire.com/pod.Follow Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agarcia87/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!Check out The Wolf’s newsletterStay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf

Mar 14, 2023 • 34min
S4 Ep10: Hawaii Fluid Art: The Unique Franchise Celebs Can’t Get Enough Of
How does an art class, enjoyed by Pink and Matthew McConaughey, become a franchise?Maya Ratcliff is the Founder of Hawaii Fluid Art - an accessible art class with incredible results. Celebrities love it, but anyone can join in and create a one-off piece they’ll be proud to display on their wall.From one location in Hawaii, founded during the pandemic, to two more in Dallas and Kansas City, Maya has ambitious plans to open 10 more corporate locations by the end of 2023.The Wolf and Maya discuss the resin layer and techniques that make Hawaii Fluid Art unique, why her absentee business model works so well, and how she negotiated down the price of materials.You’ll also hear how these negotiations mean classes run up to a 95% profit margin for every student who walks through the door.You know how hard it is to hire at scale. That’s why successful franchise owners use Wizehire. Shift to a new way of hiring and learn more at wizehire.com/pod.Follow Maya:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-ratcliff-3202941a/Twitter: https://twitter.com/renohelpIf 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!Check out The Wolf’s newsletterStay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf

Mar 7, 2023 • 44min
S4 Ep9: How a Drive-Thru Coffee Upstart Is Taking on Franchise Giants
Meet the founders of Cali Coffee, the franchise not afraid to take on the likes of Starbucks and Dunkin’.Craig Avera and Rose White are the couple behind Cali Coffee, founded in LA in 2018. Currently with three locations up and running, there are five more planned for opening later this year.The Wolf, Craig and Rose dive into why it was the right time to get out of the fitness industry, why they don’t believe in speaker boxes outside their units, and why getting rid of coffee jargon makes their product way more accessible.You’ll also hear why nothing can prepare you for land development in Hollywood and why that experience paved the way for their next franchise openings.Follow Craig:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-avera-a624557b/Follow Rose:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calicoffee/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!Check out The Wolf’s newsletterStay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf