Powered by Franchising

What does it take to build a franchise that changes lives while creating rewarding business ownership opportunities? On this episode of Powered by Franchising , Laura Rolfe sits down with Brian Gross , CEO of Bach to Rock, to discuss how the brand is redefining music education through an innovative franchise model. Brian shares his journey with Bach to Rock, what makes the concept unique, the powe...

What does it take to build one of the fastest-growing home services franchise platforms in North America? In this episode of Powered by Franchising , Laura Rolfe sits down with Scott Sutton, Chief Development Officer at Empower Brands , to discuss the vision behind bringing industry-leading brands together under one powerful platform. Scott shares how Empower Brands supports franchise owners acros...

In this episode of Powered by Franchising , Laura Rolfe sits down with Kristie Kalinowski, VP of Development with Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa to explore one of the fastest-growing sectors in franchising: wellness. Kristie shares her journey in franchising, what makes the Hand & Stone the number one brand in the health and wellness space and why consumers continue to prioritize self...

Youth sports aren't just about scoring points—they're about building confidence, character, and future leaders. Join me as I welcome Aaron Locks, Founder & CEO of National Academy of Athletics, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, motivation, franchising, and the incredible impact sports can have on young lives. Aaron's passion for helping kids succeed shines through in ev...

What does it take to truly understand franchising from every angle? John Flanders has lived it. He's started businesses from scratch, bought existing ones, franchised a concept, and now—as Founder & President of Karpata Franchise Group—he guides entrepreneurs through one of the most important financial decisions of their lives. In this episode, John pulls back the curtain on the real valu...

What does a t-ball game in 2004 have to do with a growing national franchise? Everything. On this episode of Powered by Franchising, we sit down with Sophia Wastler, Founder of The STARZ Program, and Allie Adamson, Franchise Developer, to talk about how a moment at the park — and one little boy's spark of confidence — grew into a children's fitness enrichment brand now expanding across t...

After 29 years in the corporate world, my dear friend David Moore decided it was time to bet on himself — and build something that lasts for his family. 🦍 In this episode of Powered by Franchising, Dave opens up about the journey that led him to franchise ownership, why Gorilla Property Services stood out from the rest, what the discovery process really looked like, and what he learned at trainin...

If you've spent any time researching small business acquisition, you've heard the pitch: baby boomers are retiring, they're selling their businesses for pennies on the dollar, and laundromats and car washes are the new path to financial freedom. Codie Sanchez built a media empire on this thesis. Walker Deibel and Carl Allen have amplified it. The underlying data is real — roughly 58...

Most franchise candidates walk right past one of the most resilient, recurring-revenue business models in the industry — and that's exactly the problem Vicktoria Healy is here to solve. In this episode, Laura sits down with Vicktoria Healy, VP of Franchise Development at SUPPLY POINTe, to talk about the B2B logistics franchise that proudly calls itself "beautifully un-sexy" — and wh...

Not every candidate is in the same place when they start exploring business ownership — so why do most consultants treat them like they are? In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the Mint Fit™ score, an evaluation I built inside my practice to understand where someone actually is before we ever talk about specific brands. I walk through the four stages it identifies, how it works a...

There's a reason business owners think about taxes differently — and it's not because they have a better CPA. In this episode, Laura from Mint Franchise Consultants breaks down the tax advantages of business ownership, including Section 179 deductions (up to $2.56M in 2026!), bonus depreciation, vehicle write-offs, retirement strategies, and why owning a business doesn't just create...

What happens when a franchise consultant spends a week at two industry events back to back? A whole lot of insight — and one very full notebook. In this solo episode, I'm sharing what I discovered at the Red Rock Franchise Development Group and the FranShip Cruise, where I connected with 32+ brands ranging from emerging concepts to industry powerhouses. We're talking national B2B account...

Why do so many professionals choose franchising instead of starting a business from scratch? In this episode of Powered by Franchising , Laura Rolfe explores the real reasons people step into franchise ownership — and why many of them never originally planned to become entrepreneurs. After working with hundreds of candidates exploring business ownership, Laura shares the common life transitions an...

What if building a successful business also meant helping people feel their best every day? In this episode of Powered by Franchising , Laura Rolfe sits down with Dana Kupper, multi-unit franchisee with Prime IV Hydration to explore the rapidly growing world of IV hydration and wellness. As consumers become more focused on preventative health, recovery, and performance, brands like Prime IV are re...

In this episode of Powered by Franchising , Laura Rolfe shares some of the franchise concepts she is most excited about today — and the trends driving their growth. While the right franchise always depends on the individual investor, Laura highlights several brands that represent major trends in franchising including essential services, recurring revenue, scalability, and semi-absentee ownership m...

What does it really take to scale a franchise brand the right way? In this episode of Powered by Franchising , I sit down with Anthony Spagnola, Chief Development Officer at Oakscale Franchise Partners , to talk about the strategy behind building franchise brands that grow with intention—not just speed. Anthony shares how Oakscale evaluates brands before scaling, what “smart growth” actually looks...

Thinking about buying a franchise? Scaling into multi-unit ownership? Before you sign anything, listen to this episode. In this conversation, franchise attorney Kit Higgs of Kit Franchise Law breaks down: ✔️ What the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) really tells you — and real life examples ✔️ The clauses in franchise agreements that surprise first-time buyers ✔️ Personal guarantees, cross-defa...

Retail is evolving — and AI is leading the charge. In this episode of Powered by Franchising , I sit down with Rick Medina of SmartMarket Solutions to talk about the rise of intelligent, AI-powered unattended retail. From automated smart stores to scalable semi-absentee models, Rick shares how technology is transforming traditional vending into a data-driven, cash-flowing opportunity. We cover: •...

In this episode of Powered by Franchising , I’m joined by Brett Ganther and John Thuringer to unpack how Purpose Brands builds an environment where franchisees don’t just open locations—they grow, thrive, and feel supported . We dive into how Purpose Brands fosters a culture of leadership, accountability, and collaboration across powerhouse concepts like Orangetheory Fitness and Waxing the City ....

Discovery Day is exciting—but it can also be overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect. In this insider episode, I share what most people aren’t told before attending their first Discovery Day—what it really is, how you’re being evaluated, what questions to ask, and what red flags to watch for. Discovery Day isn’t a sales pitch. It’s a mutual decision point. If you’re mid-process or heading in...

Franchising with purpose hits different. In this episode of Powered by Franchising , I sit down with Nikki Kimura , Director of Franchise Development for Heroes Lawn Care —a home services franchise built on military values, leadership, and execution. We unpack how Heroes Lawn Care has created a mission-ready business model with six powerful service divisions: 🌱 Lawn & Landscape 💧 Irrigation...

Before you ask what franchise to buy, there’s a more important question to answer: Is franchising right for you? In this episode, I walk through the five questions I ask every serious franchise candidate—before we ever talk about brands. These questions can save you time, money, and regret. This is not about hype. It’s about clarity, fit, and making a decision you feel confident about long after t...

This weekend, I finally tackled a hike I’d been putting off for years—Picket Post Mountain. It was hard. It was steep. And it wasn’t nearly as impossible as I imagined. In this solo episode, I connect that experience—to franchising and business ownership. The truth is, most people don’t fail because they can’t do hard things. They wait because they’re afraid to start. If you’ve been standing at th...

What if early childhood education could shape global citizens from the very beginning? In this episode of Powered by Franchising , host Laura Rolfe sits down with Nicole Chaudry , Founder and CEO of WorldKids School , to explore how language immersion, cultural awareness, and purpose-driven franchising come together in a powerful education model. Nicole shares the personal inspiration behind World...

Thinking about franchising? This episode is your reality check. In this solo episode of Powered by Franchising , I cover: • Unpopular truths about franchise ownership • The smartest questions to ask during discovery • Rapid-fire franchise myths • Listener Q&A • How I decide if I’d invest in a franchise today If you want clarity before you commit, this episode will help you avoid costly mistake...