Walking With Walfinch

Why ChatGPT Won't Fix Your Franchise MarketingAre you relying on open-source AI like ChatGPT to run your franchise marketing? If so, you might be feeding your business data into a system that hallucinates and doesn't actually understand how to find your ideal franchisee. In this Vegas edition of Walking with Walfinch, we sit down with Megan Rosen, co-founder of Palace—an end-to-end franchi...

Are you growing your franchise, or are you actually scaling it? There is a massive difference. Growth is simply addition (5+5=10), but true scaling is multiplication (5x5=25). If your business is relying on pure grit and late nights instead of documented systems, you are likely stuck in constant chaos. In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, we sit down with Diane Davis, Chief Growth Officer at...

If you are treating your initial franchise fees as profit, your business model might be at risk. In reality, that fee is simply a reimbursement for the cost of recruiting and training your new partner. So, where does the real profit come from? In this Vegas edition of Walking with Walfinch, we sit down with Steven Inglefield, founder of TCX (The Consultant Exchange). We discuss how his platform is...

Most people still think home care means "toilet and toast." That perception is costing providers clients, staff, and CQC ratings — and most don't even know it. In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, Amrit is joined by Louis Wirth — founder of Care Research, an independent feedback and survey company built specifically for care services — to talk about what clients, families, and c...

If your website traffic has suddenly dropped, you aren't alone. The shift to zero-click SEO and AI search engines is changing how private clients and customers find your business. In this Vegas edition of Walking with Walfinch, we walked and talked with Dan Monahan, founder of WSI and Clear Summit Group. We cut through the AI noise to discuss how to rank on platforms like ChatGPT, why you must...

Lissa Walega, Chief Growth Officer at Ziebart and IFA board member, joins Walking with Walfinch at the IFA 2026 conference in Las Vegas. She breaks down why the best marketers start with the P&L, how Ziebart maintains 50%+ gross margins, and the red flags that kill a franchise deal. Key highlights from this episode:Ziebart is 67 years old — one of only 50 franchise brands globally to reach tha...

Most franchise brands struggle to sell six units a quarter. Patti Rother sold 67 in a single year. This is how she builds franchise sales systems that don't depend on one person. In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, recorded live at the IFA convention in Las Vegas, we sit down with Patti Rother, franchise sales strategist and co-founder of Root and Rise. Patti has spent over 20 years in f...

How does a $500 carpet cleaning turn into a $75,000 restoration contract with the same customer? It starts with answering the phone. In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, recorded live at the IFA convention in Las Vegas, we sit down with Karen Wenning, franchise marketing specialist and business development lead at Suttle-Straus — a 110-year-old company that evolved from a commercial printer i...

In the US, franchise brokers sell more franchises than almost any other lead source. In the UK, the model barely exists. So what are we missing? In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, recorded live in Las Vegas, we sit down with Red Boswell, President of IFPG — the International Franchise Professionals Group. IFPG is the world's largest franchise consulting and brokerage network, with aroun...

You Don't Need to Live Near Your Franchise | Walking with Walfinch. Can you really run a franchise from a different state? Kimberly Douglas is the COO of Sticky Fingers Cooking, a mobile children's cooking school franchise — and she also owns her own franchise territory in Orange County, California, while living and working full-time in Denver. In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, Kim...

Are you over supporting your franchisees without realising it? In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, we sit down with Angela Cote, CEO and founder of AC Inc., to talk about why doing too much for your franchisees is burning out your support team and creating dependent operators instead of confident business owners. Angela works with franchise brands ranging from early-stage networks to systems...

Your GP sees your loved one a few times a year. Your care worker sees them every day. So who really holds the fuller picture — and what could that mean for the future of healthcare? In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, Amrit sits down with Max Parmentier — CEO andco-founder of Birdie, the UK's leading home healthcare software platform — to explore whydomiciliary care providers are uniquel...

Kishan Patel, Managing Director of Walfinch Leicester, joins the podcast to explain how he transitioned from a third-generation family jewellery business into running a UK home care franchise, why trust is the foundation of domiciliary care, and how his Thrive Club is helping elderly residents in Leicester beat isolation. He shares an 18-month behind-the-scenes view of building a Walfinch franchis...

Most franchisors default to telling franchisees what to do. Jennifer Brandon explains why that approach fails — and what to do instead. In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, we're joined by Jennifer Brandon, Chief Growth Officer at AC Inc. (Angela Coté Incorporated), who has spent 30+ years in franchising as a franchisee, franchise developer, and coach. Jennifer breaks down the real differ...

What's a franchise actually worth when you sell it? Boris Katsnelson breaks down the real multiples — from 3x SDE for multi-unit franchisees to 15x EBITDA for scaled franchisors. In this episode of Walking with Wolf, we walk the Las Vegas strip with Boris Katz Nelson, investment banker at Black Iron and former franchise CEO. Boris started on Wall Street doing M&A, then bought and ran Speed...

Tracy Penase went from top-performing franchisee to buying the entire Just Between Friends franchise brand. Here's how she did it — and what changed. In this episode of Walking with Wolf, we sit down with Tracy Penase, CEO of Just Between Friends (JBF), who made the rare leap from franchisee to franchisor. What started with a decorated cookie at a Christmas party in 1998 became a multi-unit fr...

ChatGPT is powerful, but is it safe for client data? The short answer: not really. In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, Amrit sits down with Charles Cross from Emma AI to discuss why generic AI tools aren't enough for the UK social care sector. We dive into the massive difference between "digital care planning" and actual intelligent automation—and why data privacy is the bigges...

Is 37 training modules excessive for a home care worker? Some providers might think so, but the CQC—and our compliance team—disagree. In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, Amrit speaks with Amanda Keeler from the National Support Office. Amanda reveals why Walfinch insists on such a rigorous training schedule (minimum 37 modules) and how "front-loading" the hard work makes the actual...

It sounds unbelievable, but it’s true. When Amrit conducted a mystery shop of 10 local care businesses, only 3 actually picked up the phone. In a sector where trust is everything, are you losing private clients before you’ve even said hello? In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, Amrit chats with Debbie Harris, founder of Autumna, about the changing landscape of finding care. Debbie shares her...

In this episode of Walking with Walfinch, we sit down with Sarah Stanbrook, franchise owner of Walfinch Swindon & Marlborough, to unpack her journey into care business ownership. Sarah shares how she moved from an administrative role into leading a growing, values-driven home care franchise, and what surprised her most along the way.

In this episode CEO Amrit talks to the manging directors from Hampton Twickenham & Virginia Water about their journey in Walfinch from start to present and how they overcame their difficulties running and business together!

Why do good carers leave… even when you’re paying them fairly? Why doesn’t “more money” fix morale, retention, or engagement? In this episode of the Walking with Walfinch podcast , we’re joined by Shilpi , Walfinch franchisee for Harrow and Brent , to unpack the real reasons staff don’t feel valued — and why pay is rarely the root problem. Shilpi shares honest, frontline insight from running a suc...

Russell Ford joins Walking with Walfinch to explain why a franchise can give new business owners a stronger, safer, and faster route to success than operating independently. From reduced risk to built-in operational support, he breaks down the real-world benefits that make franchising a powerful model in today’s home care industry. If you're exploring how to start a care business, comparing franch...

In this episode of Walking with Walfinch , we sit down with Professor Martin Green OBE to hear his remarkable journey through social care. From his early experiences to becoming one of the UK’s leading advocates for change, Martin reflects on the challenges, achievements, and future of the sector. An inspiring listen for anyone connected to care—professionals, families, or those simply curious abo...

In this episode of Walking with Walfinch , we’re joined by Freddie’s Flowers for a blooming conversation about the power of flowers, wellbeing, and how simple joys can transform daily life. 🌸 From the story behind the UK’s favourite flower subscription to the surprising ways flowers boost mental health and community spirit , this is an uplifting discussion that connects lifestyle, care, and thriv...