Field Coach Experts Podcast

Why do so many franchise coaches know the system inside and out, yet struggle to get franchisees to take action? In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté sits down with Mary Kennedy Thompson, CEO of BNI, to unpack why the people who support franchisees are so often chosen for their brand knowledge but never taught how to coach, and how that gap affects a franchise system. Ma...

What does it really take to turn one successful franchise location into two, and how does that experience change the second time around? In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, guest host Stephanie Benze sits down with the co-owners of Mad Science of Central Virginia to walk through their expansion from Richmond into Fredericksburg. They started in one territory, joined a Franchisee Gr...

What actually separates a good mentor from someone who simply has more experience than you? In this special crossover episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté sits down with her longtime mentee, Karly Arnott, to talk about what makes a mentoring relationship actually work, and how many of those same principles show up in great franchise coaching. Karly originally brought the idea to...

What happens to franchisee experience when forty different coaches are all using forty different approaches? Many multi-brand franchise organizations face the same challenge as they scale: a growing team of field support people who are talented individually, but inconsistent as a group. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté talks with Lizzy Mae Kerr, Vice President of Fie...

How do you scale franchisee support without losing the personal relationships that made your brand successful? Many emerging franchise systems begin the same way. Founders answer every phone call, solve every problem, and personally support every franchisee. But as the system grows, that approach becomes harder to sustain. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté is joined b...

It's one of the biggest questions in franchising today. As AI becomes better at answering operational questions, surfacing data, and identifying performance trends, many franchisors are wondering whether the Franchise Business Coach role is still necessary. In this solo episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté explores how AI is reshaping franchise support and why the future of...

Why do franchisees forget what they were told, and what does it really take to make an important message stick? Franchisors are constantly communicating new initiatives, tools, expectations, and priorities. But an email, team call, or announcement does not guarantee that a franchisee understands what to do, why it matters, or where it belongs on an already crowded priority list. In this episode, J...

Why do franchise coaches sometimes solve the wrong problem? When a franchisee says, "Marketing isn't working," it's tempting to jump straight into solutions. But what if marketing isn't the real issue? What if the problem is conversion, follow-up, confidence, or something else entirely? In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Jennifer Brannon is joined by Tessa Bo...

Why do franchisees disengage from field support and what can field coaches actually do about it? One of the biggest misconceptions in franchising is that once a franchisee becomes disengaged or resistant to support, there is not much a field team can do. But after more than six years of facilitating weekly roundtables with franchisors and field teams across North America, Angela Coté has learned s...

Why do franchisees ignore important communication from their franchisor? Many franchise brands assume the problem is the communication platform. Should they use Slack, email, Teams, an intranet, or something else? But the real issue often runs much deeper. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté and Jennifer Brannon explore what it really takes to build trust through commun...

What separates franchisees who thrive from those who struggle, even when they're given the same system? Franchisors invest heavily in systems, training, marketing, and operational support. Yet some franchisees consistently outperform others operating under the very same brand. Why? In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté is joined by Scott Greenberg, keynote speaker, fr...

Why do franchisees struggle to apply what they've learned? Franchisors invest heavily in onboarding, training, resources, and support. Yet many franchisees still struggle to build momentum, understand their numbers, and consistently execute the activities that drive growth. The challenge isn't a lack of information. It's helping franchisees turn knowledge into action. In this episode o...

What does a franchisee growth group actually do for a franchisee's business and is it worth the time? Most franchisees are told a group like this will help them grow. But what does that actually look like from the inside, and what changes in a business once the group ends? In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Jennifer Brannon sits down with Ryan Kirkham, a 20-year US Lawns franc...

Why do some franchisees start strong but struggle to maintain momentum? It's a common belief in franchising. After all, franchisees chose to invest in a business. Shouldn't they naturally stay motivated, follow through on commitments, and hold themselves accountable? According to Christina Chambers, Chief Franchise Officer at DOXA Talent, it's not that simple. In this episode of the Fi...

Why do so many franchisees resist accountability and what happens when accountability is viewed as support instead of pressure? When people hear the word accountability, they often think of micromanagement, criticism, or someone checking up on them. But in high-performing franchise systems, accountability looks very different. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté, Founde...

Why do financial conversations feel so intimidating for franchisees and coaches? For many franchisees, financials feel tied to judgment, shame, or the fear of not understanding the numbers. And for coaches, there is often pressure to show up as the expert with all the answers. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Jennifer Brannon, Chief Growth Officer at AC Inc., is joined by Abe Du...

Why do financial conversations feel so uncomfortable for franchisees and what can coaches learn from the numbers beyond profitability? Financials are not just reports. They tell a story about behavior, habits, decision-making, confidence, and sometimes avoidance. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Jennifer Brannon, Chief Growth Officer at AC Inc., is joined by Damian MacInnis to u...

Why do franchisees avoid their numbers and what does it cost a franchise system when they do? Most franchisees did not get into business because they love financial statements. But avoiding the numbers creates blind spots that impact profitability, growth, and long-term business value. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté is joined by Barbara Nuss, CPA and Founder of Pro...

Why do so many franchisees struggle with financials and how can franchisors fix it? Most franchisees focus on revenue but avoid the financials that actually drive profitability. P&Ls, margins, and costs often feel overwhelming, which leads to decisions based on instinct instead of data. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté and Jen Brannon break down how franchisors c...

Jumping in to fix problems feels helpful—but it may be the very thing holding your franchisees back. In this episode, Jennifer Brannon and Erica Shoop unpack the hidden cost of “hero-style” field support and why rescuing franchisees creates dependency, limits confidence, and slows long-term growth. They explore what actually happens when coaches shift from solving problems to building ownership, h...

Why do so many coaches spend more time talking than listening? Most coaches genuinely want to help. They explain, advise, and solve problems with the best intentions. But when coaches dominate the conversation, franchisees miss the opportunity to think critically, take ownership, and develop the confidence to solve problems on their own. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Jennifer...

Why do so many franchise systems struggle to move beyond reactive support? Field teams are busy answering questions, solving problems, and putting out fires. It feels productive, but over time, that approach can create franchisee dependency, limit growth, and make it harder to scale coaching across the system. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté is joined by Rachel Sout...

Why do so many franchisees become dependent on their field coach instead of becoming confident business owners? This is one of the biggest challenges facing franchise systems today. Coaches want to help, so they answer questions, solve problems, and give advice. But over time, that well-intentioned support can create dependency, reduce accountability, and leave both coaches and franchisees frustra...

What actually improves franchise sales and why do so many brands struggle to convert candidates? Most franchise systems focus on marketing, lead flow, and sales tactics. But the real driver of close rates is something else entirely. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté sits down with Patti Rother of Root & Rise to break down how franchisee support, profitability, and...

What should a franchise scorecard actually include and why do most of them fail? Too many franchise systems overload owners with data. Dashboards full of numbers. KPIs from every department. And no clarity on what actually matters. The result is confusion, pressure, and disengagement instead of performance. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Jennifer Brannon sits down with Brecon...