Franchise Empires

Ever wonder how a franchise can keep growing without a ceiling in sight?  Cory Lyons, the CEO of Koala Insulation and a 20-year veteran in the franchise world, will give us his insights. In this episode, Cory reveals what drew him to Koala Insulation, how they’ve managed explosive growth since franchising in 2020, and why they’re only scratching the surface of their potential.  We dive into the ke...

Ever wondered what it takes to stand out in a saturated niche like health and fitness? Tune in as The Wolf chats with Tom Dowd and Janina Czado, the dynamic duo behind F45 Training's exciting transformation and the birth of their new brands, FS8 and VAURA.  They're shaking up the fitness world with a clever hub and spoke model but not without the hiccup of naming their latest venture.  Tom and Jan...

The Wolf’s bringing it back to another solo episode, and this time he’s got all of Twitter wondering why he’s been MIA for so long. He explains where he’s been all this time, and how his game-changing franchising platform, Krokit has been keeping him busy these past few months. Plus, remember how the Wolf called out Nothing Bundt Cakes as an important franchise to keep your eye on? Well, this week...

Who’s the brains behind one of the world’s most cutting-edge VR franchises? Step into the immersive world of Sandbox VR with The Wolf and its Founder/CEO, Steve Zhao. Steve explains how Sandbox VR revolutionized the entertainment industry by combining technology, community, and an incredible VR experience. From their state-of-the-art AI and computer vision technology to their commitment to removin...

The Wolf’s reaching into the listener mailbag and answering some of your most pressing franchise questions for this special edition episode. What are the top three franchises he’s keeping his eye on this year? NGL but… the answers might shock you (no hype cycle or fad brands in this list)! And speaking of hype cycles, what are some major red flags to avoid in potential franchises? The Wolf tackles...

Nothing will change after the baby comes… right? Err— not exactly, folks. But what if there was a class out there that could explain everything new moms should expect after the expecting period ends? From teething to nursing to working remotely and everything in between (why do baby heads always smell so good anyway?), discover how New Mom School has grown from a local mom group into a successful...

Why take advice from just anyone when you can hear it from the best in the biz? From the master of locations, Dinesh Goswami, to the mad genius behind the cult sensation, Dave’s Hot Chicken, we’ve had so many master-level franchisors on the podcast this year, that I just had to share some of their hottest insights. So, I compiled the best advice and insights into one special episode. Whether you'r...

It seems like anyone and their mom is ready to give you advice about franchising. But why not take advice from franchising’s greatest who successfully scaled from the bottom to the top of the industry? This week, we’re mixing it up and compiling some of the best bits of advice and wisdom from franchising’s finest minds. I’ve hand-picked some of my favorite, most impactful highlights from the past...

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Bron Launsby, the mastermind behind Slick City, a thriving franchise in the recreation center space. Learn the secrets behind their success, from innovative performance slides to exceptional customer experiences. Bron shares ambitious expansion plans, aiming to open up to 40 new locations by 2025, with a vision of reaching 500 across the U.S. Find out how Slick C...

Who can forget being shuffled around to soccer games in the back seat of mom’s minivan, eagerly waiting to find out what post-game snacks awaited you at the end of your little league matchup? What if there was a franchise that could capture that same magic? The Wolf talks to Adam Geisler and John Erlandson, the co-founders of Youth Athletes United, which represents brands like Soccer Stars and Ama...

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 th...

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 start...

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 hi...

What’s the latest Twitter beef with an army of minions going to war for Gas Biz Guy? Is it a joke or is there legitimate beef behind the brawl?   Join The Wolf as he sits down with viral Twitter personality Gas Biz Guy (aka Chris Hellgeth), a self-made entrepreneur who turned a ten-cent cigarette sale into a $100 million-a-year gas distribution business. They break down the secrets to success in t...

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 sha...

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...

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...

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 z...

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’...

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 chall...

Loosen up. Literally. StretchLab is the Austin-based company helping others to increase performance and decrease joint pain. The Wolf chats with owner Steve Hitzemann about the fast-growing franchise’s rapid ascent to success. How did Steve dare to dream of a business model based on nothing more than stretching? Hear how Steve made the impossible possible, and how he’s making a two-membership fran...

The Wolf’s taking a break from his normal podcasting format to break down the latest in franchising news this week. Is Orange Theory’s acquisition by Self Esteem Brands a good thing or a sign of impending doom? With Orange Theory’s numbers diminishing since the initial insanity of their boom, could this spell disaster or is it a shrewd business move? The Wolf also tackles Domino’s latest earnings...

The Wolf is breaking it down solo for this special Q&A session, where he’s answering your most burning questions about the world of franchising.  What are the different strategies and considerations involved in owning one to two locations versus four to five locations? Are home services and non-brick-and-mortar franchises the place to hedge your franchising bets?  From the costs of hiring a fast f...

Eric Danver is the man who’s owned 100+ franchise locations over the course of his impressive career, including 58 Hand and Stone locations and 53 Philadelphia-based Papa John’s. He chats with the Wolf about his storied franchise career and the new challenges and opportunities the business presents in an ever-changing landscape.   From his humble beginnings in the pizza industry to building a succ...

Everyone wants to be the next Crumbl. But let’s face it—not every new and hot franchise can be the next Crumbl. Fads aren't always bad. But sometimes they can spell failure. So how can you protect yourself against becoming the next franchise fad failure? The Wolf chats with friend of the podcast and franchise consultant, Dru Carpenito about the franchise hype cycle and how to avoid the pitfalls of...