Brand Clarity

Episode Summary: Michael Moorhouse started as a consultant for a lawn care franchisee, and ended up developing his mosquito control side business into a lucrative franchise. Today, Mosquito Shield has 116 franchisees in more than 350 territories across the country.  Key Ideas:  Insights into multi-location franchise ownership and the importance of supporting franchisees' growth. Valuable tips...

Episode Summary: Aaron Harper acquired a company and then franchised it to 56 locations in less than a year. He shares the importance of finding a unique business niche within the franchise industry, building a solid infrastructure, and being transparent with potential franchisees. These strategies have been the key to his success with creating profitable franchise systems.  Key Ideas: If you are...

Episode Summary:  A business that provides an essential service is recession-proof. Nick and Moe's adds to that with their world-class customer service and commitment to community involvement. Not just another gas station/convenience store, Nick and Moe's was founded on the value that Delighted Associates lead to Delighted Customers. By training and supporting their team, they strive to de...

Episode Summary: Charles Bonfiglio made an early decision to pursue his passion and turned it into a successful franchise. In this interview, he shares his journey in the franchise industry. After encountering many obstacles to starting a car audio and accessory business, he discovered a blueprint for success as a franchisee.   His initial franchise opportunity was in the auto repair business. Cha...

In this solo episode, Susie Liberatore announces the launch of Franchise Clarity, an all-in-one franchise marketing system. Susie and her team created this comprehensive suite of tools and features to meet the unique needs of franchisors. It streamlines and automates various aspects of franchise management, including marketing, training, operations, communication, and performance tracking. After m...

Episode Summary: Ty McBride is the founder of Preservan Wood Rot Repair, a home service business specializing in wood rot repair using an eco-friendly and affordable epoxy solution. He decided to offer franchises so he could grow the company while working alongside small business owners.  Key Ideas:  Franchisees can identify their ideal customer profile by becoming familiar with  their city and un...

Episode Summary: Luke Bazely started Driverseat with the intention to franchise and sold his first location after less than a year. He has spent the last 10 years investing in tech and systems to build up the business and is now poised for more growth. His marketing strategy has encompassed four areas - personal brand of the owner/operators, employment branding to attract qualified staff, the serv...

Episode Summary: Tammy Rodgers started grooming dogs as a high school student seeking to earn extra cash. A local groomer showed her how to groom a poodle; the rest of her education came from reading books. Her dad acted as her business manager, helping her find clients. Fast forward to adulthood, Tammy went through a rough divorce and moved in with her parents. After working to find herself again...

Episode Summary: Loana and her husband began their entrepreneurial journey 12 years ago with a commercial cleaning business before venturing into the tea business five years ago. TeaCupFuls is a place to celebrate and enjoy over-the-top drinks topped with cotton candy, suckers, and other fun add-ons. Loana and Susie discuss the challenges female entrepreneurs often face, along with the importance...

Episode Summary:  Nicole McIntyre started a dessert food business as a hobby and it morphed into a luxury food truck that is now a franchise.  Key Ideas: Entrepreneurship is full of challenges, and learning to drive a food truck was a big one for Nicole The only way to grow is to experience mistakes and be able to move out of your comfort zone to learn new things Data-driven sales are a backbone f...

Episode Summary: Richard Gould is CEO of Richard’s Painting, a franchise with 17 locations. He started in the painting business when a friend offered him work. This led to owning and later selling a well-established painting company in New Jersey. After a move to South Carolina in 2007, he decided to launch a new painting business. Richard’s Painting has grown into a brand that people trust by off...

Episode Summary: After many years in franchising, Jeff Dudan founded Homefront Brands. This company is a multi-brand platform consisting of residential and light commercial  property service companies. They provide an experienced home office, a network of growth partners, strong support systems, and in-house consumer-acquisition and customer care services.  Key Ideas: Homefront invested heavily in...

Episode Summary Matt Lovasz discovered the business of biohazard cleanup from a refrigerator magnet in the police department break room. He started researching the industry and determined that his skills as a police officer would transfer to this business. He started his own business and eventually bought and sold a franchise before becoming a master franchise owner, buying and selling franchises...

Franchisee to Franchise Consultant Episode Summary: John Francis has been a part of the Franchise industry since childhood. His parents were pioneers in franchising barbershops and hair salons. John grew up learning about franchising and went on to work in the industry as a franchisor, franchisee, supplier, and developer. For the last 10 years he has been an advisor, coach, and speaker. Key Ideas:...

Episode Summary: Susie Liberatore owner of Visions2images and Stacy Swift with Franchise Matchmaker, bust some of the myths around the franchise industry and the path to becoming a franchise owner. Key Ideas: What is a franchise Flexibility is part of a good franchise system Why Stacy thinks passion is overrated when looking for a business to run How a broker can make the path to business ownershi...

Episode Summary: Jeff Gartner founded Hudson Valley Swim with his wife Joan to provide an important service to their community. After running the business successfully and expanding to multiple locations, Jeff decided to offer the business as a franchise. He has perfected a low-overhead model with a great profit margin. Key Ideas: How Jeff developed his business idea for a swim school How processe...

Episode Summary: As a Franchise Consultant, Lance Graulich is a free advocate helping aspiring franchise owners through the process of vetting and choosing the right franchise to purchase. Key Ideas: Franchisees are small business owners who are vested in their communities. When you buy into a franchise, you get an established team to support you and a proven blueprint for running the business. Fr...

Episode Summary: Ricky Hall got his start in franchising as a franchisee for GNC. He built up his portfolio over ten years to run five stores.  After exiting GNC, Ricky was a franchisee for another brand for three years. He then decided to start his own brand under the name NutritionHQ.  In 2020, Ricky became a franchisor and currently has two locations. Key Ideas: One of Ricky's biggest...

Why Videos Should Be A Part of Your Marketing Strategy Episode Summary: You’ve heard the statistics- people are watching more videos online than ever before. And this is predicted to keep increasing. You don’t want to be left behind, but you can’t fathom creating those cringy lip syncing videos yourself. Tracy Phillps is here to tell you that’s not how you do it. Video needs to feel genuine to you...

Episode Summary: Are you curious if owning a franchise might be right for you? Do you know that franchise opportunities are not limited to fast food? There are a wide variety of businesses that are franchised as well as a wide range of investment price points. A franchise consulting expert can match you with the franchise that meets your budget and your business skills.  And there is no charg...

Episode Summary: With a little pre-planning, you can be confident when you speak at your next networking opportunity. Attending networking events should be an important part of your marketing plan. But take it a step further and volunteer to speak occasionally. When you are the speaker, you make a meaningful connection with an entire room full of people, not just four or five that you happen to me...

Join us for this special episode where Susie Liberatore interviews Lannie Davis-Frecker, President and CEO of Julie Billiart Schools. Julie Billiart Schools is a family of K-8 coeducational, independent day schools based in Northeast Ohio for children with learning differences. About Julie Billiart Schools: The Julie Billiart website is a one-stop shop for anyone who wants to learn more about reso...

Podcast Summary: 6 Red Flags To Look For When Hiring A Marketing Agency Have you been burned by working with a second-rate marketing agency? Is the fear of another bad experience holding you back from getting the help you know that you need? This episode takes a deep dive into what to look for when evaluating marketing agencies. All agencies are not created equal! When you ask the right questions,...

Episode Summary: The right strategy is crucial to developing a successful franchise concept. The Franchise Dept. works with companies to determine the most effective pathway to profitability through franchising. James and his team provide support from the very first steps of developing the franchise agreement to the grand opening of the first unit and beyond. Key Ideas: The franchising industry ha...

Podcast Summary: How do you approach your marketing when times get tough? Do you pull back, stop altogether, or go full force ahead? The truth is you can’t afford to NOT be marketing! While it may seem counterintuitive to spend money on advertising and promotion when your revenue slows down, you still need to be in front of your audience. The good news is that with the right marketing strategies y...