Field Coach Experts Podcast

Franchisors often blame marketing, leads, or the economy when results stall—but franchisee survey data tells a different story. In this episode, Angela Coté is joined by Michelle Rowan of Franchise Business Review to unpack what franchisee feedback really reveals about franchisee support effectiveness. They explore the most common warning signs hidden in survey results, why reactive and compliance...

Most franchisors believe they’re doing “everything right” when it comes to franchisee support—training, systems, dashboards, vendors, and tools. Yet too many franchisees still struggle to fully optimize their business. In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Cote and Jen Brannon break down what true franchise support effectiveness actually looks like—and why systems alone aren’t...

In this episode, Jen sits down with AC Inc.’s Director of Advising, Brecon Gage, to unpack one of the biggest unlocks in franchising: helping franchisees move from strong operators to confident business owners. Brecon shares why so many franchisees get stuck in the weeds, the warning signs of burnout, and how performance groups, coaching, and strategic leadership skills transform both confidence a...

In this episode, Oxford Learning franchisee Kim Chapman shares how she broke free from the constant firefighting cycle and learned to lead her business at a higher level. From burnout signs to delegation breakthroughs, Kim’s journey shows exactly what happens when a franchisee stops doing everything themselves — and starts focusing on KPIs, leadership, and scalable systems. A powerful episode for...

Some are working hard but not growing. They're buried in daily operations and wondering why growth has stalled. In this episode of The Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté talks with Marty Robertson, VP of Operations at Oxford Learning Centers, about what happens when franchisees stay stuck in their business instead of working on it. Marty shares what he saw in his system that sparked chan...

Angela and Jennifer unpack one of the most common growth barriers in franchising — franchisees getting stuck in the day-to-day operations instead of building their business for scale. Drawing on their own experiences as former franchisees, they explore why owners hesitate to delegate, how leadership and accountability shape results, and what franchisors can do to help their network shift from reac...

Jennifer talks with AC Inc. Advisor Abe Dunaway about what it really takes to create lasting franchisee satisfaction — and why it’s the foundation of every strong franchise system. Abe shares how Back9 Golf partnered with AC Inc. to shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive coaching using the Strategic Growth Coaching framework.

In this episode of The Field Coach Experts Podcast, host Jennifer Brannon sits down with Nick Patterson, Senior Guide Dog & Cultural Co-Founder of Hounds Town USA. Nick shares how participating in the Accelerator program helped transform Hounds Town’s coaching approach — leading to stronger franchisee satisfaction, deeper engagement, and long-term retention. Tune in to hear the real shifts tha...

Thomas Scott, CEO of Home Run Franchises, joins Angela Coté to share how his team transformed franchisee support into a real driver of satisfaction and retention. From sky-high FBR scores to bold moves in coaching and culture, Thomas breaks down what’s working, what other franchisors are missing, and where the future of field support is headed.

Angela and Jennifer unpack one of franchising’s biggest blind spots — what happens to franchisee satisfaction after the initial ramp-up phase. Drawing from years of coaching experience, they reveal why support often fades once franchisees are “up and running,” how complacency creeps in, and the costly assumption that top performers don’t need coaching. The conversation dives into practical ways fr...

Jennifer talks with AC Inc. advisor Linda Young about her work helping Happinest, a multi-brand franchise portfolio, build a coaching structure from the ground up. Linda shares how she assessed their support gaps, customized tools and processes, trained internal teams, and rolled out Strategic Growth Coaching across multiple systems. The conversation highlights the outcomes of stronger consistency...

Jennifer sits down with Jordan Wood, Director of Franchise Success at Back Nine Golf, to share his journey from reactive support to building a coaching structure for long-term franchisee growth. Jordan reflects on his biggest takeaways from the Accelerator Program, what it’s been like to implement Strategic Growth Coaching with Abe, and the early wins he’s already seeing at Back Nine Golf. This ep...

Angela sits down with Rob Flanagan of Hounds Town, known as the “king of culture,” to unpack why culture is the true driver of franchise success. From his early days as the first hire at Doc Popcorn to his current role at Hounds Town, Rob shares how intentional culture paired with Strategic Growth Coaching creates scalable systems that boost performance and accountability. Together, Angela and Rob...

In this episode, Angela Cote and Jen Brannon explore the transformative impact of strategic growth coaching on franchisees. Learn how shifting from traditional operational support to a structured coaching framework can unlock hidden profitability and empower franchisees to become growth-minded business owners. Discover actionable insights and tools that can be customized to meet the unique needs o...

Why does it matter if your franchise business coaches are consulting instead of coaching? In this episode of The Field Coach Experts Podcast, Jennifer Brannon sits down with AC Inc. Advisor Paige Peavler to explore the big-picture impact of that shift. With experience across multiple franchise brands, Paige shares what happens when coaches stay stuck in firefighting mode, the benefits of true coac...

What happens when a franchise business coach shifts from giving all the answers to guiding franchisees toward their own solutions? In this episode of The Field Coach Experts Podcast, Jennifer Brannon talks with Kate Savransky of Prime IV about her journey through AC Inc.’s Accelerator Program. Kate shares how she moved her team from consulting mode to true coaching — and the powerful impact it’s h...

Reactive, consulting-style support might feel helpful in the moment — but it leaves home office teams drained and franchisees stuck. In this episode of The Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté talks with Matt Lavinder, founder of New Again Houses, about how he moved beyond the ticketing-system mindset and built a culture of coaching instead. Matt shares what wasn’t working in his early days, t...

In this episode of the Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté and Jennifer Brannon dive into the challenges of outdated coaching methods in franchising. They explore how traditional approaches often leave franchisees stuck in operational ruts, rather than empowering them to become growth-minded business owners. Discover the transformative power of strategic growth coaching and learn how modern t...

Reactive, hotline-style support is one of the biggest pain points in franchising — but it doesn’t have to be the norm. In this episode of The Field Coach Experts Podcast, Angela Coté talks with Zach Nolte, COO and Brand President of Voda Cleaning & Restoration, about how he helped shift the brand from reactive troubleshooting to proactive, growth-focused coaching. Zach shares what wasn’t worki...

What happens when two restoration pros trade firefighting for future-focused coaching? In this episode of The Field Coach Experts Podcast, Eric and Shannon from Voda Restoration share how they transformed their franchise business coaching from reactive chaos into proactive growth. Hear their “aha” moments, the tools that changed their sessions, and the ripple effect it’s had on their franchisees —...

What if your franchise business coaches could stop firefighting and start driving real growth? In this episode of The Field Coach Experts Podcast, Jennifer Brannon sits down with Stephanie Benzie, AC Inc.’s Director of Education and the creator of the Accelerator Program — the only franchise business coach certification out there. Stephanie shares why the Accelerator was built, how it transforms c...

Angela Coté and Jennifer Brannon break down the common trap franchisors fall into: thinking they’re coaching when they’re actually just consulting. They share hard-won lessons from their days as franchisees and ops leaders, and expose the unintended damage of a “give-the-answer” approach. You’ll learn how to spot the difference, shift your mindset, and take the first steps toward coaching that act...