Franchise Today

1Huddle is revolutionizing workforce training for franchises through its AI-powered, gamified platform, designed to engage franchisees, managers, employees and streamline onboarding processes. By transforming traditional training materials into interactive mobile games, 1Huddle enhances knowledge retention and accelerates employee readiness across franchise networks .

In this compelling episode of Franchise Today , Stansits down with Greg Muzzillo, founder of Proforma, a $600 + million provider of printing and promotional products, serving businesses of all sizes around the world. Through its network of more than 600 franchisees, distributors and affiliates, Proforma is a market leader in this $300 billion market segment.  As Stan unpacks Greg’s amazing story,...

This week we hear from Scott Thompson, Chief DevelopmentOfficer at Radiance Holdings, the franchisors of Sola Salons and Woodhouse Spa.  Listen in, as Scott reflects on his unexpected journey into franchising, which began after he faced rejection in his initial career, as a cardiac rehab specialist. Pivoting to his passion for fitness, Scott joined Fitness Together, ultimately becoming a successfu...

Discover how a chance encounter with a mall retailer led Dawn Kane, co-founder and CEO of Hot Dish Advertising, to revolutionize franchise marketing. After managing an in-house agency for a mall developer, Dawn, along with two of her cohorts,  ventured out to establish her own agency, bringing her fast-paced retail expertise to the franchising world. The Minnesota-based agency, named after the bel...

Discover how Alison and Marty Langenderfer, transformed her passion for wellness into Spavia, a thriving spa franchise with 60 locations nationwide. After leaving pharmaceutical sales, Alison and her husband Marty identified a gap in the market for a more comprehensive spa experience, leading to Spavia's launch in 2005. What sets Spavia apart is their unwavering commitment to customer experience a...

Discover how right out of college, this architecture graduate had a change of plans, morphing from retail to restaurants. Over the course of some 30 years John Ramsay has become a restaurant and franchise industry leader. His unexpected path began with retail jobs and led to pioneering roles in major restaurant chains. John Ramsey's fascinating career trajectory offers unique insights into the...

Daryl Dollinger's journey began in his youth, working in the food service industry through high school and college. Hegained valuable experience in catering, cafeteria management, and campus dining with Aramark. His exposure to the food business, including opportunitieswith the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, sparked his interest and led him to leave Aramark and join a new restaurant venture in Buckhead...

This week, we'll discover how a family-owned after-school program morphed into a thriving franchise system, focused on empowering children through personalized education. Stephanie Coppedge shares the fascinating evolution of Gideon Math and Reading, from its humble beginnings in 2004, as a licensing model, to its current success, with 30 total units open and operating and many more on the hor...

This week on Franchise Today we break with our usual format and feature not one, but 25 voices… all, franchise movers and shakers.  Each will share their thoughts and perceptions about the impact of President Trump’sdecisive win on franchising.  No personal feelings or biases were accepted.  The Question to these franchise pros: “What have you observed already andwhat do you see ahead, with Donald...

This week, discover how Keenan Fisher transformed his family's franchising expertise into a modern barbershopempire. As the driving force behind Tommy Gun's Original Barber Shops, Fisher brings a unique blend of edge, attitude, and confidence to the traditional barbershop experience. Growing up in his family's successful Chatters hair salon franchise, Fisher recognized a gap in the men...

This week, we are back with Part 2 of myConversation with John Rotche.  Every nowand then, I happen upon a franchise biography that is so compelling that a single episode of Franchise Today just can’t do it justice. And, such is the case with John Rotche.  Last week we wrapped up approaching the Title Boxing Chapter of John’s storied career and we’ll pick back-up there today, but first a couple of...

This week on Franchise Today, I welcome John Rotche, afranchise professional with a compelling story of overcoming adversity. John shares his journey from the expectations of beginning a promising college football career, to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the franchising world. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the lessons learned from his experiences at Domino's and Krispy Kreme,...

Greg George, Franchisor, CEO and co-owner of the Peach Cobbler Factory, reflects on his 35-year career in franchising and the personal transformation he underwent in his late 50s following a significant awakening. The Peach Cobbler Factory has become the fastest-growing dessert chain in America, opening over 112 locations in less than three years. Despite this success, Greg shares his previous str...

This week on Franchise Today, I host Greg George, founder and CEO of Peach Cobbler Factory, who shares his compelling story from designing cigar lounges to building out a 100+ unit dessert and treat concept. Greg’s story is one of passion, resilience, and family values. Key highlights include: Greg’s strategic approach to franchising, staying with brands until they soar, and his emphasis on strong...

As a college student, Nick Lopez started a painting business to pay for his education. However, after reading the book "The E-Myth Revisited" Nick was inspired by the potential of the franchise model. This experience inspired Nick to explore franchising further, and eventually growing Lyme Painting into the scalable business it has become. Nick's story highlights how passion, adaptab...

 Listen to this episode to learn how military discipline and a servant's heart can create an extraordinary franchise leadership career. Steve White is the President, COO of PuroClean. Discover how coming out of the Army, Steve's military precision transformed Domino's Pizza's struggling equipment division into a well-oiled machine. Steve White, a former Army officer, leveraged his logistics expert...

This week on Franchise Today, Prospect Direct Founder and CEO Alex Oswiecinski shares his insights on the power of data-driven franchise development. He explains how focusing and targeting individuals with strong business acumen and financial capabilities, rather than just capturing leads from those who fill out forms online is a game changer. This more qualified approach sets them apart from gene...

In this final episode of Season 15, host Stan Friedman delivers a heartwarming tribute to family, gratitude, and success as he welcomes Charles Bonfiglio, franchise founder and CEO of Tint World. Inspired in large part by hiis father, Charles emphasizes the importance of relationships and shares his journey from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, NY to leading a 150-unit strong and growing automotive...

Tracy Stapp Herold is the special projects editor at Entrepreneur magazine. The Annual Franchise 500 is her MOST ANTICIPATED publications each year.  It is Franchising’s equivalent of the Oscars, the Emmy’s, the Grammys, albeit minus the red carpet, but it is the Big Deal of the Year, when it comes to ratings.  So, what goes into that pot of stew.  How many data points are included and how are the...

I’ve worked hard, built wealth, and won some awards along the way, and that’s all great, but I view my greatest accomplishments in life as my marriage to my beautiful and smart wife, Leslie, and raising our three beautiful children who have grown into amazing adults. They are grounded, balanced, nice people, who truly care about others. Family is everything to me. - Jimmy John Liautaud. As you wil...

This week Stan sits down with Stephen Preuss, co-founder and CEO of Paymore Electronics, to explore the journey of transforming a humble secondhand store into a thriving franchise concept.  Discover how Stephen and his partner Eric Helgesen redefined the secondhand electronics market by blending brick-and-mortar with e-commerce, harnessing the power of proprietary technology, and the need to overc...

This week I welcome Kyle McKeown, Senior Vice President of ProfitKeeper by PrimePay, as both a guest and a new sponsor. Kyle shares his journey into franchising, highlighting his 18-year experience in the industry and how ProfitKeeper has evolved over the years to support franchisees and franchisors alike. Kyle discusses the inception of ProfitKeeper, initially designed to assist franchisees with...

This week I am joined by Ryan Parsons, co-founder of The Brothers That Just Do Gutters and CEO of The Riverside Company's, Evive Brands. Dive into the journey of how "The Brothers That Just Do Gutters" transformed from being just a small business into a thriving franchise with 100 plus franchisees with hundreds of locations.  . Ryan shares insights on the unexpected path to franchising, the challe...

This week I welcome Kevin King, the newly appointed CEO of Donatos Pizza.  In this engaging episode, Kevin shares his incredible journey from a 14-year-old dishwasher at a local pizza joint to leading one of the most respected brands in the industry. Kevin reflects on his early career choices, including turning down a job at Procter & Gamble to join Dominos Pizza, where he discovered his passion f...

This week I am joined by Serial Entrepreneur Ron Holt, the founder of Two Maids and a Mop and Pink Zebra Moving.  Ron shares his inspiring journey from lab work, following graduating UGA with a degree in Biology, to a more inspiring, and exciting career, as a successful franchise entrepreneur. Discover how a traffic jam and a pivotal book, (The E-Myth) led Ron to rethink his career path and ventur...