Franchise Unfiltered

Most people think franchise ownership is something you do later in life after climbing the corporate ladder. Brian Garvey proves otherwise.   In this episode, Brian shares how he went from walking on at the University of Tennessee, to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, to becoming a franchise owner at just 25 years old through Express Employment Professionals' Emerging Entrepreneur Program. We discuss mentors...

Most people think real estate investing starts with houses.   Brent Bowers built his business by focusing on something most investors completely ignore: land.   In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Brent shares how he went from serving in the military to building a land investing business that generated enough income for him to leave the Army, create financial freedom, and help others do the s...

Most people think buying an existing business is the safer path.   After all, why start from zero when you can buy something that already has revenue, employees, customers, and cash flow?   But here’s the part many people miss: when you buy a profitable business, you’re often buying high. You’re paying a premium for something someone else already built. And if your goal is to eventually sell, you...

She was 23, miserable in her "dream job," and had never run a business in her life. Today, Anna Dey is a multi-brand, multi-unit franchisee who has owned six different franchise systems — and retired her parents in their 50s along the way.   In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Anna breaks down exactly how she got started using her dad's ROBS (Rollover for Business Startups) funds, how she wen...

Most people think committing to multiple franchise locations means opening all of them at once… and needing ALL the money upfront.    That’s not how it works.   In this video, we break down the truth about multi-unit franchising — including what actually happens when you commit to multiple locations, how development timelines really work, and why many experienced operators choose this strategy.  ...

The wellness industry isn’t just growing—it’s exploding into a trillion-dollar global market. In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes sits down with Jeff Ono (Co-Founder & President of Pause Studio) and Lisa Tengbom (Strategic Specialist) to break down what’s driving this surge—and how Pause Studio is positioning itself within it.   They unpack how modern lifestyles, increased stress, and...

In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, we sit down with Rosalie Black, founder and CEO of VibeHouse Hot Pilates, and Marisa Kochnover, Director of Franchise Development.   Rosalie didn’t originally set out to start a fitness business. She was simply searching for a workout that didn’t exist — something that combined the intensity of hot yoga, the strength of Pilates, great music, and a strong se...

Franchising isn’t magic. It isn’t passive income. And it isn’t a shortcut. It’s a vehicle.   Just like real estate. Just like the stock market.    If you drive it correctly, it can take you exactly where you want to go.    If you don’t? It won’t.   In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes Barefoot sits down with Jake Hamburger, co-founder of Franchise Frameworks, to break down what a great fra...

What if a single franchise could save homeowners months of chaos, prevent $40,000 kitchen replacements, and completely transform the disaster restoration industry?   In today’s episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes sits down with Mike Pearce, Chief Development Officer of Renew Medic®, the first-mover franchise that’s disrupting restoration by solving the most expensive problem in any home disaster:...

If you've ever tried to find the right music teacher for your kids, you already know how overwhelming it can be. Musicologie fixes everything parents hate about traditional private lessons — with certified teachers, a warm community environment, and a proven system that helps kids (and adults!) fall in love with music. Today on Franchise Unfiltered, Joseph and Kay Barker reveal how they reinvented...

Modern PURAIR® has quietly dominated the Canadian indoor air quality (IAQ) space for years — and now they’re finally expanding into the United States. In this episode, founder & CEO Lane Martin shares how he scaled from a single duct truck to a nationwide IAQ brand known for world-class customer experience and a powerful sales center that converts 86% of residential calls.   We break down why...

Discover how WOW WindowBoxes grew from a simple idea in a garage to a multi-million-dollar franchise that’s transforming the home services industry. In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes sits down with Bret Schneider the founder and CEO of Wow Window Boxes, to talk about how a passion project turned into a $5 million brand — without subscriptions, without outside investors, and with 87% cus...

When most people think of franchising, they picture burgers, coffee, or car washes. But Joshua Tree Experts proves there’s massive opportunity hiding in your own backyard — literally. In this episode, Wes Barefoot sits down with Josh Malik, Founder and CEO of Joshua Tree Experts, to talk about how he built a high-growth, multi-service franchise brand around tree care, lawn care, and pest control....

Ever think the “sexiest” franchise would be… drains? In this Franchise Unfiltered episode, Wes sits down with Jim Foley, Brand President of Zoom Drain, to unpack a focused service model that’s creating massive opportunities in franchising. You’ll learn why Zoom Drain is thriving with B2B and B2C demand, how “truck math” makes scaling predictable, and why plumbers actually refer business to Zoom Dr...

Franchisors are drowning in stale Zooms, dead Facebook groups, and unread newsletters. Enter Studio F—our internal podcast model that turns franchise communication into binge-worthy, high-engagement episodes your system will actually consume. From peer-to-peer “masterclass” wins, to hiring/retention playbooks, to FAQ Unplugged that answers once and scales forever—we show how private podcasts boost...

🚀 Burned out from corporate America, Ryan ditched banking layoffs and the acquisition rat race to take control of his future. Instead of buying a business, he chose a Cabinet IQ franchise — and the results have been incredible. In this episode, Ryan shares why franchising beat acquisitions, how he scaled fast, and the systems that changed everything.    💡 If you’re tired of corporate burnout and...

Most people don’t know this franchise even exists—but it’s one of the most impactful and emotionally intense businesses you’ll ever hear about. BioOne franchisees clean up crime scenes, drug houses, and trauma sites with a mission-first mindset. In this episode, Wes sits down with Danessa Itaya and Cheryl Chason to uncover the powerful, gritty, and purpose-driven world behind BioOne.   Timestamps...

🍕 Is This the Smartest Food Franchise Model in America?   Cascadia Pizza might just be the best-kept secret in franchising.   In this episode, Thomas Reinhard, co-founder of Cascadia Pizza Co., breaks down how they turned a mobile wood-fired pizza truck into a booming franchise with brick-and-mortar stores, high-margin catering, and massive community buzz — all while offering a launch runway in j...

Raisa Zovklaya didn’t have the money to start a franchise—so she entered a $20K fitness contest. She lost… but kept going anyway. In this episode, Wes sits down with Raisa to unpack her bold leap from nursing into franchise ownership with Project Lean Nation, how she funded it, built community, and found purpose. This is what betting on yourself really looks like.   ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Wes misp...

In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes Barefoot welcomes back Andy Fuller, founder and CEO of Mosquito Hunters — now expanded into Pest Hunters and Humbug Holiday Lighting. Andy shares the story behind the rebrand, the mindset shift from seasonal hustle to empire-building, and how his franchise model grew from a $2B niche into a $31B multi-service powerhouse.   Whether you're a franchisee, b...

After 14 years of building one of the highest-performing ShelfGenie franchises, Alan Regala sold his business and stepped into a brand-new chapter of life. In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Alan shares how he went from mechanical engineer to successful franchise owner — and what it really takes to build a business that’s actually sellable.   We cover: ✅ The mindset behind long-term success...

In this episode of the Franchise Unfiltered podcast, Wes Barefoot sits down with Larry Oglesby—a former corporate executive turned fast-scaling franchisee. Larry shares how he transitioned from a 30-year corporate career into owning two franchise businesses in just 18 months: Redbox Plus Dumpsters and Cool Bins.   We dive deep into how Larry built his franchise portfolio under the Belfor umbrella,...

Is boutique fitness oversaturated? Discover Strength doesn’t think so — because they’re doing it completely differently.   In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes sits down with Scott Breimhorst, VP of Franchise Development for Discover Strength, a cutting-edge fitness brand redefining what it means to own and operate a premium fitness franchise.   With a science-backed, twice-per-week streng...

In this episode of the Franchise Unfiltered Podcast, Wes sits down with franchise veteran Zach Beutler to talk about his latest venture: Jungle Driving — a groundbreaking driver’s education concept that's saving teen lives and reshaping what franchising looks like in the education space.   We dive deep into:    ✅ How Jungle Driving blends UPS safety methods with teen-focused learning ✅ What it t...

In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes sits down with Tim Dougherty, the founder and CEO of Project Lean Nation, for one of the most jaw-dropping comeback stories in franchising.   In 2006, the FBI walked into Tim’s office and charged him with conspiracy to commit securities fraud. He served time in federal prison—and came out with nothing. But out of that brokenness, Tim rebuilt his life by...