From A to Franchisee: The Podcast for Smarter Franchise Buying

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Allison Dudas and Mariah Morgan, Franchise Business Review Coffee, chicken, pizza, and ice cream all made the cut. In this episode, Allison Dudas and Mariah Morgan reveal FBR's Top 25 Food & Beverage Franchises of 2026, ranked by more than 11,000 real franchisees across 52 brands. They dig into the data behind the rankings, what franchisees love, where brands are f...

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President, Franchise Business Review Guest: Paul Kuskowski, IRS Enrolled Agent and Founder of Cobalt Tax Services Making the leap from employee to franchise owner means more than swapping a paycheck for a P&L — it means rethinking how you find business, manage cash flow, and structure your company from day one. In this episode of From A to Franchisee, hos...

Send us Fan Mail Which Franchises Can Weather a Downturn? FBR's 2026 Recession-Resistant List With economic uncertainty on everyone's mind, Michelle Rowan sits down with Allison Dudas to unpack Franchise Business Review's 2026 list of the Top 50 Recession-Resistant Franchises. Built from survey data on nearly 29,000 franchisees across 330 brands, the list highlights companies positi...

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review Guests; Toni King and Audrey Ryder, Multi-Unit Franchisees from YogaSix Two elite athletes. One shared love of yoga. Seven studios and counting. On this episode of From A to Franchisee, host Michelle Rowan talks with Audrey Ryder and Toni King about trading a rowing career and a black belt in Taekwondo for life as YogaSi...

Send us Fan Mail Michelle is joined by multi-unit Taco John's franchisee Tamra Kennedy to discuss whether the American Franchise Act is good for franchisees. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Watch on YouTube Summary This episode explores the American Franchise Act and why it matters for franchisees, franchisors, and anyone considering franchise ownership. Tam Kennedy shares her...

Send us Fan Mail From a scrappy startup to the top of Franchise Business Review's satisfaction rankings for over a decade, Kona Ice founder Tony Lamb has cracked the code on franchising. He joins Franchise Business Review's founder Eric Stites to break down the real numbers behind mobile franchising and why he still obsesses over franchisee happiness. You won't want to miss this fou...

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review Guest: Allison Dudas, Senior Marketing Manager of Franchise Business Review What makes a franchise truly innovative, and how can you tell before you invest? Michelle and Allison Dudas break down FBR's 50 Most Innovative Franchises of 2026 and reveal the signals that separate forward-thinking brands from the rest. Th...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode, Michelle Rowan and Paul Pickett delve into the essential traits that define a successful franchisee. Drawing from decades of experience, Paul shares his expertise on the importance of aligning with a brand’s culture, mission, and values. They discuss the critical role of emotional intelligence, team-building, and a growth mindset in achieving long-term...

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review Guest: Mark Jameson, Franchise Development Officer, Propelled Brands Thinking about buying a franchise in today’s market? Before you invest, learn how to identify franchise models designed to withstand economic volatility. Michelle Rowan and franchise executive Mark Jameson break down the traits of recession-resistant fr...

Send us Fan Mail Most franchise opportunities promise stability — but few are as resilient and rewarding as the commercial cleaning sector. In this episode, Allison Dudas dives into the booming world of cleaning and maintenance, revealing how this essential industry is not only recession-resistant but also a hidden goldmine for entrepreneurs willing to manage people, build relationships, and imple...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we announce our Most Profitable Franchises of 2026. We name 50 franchise brands in this list whose franchisees report higher earnings than the average. No brand can pay to be on this list! They are on it because of their high franchisee satisfaction scores thanks to FBR's market research.  This episode breaks down the characteristics of the most profitable br...

Send us Fan Mail Host: Allison Dudas, Senior Manager of B2C Marketing at FBR Guest: Jill Kesler, Franchisee of Fish Window Cleaning This episode delves into the 2026 Women In Franchising Trends Report. It features Allison Dudas as the host and Jill Kesler, a franchisee from Fish Window Cleaning, as the guest. They discuss the increasing role of women in franchising, highlighting that women now own...

Send us Fan Mail Jason Sharp’s journey from corporate healthcare to owning a pool supply franchise in Alabama reveals the real secret to success: building a community-focused team and letting your leadership shine behind the scenes. Discover how Jason’s strategic approach and operational systems turned a stagnant business into a thriving enterprise, even amidst COVID chaos. In this episode, you’ll...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, hosts Michelle and Allison dive into the importance of franchise culture. They discuss how a strong culture can significantly impact franchisee satisfaction and business success. The episode highlights the top franchises known for their positive culture, emphasizing that culture is not just about corporate strategy but also about fostering supportive relationships...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode, Michelle Rowan and Ali Kraus delve into the diverse world of franchise funding options. From traditional bank loans to innovative rollover strategies, they explore how aspiring franchisees can navigate financial challenges with confidence. Ali shares her expertise from Benetrends, highlighting the importance of understanding your financial landscape and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "From A to Franchisee," Michelle Rowan and Katherine LeBlanc discuss essential marketing questions to consider when evaluating franchise opportunities. Katherine, with over 20 years of marketing experience, shares insights into the complexities of marketing within franchising. They explore the importance of understanding brand funds, the role of market...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "From A to Franchisee," the hosts delve into the often-overlooked aspects of franchise agreements that can significantly impact buyers. Joined by Megan Center, a seasoned franchise attorney, they explore the critical differences between the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and the franchise agreement itself. The discussion highlights the importance...

Send us Fan Mail Most franchisees in senior care are driven by a deep sense of purpose, but Zubin Kapadia’s journey reveals what it truly takes to succeed in this fast-growing, emotionally rewarding industry. When he transitioned from law and international healthcare ventures to owning a Right at Home franchise, he discovered that passion, strategic support, and community presence are the secret i...

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, Franchise Business Review Guest: Susan Black-Beth, Auspicious Owl In this episode of "From A to Franchisee," hosts Michelle Rowan and Susan Black-Beth explore the impact of private equity on franchising. They discuss how private equity acquisitions can change priorities, timelines, and relationships within franchise systems. Susan, founder of Auspic...

Send us Fan Mail Franchise Business Review is a market research firm dedicated to franchisee satisfaction. This means we work hard to figure out how happy franchisees are owning their brands. This episode gets at our process and explores: Why you need franchisee satisfaction data if you're researching franchises to invest in. Why FBR's data is unbiased and how we keep it that way.  What...

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review Guest: Mark Jameson, Franchise Development Officer, Propelled Brands Summary Thinking about buying a franchise in today’s market? Before you invest, learn how to identify franchise models designed to withstand economic volatility. Michelle Rowan and franchise executive Mark Jameson break down the traits of recession-resi...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could own a thriving business for under $100,000? In this episode, Allison and Michelle reveal Franchise Business Review's 2026 Top 50 Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities, breaking down the advantages of leaner business models and what the data really shows about franchisee satisfaction, scalability, and work-life balance. With 93% of franchisees on this list saying...

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review Guest: Tim Parmeter, Founder and CEO of FranCoach Summary Unlock the secrets to successful franchise ownership with insights from Tim Parmeter, a seasoned franchise broker at FranCoach. This episode reveals how working with a franchise consultant can be your shortcut to finding the right franchise fit. Tim demystifies th...

Send us Fan Mail Most entrepreneurs kill their growth momentum by overcomplicating the journey—Antonio McBroom reveals how a simple mindset shift accelerated his rise from a college student scooper to one of the largest Ben & Jerry's franchisees on the planet. Discover the high-impact strategies that turned a small ice cream shop into a multi-million dollar empire, and learn how to build...

Send us Fan Mail Michelle Rowan talks to Crumbl Cookies and Pizza Factory franchisee, Ernie Amorim, about the intricacies of operating a brick-and-mortar food franchise. Ernie, a seasoned multi-unit franchise owner, shares his journey from purchasing his first Pizza Factory franchise at the age of 23 to expanding his business empire to include multiple restaurants and Crumble Cookies outlets. The...