This is a Slam Dunk Franchise!

With March Madness just concluded, it’s timely to use a basketball analogy for today’s podcast franchise feature - it is a SLAM DUNK! This franchise is truly ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITES of all the thousands of franchises I’ve worked with and known during my 20 years in franchising!

Why do I say this franchise is a Slam Dunk?

  • It’s owned by a 100 year old household name brand

  • It’s recession resistant 

  • Always in demand essential service

  • Both residential and commercial customers

  • Lifestyle business, FAMILY FRIENDLY 

  • It’s got all the benefits of a service franchise

    - Low startup and operating costs

    - Fat, juicy margins

    - Rapid ramp up

    - Quick break-even point

Hi Hanah Shanice,

With March Madness just concluded, it’s timely to use a basketball analogy for today’s podcast franchise feature - it is a SLAM DUNK! This franchise is truly ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITES of all the thousands of franchises I’ve worked with and known during my 20 years in franchising!

Why do I say this franchise is a Slam Dunk?

  • It’s owned by a 100 year old household name brand

  • It’s recession resistant 

  • Always in demand essential service

  • Both residential and commercial customers

  • Lifestyle business, FAMILY FRIENDLY 

  • It’s got all the benefits of a service franchise

    - Low startup and operating costs

    - Fat, juicy margins

    - Rapid ramp up

    - Quick break-even point

Learn its playbook and why this ESTABLISHED, MATURE business GREW BY 100 TERRITORIES LAST YEAR ALONE!

Wag All The Way To The Bank

Here’s a photo of my husband with our two rescue dogs. They are like members of our family - we love them dearly.  We are not alone - the pet industry has hit a 35 year high according to Forbes.

Did you know that the Pet Services industry is BOOMING?  With over $137 BILLION IN REVENUE generated annually, it's an incredibly LUCRATIVE market to tap into.

Millennials lead the pack as the largest percentage of current pet owners, making up 33%, followed closely by Gen X (25%) and baby boomers (24%). In 2022 alone, pet expenditures jumped an impressive 11% from the previous year.

What's more, essential dog expenses tally up to an AVERAGE OF $1,533 annually. This shows how easily pet owners pull out their wallets to ensure their furry friends’ well-being.

The pet industry has experienced EXPONENTIAL GROWTH over the years. Employment SOARED by over 90% from 2005 through 2015. From $48 billion in 2010 to a WHOPPING $110 BILLION during the pandemic, the industry's upward trajectory is undeniable.

Why the remarkable REVENUE POTENTIAL? Well, with pets increasingly considered part of the family, pet owners are INVESTING more in their furry companions' well-being. Plus, as busy lifestyles become the norm, the demand for convenient, reliable pet services continues to skyrocket.

So, whether you're an aspiring ENTREPRENEUR looking to tap into a booming market or an INVESTOR seeking LUCRATIVE opportunities, the pet services industry offers a paw-some path to success!

Download and read our #FranchiseAlert about Pet Services.

How Do You Buy A Franchise?

Have you ever wondered how to go about buying a franchise? 

What if you don’t know anything about franchising and have no idea of what opportunities are out there?

That’s exactly what I’M HERE for - TO INFORM AND EDUCATE people ABOUT FRANCHISES.  

For over 20 years, I’ve advised people looking for long-term WEALTH CREATION and INCOME REPLACEMENT.

I’ve got a PROVEN PROCESS to help people figure out IF a franchise is right for them. IF it is, I  BUILD their BUSINESS MODEL based on their preferences as a business owner and MATCH TO THAT.

Next, I introduce people to their franchise matches. Then begins the FRANCHISE GRANTING PROCESS.

It is similar to interviewing for a job.  Both parties evaluate the other for a potential fit. My role is  kind of like a “golf coach,” helping a player beat the competition. They know what to expect, are well prepared and are teed up to be given serious consideration for being awarded a franchise.

How to buy a franchise? ANSWER: First, you must be awarded territory at the end of the franchise granting process. Then, you sign a franchise agreement and pay the franchise fee.

Adding Value To Real Estate

An industry that continues to be in demand for potential business owners is REAL ESTATE. Let me share with you an interesting service franchise that ADDS VALUE to a home just prior to it getting a FOR SALE sign in the front yard.

Anyone who has sold a home knows how exhausting it can be to get your house ready for sale. There are so many things to do all at once:

  • Clearing out unwanted items

  • Painting interior and exterior surfaces

  • Putting in landscaping

  • Updating flooring (carpet removal and new installs)

  • Conducting a thorough move out cleaning 

Both homeowners and realtors alike need these services. And, they usually need them right away. Wouldn’t it be great to have all those services provided by one company? Well, there’s a franchise for that. 

This flexible business model provides the ROLE OF THE OWNER to be either HANDS ON working “in” the business OR to serve in a MANAGEMENT ROLE.

This franchise has a NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP with SHERWIN WILLIAMS. Their expertise and training is there to guide personnel in how to ADD VALUE to homes as they get ready for quick sales.

What Brand Is Shaking Up Franchising?

There always seems to be a new, “HOT” franchise. American consumers can’t seem to get enough of what franchising serves up, especially if it is a fast, casual food concept.

One of the challenges most emerging franchises have in common is opening locations in a timely manner. Many brands sell like hotcakes and gobble up territory quickly. The question any prospective franchisee should ask before signing a franchise agreement is,

“How will you get my location open on time?”

Several years ago, I heard of a husband and wife team who were awarded an automotive franchise. Two years later a location hadn’t been secured. This scenario has happened with many brands throughout franchising - new and even established franchises alike can be overwhelmed by growth.

Tune in to today’s Franchise Minute podcast at 11:30 a.m. Eastern to learn two things:

What brand is shaking things up in franchising?

How is it able to open locations in a timely manner?

Get the insightful answers as I interview Storm Miller with the Rep’M Group. You’re not going to want to miss this!

Family Services For Everyone

Most everyone reading this probably has a financial planner for stock market INVESTMENTS, COLLEGE FUNDS, and RETIREMENT PLANNING. Everyone likely has an INSURANCE agent or two to help with health, life, car, auto, home, disability and other coverages. Most everyone owns a HOME. Some have RENTAL PROPERTIES and/or own BUSINESSES. 

When it comes to handling your family's LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SECURITY, most everyone, me included, uses a SCATTERED ARRAY OF PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS. This is when GAPS and MISSED OPPORTUNITIES occur.

CREATING and preserving GENERATIONAL WEALTH doesn't just happen. The wealthy have family offices with all the expertise and resources needed under one roof.

Heck, us regular folk need those types of services as well. Why? This stuff gets complicated - fast! News Alert: We can have family services, too!

Tune into TODAY’S PODCAST at 11:30 EST to gain insight into FAMILY SERVICES FOR EVERYONE. LISTEN AND LEARN how to get family services for yourself. If leaving a legacy for your children is important, you don't want to miss this!

My guest is former Marine, French horn player, and entrepreneur Mr. Charming Ihekoronye with Royal Family Services. He is licensed in and works in 46 states.                    

Is A Portfolio Franchise For Me?

In franchising, there are companies like McDonald’s or Batteries Plus that are just one brand. There are also franchises that own multiple brands.  These multiple brand businesses are PORTFOLIO FRANCHISES.  An advantage of them is that they have SHARED SERVICES.

Shared services use the same technology and processes to drive OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, deploy digital MARKETING STRATEGIES, and simplify FINANCIAL REPORTING. 

There is also another big advantage to going with a portfolio franchise. When it comes to LONG-TERM WEALTH CREATION, there is an additional opportunity by “STACKING.” This expansion strategy allows a franchisee to stay in the same market, utilize their infrastructure, and add another brand or brands to their business portfolio. As a franchise candidate Mitch said, “It’s WASH, RINSE, AND REPEAT.”

Stacking brands in a single market is very attractive when it comes to an EXIT STRATEGY.  PRIVATE EQUITY (PE) firms love this. Instead of having multiple businesses spread across multiple markets, it is much more efficient and profitable to have them located together.

Be sure to GAIN MORE INSIGHTS on portfolio franchises by tuning in to TODAY’S Franchise Minute podcast at 11:30 a.m. EST with franchise insider Dave Warn of Buzz Brands.

Real Estate Renovation Is Hot!

It’s well known that we are lingering in a tight real estate market. There is little inventory available for purchasing homes. This makes the homes on the market command higher prices. Also adding to the cost of home ownership is the increased interest rate on mortgages. 

In spite of this, NOW is an ideal time to get into a cosmetic or light renovation franchise that caters to realtors, not homeowners.  

How can the timing be right?  

Join me today on the Franchise Minute podcast at 11:30 a.m. EST to hear the interesting answer for yourself. Guest Jeff Bien has a great response to that question.

He’ll also crush the PRECONCEIVED NOTION that to be successful in this business, you need to BE HANDY or have a CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND.  

Who makes an IDEAL CANDIDATE for this business? 

  • A GOOD NETWORKER

  • Someone who ENJOYS REAL ESTATE and design 

  • Has STRONG MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

The ROLE OF THE OWNER is to DELEGATE and MANAGE the SUBCONTRACTORS that do the work on the homes. No structural work is done.

I myself am about to have a renovation project of my own so this is an interesting topic to me both personally and professionally.

Who Makes A Good Franchisee?

It may surprise you to learn who makes a good franchisee.  The answer is most probably YOU.  The only difference between people who become franchise business owners and those who don’t are two things:

  • The desire to BE YOUR OWN BOSS and CONTROL YOUR DESTINY

  • The willingness to LEARN AND FOLLOW A PROVEN BUSINESS MODEL. 

That’s it -  really! 

Your neighbor who owns a Mathnasium or the couple at church who own a Subway, what do they know that you don’t? I surmise - nothing.

What about level of education? I’ve placed HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES and MBAs from top universities into great franchises. 

The point is this:  there is A FRANCHISE FOR YOU whether 

  • You are BLUE COLLAR or WHITE COLLAR, or

  • You like to work with your hands or use your leadership and executive skills.  

The emphasis is more on YOUR TRANSFERABLE SKILLS. My professional advice is to focus on YOUR SUPERPOWER and MATCH A FRANCHISE TO THAT.  Watch this short video for clarity.

Speaking of watching something to learn more about franchises, JOIN my special guest, Emily Anderson with BrandOne, and me on TODAY’S FRANCHISE MINUTE PODCAST at 11:30 a.m. EST. We’ll discuss “Who Makes A Good Franchisee.”  Click here to join us and learn if you are indeed franchisee material!

Independent Business vs. Franchise

Which is the better option for you to own - an independent business or a franchise? There are pluses and minuses to each. 

The most common minuses of owning a franchise are

  • Paying a franchise fee and ongoing royalty in addition to other costs like advertising fees

  • Not a lot of room for variation or creativity - must follow the brand standards

  • Confined to a limited geographic area (territory)

  • Lack of control: are you really the boss if you have to do it their way?

  • On the plus side of going with a franchise are

    • Proven business model with a formula for success: plug and play

    • Systems and processes are already developed and in place

    • Onboarding, training and support there for your success

    • Focus is on growing the business and executing

    Today’s Franchise Minute podcast covers the pluses and the minuses of going the franchise route. Gain insider insights from Eric Stehle who has owned both an independent business and a franchised one. Join us at 11:30 a.m. EST today and every Wednesday to learn about and explore franchises.

Parents with Passion = Profits

I went to Pre-K so long ago, it was called Nursery “School” but I don’t remember learning anything. There were no preschools like now.  Now such places are an industry! 

When there is a lot of fragmentation in an industry, like with early childhood education, that is an invitation to franchising to come knocking. Franchises standardize, systematize and measure everything, brand it and then grow the business. As the franchise rolls out across the country, there is no dominant national leader, only what are termed “mom and pop shops” or independents.

Who makes a good franchisee of an early childhood development learning center? 

Parents who are done with the corporate grind. They long to 

·    CREATE WEALTH 

·    ENJOY WORK/LIFE BALANCE and 

·    CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY

They want to give back and be involved in their local community. They also need to have the financial means. Here is a good starting point:

Minimum Financial Qualifications: $200K liquid capital, $1M Net Worth

If this sounds like you or you know someone like this who is eager to learn about franchise business ownership, JOIN US TODAY at 11:30 a.m. EST on LinkedIn or Facebook for the FRANCHISE MINUTE.

Jason Barclay will share the story of an outstanding PRESCHOOL FRANCHISE.  His son went to it for four years so he speaks to it as both a customer and as a franchise insider.

Beauty Business = Big Bucks

Eyelash Extension

There are three very misleading myths about beauty franchises I want to clear up right here and right now.

  1. Before you turn up your nose on a beauty business, realize that the role of a business owner is, well, just that - to BE THE OWNER and to work “on” the business, NOT “IN” the business.

    Most people assume with a beauty franchise, the owner is painting nails, cutting hair, or waxing hair off a hairy leg.  THAT IS NOT THE CASE. Employees who are trained to do those services work directly with customers.

  2. Another myth is that beauty industry experience is needed to be successful. NOT SO!

    Here is the recipe for success to own a potentially lucrative beauty business:

  • Leadership skills

  • People management skills

  • Business acumen

  • Have adequate financial qualifications

That’s pretty much it! (Did you see what I did there?)

  3. It is a myth that you have to quit your day job to own a beauty business.

My area of expertise with franchises is “MANAGE-THE-MANAGER” BUSINESS MODELS.
If you want to create wealth, build what can be a lucrative business, and keep your day job, then I highly recommend you explore beauty franchises.

Property Management = Profits and Passive Income

Property management services continue to be in high demand.  In 2023 I placed two corporate executives with two different property management franchises.

Alice, a military veteran and successful corporate executive, wanted to be her own boss. She already owned a couple of rental properties and knew she could help others manage their real estate assets.  Done with the corporate world, she transitioned to entrepreneurship and opened shop.

That is a similar story with Reese and his wife, Rachel. They had young children and the set schedule of the corporate world did not fit their FAMILY LIFESTYLE. One of them needed to have FLEXIBILITY, and a home based business was ideal. With LOW STARTUP AND OVERHEAD COSTS and MULTIPLE INCOME STREAMS, property management was an ideal fit for them.

Listen for an eye-opening FRANCHISE MINUTE PODCAST on Property Management Franchises. You’ll learn that it's not just about managing properties. It's about unlocking the potential for PASSIVE INCOME STREAMS. Imagine the CASH FLOW that comes from strategically managing and optimizing real estate assets. 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to pave the way to your FINANCIAL FREEDOM, investment success, and PERFECT LIFESTYLE!

Technology Applied All The Way To The Bank

Today at 11:30 a.m. EST I interview the founder of a home services franchise during the Franchise Minute podcast. That probably doesn’t sound very exciting.  


CLEAR OUT YOUR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS and expect to be amazed by this international TECHNOLOGY COMPANY that happens to be in the home improvement industry. 

Here are a few reasons why you may desire to join us:

  • NO construction, renovation, or design experience needed

  • Low investment

  • Massive revenue potential

  • Easier to scale than you think

  • MINIMAL EMPLOYEES, use subcontractors and technology

  • HELPS GENERATE BUSINESS FOR FRANCHISEES!!!

  • Simple business model

Click here to be in the know about this fantastic emerging brand.

To STAY IN THE KNOW, subscribe to our Be Wildly Wealthy channel by clicking the blue button.

On another note, these weekly e-newsletters are designed to give you INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ABOUT FRANCHISES in bite-sized pieces.  I call these missives “snacks.”  For more in-depth information and education about franchises,  a hearty meal per se, visit these comprehensive resources:

IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY:

Franchising is countercyclical to the economy.  With 2024 being another year of economic uncertainty coupled with the added uncertainty surrounding the Presidential election, expect this to be a banner year.

Reach out to me if you want a tech-leading franchise to ride all the way to the bank!

What Did 2023 Tell Us?

2023 was a fabulous year in franchising.  It will be a few months before the data is compiled regarding the number of new franchises opened and in what industries. If you are interested, here is the report from a year ago. 

From my perspective as a 20-year franchise insider, here is what I observed in 2023:

·   People long for an EXIT STRATEGY that replaces their salaries

o  A business is a good option 

o  A FRANCHISED BUSINESS is the better option due to built-in RISK REDUCTION 

·    People require a “MANAGER RUN” BUSINESS to MAINTAIN their CURRENT JOB during startup

·    People are completely WASTING THEIR TIME looking at EXISTING BUSINESSES FOR SALE.  A good cash-flowing business with a reasonable price in the market where you live is like LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK. 

o  Most resales are fast food restaurants (see www.bizbuysell.com)

o  Great cash-flowing businesses in their markets are NOT listed publicly for sale

·    Two options are typical for existing businesses:

o  Dogs - that never got off the ground or hover at the breakeven point

o  Overpriced cash cows - as in real estate, the scarcity of supply and the overdemand of investment cash means unrealistic prices

·    Stay-at-home parents and stressed spouses grinding in the corporate world long to partner in a FAMILY BUSINESS TO CREATE WEALTH.

o  This is what Ash and Lou did with a manager-run fitness franchise

o  This is what Reese and Rachel did with a property management franchise

For more information about the franchise highlights in 2023, here are the three most popular podcasts Exit Strategies, Meet The Team Day, and Technology from our YouTube channel @bewildlywealthy.

A Healthy Food Franchise?

During this holiday season, I admit to overindulging in food. If you are like me or want in on a HIGH DEMAND food concept, then you’ll be interested to know that there is a GREAT FOOD FRANCHISE you’ll want to check out. 

  • It is HEALTH-FOCUSED. 

This franchise has a brick-and-mortar cafe model that utilizes FIVE PILLARS OF REVENUE to connect with its customers. They can CUSTOMIZE their health needs into three different categories; lose, maintain, and gain.

This isn't a traditional QSR brand. It embeds itself into its customers’ lives by showing REAL RESULTS for health goals and providing HEALTHY, CONVENIENT FOODS. 

  • It is also a LIFESTYLE BRAND.

A lifestyle brand is a franchise that fits the lifestyle of the owner!

How To Make Money Year Round With Seasonal Businesses

It’s been impressive to see how some clever home service franchises have converted their seasonal services into year round businesses. 

Let’s point out the value of a year round business from the owner’s perspective:

  • Retain employees with year long employment

  • Improve cash flow especially in off season months

  • Cross sell existing customer base with additional services

  • Expand customer base with new services

  • Have multiple income streams 

  • Strengthen loyalty with repeat customers across services

What are some home services that traditionally have seasonality:

  • Lawn care

  • Roofing

  • Pool service

  • Animal/pest control

What additional services have they added to offset seasonality:

  • Holiday decorating (Christmas lighting) 

  • Pet waste removal

  • Snow removal

  • Mosquito control

Roofers are used to being on ladders so putting up holiday lights is a natural service addition.

In cold climates, lawn care workers can do snow removal. Adding pet waste removal is a great year-round business for any seasonal service like mosquito control and animal control.

In-house call centers make it easy for customers to book estimates and services year-round.

Fitness is not a Fad!

Some of you probably scoffed when you read the topic. The reality is that 

FITNESS IS A LIFESTYLE!

Or, at least, it can be and is for millions and millions of people.

Take me for example. The picture is of me doing a workout with my personal trainer.  In addition, my  husband and I belong to a pickleball courts association. On the weekends, we go to a yoga class at a nearby studio.

Weather permitting, we also bike at the lake and walk our dogs. It’s just part of our lifestyle. 

People like us are the target audience for fitness franchises. On my Christmas Wish List is membership at a stretch studio.  Yes, stretch! It’s a thing - AND NOT A FAD!

You probably have friends who belong to a golf and tennis club or who are avid runners or who do both.  When our son’s were little, they played soccer, baseball, basketball, and were on the swim team. The point is that fitness is a lifestyle that involves all ages and kinds of people. 

Note that none of the words in bold are a fad. 

Who Are Your Customers Going To Call?

It can be not fun to call a big company for help or information. Have you ever gotten someone you can’t understand? Or, you have to select from automated options - none of which cover the reason for your call?

If we own a business, we certainly don’t want our customers to feel that frustration.

Call centers can be viewed as expenses that need reducing. Or, as I’ve seen in franchising, they can be seen as important SALES AND MARKETING TOOLS that ENHANCE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE and support REVENUE GENERATION FOR FRANCHISEES.

One person I worked with named Alexandro dropped a franchise because it didn’t have a call center. 

He knew the importance of not having the owner distracted from revenue generation activities by interviewing, hiring, training and managing a customer service rep to answer his business’ phone. This is where many franchises step in and provide this service as part of their support to franchisees.

Providing well-trained customer service representatives in U.S.-based franchise call centers is a COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. The call service reps are employed by the franchise and work exclusively for its franchisees. They are trained to CONVERT CALLS TO APPOINTMENTS.  In addition, it is typically LESS EXPENSIVE for a franchisee to use the franchise’s call center services than to hire someone locally to fill this role.

Emerging Franchise Myth Debunked

There are many myths about franchises. Today, we debunk the myth that an emerging franchise brand is automatically a riskier investment than an established one. 

Logic says that a new brand with under 20 franchisees is a riskier investment than a franchise with 200 franchisees. However, that is not always the case. 

BEFORE JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS, ASK these questions: 

  • What is the track record of the people launching the new brand? 

  • How often have they launched new brands? 

  • What is the track record of those brands and their franchisees?

  • Is this a stand alone single brand or is it part of a larger organization?

When it comes to emerging brands, or any franchise brand for that matter, ASSUMPTIONS can be quite DETRIMENTAL.

There are more and more PORTFOLIO FRANCHISE COMPANIES which own MULTIPLE BRANDS. It’s part of their GROWTH STRATEGY to launch NEW BRANDS in their AREA OF EXPERTISE.  One such portfolio franchise company was featured in our podcast last week. Its expertise is in Home Service Concepts that cater to mid to upper-income homeowners. 


To learn about EVALUATING EMERGING BRANDS, listen to this highly informative and interesting podcast.

ready to live your dream?