Drew Gressett’s sitting down with the Wolf to discuss his personal journey in the restaurant industry—from his journey founding Hat Creek Burger Company to owning 60+ Zaxby’s. Hear Hat Creek Burger Company’s humble origin story—from starting as a food truck in 2008 to now having 26 brick-and-mortar locations, Drew shares the challenges and triumphs of scaling his business. He shares how building a strong restaurant management team and securing financing helped fuel his exponential...

You’ll never be able to operate 90+ franchises if your first franchise isn’t golden to begin with. Take it from Adam Saxton, operator of over 90+ McAlister’s Delis and co-CEO/Owner of the Saxton Group. With territories in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, Adam chats with the Wolf about his unusual philosophy for franchise expansion, including a unique organic unit model development approach entailing zero acquisitions. With over 20 years in the fast-casual space, Adam reveals why he remains...

Buckle up because the Wolf is taking another stab at your best Twitter questions in this solo question-and-answer pod. Should you be able to negotiate a franchise agreement? If so, how much of an agreement is negotiable, or are most franchise agreements a take-it-or-leave-it proposition?  Then the Wolf uncovers his #1 recommendation for back-office franchisee solutions (hint: it’s a software that’s near and dear to his heart), before dissecting the differences between chains and...

The Wolf chats with french fry master, Lucas Mitchell, a successful entrepreneur and franchisee of Five Guys, to discuss the ins and outs of scaling a franchise business. From building strong relationships with franchisees to managing shiny object syndrome, Lucas shares valuable insights and lessons learned along his journey. How did Lucas go from owning five stores to over 20? What were the challenges and rewards that came with his rapid growth? He details his unique strategies for managing...

Loosen up. Literally. StretchLab is the Austin-based company helping others to increase performance and decrease joint pain. The Wolf chats with owner Steve Hitzemann about the fast-growing franchise’s rapid ascent to success. How did Steve dare to dream of a business model based on nothing more than stretching? Hear how Steve made the impossible possible, and how he’s making a two-membership franchise financially sustainable.  Is the stretching franchise just another fad? And if so, how has...

The Wolf’s taking a break from his normal podcasting format to break down the latest in franchising news this week. Is Orange Theory’s acquisition by Self Esteem Brands a good thing or a sign of impending doom? With Orange Theory’s numbers diminishing since the initial insanity of their boom, could this spell disaster or is it a shrewd business move? The Wolf also tackles Domino’s latest earnings announcement before trying his hardest not to become a total Crumbl apologist. He’s taking a hard...

The Wolf’s mixing it up this week as he’s joined by special co-host, Dru Carpenito, to chat with franchise-consultant-turned-CFO-franchise-incubator, JT Singh, about what makes up a successful franchise.  From financial services to home services, they explore the different industries and investment sizes that aspiring franchise owners should consider. What’s the significance of territory size? Do the risks outweigh the rewards when it comes to selling an entire territory to one franchise...

The Wolf is breaking it down solo for this special Q&A session, where he’s answering your most burning questions about the world of franchising.  What are the different strategies and considerations involved in owning one to two locations versus four to five locations? Are home services and non-brick-and-mortar franchises the place to hedge your franchising bets?  From the costs of hiring a fast food general manager to the best value propositions for aspiring entrepreneurs, The Wolf...

Eric Danver is the man who’s owned 100+ franchise locations over the course of his impressive career, including 58 Hand and Stone locations and 53 Philadelphia-based Papa John’s. He chats with the Wolf about his storied franchise career and the new challenges and opportunities the business presents in an ever-changing landscape.   From his humble beginnings in the pizza industry to building a successful portfolio of Papa John's and Hand and Stone franchises, Eric shares his insights on what...

Everyone wants to be the next Crumbl. But let’s face it—not every new and hot franchise can be the next Crumbl. Fads aren't always bad. But sometimes they can spell failure. So how can you protect yourself against becoming the next franchise fad failure? The Wolf chats with friend of the podcast and franchise consultant, Dru Carpenito about the franchise hype cycle and how to avoid the pitfalls of investing in oversaturated franchise markets.  What are the risks and rewards of investing in...

It’s time for the listeners to “Ask Me Anything”! When does a franchise restaurant become a viable investment? The answer may vary depending on factors such as the number of units and states involved, as well as an individual's risk appetite. Discover the key considerations that can help determine the right time to invest in a franchise. In this episode, The Wolf also shares his thoughts on the future of franchising, highlighting the food and beverage category as a major player. Find out...

Join The Wolf as he sits down with John Valluzzo and his sons, Michael and Nick, to explore their reign of owning over 80+ McDonald's locations as they dive deep into the fascinating world of the iconic fast-food franchise.  The Valluzzos share their family's deep-rooted connection to McDonald's and explain their incredible journey to owning such a vast portfolio of locations.  Discover the secrets behind McDonald's renowned training programs, including the prestigious Hamburger University,...

As 2023 draws to a close, we’re taking a step back to take a look at some of the best moments we’ve had here on Franchise Empires.  Over the last two years, the Wolf has had the chance to interview some incredible franchise players, and we’ve compiled some of the best, most impactful moments over the course of his entire run for this year-end retrospective. From capturing demand in the marketplace to thinking about how to invest in franchise unit models, these next six experts are a goldmine...

Meet Zach Beutler, the mastermind behind Horsepower Brands, a dynamo company dominating the home services franchise industry. With a portfolio of eight successful franchises, Zach shares his personal journey as a third-generation entrepreneur and the many valuable lessons he's learned along the way. How does Horsepower Brands combine incubation and acquisition strategies to transform underperforming concepts into thriving businesses? Zach reveals how Horsepower courts potential brands and...

In this week’s ep, the Wolf’s chatting with Dan Giacomazzi and Artem Lopatchenko, two business partners in one of America’s fastest-growing home services franchises, Ace Handyman Services, about the benefits of having a franchising partner.  Discover Dan and Artem’s journey in expanding their franchise territory and learn about their favorite strategies for attracting new customers. How do they divide and conquer tasks to maximize efficiency? From marketing tactics to building trust with...

Magen Bynum, the founder of Magnolia Soap and Bath, drops by to chat with the Wolf about how she turned a plant-based alternative for sensitive skin into a franchise empire. Discover the inspiring story behind Magen’s creation of Magnolia Soap and how her daughter’s desire for a chemical-free solution led to her franchising journey.  With plans to open 50+ locations in 2024, Magnolia’s rapid expansion makes it a formidable appointment in the plant-based alternative space. From eliminating...

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Aaron Harper, the CEO of Rolling Suds, one of the fastest-growing power-washing franchises in the country.  Aaron reveals how Rolling Suds scaled to 59 units in 16 states since February of this year, and explains the game-changing strategies and systems that contributed to Rolling Suds’ overwhelming success. From their comprehensive training program to their early focus on customer satisfaction, learn about the key factors that have set Rolling Suds apart in...

Meet the first person to mass-market a factory-finished painting solution at the convenience of your home. Join The Wolf as he sits down with Carmelo Marsala, Founder and CEO of Spray-Net, to discuss the ins and outs of franchising and scaling a business. Carmelo shares his experiences and insights on the challenges of scaling a territory model, onboarding new franchisees, and the realities of making a franchise profitable. Carmelo explains how his Quebec-based business prepared for territory...

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Dave Wood, the mastermind behind Mahana Fresh, a healthy bowl concept that’s taken the restaurant industry by storm. Discover the challenges and triumphs of opening three restaurants during the midst of a global pandemic, and how Mahana Fresh has adapted and thrived in the face of adversity. Dave discusses his journey from being a student at the University of North Carolina to managing a local Domino's store and how his experiences in the pizza industry...

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Erik van Horn, host of "The Franchise Secrets Podcast," for a special crossover episode. In this lively conversation, they dish out some hot takes on the franchise industry and discuss the importance of transparency and financial literacy for franchisees. From the value of item 19s to the power of content marketing, Erick and The Wolf share their insights and experiences in the world of franchising. Discover why building a strong brand and providing valuable...

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Rich Moyer, the mastermind behind Hoppin’ Franchise Group, to discuss Hoppin’s unique self-serve taproom concept that aims to revolutionize the bar and restaurant industry.   Discover how Hoppin’ eliminates the headaches typically associated with owning a bar to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for customers…because honestly, who likes waiting for a bartender to pour their beer? Rich shares insights into the financials of running a bar or...

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Jim Kodman, a pharmacist and franchise owner of Vital Care, an acute and chronic infusion service franchise, as he reveals how Vital Care became the fastest-growing infusion franchise company in the nation, with over 60+ locations.  Jim shares his journey of becoming a franchise owner and unpacks exactly how Vital Care conquered the market in the home and specialty infusion service industry.  Jim also explains the importance of working with IV medications...

Join The Wolf as he dives into the fascinating world of franchising with a data-driven episode.  In this episode, The Wolf shares ten intriguing statistics about the franchise industry, providing valuable insights for both aspiring entrepreneurs and established franchise owners alike. He’s breaking down the vital stats any aspiring or current franchisor should know, like the average number of units signed but not opened for a franchise, the median unit growth per franchise per year, and the...

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Joe Sexton, President of Ace Pickleball Club, to discuss the booming popularity of pickleball and the exciting opportunities it presents for franchise owners. Discover why pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America and how it brings people of all ages together. Joe shares insights into the real estate aspect of pickleball clubs and the strategic partnerships that can drive success and talks to Wolf about the unique challenges and rewards of starting...