How I Franchised This Burn the Boats: Turning Down $1M OTE to Build Rolling Suds
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Jan 8, 2026 Aaron Harper, founder of Rolling Suds, transitioned from Hollywood and telecom sales to the world of franchising. He discusses why he chose power washing as a scalable service and how he raised capital without debt. Listeners will gain insights into the criteria for selecting a franchise, the true costs involved, and the essential traits for franchisee success. Aaron also shares the importance of building a strong team and cultivating national accounts, flipping misconceptions about franchising as a path to entrepreneurial wealth.
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From Hollywood To Franchising
- Aaron left a promising Hollywood and telecom path after feeling unfulfilled and sought meaningful work in franchising.
- He forced contact with franchise leaders until he got hired and grew brands rapidly at Chemdry and Patch Boys.
Service Franchises Are More Accessible
- Look beyond big food franchises; many service franchises cost $25k–$400k and are accessible to most buyers.
- Franchisees own 100% of their businesses and can scale and sell them independently.
Burning The Boats Accidentally
- Aaron secretly built his acquisition company while still at his employer and accidentally revealed it by emailing from the new address.
- He was later let go, which forced him to 'burn the boats' and fully commit to acquiring Rolling Suds.
