Franchise Secrets Podcast

What they don't teach you at Wharton could be the key to building the next big beauty brand. In today's episode, Erik Van Horn welcomes Adam Ross, former CEO of Heyday and current partner at Front Street Equity Partners. Adam shares invaluable insights from his journey, transitioning from banking to entrepreneurship, leveraging his MBA from Wharton, and scaling Heyday into a beauty powerhouse. He dives into why beauty is still one of the biggest white spaces in the US and why brands like goGLOW might be the next success story. Adam discusses building brand leaders, trust between franchisees and franchisors, and the importance of strategic partnerships in franchise growth. Tune in for a masterclass on franchising, brand-building, and the future of the beauty industry! Subscribe to hear more from industry leaders and gain insider strategies for franchise success. "To be successful, you've got to come up with a product that is unique and meaningfully different than anything that's out there. And I think you've got to complement that with a brand that is also quite differentiated and has different pillars and legs versus anything else that's out there in the category." ~ Adam Ross In This Episode: - Adam's shift from banking to entrepreneurship - Key MBA lessons that shaped Adam's real-world success - Heyday's position in today's industry - Adam's entrepreneurial strengths and skills - Why Adam stepped down as Heyday CEO - Partnering with Front Street Equity Partners - Taking a small brand to the next level - Heyday's evolution: early operations to present - The importance of trust between franchisees and franchisors - Why working with a strategic partner is beneficial - Adam's drive to support emerging brands - Advice for franchisees working with emerging brands Resources: 🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070 🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/ 🌐 Franchise Springboard - https://franchisespringboard.com/ 🌐 goGLOW - https://goglow.co/ Connect with Adam Ross: 🌐 Website - https://frontstreetep.com/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-ross-6bbaab2/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/ 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/ 👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Stu McLaren, an expert on memberships and recurring revenue and author of 'Predictable Profits', discusses revolutionizing franchising by focusing on recurring revenue. He shares insights on how membership models can create predictable profits and foster community among franchisees. Listeners learn the significance of transformation over mere transactions, alongside strategies for customer engagement and retention. With a focus on building strong support systems, Stu reveals actionable tips to help entrepreneurs scale their business and avoid common pitfalls.

Are you buying a franchise to own a business, or are you just getting another job? In this episode, Erik Van Horn and Jeff Herr challenge potential franchisees to think beyond just becoming employees in their own business. He explores the key difference between buying a business and merely buying a job and why it's crucial to understand this distinction. Erik shares practical advice for future franchise owners, emphasizing the importance of building effective systems, understanding territory management, and having the right leadership in place. If you're planning to buy a franchise, you must learn how to scale smartly, leverage profit-sharing models, and avoid common mistakes that can trap you into working in your business rather than on it. Discover how to turn your franchise into a true business venture!! "Anything can be semi-absentee if you hire the right people to do the work that you're not doing." ~ Erik Van Horn In This Episode: - Jeff's background as a franchisee - Building franchise equity with the right mindset - Success strategy: focus on strengths, hire for weaknesses - Tracking KPIs for franchise success - Are you attracting the right customers? - Networking with local businesses for growth - Collaboration with complementary businesses - The impact of hiring the right manager for your business - How hard are you working on your business? - Final thoughts from Erik and Jeff Resources: 🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070 🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/ 🌐 Franchise Springboard - https://franchisespringboard.com/ Connect with Jeff Herr: 🌐 Website - https://www.frontstreetep.com/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-herr-016703214/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/ 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/ 👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Can franchise ownership really offer freedom, flexibility, and wealth, or is that just a myth? In this solo episode, Erik Van Horn answers the questions franchisees are asking most, including how and when to incentivize managers, what semi-absentee ownership really looks like, and how to structure profit-sharing or equity without costly mistakes. He discusses the pros and pitfalls of buying resale franchises and offers candid advice for franchisees and emerging franchisors on building leadership, managing expectations, and scaling smartly. Whether you're launching your first location or acquiring your tenth, Erik's insights will help you avoid common traps and build long-term success. "You, as a franchisee, take responsibility for the things that aren't going well. Can you blame your franchisor for some of it? Absolutely! Is it going to help? Probably not. That's why I say take responsibility. Make the changes." ~ Erik Van Horn In This Episode: - Benefits of semi-absentee ownership in balancing time - Offering business ownership to motivate franchise managers - Hiring strong leaders and fostering a teachable culture - Profit sharing vs. equity: which works better? - Franchisor vs. franchisee: key differences in roles - Investing in a resale franchise: time expectation for ROI - Why brands should embrace AI and technology - Helpful advice for aspiring franchise owners Resources: 🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070 🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/ 🌐 Franchise Springboard - https://franchisespringboard.com/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/ 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/ 👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Can you build a business that thrives in any economy? Lane Martin, co-founder of Modern PURAIR®, reveals the secrets behind creating Canada's fastest-growing air quality franchise. From navigating challenges to empowering franchisees, this episode is your guide to recession-proof success. Today, Erik Van Horn sits down with Lane Martin, the driving force behind Modern PURAIR, to explore how this air quality franchise is setting the standard for success even in challenging economic times. Lane shares insights into what makes Modern PURAIR a standout brand, offering franchisees multiple revenue streams, innovative technology, and a proven playbook for growth. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or considering a franchise opportunity, this conversation is packed with strategies and inspiration to build a business that thrives in any economy. Tune in and learn what it takes to succeed! "If entrepreneurship were an easy journey, everybody would do it. We speak about that a lot. And a great mindset coach of mine a few years ago taught me a great thing—it's like how you deal with the 'hard.' If you know that 'hard' is gonna come (which it does cause building and growing any business is a difficult thing), be grateful when there's days where you're in cruise control mode." ~ Lane Martin In This Episode: - Lane Martin's background and story - What defines an entrepreneur's journey? - Tackling the challenges of territory expansion - The role of indoor air quality in Lane's business - Importance of KPIs in business - Revenue streams at Modern PURAIR - How franchisors help improve franchisee KPIs using AI - The Zero to 500 Playbook by Modern PURAIR Resources: 🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070 🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/ Connect with Lane Martin: 🌐 Website - https://modernpurair.com/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lane-martin-7377a114/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/ 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/ 👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Growing a franchise isn't just about selling locations–it's about smart, sustainable scaling. Learn how goGLOW is doing it right! Today, Erik Van Horn welcomes back goGLOW founder Melanie Richards to discuss what smart franchise growth really looks like. Melanie shares how she scaled goGLOW from a single location to a rapidly growing franchise by strategically selecting franchise partners, securing the right vendor relationships, and staying financially disciplined. She also reveals why growing too fast can kill a franchise and how founders can avoid common scaling mistakes. goGLOW's rapid yet strategic expansion proves that smart growth beats fast growth every time. Melanie breaks down the key factors behind goGLOW's franchise success, from selecting the right partners to managing territories effectively. She also reveals how strategic partnerships play a vital role in scaling, and why franchise owners must think long-term when making growth decisions. With private equity interest growing, Melanie opens up about the challenges of balancing investment opportunities while staying true to the brand's mission. Do you want to learn more about the strategy behind goGLOW's success? Tune in to hear how smart scaling can make all the difference! To learn more about goGLOWs smart growth strategies, you can also listen to this past episode: How goGLOW Built a Franchise Employees Love and Customers Trust With Tori Johnston - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hWHheuG0p4 "I did see where goGLOW can go. I knew its possibilities, but I wasn't going to do that unless I had the right partners. Franchising is a completely different industry than what I'm in, and I made sure I had experts to go into that world with me." ~ Melanie Richards In This Episode: - What smart growth means for goGLOW - How goGLOW built a scalable foundation - Taking the right steps with the right people - The power of strategic partnerships - Hiring key team members for franchise growth - The importance of investing in the right people - Selecting vendors that support franchisees - How goGLOW improved on-site training - Balancing growth speed vs. sustainability - The role of financial discipline in growth Resources: 🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070 🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/ 🌐 Franchise UnConference - https://franchiseunconference.com/ 🌐 Franchise Springboard - https://franchisespringboard.com/ Connect with Melanie Richards: 🌐 Website - https://goglow.co/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-richards-a492207/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/ 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/ 👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Would you quit a stable six-figure job to clean toilets? Today's guest did! And he now runs multiple businesses, including a booming Jersey Mike's franchise! In this episode, Erik Van Horn sits down with Evgeni Kopelevich, a former finance professional who transitioned into small business ownership, franchising, and passive investments. He shares his journey from corporate burnout to multi-unit business success, discussing the challenges of buying mom-and-pop businesses, securing SBA loans, and scaling Jersey Mike's in his local market. Evgeni breaks down how to evaluate and acquire a business for cash flow, the truth about passive franchise ownership, why Jersey Mike's is thriving, how he got approved, and how to structure a business partnership for success. Tune in to learn how to build wealth through business ownership! "It's impossible to be successful in business and not have failures." ~ Evgeni Kopelevich In This Episode: - How Evgeni got involved with Jersey Mike's - Decision to stop trading time for money - The truth about franchising - Buying a mom-and-pop business - Challenges of running a janitorial business - Structuring a business partnership for success - How Evgeni found Jersey Mike's as the right franchise - The franchise approval process and securing funding - Lessons learned as a business owner Resources: 🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070 🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/ Connect with Evgeni Kopelevich: 🌐 Website - https://www.jerseymikes.com/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evgeni-kopelevich-b2412138/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/ 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/ 👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

What if you could grow, protect, and access your money—tax-free—while building long-term wealth? In this episode, financial expert Caleb Guilliams joins Erik Van Horn to discuss how franchise owners and entrepreneurs can use life insurance as a powerful tool to maximize cash flow, reduce taxes, and create financial freedom. Don't miss these game-changing strategies! Caleb is a financial expert, author of The AND Asset, and founder of BetterWealth. Today, he shares how business owners can use life insurance as a financial tool to grow, protect, and access their wealth tax-efficiently. From optimizing cash flow to leveraging smart tax strategies, this episode dives deep into how franchisees and business owners can maximize their financial potential while minimizing risk. Caleb also breaks down common misconceptions about life insurance and why it can be a powerful wealth-building tool when structured correctly. If you're a business owner looking to build long-term wealth, this episode is a must-listen! "I believe that you are your greatest asset. Your ability to think and show up is the greatest asset, and I think a lot of people are undermining it. And so, I ask, 'What can I do to encourage them to have more energy and smile?' Because most of the time, happier people make more money, have more clarity, and are more confident." ~ Caleb Guilliams In This Episode: - Caleb's path to financial expertise - Using life insurance for cash flow - Infinite banking explained - The biggest misconception about infinite banking - Tax-advantaged strategies for growing your wealth - Structuring life insurance for maximum benefits - When to start using life insurance - Life insurance vs. Roth - Practical advice from Caleb - How to grow your wealth - Living an intentional life - How to create value for the world Resources: 🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070 🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/ 🌐 Grab the Wealth-Building Resources from Caleb Guilliams - https://franchisesecrets.com/wealth Connect with Caleb Guilliams: 🌐 Website - https://betterwealth.com/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebguilliams/ Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/ 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/ 👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Is franchising really the secret to wealth, or is it just another risky business model? In this episode, Erik Van Horn takes a deep dive into franchise profitability, investment strategies, and common myths surrounding wealth-building in franchising. Erik shares real-life examples of franchisees who built multi-million dollar businesses and those who lost everything. He reveals why choosing the right brand, market timing, and strong operations are critical for success. Erik also explains why franchising isn't a passive income stream unless structured correctly. Discover how franchisees actually build wealth (and what stops them), the biggest myths about franchising and financial freedom, how to scale smartly through multi-unit ownership and acquisitions, and why some franchisees fail despite picking a "good brand." Listen now to unlock the real wealth-building strategies in franchising! "The best franchisees are the best marketers, the best operational people, and the best at making decisions–they are the best at anything it takes to be a really successful entrepreneur." ~ Erik Van Horn In This Episode: - Losing money and making a lot of money in franchising - How timing affects franchise success - Does franchising guarantee success? - Why some franchisees fail despite picking "good brands" - Is franchising a passive income model? - Why franchising is a great path to building wealth - Why some franchisees struggle financially - What franchisors can do to succeed - Can strong franchisees overcome a weak brand? - Erik's advice for franchisors and franchisees Resources: 🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070 🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/ 🌐 How To Choose The Best Franchise For You With Guest Eric Stites - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MszGt8iVFws Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/ 📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/ 👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/ 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Thinking about buying a franchise? Avoid common pitfalls! Learn how to research and validate the right franchise for you. Discover key insights like the importance of asking current franchisees the right questions and recognizing red flags in the Franchise Disclosure Document. Brand recognition might not be everything, and understanding the four stages of the buying process can save you from costly mistakes. Plus, find out how franchisors evaluate potential owners—it's a two-way street!