How I Franchised This

Eric Martin, an entrepreneur who transitioned from sales to franchise ownership in the golf simulator industry, shares his inspiring journey. He discusses his search for business opportunities and why franchising felt right for him. Eric details how he collaborated with Franzy to evaluate brands and navigate the process. He also reveals how he convinced his dad to invest in his vision and the emotions tied to signing the franchise agreement. The conversation highlights essential insights for anyone considering entrepreneurship.

Peter Kourounis, founder of Patch It Up Drywall Repair and Chief Growth Officer at Elevate Franchise Brands, dives into his diverse journey across franchising. He discusses his start in the sign and graphics industry and crucial lessons from early partnerships. Kourounis reveals his insights on building a successful drywall brand, including a unique startup bundle and a lead conversion strategy called Elevate Engine. He emphasizes the importance of hands-on commitment for new owners and shares his framework for sustainable success in home services.

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.

In this engaging discussion, Adam Wasch, founding partner of The Franchise Firm, sheds light on the essential elements of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). He shares valuable insights on common buyer mistakes, the importance of rigorous vetting, and why Item 20 is a key focus for negotiating leverage. Adam highlights industries with complex legalities and warns that an FDD doesn’t guarantee a successful system. With a call for responsible franchising, he emphasizes the need for alignment between franchisors and franchisees for mutual success.

Most people think franchising means restaurants and retail. But Buddies Home Furnishings is proving there’s massive opportunity well beyond food — especially in the fast-growing rent-to-own category. In this episode of How I Franchise This, Alex sits down with Mitchell Lee, Head of Franchise Development at Buddies, to break down how the brand built one of the highest multi-unit ownership rates in franchising — with over 85% of franchisees operating multiple stores. They dive into: How the rent-to-own model works (recurring revenue, high AUVs, and 24-hour delivery) Why this category is truly recession-resistant and how it flexes with economic cycles What top operators do from day one that separates them from the bottom quartile Buddies’ approach to territories, conversions, and sustainable system growth How Mitchell evaluates candidates — and the traits shared by great operators If you’re exploring franchises beyond food or want to understand what makes a scalable, multi-unit model actually work, this conversation delivers a rare look from the brand’s side of the table.

At 26 years old, Katie Gillberg left a toxic job in medical sales, took a massive risk, and opened the first Hydrate IV Bar in Denver. Ten years later, she’s the founder and CEO of one of the fastest-growing IV therapy franchises in the country — with 25 locations open, 25 more on the way, and a plan to hit 100 units. In this episode, Katie shares how she built Hydrate IV Bar from a grassroots wellness concept into a scalable franchise system, why franchising wasn’t the plan early on, and what finally convinced her to make the leap. She opens up about partner breakups, surviving COVID, the real cost of launching a franchise brand, and why her top franchisees outperform even her corporate stores. If you're thinking about buying or building a franchise — especially in wellness — this episode is a masterclass in founder transparency and real-world scaling.

Matt Jeffries, a former supply chain leader at Target and Nordstrom, shares his inspiring journey from corporate life to franchise ownership with 1-800 STRIPER. He discusses the excitement and fear of leaving job security behind, the challenges of wearing all the hats in a small business, and the importance of following the franchise playbook. Matt emphasizes the hands-on effort required in sales and the reward of securing repeat clients. His candid lessons offer valuable insights for anyone considering the leap into franchising.

Caleb Clayton has lived just about every role you can have in franchising — from working the counter at a Pelican’s Snoballs to becoming a franchisee at 25, to helping scale the brand from 10 units to more than 200 locations nationwide. He’s led franchise development across multiple national systems, trained new owners, worked with area developers, and seen firsthand what separates great operators and great franchisors from the rest. Now he’s bringing that experience to Franzy. In this episode, Caleb shares why he believes the franchise industry is overdue for real innovation, what buyers still get wrong about the discovery process, and why he joined Franzy to help build a more transparent, data-driven, and democratized path to business ownership. We get into: • Caleb’s unexpected entry into franchising and how it shaped his career • The biggest misconceptions first-time buyers have when researching brands • What top franchise operators consistently do differently • Why home services and senior care are becoming the most resilient categories • The gaps in today’s franchise discovery process — and how Franzy is fixing them • Why he’s excited about building tools that level the playing field for everyday buyers If you want a real, on-the-ground look at franchising from someone who’s been an operator, a developer, and now an advisor at Franzy, this episode is packed with insight.

Alex sits down with operator and investor Brian Beers to unpack how he scaled a family Midas business to 35 locations and roughly 50 million in annual revenue. Brian walks through buying vs building, the seller financed deal that changed everything, and his simple ladder from I do it to we do it to they do it. You will hear how local economies of scale create real leverage, why saying yes more often lifts revenue, and the one hire that freed him to build beyond automotive. We also cover the categories he likes for the next decade, what he treats with caution, and his best advice for anyone in the first year of ownership. Rapid fire: favorite brand Wingstop, go to resources The Science of Scaling and 10X Is Easier Than 2X, one word for franchising is scale. Connect with Brian on YouTube, LinkedIn, and X by searching “Brian Beers.” Learn more about Franzy and get coaching to start your franchise search at franzy.com

Terrence Murphy, a former NFL wide receiver, transitioned into a powerhouse entrepreneur, building over 100 companies in real estate, franchising, and venture investing. He shares how he scaled a brokerage to $1.5B and why franchising became essential for his growth. Terrence discusses the importance of diligence, the criteria for choosing brands, and the balance between risk and opportunity. He emphasizes the significance of competence, hands-on leadership, and strategic partnerships in his ventures, offering valuable insights for aspiring franchisees.