In this powerhouse episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Adam Contos, former CEO of RE/MAX, to talk about the wild ride from SWAT commander to franchise titan. Adam shares the gritty realities of leadership, the psychology behind overcoming fear, how to navigate challenging franchisee dynamics, and why AI is already reshaping the future of franchising. Whether you're a founder, franchisee, or exec, this episode delivers gold on mindset, transformation, and what it really takes to scale in a world of accelerating change.

🤯 Topics Covered:

• Adam’s journey from Marine → SWAT → CEO
• What franchising and law enforcement have in common
• The power of reframing fear (“Party with the Beast” mindset)
• How to use AI to train, lead, and scale better
• Culture-building and empowering teams at scale
• Why doing nothing is the biggest risk in the AI era

📚 Mentioned: Start With the Win by Adam Contos

🌐 Connect: adamcontos.com | yourfranchisegroup.com

#Franchising #Leadership #AI #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #REMAX #StartWithTheWin #BehindTheFranchise #FlamelAI

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dan & Ashley, the husband-and-wife duo behind Pet Bar, the fast-growing pet grooming franchise known as the “Disney World for dogs.”

From closing their tanning salons to launching their first Pet Bar in 2015, Dan & Ashley share how a personal grooming need for their schnauzer turned into a booming pet grooming business with over 30 locations.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How they turned a simple self-wash dog grooming idea into a thriving franchise success story
• The challenges (and wins) of running a business with your spouse
• Why passion for pets is the #1 ingredient for success in the pet care business
• How COVID changed their operations — and how they came out stronger
• Their vision for 250+ petbar franchise locations in the next decade

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a franchising fan, a pet business owner, or just love dogs, you’ll find this episode full of insights, laughs, and real-world advice from two people who have built something special.

#PetBar #PetGrooming #FranchiseSuccess #EntrepreneurLife #CoupleGoalsInBusiness #PetCare #SmallBusinessSuccess #DogLovers #FranchiseGrowth #BusinessWithPets #HusbandAndWifeTeam #PetGroomingBusiness #FromIdeaToEmpire #FranchiseJourney #PetBusiness

In this inspiring Behind the Franchise episode, Julie Harrell, President of Cooper’s Scoopers, shares her unlikely journey from healthcare management to building one of the fastest‑growing mobile pet waste removal franchises in the U.S. Julie explains how she discovered a deeper purpose in the “poop business”—educating pet owners about environmental health, supporting franchisees with meaningful systems, and using franchise growth as a force for community impact.

She dives into her founding timeline (launching in December 2023, FDD live by February 1, and nine trucks operational by June 17), operational challenges, and the importance of values‑driven leadership. Julie also discusses target markets—from millennials to senior pet owners—and how sanitation and eco‑responsibility differentiate Cooper’s Scoopers from traditional pet waste services.

#FranchiseSuccess #PurposeDrivenBusiness #JulieHarrell #CoopersScoopers #PetWasteManagement #EcoFriendlyService #WomenInFranchising #OperationalLeadership

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Fred Hassen and Alfredo Rivera, the powerhouse duo behind Sit Means Sit, one of the largest dog training franchises in North America. From Fred’s unexpected entry into the dog world at age 40 to building a 170+ location business, they share an unfiltered look at the grit, growth, and guiding principles that built their empire.

Discover how integrity, authenticity, and a passion for dogs transformed a van-based hustle into a national brand. If you're interested in franchising, entrepreneurship, or just love a good underdog story (literally), this episode is packed with wisdom.

Topics include:

The origins of Sit Means Sit & their unique training philosophy

Why not having a background in dog training was a strength

Scaling with integrity and no business plan

How video marketing set them apart early

Lessons from top-performing franchisees

Whether you’re a dog lover, aspiring franchisee, or just love inspiring business journeys—this episode is for you.

#BehindTheFranchise

#SitMeansSit

#DogTrainingBusiness

#FranchiseSuccess

#TalkIsCheap

#EntrepreneurJourney

#FranchiseGrowth

#StartupStory

#BusinessWithIntegrity

#DogTrainerLife

#RagsToRiches

#VideoMarketing

#FranchisePodcast

#FoundersStory

#PassionToProfit

In this powerful episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with industry powerhouse Sally Facinelli, CFE, a 29-year veteran in franchising. Sally shares the raw, real, and inspiring journey that’s defined her career — from international expansion in the dot-com era to leading high-growth franchise brands and shaping the future of female leadership in the space.

🔥 Key Topics Covered:

• How Sally scaled Aussie Pet Mobile from 13 to 500+ locations globally
• Why franchising is more than business — it’s a family
• The mindset shift from perfection to authenticity in leadership
• What Sally learned on a soul-searching trip to Ireland with her franchise “sisters”
• Building meaningful legacy, embracing failure, and saying “yes” more
• The balancing act of CEO life, parenthood, and personal growth
• Why the future of franchising needs emotional intelligence, regulation, and Gen Z leadership

💭 “You have to fail to grow. And if you're not failing, you’re not growing.” – Sally Facinelli

🎯 Whether you're a franchise founder, multi-unit operator, brand leader, or just entrepreneurial at heart — this episode is for you. Sally brings a rare blend of honesty, wisdom, and tactical insight on everything from strategic leadership to mental health, self-care, and marketing that actually connects.

Listen Now on Spotify and YouTube — and don’t forget to hit subscribe!

#Franchising #Entrepreneurship #BusinessLeadership #WomenInBusiness #FranchiseGrowth #BehindTheFranchise #SallyFacinelli #AuthenticLeadership #SaltyDawg #PodcastSummary #FranchiseMarketing

Join Paul Ehlinger on Behind the Franchise as he sits down with Tim Vogel of Scenthound to uncover the behind-the-scenes tactics of scaling a data-driven pet care empire. From launching a single grooming van to building a network of 150+ franchise locations, Tim reveals how proprietary AI and longitudinal dog-health data are disrupting the pet wellness industry. Expect candid insights on overcoming “the serious shit moments,” removing bottlenecks from the CEO role, and the radical shift from artistry to automation in grooming. If you're a franchise investor, pet care innovator, or entrepreneur seeking a scalable model, this episode is your masterclass in smart growth and empathetic leadership.

🔗 Learn more & subscribe:

• Paul Ehlinger (Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-ehlinger/

• Tim Vogel (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/timvogel/https://www.linkedin.com/in/timvogel/

🌐 Websites:

• Scenthound: scenthound.com

• Behind the Franchise / Flamel.ai: flamel.ai

📈 Key Highlights:

• Dog wellness as longitudinal data science

• Scaling with AI-powered proprietary insights

• Shifting executive roles: avoiding the CEO bottleneck

• Franchise growth lessons: from one market to 150+ nationwide

#FranchiseGrowth #PetWellness #DataDriven #AIinBusiness #Scenthound #BehindTheFranchise #Entrepreneurship #ScalingUp #Marketing #AI #Franchising

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Brooke Janousek, current CMO of Garage Experts and founder of The Grow CMO, for a deep dive into the realities of marketing leadership in franchising.

Brooke shares her transition from running a thriving fractional CMO consultancy to taking on a full-time executive role—and why she made that move. Learn how she helped implement systems that scale, balanced brand creativity with performance, and stayed in sync with franchisees across 83 locations. She also drops gems on boundary-setting, customer insights, and the power of emotional branding.

Whether you're a founder, franchisee, or marketer looking to scale smarter, this episode is a masterclass in franchise marketing strategy and leadership.

🔧 Topics Covered:

• CRM, lead generation, and nurturing systems that work

• Why emerging brands need creative structure

• Building emotional connection with customers

• Franchisee engagement & advisory councils

• Why she took trapeze lessons (!)

📌 Don’t miss Brooke’s practical advice, leadership insights, and a few unexpected stories that will leave you inspired and energized.

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, host Paul Ehlinger sits down with Kristen Pechacek—CEO of MassageLuXe and a digital marketing pioneer—to unpack her journey from launching Facebook pages in the MySpace era to leading one of the fastest-growing wellness franchises in the U.S.

Kristen shares how she turned early social media success into a powerful franchising career, with stops at the Minnesota Vikings, Self Esteem Brands, and now MassageLuXe. Learn how she scaled emerging brands, built out tech stacks for growth, and why her marketing background gave her a unique edge as a CEO.

Topics Covered:

• How early social media shaped Kristen’s franchise leadership
• Secrets to scaling from 50 to 100+ franchise locations
• Why authenticity beats over-produced content in today’s social media landscape
• Building systems for growth: CRM, loyalty programs, and mobile apps
• The power of "attainable luxury" in the wellness space
• What franchise brands still get wrong about digital strategy
• Kristen's take on communication, leadership, and soft skills in franchising

Whether you're a franchisor, marketer, or aspiring CEO, this episode is packed with insights on how to build trust, scale systems, and lead with vision.

Subscribe for more episodes and follow us at BehindTheFranchise.com

Learn more about MassageLuXe: MassageLuXe.com

From startup hustle to CMO of a billion-dollar franchise platform, Felicia Reeves brings clarity, courage, and sharp strategy to the ever-evolving world of marketing.

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, Felicia opens up about her early entrepreneurial journey, how she empowers franchisees across 10 brands, and why bravery, action, and understanding the P&L are at the heart of effective marketing. We unpack how she fosters a high-performance culture, balances creativity with data, and embraces local marketing in a digital-first world.

Whether you’re a brand builder, franchisee, or marketer, this episode is packed with insights and honest reflections.

Connect with Felicia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-reeves

Subscribe to her newsletter: Signals & Strategy on LinkedIn

Brought to you by Behind the Franchise and Flamel.ai

In this episode of Behind the Franchise, Paul sits down with Lynn Blashford, CMO of White Castle, to talk about the iconic burger brand’s 104-year legacy, its fiercely intentional decision not to franchise, and the creative strategies that keep it relevant across generations.

From Valentine’s Day table service to Harold & Kumar’s enduring impact, Lynn shares how White Castle blends tradition with innovation — all while staying true to its family-owned roots. If you’ve ever wondered how a 1921 brand thrives in the age of TikTok and AI, this one’s for you.

#franchising #whitecastle #craveon #ai #marketing