Franchise Today

What does it really take to build a franchise brand that scales?

In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman sits down with Nick Vojnovic, CEO of Little Greek Fresh Grill, to explore the fundamentals of sustainable franchise growth.

Nick brings a rare perspective to franchising—having worked as an operator, executive, and investor across multiple brands. That experience has shaped his belief that successful franchise systems are built on simplicity, strong unit economics, and disciplined execution.

At Little Greek Fresh Grill, Nick is focused on creating a brand that franchisees can actually operate effectively—prioritizing consistency over complexity and long-term growth over rapid expansion.

In this conversation, Nick shares:

• What separates scalable franchise brands from those that stall
• Why simplicity is a competitive advantage in franchising
• The importance of unit-level profitability
• How operator experience influences leadership decisions
• What he looks for in successful franchisees

Whether you’re a franchisor, franchisee, or just beginning to explore franchising, this episode offers practical insights into building a system designed to last.

In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman sits down with Jeff Helfgott, CEO of Boardroom Salon for Men, to explore a leadership philosophy grounded in integrity, partnership, and disciplined growth.

Jeff’s journey into franchising wasn’t planned. From ROTC to an MBA and a career at McKinsey, he found his way into the industry through Planet Fitness—first as a franchisee, then on the franchisor side. That rare dual perspective shaped his belief that franchising only works when both sides succeed.

Today, at Boardroom Salon for Men, Jeff is putting that philosophy into practice. The brand is experiencing double-digit revenue growth and a 47% increase in new client traffic—while maintaining something almost unheard of in franchising: no locations operating at a loss.

In this conversation, Jeff shares:

• Why so many franchise systems fail at the unit level
• The importance of franchisor-franchisee alignment
• A defining moment where integrity built a lasting competitor relationship
• Why he reversed a rebrand to return to the company’s core identity
• How “How can we help you?” became his operating philosophy

This episode is shines a light on building a franchise system that prioritizes people, profitability, and long-term success over rapid expansion.

If you’re a franchisor, franchisee, or considering entering the space, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

What does it take to build a franchise brand from scratch—and what does it feel like to be part of that journey?

In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman sits down with Matt Friedman, founder of Wing Zone, for a deeply personal and insightful conversation.

Stan shares his own connection to the brand—having spent four of the most meaningful years of his career as a partner in Wing Zone—before diving into Matt’s 27-year journey building the company from a $500 college startup into a nationally recognized franchise.

Together, they explore the realities of franchising, the importance of franchisee support, the power of long-term partnerships, and the lessons learned through growth, adversity, and eventual exit.

This is more than a franchise story—it’s a shared journey of entrepreneurship, partnership, and legacy.

What does it really take to scale a franchise system without losing control? In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman speaks with Michael Haith, CEO of Teriyaki Madness, about building a franchise brand through discipline, infrastructure, and relentless execution.

From his early days as a franchisee to helping grow Maui Waui to hundreds of units, and ultimately acquiring Teriyaki Madness in 2016, Michael shares hard-earned lessons about scaling responsibly. He explains why hiring ahead of growth is essential, how strong systems prevent operational breakdowns, and why chasing trends often leads franchisors in the wrong direction.

The conversation also explores the role of AI in franchising, including how predictive analytics and real-time data are helping franchisees improve performance and make better decisions.

For franchisors and operators alike, this episode offers a clear message: there are no shortcuts to sustainable growth, or sensible franchising.

The pet services industry continues to experience strong growth, driven by consumers who increasingly view pets as members of the family. In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman speaks with Ricardo Azevedo, CEO of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, about building a franchise brand in one of the most resilient and relationship-driven sectors in franchising.

Ricardo shares how Woof Gang has evolved from a boutique pet retail concept into a national franchise platform, combining grooming services, premium pet products, and community-focused experiences. He discusses the importance of unit-level economics, franchisee support, and maintaining brand consistency across a growing network.

The conversation also explores broader industry trends, including consumer spending behavior in pet care, the importance of service differentiation, and how franchise systems can create lasting customer loyalty.

For franchisors, franchisees, and anyone interested in the future of pet services, this episode offers valuable insights into building a scalable and sustainable franchise brand.

After nearly four decades in the automotive aftermarket industry, Thomas A. Wolfe understands what it takes to keep a legacy brand relevant. Now, President and CEO of Ziebart International, Wolfe’s journey began in 1986 working in the Ziebart mailroom and working in the warehouse while attending college — a humble start that ultimately evolved into leading one of the most recognized automotive service franchise brands in the world.

In this episode, Wolfe shares how Ziebart reinvented itself through a pivotal “Change or Die” strategy, returning to its rust-protection roots while expanding into high-value premium services like ceramic coatings, paint protection film, detailing, and window tinting. Today, the company operates approximately 400 locations across more than 35 countries, with a particularly strong presence in markets like Turkey.

Wolfe explains how global franchise growth depends on deeply personal relationships, noting his commitment to visiting International master franchisees regularly to understand local challenges firsthand. He also discusses balancing the needs of multiple customer groups — franchisees, licensees, and automotive dealership partners — while maintaining a clear focus on long-term brand relevance.

From leadership philosophy to global strategy, this conversation offers valuable insights into sustaining a legacy franchise system in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

What happens when a franchise system stalls — and how do you get it moving again? In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman speaks with Mike Mushinski, President of Garage Experts. Mike joined the brand in 2024 to rebuild operations and restore momentum to a growing garage flooring and storage franchise.

Mike shares why most franchise problems originate in recruitment rather than operations, how setting clear expectations solves many system challenges, and why franchising is fundamentally a relationship-driven business.

The conversation also explores the growth potential in garage organization, the advantages of a vertically integrated supply chain, and how home services brands are adapting to changing economic conditions.

How do you build not one — but multiple — successful fitness franchise brands? In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman speaks with Stephen P. Smith, Founder and CEO of Planet Beach and HOTWORX.

Stephen shares how his journey began in independent gym ownership and evolved into launching Planet Beach in 1996, and scaling to 500 locations by year six. He explains how a pivotal conversation in Jamaica in 2014 led to the creation of HOTWORX — an infrared fitness concept combining heat, exercise, and technology in what he calls “3D training.”

The conversation explores franchisee profitability, disciplined marketing, a single-unit operator focus, and why 90% of HOTWORX franchisees were customers first.

This episode is all about sustainable growth, sensible franchising, coaching, and building brands through execution — not vanity metrics.

What does it take to lead a category-defining franchise in a cyclical industry? In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman sits down with Charles Furlough, President & CEO of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors. Charles shares how the brand continues to grow by focusing on franchisee performance, operational excellence, and a differentiated customer experience.

The conversation explores scaling in the home services sector, navigating real estate market cycles, and why strong unit economics and franchisee support are the cornerstones of long-term system success.

What happens when a franchisor prioritizes franchisee survival over growth—and comes out stronger on the other side?

In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman sits down with Neal Courtney, CEO of Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids and Snip-Its, to explore a franchising journey shaped by operational discipline, franchise ownership experience, and crisis leadership.

Neal shares how a casual recommendation from a neighbor led he and his wife Alexis into franchise ownership, and eventually into acquiring and leading the Cookie Cutters brand. Under Neal’s leadership, the system expanded from 25 locations to over 110, selling 370 franchise agreements with a 94% conversion rate between 2016 and 2019.

When COVID-19 hit, Neil halted development, and focused instead on weekly franchisee communication, negotiated rent relief, and helped owners secure PPP and EIDL funding. The result: stronger relationships and average unit volumes nearly 30% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

This conversation covers franchise growth strategy, unit level economics, crisis leadership, founder-led culture, and why franchisors must take responsibility for creating scalable models that actually work.