Franchise Today

“When equipment breaks down, dentists rely on Dental Fix Rx for quick and professional on-site repairs – ultimately saving their practices time and money,” said David Lopez, CEO & co-founder of Dental Fix Rx. “We saw a lot of crossover between our areas of expertise and ways our services could complement each other. By combining our excellent back-end customer support teams with our national network of expert technicians, we are providing a tremendous value to dental professionals across America.”

This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome as their guest, David Lopez, CEO & co-founder of Dental Fix Rx. Providing a much-needed solution to dental practices with a fast turnaround, reliable customer service and very competitive rates, Lopez discusses how Dental Fix has over 130 vans operating in the United States and Canada, serving more than 17,000+ dentists within a very unique business model.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

"You [up-and-coming entrepreneurs] need to constantly be improving.  When you get tired, you need to get out [of the business],  Your motor has to run in top gear all the time." - Eric Casaburi, CEO & Founder of Retro Fitness

Always thinking ahead is just one of the success components discussed this week on Franchise Today as Retro Fitness, CEO & Founder, Eric Casaburi joins show co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto. Faced with limited choices, Eric explains how he chose the right path towards owning his own fitness center and ultimately turning it into a fitness empire. Also, as another guest from the franchise community that has appeared on both Undercover Boss and Franchise Today, Eric shares his experience working undercover inside his organization, not only for the benefit of the television audience but also for his benefit as the brand leader.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

“I did everything in those years, knocking on doors to get jobs, hiring the employees to get them done, managing their schedules, dealing with customer complaints, resolving issues. It was the best hands-on learning you could get. It teaches you what the real world is about. And it allowed me to save enough to get my first truck, trailer and equipment.” - Carmelo Marsala, founder & President,Spray-Net

This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome as their guest, Carmelo Marsala. Carmelo is not only the founder & President of Canadian franchise brand, Spray-Net, but is also a multiple award winner in entrepreneurship including: 

2015 Winner of the NextGen in Franchising Global Competition by International Franchise Association Educational Foundation

2015 Air Miles Small Business Achievement Award, Young Entrepreneur of the Year

2014 Finalist for the Ernst & Young, Young Entrepreneur of the Year

In this segment of Franchise Today, Carmelo discusses his rise from franchisee to a widely recognized young entrepreneur and his plans to expand the brand from Canada to the United States.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

Road signs may caution to be careful due to ice on the road but ice of all flavors consumed in communities across the nation is helping communities raise millions of dollars. Well, $35,000,000 and counting. 

This week on Franchise Today, Tony Lamb, founder & CEO of Kona Ice joins Franchise Today co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto and discusses a major factor in his franchise brand's success - “We came up with the idea to help organizations in the community by giving them a percentage of sales at fund-raising events. The idea caught fire and the business exploded." In addition, Tony shares his perspective on using sustainable energy to help reduce each Kona Ice truck's carbon footprint while building a sustainable brand of over 700 trucks across 48 states.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

“I’m a CEO of a healthy brand. I should start practicing what I preach.” - Sal Rincione, CEO of UFood Grill

While old QSR chains are trying to save their consumer base, shed unfavorable brand identities and catch up, UFood Grill is in a leadership position to expand what they already do so well. Many companies aspire to evolve in the QSR Industry. But very few have all the elements required: the right team, the right strategy and a solid plan for growth. UFood Grill has proven that it has all three in abundance. This week on Franchise Today, UFood Grill CEO, Sal Rincione explains to co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto why he couldn't ask for a better foundation. Rincione also eplains how he put his money where his mouth is, so to speak by dropping 50 pounds using UFood’s universally sub-700-calorie menu as his inspiration, Also learn how Rincione assembled one of the most seasoned franchise teams in the industry and added former Boston Celtics player and coach M.L. Carr to the his board.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

Note: This show was originally scheduled to air May 4, 2016 but due to technical difficulties it was rescheduled to May 18, 2016.

"You have to be diligent about saying, ‘no.’ There are people who will want to buy into your brand, but we say ‘no’ more often than we say ‘yes.' It has to be the right person, and if we’re not comfortable with that person, it’s better to say no for the long-term. That’s tough when you’re trying to build a brand." - Nancy Bigley, CEO & Co-owner, Bottle & Bottega

From Corporate America to Entrepreneurship, the chosen path to pursue passion and devote vision, talent and energy to one's own business is a dream many have, but few follow. This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome Nancy Bigley, CEO & Co-owner of Bottle & Bottega, a growing brand in the booming paint & sip industry of franchising.

Nancy discusses her journey along with that of other female entrepreneurs that have become franchisees of the brand. Extremely active in the International Franchise Association, Nancy also talks about her leadership role in the Women's Franchise Network and shares her perspective on issues affecting franchising and small business today.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

This week on Franchise Today co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome as their guest, Nancy Friedman (no relation to Stan) aka Telephone Doctor. Nancy is a 2-time IFA mini session speaker – and has brought her keynote programs and workshops to dozens of franchise conferences around the country, entertaining the audience with her straight talk, no nonsense, common sense approach to her  tips, ideas, skills and techniques. Covering all 6 touch points of communication… email, snail mail, phone, fax  and face to face, Nancy is more that “just" telephones as she explains how positively memorable experiences are more than just for customers!

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

Regarding customers... “The customer experience is far and away the most important part of being in business, and we aim to satisfy that or actually over-achieve in that area." 

About the future... "Collectively, as a management team, we’ve got great vision, we’ve got a strategy map in place, we’ve got great communication, we’ve got great core values in our company – it’s a fun place to be.”

- Ralph Yarusso, Senior V.P. for Operations and Business Development, Grease Monkey

This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome Ralph Yarusso, Senior V.P. for Operations and Business Development for Colorado-based, Grease Monkey. In an industry that has seen it's share of challenges, Grease Monkey continues to grow as a result of delivering exceptional customer experience across an expanding array of services and development of a corporate environment that exudes the right-fit culture.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

"Franchising is all about risk and reward. The earlier you get into a system, the greater the risk and, if it succeeds, the greater the reward." - Eric Stites, CEO & Managing Director, Franchise Business Review

This week on Franchise Today Eric Stites, CEO & Managing Director of Franchise Business Review joins co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto to discuss franchisee satisfaction and franchise buyer experiences. Helping people make educated investment decisions about the best franchise opportunities available, Eric explains how Franchise Business Review is known for 'Sharing the franchise experience' which is actually the company's tagline. 

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.

"Chris is the man! His new venture class is a must-take for anyone wanting to be an entrepreneur. His lectures were "compelling and provocative" (just to use some of his words) and the class was challenging but in a good way." - A student rating Christopher C. Hanks, founder and executive director of the Kennesaw State University Entrepreneurship Center

Entrepreneurship is the topic this week on Franchise Today as special guest, Christopher Hanks joins co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto. With a long list of achievements, designations and accolades in and around Entrepreneurship, Hanks shares how entrepreneurship has the power to change lives and discusses the Kennesaw State University Entrepreneurship Center and how, as a community they strive to: serve others, solve problems, create value, lead well, follow well, and break entitlement.

 And, about the KSU Entrepreneurship Center, where it's written, "Entrepreneurship has about as many definitions as it does people passionate about its impact. We love the tension surrounding entrepreneurship because we believe it fuels conversations that ultimately produce action. The diversity surrounding entrepreneurship is also why we choose to define it not by sentences on a page, but by a culture and a people."

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes.