Franchise Today

This week on Franchise Today we break with our usual format and feature not one, but 25 voices… all, franchise movers and shakers.  Each will share their thoughts and perceptions about the impact of President Trump’sdecisive win on franchising. 

No personal feelings or biases were accepted.  The Question to these franchise pros: “What have you observed already andwhat do you see ahead, with Donald Trump in the White House.                           

• Mike Kelly, Senior Director, AtmosphereTV

• David Owassi, Founder CEO Outreach
• Dave McDougal, VP We Sell Restaurants

• David Rawnsley, President, RobeksJuice

• Steve Greenbaum, IFA Legend
• Monica Feid, PR Pro

• Peter Holt. IFA Legend

• Erik Van Horn, Franchise Advisor, Entrepreneur,Podcaster

• Dawn Abbamondi, CMO, SMB FranchiseAdvisors

• Erin Fletter, Founder, CEO, Food GeekEmerging Franchisor, Sticky Fingers Cooking School

• Katrina Mitchell, Chief Matchmaker, FranchiseSpeakers

• Ford Saeks, “Featured Speaker,” FranchiseSpeakers.

• Matt Haller, IFA, President, CEO

The episode drops at noon EDT on Wed. 3/12/25 at www.franchisetodaypodcast.com, or wherever you chase podcasts.

This week, discover how Keenan Fisher transformed his family's franchising expertise into a modern barbershopempire. As the driving force behind Tommy Gun's Original Barber Shops, Fisher brings a unique blend of edge, attitude, and confidence to the traditional barbershop experience.

Growing up in his family's successful Chatters hair salon franchise, Fisher recognized a gap in the men's grooming market. This led to the creation of Tommy Gun's, a conceptinspired by 1930s Chicago and New York vibes, offering premium barbershop services on demand through proprietary technology.

The brand's success is evident in its rapid expansion to 85 locations across Canada and 15 in Australia and New Zealand by 2015. Under Fisher's leadership, Tommy Gun's hasrevolutionized the industry by investing in top talent, including global creative lead John Mosley, and embracing the growing artistry in modern barbering.

Ready to experience the future of men's grooming? Listen to this episode to learn how Fisher is redefining the barbershop experience and creating a community of passionatefranchisees who share his vision for excellence.

This week, we are back with Part 2 of myConversation with John Rotche.  Every nowand then, I happen upon a franchise biography that is so compelling that a single episode of Franchise Today just can’t do it justice. And, such is the case with John Rotche.  Last week we wrapped up approaching the Title Boxing Chapter of John’s storied career and we’ll pick back-up there today, but first a couple of reflections on some of what John shared with us last week. 

John quipped in wonderment about how he, athlete guy turned entrepreneur, managed to have the good fortune to be taken under the wings of not one, but two IFA Entrepreneur’s of the Year Domino's CEO Tom Monaghan and Service Brands International Founder, CEO and Serial Entrepreneur David McKinnon.  To that, I say this..., “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.  And oh, btw, it’s no coincidence that IFA awarded John those same prestigious honors in 2011. So, let’s pick back-up where we left off. Part 2: John Rotche, From Football to Franchising. 

This week on Franchise Today, I welcome John Rotche, afranchise professional with a compelling story of overcoming adversity. John shares his journey from the expectations of beginning a promising college football career, to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the franchising world.

He discusses the importance of mentorship, the lessons learned from his experiences at Domino's and Krispy Kreme, and how he transitioned into the air duct cleaning business, before ultimately founding Franworth.

The conversation highlights the significance of building teams, the impact of mentorship, and the drive to help others succeed in their franchising endeavors.

Takeaways:

·      Franchising is about building relationships andteams

·      Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal andprofessional growth

·      Overcoming adversity can lead to unexpectedopportunities

·      Understanding your business's core focus isessential for success

·      The importance of consistency and followingstandards in operations

·      Giving back to the community can create apositive impact

·      Franchising can be a path for those who haven’tplanned for it

·      Learning from industry leaders can shape yourcareer

·      The journey of entrepreneurship often involvesunexpected pivots

·      Creating a legacy involves helping othersachieve their dreams

Greg George, Franchisor, CEO and co-owner of the Peach Cobbler Factory, reflects on his 35-year career in franchising and the personal transformation he underwent in his late 50s following a significant awakening.

The Peach Cobbler Factory has become the fastest-growing dessert chain in America, opening over 112 locations in less than three years. Despite this success, Greg shares his previous struggles and long history of drug and alcohol addiction, which began at age 12 and lasted until he was 46—a pattern he describes as a “family curse” affecting multiple generations.

Greg recounts the challenges of witnessing his oldest son’s

His son also turned his life around and now holds a high-level position in Greg’s company. Together, they have helped 43 individuals find treatment for addiction.

Greg also highlights the significant influence of his business

This week on Franchise Today, I host Greg George, founder and CEO of Peach Cobbler Factory, who shares his compelling story from designing cigar lounges to building out a 100+ unit dessert and treat concept. Greg’s story is one of passion, resilience, and family values. Key highlights include: Greg’s strategic approach to franchising, staying with brands until they soar, and his emphasis on strong products and financial diligence. The rapid expansion of Peach Cobbler Factory, growing to 112 locations across 22 states by 2022, thanks to Greg’s visionary leadership and a mentor’s guidance. Personal stories of triumph over adversity, including Greg’s own battle with addiction and his commitment to supporting others on similar paths. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, this episode is packed with valuable insights on scaling businesses, overcoming obstacles, and the profound impact of people in business. Don’t miss out on Greg George’s inspiring story and learn how franchising can be a powerful platform for change.

As a college student, Nick Lopez started a painting business to pay for his education. However, after reading the book "The E-Myth Revisited" Nick was inspired by the potential of the franchise model.

This experience inspired Nick to explore franchising further, and eventually growing Lyme Painting into the scalable business it has become. Nick's story highlights how passion, adaptability, and a willingness to learn, can lead to unexpected opportunities in the world of franchising. Nick also describes how his entrepreneurship journey is guided by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, thereby making him the Founder and Steward of the business, as opposed to Founder and CEO.

Nick and Stan talk too, about how the unique competitive advantage of the business is in its marketsegmentation. Nick was intrigued by the lack of national players focused on the high-end homeownermarket, which led him to pursue a scalable franchise model in this segment of the home improvement space.

Nick Lopez, this week on Franchise Today.

Discover how coming out of the Army, Steve's military precision transformed Domino's Pizza's struggling equipment division into a well-oiled machine. Steve White, a former Army officer, leveraged his logistics expertise to revolutionize Domino's operations in the 1980s, setting the stage for his remarkable career in franchising.

Steve's problem-solving abilities caught the attention of Domino's founder, leading to successful turnarounds in multiple divisions. His leadership journey continued as he helped consolidate several companies under the Allegra brand and later became President and COO of PuroClean, where he continues to make an impact in the restoration industry.

A passionate advocate for franchise community involvement, Steve serves on the IFA board, has chaired the IFA's VetFran committee and he currently chairs the IFA Educational Foundation.

This week on Franchise Today, Prospect Direct Founder and CEO Alex Oswiecinski shares his insights on the power of data-driven franchise development. He explains how focusing and targeting individuals with strong business acumen and financial capabilities, rather than just capturing leads from those who fill out forms online is a game changer. This more qualified approach sets them apart from generic lead generation portals that cast a wide net. Prospect Direct's process involves thoroughly vetting prospects' professional backgrounds and experience to identify the best-fit franchisee candidates for their clients.

Alex attributes Prospect Direct's rapid growth, ranking 753 on the Inc. 5000 list, to factors like the pandemic disrupting traditional lead generation methods and their ability to connect with high-earning, six-figure potential franchise owners through targeted email campaigns. The key lessons from Alex's journey?

• Embrace a data-driven approach, focus on quality over quantity, and foster transparent, sustainable relationships between franchisors and franchisees.

• Identify and target high-quality franchisee prospects with strong business acumen

 • Thoroughly vet candidates to ensure a good fit with the franchise model

• Manage expectations and deliver realistic results in the franchise development process

• Prioritize transparency and responsible franchise growth over short-term gains.