Franchise Today

Three of Key Bank's key executives join me tomorrow, to discuss Key Bank's commitment to franchising and entrepreneurship for women, financial dignity in low and moderate income communities and how Key is increasing it's footprint to serve all 50 states, as a Top 15 SBA Lender.  Learn too, about Key's financial committment to the IFA Educational Foundation, in the name of diversity, women, veterans and next generation entrepreneurs.

This week Tom Portesy, President and CEO of MFV Expos, makes a return appearance on Franchise Today.  Our discussion though will be about something other than Expos.  On this episode, Tom will be talking about MFV’s acquisition of the Best Franchisee of the World competitions, a series of national events culminating in an international event in Florence, Italy celebrating the best franchisees from around the world. How has franchising impacted their families, their futures, and their communities? Nominees submitted by their franchisors could win National Titles… or even Best Franchisee of the World. MFV Expositions is invested in highlighting the extraordinary people that are changing the franchising industry and changing the world.  Tune in to learn more about this amazing global competition and the U.S. Competition that precedes it.  The U.S. competition is now open for entries.

This week I talk with Solink VP Jim Farrell, as we discuss how restaurant and retail operators can revolutionize the way their locations use video, when they deploy Solink’s cutting edge, loss prevention technology.  Solink identifies and solves transactional problems that affect franchised businesses daily, linking security footage with actual transaction data, creating “real-time” insights into daily business pain points and making it easy to have full visibility into every action and transaction, at every site, from any device, on demand.  It does so by cutting through the noise and excess footage taken by security cameras and instead, points directly to the day’s notable events, unusual transactions and unauthorized activity.  This puts the operator’s current systems on double-duty: providing “added value” from existing POS, cameras, and other digital systems.

The impact that Solink delivers, will interest every franchisor concerned with unit level economics, multi-unit franchisees and yes, even single unit operators.  Jim also explains too, how these user-friendly tools also create coaching opportunities, in addition to identifying compliance and security concerns.

As Franchise Today celebrates its 10th season and start of a new era, Stan Friedman transitions from his former role as co-host to the show's new host. In this segment of the increasingly popular podcast, Stan welcomes as his guest, Chris Spears. Chris, a returning guest on Franchise Today is Co-founder and Chief Marketing Technology Officer of FRM Solutions parent company, Arke. Stan and Chris discuss how Arke, a digital business consultancy specializing in implementation and integration of marketing technology solutions has developed relationships with a growing number of franchisors across various industry segments.

This segment of Franchise Today airs Wednesday January 23rd at 12PM EST with on-demand access on iTunes. Franchise Today is sponsored by FRM Solutions along with new sponsor, Arke.

In this Special Edition of Franchise Today celebrating its 10th anniversary, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto reflect upon the podcast's history from its early beginnings in 2009 to its increasing popularity through 2018. Co-hosts for the past five years, Stan and Paul discuss their time together interviewing some of the leading founders and executives in franchising. To set the stage for 2019 and beyond, Stan and Paul also share some exciting news that is sure to take Franchise Today to new heights. 

This segment of Franchise Today airs Wednesday January 9th at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes, and is sponsored by FRM Solutions and Franchise Foundry.

In this segment of Franchise Today co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcomed as their guest, Chris Fisher, Founder & CEO of Shine Window Care and Shine Holiday Lighting. Chris shared how he followed his grandfather's advice and instead of taking a sales job, he opened a window cleaning business in Austin, Texas. In 2011, he decided to franchise the business and rebranded as Shine Window Care and Holiday Lighting, and two of his longtime employees became his first franchisees. Then his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer; she recovered, but it convinced the couple to hit pause. They handed the business to friends, went to do missionary work in Uganda for two and a half years, then returned to the U.S. (and the business) in 2014.

Franchise Today airs Wednesdays at 11AM CT / 12PM ET with on-demand access on iTunes, and is sponsored by FRM Solutions and Franchise Foundry.

In this segment of Franchise Today hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcomed back Steve Greenbaum. Now in his role as CEO of ComForCare Health Care Holdings, LLC, a premier provider of non-medical in-home care with nearly 200 locations throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Steve discussed his role with The Riverside Company, ComForCare's private equity partner and how he is creating and leading a multi-brand franchise parent company with plans for expansion across the home care industry.

Franchise Today airs Wednesdays at 12 PM Eastern Time / 11 AM Central Time with on-demand access on iTunes and is proudly sponsored by FRM Solutions and Franchise Foundry.

This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome as their guest, Brian Scudamore. Brian is the founder and CEO of O2E Brands and a serial entrepreneur known for pioneering the professional junk hauling industry with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. Since conquering that market, Brian has gone on to apply the O2E (ordinary to exceptional) formula to the painting, moving, and home-detailing industry with WOW 1 DAY PAINTING, You Move Me, and Shack Shine.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 12 PM Eastern Time / 11 AM Central Time with on-demand access on iTunes and is proudly sponsored by FRM Solutions and Franchise Foundry.

In this segment of Franchise Today co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcomed as their guest Ray Titus. In addition to serving as CEO of United Franchise Group and its affiliated companies. Mr. Titus is a life-long entrepreneur who began his career with his father, franchising legend Roy Titus, and went on to develop a group of successful brands and franchise development services. Ray discussed the Titus Center for Franchising at Palm Beach Atlantic University officially kicking off its second year of enrolling college students in the program and, more importantly for listeners, the Selling Franchises Bootcamp that is happening in January 2019. 

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 12 PM Eastern Time / 11 AM Central Time with on-demand access on iTunes and is proudly sponsored by FRM Solutions and Franchise Foundry.

Joining co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto this week on Franchise Today is John Fistolera, Assistant Executive Director, Corporate and External Affairs of DECA, Inc. Fistolera is responsible for developing strategic partnerships that drive DECA’s mission of preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. DECA’s strategic partners include the members of its National Advisory Board (NAB), Congressional Advisory Board (CAB) and DECA’s public affairs media partners.

About DECA: DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Franchise Today airs LIVE Wednesdays at 11AM CDT / 12PM EDT with on-demand access on iTunes, and is sponsored by FRM Solutions and Franchise Foundry.