Franchise Today

“This application is truly revolutionary for our industry. You see apps like this with restaurants and retail locations but it’s revolutionary for a swim program to be embracing technology like this to make the lives of the parents easier. We want to make our program as seamless as possible for parents so that they continue to come and teach their children how to survive in the event of a water emergency.” -  Rita Goldberg, CEO & Founder of British Swim School.

This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto are joined by British Swim School CEO & Founder, Rita Goldberg. A once a national swimmer in Britain, but after a career ending injury, Goldberg traded in her Olympic dreams for a career in franchising. In 1981, She shares how she opened her own private swim school in the basement of her home in Manchester, England. Then, with $3,000 to her name, Goldberg soon made her way to the United States to expand her business through franchising.

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

"Why Not You?" - Andrea Scott, co-founder & CEO, skoah (the three words she would tell her 15-year old self)

Joining Franchise Today co-hosts, Paul Segreto and Stan Friedman this week is Andrea Scott, co-founder & CEO of skoah, a brand specializing in personal training for your skin. Scott discusses how skoah is a first-to-market concept offering facials by a team of skin care trainers ho place an emphasis on client education and quality care. Skoah is also the first facial-only studio to offer an original line of products. The discussion also focuses on Scott's entrepreneurial spirit. Ever since she was a young girl, Scott has always been very entrepreneurial. Whether it be selling lemonade or selling her mother’s jewelry, which her mom ended up having to go and get back from her neighbors, Scott has always considered herself to be relatively entrepreneurial and resourceful.

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

“The moment is now. We are at the point where you won’t miss us quickly sailing past our competitors. It comes down to how we’ve shaped the business – a dynamic mix of state-of-the-art technology systems and advanced recycling programs that are helping drive the brand’s expansion into new markets throughout North America.” - Michael Andreacchi, CEO of Junk King Franchise Systems

This week on Franchise Today, Michael Andreacchi, CEO of Junk King Franchise Systems joins co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto, sharing his brand's explosive growth over the past five years in Canada and the United States. Additionally, Andreachhi explains how Junk King maintains the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS) for any service business in North America, citing their advanced technology systems as one of the major differentiators helping the brand achieve such high customer satisfaction ratings. 

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

“The demand is high and there is no other company in the market offering more than 20 building maintenance solutions with only one point of contact. Beyond that, City Wide eases the amount of time and energy spent managing vendors, fielding service calls, and negotiating rates.” - Matt Sacher, Franchisee, City Wide Maintenance (Rhodle Island)

This week on Franchise Today, Jeff Oddo, president of City Wide Maintenance and founder & president of City Wide Franchise joins co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto. Jeff discusses everything from the company's early beginnings to his current goals for the industry's best building maintenance management company. 

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

"Don't fear failure. Positivity is the key to success." - Bill Redfern, founder & CEO of Global Franchise Opportunities

This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto visit with serial entrepreneur, Bill Redfern. Redfern is founder of, Global Franchise Opportunities which includes internationally recognized brands A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI), iCare – Intelligent Home Care Solutions and iHandyMan. After progressively launching the three brands from 2004 to 2015, Recognizing a need for all three brands in international markets, Redfern launched Global Franchise Opportunities in order that existing businesses in these sectors worldwide can be converted and receive support and ongoing training from the proven concepts.To that end, the Pompano Beach, Fla.-based franchisor has signed eight master franchise agreements to significantly expand two of the concepts in Africa within the countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Angola. 

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

Aziz Hashim views the defense of the franchise business model as a top priority for this upcoming year, putting in place an “education policy to explain the true nature of the opportunity represented by franchising,” Hashim explained as he assumed chairmanship of the International Franchise Association February 2016.

On this Special Edition of Franchise Today, Aziz Hashim, Chairman of the International Franchise Association joins show co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto to discuss how he views leaders in franchising as ambassadors for the business model as well as their own brands, who have to explain “that most franchisees are local, family-owned businesses, owned and operated by individuals, who chose a less-risky path into entrepreneurship. Aziz further discusses various issues facing franchising today and into the future along with promoting the upcoming Franchisee Power Summit September 12-13 and Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting September 13-14, both in Washington D.C.

Franchise Today is sponsored by FRM Solutions and Franchise Foundry.

"People are moving fast, but the bottom line is, they want to be able to sit down with their family and let their hair down and let their kids go. I believe community is all about that. And if you're going to go into a community, you should be part of it." - Mary Jane Riva, president & CEO, Pizza Factory

This week on Franchise Today, Pizza Factory president & CEO, Mary Jane Riva joins co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto to discuss how she went from owning five locations as a franchisee to franchisor. Riva further discusses her brand's focus on communities as opposed to rooftops, a focus that has worked well as the brand has grown to 115 locations across six states in the western half of the United States and has seen a near-$10 million improvement from 2014 to 2015.

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

“In an industry where trust is never granted and only earned, Executive Care has separated itself from the pack of home care companies through an unwavering commitment to ensuring our customers receive the best possible care from the most qualified caregivers,” Lenny Verkhoglaz, Founder & CEO of Executive Care

This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome as their guest, Lenny Verkhoglaz, Founder & CEO of Executive Care, a home healthcare franchise based in Northern New Jersey. From early roots formed from a personal experience to national expansion, Verkhoglaz discusses how fate struck in an unforeseen way that ultimately led to the launch of Executive Care and how this relatively young brand competes against the big boys in the home healthcare field. 

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

"We have received numerous accolades and awards for our brand, but none are quite as special as the heartfelt acknowledgments we receive from our franchise owners and the glowing reviews from our satisfied customers,” said Tom Lindberg, co-president, Sir Grout

This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome as their guests co-presidents of Sir Grout, Jeff Gill and Tom Lindberg. Having co-founded the brand in mid-2005 the duo has transformed the way Americans care for their most treasured surfaces, both at home and at work. Gill and Linberg share how they've introduced to the home services industry and maintained the highest standards built upon a foundation of commitment to excellence that stems from incorporating a Six Sigma mindset. 

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

“The quality and taste of the food that Costa Vida offers to consumers is rare if not unmatched in fast casual segment of the [restaurant] industry. With a focus on freshness, along with the coastal feel that the brand embodies, we are confident that the residents of Gainesville, Sarasota, and Tampa will be incredibly impressed with everything Costa Vida has to offer.” - Sam Haddock, Multi-unit Franchisee of Costa Vida

This week's guest on Franchise Today is 40-year restaurant industry veteran, Sam Haddock. Joining co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto, Sam shares his experience as both a franchisee and a franchisor, owning and operating restaurants such as Donato’s Pizza, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Rally’s Hamburgers, and Wendy’s Hamburgers, and serving as director of operations for Rally’s Hamburgers, COO of Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen, COO at Winnter’s International and Managing Partner & COO at J.Christopher's Restaurants. In addition, Sam describes his most recent venture as he and two partners are currently bringing Costa Vida to Florida with a 10-store multi-unit franchise agreement. Their first unit is projected to open soon.

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