Franchise Today

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.

"It's hard to tell our story and encapsulate everything we do at MaxOut Strength Studio into the typical one to two sentence vision statement. It's because to every one of our clients, MaxOut means something different. What doesn't change, however, is our commitment to their goals - fitness and personal - with deep appreciation for the trust our clients and their parents place in us. It's a privilege to share this unique opportunity with other entrepreneurs so they may develop their expereince and ultimately, write their own MaxOut story." - Jason Griggs, President & CEO, MaxOut Strength Studio

This week on Franchise Today, co-hosts Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto welcome Jason Griggs, President & CEO, MaxOut Strength Studio. Jason shares the story of developing a business model around very unqiue, state-of-the-art proprietary equipment only to stumble out of the box upon entering franchising. Stan and Paul dive into the challenges faced by this and other emerging brands while Jason shares the inside view on how, after several years of commitment, dedication and extreme passion in transforming the business, MaxOut re-enters the franchise arena stronger than ever. 

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

“I don’t do well with micro-management and bureaucracy. That’s not what I was raised on; it’s not who I am personally. If you give me a task and freedom, it will get done.” - Susan Beth

This week on Franchise Today, Susan Beth, Operating Partner at NRD Capital joins co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto. Susan sheds light on what her and her team at NRD Capital look for in a franchise brand around unit-economics, culture, technology and more - all cornerstones of a sustainable brand. In situations where brands are not hitting on all cylinders, Susan shares examples of her recommendations on how to make improvements to get the brand back on track and begin building [again] towards a solid future with focus on franchisee success.

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

“For years, franchising has been the most popular path for those looking to open a small business, but with so many options in so many industries, deciding which opportunity is the best is an almost impossible decision." - Dr. John Hayes

This week on Franchise Today co-hosts, Stan Friedman and Paul Segreto are joined by internationally-recognized franchise speaker and author, Dr. John Hayes. Since 1979, Dr. Hayes has worked in the franchise community as a consultant, franchisee and franchisor. He is the author of a number of franchise-related books and countless articles that have appeared in media worldwide. Discussing the broad topic of how to buy franchises, Dr. Hayes not only shares his insight on how candidates should proceed through the process but also how franchisors should present their brands in the best light.

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