Free Agent with Meg Schmitz

Most business owners think their company is worth more than it is. Most buyers waste time chasing the perfect deal. In this episode, Meg and business advisor, Mark Bailey, expose the hard truths about buying and selling businesses—and how tax strategy and mindset shifts separate the winners from the wishers.

What do you get when you mix pest control, holiday lights, and big franchise energy? A boring business that's quietly building empires. In this episode, Meg sits down with Andy Fuller, founder of Pest Hunters, to unpack how one "unsexy" brand is helping franchisees create recurring revenue, generational wealth, and year-round impact.

In this mind-bending episode of Free Agent, Meg Schmitz sits down with leadership strategist Ted Santos to explore the hidden beliefs sabotaging our potential—and our portfolios. From unresolved childhood loops to unconscious limitations, Ted reveals how self-inquiry and intentional disruption are the real keys to personal growth and wealth creation. If you've been operating on autopilot, this is your wake-up call.

What do high-performing investors do when the market turns shaky? They double down on what works. In this episode, Meg Schmitz talks with JetSet Pilates head of development, Sara Buie and franchisees Andrea & Carlos Ponce about why luxury fitness is attracting serious capital—and how franchising can offer both freedom and security in uncertain times.

In this eye-opening episode of The Free Agent, Meg Schmitz talks with entrepreneur Ryan Martineau about how AI and job site technology are reshaping skilled labor, franchising, and business operations. With global job shortages, rising tariffs, and economic uncertainty shaking traditional industries, this conversation dives into how data and automation are creating faster, smarter, and more profitable ways to scale service-based businesses. If you're serious about diversifying your investments—or just curious about where the future of work is headed—you won't want to miss this.

In this episode, we hang out with Mark Schneider, a super chill construction boss who built his company from scratch—while raising five kids! He spills the real deal on what it takes to open up your own brick-and-mortar business, avoid major build-out mistakes, and still get home in time for dinner. If you're considering starting a franchise or building your dream spot, this one has gold nuggets you don't want to miss.

Amanda Gettes' journey into franchising is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of making strategic choices. In this episode of The Free Agent, she shares how leaving a structured career in education, launching a failed startup, and navigating personal challenges led her to franchising as a path to financial stability and personal freedom. From securing an SBA loan on her own to mastering the nuances of the window treatment business, Amanda's story highlights the grit required to build a business from the ground up—proving that success isn't just about the right opportunity but the determination to see it through.

In this episode of Free Agent with Meg Schmitz, chartered financial analyst Eric Schmitz CFA clears away the fear-driven headlines to uncover where bold investors are seizing opportunities in a shifting economy. From tariffs and immigration policies to inflation fears, Eric breaks down how these factors impact business ownership and why essential industries—like senior care, home services, wellness, and experiential retail—continue to thrive. If you're hesitant about making big investment moves, this episode will show you why times of uncertainty can create the best opportunities to step in, take control, and build lasting financial freedom.

From a single mom of four to franchise powerhouse, Heather McPherson's journey is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and business success. In this episode, Heather reveals how she went from the medical field to leading franchise development, the pivotal mentors who shaped her career, and the mindset shifts that propelled her forward. If you've ever wondered what it takes to break into franchising, find the right opportunities, and build a business that lasts, this episode is packed with insights you don't want to miss!