What happens when a laid-off pharmaceutical exec reinvents himself as an auto care franchise owner? Meet Steve Sargent, who turned a $275K investment into a $1.5M Milex & Mr. Transmission business with the Moran Family of Brands.

In this episode, Steve reveals:
✅ How he transitioned from pharma sales director to thriving auto repair entrepreneur
✅ His wild first year story (breaking his femur during opening week!) & what resilience really means
✅ The true investment costs, revenue potential, and profit margins in auto franchising
✅ Why Moran’s Milex & Mr. Transmission outshined competitors
✅ How to build company culture, hire the right team, and step out of daily operations
✅ His personal mantra: “If you want things others don’t have, you have to do things others won’t do”

If you’re exploring franchise opportunities in 2025, want to know if an automotive business is profitable, or just love success stories of real franchisees—this is the blueprint you need.

Timestamps

00:00 –  Intro of Steve Sargent
02:10 – From pharma sales to auto care entrepreneur
05:25 – Breaking a femur in week one: resilience & first-year struggles
09:40 – Previous business experience & confidence in franchising
13:20 – Why Moran Family of Brands (Milex & Mr. Transmission) stood out
17:50 – Investment costs & location setup details
20:15 – Revenue goals: from $1.3M to $1.5M+ with 20–25% margins
23:30 – Stepping out of the day-to-day: hiring a center manager
26:15 – PR, media exposure & becoming a “local celebrity”
30:00 – Franchise systems vs. buying an existing business
34:10 – Company culture, employee hiring & emotional intelligence
40:25 – Women in auto franchising & diversity on his team
43:00 – Steve’s mantra for success in franchising
47:15 – Franchise ownership: not easy, but worth it
50:00 – Final wisdom for aspiring franchise owners

💡 Thinking about franchising? Drop your questions in the comments!

Ready to explore franchise opportunities? Click the link below to schedule a call with me—my services are FREE!

https://www.ionfranchising.com/consultation.asp

Discover the true stories of the hustle, heart, and innovation fueling franchises across the globe : https://www.youtube.com/@FranchiseRoadTrip