Level Up with Nick Lopez

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go into business for yourself, but you don’t know where to start? Look no further than FranNet, one of the world’s leading franchise consulting networks. Nick Lopez and Roxanne Rapske dive into what makes the Texas and Oklahoma markets ripe for franchise ownership. Roxanne dives into her experience as an entrepreneur and how that has translated to her identifying franchise opportunities and who makes for a good fit depending on the skillsets of the potential owner and the day in the life required to be successful within the brand. She explains how she uses the FranNet process and elaborates on the nuances of what has given it the reputation it has in franchising. Roxanne shares some success stories and themes for what made those placements such a great fit all around. In general, Roxanne helps laid-off and transitioning corporate professionals, and as a result, she shares common themes when advising them. Additionally, Roxanne has advised many military veterans, so rightfully, she shares why they become successful franchise owners as, naturally, they are great at learning and executing a process. 

Nick Lopez and Rick Grossman reflect on their journey establishing the foundation of LIME, the nation's largest and most successful luxury painting company. Nick and Rick initially connected on their core values, specifically creating a franchise culture where franchise owners come first. In this episode, Rick discusses the key strategies for building a successful franchise system. Nick and Rick reflect on their time together at the Franchise Hub and when Rick helped Nick start LIME Painting, which has 80 locations in just two years. Then Nick dives into Rick's entrepreneurial journey as the founder and CEO of a brand that grew to an impressive 120 locations in just two years. They talk about the Franchise Bible Coach program, discussing how it helps brands with zero franchised locations build the necessary infrastructure to start the process of becoming a franchise. The two share insights on building a successful franchise system and creating a franchise culture where franchise owners come first. They also stress the importance of values and doing business. They focus on the people in the business and the people that they serve. Tune in and gain valuable insights and strategies to take your business to the next level through franchising.

Nick Lopez and Merri Cronk dive into what makes FranNet’s matchmaking process so effective at helping people find franchises in the marketplace of over 4,000+ available brands. Merri also dives into what a prospective franchise owner should do in navigating a franchise brand’s discovery process and awards franchise licenses when done right, not sold. It is paramount to not buy a franchise but rather navigate who you want and should be in business. Navigating the discovery process is an art as much as a science. Merri shares some of what makes her process unique but highly effective. When done right, the match can be lightning in a bottle.

Nick and Merri also call out fear, which is generally a driving force during the discovery process, and how to address and navigate it effectively. Merri speaks to some key motivators that help candidates achieve their dream of business ownership, as success often leaves clues. Finally, the conversation wraps up with Merri diving into some of her tips for successfully buying, operating, and selling a business. This episode is most certainly a must-watch.

Nick Lopez and Bob Patinella talk about the founding of and leadership team that makes Benjamin Moore such an iconic brand. They also talk about the substantial R&D that Benjamin Moore has invested in for over a century. Benjamin Moore’s coatings are tried and tested across markets all over the world. From their unique and stunning colors to their long-lasting and durable finishes that enhance and transform spaces, Benjamin Moore is a trusted household name. Combine that with a luxury national painting and coatings company, and it makes for a special combination that consumers can benefit from, one brushstroke at a time. From the quality prep products that make up Benjamin Moore’s inventory to their incredible top coats that lay down easily with impeccable coverage and overall performance, Benjamin Moore’s innovative approach within the coatings industry provides LIME with products that are trusted for 100+ years. Nick and Bob dive into some new product rollouts that are changing the game for the coatings industry.

Nick Lopez and Wes Barefoot talk about how Wes fell into franchising by joining an up-and-coming franchise company called 101 Mobility. Wes found his path to freedom and escape from the “Corporate Grind” through franchising. After 101 Mobility, he joined ShelfGenie, where potential franchise owners fit well. Wes talks about how he and his wife Kelly have become top-performing ShelfGenie franchise owners themselves. Wes sheds light on the importance of how to build a team within the home services model. By doing so, Wes and Kelly establish the time and financial independence that franchise ownership provides. Today, Wes uses his franchise experiences to help consult with potential franchise owners by helping them understand if franchise ownership is for them, if so, what brand fits their interests, skills, and lifestyle goals. Tune into this episode to learn from one of the top franchise consultants at one of the world’s most renowned franchise consulting networks in FranChoice.

Nick Lopez and Gary De Jesus talk about his time playing football and studying at Harvard to mastering brand development at Procter and Gamble. Today, Gary is one of the most influential marketing minds in franchising, as he has helped countless iconic national companies perfect their brand. Gary dives into his brand development exercise called "the Reason to Believe" and how it tailors to the strategic target based on heart and head and what the consumer wants, not what the brand wants - his passion for cognitive science plays an important role here. Gary also shares how the five fundamental human values and brand positioning lay the foundation for the Reason to Believe and create confidence in the brand's ability to execute against the brand promise. He is a master of disrupting the brain through brand development. As a result, the brands he levels up disrupt entire industries as he creates clarity for how the brand delivers incredible value within the marketplace. You should not miss this episode if you're looking at national expansion for your brand!

Nick Lopez and Pete Gilfillan, the bestselling author of the book Hire Yourself, unpack what the corporate grind looked like while Pete navigated through his career with some of the world’s most successful companies. Pete talks about what it was like to be an important part of Fortune 500 companies such as Ford Motor Company, where he bled blue. But ultimately, the travel and restrictions on his life didn’t provide him the independence and happiness he knew he could have through entrepreneurship. Pete recalls sitting in on hours of senseless meetings and having no control over that reality. Time and time again, subjective objectives were defined as the goals to hit, not to mention the corporate politics. Ultimately, franchise ownership was calling Pete away from the corporate rat race. Pete went on to own a multi-state master license with Junk-King Franchise Systems, Inc., and he hasn’t turned back. Today, Pete is living life on his terms and also doing it by helping others experience the same kind of entrepreneurial freedom through franchise consulting with the world’s top franchise consulting firm in FranChoice.

Nick Lopez and Erik Van Horn of Franchise Secrets discuss everything about the franchise industry. This dynamic conversation covers Erik’s time operating as a franchise owner, multi-unit franchise owner, master franchise owner, and franchise development rep. Over his career, he has been a franchise owner with six brands and an area rep with two others. As of late, he lives on the outskirts of South Dakota where he runs his companies out of state.

Erik and Nick discuss the most valuable lessons in franchising, the power of getting the right mentor to help you level up, the importance of location, and prioritizing trust and credibility above anything else. Nick also shares some of his predictions on the franchise industry and the best ways to cope with these potential trend shifts.

Nick Lopez and Dru Carpenito get together on this episode to discuss what makes Dru Carpenito's franchise discovery process so effective for individuals exploring franchise ownership. What Dru shares about his upbringing in franchising is impressive, to say the least, but is not surprising in many ways. 

Dru Carpenito shares how he met Jeff Dudan, the Founder of AdvantaClean, and how Dru worked relentlessly to take AdvantaClean from local restoration company to a national powerhouse. He took that experience to a national franchise company in Tutor Doctor and helped them break ceilings by driving unprecedented growth. Dru’s experience in the trenches has most certainly helped him gain the insights needed to find the right fits for his franchise candidates. 

Listen in on this episode to learn more about Dru’s journey from being in the arena to advocating for others to take their leap into entrepreneurship. 

Listen in to the Nicks as they discuss how their partnership has allowed for the two of them to found companies through the global pandemic. Nick Sheehan shares what it takes to build an organization that supports franchise brands as they take their local business national. Nick Sheehan talks about team building, preparing brands for national expansion, and why The REP’M Group is not your ordinary franchise sales organization.