Meet the Franchise

On this episode of Meet The Franchise, Nick sits down with Weed Man's Philip Fogarty, Head of Franchise Development, and Jennifer Lemcke, CEO, to discuss what it takes to build a successful business in the professional lawn care industry and why it remains an attractive franchise opportunity.

Founded in Canada and later expanding into the U.S., Weed Man has been part of the industry for over 50 years, growing from one man and a pickup truck into more than 970 territories across North America. The brand has earned top industry recognition, including Best Lawn Care Service Company from Forbes Home, #1 Lawn Care Franchise from Entrepreneur, and #1 Home Services Franchise from Franchise Business Review.

Jennifer Lemcke's connection to Weed Man began as a teenager working in the family business. She worked her way through the company, ultimately becoming CEO. Philip Fogarty brings more than four decades of franchise experience to the conversation and serves as a Master Franchise Consultant for Weed Man. Together, they offer a unique perspective on building a successful franchise with the support of an established system.

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On this episode, Nick Powills sits down with Magen Morgan, Founder and CEO of Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. to discuss how she turned her passion for safer, plant-based skincare into a rapidly growing retail concept that sports multiple revenue streams.

Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. currently operates over 50 family-centered locations across 17 states. As part of its national expansion strategy, the brand is targeting high-growth hot markets including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Founded in 2016 in New Albany, Mississippi, Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. was created when Morgan set out to formulate plant-based, chemical-free personal care alternatives for her daughter's sensitive skin. From a single 1,200-square-foot storefront, Morgan built the business on ingredient transparency, community connection, and southern warmth. As CEO, she has scaled the concept into a national franchise network.

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On this episode of Meet The Franchise, 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills sits down with Tim Lovett, CEO & Co-Owner, and Lance Ingram, Founder & Co-Owner of Waterloo Turf, how they grew an Austin-based turf business into a franchise model that is rapidly expanding to 39 active territories across Texas and beyond.

Founder & Co-Owner Lance Ingram launched Waterloo Turf in 2021 after years of industry experience dating back to 2016, scaling the initial Austin operation and successfully testing multi-unit management in San Antonio with a full-time GM. Seeking a vehicle for national expansion, Lance partnered with Tim Lovett, a former operations executive at a multi-brand home service franchise platform with extensive experience leading brand marketing, franchisee coaching, and systemwide training. Together, they secured seven figures of growth capital prior to launching their franchise program in 2024.

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On this episode of Meet The Franchise, Nick Powills sits down with Josh Wise, CEO of GrassRoots Turf, to discuss how he founded a lawn care business that was able to turn customer trust into a recurring residual revenue opportunity.

Founded in 2002 and franchising since 2019, GrassRoots Turf has scaled to 23 franchise units across the United States. Recognized for four consecutive years (2023–2026) as a Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review based on independent franchisee satisfaction, GrassRoots solves the industry's biggest cash flow issue by eliminating weather-dependent, pay-per-treatment revenue in favor of automated monthly subscriptions.

Josh Wise entered the lawn care industry as a young technician before establishing GrassRoots Tree and Turf Care, Inc. in 2002 at age 22. As CEO, Wise pioneered the implementation of technicians with body cameras to record every application, establishing unprecedented operational transparency. Since launching franchise operations in 2019 out of Acworth, Georgia, Wise has built a complete executive infrastructure including dedicated franchise field coaching, centralized call centers, and brand management services.

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Nick Powills sits down with Rob Emery, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of DOGPerfect, to discuss how his nearly 40 years of hands-on entrepreneurial success led him to create a standout pet brand that successfully brings together nutrition, grooming, and everyday essentials.

Founded in 2019 by Rob and Linda Emery, DOGPerfect grew to 6 thriving units across affluent, high-growth Sarasota and Manatee County markets. As of 2025, they have begun franchising and are now looking to expand beyond their Florida footprint by targeting high-density, lifestyle-driven neighborhoods across the country.

Rob began his entrepreneurial career in 1987, founding Cellular and More (a top-performing Verizon wireless retail chain) and co-founding ProtectCELL, which he scaled to over $90 million in annual revenue before a successful acquisition in 2014.

Nick Powills sits down with Matt O'Rourke, Executive Vice President of Franchise Development at BELFOR Franchise Group, to discuss how he scaled his own enterprise to seven locations before its acquisition by BELFOR.

BELFOR Franchise Group corners the market on industrial services, property restoration, cleaning, and home/facility maintenance, with a robust footprint spanning a portfolio of industry-leading brands including 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, Chem-Dry, DUCTZ, Helpful Heroes, HOODZ, N-Hance, Blue Kangaroo Packoutz, The Patch Boys, 1-800-BOARDUP, redbox+ Dumpsters, Z PLUMBERZ, WINMAR, Clear Pest Pros, COOL-BINZ, and JUNKCO+.

Matt O'Rourke serves as Executive Vice President of Franchise Development at BELFOR Franchise Group, driving strategic expansion across the entire portfolio while leading Z PLUMBERZ as Brand President.

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Are you looking to invest in a Senior Care franchise?

On this episode of Meet The Franchise, 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills sits down with Erin Render , CEO of Legato Living, to discuss how her extensive background in Healthcare Administration and hands-on experience in residential long-term care led to founding a specialized memory care model that disrupts the big-box senior living industry.

Operating on a specialized residential model focused on moderate to advanced dementia care, Legato Living is designed for high resident retention, allowing individuals to truly age in place through flat-rate pricing and customized programs like music therapy.

Erin Render holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Healthcare Administration from Creighton University and Bellevue University, respectively. After starting her career directing traditional assisted living facilities, Render recognized systemic gaps in big-box senior care. Working side by side with Jerod Evanich and Dustin Distefano, founders of the "A Place at Home" franchise system, Render leveraged their proven franchise infrastructure to officially roll out the Legato Living concept.

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Are you a veteran looking to invest in a lucrative business?

We sit down with Zach Willey, Founder and CEO of VETS Junk Removal and Dumpsters, to discuss how he leveraged 17+ years of high-stakes U.S. Army leadership to create a business that gives veterans an opportunity to tap into the $10+ Billion national trash management industry.

VETS Junk Removal and Dumpsters is executing a strategic expansion plan across core markets in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, and Virginia. Company partnerships covering over 1 million apartment units, structured operational roadmaps that scale unit revenue from $10k to $100k+ per month, and specialized funding partnerships with Benetrends Financial offering flexible capitalization strategies make this business a standout investment.

A decorated U.S. Army veteran with over 17 years of military leadership—including serving as an Assistant Professor at West Point, a Company Commander managing $40M+ in combat equipment, and an Executive Officer directing complex overseas logistics in Afghanistan—Willey translated mission-critical execution into the commercial waste management space.

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We sit down with Shawn Caric, Vice President of Franchising at Smoothie King, to discuss why Smoothie King is the right choice for top-tier unit economics investors interested in the health and wellness smoothie industry.

Capitalizing on a U.S. wellness market that exceeds $2 trillion and grows at nearly 8% annually, Smoothie King operates a footprint of over 1,200 stores in the United States and more than 1,300 locations worldwide. The brand is executing strategic expansion plans across high-growth target markets in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest, and West.

Caric brings decades of restaurant development leadership to the brand, having previously led franchise expansion efforts for Dunkin' Brands, Baskin-Robbins, QDOBA Mexican Eats, and Red Mango.

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Meet Nate Tew, CEO and Co-Founder of Keyrenter Property Management.

Founded as a residential property management company, Keyrenter Property Management helps rental property owners maximize returns through tenant placement, rent collection, maintenance coordination and ongoing property management. Since launching its franchise model in 2014, the brand has grown to more than 90 franchise locations across the U.S. and was recognized by Franchise Business Review as a 2026 Top Recession-Resistant Franchise and 2026 Top Culture Franchise.

On this episode of Meet The Franchise, 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills sits down with Nate Tew to discuss how he has grown Keyrenter from a local property management company into a national franchise brand. They explore the brand's operating model and what makes Keyrenter an attractive opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to build a scalable service business.

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