Live from the International Franchise Association, Lance Graulich sits down with Doug Flaig, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions, to unpack one of the most powerful and overlooked franchise models in the game — master franchising.

You’ll learn how this low-cost, high-profit commercial cleaning business turned “invisible work” into an essential, legacy-driven empire. If you’re looking for recurring revenue, impact, and scale — this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

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📍 Timestamps
00:00 - Live at IFA: Meet Doug Flaig, CEO of Stratus
01:33 - What Is Master Franchising & Why It Works
04:15 - Why Commercial Cleaning Became Essential After COVID
07:42 - Cleaning Industry = Recurring Revenue Goldmine
09:59 - Unit vs. Master Franchise Roles
12:40 - You Don’t Need a Big City to Win Big
14:50 - The $16 Million Franchisee: Small Pond, Big Fish
16:30 - Top 10% of Franchisees: What Makes Them Elite
19:55 - Sales, Systems & Servant Leadership
24:18 - Stratus Corporate Owns 14 Territories — Here’s Why That Matters
27:10 - Collaboration > Command: The Power of Franchisee Feedback
30:00 - How Stratus Builds Culture and Protects ROI
33:11 - Marketing & Support: Why Stratus Doesn’t Need an Ad Fund
36:40 - Why the First Year is a Mystery (Until You Have a System)
39:25 - The Real Cost of Trying to Build It Yourself
41:18 - Funding Options for Master Franchisees
43:04 - The Power of Validation: Talk to Franchisees Who’ve Lived It
45:33 - The Stratus Franchise Blueprint to Win
47:00 - Final Wisdom: Legacy, Passion, and Due Diligence

💥 Key Topics Covered

• Master franchise model breakdown
• Commercial cleaning: boring but wildly profitable
• Franchisee success traits & leadership mindset
• Recurring revenue vs. restaurant-style sales
• Marketing systems, franchisee support & cultural alignment
• Why validation with real franchisees is non-negotiable

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