What does it take to build one of the fastest-growing home services franchise platforms in North America?

In this episode of Powered by Franchising, Laura Rolfe sits down with Scott Sutton, Chief Development Officer at Empower Brands, to discuss the vision behind bringing industry-leading brands together under one powerful platform.

Scott shares how Empower Brands supports franchise owners across multiple home service industries, what makes a successful franchisee, and why home services continue to be one of the strongest sectors for entrepreneurs seeking scalable, recession-resilient businesses.

Whether you're exploring franchise ownership, expanding your investment portfolio, or simply curious about the future of home services, this episode offers valuable insights from one of franchising's most respected leaders.

In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why home services continue to outperform many other industries
• The advantages of a multi-brand franchise platform
• What separates top-performing franchisees from the rest
• How Empower Brands supports owners from startup through growth
• Insights into brands including Archadeck Outdoor Living, Bumble Roofing, Conserva Irrigation, FRSTeam, Koala Insulation, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, and Superior Fence & Rail
• What Scott believes is next for the future of franchising

If you've ever considered business ownership through franchising, this conversation is a must-listen.

🎧 To learn more about franchise ownership or schedule a complimentary consultation, visit www.MintFranchiseConsultants.com.

#PoweredByFranchising #EmpowerBrands #Franchising #BusinessOwnership #Entrepreneurship #HomeServices #FranchiseOpportunity #SmallBusiness #Leadership #FranchiseConsultant #HomeServiceBusiness #OutdoorLiving #Roofing #BusinessGrowth #MintFranchiseConsultants

In this episode of Powered by Franchising, Laura Rolfe sits down with Kristie Kalinowski, VP of Development with Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa to explore one of the fastest-growing sectors in franchising: wellness.

Kristie shares her journey in franchising, what makes the Hand & Stone the number one brand in the health and wellness space and why consumers continue to prioritize self-care, wellness, and recurring membership services. Whether you're exploring franchise ownership or simply interested in the booming wellness industry, this episode offers valuable insights into a brand that is helping entrepreneurs build scalable businesses while making a positive impact on their communities.

Tune in to learn:
✔️ Why wellness franchises continue to thrive
✔️ What Hand & Stone looks for in franchise owners
✔️ The power of recurring revenue through memberships
✔️ Trends shaping the future of the wellness industry
✔️ Advice for aspiring franchisees

Interested in exploring franchise ownership? To learn more and schedule a complimentary consultation, visit www.MintFranchiseConsultants.com.

#PoweredByFranchising #HandAndStone #FranchisePodcast #WellnessBusiness #MassageTherapy #SkincareBusiness #FranchiseOwnership #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwnership #WellnessIndustry #FranchiseConsultant #FranchiseOpportunity #RecurringRevenue #SelfCareBusiness #MintFranchiseConsultants

Youth sports aren't just about scoring points—they're about building confidence, character, and future leaders.

Join me as I welcome Aaron Locks, Founder & CEO of National Academy of Athletics, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, motivation, franchising, and the incredible impact sports can have on young lives.

Aaron's passion for helping kids succeed shines through in every aspect of his business, and his story offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, parents, coaches, and leaders alike.

Tune in and discover why some of life's biggest wins happen far beyond the scoreboard.

#PoweredByFranchising #AaronLocks #NationalAcademyOfAthletics #YouthSports #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Franchising #BusinessOwnership #YouthDevelopment #Coaching #MotivationalSpeaker #CommunityImpact #SmallBusiness #FranchiseOpportunities #SportsLeadership

What does it take to truly understand franchising from every angle? John Flanders has lived it. He's started businesses from scratch, bought existing ones, franchised a concept, and now—as Founder & President of Karpata Franchise Group—he guides entrepreneurs through one of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

In this episode, John pulls back the curtain on the real value of franchising, the risks most people never see coming, and why the franchise model can be a smarter path than going it alone. We dig into multi-unit ownership, the art of evaluating a resale versus opening a new territory and more.

But John isn't just an entrepreneur; he's a mentor and a man who leads with purpose. When he's not guiding clients toward franchise freedom or running his other businesses, he recharges by scuba diving, high-altitude trekking, and exploring the world with his wife. And just as importantly, he gives back—supporting causes close to his heart and lifting up his community. His perspective on entrepreneurship is as broad as his adventures, and as deep as his commitment to others.

Whether you're a first-time franchise buyer, a seasoned multi-unit operator, or simply curious about what business ownership could look like for you—this episode is a masterclass.

🎧 Tune in, take notes, and get ready to be Powered by Franchising.

#Franchising #FranchiseOwnership #Entrepreneurship #MultiUnitFranchise  #BusinessOwnership #BuildWealth #SmallBusiness #FranchiseTips #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessFreedom #FranchisePodcast #InvestInYourself #StartABusiness #VentureCapital #FinancialFreedom #LegacyBuilding #GiveBack 

What does a t-ball game in 2004 have to do with a growing national franchise? Everything.

On this episode of Powered by Franchising, we sit down with Sophia Wastler, Founder of The STARZ Program, and Allie Adamson, Franchise Developer, to talk about how a moment at the park — and one little boy's spark of confidence — grew into a children's fitness enrichment brand now expanding across the country.

Sophia shares the teaching career that opened her eyes to the link between confidence and kids' success, the SHINE philosophy at the heart of every class, and what makes STARZ a standout franchise opportunity — from its flexible, school-based model to the support that helps owners thrive. Allie breaks down who makes a great STARZ owner and what the path to ownership looks like.

And a fun footnote: Sophia's son Vinny — the five-year-old who inspired the STARZ Program in 2004 — is now 26, and he still takes full credit. (We'll let him have it.)

Thinking about franchise ownership? Let's connect — learn more at www.MintFranchiseConsultants.com.

#PoweredByFranchising #FranchiseOpportunity #KidsFitness #STARZProgram #FranchiseOwnership #Entrepreneurship #YouthEnrichment #FranchiseConsulting #SmallBusiness #WomenInFranchising

After 29 years in the corporate world, my dear friend David Moore decided it was time to bet on himself — and build something that lasts for his family. 🦍

In this episode of Powered by Franchising, Dave opens up about the journey that led him to franchise ownership, why Gorilla Property Services stood out from the rest, what the discovery process really looked like, and what he learned at training as one of the early adopters of the brand in the U.S.

We dig into the services Gorilla provides, the moments of hesitancy, the resources he leaned on to make the decision, and the legacy he's building one property at a time. This is a real, honest conversation between two friends about taking the leap — and you don't want to miss it.

🎧 Tune in now!

#PoweredByFranchising #GorillaPropertyServices #FranchiseOwnership #BusinessOwnership #Entrepreneurship #FranchiseJourney #BuildingALegacy #LeapOfFaith #SmallBusiness #FranchiseLife #NewChapter #LegacyBuilding #PropertyServices #BeYourOwnBoss

If you've spent any time researching small business acquisition, you've heard the pitch: baby boomers are retiring, they're selling their businesses for pennies on the dollar, and laundromats and car washes are the new path to financial freedom. Codie Sanchez built a media empire on this thesis. Walker Deibel and Carl Allen have amplified it. The underlying data is real — roughly 58% of boomer business owners plan to sell within the next five years.

But here's what doesn't make it into the 60-second reels: the cash-flowing deals are gone before they're publicly listed. Multiples have been bid up by the content wave itself. Serious searchers spend 6 to 24 months submitting LOIs, walking from deals in diligence, and watching environmental issues, equipment failures, and customer concentration risks tank their pipeline.

In this episode, I unpack why the boring-business gold rush is harder than it looks, and why a path most acquisition influencers ignore — franchising — is quietly where a lot of smart capital is landing.

You'll hear four real stories: my own client Damaso Quezada, who scaled from one Batteries Plus location to five in North Florida. Greg Flynn, who turned seven Applebee's into the world's largest franchise operator with $5B in annual sales. Shelly Sun, the CPA with no healthcare background who built BrightStar Care into a 380-location empire. And Guillermo Perales, who started with one Golden Corral and one SBA loan and now runs the second-largest franchise operation in the country.

Whether you're already deep in a search or just thinking about your next chapter, this episode will help you see the trade-offs clearly.

#FranchiseOwnership #BusinessAcquisition #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #CorporateToFranchise #BuyingABusiness #FranchiseConsultant #BusinessOwnership #MainStreetMillionaire #SearchFund #SBALoan #FinancialFreedom #FranchiseSuccess #MintFranchiseConsultants #BoringBusinesses

Most franchise candidates walk right past one of the most resilient, recurring-revenue business models in the industry — and that's exactly the problem Vicktoria Healy is here to solve.

In this episode, Laura sits down with Vicktoria Healy, VP of Franchise Development at SUPPLY POINTe, to talk about the B2B logistics franchise that proudly calls itself "beautifully un-sexy" — and why that's actually its superpower. Vicktoria shares her journey from health club owner to Ironman triathlete to one of the most respected voices in franchise development, including her years training consultants at FranServe and her current role helping entrepreneurs tap into a trillion-dollar industry from a home office.

You'll hear:

• Why Vicktoria believes franchise consulting is mentorship, not matchmaking — and what that means for candidates
• How a home-based franchisee with no trucks, no warehouse, and no inventory wins business inside a $1 trillion U.S. logistics market
• More about the success of B2B revenue 
• Who Supply Pointe is the right fit for — and just as importantly, who it isn't

Whether you're a candidate exploring franchise ownership, a fellow consultant, or someone who's quietly wondering if there's a smarter way to build wealth than the 9-to-5 — this conversation is for you.

🎧 Powered by Franchising is hosted by Laura Rolfe, founder of Mint Franchise Consultants and a Certified Advanced Franchise Consultant helping people change their lives through business ownership.

#PoweredByFranchising #MintFranchiseConsultants #FranchiseOwnership #SupplyPointe #B2BFranchise #LogisticsFranchise #FranchiseOpportunity #FranchiseConsultant #BusinessOwnership #EntrepreneurLife #FranchiseDevelopment #HomeBasedBusiness #RecurringRevenue #WealthBuilding #FranchisePodcast

Not every candidate is in the same place when they start exploring business ownership — so why do most consultants treat them like they are? In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the Mint Fit™ score, an evaluation I built inside my practice to understand where someone actually is before we ever talk about specific brands. I walk through the four stages it identifies, how it works alongside tools like the Zorakle Business Builder assessment, and why the way you start a conversation shapes everything that comes after it. Whether you're exploring franchise ownership or you're a consultant looking to differentiate your process — this one's for you.

#FranchiseConsulting #BusinessOwnership #MintFit #FranchiseConsultant #Franchising #EntrepreneurLife #FranchiseOpportunities #BusinessStrategy #FranServe #PoweredByFranchising #MintFranchiseConsultants #Zorakle #FranchiseCoach #SmallBusiness #OwnYourFuture

There's a reason business owners think about taxes differently — and it's not because they have a better CPA. In this episode, Laura from Mint Franchise Consultants breaks down the tax advantages of business ownership, including Section 179 deductions (up to $2.56M in 2026!), bonus depreciation, vehicle write-offs, retirement strategies, and why owning a business doesn't just create income — it creates tax strategy. Whether you're exploring franchising or just curious about what the other side of the W-2 looks like, this one's for you.

#BusinessOwnership #Section179 #TaxStrategy #FranchiseLife #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessTaxTips #FranchiseConsultant #MintFranchiseConsultants #MintMonday #LeavingCorporate #BuildWealth #TaxAdvantages #FranchiseOpportunity #BonusDepreciation #BusinessTaxTips #OwnYourFuture #TaxSeason2026 #InvestInYourself