Provide: The Path to Owning It

Some people choose entrepreneurship. Others get pushed into it.

Brian Hanks spent 18 years knowing he wanted to run his own business and finding reasons not to. Then one Monday afternoon, everything changed in a way he never saw coming.

Today, Brian is the founder of Dental Buyer Advocates, a consulting firm that has advised on more than 1,500 dental practice transitions across 49 states, and the author of How to Buy a Dental Practice and Taxes for Dentists. But the road from that Monday to founder was anything but a straight line.

In this episode, Brian shares:

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to bet on yourself, this one’s for you.

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

Many people spend years building a corporate career only to wonder whether it was the right path all along. Our guest spent 16 years doing the same thing — and then used everything he learned to build something completely different.

In this episode, we sit down with Dipen Patel, a multi-unit Goddard School franchise owner based in the Charlotte region, to talk about what the transition from corporate to franchise ownership actually looks like and why that background might be more of an advantage than most people realize.

Dipen didn't wake up one day and quit. He networked with other franchise owners, ran the numbers, tested the model alongside his wife, and made a series of deliberate moves that eventually led him to child care. He's since acquired, turned around, and sold Goddard Schools and he's still building his legacy.

Together, we discuss:

If you've been in the corporate world for years and quietly wondering whether franchise ownership could be your next chapter, this one's for you.

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

Starting a business might be the biggest leap you ever take.

But it also doesn't have to be the last.

For many entrepreneurs, owning a business is not the ultimate professional reward they're after.

Instead, the big payoff is the act itself of building the business.

Patrick Hadley is certainly one such entrepreneur. He has reinvented himself more times than most people would dare. From publishing a college magazine in New York City, to building one of the country's most recognized experiential marketing agencies, Patrick has never been afraid to close one chapter and start another.

That journey ultimately led him to found Momentum Growth Partners, a workflow automation firm that helps commercial lenders and brokers move faster with less friction.

And in this episode, we'll ask him:

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

Building a business with your spouse sounds romantic in theory. In practice, it requires something harder: self-awareness, shared agreements, and the willingness to keep asking whether the life you're building still looks like the one you wanted.

In part two of our conversation with Krista and Phil Franks, co-founders of Owl & Key, we get into the mechanics of what it actually takes to grow something deeply personal (your business) without losing what made it worth building in the first place.

And building something of your own, while rarely easy, has a way of giving back more than it takes.

Together, we discuss:

How they defined roles based on personality strengths

The structures they put in place to handle conflict without letting it derail the business or the marriage

The hardest operational decision they've made so far and what it cost them

How they built a certification program that scales without sacrificing quality

What it means when the answer to "If we died tomorrow … " starts to drift back toward no

How energy compounds just like money does — and how prioritizing the things that give you life can change everything

If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to keep recalibrating as life changes without starting over completely, this conversation may be the answer you’re looking for.

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

For some entrepreneurs, the business doesn't start with a pitch deck or a market opportunity. It starts with a question they’re brave enough to answer honestly: If I were to die tomorrow, would I be proud of the way I live today?

In this episode, we sit down with Krista and Phil Franks, the husband and wife co-founding team behind Owl & Key, a platform built around intentional living and lifestyle design. What began as a quiet tension between the life they were living and the life they actually wanted evolved into a business born from the inside out — built first as a framework for their own family, and eventually shared with the world.

And building something of your own, while never easy, has a way of giving back more than it takes.

Together, we discuss:

The moment they asked themselves if they would be proud of the way they lived today — and what it meant when the answer was no

How shared values and honest conversation gave them the foundation to take the leap

The failed restaurant venture that taught them more about entrepreneurship than they expected

Why they believe action teaches more than planning

How an internal planning framework they built for their own family became the foundation for Owl & Key

If you’ve ever suspected that the life you’re living and the life you actually want don’t look the same, this conversation invites you to take the leap to build your dream life.

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠ to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

For some entrepreneurs, the idea of ownership doesn't come from a lifelong dream. It comes from a conversation, a transition, and a willingness to bet on yourself when the road ahead isn't clear.

In this episode, we sit down with Sean McIlroy, West Point graduate, former U.S. Army Green Beret, and owner of MP Copiers in Northern Virginia, who discovered entrepreneurship through acquisition after a decade of military service. What started as a passing suggestion from a friend evolved into an 18-month search, a disciplined acquisition process, a business that checked every box, and a deal that closed in March 2026.

Together, we discuss:

What ten years of military service really teaches you about risk, chaos, and leading people

How he discovered entrepreneurship through acquisition and why it felt like the right fit

What 18 months of searching actually looks like and how he stayed the course

The criteria he used to evaluate businesses and why he looked past the "trendy" options

The financial trade-offs of the search and what made it survivable

The leadership adjustment every new owner has to make about the people already on their team

If you've ever stood at a transition point and wondered whether ownership could be your next chapter, Sean's story offers an honest and grounded look at what it really takes.

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠ to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

For some entrepreneurs, building a business isn't just about what they're creating — it's about who they're becoming in the process.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kate McGowan, DVM, owner of The Healthy Pet Veterinary Clinics in the Atlanta area, who built a boutique veterinary hospital from the ground up while raising a family and carrying six figures of student loan debt. What began as a late-night conversation on the couch evolved into two thriving locations, a debt-free life, and a business designed intentionally around the people she loves most.

Together, we discuss:

What it really feels like to leave a safe job for something uncertain

The honest conversations she had at home before taking the leap

The shift in family dynamics that made the business possible

Designing a schedule, culture, and team around family — not in spite of it

The Profit First method and the financial habits that fueled long-term stability

Learning to let go, hire slowly, and trust the people around you

If you've ever wondered whether you can build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process, Dr. Kate's story offers a candid look at what it really takes.

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠getprovide.com⁠ to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

For some entrepreneurs, starting a business isn’t just a leap of faith — it’s a leap taken together.

In this episode, we sit down with husband and wife Bob and Jan Gibbons,  who built their commercial real estate business over time — first as a solo venture, and eventually as a shared commitment. What began as a response to a layoff evolved into a long-term partnership rooted in trust, specialization, and a willingness to grow together.

But working together didn’t come with a blueprint.

Together, we discuss:

What it feels like to build a business after unexpected job loss

The leap from “helping out” to fully committing as co-owners

The tension of giving each other responsibility and authority

Learning to define roles, stay in your lane, and let go of control

How outside mentorship helped them align around a shared vision

If you’ve ever wondered whether you could build something meaningful with your spouse — without sacrificing the relationship in the process — this conversation offers an honest look at what it really takes.

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit getprovide.com to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

For some entrepreneurs, starting a business isn't a lifelong dream. It’s a moment of clarity, a calculated leap, and a willingness to build before they feel ready.

In this episode, we’re speaking with Dusty Weis, founder and president of Podcamp Media, a boutique podcast production agency that helps brands tell better stories and build long-term trust with their audiences. Dusty shares how his corporate career in journalism and strategic communications led to a lightbulb moment, some quick back-of-the-napkin math, and the bold ask that helped launch his business — turning his employer into his first client.

Together we’ll discuss:

How Dusty knew it was time to leave corporate and bet on himself

The fears and doubts he had starting a business with a young family at home

How he carved out a niche in a crowded industry by going boutique

What it really takes to build client trust and keep relationships for the long haul

Why uncertainty and impostor syndrome don’t go away and how to keep building in spite of them

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit getprovide.com/start/the-path-to-owning-it to pre-qualify for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

For some entrepreneurs, the time and energy it takes to start a business from scratch is a welcome challenge. 

And for others, it makes more sense to buy their way into business ownership — and it’s more accessible than ever thanks to game-changing, government-backed SBA 7(a) loans.

So in this episode, we're speaking with Matthias Smith, founder and owner of Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC, a consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs secure SBA 7(a) financing to acquire a business.

Since launching in May 2022, his firm has helped 115 business buyers close on more than $250 million of SBA 7(a) financing.

And together, we'll discuss:

What types of businesses do well in an entrepreneurship-through-acquisition (ETA) transaction

How SBA 7(a) financing works

What new business owners should consider when structuring an acquisition

What due diligence mistakes small business buyers often make

How small business buyers can prepare to apply for financing

Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit ⁠getprovide.com/start/the-path-to-owning-it to pre-qualify⁠ for financing in as little as two minutes, with no impact on your credit score.

Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant’s opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.