The Exit Plan with Alex Smereczniak

Nuclear engineer to Boston Consulting Group to dog grooming franchisee. Jacob Lee walked away from the elite MBA path to build a Scent Hound empire, and his philosophy is almost too simple: all you have to do is not fail.

In this episode of The Exit Plan, Alex sits down with Jacob to break down how he went from signing his first franchise agreement in 2021 to eight locations open with a ninth under construction, all in under five years. They get into why he chose franchising over the search fund route, how he vetted brands using return on invested capital and the FDD, and why pet care was a category he was willing to bet on.

Jacob also opens up about the part nobody warns you about: financing. Stringing together SBA loans to open a store every few months got so painful he built a company to fix it (SBA Source). He shares when to move from SBA to conventional lending, what banks actually want to see before your second location, and the back office costs the item 19 never shows you.

Plus: how to keep multi-unit operations from falling apart as you scale, the membership numbers that make everything else take care of itself, and the best advice from his father-in-law, a former QSR CEO.

A practical playbook for anyone who is franchise curious or ready to grow.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:26) From search fund to franchising
(00:05:07) Why Scenthound over other brands
(00:09:27) Overcoming the franchise stigma
(00:17:21) SBA loan lessons and SBA Source
(00:21:42) Moving beyond SBA loans
(00:27:17) Opening stores while running others
(00:34:33) The hidden cost of scaling
(00:38:36) Tracking members and labor
(00:42:30) Owner-operator or multi-unit
(00:46:52) Quick hitters

Connect with Jacob:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-lee-9803a480/

The Exit Plan:
Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exit-plan/id1814643428
Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46Fegpnlum8YtWUuuCnoiF
Free guide, real costs and earnings for the top 5 franchises under $150K: https://go.franzy.com/top-5-franchises-under-150k
Find your perfect franchise, free: https://franzy.com
Follow Alex: https://instagram.com/alexfromfranzy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/

Enjoying the show? Tap Follow in your podcast app so next week's episode shows up automatically, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if this one earned it.

The Exit Plan is a Franzy podcast, hosted by Franzy co-founder and CEO Alex Smereczniak.

Terry Walkerly was told early on that his filtration business would probably never become a large company.

Nearly two decades later, he’s built the largest operation in the entire franchise network - a $10M business spanning multiple states with nine acquisitions completed along the way.

In this episode, Terry shares:

- How he bought and scaled franchise territories
- Why operational leadership matters more than most owners realize
- The importance of reinvesting into infrastructure and people
- How to transition from owner-operator to true business owner
- The biggest mistakes new franchisees make

This conversation is a masterclass in long-term thinking, operational excellence, and building a scalable business inside a franchise system.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:47) Why his coach doubted Filta
(00:05:28) From moving company to Filta
(00:08:51) Buying a struggling franchisee's territory
(00:11:11) Doubting the first year
(00:15:47) How he values small acquisitions
(00:19:23) Pricing deals and replacing equipment
(00:24:47) Deals that fell through
(00:30:17) Reinvesting and hiring ahead
(00:35:15) Building a business that runs without you
(00:42:02) Quick hitters

Connect with Terry:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-walkerly-a080757

The Exit Plan:
Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exit-plan/id1814643428
Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46Fegpnlum8YtWUuuCnoiF
Free guide, real costs and earnings for the top 5 franchises under $150K: https://go.franzy.com/top-5-franchises-under-150k
Find your perfect franchise, free: https://franzy.com
Follow Alex: https://instagram.com/alexfromfranzy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/

Enjoying the show? Tap Follow in your podcast app so next week's episode shows up automatically, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if this one earned it.

The Exit Plan is a Franzy podcast, hosted by Franzy co-founder and CEO Alex Smereczniak.

How does a pizza company you've never seen beat the biggest names in the world? Hunt Brothers didn't win by selling better pizza—they won by rethinking where pizza gets sold.

In this episode, we break down the incredible story of how four brothers from Tennessee turned 59 square feet of gas station counter space into a billion-dollar empire. While Domino’s and Pizza Hut fight over expensive urban real estate, Hunt Brothers built a "low-cost, no-royalty" model that fits inside a town of 500 people.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ssVlH25_aI

💰 Free Guide: Want to own a business like this? We broke down the real costs & earnings for the Top 5 Franchises under $150k. 

👉 Download it here: https://go.franzy.com/top-5-franchises-under-150k

In this episode of The Exit Plan, we sit down with Alex Read, a veteran entrepreneur and operator who has seen the business world from every possible angle as a corporate leader, a high-growth operator, and an investor. Alex shares the remarkable story of his transition from a "golden handcuff" corporate role at American Express in the UK to moving to Vancouver with nothing but a two-week hotel reservation and a hunger for entrepreneurial adventure.

We dive deep into his journey of scaling 1-800-GOT-JUNK to over 300 locations and reaching $100 million in revenue. Alex describes the unique experience of "assembling The Avengers" a powerhouse team of visionaries and integrators who turned "crazy growth" into a "do or die" reality.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:32) Leaving AmEx for Vancouver
(00:03:10) Cold calling local entrepreneurs
(00:08:08) Joining 1-800-GOT-JUNK
(00:15:23) Owning a New Jersey franchise remotely
(00:18:52) Hire great people, get out of the way
(00:25:07) Build it as if it's for sale
(00:30:17) Right people on the bus
(00:37:48) Launching Modern Pure Air
(00:45:38) The daily pipeline metric
(00:48:24) Hiring help before you can afford it
(00:56:20) Quick hitters

Connect with Alex:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askalexread/

The Exit Plan:
Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exit-plan/id1814643428
Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46Fegpnlum8YtWUuuCnoiF
Free guide, real costs and earnings for the top 5 franchises under $150K: https://go.franzy.com/top-5-franchises-under-150k
Find your perfect franchise, free: https://franzy.com
Follow Alex: https://instagram.com/alexfromfranzy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/

Enjoying the show? Tap Follow in your podcast app so next week's episode shows up automatically, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if this one earned it.

The Exit Plan is a Franzy podcast, hosted by Franzy co-founder and CEO Alex Smereczniak.

Why are brands like KFC, Taco Bell, Applebee’s, and IHOP merging into dual-branded restaurants? In this episode, Alex breaks down the real business strategy behind combo restaurants, ghost kitchens, and virtual brands and why companies like Yum! Brands and Dine Brands believe shared real estate could be the future of fast food.

From the rise of the iconic “KenTacoHut” to the modern delivery-app era, this episode explores how restaurants use multi-brand kitchens to maximize revenue, reduce costs, and dominate platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Alex also dives into the operational challenges behind these concepts, why many failed, and why they’re suddenly making a comeback.

If you’re interested in franchise businesses, restaurant economics, real estate strategy, or the future of food delivery, this episode breaks down the hidden business model behind the world’s strangest restaurant mashups

Chick-fil-A is the most profitable brand in fast food, but it’s the only franchise where your exit value is exactly zero. 

We break down the "Golden Handcuffs" business model and why I would turn down a $9M-per-year store to build an empire I can actually sell.

Download the free guide to see real costs, what owners are actually making, and which brands are the right fit for you:
👉 https://go.franzy.com/top-5-franchises-under-150k

In this episode, we break down the massive shift in senior care as 75 million baby boomers choose to age at home instead of in assisted living.

We sit down with Dave Pazgan, founder of Liftology and co-founder of 101 Mobility, to discuss the "Silver Tsunami" and the critical gap in the home accessibility market.

Dave explains why nearly 90% of seniors prefer to age in place and how home modifications can save families thousands compared to the $100,000 annual cost of institutional care.

A fascinating conversation on the future of healthcare, home accessibility, and one of the biggest demographic trends shaping the next 25 years.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:32) Mortgage industry to mobility business
(00:05:42) Why early franchisees succeeded
(00:07:49) Winning on customer experience
(00:12:46) Finding leads beyond Google ads
(00:20:19) Why start Liftology
(00:24:46) What makes new franchisees succeed
(00:30:47) Training for empathy
(00:35:05) Building trust in a new market
(00:40:34) Is the second brand easier
(00:44:22) Aging in place and rising demand

Connect with Dave:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davepazgan/

The Exit Plan:
Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exit-plan/id1814643428
Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46Fegpnlum8YtWUuuCnoiF
Free guide, real costs and earnings for the top 5 franchises under $150K: https://go.franzy.com/top-5-franchises-under-150k
Find your perfect franchise, free: https://franzy.com
Follow Alex: https://instagram.com/alexfromfranzy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/

Enjoying the show? Tap Follow in your podcast app so next week's episode shows up automatically, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if this one earned it.

The Exit Plan is a Franzy podcast, hosted by Franzy co-founder and CEO Alex Smereczniak.

Don Varady shares the unbelievable story behind building Clean Eatz from the ground up.

After the recession crushed his construction career, Don liquidated everything, filed for bankruptcy, and moved across the country with his wife to open a small healthy cafe with just $12,000.

What happened next became a 116-location franchise brand built completely without outside funding.

In this episode we cover:

- The early days of Clean Eatz
- Taking massive risks as entrepreneurs
- Franchising lessons after 100+ locations
- Why most franchisees fail
- The realities of food business economics
- Building community before profit
- The future of healthy food brands

A must-listen for entrepreneurs, operators, and anyone interested in franchising or building a business from scratch.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:32) Meeting his wife at her cafe
(00:06:02) Handing the bank his truck keys
(00:09:52) Why they chose Wilmington
(00:13:39) Moving to Wilmington with $12K
(00:18:14) Learning they could franchise
(00:23:47) Lessons from the first franchise locations
(00:27:05) Evaluating brands by unit economics
(00:29:05) Launch marketing in the first 90 days
(00:32:26) Metrics top locations track
(00:38:38) Advice on quitting your job
(00:42:52) Quick hitters

Connect with Don:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145/
Website: https://cleaneatz.com/

The Exit Plan:
Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exit-plan/id1814643428
Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46Fegpnlum8YtWUuuCnoiF
Free guide, real costs and earnings for the top 5 franchises under $150K: https://go.franzy.com/top-5-franchises-under-150k
Find your perfect franchise, free: https://franzy.com
Follow Alex: https://instagram.com/alexfromfranzy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/

Enjoying the show? Tap Follow in your podcast app so next week's episode shows up automatically, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if this one earned it.

The Exit Plan is a Franzy podcast, hosted by Franzy co-founder and CEO Alex Smereczniak.

Most people think you need $1 million to own a franchise. You don't. Most people think franchising is only for people with deep pockets or business experience. It's not. And most people think the only franchises worth owning are the ones everyone already knows about. That thinking is costing people real money and real opportunity.

In this episode we break down five franchise opportunities all under $150K to start and we pulled the actual franchise disclosure documents for every single one.

Real costs. Real revenue. Real numbers from real owners.

And here's the part most people miss: you don't pay for these in cash. With an SBA loan you typically only need about 20% down, which means you could be looking at as little as $15,000 to $35,000 out of pocket to own a real business.

The five brands we break down:

- Frios - mobile gourmet popsicle franchise, get in for around $15K out of pocket
- Pink's Windows - home services, nearly $1M in affiliate revenue, 64% gross margin.
- Hole in the Wall - drywall repair, $1.1M in revenue year one, almost zero competition
- Lawn Doctor - 55 years in business, recurring revenue, average owner clears $1M+
- Waterloo Turf - artificial turf, $4.5M in gross sales at the corporate affiliate

Watch the full video on YouTube: 👉 https://youtu.be/eIJ9A8jTHos

The Exit Plan:
Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exit-plan/id1814643428
Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46Fegpnlum8YtWUuuCnoiF
Free guide, real costs and earnings for the top 5 franchises under $150K: https://go.franzy.com/top-5-franchises-under-150k
Find your perfect franchise, free: https://franzy.com
Follow Alex: https://instagram.com/alexfromfranzy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/

Enjoying the show? Tap Follow in your podcast app so next week's episode shows up automatically, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if this one earned it.

The Exit Plan is a Franzy podcast, hosted by Franzy co-founder and CEO Alex Smereczniak.

She managed half a billion dollars in budgets for Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins in Abu Dhabi. Then she walked away to run pool trucks in Detroit.

Five franchise brands. Two sold at their peak. Three she still owns today.

And she says passive income is a myth.

Nora Farhat is one of the most honest operators we've had on the show. In this episode she breaks down why she chose franchising over starting from scratch, how she picks a brand — and what makes her walk away, what the first three years actually looked like financially, why she sold two businesses at their peak instead of holding on, how she knows the difference between burnout and time to sell, and what actually builds wealth in franchising when passive income isn't real.

No highlight reel. No shortcuts. Just a real operator who figured it out the hard way.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:46) The now-or-never decision
(00:08:41) Why franchising over starting from scratch
(00:13:36) Her filter for choosing franchises
(00:19:04) Weighing local market and unit economics
(00:25:55) Why she sells at peak
(00:31:29) Burnout versus selling a business
(00:33:57) Managing multiple markets with data
(00:42:01) Expanding to cities away from home
(00:45:22) Why passive income is a myth
(00:48:38) Raising three daughters
(00:51:34) Advice for taking the leap

Connect with Nora:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-farhat-4b4504b5/

The Exit Plan:
Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exit-plan/id1814643428
Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46Fegpnlum8YtWUuuCnoiF
Free guide, real costs and earnings for the top 5 franchises under $150K: https://go.franzy.com/top-5-franchises-under-150k
Find your perfect franchise, free: https://franzy.com
Follow Alex: https://instagram.com/alexfromfranzy | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/

Enjoying the show? Tap Follow in your podcast app so next week's episode shows up automatically, and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if this one earned it.

The Exit Plan is a Franzy podcast, hosted by Franzy co-founder and CEO Alex Smereczniak.