The Exit Plan with Alex Smereczniak

Matt Forbush has lived the entire lifecycle of a franchisee. From scrubbing toilets as a teenager to managing a $30M portfolio of 50+ locations, Matt has mastered the "pennies to dollars" math of the QSR world.

In this masterclass on scaling, Matt breaks down:

- The 21-Year-Old Founder: How he capitalized his first two Auntie Anne’s locations.
- The "Messy Middle": Why he nearly lost it all on a horizontal expansion into chicken tenders and how he regrouped.
- The Operator to Technologist Pivot: Why he removed himself from his stores to build Zignyl (and his recent acquisition by Miso Robotics).
- Retention Secrets: How Matt achieved 43% employee retention in an industry that averages 100%.

Whether you are looking to buy your first unit or you’re stuck at 10 locations trying to reach 50, Matt’s insights on "thinking out loud" and granular data will change your operating playbook.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:26) Learning the business at Chick-fil-A
(00:06:44) Buying his first Auntie Anne's stores
(00:09:41) The chicken concept that set him back
(00:13:44) Teaming up with two franchisees
(00:17:54) What broke while scaling
(00:20:16) Building software out of necessity
(00:22:31) Making employees think like owners
(00:32:09) Using sales data to drive results
(00:37:51) Operating stores versus building software
(00:45:00) Quick hitters

Connect with Matt:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattforbush/

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 I Franchised This is now The Exit Plan.

Because most people aren’t looking for a franchise - they’re looking for a way out.

The Exit Plan is for anyone done trading time for a paycheck and ready to build something real.

Each week, Alex Smereczniak sits down with entrepreneurs, franchise owners, operators, and founders who’ve actually done it - breaking down how they got out, what worked, what didn’t, and what the numbers really looked like.

No fluff. No highlight reels. Just real conversations with real operators.

New episodes every week.

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.

There were only 3 Dave’s Hot Chicken locations when Brian Cassidy went all in.

He was on FaceTime counting tickets, doing the math in real time… and realized this couldn’t be normal.

So in 2020 - while the world was shut down - he signed a 30-store development deal.

Today, he operates nearly 200 locations across Carl’s Jr., Dave’s Hot Chicken, and Mike’s Hot Tacos.

Most people wait for proof.
He moved before it existed.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:37) Nearly 200 units across brands
(00:07:18) Discovering Dave's Hot Chicken
(00:12:21) Turning down a private equity offer
(00:16:17) Spotting an emerging brand early
(00:17:53) Scaling past fifteen stores
(00:20:44) Raising money and structuring deals
(00:23:28) The CFO hire that changed everything
(00:26:52) Leading the franchise advisory board
(00:35:10) Quick hitters

Connect with Brian:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cassidy-bb944a28/

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 complain about problems. Few actually build a business around them.

Morgan Steir spent 12 years in software sales before spotting a problem nobody had solved vehicle rust. No convenient options, no mobile service, no easy fix. So he built one.

In this episode Morgan shares how a frustrating personal experience turned into Undercover Undercoaters, a mobile franchise now expanding across the country.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:42) From software sales to ownership
(00:04:14) Spotting the undercoating gap
(00:07:03) Building a scalable franchise model
(00:09:43) Selling the first franchises early
(00:12:38) Leaving corporate to build equity
(00:17:54) Working in versus on the business
(00:22:14) Goals for this year's openings
(00:24:53) Looking for coachable franchisees
(00:29:11) Challenges of scaling a mobile business
(00:34:11) How risk changes after corporate
(00:40:35) Quick hitters

Connect with Morgan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgansteir/

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.

Andrew Pudalov spent 15 years as a global head of fixed income derivatives trading at Bear Stearns, Morgan Stanley and National Australia Bank. Then 9/11 happened and everything changed.

He quit his job, moved his family to Boulder with no plan and no food experience, and spent the next two decades building Rush Bowls into a 25 state franchise empire completely privately owned.

In this episode Andrew shares the raw origin story, why he spent 10 years in one location before expanding, how he took Rush Bowls into Whole Foods across 40 states before pivoting to franchising, and why the unit economics of his model are unlike anything else in food. If you are thinking about making a bold career pivot or building something from scratch this one is for you.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:05) Dyslexia, numbers, and Wall Street
(00:06:39) 9/11 and the move to Boulder
(00:12:19) Inventing the meal in a bowl
(00:17:30) Starting small with one store
(00:21:20) Taking wholesale to Whole Foods
(00:27:32) Amazon deal pushes him to franchising
(00:32:34) Franchisees keep the supplier discounts
(00:36:17) Why a bowl works as a meal
(00:40:41) Letting customers shape the menu
(00:48:14) Picking franchisees who fit the community
(00:53:47) Owning a business versus banking

Connect with Andrew:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-pudalov-07697010/
Website: https://rushbowls.com/franchise/research-us/our-story

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.

Taj Suri trained to be an opera singer, worked at Madison Square Garden, managed luxury restaurants at the Fairmont in Silicon Valley, built an entertainment agency pitching TV and film to Netflix and Hulu and then his dad called with an idea.

Now Taj owns two top 150 Crumbl Cookie franchises in Tennessee and Virginia and is figuring it all out in real time.

In this episode Taj shares the raw truth about the first four months of franchise ownership, what the financials actually look like, how his background in music and hospitality shaped him as an operator, and why trust and people are the only thing that really matters.

If you've ever wondered what it's actually like on day one of owning a franchise, this is the episode.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:36) Opera training and a hotel career
(00:06:18) Producing TV and film
(00:13:38) How the Crumbl deal started
(00:19:50) Why Crumbl over independents
(00:29:37) Diligence and brand research
(00:33:02) Training and juggling two stores
(00:42:18) Staying hands-on in the stores
(00:49:22) Store financials and financing
(00:51:39) Seasonality and cash flow
(00:57:32) Lessons from a first franchise
(01:00:56) Quick hitters

Connect with Taj:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suritaj/

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.

Scott Oaks didn't plan on franchising. He got downsized at 28, put his resume on Monster.com, and a franchise VP found him. Twenty-two years later he leads growth for Comfort Keepers, one of the largest senior care brands in the country.

In this conversation Scott breaks down what he's learned from helping hundreds of people buy franchises what makes great operators, the red flags he watches for, why senior care is one of the most recession-resistant businesses out there, and the one question he says every buyer should ask before signing anything.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:48) Downsized at 28 and recruited online
(00:07:47) What Comfort Keepers does
(00:12:27) Senior care demographics and demand
(00:18:34) How Comfort Keepers stands apart
(00:23:54) Traits of top franchisees
(00:30:19) Responsibly aggressive growth
(00:33:15) Red flags in franchise candidates
(00:35:35) Territories and multi-unit growth
(00:38:34) How franchise buyers have changed
(00:44:36) Quick hitters

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.

Joe Tagliente built a $49,000,000 franchise empire—14 Burger Kings and 4 hotels—and when he sold it, he kept every single piece of real estate underneath it.

In this episode, Joe breaks down the OpCo vs. PropCo wealth strategy that separates great operators from truly wealthy ones. We dive into the accidental SEC call that launched his casual dining venture, the operational frameworks that allowed him to outperform the national average by 50%, and exactly how he valued and exited a multi-concept franchise portfolio.

If you're building toward an exit or want to understand the "Real Estate side" of franchising, this is your masterclass.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:11) Growing up in Burger King
(00:04:07) Building hotels with his dad
(00:20:29) The SEC call about his dad
(00:23:04) The Ground Round turnaround
(00:31:25) Fewer, bigger Burger Kings
(00:34:45) Picking sites next to McDonald's
(00:44:07) From operator to landlord
(00:47:16) Selling everything, keeping the land
(00:55:16) Franchisees becoming franchisor CEOs
(00:59:13) Where franchising feels pressure
(01:02:19) Quick hitters

Connect with Joe:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephdtagliente/

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.

Have you ever bought a business and immediately thought: What did we just do?

In this episode of The Exit Plan, host Alex sits down with Tamar Brown, the creative force behind two Frio’s Gourmet Pops territories in the Twin Cities. Tamar didn't just buy a dessert truck; she bought a vehicle for family education, community connection, and entrepreneurial growth.

From a heart-stopping "inventory meltdown" that cost her thousands to the strategic triumph of replacing Dippin' Dots at local hockey rinks, Tamar’s journey is a raw, honest look at the J-Curve of business ownership.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

- The "Winter Strategy": How to sell frozen treats in the coldest climate in the lower 48.

- The 17-Year-Old Entrepreneur: How Tamar uses the business to teach her teenagers about money, networking, and "the hustle."

- The Power of the Pivot: Why a graphic designer and actress chose gourmet pops over traditional "service" franchises.

- The $5,000 Disaster: A cautionary tale about freezer alarms and how the "Franchise Family" saved the week.

- Community Over Competition: Why sharing marketing assets with "competitors" actually grows your bottom line.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:04) A dessert truck in Minnesota
(00:03:20) Life before Frios
(00:12:37) Choosing Frios over other franchises
(00:17:38) Matching a franchise to your why
(00:23:36) Building momentum in year three
(00:26:53) A rough first year
(00:30:54) The freezer that melted everything
(00:38:07) Booking festivals around Minnesota weather
(00:47:02) Network that cures imposter syndrome
(00:54:03) What people misunderstand about franchising
(00:59:45) Quick hitters

Connect with Tamar:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarbrown/

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.

Three words that will change your life: WHY NOT ME?

In this high-intensity episode of The Exit Plan, host Alex sits down with his early mentor and industry titan, Jeff Dudan. Jeff didn't just build a business; he built a category-dominating empire. From driving across the country with nothing but trash bags of clothes to founding AdvantaClean and launching Homefront Brands, Jeff’s journey is the ultimate masterclass in "ridiculous ambition."

In this episode, you’ll discover:

- The "Why Not Me?" Mindset: Why high-level competition requires a specific type of mental grit.

- The 4 Quadrants of Wealth: Jeff’s exact framework for building multi-generational freedom.

- The A-Method for Hiring: A deep dive into identifying world-class talent (and avoiding the "convenience hire" trap).

- The AI Defense: Why property services (roofing, fencing, cleaning) are the ultimate hedge against a dislocated economy.

- Ruthless Prioritization: The morning rituals and decision filters Jeff uses to maintain peak performance at age 57.

Join the conversation: If you’re tired of "leasing a job" and ready to build on your own land, this episode is your roadmap.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:04:04) A scrappy kid who always hustled
(00:07:21) Painting student housing at App State
(00:16:30) Four quadrants of wealth building
(00:24:11) Chasing Hurricane Andrew restoration work
(00:31:18) Hiring with the A Method
(00:37:33) Building AdvantaClean
(00:44:41) Why not me and walking on
(00:48:52) Starting Homefront Brands
(00:56:40) Homefront's brand lineup
(01:04:34) Family hires and hard decisions
(01:08:02) Morning routine and priorities

Connect with Jeff:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdudan/

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.