The Exit Plan with Alex Smereczniak

In this episode, we sit down with legendary serial entrepreneur Andy Stenzler, the visionary behind global brands like Rumble Boxing, Cozy, and Kidville.

Andy shares his "maniacal" approach to product quality—including the fascinating story of how a ski-boot heater saved the boxing industry—and why he believes data is the key to making any business a "thing." We dive deep into his latest venture, THE PACK, a revolutionary group fitness concept that brings self-defense to the masses through a high-intensity, "Mr. Miyagi-inspired" workout.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:14) Building Rumble Boxing
(00:05:31) Launching The Pack after COVID
(00:12:20) Leaving air conditioning sales for business
(00:18:29) Scraping data to pick a location
(00:24:35) The ski boot heater fix
(00:29:36) Follow-along guides that cut confusion
(00:32:58) Working with celebrities and influencers
(00:37:59) Structuring creator and celebrity deals
(00:42:36) Why franchise The Pack
(00:47:30) Quick hitters

Connect with Andy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-stenzler/

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.

What happens when you decide to join a family business that is an institution in the industry?

In this episode, we sit down with Zack Fishman, Chief Growth Officer at Fishman PR and Franchise Elevator. Zack didn’t just join the industry; he was practically born into it, drawing pictures of his parents’ franchise business as early as kindergarten.

Zack opens up about the "nepo baby" label, the pressure to prove his own worth, and how he modernized a legacy agency during the height of the pandemic. We dive deep into the current state of franchising, exploring why trends like frozen yogurt and cookies are cyclical, and why "operator-led" brands like Jersey Mike’s often outperform sales-led concepts.

Zack also offers a candid critique of the industry's sales incentives—drawing a fascinating parallel to the 2008 housing crisis (The Big Short)—and reveals the two recession-resistant industries he is most bullish on right now.

In this episode, we cover:

- Navigating family business dynamics and establishing your own identity.

- The cyclical nature of franchise trends (fashion vs. franchising).

- Why the "Operator" mindset beats the "Sales" mindset in emerging brands.

- A critical look at franchise sales incentives and regulation.

- The rise of "Pet Hospitality" and the staying power of Children’s Services.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:42) Choosing franchising at age six
(00:08:40) Earning his place at the family agency
(00:12:01) Modernizing a decades-old agency
(00:17:08) Franchising trends repeat like fashion
(00:20:13) What makes emerging brands break through
(00:27:36) Franchising at an inflection point
(00:30:31) Structural problems in franchise sales
(00:35:20) Pet hospitality and growth categories
(00:38:46) Recession-proof categories
(00:43:58) Quick hitters

Connect with Zack:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-fishman/

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.

Ellen Latham was fired at the peak of her career as a single mother. Instead of giving up, she went home, opened a Pilates studio in her spare bedroom, and started listening to her clients. That listening turned into the "Ultimate Workout," which eventually became Orangetheory Fitness.

In this episode, Ellen sits down to share the raw and remarkable origin story of one of the world's most successful fitness franchises. She breaks down the science behind the "Orange Zone," how she found the "perfect storm" of business partners, and the specific mindset shift—taught by her father—that saved her career.

If you are a founder, a franchisee, or just obsessed with fitness business stories, this is a masterclass on resilience and scaling with purpose.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- The "Momentum Shifting" Theory: The psychological tool Ellen used to bounce back from failure.

- The Science of the Zone: Why the workout is designed for metabolic change, not just burning calories.

- The Tony Robbins Insight: Why Ellen’s partnership team was the "Perfect Storm" (Artist, Manager, Entrepreneur).

- Scaling Pains: Why they completely stopped selling franchises early on to fix their quality control.

- The Future of OTF: Ellen reveals the new focus on strength and longevity.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:42) Growing up with a coach father
(00:06:11) Moving to Florida and building a fitness career
(00:14:52) Hanging a shingle with Pilates
(00:20:59) Designing the one-hour workout
(00:24:50) Outfitting the first studio
(00:31:08) Franchise partners find her studio
(00:32:47) Naming it Orangetheory
(00:38:25) Turning down franchising at first
(00:41:05) Why partner alignment matters
(00:47:19) Pausing to fix franchisee selection
(01:00:01) Expanding your frame

Connect with Ellen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-latham/

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.

Do you want to know what it really takes to scale a franchise from a single location to an 87-million-dollar empire?

I’m your host, Alex Smereczniak, and today I’m sitting down with Jon Toy, a former CPA turned turned franchise operator who used strategic mergers to 10X his business. Jon is what we call a MUMBO - a multi-brand operator—overseeing a massive portfolio including FastSigns and Rolling Suds. Today we are going to walk through how Jon scaled his operation from $2 million in annual revenue just 7 years ago, to over $80 million in revenue in 2024 alone.

Today we’re breaking down the truth about partnerships, how being "young and dumb" can actually be a superpower, and the roadmap to building a hundred-million-dollar portfolio.

So excited for this one. Let's get into it

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:25) Leaving a CPA career
(00:06:40) From fuel idea to FASTSIGNS
(00:11:40) Young and dumb in year one
(00:19:10) Running out of cash
(00:21:14) Sales training and peer groups
(00:32:22) The merger offer
(00:38:48) Scaling fast after the merger
(00:45:31) Growing from $30M to $87M
(00:48:56) Why the three-partner model works
(00:56:30) Advice for new owners and scalers
(01:01:22) Quick hitters

Connect with Jon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jontoyfastsigns/

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.

Eric Martin shares his journey from working sales jobs to becoming a franchise owner in the golf simulator industry. In this episode, he breaks down how he searched for business opportunities, why franchising made sense for him, and how working with Franzy helped him find and evaluate the right business. He also shares how he convinced his dad to invest and what it was really like signing a franchise agreement.

If you’re thinking about business ownership, franchising, or leaving your 9–5, this episode offers a real, honest look at the process.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:31) Sales jobs and an ownership itch
(00:10:21) A Facebook ad for golf simulators
(00:13:37) Validation calls with the founders
(00:15:46) Franchise support versus going independent
(00:18:57) Financing with family and the SBA
(00:24:32) Convincing his dad to invest
(00:27:26) The first weeks after signing

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.

Peter Kourounis has seen franchising from almost every angle: business owner, franchisor, franchise development leader, and now founder of Patch It Up Drywall Repair and Chief Growth Officer at Elevate Franchise Brands.

In this episode, Peter walks through his unlikely start in the sign and graphics world, the lessons he learned franchising his first business (including what went wrong with partnerships), and how a bold move, showing up in person to apply for a job, led him into the 1-800-Plumber plus Air ecosystem and eventually the creation of Patch It Up.

We unpack how Patch It Up was built using proven home service fundamentals, why Peter obsessed over making onboarding simpler (including a startup bundle approach), and what he believes separates franchisees who win from franchisees who stall. Peter also shares his “3 year runway” framework for home services, why semi-absentee ownership is usually a trap, and how Elevate is investing in automation and follow up to help franchisees capture more of the leads they already pay for.

If you are exploring business ownership and want a real, no fluff take on what it actually takes to succeed in franchising, this one is for you.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:06) Two decades in signs and graphics
(00:06:47) Selling his sign company in 2019
(00:10:34) Partnership mistakes and equity
(00:18:56) Uncle Stevie and the trades
(00:22:10) Landing the franchise development job
(00:31:00) Culture at Elevate Franchise Brands
(00:35:09) Spinning up Patch It Up Drywall
(00:41:14) Fixing the franchise model
(00:47:11) Building an AI lead tool
(00:55:33) Advice for prospective franchisees
(01:00:33) Why owner presence beats managers

Connect with Peter:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkourounis/
Website: https://patchitup.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.

In this episode, Aaron Harper, founder of Rolling Suds, shares his journey from Hollywood and telecom sales into franchising, explains why power washing became the ideal service-category to scale, and breaks down how he raised capital, structured deals, and grew the brand rapidly.

Listeners will hear practical criteria for choosing a franchise category, the realities of franchising costs and infrastructure, and traits of successful franchisees—plus lessons on content, hiring, and building national accounts.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:39) Hollywood talent agent to franchising
(00:06:19) Turning down a million-dollar job
(00:10:47) Why franchising is accessible
(00:18:25) Getting caught by his boss
(00:23:33) Criteria for choosing power washing
(00:32:03) Raising capital to buy Rolling Suds
(00:36:55) How much capital franchisors need
(00:49:29) Franchising's bad reputation
(00:53:37) Quick hitters

Connect with Aaron:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronharper123/

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.

What should you actually look for in a Franchise Disclosure Document before you wire a franchise fee and sign a 10 year agreement?

In this episode of The Exit Plan, Alex sits down with Adam Wasch, founding partner of The Franchise Firm, to break down how franchise attorneys help buyers reduce risk, negotiate smarter, and avoid the most common “I wish I knew this before I signed” mistakes.

Adam walks through how he reviews an FDD like a home inspector, why he checks Item 20 first (and what it signals about negotiation leverage), the sections buyers consistently underweight (and overweight), and why “it has an FDD” does not automatically mean it is a proven system. They also dig into industries where legal review gets more complex due to extra regulation, how incentives in franchising can get misaligned, and what “responsible franchising” should actually look like.

If you are buying your first franchise or evaluating emerging brands, this is a practical roadmap for doing diligence with your eyes wide open.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:14) From sports agent to franchise lawyer
(00:05:00) Why hire a franchise attorney
(00:07:20) Why an FDD isn't proof
(00:12:43) Industries with riskier legal reviews
(00:16:44) Which FDD items he reads first
(00:22:57) Negotiating with fast-selling brands
(00:26:36) Mature versus emerging brand FDDs
(00:30:53) Private equity entering franchising
(00:38:15) Smart growth over selling to the masses
(00:42:34) Quick hitters

Connect with Adam:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-g-wasch-53bb839a/
Website: https://thefranchisefirm.com/attorney/adam-g-wasch/

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 franchising means restaurants and retail. But Buddies Home Furnishings is proving there’s massive opportunity well beyond food — especially in the fast-growing rent-to-own category.

In this episode of The Exit Plan, Alex sits down with Mitchell Lee, Head of Franchise Development at Buddies, to break down how the brand built one of the highest multi-unit ownership rates in franchising — with over 85% of franchisees operating multiple stores.

They dive into:

- How the rent-to-own model works (recurring revenue, high AUVs, and 24-hour delivery)

- Why this category is truly recession-resistant and how it flexes with economic cycles

- What top operators do from day one that separates them from the bottom quartile

- Buddies’ approach to territories, conversions, and sustainable system growth

- How Mitchell evaluates candidates — and the traits shared by great operators

If you’re exploring franchises beyond food or want to understand what makes a scalable, multi-unit model actually work, this conversation delivers a rare look from the brand’s side of the table.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:45) Why rent-to-own is so durable
(00:06:59) Misconceptions about rent-to-own
(00:12:06) Multi-unit ownership and territories
(00:16:33) Growth through buying out stores
(00:19:11) Systems needed before scaling
(00:22:33) How Buddies vets franchisees
(00:27:25) Why inventory is the big cost
(00:33:30) Why Mitchell joined Buddies
(00:38:31) The ideal franchisor relationship
(00:42:50) Quick hitters

Connect with Mitchell:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellryan21/

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.

At 26 years old, Katie Gillberg left a toxic job in medical sales, took a massive risk, and opened the first Hydrate IV Bar in Denver. Ten years later, she’s the founder and CEO of one of the fastest-growing IV therapy franchises in the country — with 25 locations open, 25 more on the way, and a plan to hit 100 units.

In this episode, Katie shares how she built Hydrate IV Bar from a grassroots wellness concept into a scalable franchise system, why franchising wasn’t the plan early on, and what finally convinced her to make the leap. She opens up about partner breakups, surviving COVID, the real cost of launching a franchise brand, and why her top franchisees outperform even her corporate stores.

If you're thinking about buying or building a franchise — especially in wellness — this episode is a masterclass in founder transparency and real-world scaling.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:32) Quitting medical sales at 26
(00:05:18) Discovering IV therapy at conferences
(00:08:34) Opening day at the first location
(00:13:58) Lessons from business partner splits
(00:20:26) Franchising right before COVID
(00:27:06) The cost of being a franchisor
(00:32:42) What makes a top franchisee
(00:36:21) Who she says no to
(00:44:30) Know your why first
(00:46:35) The path to 100 units

Connect with Katie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiewafergillberg/
Website: https://hydrateivbar.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.