The Exit Plan with Alex Smereczniak

Cody Weaver went from selling golf balls out of ponds as a kid, to launching edgy novelty products in college, to building a decade-long career in footwear with Steve Madden and Dolce Vita. Today he’s a Donatos Pizza franchise partner in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

In this episode of The Exit Plan, host Alex Smereczniak talks with Cody about his path from entrepreneur to intrapreneur to franchisee, how he spotted an opportunity in his own backyard, what it’s really like balancing a corporate leadership role with running a high-volume restaurant, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

Whether you’re thinking about your first franchise or curious how successful operators make the leap, this episode offers a candid look at the realities behind the headlines.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:36) Golf balls and baseball cards
(00:06:53) Launching R-rated silly bands
(00:13:51) Beautiful Bottoms and a footwear career
(00:18:50) Why Donatos over going solo
(00:25:27) Opening delays and undercapitalization
(00:30:26) Raising equity from friends and family
(00:32:39) Asking why every night
(00:43:27) Fads, failure and risk
(00:46:38) Why franchising isn't turnkey
(00:50:26) Advice for future franchisees

Connect with Cody:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-weaver-15237031/

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 began as a summer project cleaning grills in Toronto has become a fast-growing franchise. Michael Sutton walks through the scrappy early days, the boost from Dragon’s Den, and the decision to scale through franchising. He talks about the shift from managing techs to leading franchisees, bringing on a COO, and the importance of picking the right operators. Plus, his advice for entrepreneurs considering their first franchise investment.

Check out Grill Hero on Franzy: https://franzy.com/franchises/grill-hero

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:41) Knocking on doors at 18
(00:05:31) Premium grill cleaning pricing
(00:11:56) Learning franchising from advisors
(00:18:38) Hiring an operator with EOS
(00:22:28) Choosing the right franchisees
(00:26:42) The passive income myth
(00:31:20) The road to 100 locations

Connect with Michael:
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/michael-sutton-202201111
Website: https://www.grillhero.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 of The Exit Plan, Alex Vidor steps in as host and sits down with Stephen Tong, a former law enforcement officer who traded 12-hour shifts and overtime cycles for entrepreneurship in the turf industry. Stephen shares how his background in policing prepared him for business ownership, why time and family were central to his decision to leave law enforcement, and how Franzy guided him through evaluating multiple brands before finding the right fit with Waterloo Turf.

Hear how Stephen navigated the first 90 days of ownership, the support he’s received from Waterloo, and the lessons he’s learned about managing people, growth, and grit. Whether you’re considering franchising, curious about career transitions, or inspired by stories of betting on yourself, Stephen’s journey offers practical insights and motivation.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:40) Ten years in law enforcement
(00:03:20) Escaping the overtime cycle
(00:05:30) How the search led to Waterloo Turf
(00:09:26) Weighing support from an emerging brand
(00:16:12) The first 90 days
(00:20:11) Managing crews as the biggest hurdle
(00:24:10) Cop skills that carry over
(00:28:23) Financing with a HELOC

Connect with Stephen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenrtong/

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.

This week’s episode takes a different spin. With CEO Alex Smereczniak out, VP of Business Development Alex Vidor steps into the host seat to interview Franzy’s cofounder and COO, Chris Wright.

Chris shares his journey into franchising, why he made the leap to cofound Franzy, and the lessons he’s learned building and scaling the company. The conversation also zooms out into the bigger franchising picture — from why 2025 is such an interesting time to become a franchisee, to how AI and economic trends are reshaping the industry, to what multi-unit owners think about differently than first-time buyers.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or already own multiple units, this candid conversation offers valuable insights into where franchising is headed.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:47) Management consulting at Deloitte
(00:05:46) How franchising found Chris
(00:08:43) Why they started Franzy
(00:14:46) Gaps in franchise discovery
(00:23:00) Chris's day to day at Franzy
(00:27:56) Franchising myths about fast food
(00:31:10) AI and the case for franchising
(00:35:06) How multi-unit owners think
(00:38:45) Quick hitters

Connect with Chris:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christop-wright/

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.

Calvin Smith has worn a lot of hats — U.S. Marine, healthcare executive, EOS implementer, and owner of multiple franchise brands including Sinarama and Superior Fence & Rail. In this episode, Calvin shares his journey from the military to entrepreneurship, why franchising became his playbook for growth, and how he’s scaled across different industries. We cover what new franchisees get wrong, how veterans are uniquely equipped for business ownership, and the importance of due diligence when picking a brand. Whether you’re debating between starting from scratch or buying into a proven system, Calvin’s hard-earned lessons will help you think bigger and avoid costly mistakes.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:06:24) Buying a CertaPro Painters franchise
(00:10:18) Expanding into multiple brands
(00:13:25) Why multi-unit beats one location
(00:17:23) The first year is selling
(00:22:24) Integrators and running on EOS
(00:27:26) Why veterans thrive in franchising
(00:34:47) What people get wrong about franchising
(00:39:38) Franchise or start from scratch
(00:41:58) Calling 50 franchisees before buying

Connect with Calvin:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-smith/

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.

This week, we’re turning the mic around. Franzy’s CEO and co-founder, Alex Smereczniak, joins fellow team member Alex Vidor for a deep dive into his own journey — from launching a student laundry startup to raising $30M+ for 2ULaundry, to becoming a multi-unit franchisee of the golf simulator concept Another 9.

You’ll hear:

- Why Alex decided to "eat his own cooking" and buy into a franchise

- How Franzy is fixing what’s broken in the franchise discovery process

- The playbook for site selection, finding a partner, and scaling past 1 unit

- What most people get totally wrong about franchising

If you’ve ever thought about owning a business but didn’t know where to start, this is the episode for you.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:07) Why he bought Another 9
(00:02:48) Wake Wash and franchising laundry
(00:07:48) Franzy and AI brand matching
(00:10:32) Finding emerging brands by luck
(00:14:46) Why Another 9 checked every box
(00:18:53) Site selection can make or break you
(00:24:17) Dividing work with his partner
(00:26:03) Scaling past one unit
(00:27:49) 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.

After flying F-15s as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, Vivek jumped into a whole new arena. He’s now a multi-unit franchisee (owning Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids), startup founder, and franchise advisor here at Franzy. He’s also behind a trauma recovery app helping hundreds worldwide.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:39) Military school at the Citadel
(00:04:51) Joining the Air Force
(00:09:56) Flying fighter jets as a backseater
(00:12:57) Duke MBA and the startup world
(00:19:15) Why franchising beat going independent
(00:21:30) Choosing Sharkey's Cuts for Kids
(00:26:48) Opening multiple locations with partners
(00:31:54) Building a vetted team of advisors
(00:36:44) Franchise myths and who it suits
(00:43:07) Who to trust with your money
(00:45:21) Franchises he'd give his family

Connect with Vik:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivek-shah2/

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 really happens when one franchisee sells—and another steps in? In this episode, we hear both sides of a rare transaction between Brian Gross, the seller of Art of Drawers Tampa, and Sid Kinghar, the buyer who left corporate finance to become a first-time business owner.

You’ll learn:

- Why Sid chose a franchise resale over starting from scratch

- How Brian structured the deal, including seller financing terms

- What both wish existed to make franchise resales easier

Franchise resales are one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) entry points into business ownership. This conversation breaks down the real mechanics of a deal—pricing, diligence, negotiation, and the human element of trust. If you're thinking about buying or selling a franchise, this episode is a must-listen.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:58) Why Art of Drawers
(00:09:00) Why Brian decided to sell
(00:11:29) How buyer and seller connected
(00:16:58) Diligence and quality of earnings
(00:24:16) Pricing the business and finding comps
(00:28:06) The tougher conversations in the deal
(00:32:30) Closing with seller financing
(00:38:03) Training and life after closing
(00:42:06) Lessons for buyers and sellers
(00:49:18) Final advice and where to follow

Connect with Brian and Sid:
Brian Gross on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-gross-cfp%C2%AE-46417222/
Art of Drawers Tampa: https://artofdrawers.com/our-locations/tampa/

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.

Kal started out slinging pizzas at Little Caesars and ended up running one of the most diverse and fast-growing franchise portfolios in the country. In this episode, he joins Alex Smereczniak to unpack the full journey—how he went from investment banking to buying butcher shops and pizzerias, to opening OrangeTheory gyms, and now scaling some of the hottest brands in franchising like Dave’s Hot Chicken, Marco’s Pizza, and Pop-Up Bagels.

You’ll hear:

- Why Kal’s franchise diligence looks more like equity research

- The exact capital structures he uses to finance 7- and 8-figure rollups

- How he thinks about brand selection, from tech-forward ops to red flags

- What every operator needs to know before going from 2 to 20 to 100+ units

If you're serious about scaling in franchising, this episode is a masterclass in how to think—and build—like a multi-unit powerhouse.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:21) Little Caesars to Wall Street
(00:06:06) A franchise review site that flopped
(00:10:04) Butcher shops and Orange Theory
(00:15:44) Vetting brands through franchisees
(00:20:47) Green flags and red flags
(00:24:52) Scaling with private equity
(00:30:39) Structuring a 20-unit deal
(00:35:45) Ownership stakes and control
(00:39:55) Pitching brands for territory
(00:46:47) Shared office team structure
(00:49:03) Building new restaurant opening teams

Connect with Kal:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kal-gullapalli-91a7525/

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.

Welcome back to The Exit Plan — the show where we dive into the real stories behind franchise empires, told directly by the people who built them.

Today’s guest is Adam Contos: former CEO of RE/MAX, Marine Corps veteran, SWAT commander turned business builder, and now co-founder of Area 15 Ventures.

From undercover narcotics work to leading one of the world’s largest real estate franchises, Adam’s journey is anything but ordinary. But what ties it all together? Systems, leadership, and a relentless drive to grow businesses — and the people behind them.

In this episode, we cover:

- What it means to “narc market” (yes, really)

- Why franchising is the ultimate community builder

- The mindset shifts every new franchisee must make

- How Adam is backing the next generation of operators with purpose and passion

Whether you’re thinking about owning a business, scaling one, or just obsessed with how leaders think — this episode’s for you.

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:01) Marines, narcotics and SWAT
(00:05:29) Leaving SWAT to join RE/MAX
(00:12:20) Why start Area 15 Ventures
(00:18:14) Franchising as community builder
(00:21:03) Franchise trends and risks
(00:25:31) Investing in franchise brands
(00:35:09) Stop settling for the minimum
(00:37:52) Trust versus performance grid
(00:42:44) Opening with VIP customers
(00:46:41) Don't blame the franchisor
(00:51:08) AI and the future

Connect with Adam:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcontos/

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.