I've complained about franchisors — even great ones. But it wasn't until I experienced fear-based leadership firsthand that I truly understood what good partnerships actually look like.

In this solo episode of Franchise Secrets, I break down the partnership levers behind my best franchise deals — the exact ways partnerships have allowed me to scale across franchising, investing, advisory roles, and brand building without working nonstop or needing to own everything myself.

From early family partnerships to building Front Street, I walk through the real-world lessons that shaped how I evaluate partners today — including the difference between control and leverage, why fear kills franchise systems, and how the right partners help you build a much bigger pie.

If you're a franchisor, franchisee, or investor trying to grow smarter (not just harder), this episode will give you a framework you can actually use.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Complaining About Franchisors (Even the Great Ones)

02:25 – Why Leverage Is the Foundation of Great Partnerships

02:47 – Partnering With Family: Lessons From My Parents

04:47 – Why I Don't Need to Own 100% of the Business

06:53 – Lever #1: Distribution You Can't Buy Overnight

10:21 – Lever #2: Credibility and Becoming "The Franchise Guy"

14:03 – Lever #3: Speed, Alignment, and Moving Without Delay

18:04 – Lever #4: Insight and Specialized Expertise

22:03 – Lever #5: Capital and the Solo Salon Studios Story

30:32 – The Ultimate Test: When 1 + 1 Must Equal 11

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

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