“You mentioned the SCORE Methodology. Can you give us a brief overview of what that is?

Back to the notion of a symphony. Every family we work with is different. We work with a lot of entrepreneurial families and all of those businesses run a little bit differently on their cashflow schedules, variability, all of these things. S is for understanding their story, what they do, how their life works, and who the key players are in their family; things we need to be mindful of. C gets into cash and cash flow. When we look at studies from the Small Business Administration and other resources, they all say the same thing. About 80% of businesses fail because of a lack of cash flow. You really want to know where your cash and cash flow is. It's the very first thing we ask before we get into any of O for opportunity, which are the investments, R is for real return, what does that net of tax cashflow look like? We’re doing a lot of that planning right now. 

And then E is for avoiding easy money mistakes. They come in a lot of different forms. We spend a lot of time reading first. It's almost like studying a musical score back when I was running the music department, studying the score, understanding how it worked, and what the really important things were. It’s the same thing with families and businesses. We want to read all of the documents that our prospective clients give us and understand who they are and how we need to make that money align or be harmonious with what's happening in their lives. This is what we spent a lot of time doing.” 

The SCORE Methodology offers a methodical yet personalized approach to business planning, blending practicality with an almost artistic touch. The symphony metaphor, emphasizing harmony between a business's financial strategy and the owner's life, provides a unique perspective. It underscores the need to tailor financial plans to individual circumstances while addressing the leading cause of business failure - poor cash flow management. This balance of structured analysis and personalized alignment presents a fresh and effective approach to building and sustaining a successful business.

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈ Preparing for business ownership - knowing and understanding your cash flow 

◈ Disruption = opportunity

◈ The right and wrong time to ask a bank for money

*Registered representative of and securities offered through Bethel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. (BFCFS). Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through BFC Planning, Fiscal Harmony, GS Wealth Management are not affiliated with BFCFS and BFC Planning.

“I worked for Corporate America for approximately 10 years. I started as an accountant, and a senior financial analyst auditor, working salary-based. I kept seeing everyone else that I would train get certain promotions. I would ask why I wasn’t being considered for a promotion. The response was that I was too good at training people and they wanted me in that seat. So, I figured I’d learn as much as I could so I could eventually go out on my own.

They needed me in that role. But it's tough when you're trying to advance and provide for your family; when you have goals and you’re living on a fixed salary. I knew if I woke up every morning and looked for more and more work, I could set my own salary instead of just sitting there and having someone put me on a fixed salary.

This gives me much more control. This is what I’m trying to teach my kids. They don't settle for a fixed salary when they work. They can get paid for their efforts. 

We’re giving them the choices and giving them the confidence to understand they have those choices.” 

Many of our clients tell us, “I’ve spent years making money for others - now it’s time to do that for my family.”

When we ask what they’re looking for in a business, the answer often comes down to control - control over their time and their financial future. They share frustrations about feeling undervalued and recognize that true growth and independence come from taking charge of their own path.

Owning a business provides the opportunity to achieve personal and financial freedom while passing these values on to the next generation. It’s more than just a career change - it’s a chance to break free from corporate constraints and build a lasting legacy of empowerment and choice for their family.

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈Teaching your children skills and life lessons in a family business 

◈The “‘it takes a village mentality” of franchise ownership

◈Why an independent business owner chose to expand his portfolio via the franchise model

“We ended up with a much larger facility than the model called for. It was one of the earlier locations. I think it was the third location in the system. The facility has a grandiose look and feel with a lot of cut glass. One of the attractive things was that a typical facility today has the capacity for about 32 students for any given class period, and our facility has the capacity for almost 60 students. I thought if we could just fill this place up, then everything would be great. But that proved to be much more difficult than we originally thought.”

If you’re considering a franchise but thinking of deviating from its established model, proceed with caution. Franchisors may adjust the model over time, such as reducing square footage to lower overhead for new franchisees. These changes are intentional, so avoid straying too far from the recommended setup. For example, if the model works best in a strip center, but you’re being encouraged to rent mall space at a much higher cost, be cautious. The model’s success might not translate to a setting with higher rent, so it’s best to stick closely to what’s been proven to work.

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈Understanding the labor pool you’re comfortable managing

◈Be prepared to do things in your business you may not have done in your corporate job

◈Why it’s best to keep emotion out of your decision when buying a business

“When someone you’re seeking advice from gives it to you, listen to what they're saying. Be willing to listen. Being in this industry, I’ve learned people really want to help. They want to help and they want to see you grow. I want all of my business owners to be in the multimillion-dollar range because then, all boats are lifted. I'll be able to make more money because they're making more money. It’s a win for all. When I speak with my clients, I listen to what they're saying, I give them advice and most of them take it.”

Mentorship and collaboration are invaluable. Experienced advisors want their clients to succeed because it benefits everyone involved. This mirrors the franchisee/franchisor relationship, where mutual growth is key. When franchisees thrive, the whole system flourishes. This creates a supportive environment where advice is offered with both good intentions and a shared interest in financial success. For those considering business or franchise ownership, being coachable is essential.

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈Understanding cash flow

◈The importance of taking ownership

◈Accepting mentoring and coaching

“I would recommend looking at multiple different business opportunities so you get a basis for comparison, particularly if you're new to owning a franchise or a small business. If this is something you haven't spent an extensive amount of time on, you have no basis for comparison. It’s important to interview multiple concepts even if something immediately jumps off the page and you think that’s it, still look at additional opportunities so you have a better comparison point.”

It’s crucial to compare a variety of businesses to make an informed decision. Since this is a significant investment of both time and money, it’s not wise to jump into the first opportunity that grabs your attention. This decision should be thoughtful, not driven by emotion. Doing thorough research helps ensure you don’t miss better options and improves your chances of finding a franchise that truly aligns with your long-term goals and values.

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈The importance of being open-minded and doing proper research

◈Some tips for interviewing franchisors

◈How skepticism can turn into clarity

“In the first year, I did $1.3 million in revenue with a 37% net profit. So I was somewhat patting myself on the back, but behind the scenes, I was working 19-20 hours a day, six days a week, I'd work half a day on a Sunday, sleep in a little bit, get some rest and do it all over again. I grew the business very quickly and I thought that's what being an entrepreneur was supposed to be like. You start a business then you just grind and grind.  

In my mind, it was supposed to hurt and be really, really uncomfortable. Now, I explain to people that starting a business doesn’t have to be that hard. This is one of the things we've done in our franchise. We want to create a work-life balance. Our franchisees don’t work over 40 hours a week. It would be very atypical if they did.

Many entrepreneurs get stuck in the grind, often leading to burnout. Some eventually figure out how to implement systems for a better work-life balance, while others turn to franchising for its proven model, avoiding the need to build everything from scratch. Some of our clients already own independent businesses but want to diversify. They're drawn to franchising because it offers a roadmap, unlike the all-consuming nature of running their current businesses. In entrepreneurship, there truly is a path for everyone.

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈What serial entrepreneurs do

◈Finding purpose in your business

◈How to scale your business

“I  want to point out something in regards to what you were just saying about the consumer and what you look for as a consumer. I believe this is important for any stay-at-home parent who’s listening. I think a lot of times people who've been home with their kids might assume that since they’ve been out of the workforce for a period of time, they might not have the skills to run a business. You are a perfect example of somebody who took what you learned being a consumer, managing contractors or work being done in your home, and transferred that mindset, skillset, and knowledge into providing a superior customer experience for your client.” 

We work with many clients who have been stay-at-home parents. As their kids grow older and need them less, they often find themselves feeling a bit restless. They have a strong desire to contribute to the household but aren't necessarily eager to return to corporate life, or they may feel uncertain about reentering the workforce due to a job gap.

The skills they've developed at home - juggling schedules, volunteering, managing household tasks, and more - translate into excellent organizational and project management abilities, which are invaluable in business ownership. Additionally, their experience as consumers gives them a unique and valuable perspective.

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈Growing a business with an emerging brand

◈Having a supportive spouse 

◈The transferrable skillsets of a stay-at-home parent

“I had zero business background when I was starting out. I went to a number of people and asked them for their book list. I let them know I was starting my own law firm and I asked for the top books they’d recommend. If a book was recommended more than once, it went to the top of the list. I read a ton of books. I also networked and met some amazing attorneys and amazing business owners. A more senior attorney recommended I contact Great Legal Marketing. I eventually ended up with my business coach from Great Legal Marketing as well as getting into their mastermind group. Once a quarter, I would fly out to Washington DC to meet with other law firm owners, some in personal injury, and some not. We would exchange ideas and discuss problems that we were having and how to solve them. 

It's amazing when you introduce an objective viewpoint into your business, how easy it is for others to see what's going wrong and give you suggestions on how to fix it. You can also look at someone else's business, pinpoint issues, and offer suggestions because we're not emotionally tied up in it. I think that's one of the benefits as well as having the benefit of experience. I would much rather learn from somebody else's tuition money than pay my own! And so for me, I think it's a massive investment and one that has paid dividends and will continue to pay dividends into the future.”

There is great value in leveraging collective wisdom and experience when starting a business. Despite not having any business background, Scott was proactive in seeking out knowledge and guidance from books, mentors, and a mastermind group. This approach underscores the importance of surrounding yourself with knowledgeable peers and advisors who can offer objective insights into your business. By learning from others' experiences and mistakes, you can avoid costly missteps and accelerate your growth. It's a reminder that investing in education and mentorship can yield significant returns and is a smart strategy for anyone considering business ownership.

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈How learning from costly mistakes in business is similar to paying tuition to learn in school

◈Why networking and mentoring are so important for professional service providers who are taught a craft in school, not business

◈The importance of systems in a business

“The 212 Degree concept probably entered my life a decade before I started my business. I remember being in Las Vegas getting some copies made at Kinko’s for a trade show and saw this book called 212 Degrees. I thought it looked interesting and picked it up. The name of my company is Image 212. 212 Degrees is really all about the extra degree. At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. Boiling water turns to steam and steam can power a train and a train changed the world. So that one extra degree that you bring to whatever it is that you do can literally change the world and change a customer's experience. When I had a chance to build my own company, it just made sense. I had done a sales meeting at my former company about 212 Degrees. I still to this day wear my 212 degree/extra degree bracelets. That's what I love. That's the way I operate my life. I got to build a company around what I'm all about.”

A seemingly small effort—the "extra degree"—can have a profound impact in both personal and business success. For someone considering business ownership, this underscores the idea that going just a little further, adding a bit more effort or creativity, can make all the difference in transforming a good idea into something world-changing. Personal values and philosophies can become the foundation of a business, creating a brand that is not only successful but deeply aligned with the owner's identity and interests. 

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈Building and selling a business

◈Doing proper research when deciding on a business to start

◈Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed

“I am absolutely passionate about the pet space because of Mercedes and Bugatti. I love technology and what I have built. I absolutely love coming to work every day. I think that that's the core difference - I love it! I love working with our franchise owners. I love the creativity they come up with. I love the daily challenges, looking at those challenges, and then coming up with a technology solution for them versus just saying, ‘Oh, well, let's hire somebody, or let's get a different person’. I like to solve challenges through technology. Fortunately, we have all of our own coders right here at the corporate office. This makes it much easier than having to work with a third party or a separate company where you're just a number. These guys can pivot and move pretty quickly.”

What motivates an entrepreneur to start a business often differs from what drives them to franchise it. Initially, they thrive on working in their business, building it from the ground up, and creating a brand. Once the business is running smoothly, they often seek their next challenge, which is where franchising comes in. It's an opportunity to build something larger and help others start their own businesses. In Dan's case, his passion for pets and the pet industry remains strong, but he also enjoys the challenge of growth and improvement. He finds joy in helping others succeed by following his proven systems.

We cover many current and relevant topics. A few include:

◈Determining if you’re a good fit for franchising

◈From independent mom-and-pop to top-performing franchisee

◈The collaborative nature of franchising