More Than a Game: Aaron Locks on Leadership, Youth Sports, and Building a Franchise with Purpose (Audio)

More Than a Game: Aaron Locks on Leadership, Youth Sports, and Building a Franchise with Purpose (Audio)

Youth sports aren't just about scoring points—they're about building confidence, character, and future leaders. Join me as I welcome Aaron Locks, Founder & CEO of National Academy of Athletics, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, motivation, franchising, and the incredible impact sports can have on young lives. Aaron's passion for helping kids succeed shines through in every aspect of his business, and his story offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, parents, coaches, and leaders alike. Tune in and discover why some of life's biggest wins happen far beyond the scoreboard. #PoweredByFranchising #AaronLocks #NationalAcademyOfAthletics #YouthSports #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Franchising #BusinessOwnership #YouthDevelopment #Coaching #MotivationalSpeaker #CommunityImpact #SmallBusiness #FranchiseOpportunities #SportsLeadership #PrattPodcasting

The Entrepreneur's Edge: Why Franchising Wins — with John Flanders (Audio)

What does it take to truly understand franchising from every angle? John Flanders has lived it. He's started businesses from scratch, bought existing ones, franchised a concept, and now—as Founder & President of Karpata Franchise Group—he guides entrepreneurs through one of the most important financial decisions of their lives. In this episode, John pulls back the curtain on the real value of franchising, the risks most people never see coming, and why the franchise model can be a smarter path than going it alone. We dig into multi-unit ownership, the art of evaluating a resale versus opening a new territory and more. But John isn't just an entrepreneur; he's a mentor and a man who leads with purpose. When he's not guiding clients toward franchise freedom or running his other businesses, he recharges by scuba diving, high-altitude trekking, and exploring the world with his wife. And just as importantly, he gives back—supporting causes close to his heart and lifting up his community. His perspective on entrepreneurship is as broad as his adventures, and as deep as his commitment to others. Whether you're a first-time franchise buyer, a seasoned multi-unit operator, or simply curious about what business ownership could look like for you—this episode is a masterclass. 🎧 Tune in, take notes, and get ready to be Powered by Franchising. #Franchising #FranchiseOwnership #Entrepreneurship #MultiUnitFranchise #BusinessOwnership #BuildWealth #SmallBusiness #FranchiseTips #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessFreedom #FranchisePodcast #InvestInYourself #StartABusiness #VentureCapital #FinancialFreedom #LegacyBuilding #GiveBack #PrattPodcasting

Spreading Shine: Building a Kids' Fitness Franchise with STARZ Program (Audio)

What does a t-ball game in 2004 have to do with a growing national franchise? Everything. On this episode of Powered by Franchising, we sit down with Sophia Wastler, Founder of The STARZ Program, and Allie Adamson, Franchise Developer, to talk about how a moment at the park — and one little boy's spark of confidence — grew into a children's fitness enrichment brand now expanding across the country.   Sophia shares the teaching career that opened her eyes to the link between confidence and kids' success, the SHINE philosophy at the heart of every class, and what makes STARZ a standout franchise opportunity — from its flexible, school-based model to the support that helps owners thrive. Allie breaks down who makes a great STARZ owner and what the path to ownership looks like.   And a fun footnote: Sophia's son Vinny — the five-year-old who inspired the STARZ Program in 2004 — is now 26, and he still takes full credit. (We'll let him have it.)   Thinking about franchise ownership? Let's connect — learn more at www.MintFranchiseConsultants.com.   #PoweredByFranchising #FranchiseOpportunity #KidsFitness #STARZProgram #FranchiseOwnership #Entrepreneurship #YouthEnrichment #FranchiseConsulting #SmallBusiness #WomenInFranchising #StarWorldwideNetworks #PrattMarketingAgency

Building a Legacy: David Moore on Leaving Corporate America After 29 Years for Gorilla Property Services (Audio)

After 29 years in the corporate world, my dear friend David Moore decided it was time to bet on himself — and build something that lasts for his family. 🦍 In this episode of Powered by Franchising, Dave opens up about the journey that led him to franchise ownership, why Gorilla Property Services stood out from the rest, what the discovery process really looked like, and what he learned at training as one of the early adopters of the brand in the U.S. We dig into the services Gorilla provides, the moments of hesitancy, the resources he leaned on to make the decision, and the legacy he's building one property at a time. This is a real, honest conversation between two friends about taking the leap — and you don't want to miss it. 🎧 Tune in now! #PoweredByFranchising #GorillaPropertyServices #FranchiseOwnership #BusinessOwnership #Entrepreneurship #FranchiseJourney #BuildingALegacy #LeapOfFaith #SmallBusiness #FranchiseLife #NewChapter #LegacyBuilding #PropertyServices #BeYourOwnBoss

Buying a Business vs. Franchising: Why Serious Investors Are Switching Lanes (Audio)

If you've spent any time researching small business acquisition, you've heard the pitch: baby boomers are retiring, they're selling their businesses for pennies on the dollar, and laundromats and car washes are the new path to financial freedom. Codie Sanchez built a media empire on this thesis. Walker Deibel and Carl Allen have amplified it. The underlying data is real — roughly 58% of boomer business owners plan to sell within the next five years. But here's what doesn't make it into the 60-second reels: the cash-flowing deals are gone before they're publicly listed. Multiples have been bid up by the content wave itself. Serious searchers spend 6 to 24 months submitting LOIs, walking from deals in diligence, and watching environmental issues, equipment failures, and customer concentration risks tank their pipeline. In this episode, I unpack why the boring-business gold rush is harder than it looks, and why a path most acquisition influencers ignore — franchising — is quietly where a lot of smart capital is landing. You'll hear four real stories: my own client Damaso Quezada, who scaled from one Batteries Plus location to five in North Florida. Greg Flynn, who turned seven Applebee's into the world's largest franchise operator with $5B in annual sales. Shelly Sun, the CPA with no healthcare background who built BrightStar Care into a 380-location empire. And Guillermo Perales, who started with one Golden Corral and one SBA loan and now runs the second-largest franchise operation in the country. Whether you're already deep in a search or just thinking about your next chapter, this episode will help you see the trade-offs clearly. #FranchiseOwnership #BusinessAcquisition #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #CorporateToFranchise #BuyingABusiness #FranchiseConsultant #BusinessOwnership #MainStreetMillionaire #SearchFund #SBALoan #FinancialFreedom #FranchiseSuccess #MintFranchiseConsultants #BoringBusinesses