The Franchise Champion Show

39. Why Did a Starbucks VP Buy Spavia?

A former Starbucks VP retired at 54, got bored, and bought a Spavia Day Spa franchise instead. Now he reveals what corporate never taught him about building real wealth. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready 🎙 Episode 39 - In this episode of The Franchise Champion Show, Alan sits down with Paul Groshko, a former Starbucks executive vice president who spent decades running operations at Safeway and Starbucks across the U.S. and Japan. At 54, after six months of retirement, Paul got restless and discovered franchising through a consultant who matched his background to the wellness industry. He opened a Spavia Day Spa in Lincoln Park, Chicago in 2015, and nearly 11 years later, he's still growing, still winning awards, and still showing up like the D1 tennis player he once was. Paul breaks down what it actually looked like to go from managing billion-dollar corporate operations to turning the key on his first business, including what surprised him, where the franchise system carried him, and why he thinks most new franchisees underestimate the power of showing up every single day. Whether you're still in corporate wondering if there's something more, or you've been laid off and aren't sure what's next, Paul's path is worth your time.   ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - Bet on Yourself: Paul's Opening Mindset 0:57 - From a Michigan Dairy Farm to Safeway and Starbucks 4:22 - How the Walmart Effect Pushed Paul Toward Coffee 4:38 - Running Starbucks Operations in Tokyo as Executive VP 6:00 - Retiring at 54 and Getting Bored in Six Months 8:02 - What a Franchise Consultant Actually Did for Paul 9:25 - What Spavia Is and Why It Stood Out 12:40 - Innovation in the Wellness Industry: Micro Currents, Halotherapy, and More 14:01 - Signing the FDD in 2014 and Opening 11 Months Later 15:19 - How the Franchise System Helped Paul Find the Right Location 18:10 - Pre-Opening Marketing: Chair Massages, Mailers, and a Billboard 20:38 - D1 Tennis, Getting Aced, and Staying Ready 23:41 - Change Is Constant: How Paul Prepares His Team for It 25:46 - Building a Team: Never Stop Hiring 30:43 - The Membership Model and Treating Every Guest Like the Only One 32:39 - Advice for New Franchisees: Show Up and Use the System 39:19 - Can Spavia Be Run Semi-Absentee? 41:25 - Final Advice: Kick a Lot of Doors and Bet on Yourself   🔗 Resources & Mentions ▸ Athlete to Owner Franchise Coaching: https://athletetoowner.com ▸ Schedule a free consultation: https://athletetoowner.com/ready ▸ Download "The Franchise Fit Playbook" for free: https://athletetoowner.com/playbook ▸ Interested in Spavia Day Spa or a similar franchise? Reach out to Alan for an introduction. ▸ Subscribe to The Franchise Champion Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform ▸ Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if you enjoyed the episode — we appreciate your support!   Connect on Social Media: ▸ Website: https://athletetoowner.com ▸ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alanregala ▸ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteToOwner ▸ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthleteToOwner ▸ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athleteowner/ ▸ Email: alan@athletetoowner.com   ⭐ READY TO EXPLORE FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Alan helps successful professionals find the perfect franchise match and prepare for championship-level success. As a franchise coach, he works one-on-one with qualified candidates to navigate the entire franchise selection process — completely free of charge. Visit https://athletetoowner.com to get started on your path to greater autonomy, wealth, and purpose through business ownership. #franchise #entrepreneur #businessowner #franchising #wellness #dayspa #Spavia #franchisecoach #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #corporatetransition #smallbusiness #franchiselife #semiabsentee #retirementreinvented

38. Corporate M&A Exec Builds $4M Bath Franchise

Mike Sarfity left Big 4 consulting to own Five Star Bath Solutions — despite zero handyman skills. He generated $4.3M in year two. This is his playbook. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready 🎙 Episode #38 - Mike Sarfity was grinding 60 to 80 hour weeks as a Mergers and Acquisitions Director at a Big Four consulting firm, chasing a partner track that kept moving the goalposts. One night, working at 1 a.m. after his daughter's seventh birthday party, his father-in-law walked in and asked a simple question that changed everything. He had no background in home services. He freely admits he can barely screw in a light bulb. And yet in less than two years, he built Five Star Bath Solutions of Orange County into a 26-person operation generating $4.3M in his second full year. In this episode, Mike shares how he found the right franchise, why he deliberately chose a "boring" business, what the Five Star system gave him that he couldn't have built on his own, and how his background in wrestling and marathon running shaped the way he leads.   ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - The Wake-Up Moment That Made Him Walk Away from Big Four 1:16 - Life at PwC: Mergers, Acquisitions, and 80-Hour Weeks 2:29 - Looking for a "Boring" Business: Laundromats, Food Trucks, and Franchising 3:33 - How He Found Five Star Bath Solutions 4:19 - Why the Franchisor's Honesty Won Him Over 6:32 - Admitting He's the World's Least Handy Person 7:07 - What the Franchise Playbook Actually Gave Him 10:17 - Jumping Off the High Dive: The Fear of Starting 13:00 - B2C vs. B2B Sales: The 90-Minute Sales Cycle 17:03 - Hiring a Production Manager Early (And Why It Was Worth It) 19:04 - Owner vs. Operator: How Mike Thinks About His Role 20:39 - What Five Star Bath Solutions Actually Does 24:34 - The Biggest Surprise Coming From Corporate America 28:57 - The Revenue Numbers: $1.9M, $4.3M, and Counting 30:15 - Installing Bathrooms for 242 Customers in One Year 31:58 - Giving Back: The Project That Reminded the Team Why They Do This 34:29 - Wrestling, Marathon Running, and Mental Toughness 39:03 - Advice for Anyone Sitting on the Fence   🔗 Resources & Mentions ▸ Athlete to Owner Franchise Coaching: https://athletetoowner.com ▸ Schedule a free consultation: https://athletetoowner.com/ready ▸ Download "The Franchise Fit Playbook" for free: https://athletetoowner.com/playbook ▸ Interested in Five Star Bath Solutions or a similar franchise? Reach out to Alan for an introduction. ▸ Subscribe to The Franchise Champion Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform ▸ Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if you enjoyed the episode — we appreciate your support!   Connect on Social Media: ▸ Website: https://athletetoowner.com ▸ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alanregala ▸ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteToOwner ▸ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthleteToOwner ▸ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athleteowner/ ▸ Email: alan@athletetoowner.com   ⭐ READY TO EXPLORE FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Alan helps successful professionals find the perfect franchise match and prepare for championship-level success. As a franchise coach, he works one-on-one with qualified candidates to navigate the entire franchise selection process — completely free of charge. Visit https://athletetoowner.com to get started on your path to greater autonomy, wealth, and purpose through business ownership. #franchise #entrepreneur #businessowner #franchising #FiveStarBathSolutions #homeservices #bathroomremodeling #franchisee #franchiselife #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #franchisecoach #smallbusiness #businessownership #entrepreneurship

37. The Booming Franchise Nobody Talks About

Dave Tasto left a 20-year engineering career to build an Assisting Hands Home Care franchise in Boston and found the most meaningful work of his life. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready [https://athletetoowner.com/ready] 🎬 Episode 37 - In this episode of The Franchise Champion Show, Alan sits down with Dave Tasto, an eight-year Assisting Hands Home Care franchisee serving the Boston area. A deeply personal experience with his grandmother's hospice caregivers sparked a new calling, and Dave walked away from a two-decade corporate career to answer it. Dave shares what the first year of building from scratch really looked like, how he grew to a team of over 110 caregivers, and the surprising philosophy behind retaining great talent in a tough industry. He also reveals the book he wrote during the pandemic that became a key differentiator for his business. If you are a corporate professional exploring your next chapter, this one is worth your time.   ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - The Moment That Changed Everything: Dave's Grandmother and the Caregivers Who Showed Up  4:17 - From Corporate Director to Franchise Owner: Why Dave Made the Leap  6:18 - How a Franchise Show and a Coach Opened His Eyes to the Right Opportunity  8:31 - What Assisting Hands Home Care Actually Does (and Who It Serves) 10:29 - The Silver Tsunami: Why the Demand for Home Care Is Just Getting Started  13:14 - Year One: The Energy of Building Something That Is Truly Yours  15:29 - Hiring Right From the Start: The First Critical Office Hires  18:29 - Flexibility and Freedom: What Being Your Own Boss Actually Feels Like  19:48 - What the Team Looks Like Today: 8 Years and 110+ Caregivers  21:03 - The Secret to Retaining Great Caregivers: Two Words  25:36 - Why Dave Wrote a Book During the Pandemic  29:47 - Thriving at Home: A Handbook for Preventing Hospital Stays  33:01 - How Tracking Readmissions Sets His Franchise Apart  34:01 - Dave's Advice for Anyone Thinking About Making the Jump  35:31 - Where Dave's Grit Comes From: A Farm, a Bankruptcy, and Two Parents Who Persevered   🔗 Resources & Mentions  ▸ Thriving at Home: A Handbook for Preventing Hospital Stays by Dave Tasto ▸ Interested in connecting with Dave? Contact Alan for an introduction.  ▸ Athlete to Owner Franchise Coaching: https://athletetoowner.com [https://athletetoowner.com]  ▸ Schedule a free consultation: https://athletetoowner.com/ready [https://athletetoowner.com/ready]  ▸ Download "The Franchise Fit Playbook" for free: https://athletetoowner.com/playbook [https://athletetoowner.com/playbook]  ▸ Subscribe to The Franchise Champion Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform  ▸ Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if you enjoyed the episode. We appreciate your support!   Connect on Social Media:  ▸ Website: https://athletetoowner.com [https://athletetoowner.com]  ▸ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alanregala [https://linkedin.com/in/alanregala]  ▸ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteToOwner [https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteToOwner]  ▸ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthleteToOwner [https://www.facebook.com/AthleteToOwner]  ▸ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athleteowner/ [https://www.instagram.com/athleteowner/]  ▸ Email: alan@athletetoowner.com ⭐ READY TO EXPLORE FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Alan helps successful professionals find the perfect franchise match and prepare for championship-level success. As a franchise coach, he works one-on-one with qualified candidates to navigate the entire franchise selection process, completely free of charge. Visit https://athletetoowner.com [https://athletetoowner.com] to get started on your path to greater autonomy, wealth, and purpose through business ownership. #franchise #entrepreneur #businessowner #franchising #homeCare #seniorCare #agingInPlace #caregiving #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #AssistingHands #purposeDrivenBusiness

36. He Refused $860K to Build This Franchise

Aaron Harper turned down $860K a year to franchise Rolling Suds — and scaled it to nearly 300 locations in just 18 months. Here's his exact playbook.  ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready 🎙 Episode 36 - Aaron Harper was offered nearly a million dollars a year to keep doing what he was already great at. He said no. He had a pregnant wife, a gut feeling, and a one-truck power washing company in Pennsylvania that no one had ever heard of. Eighteen months later, Rolling Suds became the largest power washing franchise in the world. Aaron breaks down how he scaled to nearly 300 locations, why he turned away over 100 people with cash who wanted in, and why waiting for the perfect moment may be the most expensive mistake you can make. ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - From Hollywood to Franchising: Aaron's Unexpected Path 4:20 - Turning Down $1M a Year to Bet on Himself 6:00 - Salary vs. Enterprise Value: The Mindset Shift Every Owner Needs 10:45 - What Rolling Suds Actually Does (It's Not What You Think) 12:20 - The Caesar Superdome Job and Why Scale Changes Everything 17:20 - 36 Years of Process, Handed to You on Day One 19:00 - What the First Year Looks Like as a Rolling Suds Owner 21:00 - Why Rolling Suds Only Signs Multi-Unit Owners 29:00 - We've Turned Away Over 100 People With Cash 33:40 - Knowing What You're Good at and Getting Out of the Way 36:15 - The Personal Cost of Staying in Grind Mode Too Long 41:45 - Why Aaron Trained for an Ironman After Stepping Back 47:35 - Advice for Anyone Sitting on the Fence Right Now 51:05 - Perfect Is the Enemy of Good. Just Start. 51:20 - The AI Warning You Need to Hear   📌 Resources & Mentions ▸ Athlete to Owner Franchise Coaching: https://athletetoowner.com ▸ Schedule a free consultation: https://athletetoowner.com/ready ▸ Download "The Franchise Fit Playbook" for free: https://athletetoowner.com/playbook ▸ Interested in connecting with Aaron or learning more about Rolling Suds? Reach out to Alan for an introduction. ▸ Subscribe to The Franchise Champion Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform ▸ Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if you enjoyed the episode - we appreciate your support!   Connect on Social Media: ▸ Website: https://athletetoowner.com ▸ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alanregala ▸ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteToOwner ▸ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthleteToOwner ▸ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athleteowner/ ▸ Email: alan@athletetoowner.com   ⭐ READY TO EXPLORE FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Alan helps successful professionals find the perfect franchise match and prepare for championship-level success. As a franchise coach, he works one-on-one with qualified candidates to navigate the entire franchise selection process - completely free of charge. Visit https://athletetoowner.com to get started on your path to greater autonomy, wealth, and purpose through business ownership.   #franchise #entrepreneur #businessowner #franchising #rollingsuds #powerwashing #franchisechampion #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #aaronharper #franchisegrowth #multiunit

35. Can Sports Fundraising Replace Your Corporate Salary?

Former coach Stuart Miller built a $2M business with Fundraising University — helping high school sports teams raise $500–$700 per player in just one week. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready [https://athletetoowner.com/ready] 🎙 Episode 35 - Stuart Miller loved coaching. State championship in year two. But the paycheck kept pushing him out the door. Twice. What happened next started with a divine sign, a very unusual email, and a trip to Arizona. Stuart is now a multi-territory owner with Fundraising University across six territories in Louisiana and Mississippi, generating over $2 million in revenue, and he still wakes up every day excited about what he does. Learn how he went from the baseball diamond to a seven-figure franchise in four years, why fundraising is one of the most overlooked opportunities in franchising, how the Blitz System raises $500 to $700 per player in a single week, and how he scaled from one territory to six without a buildout, a lease, or a city inspector. If you love what you do but cannot afford to keep doing it, this one is for you.   ⏱ Video Chapters  0:00 - The Email That Arrived 3 Seconds After He Asked God for a Sign  0:41 - Meet Stuart Miller: Coach, Franchisee, and Multi-Territory Owner  1:15 - From Baseball Player to Coach: Knowing in 30 Seconds  2:32 - Leaving Coaching for a Fitness Franchise and What He Learned  3:25 - Hitting the Same Wall Twice: Passion vs. Paycheck  3:47 - The Crossroads Moment That Led to Fundraising University  5:12 - Going to Arizona and Knowing This Was It  6:02 - Four Years Later: Six Territories and a Seven-Figure Business  7:00 - What Fundraising University Actually Does (It Is Not Cookie Dough) 7:42 - The Blitz System: Coaching Frameworks Applied to Fundraising  10:16 - One Week. One Check. Coaches Just Get to Coach.  12:08 - Real Results: $36,000 for a Baseball Team and a Camera System to Match  17:00 - Why Running One Fundraiser Beats Running Four  19:43 - How Student Athletes Are Held Accountable, Just Like in Sports  23:07 - What Year One Actually Looks Like as a Franchise Owner  26:27 - Year Two Is Where the Magic Happens: 90-95% Client Retention 30:13 - The Range of Opportunity Inside a Single School  32:00 - The First Team Stuart Ever Signed and What Happened Next  33:29 - Raising $5,048 for a Team That Went Further Than They Ever Had Before  36:00 - The Numbers: $1M Year One, $1.6M Year Two, $2M+ Now  38:08 - Scaling Without a Buildout: How Territory Expansion Actually Works 43:13 - Do You Have to Be a Coach to Do This?  45:11 - The Ringgold Basketball Story: $10,000 in a Town That Never Raised $800  46:30 - Making a Living Doing Something That Actually Matters  47:48 - Stuart's Final Advice: Go All In. No Plan B. Ten Toes Down.  50:42 - Burn the Boats: What Sports Teaches Us About Business  52:07 - Why Fundraising University Has a Mental Performance Coach on Staff   📌 Resources & Mentions  ▸ Athlete to Owner Franchise Coaching: https://athletetoowner.com [https://athletetoowner.com]  ▸ Schedule a free consultation: https://athletetoowner.com/ready [https://athletetoowner.com/ready]  ▸ Download "The Franchise Fit Playbook" for free: https://athletetoowner.com/playbook [https://athletetoowner.com/playbook]  ▸ Interested in connecting with Stuart or learning more about Fundraising University? Reach out to Alan for an introduction.  ▸ Subscribe to The Franchise Champion Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform  ▸ Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if you enjoyed the episode - we appreciate your support!   Connect on Social Media:  ▸ Website: https://athletetoowner.com [https://athletetoowner.com]  ▸ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/alanregala [https://linkedin.com/in/alanregala]  ▸ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteToOwner [https://www.youtube.com/@AthleteToOwner]  ▸ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthleteToOwner [https://www.facebook.com/AthleteToOwner]  ▸ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athleteowner/ [https://www.instagram.com/athleteowner/]  ▸ Email: alan@athletetoowner.com ⭐ READY TO EXPLORE FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Alan helps successful professionals find the perfect franchise match and prepare for championship-level success. As a franchise coach, he works one-on-one with qualified candidates to navigate the entire franchise selection process - completely free of charge. Visit https://athletetoowner.com [https://athletetoowner.com] to get started on your path to greater autonomy, wealth, and purpose through business ownership. #franchise #entrepreneur #businessowner #franchising #FundraisingUniversity #sportsfranchise #coachtobusiness #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #franchisecoach #recurringrevenue #athletemindset