From Zero to 600: How CMG Companies Built a 600-Unit Empire Across 10 Brands

How Smart Franchisees Slash Build-Out Costs with Used Equipment

In this episode of Smart Franchising, Dan Rowe sits down with Neal Sherman, founder of TAGeX Brands, to uncover one of the most underutilized levers in franchising: the restaurant equipment aftermarket. With build-out costs continuing to rise, Neal breaks down how franchisees and brands can dramatically reduce startup expenses by sourcing surplus and used equipment from closed locations, test programs, and overbuilt supply chains. Neal shares how TAGeX —now the largest restaurant equipment auction and resale platform in North America—helps operators save on capital equipment while speeding up timelines with tariff-free, readily available inventory. The conversation explores why stainless equipment lasts decades, how buying used still allows for depreciation and SBA financing, and why early-stage and multi-unit franchisees are often best positioned to benefit. Dan and Neal also dive into second-generation conversions, monetizing unused FF&E instead of paying for disposal, and how franchisors can proactively support franchisees by lowering required build-out costs. Drawing on Dan’s experience scaling brands like Five Guys and Neal’s work with 41 of the top 50 restaurant chains, this episode delivers practical, high-impact insight for founders, franchisors, and operators looking to open faster, invest smarter, and maximize returns in an increasingly expensive market.

Why the Smartest Franchises Don’t Cook Everything Themselves

In this episode of Smart Franchising, Dan Rowe sits down with Sameer Malhotra, founder of Cafe Spice, to unpack one of the most powerful—and overlooked—growth levers in franchising: co-packing. What began as a family-run Indian restaurant business evolved into a national operation supplying sauces, grains, entrées, and ready-to-eat meals to Whole Foods, Aramark, Sodexo, and emerging restaurant brands across the country. Dan and Sameer break down how centralized production lowers labor, prep, cleaning, equipment, and real estate costs while improving consistency, food safety, and unit economics. They discuss what makes a brand “co-packer ready,” why many chef-driven concepts struggle to scale, and how simplifying menus and processes unlocks faster, more profitable expansion—without sacrificing flavor or authenticity. The conversation also dives into minimum order quantities, distributor relationships, tariffs, sourcing challenges, and where founders should start when outsourcing production. Drawing on Dan’s experience scaling brands like Five Guys, Qdoba, and The Halal Guys, this episode delivers practical guidance for founders, franchisees, and operators looking to scale smarter, protect their brand, and grow with confidence.

From Zero to 600: How CMG Companies Built a 600-Unit Empire Across 10 Brands

In this episode of Smart Franchising, Dan Rowe sits down with Navin Nagrani and Al Bhakta of CMG Companies to reveal how eight partners built one of the largest independent multi-unit, multi-brand franchisee operations in America—with over 600 locations across KFC, Taco Bell, Sonic, Little Caesars, Ace Hardware, Valvoline, Tide Laundromat, and more. Starting with a single Genghis Grill that had zero customers on opening night, they've mastered the art of acquiring underperforming assets and turning them profitable through relentless execution, smart incentives, and empowering existing talent. Al and Navin discuss why 80% of turnaround success comes from motivating the people already in place, their "Lindy Effect" strategy of betting on established brands with moats, why they'd rather be top franchisees than franchisors, and the critical importance of unit economics over growth for growth's sake. This conversation is packed with tactical advice on acquisitions, talent development, equity partnerships, and building generational wealth through franchising—perfect for aspiring and established franchisees alike.

From Pest Control Door-Knockers to 5-Brand Franchise Owners— Milo Leakehe and Zach McKinley's Story

In this episode of Smart Franchising, Dan Rowe sits down with Milo Leakehe and Zach McKinley, co-founders of Imbue Capital, to reveal how they built a multi-brand franchise platform across five verticals without chasing the traditional MUMBO playbook. Milo and Zach share their unconventional strategy of scaling horizontally from day one, giving operating partners massive equity stakes, and rolling up weak franchisees while others pull back. Discover why they give partners millions in equity instead of market-rate salaries, and how this creates operators who think like owners, not employees. Learn their exact vetting process—from the 100-brand list down to five finalists—and why they let partners pick their own brands instead of forcing assignments. Milo and Zach reveal the critical metrics they validate before signing any franchise agreement, including how to build accurate pro formas by contacting every franchisee in the system, rather than relying solely on Item 19. Learn the funding strategies that fuel their growth. From SBA loans and hard money to private equity rollups, they break down when to use each capital source and why seller financing has become their secret weapon for fast, highly-leveraged acquisitions. They share their war wounds from losing six figures by not watching labor costs during a massive Crumble launch, and why controlling your P&L from day one is non-negotiable. Whether you're looking to build a franchise platform, attract operating partners who'll go to war for you, or execute strategic rollups in a recessionary market, this episode delivers the raw playbook for scaling to 100 units by 2032 and building generational wealth for everyone on your team.

Jack Johnson Breaks Down the Resale Opportunity Most Franchisees Miss

In this episode of Smart Franchising, Dan Rowe sits down with Jack Johnson, CEO of Franchise Insiders, to explore the untapped potential of franchise resales. Jack breaks down the resale opportunity most franchisees miss by buying profitable businesses, skipping the startup grind, and building to sell from the start. Discover why resales aren't failures but smart investments that can fast-track your path to wealth. Jack reveals where to find hidden deals before they hit the market, how to structure SBA financing to buy cash-flowing businesses without draining your capital, and why the biggest franchisees like Greg Flynn built their empires through strategic acquisitions, not ground-up construction. Learn the critical mistakes that can cost you millions. Jack shares his proven strategies for always keeping your business sale-ready, the personality assessments that match buyers to the right opportunities, and why running your franchise like it's always for sale is the smartest move you can make. Whether you're a first-time buyer looking to avoid the 6-12 month startup wait or an experienced operator ready to scale through acquisitions, this episode delivers actionable insights on turning franchise resales into your competitive advantage.