The Franchise Champion Show

42. He Built a $3.5M Business in 15 Minutes a Week

Matt Martin built Satellite Teams Global to solve his own problem. Now it's a franchise helping businesses hire top global talent and save up to 70%. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready [https://athletetoowner.com/ready]  🎙 Episode 42 - In this episode of The Franchise Champion Show, Alan sits down with Matt Martin and Tammy Romage of Satellite Teams Global. Matt shares how he accidentally stumbled into franchising after building a global HR infrastructure to solve his own offshore staffing challenges. Today, the company acts as an international recruiter and employer of record, handling compliance, payroll, and benefits so clients can easily hire global talent under a single invoice. The duo break down how this relationship-driven model maintains a 98% revenue retention rate and why it's built for experienced corporate professionals rather than novice entrepreneurs. They also discuss the role of AI in their expansion, offering a transparent look at what it truly takes to build and franchise a business from the ground up. ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - $3.5 Million, 15 Minutes a Week  0:38 - Meet Matt Martin and Tammy Romage  1:18 - How Matt Accidentally Built a Franchise  4:15 - Why 85% of Clients Had Never Hired Offshore Before  6:14 - What Satellite Teams Actually Does for Clients  9:45 - Tammy's Background and Why Relationships Drive Everything  17:55 - How Growth Works Across Multiple Countries at Once  20:14 - Who the Ideal Franchise Owner Is (and Who It's Not For)  26:13 - Seven Franchisees and a Goal of World Domination  32:51 - Bringing AI Into the Model  40:06 - The Real Numbers: $3.5M, $600K, and 98% Retention  42:46 - How Culture Works With a Global Team  46:35 - Tammy and Matt's Advice for Anyone Considering the Leap   🔗 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 ▸ 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 [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 #offshorehiring #globalbusiness #remoteteams #recurringrevenue #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #franchiseopportunity #businessownership

41. He Spent 25 Years at Dairy Queen, Great Clips & Planet Fitness — Then He Became a Franchisee

25 years coaching franchisees at Dairy Queen, Great Clips and Planet Fitness. Then Jon Steward crossed the table. That's when he discovered what expertise alone can't teach you. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready 🎙 Episode 41 - Jon Steward spent over two decades as a franchise business coach, working alongside hundreds of owners at Dairy Queen, Great Clips, and Planet Fitness on growth, financial planning, and exit strategy. He held a Certified Franchise Executive designation, published research on what actually makes franchisees succeed, and knew the playbook better than almost anyone. So when he and his brother opened Mr. Handyman in Southern New Jersey in 2020, and Jon later acquired a Mosquito Shield franchise through a coffee meeting that turned into a closing table 104 days later, he thought he knew what to expect. He was right about most of it. What surprised him is something every prospective owner needs to hear before they sign. ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: 25 Years on the Franchisor Side 1:03 - How Jon Got Into Franchising (Dairy Queen, Great Clips, Planet Fitness) 2:48 - Why His Brother's Decision Changed Everything 3:54 - Why They Chose Mr. Handyman and the Role Fit Played 4:24 - Three Territories, 20 to 30 Percent Growth Per Year, and What Happened Next 5:14 - Opening in November 2020: Virtual Training, Closed Offices, and a Home Services Tailwind 8:42 - Why They Wanted an Acquisition, Not Another Build 9:12 - How Two Brothers Split Two Businesses Without Getting in Each Other's Way 10:45 - The Monthly Shareholder Meetings That Keep Family Business Functional 13:12 - What Mosquito Shield Does and How a Seasonal Business Actually Works 15:05 - Season Dates, Tick Treatments, and How the Year Is Structured 16:53 - What Happens in the Off-Season (and How They Retain Technicians with an Average of 5 Seasons) 20:44 - How Jon Acquired Mosquito Shield in 104 Days from a Single Coffee Meeting 22:36 - The Lesson Inside That Story: Why Relationships Drive Acquisitions 24:44 - What 25 Years of Expertise Didn't Prepare Him For 26:22 - The Weight of Knowing Your Decisions Affect 25 People's Families 27:34 - Working with Family: Structure, Veto Authority, and the Exit Strategy You Set Up on Day One 30:56 - Jon's Published Research on Franchise Peer Groups and What the Data Showed 34:43 - Why Community Is the Most Underrated Advantage in Franchising 37:44 - His Father, the Reluctant Farmer Who Never Got to Own a Business 40:26 - The Two Things Most Franchisees Get Wrong 42:36 - Final Advice: Make Sure Your Care Network Is with You Before You Leap 📌 Resources and Mentions ▸ Interested in connecting with Jon or learning more about Mr. Handyman or Mosquito Shield? Reach out to Alan for an introduction: https://athletetoowner.com/ready ▸ Neighborly (franchisor for Mr. Handyman): https://www.neighborly.com ▸ Five Star Franchising (franchisor for Mosquito Shield): https://fivestarfranchising.com ▸ 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 ▸ 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: / alanregala ▸ YouTube: / @athletetoowner ▸ Facebook: / athletetoowner ▸ Instagram: / 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 #homeservices #mrhandyman #mosquitoshield #neighborly #franchisegrowth #franchiseacquisition #familybusiness #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #franchisesuccess #smallbusiness

40. Why Did This Couple Choose Two Maids?

This couple went from corporate layoffs to running the fastest-growing Two Maids franchise ever, hitting $1M in just 16 months. Here's exactly how they did it.   ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at  [https://athletetoowner.com/ready]https://athletetoowner.com/ready [https://athletetoowner.com/ready]  [https://athletetoowner.com/ready]   🎙 Episode 40 - Jared and Chantel Trujillo had no cleaning experience, no industry background, and no guarantee it was going to work. What they did have was 30 years of restaurant management, a decade in retail and customer service, and a clear-eyed decision to stop building someone else's dream.  In this episode, they share exactly how they chose Two Maids, why they started marketing two months before opening day, and how they became the fastest franchise in the Two Maids network to hit $1 million in revenue since the brand launched in 2002. If you've been wondering whether your background is enough to make franchise ownership work, this one's for you.   ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - From Layoffs to $1M: Jared and Chantel Trujillo's Story  1:16 - Jared's Background: 30 Years in the Restaurant Business  2:38 - Chantel's Turning Point: Getting Laid Off and Seeing the Pattern  4:11 - How They Found Two Maids and Why It Kept Drawing Their Eyes  6:09 - Why Two Maids: Tech Advantage, Dual-Income Households, and Fit  8:23 - From Absentee Plan to Full-Time Operator: Chantel's Decision  10:20 - Training, Opening Week, and Hitting the Ground Running  12:28 - How They Split Roles: Jared on the Back End, Chantel Running the Day-to-Day  13:31 - The Pre-Launch Marketing Move That Built Their Pipeline Before Day One  14:52 - What Chantel's Day Actually Looks Like with 17 Cleaners and 20 Networking Events a Month  16:34 - Jared's Role: Marketing, Financials, and Being a Sounding Board  18:49 - What $1M in 16 Months Really Looked Like: The Numbers Behind the Growth 22:26 - How Fast Growth Creates Cash Flow Pressure (and How They Managed It)  27:34 - Staffing: The Biggest Challenge in a Residential Cleaning Business  31:41 - Where Grit Comes From: Jared's Story  33:44 - Where Grit Comes From: Chantel's Story  35:50 - How to Build That Same Drive in Your Kids  36:57 - Chantel's Advice: Know What You Want Before You Make the Move  39:38 - Jared's Advice: Pick a Concept You Can Actually Relate To  41:43 - Closing Thoughts and What's Next for Jared and Chantel   📌 Resources & Mentions ▸ Interested in connecting with Jared and Chantel? Reach out to Alan for an introduction: https://athletetoowner.com/ready [https://athletetoowner.com/ready]  ▸ Two Maids: https://twomaidscleaning.com [https://twomaidscleaning.com]  ▸ The Entrepreneur's Source (franchise coaching that connected Jared and Chantel to franchising): https://theesource.com [https://theesource.com]  ▸ 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 [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 #residentialcleaning #twomaids #franchisegrowth #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #franchisesuccess #smallbusiness #husbanandwifebusiness

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