44. Why This Founder Keeps Firing His Best Employees

45. Why I Dismissed Franchising (And Why I Was Wrong)

I subscribed to Entrepreneur Magazine for years. Every issue, I flipped right past the franchising section. I believed franchising wasn't for real entrepreneurs. Here's what changed my mind and what I got wrong. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://calendly.com/aregala/introcall [https://calendly.com/aregala/introcall] 🎙 Episode 45 - In this solo episode of The Franchise Champion Show, Alan tells the story of the years he spent dismissing franchising as something only for people who couldn't come up with a real idea of their own, and what it took to change his mind. Drawing on his own path, from a self-invented product he patented and sold into national retailers to building a $4 million ShelfGenie franchise, he walks through why he believed franchising was "cheating," the real lessons buried inside his first business, and how a franchise coach's questions changed the way he thought about ownership. Learn why Alan spent years skipping the franchise section of Entrepreneur Magazine, why a proven system turned out to matter more than a brilliant idea, what a franchise coach's deep dive into goals and lifestyle looks like before a single brand ever comes up, and why the business he didn't invent ended up being the one that actually worked. ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - Why I Skipped the Franchise Section for Years 0:33 - Rich Dad, Poor Dad and the Push Into Entrepreneurship 2:42 - The Belief That Franchising Was Cheating 3:33 - The Idea That Became the Pico Pad 6:09 - Into the Container Store, Barnes and Noble, and Entrepreneur Magazine 7:12 - The Distribution Channel Lesson (and Why It Wasn't a Home Run) 8:11 - How the iPhone Ended the Pico Pad 10:50 - Why Franchising Started to Make Sense as a Built In Partner 11:30 - Meeting Mason and the Deep Dive Into Goals, Not Brands 13:02 - Buying ShelfGenie and Growing to 12 Territories, $4 Million in Sales 14:22 - Selling in 2024 and Starting the Retirement Job 15:10 - The Embarrassing Admission: I Was Wrong About Franchising 16:40 - What It Actually Takes: Drive, Systems, and Grit 📌 Resources & Mentions ▸ Athlete to Owner Franchise Coaching: https://www.athletetoowner.com [https://www.athletetoowner.com] ▸ Schedule a free consultation: https://calendly.com/aregala/introcall [https://calendly.com/aregala/introcall] ▸ Download "The Franchise Fit Playbook" for free: https://www.athletetoowner.com/playbook [https://www.athletetoowner.com/playbook] ▸ Subscribe to The Franchise Champion Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform ▸ Leave us a 5 star review if you enjoyed the episode. We appreciate your support! Connect on Social Media: ▸ Website: https://www.athletetoowner.com [https://www.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://www.athletetoowner.com [https://www.athletetoowner.com] to get started on your path to greater autonomy, wealth, and purpose through business ownership. #franchise #entrepreneur #businessowner #franchising #franchiseownership #selfdoubt #businessmindset #FDD #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner

44. Why This Founder Keeps Firing His Best Employees

Rocky Hensley built and sold 13 businesses before founding 1-Tom-Plumber, growing it past 100 locations in just four and a half years before selling to private equity. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready [https://athletetoowner.com/ready] 🎙 Episode 43 - In this episode of The Franchise Champion Show, Alan sits down with Rocky Hensley, founder of 1-Tom-Plumber, to unpack what it actually takes to build a business that scales without you. Rocky has built and sold 13 businesses across industries from paper recycling to property restoration, and he breaks down the exact system he uses every time, including the philosophy he calls "rocket boosters" and why most owners hold onto the wrong people for far too long. Learn the four pillars of culture Rocky builds into every company he runs, the true story of how 1-Tom-Plumber got its name, the two measurables Rocky uses to know when a business is actually working, and the single piece of advice from a mentor that changed how he approaches every exit since. Whether you're a corporate professional considering franchise ownership or an existing owner trying to scale past where you're currently stuck, this conversation delivers a clear, repeatable framework for building something worth owning. ⏱ Video Chapters  0:00 - Welcome to the Show  1:07 - From No High School Diploma to Serial Entrepreneur  2:54 - The First Big Exit: Scaling to $110 Million  5:25 - The Rocket Ship Philosophy of Building a Business  6:44 - Why You Must Shed Your "Rocket Boosters"  9:13 - One Plumbing Job, Almost $100 Million Company  12:56 - The Four Pillars of Culture  13:50 - How to Build Measurables for Every Role  18:25 - How 1-Tom-Plumber Was Born  22:53 - The 8-Month, $200K Branding Disaster  25:22 - The Name Is the Phone Number  26:50 - The Stupid High Multiple Exit  27:19 - Who 1-Tom-Plumber's Ideal Franchisee Is  29:39 - You Don't Need a Plumbing License to Own This  33:04 - When Owners Can Step Back From Day to Day  35:32 - The Only Two Reasons Any Business Has Problems  38:23 - Becoming a Predator, Not Just an Operator  40:38 - Build a Business You Want to Buy, Not Sell  44:04 - The Two Measurables That Prove Success  46:27 - What Happens to Franchisees When You Sell to Private Equity  48:54 - Final Advice for Anyone Considering Franchising 📌 Resources & Mentions  ▸ 1-Tom-Plumber: For an introduction to Rocky and his team, reach out to 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 #plumbingbusiness #businessgrowth #scalingabusiness #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #franchiseownership #businesssystems

43. The Loan Question That Almost Stalled Their Franchise

SquareCow Movers franchise owners Steve and Iara Anschutz just signed. Two weeks in, a bank mixup nearly stalled their truck loan. Here's how they handled it. ⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Reach out to Alan for an introduction at https://athletetoowner.com/ready Episode 43 - Steve Anschutz spent 14 years coaching Division III college tennis, worked 30 to 35 weekends a year away from his family, and eventually decided it was time to build something of his own. His wife Iara wasn't part of the search at first. Then Steve needed someone to cover a validation call and asked her to sub in. She showed up with a few questions, sat across from two SquareCow Movers owners, and something clicked. They signed. And then the real work started. In this episode, Steve and Iara walk through the full matching process, signing day in Wisconsin, and the loan curveball that came two weeks later. This is episode one of what Alan hopes is a long check-in series. ⏱ Video Chapters 0:00 - Introduction and Episode Preview  1:30 - Steve's Background: 14 Years Coaching Tennis and 30+ Weekends Away from Family  3:53 - Downloading the Playbook at 9:30 PM and Reading It in One Night 5:24 - The 6-Step Matching Process: From Six Brands to One  11:25 - Iara's Perspective: Supporting from the Sidelines  13:29 - The Validation Call Sub-In and "Watch for the Signs"  17:26 - What SquareCow Movers Does and Why Their Values Won  19:43 - How SquareCow Movers Vetted Steve and Iara (Not the Other Way Around) 26:03 - When the Numbers Get Real: How Both of Them Handled the Fear  33:49 - Signing Day in Wisconsin: The Cowbell and the Leadership Moment  39:02 - Life After Signing: Still Employed, Deep in the Loan Process  41:37 - The Bank Mixup: A Purchase Agreement for a Truck They Haven't Bought Yet  46:18 - What Surprised Them Most About the Franchising Process  48:26 - Advice for Anyone Considering Leaving Their Job for Franchise Ownership  50:33 - "Action Overcomes Fear": Steve's Framework for Staying Confident  51:35 - "We Don't Know What We Don't Know": Why a Coach Changes Everything 📚 Resources and 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 ▸ 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 driven professionals find the right franchise and build the mindset to succeed in it. As a franchise coach, he works one-on-one with qualified candidates through a structured 6-step matching process, completely free of charge to you. Visit https://athletetoowner.com to get started. #franchise #franchiseowner #franchisecoach #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #businessownership #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #SquareCowMovers #movingfranchise #franchisematching #HiPer8 hing #HiPer8

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