The Real Cost of Buying a Franchise in 2026

The Real Cost of Buying a Franchise in 2026

Think franchises are all burgers, fries, and regret? Rich Potter says you're looking in the wrong aisle. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Matt and Luigi sit down with Rich Potter, founder of Franchise Heroes, to talk about what franchising really looks like in 2026. Not the shiny brochure version. The real version. Rich breaks down how franchise ownership works, what it costs, how people fund it, and why the right franchise can be a smart move for someone who is done letting corporate America hold the leash. They also dig into licensing vs. franchising, the truth about "business in a box," and why senior care may be one of the biggest franchise opportunities sitting in plain sight. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: * Why franchising is way bigger than food and beverage * The difference between a franchise and a licensing agreement * What an FDD is and why you better read it * Typical franchise costs in 2026 * Why many owners buy more than one territory * How SBA loans and ROBS funding come into play * Why "business in a box" still needs a real operator * What makes a franchisor worth betting on * How to turn an existing business into a franchise * Why senior care is getting Rich's vote right now 💡 Notable Takeaway: "You don't have to reinvent the wheel. Just use what other people have done successfully and replicate it in your market, and you know, off to the races." 👤 About our Guest: Rich Potter is the founder of Franchise Heroes, where he helps people explore franchise ownership without the hype, smoke, or sales circus. He works with professionals in transition, veterans, and future business owners who want a real shot at building something that fits their life. 🎧 Why Listen: Thinking about buying a franchise, leaving corporate life, or turning your own business into a franchise model? Hit play before you sign anything, wire money, or tell your boss where to park their quarterly review. 🔗 Links + Stuff * Franchise Heroes: https://franchiseheroes.co [https://franchiseheroes.co] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-potter-533381a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-potter-533381a/] * Substack: https://franchiseheroes.substack.com/ [https://franchiseheroes.substack.com/] 🔔 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations on business growth, funding, strategy, and the stuff most people don't explain clearly. If this episode helped, a quick rating or review goes a long way. It helps the show reach more business owners who actually care about getting this right. 🎧 Listen or watch The Liquid Lunch Project Available on all major podcast and video platforms: • Official site: https://theliquidlunchproject.com [https://theliquidlunchproject.com]• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liquid-lunch-project/ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liquid-lunch-project/]• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ [https://open.spotify.com/show/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ]• Audible: https://shorturl.at/6j4vz [https://shorturl.at/6j4vz]• YouTube (full episodes + clips): https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc [https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc] 📬 Want more than just the podcast? Every Friday, we publish The Weekly. A fast, smart rundown of what actually matters in finance, tech, small business, and the economy…without the noise. Subscribe here: 👉 https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ [https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/] 💼 Need funding or working capital? If today's conversation raised questions about capital, cash flow, or financing options, you can schedule a conversation with our sponsor, Credit Banc. Credit Banc helps business owners make sense of their options and move forward with a clear plan, without pressure or guesswork. 👉 Book a free 15-minute call here: https://shorturl.at/LwxsA [https://shorturl.at/LwxsA]

ADUs, Contractor Red Flags, and Real Estate with Gil Vaisman

Are ADUs the next real estate gold rush… or just another permit-powered headache? Accessory Dwelling Units are moving from California trend to national real estate play. Gil Vaisman of Go ADU breaks down why homeowners are turning garages, basements, and backyards into rental income, family housing, and long-term property value. But this is not just about tiny houses with cute countertops. It is about zoning laws, contractor cash flow, city delays, bad deposits, fair pricing, and why building anything still feels like wrestling a fax machine with a clipboard. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: * ADUs can turn one home into a mini real estate engine. * California law makes it hard for cities to say "no." * HOAs are still the fun police in some states. * Permits can take as long as the actual build. Cool. Totally normal. * DIY ADU builds can save money… after they cost you money. * Bad contractor deals often start with bad pricing. * Big upfront deposits are a warning sign, not a love language. * Clear contracts protect both homeowners and builders. 💡 Notable Takeaway: "I marry my wife every day, I can divorce her any second, but I choose every morning to stay married to her. And it should be the same in business." 👤 About our Guest: Gil Vaisman is the founder of Go ADU and Vaisman Construction, where he helps homeowners build ADUs with clear pricing, repeatable systems, and fewer "where did my contractor go?" moments. 🎧 Why Listen: Thinking about building an ADU or hiring a contractor? Listen before you sign anything, pay anything, or let someone with a pickup truck and a dream touch your property. 🔗 Links + Stuff * Website: https://www.goadu.com/ [https://www.goadu.com/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilvaisman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilvaisman/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goaduconstruction [https://www.youtube.com/@goaduconstruction] 🔔 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations on business growth, funding, strategy, and the stuff most people don't explain clearly. If this episode helped, a quick rating or review goes a long way. It helps the show reach more business owners who actually care about getting this right. 🎧 Listen or watch The Liquid Lunch Project Available on all major podcast and video platforms: • Official site: https://theliquidlunchproject.com [https://theliquidlunchproject.com] • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liquid-lunch-project/ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liquid-lunch-project/] • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ [https://open.spotify.com/show/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ] • Audible: https://shorturl.at/6j4vz [https://shorturl.at/6j4vz]• YouTube (full episodes + clips): https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc [https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc] 📬 Want more than just the podcast? Every Friday, we publish The Weekly. A fast, smart rundown of what actually matters in finance, tech, small business, and the economy…without the noise. Subscribe here: 👉 https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ [https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/] 💼 Need funding or working capital? If today's conversation raised questions about capital, cash flow, or financing options, you can schedule a conversation with our sponsor, Credit Banc. Credit Banc helps business owners make sense of their options and move forward with a clear plan, without pressure or guesswork. 👉 Book a free 15-minute call here: https://shorturl.at/LwxsA [https://shorturl.at/LwxsA] 📲 Connect with the hosts Follow along for behind-the-scenes clips, commentary, and things that don't make it into the episode. • Matt Meehan: https://www.instagram.com/matthew.r.meehan [https://www.instagram.com/matthew.r.meehan] • Luigi Rosabianca: https://www.instagram.com/luigi_rosabianca [https://www.instagram.com/luigi_rosabianca] • The Liquid Lunch Project: https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/ [https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/] 💬 One last thing Know a business owner who would appreciate this conversation? Send them the episode. That's how this show grows.

AI Receptionists and the Future of Small Business with Laurent Cohen

Voice AI is moving fast, and small business owners are about to feel it right in the face. In this episode, Matthew and Luigi sit down with Laurent Cohen, founder of GetOblic, to talk about voice AI, local search, customer trust, SEO, and why your dusty old website from 2014 is not going to save you. This is not another "AI will change everything" snoozefest. Laurent gets into the real stuff: why most businesses are using AI wrong, why voice may become the next front door for customers, and why pretending your robot is a human is a fast way to torch trust. 🎁 Special Listener Offer: Laurent is giving Liquid Lunch listeners an exclusive 30-day free trial to create a listing, test the voice AI, and see what your business sounds like in the future of local search. Use code LIQUID30. Claim your free trial here:https://claim.getoblic.com/search-listing?affiliation=271519977 [https://claim.getoblic.com/search-listing?affiliation=271519977] 🍸 Episode Highlights: * Voice AI is coming for the receptionist desk. * Small businesses need trust before tech. * AI is not magic. Bad data still makes bad results. * Google, Yelp, and Meta are all circling the same prize. * Voice search may change how local customers find you. * Your AI should not pretend to be you. Creepy is not a strategy. * SEO is changing, but nobody has the secret recipe. * Small business owners are tired of being told to "show up everywhere." 💡 Notable Takeaway: "An AI agent is only as strong as the data you provide." 👤 About our Guest: Laurent Cohen is the founder of GetOblic, a voice-first AI business directory helping small businesses use voice AI to answer questions, build trust, and stay visible online. Go to getoblic.com, create a listing, and test the voice AI for your business before your competitors figure it out. 🔗 Links + Stuff * Website: https://getoblic.com [https://getoblic.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurent-cohen-usa/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurent-cohen-usa/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getoblic/ [https://www.instagram.com/getoblic/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetOblic [https://www.facebook.com/GetOblic] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/OblicStudio [https://x.com/OblicStudio] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GetOblic [https://www.youtube.com/@GetOblic] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oblic_ai [https://www.tiktok.com/@oblic_ai] * Substack: https://laurentcohen.substack.com/ [https://laurentcohen.substack.com/] 🔔 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations on business growth, funding, strategy, and the stuff most people don't explain clearly. If this episode helped, a quick rating or review goes a long way. It helps the show reach more business owners who actually care about getting this right. 🎧 Listen or watch The Liquid Lunch Project Available on all major podcast and video platforms: • Official site: https://theliquidlunchproject.com [https://theliquidlunchproject.com] • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liquid-lunch-project/ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liquid-lunch-project/] • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ [https://open.spotify.com/show/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ] • Audible: https://shorturl.at/6j4vz [https://shorturl.at/6j4vz]• YouTube (full episodes + clips): https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc [https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc] 📬 Want more than just the podcast? Every Friday, we publish The Weekly. A fast, smart rundown of what actually matters in finance, tech, small business, and the economy…without the noise. Subscribe here: 👉 https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ [https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/] 💼 Need funding or working capital? If today's conversation raised questions about capital, cash flow, or financing options, you can schedule a conversation with our sponsor, Credit Banc. Credit Banc helps business owners make sense of their options and move forward with a clear plan, without pressure or guesswork. 👉 Book a free 15-minute call here: https://shorturl.at/LwxsA [https://shorturl.at/LwxsA] 📲 Connect with the hosts Follow along for behind-the-scenes clips, commentary, and things that don't make it into the episode. • Matt Meehan: https://www.instagram.com/matthew.r.meehan [https://www.instagram.com/matthew.r.meehan] • Luigi Rosabianca: https://www.instagram.com/luigi_rosabianca [https://www.instagram.com/luigi_rosabianca] • The Liquid Lunch Project: https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/ [https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/] 💬 One last thing Know a business owner who would appreciate this conversation? Send them the episode. That's how this show grows.

Why Cheap Shipping Can Cost You More

Think delivery is just the boring part after the sale? That's where a lot of businesses screw it up. In this episode, Matthew R. Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca sit down with Randy Vlasic, founder of LIWMI Logistics, to talk about what really happens between "it shipped" and "it showed up." They get into why trucking gets hit first when the economy gets weird, why chasing the cheapest option can blow up in your face, and why delivery is part of your brand whether you like it or not. Randy also breaks down how smaller trucking operations survive, what strong logistics support actually looks like, and why service still beats price when the stakes are high. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: * What third-party logistics actually does * Why trucking feels market pain before everyone else * How fuel spikes wreck transportation costs fast * Why "cheap shipping" can become an expensive mistake * Delivery is part of the customer experience, not an afterthought * How small carriers compete in a fractured market * Why long-term shipping relationships beat transactional buying * What logistics brokers really do beyond booking freight * How Randy scaled with a remote team and support-first model * The bigger mission behind Life Is What We Make It 💡 Notable Takeaway: "Trucking is a good indicator of what's happening in the world. They see it first." 👤 About our Guest: Randy Vlasic is the founder of LIWMI Logistics and host of the Life Is What We Make It Podcast. He built his name in logistics by solving ugly business problems, building strong teams, and turning hard lessons into a bigger mission. 🎧 Why Listen: Listen to the full episode, then ask yourself one uncomfortable question: are you buying shipping based on price, or based on what it does to your brand? 🔗 Links + Stuff * Website (Logistics): https://liwmilogistics.com [https://liwmilogistics.com] * Personal Brand: https://randyvlasic.com [https://randyvlasic.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyvlasic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyvlasic/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randyvlasic/ [https://www.instagram.com/randyvlasic/] 🔔 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations on business growth, funding, strategy, and the stuff most people don't explain clearly. If this episode helped, a quick rating or review goes a long way. It helps the show reach more business owners who actually care about getting this right. 🎧 Listen or watch The Liquid Lunch Project Available on all major podcast and video platforms: • Official site: https://theliquidlunchproject.com [https://theliquidlunchproject.com]• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liquid-lunch-project/ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liquid-lunch-project/]• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ [https://open.spotify.com/show/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ]• Audible: https://shorturl.at/6j4vz [https://shorturl.at/6j4vz]• YouTube (full episodes + clips): https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc [https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc] 📬 Want more than just the podcast? Every Friday, we publish The Weekly. A fast, smart rundown of what actually matters in finance, tech, small business, and the economy…without the noise. Subscribe here: 👉 https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ [https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/] 💼 Need funding or working capital? If today's conversation raised questions about capital, cash flow, or financing options, you can schedule a conversation with our sponsor, Credit Banc. Credit Banc helps business owners make sense of their options and move forward with a clear plan, without pressure or guesswork. 👉 Book a free 15-minute call here: https://shorturl.at/LwxsA [https://shorturl.at/LwxsA] 📲 Connect with the hosts Follow along for behind-the-scenes clips, commentary, and things that don't make it into the episode. • Matt Meehan: https://www.instagram.com/matthew.r.meehan [https://www.instagram.com/matthew.r.meehan]• Luigi Rosabianca: https://www.instagram.com/luigi_rosabianca [https://www.instagram.com/luigi_rosabianca]• The Liquid Lunch Project: https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/ [https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/] 💬 One last thing Know a business owner who would appreciate this conversation? Send them the episode. That's how this show grows.

Start Small: A Smarter Way to Use AI in Business

AI isn't coming. It's already in the room. The real question is whether your business is asleep at the wheel. Michael Finkelstein, founder and CEO of KINETK, joins Matthew and Luigi for a straight-up talk about AI, data, and why most businesses are still thinking way too small. This episode gets into what happens when data stops being static, why hidden relationships matter, and how small businesses can move faster than giant companies stuck in meetings about meetings. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: * Why data is the real power behind AI * What "building for the autonomous era" actually means * The difference between using AI as a tool vs using it as an operating layer * Why small businesses may have the edge over big companies * The trap of AI FOMO and shiny-object syndrome * A simple way to start using AI without blowing up your business * Why Michael believes the progress clock is broken * How hidden data relationships can shape better decisions 💡 Notable Takeaway: "It is not for the weak of heart. You've got to be driven by something besides just money." 👤 About our Guest: Michael Finkelstein is the founder and CEO of KINETK, a company building AI-powered data systems that help businesses move faster, cut friction, and make smarter decisions at scale. 🎧 Why Listen: Want to see how AI can help your business think faster and work smarter? Check out KINETK and connect with Michael to keep the conversation going. 🔗 Links + Stuff * Website: www.kinetk.ai [http://www.kinetk.ai] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-finkelstein-1552887/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-finkelstein-1552887/] * LinkedIn (company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/kinetk/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kinetk/] 📬 Want more than just the podcast? Every Friday, we publish The Weekly. A fast, smart rundown of what actually matters in finance, tech, small business, and the economy...without the noise. Subscribe here: 👉https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ [https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/] 💼 Need funding or working capital? If today's conversation raised questions about capital, cash flow, or financing options, you can schedule a conversation with our sponsor, Credit Banc. Credit Banc helps business owners make sense of their options and move forward with a clear plan, without pressure or guesswork. 👉 Book a free 15-minute call here: https://shorturl.at/LwxsA [https://shorturl.at/LwxsA] 📲 Connect with the hosts Follow along for behind-the-scenes clips, commentary, and things that don't make it into the episode. • Matt Meehan:https://www.instagram.com/matthew.r.meehan [https://www.instagram.com/matthew.r.meehan] • Luigi Rosabianca:https://www.instagram.com/luigi_rosabianca [https://www.instagram.com/luigi_rosabianca] • The Liquid Lunch Project:https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/ [https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/] 💬 One last thing Know a business owner who would appreciate this conversation? Send them the episode. That's how this show grows.