Smart Franchising with Fransmart

On today’s episode, we sit down with SG Ellison, the powerhouse behind a 360+ unit franchise empire and the first-ever Taco Bell Cantina.

SG didn’t scale by cutting corners—he scaled by investing in people, pushing innovation, and playing the long game. From buying his first 85 units to developing the highest volume Taco Bell in the world, SG’s story is a masterclass in thoughtful, purpose-driven growth.

In this episode, SG ...

On today’s episode, we sit down with Amer Wahab, the operator behind one of the most impressive unit economics in fast casual—$5.3M in sales from a single Kettlemans Bagel location.

Amer built a powerhouse brand with industry-leading retention, a cult following, and a model that’s built to scale. Even through the darkest days of COVID, Kettlemans came out stronger, smarter, and more profitable than ever.
In this episode, Amer shares...

On today’s episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we sit down with Noah Glass, the visionary founder of Olo, who turned an everyday frustration into a billion-dollar tech company that’s revolutionizing the restaurant industry.

Nearly 20 years ago, Noah imagined a world where you could skip the coffee shop line and order food seamlessly from your phone. Today, Olo processes $26B annually and powers millions of restaurant tran...

On today’s episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we sit down with Kathryn Chayka, the powerhouse who built massive success in franchise turnarounds, taking 12 struggling Wendy’s locations and making a multi-million dollar success story.

Fresh out of college, Kathryn took over a territory of underperforming Wendy’s stores in Quebec and added over $1M in new revenue per location. She’s proving that smart strategy, strong lead...

On today’s episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we sit down with Brian Beers, a franchise broker and entrepreneur who built a $45M franchise empire from scratch.

At just 37, Brian scaled his franchise portfolio of Midas shops to 33 locations, challenging the norms of franchising and proving that creativity, servant leadership, and strategic thinking can fuel explosive growth.

Brian shares the secret to his success incl...

On today’s episode of Smart Franchising Podcast, we sit down with Steve Hockett, CEO of Great Clips, to talk about what it takes to build a legacy business in franchising.

Before leading one of the most recognizable brands in the industry, Steve started as a franchisee with a vision. Over the past 36 years, he’s helped transform Great Clips from 150 salons to over 4,450—all while keeping the business model simple, efficient, ...

Ron Gardner’s journey from spinning records to spinning the wheels of justice is nothing short of extraordinary. As a former disc jockey turned trial lawyer, Ron has made a significant impact on the franchising world by protecting franchisees from fraud and unfair practices. Guided by his blue-collar upbringing, his mission is to support individuals striving to improve their circumstances, often against powerful franchisors.

I...

What does it take to transform a local beauty brand into a franchise powerhouse?

In this episode, we sit down with Tyler Moore, COO of GLO30, who’s helping turn a local favorite into a rapidly expanding beauty franchise with over 100 locations in development. Before this, Tyler was instrumental in growing brands like Drybar and Elements Massage at Wellbiz, a global wellness franchise leader—so he knows what it takes to make a brand...

Aaron Harper’s path to franchising was anything but ordinary. From navigating the glitz and glam of Hollywood to building Rolling Suds into a standout franchise, Aaron has seen both the spotlight and the shadows of entrepreneurship. In this episode of Smart Franchising with Fransmart, he doesn’t hold back on what it takes to build a franchise system that truly works—for both the franchisor and the franchisee.

Aaron pulls back the c...

As a law student working shifts in a restaurant, Ray Harrigill couldn’t have guessed that would become a launchpad for his franchising journey. Fast-forward 25 years, and Ray has built a thriving multi-unit business, bringing powerhouse brands like Massage Envy, My Salon Suite, and Palm Beach Tan into smaller markets with big returns.

In this episode, Ray opens up about the lessons learned from these decisions, why he sees small ma...

Ross Weisman grew a single Massage Envy location into a 250+ unit empire across eight states. In this episode, he shares key insights from his success as an area representative for Massage Envy and European WaxCenter.

Now, as co-founder of Epic Managers, Ross helps franchisees find and keep top talent. His experience shows that great managers are worth the investment - they reduce turnover, improve customer service, and boost profi...

In this episode, Dan Rowe sits down with John Hamburger, President of Franchise Times and Restaurant Finance Monitor, to discuss the secrets of success in the franchising industry. With a wealth of experience in finance and franchising, John shares his insights on industry growth, the challenges faced by restaurant brands, and what makes a strong franchise model. They explore key topics like unit economics, franchisee profitability...

Join Dan Rowe as he sits down with Irfaan Lalani, co-founder and CEO of Vibe Restaurants, who went from starting with one Little Caesars location to now running over 125+ restaurants across multiple brands, including Little Caesars, Wingstop, and Whataburger. Irfaan talks about the challenges of scaling in small markets, the importance of people in franchising, and the "vibification" process that sets his restaurants apart. He offe...

Starting with just a dream and sheer determination, Andrew Feghali has carved out a remarkable empire in the franchising world.

Andrew Feghali, a self-made multi-unit franchisee, shares his journey from working in his family's Little Caesars at 13 to owning over 60 locations across three major brands.

In this episode, he reveals the keys to his success, including the importance of operational excellence, investing in peopl...

From humble beginnings as a Ukrainian immigrant to becoming a titan in the franchising world, Paul Kushnir shares his remarkable success story on this episode of Smart Franchising with Fransmart.His story is a powerful example of the American dream in action. Paul shares his incredible journey from starting with a single mobile accessory business to becoming the largest franchisee of Sprint stores. Discover how he grew his operatio...

Peter Holt, CEO of The Joint Chiropractic, brings an impressive 38-year legacy in franchising to today’s episode.

From his accidental entry into the franchise industry to spearheading a revolution in chiropractic accessibility, Peter shares his journey and the growth of The Joint Chiropractic to nearly 1,000 locations.

Discover how simple yet innovative location strategy and delivery changes can transform a traditional medical serv...

In this episode of Smart Franchising with Fransmart, we sit down with Jay Sonner from North Point, a leading expert in mergers and acquisitions. With extensive experience in the restaurant and franchising industries, Jay shares his valuable insights on crafting a franchise that not only attracts buyers but also commands top dollar. Discover the secrets behind high-stakes deals with renowned brands like Nothing Bundt Cakes and Hand...

In this episode, Dan Rowe interviews Ewell Smith, a franchise broker, about his background and experience in the franchising industry. Ewell shares his extensive experience in running trade associations and dealing with crises, which has shaped his approach to helping entrepreneurs find the right franchise opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of genuine interest and a certain skill set in franchise ownership. Ewell also disc...

Tune in as Aicha Bascaro, with over 35 years in the franchising industry, shares her expert insights on the challenges and strategies of running a successful franchise.

Aicha, who founded the American Franchise Academy, shares her insights on the gap between what franchisors teach and what franchisees need to succeed. Learn the importance of building effective systems for managing multiple franchise units, the role of leadership ...