Mastering the Franchise Game with Greg Flynn

Greg Flynn, the largest franchisee in the world, shares his insights on franchise success and growth. He discusses his background and early ventures, including his experience with WorldRaps. Flynn then explains how he transitioned to Applebee's and the factors that contributed to his success in running the franchise. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and execution in the restaurant business. Flynn also discusses the state of casual dining and the opportunities for growth in the industry. He shares his experience diversifying into other brands and expanding internationally. Flynn provides advice for franchisees and highlights the significance of the franchisor-franchisee relationship. He concludes by expressing his satisfaction with his journey and the lessons learned along the way. Takeaways Collaboration and execution are key to success in the restaurant business. Diversification and expansion into other brands can provide growth opportunities. Franchisees should focus on running their restaurants well every day. The franchisor-franchisee relationship should be based on trust and mutual support. Chapters 00:00 Greg Flynn's Background and Early Ventures 03:21 Transition to Applebee's and Growth 08:03 Success Factors in Running Applebee's 12:44 Franchise Growth and Collaboration 15:39 The State of Casual Dining 17:14 Diversification into Other Brands 20:01 Property Ownership and Leasing 20:40 Criteria for Selecting New Brands 21:54 Outlook for 2024 and Beyond 23:22 Expansion into Non-Food Franchises 26:17 Starting a Franchise Business Today 27:59 Advice for Franchisees 30:59 Franchisor-Franchisee Relationship 32:16 No Regrets and Learning from Mistakes