How I Franchised This

He Spotted a Problem Nobody Fixed — Now It's a Franchise

Most people complain about problems. Few actually build a business around them.
Morgan Steir spent 12 years in software sales before spotting a problem nobody had solved vehicle rust. No convenient options, no mobile service, no easy fix. So he built one.
In this episode Morgan shares how a frustrating personal experience turned into Undercover Undercoaters, a mobile franchise now expanding across the country.

From Wall Street to Boulder - How Andrew Pudalov Invented a Food Category and Built a 25 State Empire

Andrew Pudalov spent 15 years as a global head of fixed income derivatives trading at Bear Stearns, Morgan Stanley and National Australia Bank. Then 9/11 happened and everything changed.
He quit his job, moved his family to Boulder with no plan and no food experience, and spent the next two decades building Rush Bowls into a 25 state franchise empire completely privately owned.
In this episode Andrew shares the raw origin story, why he spent 10 years in one location before expanding, how he took Rush Bowls into Whole Foods across 40 states before pivoting to franchising, and why the unit economics of his model are unlike anything else in food. If you are thinking about making a bold career pivot or building something from scratch this one is for you.

Opera Singer to Crumbl Cookie Franchisee — The Wildest Career Pivot You'll Ever Hear

Taj Suri trained to be an opera singer, worked at Madison Square Garden, managed luxury restaurants at the Fairmont in Silicon Valley, built an entertainment agency pitching TV and film to Netflix and Hulu and then his dad called with an idea.
Now Taj owns two top 150 Crumbl Cookie franchises in Tennessee and Virginia and is figuring it all out in real time.
In this episode Taj shares the raw truth about the first four months of franchise ownership, what the financials actually look like, how his background in music and hospitality shaped him as an operator, and why trust and people are the only thing that really matters.
If you've ever wondered what it's actually like on day one of owning a franchise, this is the episode.

The ONE Question to Ask Before Buying a Franchise

Scott Oaks didn't plan on franchising. He got downsized at 28, put his resume on Monster.com, and a franchise VP found him. Twenty-two years later he leads growth for Comfort Keepers, one of the largest senior care brands in the country.
In this conversation Scott breaks down what he's learned from helping hundreds of people buy franchises what makes great operators, the red flags he watches for, why senior care is one of the most recession-resistant businesses out there, and the one question he says every buyer should ask before signing anything.

The $49M Exit: How Joe Tagliente Sold the Operations but Kept the Land

Joe Tagliente built a $49,000,000 franchise empire—14 Burger Kings and 4 hotels—and when he sold it, he kept every single piece of real estate underneath it.
In this episode, Joe breaks down the OpCo vs. PropCo wealth strategy that separates great operators from truly wealthy ones. We dive into the accidental SEC call that launched his casual dining venture, the operational frameworks that allowed him to outperform the national average by 50%, and exactly how he valued and exited a multi-concept franchise portfolio.
If you're building toward an exit or want to understand the "Real Estate side" of franchising, this is your masterclass.

Popsicles in Minnesota? How Tamar Brown Turned a Frozen Treat Franchise into a Family Business

Have you ever bought a business and immediately thought: What did we just do?
In this episode of How I Franchise This, host Alex sits down with Tamar Brown, the creative force behind two Frio’s Gourmet Pops territories in the Twin Cities. Tamar didn't just buy a dessert truck; she bought a vehicle for family education, community connection, and entrepreneurial growth.
From a heart-stopping "inventory meltdown" that cost her thousands to the strategic triumph of replacing Dippin' Dots at local hockey rinks, Tamar’s journey is a raw, honest look at the J-Curve of business ownership.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
The "Winter Strategy": How to sell frozen treats in the coldest climate in the lower 48.
The 17-Year-Old Entrepreneur: How Tamar uses the business to teach her teenagers about money, networking, and "the hustle."
The Power of the Pivot: Why a graphic designer and actress chose gourmet pops over traditional "service" franchises.
The $5,000 Disaster: A cautionary tale about freezer alarms and how the "Franchise Family" saved the week.
Community Over Competition: Why sharing marketing assets with "competitors" actually grows your bottom line.
 

The Dangerous Question Every Entrepreneur Should Ask

Three words that will change your life: WHY NOT ME?
In this high-intensity episode of How I Franchise This, host Alex sits down with his early mentor and industry titan, Jeff Dudan. Jeff didn't just build a business; he built a category-dominating empire. From driving across the country with nothing but trash bags of clothes to founding AdvantaClean and launching Homefront Brands, Jeff’s journey is the ultimate masterclass in "ridiculous ambition."
In this episode, you’ll discover:
The "Why Not Me?" Mindset: Why high-level competition requires a specific type of mental grit.
The 4 Quadrants of Wealth: Jeff’s exact framework for building multi-generational freedom.
The A-Method for Hiring: A deep dive into identifying world-class talent (and avoiding the "convenience hire" trap).
The AI Defense: Why property services (roofing, fencing, cleaning) are the ultimate hedge against a dislocated economy.
Ruthless Prioritization: The morning rituals and decision filters Jeff uses to maintain peak performance at age 57.
Join the conversation: If you’re tired of "leasing a job" and ready to build on your own land, this episode is your roadmap.

The 'Secret Sauce' of Scaling: Boxing, Self-Defense, and Viral Brands with Andy Stenzler

In this episode, we sit down with legendary serial entrepreneur Andy Stenzler, the visionary behind global brands like Rumble Boxing, Cozy, and Kidville.
Andy shares his "maniacal" approach to product quality—including the fascinating story of how a ski-boot heater saved the boxing industry—and why he believes data is the key to making any business a "thing." We dive deep into his latest venture, THE PACK, a revolutionary group fitness concept that brings self-defense to the masses through a high-intensity, "Mr. Miyagi-inspired" workout.

How to Spot a Winning Franchise with Zack Fishman

What happens when you decide to join a family business that is an institution in the industry?
In this episode, we sit down with Zack Fishman, Chief Growth Officer at Fishman PR and Franchise Elevator. Zack didn’t just join the industry; he was practically born into it, drawing pictures of his parents’ franchise business as early as kindergarten.
Zack opens up about the "nepo baby" label, the pressure to prove his own worth, and how he modernized a legacy agency during the height of the pandemic. We dive deep into the current state of franchising, exploring why trends like frozen yogurt and cookies are cyclical, and why "operator-led" brands like Jersey Mike’s often outperform sales-led concepts.
Zack also offers a candid critique of the industry's sales incentives—drawing a fascinating parallel to the 2008 housing crisis (The Big Short)—and reveals the two recession-resistant industries he is most bullish on right now.
In this episode, we cover:
Navigating family business dynamics and establishing your own identity.
The cyclical nature of franchise trends (fashion vs. franchising).
Why the "Operator" mindset beats the "Sales" mindset in emerging brands.
A critical look at franchise sales incentives and regulation.
The rise of "Pet Hospitality" and the staying power of Children’s Services.

Fired to Franchise Empire: The Orangetheory Origin Story

Ellen Latham was fired at the peak of her career as a single mother. Instead of giving up, she went home, opened a Pilates studio in her spare bedroom, and started listening to her clients. That listening turned into the "Ultimate Workout," which eventually became Orangetheory Fitness.
In this episode, Ellen sits down to share the raw and remarkable origin story of one of the world's most successful fitness franchises. She breaks down the science behind the "Orange Zone," how she found the "perfect storm" of business partners, and the specific mindset shift—taught by her father—that saved her career.
If you are a founder, a franchisee, or just obsessed with fitness business stories, this is a masterclass on resilience and scaling with purpose.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The "Momentum Shifting" Theory: The psychological tool Ellen used to bounce back from failure.
The Science of the Zone: Why the workout is designed for metabolic change, not just burning calories.
The Tony Robbins Insight: Why Ellen’s partnership team was the "Perfect Storm" (Artist, Manager, Entrepreneur).
Scaling Pains: Why they completely stopped selling franchises early on to fix their quality control.
The Future of OTF: Ellen reveals the new focus on strength and longevity.
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