How I Franchised This

From Ice Cream Cones to Exit Plans: A 50-Year Family Franchise Journey

Sherman Walters grew up sleeping in an ice cream cone box at his family’s Dairy Queen—literally. What started as his father’s handwritten napkin deal in the 1970s turned into a 50-year family business that spanned generations.
In this episode, Sherman shares how his family built and eventually sold their Dairy Queen locations, the lessons he learned stepping away from the counter to become a restaurant broker, and why every franchisee—no matter their size—should start with an exit strategy.
We dive into:
The surprising origin story of one of Charlotte’s oldest Dairy Queen locations
How to emotionally detach from your business (and why it matters for valuation)
The realities of selling a franchise and structuring your lease right
Why franchising isn’t about control—it’s about knowing your strengths
Whether you’re running your first store or planning your next acquisition, this episode is packed with real-world insights from someone who’s lived both sides of the franchising table.

From the Marine Corps to Owning Three Tippi Toes Franchises with Joshua Emison

Josh Emison served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps before becoming a franchise owner in Denver. Today, he and his wife operate three Tippi Toes territories, a mobile dance program for young children. Their journey started with a simple goal—to build something of their own—and grew into a thriving local business that blends structure, leadership, and community.
In this episode, Josh shares how his military background shaped his leadership style and why the systems and training culture of franchising felt like a natural fit. He talks about following the franchisor’s playbook, trusting good people, and learning that success often comes from doing the basics exceptionally well.
Josh also opens up about an earlier chapter in his career, when he launched a blockchain startup that collapsed during the FTX fallout. That experience pushed him toward franchising—where the focus is on steady, proven growth rather than hype or volatility.
We cover how he and his wife divided responsibilities, handled a major summer drop-off in customers, and built systems to reach their next growth milestone of 1,000 enrolled students. Josh closes with advice for aspiring owners, especially veterans: find the right fit, talk to franchisees directly, get real financial help, and never underestimate how capable you already are.

What Made Patricia & Felipe Choose Eyelash Extensions Over Everything Else

Patricia Rincón and Felipe Lastra share their journey into franchise ownership with LuminLash in Houston. After careers in oil and gas, they decided to invest in themselves and their family by acquiring an existing eyelash extension studio. In this episode, they discuss choosing franchising over starting from scratch, what they learned in the early months, and how they’re planning for future growth.

She Sold Her House to Buy a Kilwins Store — Now She Have Six Locations (and 5 More on the Way)

Ashley Clark never planned on franchising. Fresh out of Clemson and headed for law school, a single suggestion from her dad led to a Kilwins inquiry and, twelve years later, a six-store operation across four states with five more in the pipeline. In this episode, Ashley breaks down how she and her husband went all in, financed growth through SBA and conventional debt, built systems, and learned to lead at scale.
What you’ll learn
How Ashley bought her first store and went cash positive on day one
The leap from one to two units including selling their house to fund the deal
When SBA makes sense and when conventional lending opens up
Why franchising still feels entrepreneurial
The mindset shift from operator to multi-unit leader
Systems, people, and the biggest misconceptions about franchising
 

From Overseas Upbringing to Franchise Empire | Barry Meisel’s Story

Barry Meisel grew up in the Philippines as the child of missionaries, built an early career in corporate America, and then made the leap into multi-unit franchising. In this episode of How I Franchised This, host Alex Smereczniak dives into Barry’s remarkable path — from Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Fortune 50 financial services to becoming CFO of a 30-unit franchise group and ultimately owning 12 salons across Illinois and Wisconsin.
You’ll hear how Barry:
Turned formative overseas experiences into an entrepreneurial mindset
Built relationships that led to unexpected opportunities (and why he says “take the call, take the meeting”)
Structured creative financing, including seller financing, to acquire existing units
Leads and motivates a dispersed team while living hundreds of miles away
If you’re thinking about buying a franchise or moving from corporate to business ownership, this conversation is packed with practical tips, honest lessons, and inspiration.

From Entrepreneur to Intrapreneur to Franchisee: Cody Weaver’s Story

Cody Weaver went from selling golf balls out of ponds as a kid, to launching edgy novelty products in college, to building a decade-long career in footwear with Steve Madden and Dolce Vita. Today he’s a Donatos Pizza franchise partner in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
In this episode of How I Franchised This, host Alex Smereczniak talks with Cody about his path from entrepreneur to intrapreneur to franchisee, how he spotted an opportunity in his own backyard, what it’s really like balancing a corporate leadership role with running a high-volume restaurant, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
Whether you’re thinking about your first franchise or curious how successful operators make the leap, this episode offers a candid look at the realities behind the headlines.

From Dorm Room to National Brand: Michael Sutton on Building Grill Hero

What began as a summer project cleaning grills in Toronto has become a fast-growing franchise. Michael Sutton walks through the scrappy early days, the boost from Dragon’s Den, and the decision to scale through franchising. He talks about the shift from managing techs to leading franchisees, bringing on a COO, and the importance of picking the right operators. Plus, his advice for entrepreneurs considering their first franchise investment.
 
Check out Grill Hero on Franzy: https://franzy.com/franchises/grill-hero

From Law Enforcement to Turf Empire: Stephen Tong’s Waterloo Turf Journey

In this episode of How I Franchised This, Alex Vidor steps in as host and sits down with Stephen Tong, a former law enforcement officer who traded 12-hour shifts and overtime cycles for entrepreneurship in the turf industry. Stephen shares how his background in policing prepared him for business ownership, why time and family were central to his decision to leave law enforcement, and how Franzy guided him through evaluating multiple brands before finding the right fit with Waterloo Turf.
Hear how Stephen navigated the first 90 days of ownership, the support he’s received from Waterloo, and the lessons he’s learned about managing people, growth, and grit. Whether you’re considering franchising, curious about career transitions, or inspired by stories of betting on yourself, Stephen’s journey offers practical insights and motivation.

Inside Franzy: Co-founder Chris Wright on Building, Scaling, and the Future of Franchising

This week’s episode takes a different spin. With CEO Alex Smereczniak out, VP of Business Development Alex Vidor steps into the host seat to interview Franzy’s cofounder and COO, Chris Wright.
Chris shares his journey into franchising, why he made the leap to cofound Franzy, and the lessons he’s learned building and scaling the company. The conversation also zooms out into the bigger franchising picture — from why 2025 is such an interesting time to become a franchisee, to how AI and economic trends are reshaping the industry, to what multi-unit owners think about differently than first-time buyers.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or already own multiple units, this candid conversation offers valuable insights into where franchising is headed. 
Check us out at Franzy.com

From Marine to Multi-Brand Franchise Owner with Calvin Smith

Calvin Smith has worn a lot of hats — U.S. Marine, healthcare executive, EOS implementer, and owner of multiple franchise brands including Sinarama and Superior Fence & Rail. In this episode, Calvin shares his journey from the military to entrepreneurship, why franchising became his playbook for growth, and how he’s scaled across different industries. We cover what new franchisees get wrong, how veterans are uniquely equipped for business ownership, and the importance of due diligence when picking a brand. Whether you’re debating between starting from scratch or buying into a proven system, Calvin’s hard-earned lessons will help you think bigger and avoid costly mistakes.
 
Check us out at Franzy.com