Franchise Empires – Details, episodes & analysis

Ever wonder how a franchise can keep growing without a ceiling in sight?  Cory Lyons, the CEO of Koala Insulation and a 20-year veteran in the franchise world, will give us his insights. In this episode, Cory reveals what drew him to Koala Insulation, how they’ve managed explosive growth since franchising in 2020, and why they’re only scratching the surface of their potential.  We dive into the key systems that impressed him, how he balances franchisee and franchisor support, and the KPIs driving Koala's success.  Plus, Cory shares why the unknown future of the brand keeps him excited every day. 00:01:41 - The Journey to Becoming the CEO of Koala Insulation 00:04:30 - What Systems Did Koala Insulation Have that Impressed Cory? 00:07:30 - The Trajectory of Koala Insulation Since Cory Joined 00:12:39 - Balancing Support Between Franchisees and Franchisors 00:17:05 - What Services do Koala Insulation Actually Provide? 00:24:17 - An Insight Into Koala Insulation’s 4 Big KPIs 00:26:57 - The Future and Potential of Koala Insulation’s Growth Trajectory Follow Cory: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-lyons-6a9ab919/ Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf Website: https://www.krokit.com And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.  And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

Ever wondered what it takes to stand out in a saturated niche like health and fitness? Tune in as The Wolf chats with Tom Dowd and Janina Czado, the dynamic duo behind F45 Training's exciting transformation and the birth of their new brands, FS8 and VAURA.  They're shaking up the fitness world with a clever hub and spoke model but not without the hiccup of naming their latest venture.  Tom and Janina dive into how they're enhancing the sensory experience in their Pilates studios and setting bold visions for F45 Training, FS8 and VAURA. They also share how they're standing out in a crowded market by delivering impactful content that truly empowers their community. Discover their groundbreaking reciprocity program by F45 Training, which opens doors for members across studios, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the robust support system uniting their brands. 00:01:20 - Bringing Pilates to Mainstream Market 00:05:44 - How Janina Became Involved With F45 Training 00:7:18 - When was F45 Training launched in the US? 00:08:40 - Differentiating Fitness Concepts in Pilates 00:14:05 - Brand Differences in VAURA, FS8 and F45 Training 00:19:01 - Breaking Down Financial Metrics 00:22:32 - How Are the Three Brands Structured? 00:24:50 - Restructuring All the Brands Into a Single Platform Follow Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-dowd-9092981/ Follow Janina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinaczado/ Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf Website: https://www.krokit.com Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much! 

How does the co-founder of beem Light Sauna think about scaling a thriving health and wellness franchise? The Wolf talks with Cynthia May, CEO and Co-Founder of beem Light Sauna, to discover her secret to scaling from 0 to 65 locations in a little over four years. Cynthia reveals her biggest challenges and successes in scaling a franchise brand, unraveling how she and her team developed systems that allowed their franchisees to truly thrive. How did culture and values fundamentally shape the nature of her franchise? Cynthia also shares her insights into the unique benefits of light therapy— from mental health to weight loss and detoxification, she explains why customers are drawn to their private individual suites and rooms and how their membership-based business model sets the stage for success. Plus, what’s in store for beem Light Sauna? And how has partnering with prelaunch partners and vendors upped their marketing game? Tune in now to find out!   Join the fastest-growing VR franchise in the world and be among the first to bring premium immersive VR experiences to your community. Invest in the future of entertainment by visiting franchise.sandboxvr.com.   00:01:30 - Scaling a Franchise Brand Successfully 00:05:43 - Finding the Right Location for Brands 00:08:46 - Partnering for Membership Sales Success 00:15:16 - Customizable Infrared and Red Light Therapy 00:21:25 - Top 3 Reasons for Wellness Retreats 00:25:29 - Transitioning from Founder to CEO 00:34:18 - Establishing Culture and Values for Business Success 00:40:50 - Goals for beem Light Sauna Beyond Units Learn More About beem Light Sauna: Website: https://franchise.beemlightsauna.com/   Follow Cynthia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiamay/   Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf Website: https://www.krokit.com   And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel. Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

How do you launch your own franchise empire from scratch? Meet Matt Stapleford, the entrepreneur one year into building his niche business with Go Mini Storage. The Wolf and Matt get straight into it, discussing how his background as a numbers guy persuaded him towards franchise ownership, why he loves the autonomy and freedom franchises offer, and his ambitious plans to expand across Pittsburgh. You’ll also hear why getting the right franchise is essential, how to crunch the numbers for due diligence, and why Matt’s priority is always family first. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much! Follow Matt: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthew-stapleford-831688ba Check out The Wolf’s newsletter Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf The Wolf is a friend of Workweek, working together to produce amazing podcasts. Find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Why does a Wall Street professional switch to Wingstop franchise ownership? Michael Horowitz explains how he made the crossover and why it’s the best move he ever made. The Wolf gets straight into it with Michael, who in his quest to become a franchise owner, researched and spoke to every big name, every fast food franchise brand in the industry. He finally settled on Wingstop and is now the owner of 20 units. You’ll hear Michael’s opinions on traditional business routes versus franchises, how to get a shot at buying into a big brand, and how to evaluate your business model. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much! Follow Michael: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mahorowitz Twitter: twitter.com/mahorowitz Check out The Wolf’s newsletter Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf The Wolf is a friend of Workweek, working together to produce amazing podcasts. Find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

David Weis has made one mistake in his franchise journey. He won’t make it again. Find out how the Mayweather Boxing franchise has found its place in LA. After working in the fitness industry for decades as a trainer, David launched his own chain of gyms in the Boston area. Beacon Hill Athletic Club is still hugely successful and David has turned his attention to a franchise with a powerful boxing name attached. Daniel and David launch straight into how David missed out on an Orange Theory franchise opportunity, but jumped straight in as the first owner of Mayweather Boxing in 2018. You’ll hear why boxing training is the workout with long-term stayability, the power of a name, and how customer service is the biggest differentiator. David also shares his plans to build 5 other sites in Los Angeles and his ambitions to expand into Boston, Tokyo, and Tel-Aviv. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much! Follow David: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-ilan-weis-a5009062 The Wolf is a friend of Workweek, working together to produce amazing podcasts. Find out more, visit: www.workweek.com Check out The Wolf’s newsletter Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf

The Speers are natural entrepreneurs. From owning an auto-motive business to homeschooling, this power couple knows the value of franchising a great education product. After watching one of their daughters struggle to get to grips with mathematics, James and Jennifer Speer sought help with the Mathnasium teaching method. Impressed with the product, they created the first Mathnasium Learning Center franchise in 2011. And they haven’t looked back. The Wolf gets into conversation with Jennifer and James, talking about how they’ve expanded to 10 locations around Texas, why you should burn your ships and go all in, and why buying is easier when you get your first location right. You’ll also hear why you should get to know your business inside and out and how that makes buying easier than building. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much! Follow James: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/james-speer-78432955 Check out The Wolf’s newsletter Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf The Wolf is a friend of Workweek, working together to produce amazing podcasts. Find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Brian Beers is the Swiss Army Knife of franchisees. From buying to scaling and selling, he pulls no punches. And as the owner of 29 Midas locations, Brian knows entrepreneurship inside and out. When the family business is franchises, you know you’re in the hands of an industry expert. Brian’s family founded Midas, the auto repair franchise, in 1976. Now Brian runs multiple units, all within an hour of Philadelphia. The Wolf and Brian dive right into how Brian leverages owner finance to buy locations, why a profit first approach should be every business owner’s priority, and how to identify a franchise system that has plenty of acquisition opportunity. You’ll also hear how the Baby Boomer generation plays a role in Brian’s acquisition strategy and his ambitious goals for the future. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much! Follow Brian: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brian-t-beers Twitter: twitter.com/brianbeers Check out The Wolf’s newsletter Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf The Wolf is a friend of Workweek, working together to produce amazing podcasts. Find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Erik Van Horn has owned 6 franchise brands, built 43 locations and made some great sales. Now he works 3 days a week on things he loves. Find out his secret on this season premier. As a veteran in the world of franchising, Erik knows how important it is to prioritize your time on things you enjoy doing, even more than making money. But he’s done both and is ready to share the secret sauce. The Wolf dives into conversation with Erik about the process of building multiple Liberty Tax franchises across Austin, how he built, grew and sold Sola Salon studios in California, and why 15-20 hours a week is the work/life balance he loves. You’ll also hear how Erik got into business through a gardening job and the realities of being a multi-brand owner. And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much! Follow Erik: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/evanhorn Check out Erik's podcast, community, and more here: https://www.franchisesecrets.com Check out The Wolf’s newsletter Stay up-to-date on all things Franchise Empires by following The Wolf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf The Wolf is a friend of Workweek, working together to produce amazing podcasts. Find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or already building out your franchise empire, finding the information you need can be tough. There’s plenty out there but so often it’s opaque and hard to access. You already know the smart money lies in franchises, you just need to cut through the noise and get the inside scoop on how to choose, own and scale your business. I’m The Wolf, and this is season 2 of Franchise Empires. Whether you’re an aspiring owner or have one or two businesses to your name, you’ll get insight into raising capital, and hot takes on how to choose a business that resonates with your values and goals. Last season I unlocked the playbooks of franchisees from killer brands like Orange Theory, Five Guys, and Dunkin’ Donuts, and this season’s line up is equally as stellar. Every episode you can expect thoughtful takeaways from a successful franchise builder with practical insights like why you don’t need a ton of investment to get started, the secrets to running 100 stores, and why you don’t need to quit your day job straight away. Owning a franchise might not be the most obvious path to entrepreneurship, but if you’re looking to build sustainable wealth using tried and tested models, your journey starts here. With season 2 dropping on June 21, and new shows every Tuesday, tune in for everything you need to build your franchise empire. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.