In this episode, Taco John’s CEO, Heather Neary, shares her full-circle journey, the five C’s of franchising success, and what it takes to grow a legacy QSR in today’s competitive market. From franchisee empathy to marketing/ops integration—this is a masterclass in modern franchising.
Timestamps:
00:00 – The lawnmower hustle: Eric's childhood story
01:25 – Meet Heather: CEO of Taco John’s
03:46 – Her path from cheesesteaks to CEO
04:49 – Uniting marketing & ops under one vision
06:55 – How to support struggling franchisees
09:37 – Food vs. non-food franchising insights
14:56 – Taco John’s legacy and brand refresh
17:54 – How to lead meaningful brand change
20:20 – Listening tours and building trust
26:08 – Franchisee ROI and capital investment strategy
Connect with Erik Van Horn:
🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/
📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/
👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/
Best Franchise Starter Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL
#Franchising #Leadership #QSR
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