Smart Franchising with Fransmart

From running movies out of the back of his family’s warehouse at age 12 to becoming the largest Marco’s Pizza franchisee in America, McLain Hoogland understands the long game – and the pivot. With a lineage stretching back to the birth of family video rental and a career forged by service in the Marine Corps, McLain doesn’t just lead a multigenerational business, he’s reinvented it more than once.

In this episode of the Smart Franch...

Before Carl Stoffers was Entrepreneur Magazine’s Senior Business Editor, he was logging twelve-hour shifts in a maximum security prison in the sweltering Arizona desert. But even surrounded by concrete walls and lockstep routines, Carl never let go of his love for words – reading under a flashlight in secret as a kid and nurturing an “impossible dream” to become a journalist.

In this episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we expl...

After decades operating six different food brands including Dunkin’ and Jersey Mike’s, Mitch took a leap that changed everything: salon studios. Why? Because great franchises evolve, and Mitch believes in building businesses where people don't shy away from change.

His philosophy? Treat every person, from employees to beauty professionals, with respect and genuine care, and success will follow.

In this episode, Mitch gives his insig...

Jesse Keyser knows a thing or two about scaling from a single pizza shop dream to over 50 franchise locations across the U.S. – but it wasn’t just business savvy that got him there. Early on, Jesse learned the hard way that running a business isn’t just about chasing growth or watching the bank account swell; it’s about understanding people, mastering systems, and keeping your culture “king.”

From working seven-day weeks in his firs...

In an era where technology is advancing at lightning speed, franchisors must adapt or risk being left behind. Enter Jeremy Brazeal, a visionary from Reality Interactive, who who previously led groundbreaking consumer, digital engagement, and advertising work for global icons like The LEGO Group and The Coca-Cola Company. Now agency-side at Reality, he’s helping redefine how brands connect with customers through the power of AI and ...

Mike Hamra’s family legacy in the franchising industry spans generations. In this episode of Smart Franchising Podcast, Mike joins Dan Rowe as he shares insights into his remarkable journey from practising law to leading a powerhouse in the franchise world.

In this episode of Smart Franchising Podcast, Mike reveals:

• The Hamra family's journey as Wendy’s franchisees since 1975

• Growing a 200+ franchise empire across Wendy’s, Pan...

How do you turn a small franchise into a massive empire?In this episode, Dan Rowe chats with Neel Bhargava, co-founder of NB Group, who’s reshaping the world of franchise investment with his unique multi-unit, multi-brand approach. Neel’s journey took him from the world of consulting and private equity to becoming a powerhouse entrepreneur, scaling some of the most successful brands in the franchise space.In this episode of Smart F...

On today’s episode, we sit down with SG Ellison, the powerhouse behind a 360+ unit franchise empire and the first-ever Taco Bell Cantina.

SG didn’t scale by cutting corners—he scaled by investing in people, pushing innovation, and playing the long game. From buying his first 85 units to developing the highest volume Taco Bell in the world, SG’s story is a masterclass in thoughtful, purpose-driven growth.

In this episode, SG ...

On today’s episode, we sit down with Amer Wahab, the operator behind one of the most impressive unit economics in fast casual—$5.3M in sales from a single Kettlemans Bagel location.

Amer built a powerhouse brand with industry-leading retention, a cult following, and a model that’s built to scale. Even through the darkest days of COVID, Kettlemans came out stronger, smarter, and more profitable than ever.
In this episode, Amer shares...

On today’s episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we sit down with Noah Glass, the visionary founder of Olo, who turned an everyday frustration into a billion-dollar tech company that’s revolutionizing the restaurant industry.

Nearly 20 years ago, Noah imagined a world where you could skip the coffee shop line and order food seamlessly from your phone. Today, Olo processes $26B annually and powers millions of restaurant tran...

On today’s episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we sit down with Kathryn Chayka, the powerhouse who built massive success in franchise turnarounds, taking 12 struggling Wendy’s locations and making a multi-million dollar success story.

Fresh out of college, Kathryn took over a territory of underperforming Wendy’s stores in Quebec and added over $1M in new revenue per location. She’s proving that smart strategy, strong lead...

On today’s episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we sit down with Brian Beers, a franchise broker and entrepreneur who built a $45M franchise empire from scratch.

At just 37, Brian scaled his franchise portfolio of Midas shops to 33 locations, challenging the norms of franchising and proving that creativity, servant leadership, and strategic thinking can fuel explosive growth.

Brian shares the secret to his success incl...

On today’s episode of Smart Franchising Podcast, we sit down with Steve Hockett, CEO of Great Clips, to talk about what it takes to build a legacy business in franchising.

Before leading one of the most recognizable brands in the industry, Steve started as a franchisee with a vision. Over the past 36 years, he’s helped transform Great Clips from 150 salons to over 4,450—all while keeping the business model simple, efficient, ...

Ron Gardner’s journey from spinning records to spinning the wheels of justice is nothing short of extraordinary. As a former disc jockey turned trial lawyer, Ron has made a significant impact on the franchising world by protecting franchisees from fraud and unfair practices. Guided by his blue-collar upbringing, his mission is to support individuals striving to improve their circumstances, often against powerful franchisors.

I...

What does it take to transform a local beauty brand into a franchise powerhouse?

In this episode, we sit down with Tyler Moore, COO of GLO30, who’s helping turn a local favorite into a rapidly expanding beauty franchise with over 100 locations in development. Before this, Tyler was instrumental in growing brands like Drybar and Elements Massage at Wellbiz, a global wellness franchise leader—so he knows what it takes to make a brand...

Aaron Harper’s path to franchising was anything but ordinary. From navigating the glitz and glam of Hollywood to building Rolling Suds into a standout franchise, Aaron has seen both the spotlight and the shadows of entrepreneurship. In this episode of Smart Franchising with Fransmart, he doesn’t hold back on what it takes to build a franchise system that truly works—for both the franchisor and the franchisee.

Aaron pulls back the c...

As a law student working shifts in a restaurant, Ray Harrigill couldn’t have guessed that would become a launchpad for his franchising journey. Fast-forward 25 years, and Ray has built a thriving multi-unit business, bringing powerhouse brands like Massage Envy, My Salon Suite, and Palm Beach Tan into smaller markets with big returns.

In this episode, Ray opens up about the lessons learned from these decisions, why he sees small ma...

Ross Weisman grew a single Massage Envy location into a 250+ unit empire across eight states. In this episode, he shares key insights from his success as an area representative for Massage Envy and European WaxCenter.

Now, as co-founder of Epic Managers, Ross helps franchisees find and keep top talent. His experience shows that great managers are worth the investment - they reduce turnover, improve customer service, and boost profi...

In this episode, Dan Rowe sits down with John Hamburger, President of Franchise Times and Restaurant Finance Monitor, to discuss the secrets of success in the franchising industry. With a wealth of experience in finance and franchising, John shares his insights on industry growth, the challenges faced by restaurant brands, and what makes a strong franchise model. They explore key topics like unit economics, franchisee profitability...