All Episodes

June 2, 2025 36 mins

DESCRIPTION:

Dr. John Hayes interviews Larry Strain, Chief Development Officer of Retro Fitness, in 

the Franchise Hot Seat episode, discussing the complexities of real estate in retail 

franchising. Larry shares his three-decade experience in retail development, 

highlighting the changes brought about by e-commerce giants like Amazon. He 

underscores the growing significance of service-based retailers, particularly fitness 

centers, and the real estate challenges they encounter, such as competition for 

space and parking needs. Larry points out the crucial role of franchisors in 

supporting franchisees, especially newcomers, by managing broker negotiations, 

lease terms, and construction. He compares the ease of development between 

various brands he has worked with, including Starbucks and McDonald’s, and 

identifies key factors for long-term franchisee success, such as understanding 

customer needs and reinvesting in the business. The conversation also covers the 

cyclical nature of the real estate market, the importance of choosing the right 

location, and the impact of institutional pressures on franchise sales and selection 

criteria.

- With Larry Strain.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction 

00:29 The State of Retail and Fitness Franchising

01:21 Challenges in Real Estate for Fitness Franchises

02:24 Iconic Brands and Real Estate Development

04:32 Navigating Real Estate for New Franchisees

07:36 Franchisor Support in Real Estate

10:53 The Importance of Strategic Real Estate Planning

24:13 Traits of Top Performing Franchisees

32:27 The Role of Strategy in Franchise Expansion

33:32 Food vs. Fitness Franchises

34:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

LINKS:

WEBSITE: http://franchisehotseats.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnhayes/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drjohnhayes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Howtobuyafranchise

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayesjph/


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnphayesfranchise

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DrJohnHayes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franchisehotseatpodcast

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club

The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.