Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=feAug3026

A B2B franchise with no storefront, no staff and no inventory — where a single client can pay you every month for three years.

Mike DeBoer of Schooley Mitchell shows Chantel exactly how that recurring revenue works: owners keep half of every dollar they save a client, paid monthly across a three-year contract, and 75% of those clients renew.

By the end you'll know what the $73,000 covers, who this model actually fits, and whether recurring B2B...

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Legal stuff we have to say!

The information presented on this website is based on the most recent Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) available for each franchise opportunity. For detailed financial representations, please refer to Item 19 of the applicable FDD. 

Note that this information may have changed since publication. We strongly recommend verifying all fees, investment requirements, and franchise offers directly with the franchisor before making any investment decisions.

This website a...

We appreciate it when we can work with business owners who have been building their franchise business with their family members. Today's podcast was started by Savannah Oddo's grandfather 60 (yes, sixty) years ago, and it still hasn't hit a ceiling on growth. Chantel sits down with Savannah, VP of Franchise Development at City Wide Facility Solutions, to unpack a B2B franchise model that is scalable and strong. City Wide isn't your typical cleaning crew business.  Instead, it's a franchise based on one point of contact managing 20+ facility services for commercial properties. If you were hoping to pick up a...

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How do painting and a boxing movie belong together in this podcast?  Listen to learn how the strange combination works.  In this episode, Chantel sits down with Chris Lucas, VP of Franchise Development at Fresh Coat Painters, to break down a business model that's disrupting a recession-resistant industry with a variety of revenue streams. It's a painting franchise that doesn't require its owners to ever touch a paint can. Chris explains why Fresh Coat isn't looking for painters. Instead, th...

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Cabinet IQ founder and CEO Michael Hartel breaks down what it actually takes to own one of the fastest-growing kitchen cabinet and countertop franchises in the country. He walks through the real numbers — the investment range, first-year revenue, and how new owners with no industry experience are opening strong by simply running the playbook. Michael explains why the showroom costs less to build than people fear, how franchisees beat shops that have been open 40 years, and the five core va...

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Is your dream franchise opportunity actually a nightmare in disguise? 🛑 Too many entrepreneurs make emotional decisions based on "good vibes" instead of hard numbers, while forced expansions and unethical brokers trap others before they even open their doors. In this deep dive Chantel Soumis and Tariq Johnson, separate fact from feeling, exposing major industry red flags, and share the real growth lessons from legacy giants like Jersey Mike's. Plus, don't miss our rapid-fire "This or That" entrepreneurship breakdown!

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=feaug42026

CertaPro Painters franchise owner Erik Harris sits down with Chantel Soumis to explain why he chose to buy into a franchise instead of going solo and why he'd never want to be "on an island by himself." He breaks down the real value of franchise support and training, and how it gave him a proven path to scale his territory. Erik also shares his #1 lead source (networking and realtor referrals over paid ads) and the exact system that earned...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=feaug022026

In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise podcast, host Chantel Soumis spotlights Graze Craze, the powerhouse charcuterie and grazing board concept taking the country by storm. Graze Craze's director of franchise development, Shane Lee, joins the show to discuss the brand’s rapid expansion to 136 locations across four countries in just five years of franchising. Shane reveals the secrets behind their streamlined, low-overhead model that operates with just a few employees and no cooking equipment, making it a...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fe

Feeling trapped by the corporate "golden handcuffs" and looking to build real enterprise value through business ownership? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, host Chantel Soumis sits down with Aaron Harper, the Chairman and Founder of Rolling Suds, to discuss his incredible journey of transforming a single-unit family business into America’s fastest-growing power washing franchise.

Discover how Rolling Suds scaled past 350+ territories overnight by shifting the traditional pressure washing model away from lo...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fe

This video breaks down the exact roles, responsibilities, and level of control shared between a franchisor and a franchisee. While the franchisor is responsible for providing the complete operational blueprint including marketing, training guidelines, and brand protection tools the franchisee is the ultimate business owner who handles everyday operations like hiring, staff management, and executing the system. Through personal anecdotes about owning Five Guys franchises and navigating site approvals, the speakers emphasize the importance of following the proven system...

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This video explores the purpose, structure, and value of franchise royalties from both a franchisee and franchisor perspective. Tariq, Marc and Chris break down how royalties whether percentage-based or flat rates—serve as an investment that allows franchisors to reinvest in systems, technology, and support talent. Additionally, the discussion covers related financial elements like initial franchise fees, minimum monthly royalties, and the contemporary value of digital marketing ad funds.
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What does it take to go from entry-level sales rep to franchise owner in the same business you spent years building from the inside out? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, host Chantel Soumis sits down with Erik Harris, owner and general manager of CertaPro Painters of Needham, Massachusetts. Erik started at Sherwin Williams out of college, spent over seven years as a sales rep at CertaPro, and in late 2020 bought the business from the...

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What does it look like to build a seven figure cleaning business while traveling to over 60 countries as a digital nomad? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, host Chantel Soumis sits down with Neel Parekh, founder and CEO of MaidThis Franchise, to break down how he went from paying cleaners cash outside his corporate office building to building one of the top rated low cost franchises of 2025 according to Entrepreneur Magazine. We cover how the...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fe

What does it actually take to scale a painting franchise from $50 million to nearly $1 billion in revenue? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, host Chantel Soumis sits down with Mike Stone, President and CEO of CertaPro Painters, for a conversation that covers the full journey from the ground up. Mike started as a residential sales associate in 1999 helping a single franchisee cross the $1 million mark and worked his way through nearly every role in the...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fejul72026

What does it actually take to build one of the fastest growing cabinet and countertop franchise brands in the country from scratch? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, host Marc Magerman sits down with Michael Hartel, founder and CEO of Cabinet IQ, for a conversation that covers everything a serious franchise buyer needs to know about this brand. Michael breaks down how Cabinet IQ is disrupting a fragmented and outdated industry with a six star...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fejun302026

What does it take to build a franchise network around one of the fastest growing demographics in the country? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we sit down with Dan Durney, Director of Franchise Development for Assisting Hands Home Care, to break down how the company built a recession resistant business around the silver tsunami, the demographic shift of roughly 10,000 people turning 65 every day in the US. We cover their FOFO culture, the family of...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fejun282026

What are the real pros and cons of buying a franchise — and is it actually the right move for you?What are the real pros and cons of buying a franchise — and is it actually the right move for you? In this video we break down everything a first time franchise buyer needs to know before making one of the biggest financial decisions of their life. We cover why the SBA considers franchising the lowest risk path for first time...

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This video explores the complexities of purchasing a resale franchise, categorizing opportunities as either high-performing "diamonds" or underperforming "dogs". The speakers discuss the competitive nature of finding quality resales, noting that prime locations are often acquired by private equity firms or existing franchisees before reaching the open market. While resales offer benefits like established revenue and existing staff, they also present challenges such as poor community reputation, high premiums for profitable units, and difficulty securing SBA financing for businesses...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=tjjun2122026

The Voda Cleaning and Restoration franchise offers a strategic investment opportunity in the $300 billion restoration industry, utilizing a dual-service model designed to maximize enterprise value and cash flow.

High-Performance Financial Model

Rapid Revenue Growth: Average year-one franchise owners generate over $510,000 in revenue, which typically grows to over $1 million by year two.

Strong Profitability: The corporate location reports a 24.1% profit margin after all royalties and brand funds are paid.

Efficient Operations: Restoration...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fejun162026

Most people go into franchise ownership with the wrong expectations and those misconceptions are exactly what this episode is designed to fix. In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we break down the biggest mistakes franchise buyers make, including why franchising is never passive income, why trying to navigate the process alone is one of the costliest errors you can make, why the franchisor is not going to do the work for you, and what the...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fejun142026

Should you start a business from scratch, buy an existing one, or invest in a franchise? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we break down the real differences between all three paths — and how to figure out which one is actually right for you. We cover why franchising is often called business school 101 for first-time owners, what the debt service reality looks like when buying an existing business, why the most successful franchise candidates are th...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fejun092026

If you have ever wondered what actually happens between the moment you express interest in a franchise and the day you sign the agreement — this episode breaks down every single step. In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we walk through the complete franchise discovery process from both the franchisor and broker side, covering what to expect at each stage from your intro call all the way to Discovery Day, what the FDD actually is and wh...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fejun072026

This is a Franchise Empire podcast episode. The guest is Michael White, Chief Development Officer at United Franchise Group (UFG) — a franchising company that owns a portfolio of brands spanning many different industries.

This episode focuses on Signarama, UFG's full-service sign & graphics brand. The conversation opens with a Franchise Empire candidate who recently became a Signarama franchise owner, then broadens into why people are turning to franchising right now, how Signarama works as a B2B business, a...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fejun022026

This video identifies three popular franchises Subway, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, and Quiznos that potential investors should avoid due to systemic failures, lack of transparency, and financial risks. The speaker emphasizes that while people buy franchises for a "proven system," these specific brands often sell a "dream that isn't real".

Thinking about buying a franchise? This video explores the core of the franchise business model, discussing why many entrepreneurs opt for franchising to acquire a proven system. We...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=may2626

Getting your spouse on board before buying a franchise is not just good advice — it might be the single most important step in the entire process.
Getting your spouse on board before buying a franchise is not just good advice — it might be the single most important step in the entire process. In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we break down why couples who go through the due diligence process together are more likely to b...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=may2626

Getting your spouse on board before buying a franchise is not just good advice — it might be the single most important step in the entire process.
Getting your spouse on board before buying a franchise is not just good advice — it might be the single most important step in the entire process. In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we break down why couples who go through the due diligence process together are more likely to b...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=may2426

Being a customer of a business and owning one are two completely different things — and the numbers behind buying an existing business might surprise you. In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we break down the real truth about buying an existing business versus a franchise, why employees have zero loyalty to a new owner, how debt service can quietly eat into your take-home pay, and why the best franchise candidates are the ones who can fo...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=may1726

Everyone wants to know the same thing before buying a franchise: how much money will I make? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we break down one of the most misunderstood topics in franchising — profit margins and cash flow potential. We cover why no franchisor will ever guarantee your net profit, how to use the FDD and validation calls to build a realistic picture of what you can earn, and why your profitability ultimately comes do...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=may122026

What does it take to go from a college grad with no job to founding a franchise brand from scratch? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we sit down with the founder of Waterloo Turf to hear the real story behind how a low-risk bet on the turf industry turned into a thriving franchise opportunity. From walking away from ownership the first time, to losing the freedom of being his own boss, to burning the...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=femay052026

One of the most common questions we hear from franchise buyers is: can I keep my job and still own a franchise? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we break down the real truth about semi-absentee franchise ownership — why it takes longer to break even, why most financial disclosures do not include manager salaries, why first-time business owners should go all in, and what it actually looks like to run two full-time jobs at once. If...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=may0326

When your spouse isn't on board with buying a franchise, it can feel like the end of the road — but it doesn't have to be. In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, we break down how to navigate one of the most common obstacles franchise buyers face — getting your spouse on the same page. We cover how to approach the conversation the right way, why being vulnerable with your why matters more than any business case, and...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=feapr2826

Marc Magerman sits down with Lance Ingram, founder of Waterloo Turf, and Manny Guzman, VP of Operations, to break down everything you need to know about owning an artificial turf franchise. From how the business model works to what it takes to become a franchisee — this is an inside look at one of the most interesting emerging opportunities in home services right now.

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Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=feapr2626

We dive into the realities of franchise ownership, emphasizing that it's not for everyone and requires significant effort. Learn the crucial steps for how to start a business, particularly focusing on how to start a franchise successfully. This segment provides essential investment tips for aspiring business owners.

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Considering Investing In A Franchise?

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🔄 Franchise Resales | Find e...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=feapr2126

In this episode, we explore the ideal characteristics of a successful franchise owner, emphasizing the importance of following the system. We discuss how a strong partnership can enhance a "franchise business" and improve both efficiency and quality of life. Learn about the self improvement traits needed for "owning a franchise" and discover practical "business ideas" for achieving your financial goals. This conversation provides crucial insights into "how to make money" as a franchisee, highlighting that success comes from consistent...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=feapr1926

Many aspiring entrepreneurs face "analysis paralysis" when searching for a franchise, making it difficult to find truly profitable business ideas. Our experts streamline this process, sifting through thousands of options to present a curated list of high-quality franchises. This approach helps individuals navigate how to start a business effectively, ensuring they focus on ventures with proven success and strong support, moving beyond generic business ideas to specific, vetted opportunities.

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Considering Investing In A Franchise?<...

Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=feapr1426

Robert went from appliance technician to running a multi-million dollar franchise with 5 locations and over 30 employees. In this episode he breaks down exactly how he did it — including how he nearly went bankrupt in 2015, why he stopped working in the business and started working on it, and how leaning on his franchise support system changed everything. If you're thinking about buying a franchise or already own one, this one is worth watching.

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Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=feapr0926

We dive into the latest franchise business sales data, offering a thorough data analysis of 2023 vs. 2024 figures. This segment provides key insights into average and median sales, helping you with your own data interpretation for smarter decisions. Learn how to better understand your sales reports and drive significant business analytics.

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Considering Investing In A Franchise?

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Most people shopping for a franchise are asking the wrong questions, and it's costing them everything. In this episode, Tariq sits down with veteran franchise brokers Marc, and Chris for a brutally honest conversation about who should NOT buy a franchise, the passive income myth that destroys new owners, and what separates the operators who win from the ones who lose everything.

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Considering Investing In A Franchise?

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Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=femar2926

Thinking about buying a Great Clips franchise? Before you invest $187K–$419K, watch this. We break down the real FDD numbers, average sales, operating cash flow, startup costs, and what most owners actually take home each month.

If you're evaluating hair salon franchises or comparing Great Clips to other franchise investments, this video gives you the honest breakdown so you can make a smarter decision.

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Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=FEMar2226

Home2 Suites by Hilton is one of the fastest-growing hotel franchises in the U.S., but it comes with a massive price tag. 

In this video, I break down the real startup costs, average revenue per hotel, and what owners could be making based on occupancy rates and room pricing. We’ll also look at how this hotel franchise model works, why investors are willing to spend $15M+ to get in, and whether it’s actually a smart...