The Franchise Scale Up Show with Guy Coffey

Guy Coffey
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

Welcome to The Franchise Scale Up Show hosted by Guy Coffey. Guy is an entrepreneur, franchise veteran, and co-founder of a successful franchise brand. Join Guy as he dives into real-world stories, strategies, and insights from inspiring entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders. Discover actionable advice on launching, scaling, and sustaining a meaningful business while thriving in life. From solo episodes breaking down simple, effective strategies to candid interviews uncovering challenges, breakthroughs, and success secrets, this podcast is your go-to for honest, practical guidance. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling to the next level, The Franchise Scale Up Show will empower you to build a business, and life, you love.

  1. Oct 14

    Opening a Fitness Studio? Don't Make This Budget Mistake

    One STRONG Pilates studio in Canada opened with about 600 pre-sales, a mix of memberships and packs. Michael Ramsey explains why he puts so much emphasis on what happens before the doors open. In this episode of The Franchise Scaleup Show, I sit down with Michael, founder of STRONG Pilates and a former multi-unit F45 operator, to unpack international franchise expansion, local execution, and the pre-sale work behind a strong studio launch. We trace the move from F45 into a concept that combines Pilates, strength training, and cardio. Then we talk through master franchising, the infrastructure needed in new markets, and why STRONG's first US studio opened in San Antonio instead of the planned Los Angeles location. The practical heart of this conversation is pre-sale: putting real people on camera, building relationships locally, assigning clear roles for lead follow-up and sales, and giving franchisees dedicated support instead of handing over a toolkit and hoping it gets used. In this episode: How STRONG chooses master franchise operators and supports new markets.What the San Antonio launch taught Michael about local execution.Why pre-sale matters to opening momentum and franchisee confidence.What a 12-week pre-sale plan needs beyond a checklist.Why premium buildout extras should not crowd out launch marketing.At the time of recording, Michael reports around 130 locations in 14 countries. The Canadian pre-sale example is one studio's reported experience, not a typical result or a promise for every location. Building an emerging franchise brand? Visit https://guycoffey.com and book the free Franchise Growth Strategy Call mentioned in this episode to discuss support infrastructure, territory sales, or preparing for private equity. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Human Side of Franchising 01:05 Meet Michael Ramsey 02:44 From F45 to the STRONG Pilates Concept 07:03 Growing Through Shutdowns and Going Global 09:56 Master Franchising and Support Infrastructure 12:01 San Antonio Becomes the US Launchpad 14:06 How US Franchise Development Differs 17:21 Building a Performance-Focused US Team 19:10 Why Pre-Sales Set the Tone 20:54 Inside the 600-Sale Pre-Opening Example 24:21 A 12-Week Pre-Sale Plan Needs Clear Roles 27:19 Why Pre-Sale Support Has Its Own Role 29:48 Prioritize Pre-Sales Over Premium Upgrades 31:49 Final Thoughts and Franchise Growth Strategy #STRONGPilates #Franchising #FitnessBusiness #FranchiseGrowth Connect with Guy Coffey: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/guycoffey Website: www.guycoffey.com Instagram: @guycoffey YouTube: @guycoffey

  2. Oct 7

    Buying a Business? What the Spreadsheet Won't Tell You

    Buying a business can accelerate growth. But who keeps it running when the owner leaves? I'm Guy Coffey, and in this episode of The Franchise Scale-Up Show, I'm joined by Guy Bartlett to look beyond the deal and into the people, systems, and transition that come with it. Guy shares his experience acquiring owner-managed businesses and supporting buyers and sellers through transitions. We talk about why he starts with human conversations, what happens when a business depends on its owner, and why a promising spreadsheet is only part of the picture. In this conversation: When growth through acquisition makes sense, and when it may compound problems in your existing business. How your network, suppliers, and customers can open the door to acquisitionconversations.What to look for in owner dependence, team capability, and cultural fit before thehandover.Why sellers need a clear exit goal, not just a bigger asking price.How balance-sheet value, deferred consideration, and seller financing enter the discussion.For franchise founders and business owners considering their next move, this is a conversation about growing with a plan, protecting what already works, and taking responsibility for the people behind the numbers. Connect with Guy Coffey: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/guycoffey Website: www.guycoffey.com Instagram: @guycoffey YouTube: @guycoffey

    Buying a Business? What the Spreadsheet Won't Tell You

  3. Sep 30

    Before You Sell More Franchises, Fix These Blind Spots

    Selling more franchises can look like progress. But can your franchisees operate the model successfully, and are customers coming back? In this episode of The Franchise Scale-Up Show, Pete Ricciardi and I start with a $75,000 question: should an emerging franchisor join a broker network or hire an experienced franchise adviser? That opens a bigger conversation about what needs to work before you scale: your systems, franchisee selection, unit economics and customer experience. We dig into product mix, the products and services customers actually buy, and how that information can inform pricing, staffing and promotions. I also share what we learned when we took a closer look at our services, timing and pricing. IN THIS EPISODE Why successful corporate stores don't automatically prove a model will work in a different market.What to consider when choosing your first franchisees.How a smaller footprint can affect capacity and the customer experience.Where to begin with product-mix data instead of guessing.Why discounts need a plan, not just a sales target.How to keep customers and employees in focus as you add locations.For emerging franchise founders and operators, this is a practical conversation about building a stronger business, not just a bigger location count. ABOUT PETE Pete Ricciardi draws on his experience as a Burger King franchisee and his consulting work to discuss franchise operations and customer-focused growth. Connect with Guy Coffey: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/guycoffey Website: www.guycoffey.com Instagram: @guycoffey YouTube: @guycoffey

    Before You Sell More Franchises, Fix These Blind Spots

  4. Sep 23

    Why the Wrong Franchisee Can Put Your Entire Brand at Risk

    One franchisee doesn't just represent one location. They represent your brand. So what happens when you grow the system without getting the people right? In this episode of The Franchise Scale-Up Show, I sit down with Pete Ricciardi to talk about franchise growth, franchisee selection and the decisions that protect the business you're building. We start with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza restaurant opening and an Anytime Fitness club reinvention, then turn to acquisition due diligence, franchise agreement renewals, single-unit versus multi-unit ownership, and the pressure that comes with rapid expansion. We also discuss Jack in the Box, the questions surrounding 7-Eleven in Australia, and the growth paths of brands including 7 Brew and Dutch Bros. These examples lead back to the same question: are you building a stronger system, or simply a bigger one? Inside the conversation: What experienced buyers question during franchise due diligence.Why franchise renewals, leases and goodwill deserve attention before a deal.How to think about one location versus multiple units.Why franchisees need the willingness to take risks and the discipline to follow the playbook.How inconsistent brand standards can affect the other owners in your system.For emerging franchisors, existing franchise owners and prospective buyers, this is a practical conversation about people, consistency and growth without losing control. Ready to go deeper? Visit https://guycoffey.com and book a free franchise growth strategy call. Subscribe to The Franchise Scale-Up Show, and share this episode with a founder who is building their next stage of growth. Protect your vision. Move fast. Scale smart. This episode is for educational discussion, not legal, financial or investment advice. Brand examples and industry commentary reflect the conversation at the time of recording. Consult qualified advisers about your own franchise agreements and business decisions. Connect with Guy Coffey: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/guycoffey Website: www.guycoffey.com Instagram: @guycoffey YouTube: @guycoffey

    Why the Wrong Franchisee Can Put Your Entire Brand at Risk

  5. Sep 16

    How Broken Yolk Grew to 42 Locations by Putting People First

    How do you grow a restaurant franchise without losing the relationships that made the first location work? In this episode of The Franchise Scale-Up Show, I sit down with John Gelastopoulos of Broken Yolk Cafe to talk about the people behind the growth: franchise owners, employees and the customers who keep coming back. John shares how he arrived in America at 17 with less than $20, bought Broken Yolk in 1993 with help from credit cards, and helped grow the brand to 42 locations at the time of our conversation. But the most useful part of his story isn't the location count. It's how he approaches the people behind it. We get into: What hands-on franchise support looked like for an owner who went from a two-store agreement to 10 locations.The two very different managers who shaped John's leadership.Why familiar faces and personal attention matter to repeat customers.What he looks for beyond a resume when hiring and selecting franchise owners.Why he visits potential restaurant sites instead of relying on data alone.For emerging franchisors, multi-unit operators and restaurant owners, this conversation offers a practical look at scaling through support, hospitality and staying close to the business. Ready to scale without losing control? Book a free franchise growth strategy call at https://guycoffey.com Subscribe to The Franchise Scale-Up Show, and share this episode with one founder who needs it. Protect your vision. Move fast. Scale smart. Figures and business examples reflect the conversation at the time of recording and are not earnings guarantees. Connect with Guy Coffey: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/guycoffey Website: www.guycoffey.com Instagram: @guycoffey YouTube: @guycoffey

    How Broken Yolk Grew to 42 Locations by Putting People First

  6. Sep 10

    The AI Mistake That Made an Airline Fire Its Whole Support Team

    An airline once fired its entire customer service team and replaced it with AI bots. It did not go well. On this episode of The Franchise Scale Up Show, Guy Coffey sits down with Kate Nelson, a customer experience technology strategist, to unpack what happens when brands try to remove the human element from customer experience, and what actually works instead. Kate breaks down why customer experience has become the single biggest differentiator for franchises today, the most common mistake she sees when brands buy technology before defining a strategy, and why involving your franchise advisory council in tech decisions can make or break adoption. She also cuts through the AI hype with concrete advice: how to negotiate an exit clause and a proof of concept before signing with any AI vendor, why tool sprawl is quietly draining budgets, and how to introduce new technology without shell-shocking your team. The conversation wraps with a look at virtual and augmented reality in franchising, from soft skills training with embodied AI agents to scaling one trainer's expertise across every location and language. If you're evaluating new technology, thinking about AI, or just trying to make customer experience your competitive edge, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Connect with Guy Coffey: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/guycoffey Website: www.guycoffey.com Instagram: @guycoffey YouTube: @guycoffey

    The AI Mistake That Made an Airline Fire Its Whole Support Team

  7. Sep 3

    The $83K Franchise With Almost No One Ever Canceling

    They clean garbage cans, and they have built one of the most interesting franchise stories in home services. On this episode of The Franchise Scale Up Show, Guy Coffey sits down with James Luy, president of Bin Blasters and partner at The Franchise Department, to talk about how a business that started in one founder's backyard in Utah became a 40 unit franchise system across 17 states. James breaks down why the recurring revenue, low investment model was so attractive coming from a career in brick and mortar franchising, why Bin Blasters deliberately avoids the broker and consultant model most franchisors rely on, and how keeping commission dollars inside the system builds a healthier business for everyone. He also shares the real numbers: what customers pay, what it takes to break even, and how the team decides where to invest next, from a full technology overhaul with software partner Jobber to a franchise support system built from the ground up. You'll hear how the business has scaled personal, high touch support as the system grows, why they added pressure washing as a natural extension of an existing customer relationship, and how they manage a highly seasonal business without losing revenue. The episode closes with a rapid fire round covering the habit behind James's success, the book he'd hand his kids, and the advice he'd give his younger self. If you're evaluating a home services franchise, thinking about how to build a support system that scales, or just want a real look at what it takes to grow a young franchise system responsibly, this conversation is worth your full attention. Connect with Guy Coffey: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/guycoffey Website: www.guycoffey.com Instagram: @guycoffey YouTube: @guycoffey

    The $83K Franchise With Almost No One Ever Canceling

  8. Aug 27

    The Hidden Identity Shift Nobody Warns New Business Owners About

    What actually happens the day after you buy a business? On this episode of The Franchise Scale Up Show, Guy Coffey sits down with Nikki Belt of Anchor and Keel to unpack the identity shift that new business owners go through, and why it's so much bigger than a new set of duties. Nikki spent about ten years in the nonprofit sector and ten more in big tech, including Microsoft, Meta, and Google, before building a practice that helps new buyers modernize operations, navigate change, and make the leap from buyer to effective owner. In this conversation, she and Guy dig into the biggest misconception buyers walk in with (buying a business vs buying a job), why the first 90 days matter so much, which parts of a business are safest to leave untouched, and how to tell the difference between a kitchen fire and a dumpster fire when everything feels urgent. You'll also hear real talk on employee transitions, warm handoffs between old and new ownership, when to actually bring in outside help, and Nikki's answers to a rapid-fire round on the most overrated business metric, the most underrated leadership skill, and the productivity habit she swears by. If you're buying a business, already own one, or advise people who do, this episode will change how you think about your first year of ownership. Connect with Guy Coffey: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/guycoffey Website: www.guycoffey.com Instagram: @guycoffey YouTube: @guycoffey

    The Hidden Identity Shift Nobody Warns New Business Owners About
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

Welcome to The Franchise Scale Up Show hosted by Guy Coffey. Guy is an entrepreneur, franchise veteran, and co-founder of a successful franchise brand. Join Guy as he dives into real-world stories, strategies, and insights from inspiring entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders. Discover actionable advice on launching, scaling, and sustaining a meaningful business while thriving in life. From solo episodes breaking down simple, effective strategies to candid interviews uncovering challenges, breakthroughs, and success secrets, this podcast is your go-to for honest, practical guidance. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling to the next level, The Franchise Scale Up Show will empower you to build a business, and life, you love.

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