From A to Franchisee: The Podcast for Smarter Franchise Buying

Franchise Business Review
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Franchise Business Review is the trusted, independent source for franchise research. Join FBR President and COO Michelle Rowan as she demystifies the franchise buying process. From funding to franchisee satisfaction, she covers everything you need to know about buying and running a successful franchise. Michelle’s not going it alone, either. With 20 years in market research, Franchise Business Review has insights from hundreds of thousands of franchise owners to uncover the highest-rated brands. 

  1. 2d ago

    Is Education Franchising Worth It?

    Send us Fan Mail Host: Allison Dudas Guest: Anneliese Brosch, Director of Client Success, Franchise Business Review Summary Childcare and tutoring are among the last things families cut when budgets tighten, and that resilience keeps education franchising on prospective owners' radar. In this episode, Allison Dudas and Anneliese Brosch walk through FBR's 2026 education sector report, drawn from more than 1,700 franchisees across 14 brands. They cover what it takes to get started, why finding the right center director often separates owners who scale from owners who bought themselves a job, how many hours the work demands, and what owners actually earn. Despite the long weeks, 86% say they enjoy the business, and this conversation explains why. Resources FBR's Education Sector ReportListen: An Inside Look at a Tutoring FranchiseList: Top Education FranchisesListen: We Ask Franchisees If They're Happy. Here's HowRead: Why Jobs in Supplemental Education Can Pay OffRead: How To Start a Tutoring Center: A Step-By-Step GuideConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

  2. Oct 5

    Interview with Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole

    Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Allison Dudas & Mariah Morgan, Franchise Business Review Guest: Aisha "Pinky" Cole Hayes, Founder & CEO of Slutty Vegan Pinky Cole has lived the full arc of restaurant entrepreneurship, from lines down the block and a $33 million investment to a restructuring that left her without her company for 43 days. She joins Allison Dudas and Mariah Morgan to share how she bought Slutty Vegan back and rebuilt it as a franchise system. She also speaks candidly about the mental toll of that stretch and the people who carried her through it. Along the way, she covers how she chooses franchisees, why she's keeping the system small, and what she'd tell anyone considering the leap into business ownership. Resources Listen: Kona Ice Founder Tony LambListen: The Path to Multi-Unit, Multi-Brand Success in FranchisingListen: Industry Spotlight on Brick and Mortar Food FranchisesRead: Chick-fil-A Costs, Pros, and Cons Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

  3. Sep 28

    Top 10 Food & Beverage Franchises of 2026

    Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Allison Dudas and Mariah Morgan, Franchise Business Review Coffee, chicken, pizza, and ice cream all made the cut. In this episode, Allison Dudas and Mariah Morgan reveal FBR's Top 25 Food & Beverage Franchises of 2026, ranked by more than 11,000 real franchisees across 52 brands. They dig into the data behind the rankings, what franchisees love, where brands are falling short, and what income actually looks like in this space, before counting down to this year's number one. Get the full list at franchisebusinessreview.com. Resources Top Food and Beverage Franchises of 2026Read: Hungry for a Career Change? Satisfy Your Craving for Being a Food Franchise EntrepreneurRead: Inside Year One: A Travelin' Tom's Franchisee Tells AllListen: Kona Ice Founder Tony Lamb on Building a Franchise EmpireListen: Multi-Unit, Multi-Brand Success in Starbucks and Ben & Jerry'sConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

  4. Sep 21

    From Employee to Owner: Tax Moves That Set Franchisees Up to Win

    Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President, Franchise Business Review Guest: Paul Kuskowski, IRS Enrolled Agent and Founder of Cobalt Tax Services Making the leap from employee to franchise owner means more than swapping a paycheck for a P&L — it means rethinking how you find business, manage cash flow, and structure your company from day one. In this episode of From A to Franchisee, host Michelle Rowan sits down with Paul Kluskowski, an IRS enrolled agent and founder of Cobalt Tax Services, who's built his practice around serving Snap-on Tools franchisees and other franchise business owners. Paul shares how he discovered his niche almost by accident, why entity structure decisions can make or break your first year, and why buying into an existing client base often beats starting from zero. He and Michelle dig into the mindset shift every new owner faces, the real cost of getting comfortable with discomfort, and the one question he wishes more prospective franchisees would ask before signing on the dotted line: what does failure actually cost? Whether you're weighing your first franchise purchase or already running one, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at what it really takes to protect — and grow — what you earn. Resources S1E22: The Pros and Cons of Buying an Existing Franchise Should You Buy An Existing Franchise?Top Considerations for Transferring a Franchise BusinessWhat to Expect in Your First Year As a Franchisee — also covers cash flow/budgeting, ties in well with Paul's checkbook-buffer adviceS1E9: Understanding the Franchise Disclosure Document Local Leader Transforms Wichita Falls Staffing Scene Through Spherion Franchise Ownership Hiring a Franchise Accountant – Is It Worth It? How to Prepare for Franchise Financing Before Making the LeapTrends in Franchise FinancingConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

  5. Sep 14

    50 Franchises That Survive Any Economy

    Send us Fan Mail Which Franchises Can Weather a Downturn? FBR's 2026 Recession-Resistant List With economic uncertainty on everyone's mind, Michelle Rowan sits down with Allison Dudas to unpack Franchise Business Review's 2026 list of the Top 50 Recession-Resistant Franchises. Built from survey data on nearly 29,000 franchisees across 330 brands, the list highlights companies positioned to hold steady — or even grow — when consumers start tightening their budgets. Michelle and Allison break down the criteria behind the rankings, share standout examples from senior care to mobile food concepts, and count down this year's top 10. How FBR defines "recession-resistant" (and why it's different from "recession-proof")The five criteria used to build the list, from essential services to investment-to-revenue ratiosStandout categories: senior care, child education, and B2B outsourcingFranchisee satisfaction data comparing this list to FBR's overall benchmarkThe countdown: this year's Top 10 recession-resistant franchisesResources List: Top Recession-Resistant Franchises of 2026Listen: Founder of Kona IceWatch: From Teacher to FASTSIGNS FranchiseeListen: Conversation with a Mathnasium FranchiseeListen: How To Spot a Recession-Resistant FranchiseRead: What's the Best Recession-Resistant Franchise to Invest InRead: Starting a Business In A Recession? 5 Things You Need To Know  Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

  6. Sep 7

    Owning a YogaSix Franchise: A Married Couple's Journey to 7 Studios

    Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review Guests; Toni King and Audrey Ryder, Multi-Unit Franchisees from YogaSix Two elite athletes. One shared love of yoga. Seven studios and counting. On this episode of From A to Franchisee, host Michelle Rowan talks with Audrey Ryder and Toni King about trading a rowing career and a black belt in Taekwondo for life as YogaSix franchise owners. They walk through how they picked YogaSix over other franchise options, the due diligence process that nearly sent them down a different path (including a tip involving Undercover Boss), and how they've split roles, scaled to multiple states, and leaned on a tight-knit owner network to grow. Plus: what's actually trending in boutique fitness right now, and their honest advice for couples thinking about going into business together. Topics covered: From Olympic-level athletics to franchise ownershipVetting a franchise: the due diligence questions that matter mostSplitting the workload as co-ownersScaling from one studio to seven across three statesWhat franchisor support should look like for multi-unit ownersBoutique fitness trends: community, flexibility, and consistencyReal talk on running a business with your spouseConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

  7. Aug 31

    Is the American Franchise Act Good For Franchisees?

    Send us Fan Mail Michelle is joined by multi-unit Taco John's franchisee Tamra Kennedy to discuss whether the American Franchise Act is good for franchisees. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Watch on YouTube Summary This episode explores the American Franchise Act and why it matters for franchisees, franchisors, and anyone considering franchise ownership. Tam Kennedy shares her decades of experience in franchising, offering clear insight into the joint employer debate, the importance of franchisee support, and why transparency, trust, and strong brand standards are essential for long-term success. Resources Read: The International Franchise Association offers its support to the American Franchise ActCongress: HR 5267 Info And Status  Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

  8. Aug 24

    Kona Ice Founder Tony Lamb: Building a Franchise Empire

    Send us Fan Mail From a scrappy startup to the top of Franchise Business Review's satisfaction rankings for over a decade, Kona Ice founder Tony Lamb has cracked the code on franchising. He joins Franchise Business Review's founder Eric Stites to break down the real numbers behind mobile franchising and why he still obsesses over franchisee happiness. You won't want to miss this founder-to-founder conversation. Resources The Top 200 Franchises of 2026Kona Ice's Franchisee Satisfaction ReportTravelin' Tom's Franchisee  Satisfaction ReportOwn A Kona IceOwn A Travelin' Tom's Coffee TruckWho Is Franchise Business Review  Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

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Franchise Business Review is the trusted, independent source for franchise research. Join FBR President and COO Michelle Rowan as she demystifies the franchise buying process. From funding to franchisee satisfaction, she covers everything you need to know about buying and running a successful franchise. Michelle’s not going it alone, either. With 20 years in market research, Franchise Business Review has insights from hundreds of thousands of franchise owners to uncover the highest-rated brands. 

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