Franchise Secrets Podcast Erik Van Horn

What does semi-absentee ownership actually mean? Is it possible in a franchise setting, or is it a myth?
 
Join Over 5,500 Franchisees and Franchisors in our FREE Private Facebook Community HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/franchisesecretsfb?_rdc=1&_rdr
 
In this episode, Erik talks to his business partners, Luke Jacobson and Terry Rackley from StretchLab, who share their journey as franchisees and business partners.
 
They discuss the importance of finding the right franchise opportunity and the myths surrounding semi-absentee franchising. They emphasize the need for speed in opening new locations and the challenges of finding and retaining good employees. 
 
Luke and Terry also discuss their partnership with Erik, who serves as their business consultant and advisor. The partners also highlight their organizational skills and the importance of building a strong team. 
 
In essence, the conversation covers topics such as the support system provided by the franchisor, the importance of trial and error, the role of aggressive organization in managing the business, the focus on employee development and retention, the relationship between franchisees and the franchisor, and the significance of business partnerships.
 
“Unless you're already a multi-millionaire, I don't think absentee ownership exists. I don't think you'll have the right attitude if you go into this saying, “Hey, I just wanna throw money at something as an investment.” You're gonna have to put in blood, sweat, and lots and lots of tears.” - Luke Jacobson
 
In This Episode:
- Luke's background and how he got into franchising
- Terry's background and how he met Luke and Erik
- How Luke and Terry became business partners
- The importance of speed in opening new locations
- Erik's role in the partnership
- Why leadership and organizational skills matter in business
- Critical factors in running a successful business
- Is absentee ownership a myth?
- What comes to mind when you hear the term top franchisees?
- What does a healthy franchisee-franchisor relationship look like?
- Why is aggressive organization necessary when managing a business?
- What makes partnerships a good thing?



Resources: 
🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070
🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617   
🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 
🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses https://scalablefranchise.com/
🌐 Franchise Equity Partners - www.frontstreetep.com
 
Connect with Luke and Terry:
💼 LinkedIn (Luke) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-jacobson-68632b75/ 
💼 LinkedIn (Terry) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/terryrackley/
🌐 Website - https://www.stretchlab.com/
 
Connect with Erik Van Horn:
🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/   
📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/  
👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/  
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Is franchising a salon suite a good idea? The beauty industry continues to grow as more people take personal care seriously, driving more interest in health and beauty services than ever before. We're also seeing more health and beauty professionals transition to independent business ownership. Hence, salon suite franchises are a great way to capitalize on this trend. But what does it take to run such a franchise?
 
Join Over 5,500 Franchisees and Franchisors in our FREE Private Facebook Community HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/franchisesecretsfb?_rdc=1&_rdr
 
In this episode, Erin Elgin of Sola Salons shares her journey as a franchisee in the salon suite industry and her transition to owning real estate. She and Erik discuss the evolution of the salon suite concept and the shift towards rental salons. Erin also talks about her strengths in marketing and overcoming her initial fear of being on camera. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and connection in her marketing efforts. 
 
Erin's goal is to reduce her working hours down to five hours a week, so she has taken the steps to delegate tasks and hire an executive. She also discusses the benefits of owning real estate and her future plans. 
 
Tune in and discover if franchising a salon suite fits your personality and what it takes to become successful in this industry.
 
“I don't think anybody if they're hiring a high-level executive to replace themselves, should worry about any timeframe or what anyone is telling you about how long it should take. Just stay in your flow and what speed feels right for you.” - Erin Elgin
 
In This Episode:
- A brief background about Erin and Sola Salons
- Evolution of the salon suite industry
- Erin's strengths that make her a great business owner
- Overcoming fear of being on camera
- Comfort level with public speaking
- Advice to your teenage self
- Transitioning from 60 to 30 hours of work
- Hiring people and growing the team
- Finding the right executive
- How to manage and resolve conflicts
- Benefits of owning real estate
- Erin’s future plans
- Social media presence
 
Resources: 
🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070
🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617   
🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 
🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses https://scalablefranchise.com/
 
Connect with Erin Elgin:
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-elgin-a17bb554/
📷 Instagram (Erin) - https://www.instagram.com/theerinevolution/
📷 Instagram (Sola Salons) - https://www.instagram.com/solatwincities/
🌐 Website - https://www.solasalonstudios.com/regions/twin-cities
 
Connect with Erik Van Horn:
🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/   
📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/  
👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/  
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/ 
 

As you start growing your company, you need the right people on your team. Even if you're the CEO, you can’t be the only one leading the company’s direction and strategy. You need a strong team of A-players to challenge your ideas and contribute new ones. 
 
Building a strategy should be easy when you have the right people in the right positions. Attracting and retaining top talent is the challenging part. Hiring can be tricky, and sometimes, it can feel like you may never find the right fit.
 
Join Over 5,500 Franchisees and Franchisors in our FREE Private Facebook Community HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/franchisesecretsfb?_rdc=1&_rdr 
 
In this episode, Erik discusses the process of recruiting and keeping A-players with Mike Michalowicz. Mike is a keynote speaker and business author of multiple books, including Profit First and All In. He has built four multi-million-dollar companies and sold two of them–one to private equity and another to a Fortune 500 company. 
 
His extensive knowledge and insights have empowered countless individuals and businesses worldwide to achieve unprecedented levels of profitability and growth.


His new book, All In: How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams, guides today's conversation. If you are currently hiring or just pooling for talent, this episode will give you a unique perspective and great insights. 
 
“The number one thing that all business owners can do is hire a personal assistant and have them be your frontline. If you don't have a personal assistant, you are hobbling the company.” - Mike Michalowicz
 
In This Episode:
- How great companies attract A-players
- Making your search more specific
- How local companies can find potential team members
- Hire for potential, not for experience: What does this mean?
- Free tools and resources from Mike 
- How to retain good employees
- Why leadership and relationships are important
- Why taking extended vacations is a must for leaders
- How to raise the bar and empower employees to step up
- Why micromanaging and being always available are not good practices
- Why should you hire a personal assistant?
 
Resources: 
🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070
🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617   
🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 
🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses https://scalablefranchise.com/
🌐 Get the Free Tools from Mike Michalowicz - https://mikemichalowicz.com/get-the-tools/
 
Connect with Mike Michalowicz:
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemichalowicz/
🌐 Website - https://mikemichalowicz.com/
 
Connect with Erik Van Horn:
🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/   
📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/  
👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/  
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Emerging brands often find themselves in a competitive marketplace full of established brands. With only a dream and a tight budget, how can these new brands, which are typically rough around the edges, become successful?
 
Join Over 5,500 Franchisees and Franchisors in our FREE Private Facebook Community HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/franchisesecretsfb?_rdc=1&_rdr 
 
Dan Rowe, the founder of Fransmart, shares his insights on franchising and growing emerging brands. He has solid experience taking early-stage, emerging brands to new heights of success using his proven framework. 
 
In today's conversation with Erik, Dan shares insights on shaping a rough concept into a successful brand and the importance of brand and concept in franchising. He discusses the transformation of a brand's look and feel and the franchising business system. 
 
Dan emphasizes the magic of a successful brand and the power of membership pre-sales. He also highlights the value of learning from successful people and the pitfalls of ego and poor fundamentals. Overall, Dan provides valuable insights for anyone interested in franchising, whether as a franchisee or a franchisor. 
 
Tune in to gain indispensable insights for navigating the franchising world, especially as you grow and scale your business and become a multi-unit franchisee.
 
“There's no money in single-unit franchises. All the money is in franchises with five or ten or more units.” - Dan Rowe
 
In This Episode:
- A Brief Background About Dan Rowe and Fransmart
- Similarities in Growth Strategies for Emerging Brands
- Balancing Visionary and Operational Roles
- Founder's Leadership Lid
- Shaping a Rough Concept into a Successful Brand
- Hiring the Right People for Marketing and Sales
- Single-Unit Franchising vs. Multi-Unit Franchising
- Building a Business for Saleability
- Working with Smart Advisors and Investment Bankers
 
Resources: 
🌐 Consult with Erik: https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070
🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617   
🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 
🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses https://scalablefranchise.com/
 
Connect with Dan Rowe:
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danrowe3/
🌐 Website - https://fransmart.com/
 
Connect with Erik Van Horn:
🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/   
📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/  
👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/  
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/ 

New beginnings are worth celebrating, so it’s not uncommon for new businesses or franchisees to hold a grand opening event. Whether it’s your first franchise or your 10th, the grand opening is an exciting milestone that must be carefully planned. 
 
Join Over 5,500 Franchisees and Franchisors in our FREE Private Facebook Community HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/franchisesecretsfb?_rdc=1&_rdr 
 
In this conversation, Brooke Budke, a fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and founder of Momentum Brands, discusses the importance of grand openings in franchise businesses. She emphasizes the need for a well-planned and executed grand opening strategy, including capturing leads and building a database of customers for long-term success. 
 
Brooke also highlights the significance of grassroots marketing and community engagement in driving brand awareness and customer acquisition. She provides practical advice for franchisees in systems with limited marketing support and emphasizes the importance of effective communication between franchisors and franchisees. 
 
Overall, Brooke emphasizes the value of progress and continuous improvement in business and personal life.
 
Join Erik and Brooke for an engaging conversation on the secrets to a successful launch!
 
“You can write the best-laid plan, and then if you can't communicate it with your franchisees, it's just not gonna work... I think that's the beauty and the beast of franchising.” - Brooke Budke
 
In This Episode:
- Who is Brooke Budke?
- The importance of grand openings
- Distinguishing between soft openings and grand openings
- Capturing leads and building a database
- Grassroots marketing and community engagement
- Factors influencing grand opening success
- Effective communication between Franchisors and Franchisees
- Advice for Franchisees in systems with limited marketing support
- Building momentum and progress in business and life
 
Resources: 
🌐 Consult with Erik: https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070
🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617   
🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 
🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses https://scalablefranchise.com/
 
Connect with Brooke Budke:
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookebudke/
📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brookebudke/
🌐 Company Website - www.themomentumbrands.com
🌐 Personal Website - www.brookebudke.com
 
Connect with Erik Van Horn:
🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/   
📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/  
👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/  
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/ 

If you’re contemplating investing in a franchise, one thing you should consider is whether you have the skills required to become a business owner. Although you don’t need a lot of business experience because most franchisors will provide thorough training, there are a number of skills that are extremely helpful, especially if you’re investing in a complex business. 
 
Join Over 5,500 Franchisees and Franchisors in our FREE Private Facebook Community HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/franchisesecretsfb?_rdc=1&_rdr 
 
Now, if you’re wondering what it takes to be a top franchisee in a system that has complexities, Andy Myers is here to share his insights. He is the President of AMMA Development Group and a multi-unit franchise owner at Restore Hyper Wellness and goGLOW. Early in both brands, Andy and his team discovered that they like to be pioneers in developing systems and success alongside the franchisor. 
 
Join Erik and Andy as they discuss how to be a successful franchisee, what to look for in brands and the founders, the importance of having trusted advisors, and the lessons learned from partnering with emerging brands. Andy also shares three valuable things every aspiring franchisee should know. 
 
“People should love it when they're faced with something that they're not sure how to do. They should lean into that because that's one more step toward success.” - Andy Ayers
 
In This Episode:
- How Andy got into franchising
- How do you become a successful franchisee?
- How scary is it to leave the security of a regular paycheck?
- Andy's criteria for choosing the brands to invest in
- How does Front Street Equity Partners help franchisees succeed?
- Lessons learned from partnering with emerging brands 
- How to find trusted advisors 
- Do you have Rembrandts in the attic?
- The main roles you need in your organization and why
- What is it about the goGLOW founder that made Andy want to partner with her?
- Andy's top advice to everyone listening
 
Resources: 
🌐 Consult with Erik: https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070
🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617   
🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617 
🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses https://scalablefranchise.com/
🌐 Scaling Up by Verne Harnish - https://www.amazon.com/Scaling-Up-Mastering-Rockefeller-Habits/dp/0986019593
 
Connect with Andy Ayers:
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayersandrew/
 

Connect with Erik Van Horn:
🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/   
📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/  
👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/  
💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/