Franchise Empires The Wolf, A Workweek Friend

You’ll never be able to operate 90+ franchises if your first franchise isn’t golden to begin with. Take it from Adam Saxton, operator of over 90+ McAlister’s Delis and co-CEO/Owner of the Saxton Group. With territories in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, Adam chats with the Wolf about his unusual philosophy for franchise expansion, including a unique organic unit model development approach entailing zero acquisitions.
With over 20 years in the fast-casual space, Adam reveals why he remains optimistic about the ROI potential in this industry and explains how his family's background in restaurant franchising influenced his decision to join McAlister's Deli. How has he managed to maintain slow and steady growth since his first bought unit in 1999?
Discover the importance of building a strong culture and brand within your organization, and how investing in internal development leads to long-term success. Adam discusses the growth opportunities that come with expanding your franchise and the value of promoting from within.
Plus, what are Adam’s perspectives on investment levels and the potential return on capital for first-time franchisees?
Tune in now to find out! 
 
00:00:00 - Locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas
00:00:30 - Adam Joins Family Restaurant Business
00:08:17 - Organic Growth Strategy of the Saxton Group
00:11:46 - Community Outreach Boosts McAlister's Brand
00:13:34 - Fostering Growth and Opportunity at McAlister’s
00:17:13 - Franchisees Expand with New Brands
00:18:45 - Saxton Group Acquires Jaggers
00:22:29 - Staying Optimistic in the Fast Casual Industry
00:26:49 - Investment Returns for New Franchisees
00:32:54 - Room to Grow for McAlister’s
 
Follow Adam: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgsaxton/
 
Follow The Wolf: 
Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf
Website: https://www.krokit.com
 
And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel.
 
Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.
 
And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

Buckle up because the Wolf is taking another stab at your best Twitter questions in this solo question-and-answer pod.
Should you be able to negotiate a franchise agreement? If so, how much of an agreement is negotiable, or are most franchise agreements a take-it-or-leave-it proposition? 
Then the Wolf uncovers his #1 recommendation for back-office franchisee solutions (hint: it’s a software that’s near and dear to his heart), before dissecting the differences between chains and franchises.  
Plus, who will win the Nashville Chicken Wars? Or do all chicken franchises come out the loser if the market has hit its peak saturation point? 
 
Follow The Wolf: 
Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf
Website: https://www.krokit.com
 
And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel.
 
Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.
 
And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

The Wolf chats with french fry master, Lucas Mitchell, a successful entrepreneur and franchisee of Five Guys, to discuss the ins and outs of scaling a franchise business. From building strong relationships with franchisees to managing shiny object syndrome, Lucas shares valuable insights and lessons learned along his journey.
How did Lucas go from owning five stores to over 20? What were the challenges and rewards that came with his rapid growth? He details his unique strategies for managing debt covenants and explains how he leveraged specific relationships to fuel his franchise’s expansion.
Hear how Lucas has kept his composure and avoided the temptation of shiny object syndrome to maintain a consistent relationship with Five Guys. He reveals his philosophy for scaling a sustainable organization and tells the Wolf how he managed to escape with his sanity intact while growing Five Guys. 
Lucas also explores why continuous learning and evolution were essential to his role as a leader. Find out how he has leveled up his leadership skills and implemented guidelines to run his business effectively. Plus, get a glimpse into Lucas's future plans for growth, including the potential for expanding into other brands. 
 
Paylocity offers the only modern HR and payroll solution that makes real-time recommendations to drive better business outcomes.
Paylocity is the modern, all-in-one platform that makes HR and payroll easier — so you can focus on your employees. We’ll make onboarding faster, recruiting smarter, and compliance simpler. To learn more visit https://paylocity.com/restaurants.
 
00:06:13 - Leveraging Relationships to Buy Locations
00:12:12 - Investment Strategy: Equity vs. Debt
00:16:04 - Navigating Debt Covenants in Restaurant Ownership
00:18:43 - Understanding Debt Covenants in Franchising
00:23:25 - Combining Five Guys with Another Brand
00:25:40 - Managing Shiny Object Syndrome as an Entrepreneur
00:31:18 - Avoid Entrepreneurial Mistakes: Focus First
00:34:57 - Building Relationships Key to Franchise Success
00:41:37 - Evolving Leadership Skills in Business
 
Follow Lucas: 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lmitchellhq?lang=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmitchellhq/
 
Follow The Wolf: 
Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf
Website: https://www.krokit.com
 
And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel.
 
Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.
 
And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

Loosen up. Literally.
StretchLab is the Austin-based company helping others to increase performance and decrease joint pain. The Wolf chats with owner Steve Hitzemann about the fast-growing franchise’s rapid ascent to success.
How did Steve dare to dream of a business model based on nothing more than stretching? Hear how Steve made the impossible possible, and how he’s making a two-membership franchise financially sustainable. 
Is the stretching franchise just another fad? And if so, how has Steve prepared to compete in a potentially soon-to-be oversaturated market?
From its customized one-on-one sessions to a unique approach to customized service with expertly trained flexologists, discover how StretchLab is revolutionizing the wellness industry with its approach to flexibility and overall well-being. 
With six locations open, and more on the way, you won’t wanna miss hearing Steve’s insights on the value of simplicity, staffing, and scalability.  
 
Paylocity offers the only modern HR and payroll solution that makes real-time recommendations to drive better business outcomes.
Paylocity is the modern, all-in-one platform that makes HR and payroll easier — so you can focus on your employees. We’ll make onboarding faster, recruiting smarter, and compliance simpler. To learn more visit paylocity.com/restaurants.’

00:00:50 - Stretch Lab: Revolutionizing Personalized Stretching
00:03:42 - Training and Connection Key for Flexologists
00:09:05 - StretchLab’s Services
00:13:08 - Creating a Scalable Fitness Program
00:17:05 - Staffing That’s Driven by Membership Base Strategy
00:26:49 - Expanding from One Studio to Six Stretch Labs
00:31:25 - Scaling a Growing Organization with Multiple Locations
00:40:38 - Market Saturation Concerns for Assisted Stretching
 
Follow The Wolf: 
Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf
Website: https://www.krokit.com
 
And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel.
 
Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.
 
And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

The Wolf’s taking a break from his normal podcasting format to break down the latest in franchising news this week.
Is Orange Theory’s acquisition by Self Esteem Brands a good thing or a sign of impending doom? With Orange Theory’s numbers diminishing since the initial insanity of their boom, could this spell disaster or is it a shrewd business move?
The Wolf also tackles Domino’s latest earnings announcement before trying his hardest not to become a total Crumbl apologist. He’s taking a hard look at the announcement of the franchise savant’s diminishing sales numbers and diving into whether or not a dessert franchise can ever truly be sustainable. 
Will Crumbl find their steady state and buck the trend to become more than just another fledgling fad? Or is this the beginning of the end?
 
Paylocity offers the only modern HR and payroll solution that makes real-time recommendations to drive better business outcomes.
 
Paylocity is the modern, all-in-one platform that makes HR and payroll easier — so you can focus on your employees. We’ll make onboarding faster, recruiting smarter, and compliance simpler. To learn more visit paylocity.com/restaurants.
 
Follow The Wolf: 
Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf
Website: https://www.krokit.com
 
And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel.
 
Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.
 
And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!
 

The Wolf is breaking it down solo for this special Q&A session, where he’s answering your most burning questions about the world of franchising. 
What are the different strategies and considerations involved in owning one to two locations versus four to five locations? Are home services and non-brick-and-mortar franchises the place to hedge your franchising bets? 
From the costs of hiring a fast food general manager to the best value propositions for aspiring entrepreneurs, The Wolf provides his most valuable insights and advice from his years of experience.
The Wolf also addresses the excitement around pet-related franchises in 2024 and the importance of speaking to franchisees to get an accurate picture of the business. Plus, find out his best thoughts about industry red flags and how to avoid “snake oil” franchises.

00:00:00 - Investing in Profitable Franchises for Returns
00:01:48 – The Hype Around Home Service Brands
00:05:18 - Top Franchise Choices for Investment
00:06:37 - Overhead Comparison for Owning Multiple Locations
00:07:57 - Outsourcing and Hiring for Growth
00:11:36 - American Fast Food Franchise Saturation Concerns
00:18:33 - Exciting Pet Franchises in 2024
00:23:51 - Key Attributes for Successful Franchise
00:25:10 - Franchising Red Flags

Paylocity offers the only modern HR and payroll solution that makes real-time recommendations to drive better business outcomes.

Paylocity is the modern, all-in-one platform that makes HR and payroll easier — so you can focus on your employees. We’ll make onboarding faster, recruiting smarter, and compliance simpler. To learn more visit paylocity.com/restaurants.

Follow The Wolf: 
Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises
Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf
Website: https://www.krokit.com

And for exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel.

Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.

And if you’ve enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I’d be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!