Franchise Interviews

The legendary Michael Gerber, author of the incredibly successful E-Myth revisited gives his advice to the new entrepreneur.

If you are a frequent listener to our weekly franchise radio show, than you already know what fans Don and Marty are of Ritas. Listen in and find out why!

Chris Newcomb of the Newk's Franchise Opportunity. Chris is Newk's Founder, President & CEO. The team behind Newk's Franchise Company, LLC has a special talent for developing innovative restaurant concepts that not only meet consumer's current needs, but anticipate their future needs as well. As the founders of McAlister's Deli, Don Newcomb, Debra Bryson and Chris Newcomb pioneered the fast casual restaurant concept, defining and energizing the fastest-growing segment in the restaurant industry. After providing a solid foundation and establishing strong upward growth for McAlister's Deli, they sold the successful chain to focus on creating the future of fast casual dining: The Newk's Express Café concept has been developed and refined to meet the needs of consumers and franchise operators alike. For consumers, Newk's Express Café units provide a tantalizing variety of made-to-order menu choices, available for comfortable in-café dining or for convenient pick-up. For franchise owners, it's a streamlined,

We are meeting with Mark Van Wye, COO of Zoom Room. Zoom Room is the only brick-and-mortar dog training franchise in America with an innovative array of classes and activities that teach owners how to teach their dog everything from agility, therapy dog training, to scent tracking, Pup-lates(tm) and skateboarding, giving not only the dog a workout, but the owners as well. The original Zoom Room opened in Culver City, CA in 2007 and converted to the first franchised location in 2009. The company has received thousands of franchise inquiries from all parts of the country and are set to open their second location this summer in Austin, TX and the third, company-owned flagship location will debut in September, 2010 in Hollywood, CA.

AAMCO is the world's largest chain of transmission specialists and one of the leaders in total car care services. The AAMCO brand has approximately 900 automotive centers throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Established in 1962, AAMCO is proud to have served more than 35 million drivers. Today, under the leadership of CEO and President Marc Graham, American Driveline Systems Inc., the parent company of AAMCO and Cottman Transmissions Systems, LLC, AAMCO has laid out a comprehensive strategy focused on strengthening current franchisee profitability and complemented by a growth plan through the next five years, which includes strengthening its brand footprint in existing markets and venturing into untapped territories through franchise development. We are meeting with Tony Padulo. Prior to joining ARCO, Padulo spent 22 years working with Dunkin' Brands, Inc., parent of Dunkin' Donuts, and Baskin-Robbins. For nearly a decade, Padulo served as Vice President of New Business Development, Interna

We are meeting with APG’s CEO Mark Charnet ABOUT AMERICAN PROSPERITY GROUP American Prosperity Group (APG), a 10-plus-unit franchise concept headquartered in Wayne, NJ, was founded by Mark Charnet, a Certified Annuity Specialist, with a mission to continue helping people solve their individual problems of successful retirement and estate planning. The emerging franchise does this by implementing parts of a total retirement and estate planning system required to meet each client’s needs. The system is built around Charnet’s proprietary and copyrighted system known as the Trinity Method of Investing©. Unlike many financial advisors within the financial planning industry, APG presents its ideas and concepts that solve the dilemmas and obstacles facing all retirees up front, with no cost nor commitment to do business, before asking the prospect to reveal any financial data necessary to customize a plan for their individual needs

EagleRider is the world's largest motorcycle rental and tour company specializing in Harley-Davidson® rentals, ATV rentals, Dirt Bike rentals and Watercraft rentals. The franchise offers bike enthusiasts the opportunity to rent the American Dream and experience the ultimate motorcycle touring adventure from worldwide locations. Whether for a weekend escape or for a cross country motorcycle tour, EagleRider provides the means to release the pent up outlaw that yearns for the open road. The franchise boasts 110 locations around the world in 12 countries with plans to add 50 more locations in 2010.We are meeting with Chris McIntyre, President of EagleRider

We are meeting with Monty Smith, Vice President of Franchising for PuroClean. Since its 2001 inception, PuroClean, the nation’s fastest growing franchise in the $212 billion property damage restoration industry, has grown to more than 300 franchise locations serving the U.S. and Canada. Known as the “Paramedics of Property Damage™” among insurance professionals and property owners, PuroClean certified technicians provide emergency services to restore properties damaged by water, fire, smoke, mold, and biohazard events. With approximately six of every 100 households making insurance claims for property damage, including water, mold, fire and other common household mishaps, PuroClean’s services are a necessity for all homeowners. PuroClean technicians arrive at the scene of a loss 24/7 and take the necessary steps to bring the situation under control, prevent it from becoming worse and provide restoration services to help bring the property back to pre-loss condition. With 2009 system-wide revenues of more tha

We are meeting with Terry Harstad from Stockade Companies. Stockade Companies are the franchisor for three different brands: Montana Mike's, Coyote Canyon and Sirloin Stockade. With the incredible deals for real estate they're offering some incredible incentives for new and existing franchisees.

Empowerkit is the ultimate toolkit for medium to large organizations to empower their employees, agents or business units on the web. You are looking to ensure brand continuity yet provide customization capabilities, offer powerful apps, and closely track metrics to measure results - a challenging dilemma to say the least. Empowerkit allows your various business units, agents or employees to easily customize and manage their own presence online using a powerful web-based platform. You maintain control over your brand, and they get control over content, functionality and daily maintenance tasks. Empowerkit offers a library of all the latest and greatest apps all under one roof. You also gain deep insights by having access to comprehensive analytics that showcase key metrics that can inform critical decisions. And the best part, there's no installation, no setup, and no waiting. We will be speaking with Chris Anderson and Dennis Mulgannon.

Look around. We're getting older. Fast. Every 24 hours in the United States, 10,000 people turn 60 years old. The increasing numbers of seniors represents a growth opportunity for companies of all kinds since older Americans control 70 percent of disposable income in the United States. As a result, numerous businesses are rushing to serve this fast-growing marketplace, but only one - 101 Mobility - has positioned itself in a unique market niche to capitalize on America's monumental shift in aging lifestyle. 101 Mobility, headquartered in Wilmington, NC, is the nation's first full-service sales, service and installation provider of a complete line of affordable, high-quality mobility and accessibility products and equipment including stair lifts, auto lifts, ramps, porch lifts, power wheelchairs and scooters and a wide variety of other medical equipment such as walkers, hospital beds and more. 101 Mobility just launched a franchise program and is seeking to become the only full-service dealer with a nationa

We are meeting with Ryan Zink, President of Complete Nutrition. Founded in 2004, Complete Nutrition is an upscale nutritional supplement store that features weight loss and sports nutrition products in a spacious, open and orderly setting. Unlike other stores where you already need to be an expert when you walk inside to decipherer exactly what is on the shelves, Complete Nutrition offers a more unintimidating experience for those not so familiar with the nutrition industry. What truly separates Complete Nutrition from others is the expert staff they employ. The staffs are certified personal trainers, former strength coaches and others experienced in health and fitness who offer knowledgeable advice and who see sports nutrition and weight loss as a long-term career. The use a consultative approach with their customers and continue to offer them support after they leave the store. Complete Nutrition’s success is evident in its rapid expansion. Opened 35 locations in less than 18 months, all of which ha

Marty and Don want to know about Beef ‘O’ Brady’s strategy to open restaurants in non-traditional locations such as hotels and why this is beneficial to the franchisee, franchisor and the non-traditional settings. About Beef `O’ Brady’s Beef 'O' Brady's is a fast-growing national chain of family sports pubs that achieves its success by building relationships with the local schools, youth sports leagues, and other community organizations in each and every Beef 'O' Brady's neighborhood market. The “kid appeal” of this unique concept is reinforced by a very moderately priced kids menu and video games. Ironically, despite what the name implies, Beef 'O' Brady's is actually best known for its Buffalo-style chicken wings. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has more than 263 open restaurants throughout the Southeast and the Midwest

Yuen will be talking with Marty and Don about the How Do You Roll? franchise concept, the unique niche that the concept has found in the sushi industry and much more. Yuen can talk about how he and his brother founded the concept and his brother’s history of being a sushi chef for more than 10 years. ABOUT HOW DO YOU ROLL? How Do You Roll?, an aggressively expanding fast casual sushi franchise based in Austin, TX, is expecting more than 10 locations open by the end of 2010. The franchise concept offers high quality sushi at a reasonable price and is made within minutes using proprietary maki machines as the customer customizes exactly what they want. How Do You Roll? also offers authentic side items and a traditional Japanese dessert. To learn more about the franchise concept or about the exciting franchise opportunity, listen to the show!

Jerry Slover, Vice President of Development for Nexcen Brands, joins the hosts of FranchiseInterviews to discuss NexCen's portfolio of franchise concepts, opportunities with the company and more. NexCen Brands, Inc. is a strategic brand management company with a focus on franchising. It owns a portfolio of franchise brands that includes two retail franchise concepts: TAF® and Shoebox New York®, as well as five quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise concepts: Great American Cookies, MaggieMoo's, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzelmaker and Pretzel Time.

Fast approaching its 40th birthday, Schlotzsky’s, the home of The Original®, round toasted sandwich, has decided to shake things up in a big way. The 350+ unit fast-casual restaurant has introduced an entirely new brand image that is attracting new kinds of guests and refueling franchise growth around the country. The brand reinvention, which is literally and figuratively “All ‘Round ‘Lotz Better,” includes a new prototype restaurant featuring vibrant colors, playful slogans, contemporary furniture and artwork, and a partnership with sister company Cinnabon that offers franchisees two brands under one roof. Schlotzsky’s also introduced a new service model where crew members hand-deliver food to the tables. Everything, from tables and chairs to circular-themed local photography featuring tongue-in-cheek phrases is contemporary and … round. Schlotzsky’s President Kelly Roddy will be able to discuss the rebranding process, as well as chain’s recent partnership with Cinnabon. About Schlotzsky’s Since 1971, Schl

October 2009, LED Source launched a franchise program and gained the recognition of becoming North America's first and only franchisor of LED lighting, leveraging its huge buying discounts to provide discount pricing and cost-saving retrofits to customers as it seeks to play a key role in a fast-growing marketplace with unlimited potential. LED Source is seeking to put LED lighting in businesses and homes throughout Canada and the United States by building a network of more than 150 LED Source franchise offices within three years. LED (light-emitting diode) lighting is the most energy-efficient lighting solution currently available. LED lights are mercury and toxin-free, 300 percent more energy-efficient than compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) and about 1,000 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs while using up to 90 percent less energy to run and lasting 50,000 to 100,000 hours.

This week we are meeting the HomeWell Senior Care Franchise Opportunity. The founder Joshua Hoffman started as a caregiver when he was 19 years old and then went on to start his own company! They started franchising in 2003 and today have more than 30 offices in 13 states and Canada. We are meeting with CEO Joshua Hoffman along with NJ-based franchisee Louis Romano.

Smart Tax is a franchise opportunity that differentiates itself from the rest by delivering top-quality, professional services, while allowing franchisees to focus more on quality of life. It allows its franchisees to own a tax preparation business without requiring a background in finance, accounting, or tax law – it’s a business that is easy to start up and operate, just by following the established and comprehensive Smart Tax system. We are meeting with the founder of Smart Tax Nick Rizzi.

Jonathan and Josh can tell Marty and Don about the Oxi Fresh franchise and their franchisor/franchisee relationship. Also, Josh owns his own photography business in Tulsa, OK and runs his Oxi Fresh franchise in Springfield, MO at the same time. Marty and Don would like to know more about how Josh can maintain both businesses at the same time. ABOUT OXI FRESH CARPET CLEANING® Using innovative products and technology, Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning®, the nation’s fastest-growing carpet cleaning franchise, offers oxygen powered cleaning, which cleans all the way down to the bottom of the carpet pile, transforming the carpet right before a customer's eyes. Founded in 2006, Oxi Fresh currently has more than 120 units in 184 territories throughout the United States, and has more than 50 locations in development. Oxi Fresh is committed to being an environmentally friendly business by using efficient and low energy solutions. The non-toxic carpet cleaning agents are applied with a low moisture process and are safe for