Taking Ownership

Leh and Reid interview Len Silverman, the International Franchise Association's 2017 Franchisee of the Year award winner. He owns multiple Huntington Learning Center Franchise locations. Len discusses multiple aspects of his business journey, including how it started and later evolved into something much greater than himself. He also shares how his trust in the system and investment into one manager turned an under performing location into a top performer in his organization. Len wraps the show up by highlighting the impact his businesses have on their surrounding communities and how much he enjoys what he does.    

In this show, Leh and Reid interview Vince Bonfanti, a proud franchisee of Expedia Cruises.  Before owning a franchise, he co-founded a software company that still exists today.  There came a point, however, where he wanted to try something different.  Since he did not want to build something from scratch again, he decided to look into franchise opportunities and landed on Expedia Cruises.  Tune in to hear his journey, what he learned along the way and what he loves best about being a Franchisee.  

In this show, Leh and Reid had a one year check-up on a previous guest. John Hotaling came back on the show to talk about how he has faired through the pandemic and what new obstacles he is facing. 

Many people come up with good marketing ideas.  But, these marketing ideas often fail in the execution phase.  The best way to ensure that your marketing strategy is being executed is through the right marketing systems.  In this show, Reid and Leh discuss 5 marketing systems that help you keep the customers coming.

In today's show, Leh and Reid talk about 5 must accounting systems that you should have in your business to help ensure its long term success (and make your life easier). If numbers tend you put you to sleep, still tune in. They bring this subject to life and generally discuss software that they have used to help them with their accounting.   Of course, if you are considering franchise ownership, the good thing is that franchisors have already developed accounting systems for you.  Not sure where to start in your franchise search? Just send us an email at takingownershippodcast@gmail.com.  We can help, and it does not cost you anything.

In today's show, Leh and Reid explore the common objections they have heard to owning an Amazon DSP (Delivery Service Provider). It is a very interesting business model that is worth exploring.  

Leh and Reid had the pleasure of interviewing Kevin Williams.  He   owns three Chick-fil-A store locations and takes joy in doing more than just selling a great chicken sandwich.  He loves to grow his organization through irrational kindness.  So much so, he decided to write a book called . . . Irrational Kindness, The Crazy Pursuit of an Extraordinary Life. In this show, Kevin shares with us his journey, shows how the Chick-fil-A franchise model is different, reveals how he pours into his employees, and leverages success to help his community. The book comes out January 12, 2021 and you can pre-order the book by clicking on this link.  

Leh and Reid had the pleasure of interviewing Gabriel Rudge, a proud owner of a School of Rock Franchise.  Despite his fantastic leadership position at Coca-Cola, Gab felt like something was missing.  When he looked at what the next 20 years of his life was going to be like, he realized that he wanted something more real . . . more tangible . . . something where he can see the difference he was making in others lives.  That is what let him to buying his franchise.  Even though he had a few bumps when he started, and he opened right before the pandemic, he is ready to buy another territory.  Join us as we talk to Gab about his journey into Francise ownership.

In this show, Leh and Reid break down which HR systems you should have in place for your business starting with an Organizational Chart.  While this may seem silly if the business is just comprised of you, it is one of the best things you can do when it comes to growth and sustainability.  Tune in to find out what they mean.  From there, they also cover everything from hiring to firing and everything in between.  Put these 8 systems in place and you will not only have a healthier business, you will also have happier employees.

Reid and Leh had the honor and privilege of interviewing Scott Callaway, the Operations Manager of Be Pro Be Proud Georgia.  This organization is doing amazing things to help the next generation find their true calling.  Their efforts will spawn a whole new generation of entrepreneurs and small business owners.  And, their work is helping existing business owners find extremely qualified employees to help build their businesses and better serve their customers.  But, their message runs contrary to a narrative that we have been telling ourselves and our kids for too long.  The narrative has been that if you do not go to college, you can’t be successful.  The problem with that narrative (apart from being wrong) is that certain people have been gifted with a professional skill that does not require a 4 year degree to develop.  As a result, those folks go to college, incur a massive amount of debt, and then do nothing with their degree because they never should have been there in the first place.  This comes at a time when the Baby Boomer generation is leaving the professional skilled workforce by the thousands every week.  Scott shares his personal story and his passion for helping kids make the best decision for them.  Despite what many have been told, the smartest decision some kids can make is not going to college and instead pursuing their professional skill.  Those that do wind up flourishing and even grow a greater net worth than many of their collegiate counterparts.  

In this show, Leh and Reid interview Dan Thrailkill.  This was a slightly different episode than past shows.  We focused more on taking ownership of your life so that you can take ownership of your business.  Imagine having to sample your blood 8 times a day, and, depending on the results of that test, you may have to inject yourself with a needle.  You are constantly having to monitor your health throughout the day.  For some it can be very discouraging, but not for Dan.  He embraced it. And because he dealt with it, he can work for a couple different businesses and co-own another.  He does not let it slow him down.  

When you buy a franchise, one of the biggest values are the systems that have been developed.  But why are they so valuable? In this show, we break down what we mean when we say 'systems'; why they are so valuable; what are the most common objections to creating systems in the first place (which we debunk); and what you should systematize in your business. If you are considering buying a franchise, email us at takingownershippodcast@gmail.com to discuss how we can help.  It won't cost you anything, but it could save you both time and money.

Leh and Reid had the pleasure of interviewing Jarid Ison, the proud new franchisee owner of College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving.  He had the courage to open his business in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic.  There were some sleepless nights, but he trusted the system and it paid off . . . big time.  On day one he had customers.  In just three months the business was in the black.   And, not only is the business profitable, he is also leveraging it to help others in his community.   It is amazing the impact you can have on your family and your community when you find a business that fits your values.

If you are considering owning a franchise, but are afraid to engage the services of a franchise consultant over cost concerns, don't be.  It costs you nothing, but not seeking the help of a franchise consultant could cost you money and time.  This is just one of the reasons to consider using a consultant to help you navigate this wonderful new adventure.  Join Leh and Reid as they discuss the advantages that a franchise consultant brings to help you navigate the franchise landscape.   Even if you are on the fence about getting into the franchise world, you can still listen to Leh explain what a multipotentialite is.  

In this episode, Leh and Reid discuss the franchise opportunities that exist today despite the current uncertainty in our world.  They focus on the 'home service' side of franchises, many of which have a relatively low barrier to entry.  Rather than discuss particular franchises, they explore 20 different types of services that franchises are offering to customers.  If you wondered just what kind of options there are out there for you, then this is the show for you.  Some of them might surprise you!

When they sat down to put together this show, Leh and Reid kept reading one negative story after another.  Fortunately, they hate negative news so they kept digging for something positive to discuss.  They found emerging franchise opportunities where business aren't just surviving but thriving.  If you are considering a change from your current employment but think there are no good options right now, you might be pleasantly surprised.

A listener recently asked what kind of franchise fees can they expect to pay when buying a franchise.  In this show, Leh and Reid answer the question and discuss the most common franchise fees you can expect to pay when buying a franchise.  They also discuss why they are not only worth it, but often a bargain compared to you having to replicate the hard work of the Franchisor on your own.  

Leh and Reid interview Tom Aagaard, a 20 year owner of multiple Great Clips franchise locations.  He currently owns 42 locations and has had an interesting journey.  Along the way, he actually owned 9 different franchises.  He explains how he got started, the importance of finding a franchise that is in alignment with your values, and the advantages of franchise ownership when you need make a change. If you have any questions you would like to be answered on the podcast, email us at takingownershippodcast.com

In today's show, Leh and Reid discuss the different types of franchises that are out there, including home based, retail based, and master franchises.  When people think about franchises, often the first thing that comes to mind is fast food chains.  Fortunately, that is only one of many kinds of business franchise opportunities out there for you to consider. If there is something you would like for us to discuss on the show, just email us at takingownershippodcast@gmail.com

In this show, Leh and Reid discuss 10 common misconceptions that can lead to failure when buying a franchise.  They break down each one and explain how you can set yourself up for failure if you buy a franchise with the wrong mindset.  They want you to build a successful business for you, your family, and the people you employ.  The 10 Common misconceptions they explore include: You're guaranteed to succeed It’s the Franchisor’s job to find customers for me A “turnkey” business means that all you have to do is “turn the key.”  I will be successful doing something I love If it feels right, it will work out I should use earnings claims to make an investment decision My chances of success increase with a well-known brand name.  Buying a hot franchise that’s in a growth spurt is a good opportunity.  Food franchises are great investments because they are recession resistant. After all, everyone has to eat.  My town has no widget franchise. There’s no widget for 30 miles in each direction. If I open one, it will be successful because there is no competition. 


Leh and Reid explore the eight most common objections they see to buying a franchise.  They discuss the validity of those objections and whether they should hold you back from becoming a franchise owner.  The 8 Common Objections they explore include: Franchising is too expensive/I can't afford a franchise There is no freedom in owning a franchise because corporate controls the business. There is no creativity in owning a franchise. You must be an expert in the field. Franchisors get rich at my expense through royalties. Franchisees don't own their own business. Inconsistent validation on earnings is a reason to not invest in a franchise. Most of the franchises are in fast food and I don't want to get into the food services business.

Leh and Reid interview 2 time franchise owner Dave Miller.  Dave has a great story.  He dropped out of college and started working in a Domino's Pizza.  Just a few years later, he bought a Domino's franchise location that was loosing money at the time he bought it.  Within a year, he had turned it around.  He owned this franchise for 30 years and about 15 years ago his wife bought a Bruster's Ice Cream Franchise.  Learn how Dave's philosophy has helped his success and build equity in multiple ways.  Dave also shared how he leverages his position to help other franchise owners and high school students develop skills that they might not learn in school.  

Join Leh and Reid as they discuss with Dr. Eric Richards his entrepreneurial journey.  Dr. Eric is serial entrepreneur who loves to pour into his businesses.  We discuss his successes and his failures.  He shares with us what he learned from his failures and how he leverages his successes to expand into his next business venture.  We end the show with some powerful takeaways that every business owner should consider.  Those that don’t are often the ones who have merely built themselves a job rather than a business that they can leverage for personal freedom and retirement.   You can read more about Dr. Eric's Practice at https://www.healthsprout.com.  You can see his vision for a new live work play community at https://adairparkwoodstock.com  You can see how he helps to transform people's health with the proper nutrition at https://www.60dayturnaround.net  

In this episode, Leh and Reid discuss a popular misconception about franchisees.  Some people see a franchise location as part of a 'big chain.'  In reality, most of them are small business owners.  They look at a tale of two Franchise owners and discuss how COVID19 impacted the Franchisee that was actively involved in the community vs the one that was not.   They also discuss additional advantages a franchise organization has in the middle of a crisis like COVID19 and how one group was able to act quickly to help their franchisees survive the shut downs.

In this show, Leh and Reid discuss how franchises can not only survive, but thrive in small towns.  We discuss a few examples of how some brands pivoted away from the big city into small towns to turn around the brand and increase income.  After considering their environment, they also made certain changes that decreased costs and increased the number of customers.  And, the best part of the show . . .  was learning about how Reid grew up as a small town boy.   If there are any topics you would like for us to discuss, email us at takingownershippodcast@gmail.com.  If you are considering owning a franchise but don’t know where to start, send us an email.  We can help, and it doesn’t cost you anything.  

Leh and Reid had the privilege of interviewing Jonathan Chambers from the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) in Cherokee County Georgia.  COED is an example of a governmental agency working for and with small businesses to help them start and thrive.  Jonathan, an entrepreneur himself, shared some of his story before he joined COED and how much he has enjoyed working with an amazing team.  Jonathan discussed the initiatives that COED has put in place to help out the small business owner, while working to help build a healthy Cherokee County at a multitude of levels.   At the end of the show he shared his vision of what it will take for us to pull through this pandemic and fight against and shorten the oncoming recession.  You don’t want to miss it.  

Most small business owners we know are optimistic.  They look at challenges and set backs as opportunities to learn and grow.  In episode 7, Leh and Reid talk about 9 positive things they see as possibly coming out of this COVID19 mess.  Reid even shares an example of optimism from a CEO of a large organization (if you consider the day he was on air Opposite Day that is ;).  

In this show, Leh and Reid interview Chris Woodward.  Chris owns a Cell Phone Repair Franchise.  Chris shared how he made the decision to purchase this franchise.  Surprisingly, it was not his  not his first choice. He also discussed how he operates the business on a part time basis while maintaining a full time job.  He loves being able to help folks fix the tech that has become a member of the family.  

In today's show, Leh and Reid interview Tim Goodwin. Tim shares his inspirational story of how he got started with his business at a young age. He also shares what he and his team at Goodwin Investment Advisory are doing to become raving fans of all their customers in the middle of the COVID 19 crisis. Tim also discusses what we can do to avoid spiraling into a place of fear, and, instead move into a place of learning and growth.  You don't want to miss Tim's advice on how to take ownership of your business and your life in the middle of a crisis. 

In this episode, Reid and Leh interview John Hotaling, proud owner of a Signarama Franchise.  Even though his business is suffering at the moment from the COVID 19 crisis, he still is incredibly optimistic about the future.  He shares how he got into this business, why he choose Signarama, and how his signs have helped local schools deal with a growing problem involving middle and high school kids.  Tune in to hear his story and why he likes Signarama.

The COVID-19 virus is crushing not only our health system, but also our small businesses.  Reid Trego knows this better than most.  He bought a travel franchise 5 years ago.  At the moment, he is practically shut down for at least the next 60 days.  But, in the middle of all this, there are still some positive take-aways.  In this show, Leh Meriwether discusses with Reid the advantages of owning a franchise in the middle of a crisis like a pandemic and how he is not alone.  His franchise family is rallying together to help each other get through this.

In the very first episode, Franchise owner Reid Trego and attorney Leh Meriwether introduce themselves and why they started this podcast, even though the world is in the middle of a pandemic.