Choosing the right franchise isn’t just about finding a great brand or a profitable concept. It’s about finding a business that actually fits your skills, goals, personality, and the life you want to build. In this episode, we break down what prospective franchise owners should really be looking for during the research process—from understanding the actual role of the owner to learning from both successful and struggling franchisees. We also dig into the tradeoffs between franchise ownership a

Franchise marketing has changed—and the old playbook of simply handing franchisees a standardized marketing plan and expecting it to work everywhere is no longer enough. In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes Barefoot sits down with Steve Buors, founder and CEO of Reshift Media, to unpack what Steve calls the “franchise marketing paradox”: franchising is built around consistency and scalability, but today’s consumers increasingly expect businesses to feel local and relevant. So where sho

Dave Ramsey has some strong opinions about franchising—and some of his concerns are absolutely valid. But is he telling the whole story? In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, we break down Dave Ramsey’s advice to a business owner considering franchising her company. We look at where Dave gets it right, where his argument misses some important context, and what both prospective franchisees and business owners considering franchising need to understand. We dig into the real relationship betwe

Matt Friedman started Wing Zone in a fraternity house kitchen with just $500—and eventually grew it to 140 locations across six countries. In this episode, Matt shares the lessons from his 27-year journey: the mistakes, the realities of scaling, why franchise growth shouldn't be rushed, and what both franchisees and emerging franchisors need to understand before jumping in. If you're considering buying a franchise, franchising your own business, or simply want to learn from someone who's actua

Most people have strong opinions about franchising—but how many of those opinions are actually true? In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes Barefoot reacts to a podcast criticizing franchising and breaks down where they make valid points... and where they completely miss the mark. We cover: -The truth about franchise failure rates -Independent business vs. franchise ownership -Whether franchise fees are actually worth it -Why due diligence matters more than the brand name -The bigge

Most people think franchise ownership is something you do later in life after climbing the corporate ladder. Brian Garvey proves otherwise. In this episode, Brian shares how he went from walking on at the University of Tennessee, to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, to becoming a franchise owner at just 25 years old through Express Employment Professionals' Emerging Entrepreneur Program. We discuss mentorship, leadership, taking calculated risks, and why business ownership isn't just for experienced execu