What if your next business opportunity wasn’t about building from scratch, but building smarter?

In this conversation, Michael reconnects with longtime friend and franchise entrepreneur Jeff Silbert, co-founder of 10 Hand & Stone locations and regional developer for Moxie Salon. Jeff shares how he went from coding at Accenture to scaling membership-based wellness brands and why his sweet spot isn’t startups at zero, but businesses just past lift-off.

They talk about what makes a franchise model work, how to identify scalable opportunities, and why people, process, and passion are the core of every successful expansion. Whether you’re exploring entrepreneurship, looking to scale a service business, or curious about entering the wellness space, this episode is full of lessons from the trenches of brand-building.

And if you’re wondering how to grow your business without burning out? This one’s a masterclass in doing it the right way with clarity, conviction, and a tight inner circle.

[00:00] – Meet Jeff Silbert: Hand & Stone co-founder and Moxie regional developer

[00:01:20] – From Accenture to entrepreneurship: Jeff’s early path to business ownership

[00:03:14] – Why he doesn’t like “idea-stage” businesses and what gets him excited instead

[00:05:00] – The power of the membership model: funnel thinking, retention, and revenue stability

[00:07:00] – Balancing the franchise playbook with entrepreneurial creativity

[00:08:45] – Why great franchisees are coachable and aligned with the brand’s vision

[00:11:32] – Can the average person really enter the franchise world? Here’s how.

[00:14:00] – Why Jeff and his brother diversified into Moxie after 10 Hand & Stone locations

[00:17:00] – Moxie’s team-based salon model and how it flips the stylist/client dynamic

[00:20:00] – Building culture without relying on individual “star” stylists

[00:23:00] – The dig in the neighborhood: why the wellness space is bigger than business

[00:25:00] – What COVID taught them and how loyal members saved the business

[00:27:00] – How Jeff maintains vitality: people, boundaries, and the power of EO

[00:33:34] – The moment that changed everything: investing in long-term friendships

[00:36:14] – Thinking about a franchise? Jeff shares who Moxie is looking for

• Moxie Salons & Beauty Bars
• Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa
• Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)
• P90X by Tony Horton
• Danny Meyer’s book Setting the Table (on hospitality leadership)
• 
  

Jeff Silbert is a seasoned franchise operator and business builder. As co-founder of 10 Hand & Stone