From running movies out of the back of his family’s warehouse at age 12 to becoming the largest Marco’s Pizza franchisee in America, McLain Hoogland understands the long game – and the pivot. With a lineage stretching back to the birth of family video rental and a career forged by service in the Marine Corps, McLain doesn’t just lead a multigenerational business, he’s reinvented it more than once.

In this episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we explore

(06:11) Growing up in a family business

(08:26) The drive behind pizza chain growth

(11:34) Streamlining operations for control

(13:08) Why efficiency depends on geography

(16:53) Franchise growth vs real estate

(19:55) Veterans’ skills beyond stereotypes

(22:35) Turning customer experience into profit

(26:27) What makes a franchise restaurant succeed

(29:27) Marketing challenges for franchise owners

(33:17) How food delivery keeps evolving

(38:02) What to look for in a franchise system

(41:00) Leadership that goes beyond business books

(42:42) Finding balance to avoid burnout

(45:56) Diversifying into healthcare and real estate

On Why Veterans Thrive in Franchising

McLain: “You’ve learned some pretty high-level things in very stressful situations. You’ve learned how to train people, how to follow SOPs. That’s a restaurant. There’s a rule set in franchising: it isn’t a free-for-all all.”

On Building for Growth (Not Just Survival)

McLain: “The first year is dialing in your operations and growing your customer base. You have to hire for the sales you want, not just the budget you think you have.”

On Knowing When NOT to Get Into Food

McLain: “If your first venture into franchising and you have no food experience, I would say, do not go into food. It’s easy to lose money, hard to make money – it’s a very competitive space.”

On The Power of Brand and Culture

McLain: “If you’re joining a franchise system, you’re buying all of it, not just the food. Do your homework. Dig deep into the support and leadership.”

After decades operating six different food brands including Dunkin’ and Jersey Mike’s, Mitch took a leap that changed everything: salon studios. Why? Because great franchises evolve, and Mitch believes in building businesses where people don't shy away from change.

His philosophy? Treat every person, from employees to beauty professionals, with respect and genuine care, and success will follow.

In this episode, Mitch gives his insights on:

(03:09) Helping beauty pros become independent

(09:15) What to check before buying a franchise

(11:36) Inside the salon studio business model

(14:29) Why trust and stability drive success

(17:46) How great franchise support really works

(20:25) The collaborative side of franchising

(24:59) How philanthropy powers business growth

(28:34) Smart ways to give back to your community

(32:36) How empowered teams boost performance

(34:50) The role of mentorship in career growth

(38:07) How to scale with a multi-unit strategy

(41:39) The real keys to business expansion

(45:51) Rethinking franchise agreements and innovation

(48:49) Why simplicity wins in business

(50:45) Building strong teams for long-term growth

On Making Franchise Relationships Work

Mitch: “Franchising is a relationship. You’re entering a contract that’s going to be there longer than most marriages last in the U.S. You need to do your due diligence and talk to other franchisees… The conversation starts on day one, and you foster that throughout the whole time.”

On Why People Are the Secret Ingredient

Mitch: “No matter what I do, we believe we’re in the people business. Our team, our customers, our stylists, if you put people first and treat everyone the way you’d want to be treated, they’ll stay forever. There’s no reason for them to leave.”

On Making Big Business Leaps

Mitch: “You have to be ready to step out of your comfort zone. Do your research, make sure the new brand has the tools you need, and be prepared for a whole new set of learnings and people. Trust your organization, but know when it’s time to cut the cord and build something new.”

Before Carl Stoffers was Entrepreneur Magazine’s Senior Business Editor, he was logging twelve-hour shifts in a maximum security prison in the sweltering Arizona desert. But even surrounded by concrete walls and lockstep routines, Carl never let go of his love for words – reading under a flashlight in secret as a kid and nurturing an “impossible dream” to become a journalist.

In this episode of the Smart Franchising Podcast, we explore

(03:04) Chasing dreams and taking bold risks

(06:09) Why home service franchises stay strong in recessions

(10:38) Best starter franchises for hands-on owners

(14:49) Keeping it simple with rising beverage trends

(17:22) How tech enhances the customer experience

(20:27) Why embracing change fuels franchise growth

(23:05) The story behind a thrift franchise's success

(25:17) The emotional origins of BrightStar Care

(28:21) What Gen Z and millennials value in franchising

(34:00) Why interviews demand real discretion

(36:21) Exciting franchise updates and an inspiring story

(38:24) Humans helping humans thrive

On Getting Into Franchising “When It Never Feels Like the Right Time”

Carl: You find yourself working 12 hours a day in a maximum security prison out in the middle of the desert, it can cause you to do a little bit of thinking…you know that’s not where you want to spend the rest of your professional life. I feel a definite bond with franchisees who left safe careers to dive into something totally new.

On the Power of the “Unsexy” Brand

Carl: There are all sorts of non-glamorous areas you can get into with franchising and really carve out a good name for yourself. The successful people I meet – whether it’s pest control, roofing, or thrift stores – are changing the industry by showing what’s possible for anyone with grit and the right support.

On Why the Human Story Still Wins

Carl: What I look for is, number one, a business relevance…and then, is the backstory compelling? Is it going to grab our readers? Franchising attracts unique personalities. The ones willing to solve problems, take risks, and overcome setbacks.

Jesse Keyser knows a thing or two about scaling from a single pizza shop dream to over 50 franchise locations across the U.S. – but it wasn’t just business savvy that got him there. Early on, Jesse learned the hard way that running a business isn’t just about chasing growth or watching the bank account swell; it’s about understanding people, mastering systems, and keeping your culture “king.”

From working seven-day weeks in his first salon, to winning top franchisee awards across diverse industries, Jesse’s journey is packed with hard-won lessons – and more than a few humbling moments.

In this episode of Smart Franchising Podcast, we explore

(05:13) Entrepreneurship within established systems

(07:48) Grand openings and cash flow

(10:11) Chick-fil-A’s U.S. success explained

(15:31) Profit insights from commission reports

(17:10) Incentivizing incremental store growth

(21:01) From ads to business success

(26:06) Franchise advocacy event in September

(30:03) Family trips to meet representatives

(31:19) Parenting through real-life lessons

(34:09) Operator understanding drives success

(37:30) Top performers, no excuses

On Making Culture “King” for Scale

Jesse: “If the culture is king, customers will come, and people will apply and want to work where you are. So that would be my advice, always make sure that you keep culture king.”

On Learning From Mentors (and Not Just Mistakes)

Jesse: “You’re either learning from your mistakes or from mentors. So you get to pick which one you want to learn from. I try to learn as much as I can from mentors and not my mistakes.”

On Why His Kids Won’t Be Handed the Keys

Jesse: “When you’re old enough, go find a franchise you’re interested in. I’ll help you pay for the first location, but you’re going to be the manager—until you can afford to hire someone else to do it.”

In an era where technology is advancing at lightning speed, franchisors must adapt or risk being left behind. Enter Jeremy Brazeal, a visionary from Reality Interactive, who who previously led groundbreaking consumer, digital engagement, and advertising work for global icons like The LEGO Group and The Coca-Cola Company. Now agency-side at Reality, he’s helping redefine how brands connect with customers through the power of AI and smart retail tools. Jeremy’s keen focus on using tech to cultivate customer affinity has propelled him to the cutting edge of AI innovation in franchising.

In this episode of Smart Franchising Podcast, Jeremy reveals:

• How AI serves as an invisible but invaluable friend in driving customer loyalty

• The creative ways AI tools are boosting revenue streams in unexpected sectors

• Strategies for integrating AI seamlessly without overwhelming your budget

• Real-world examples of AI transforming the athletics industry through hyper-personalization

• Ways AI can refine the in-store experience and streamline customer interactions

On AI’s Role as a Brand's Best Friend

Jeremy Brazeal: “AI could very much have the person on the other side, the cashier, be AI. That cashier is also, to an extent, a nutritionist...So in the future world that is now, sometimes the cashier is a nutritionist.”

On Creating Value Through Technology

Jeremy Brazeal: “The big shift that's happened is really about the power of the hardware and then AI's ability to access a ton of data points at once...you want to have that conversation. It's personal. You want those solutions personalized to you.”

On Core Mission Focus

Jeremy Brazeal: "What is that mission that you're trying to accomplish that's going to differentiate you from your competitors? What is that core mission? And then if you're going to incorporate something like an AI tool, how does it help you achieve that core mission? And if it doesn't, don't do it."

Mike Hamra’s family legacy in the franchising industry spans generations. In this episode of Smart Franchising Podcast, Mike joins Dan Rowe as he shares insights into his remarkable journey from practising law to leading a powerhouse in the franchise world.

In this episode of Smart Franchising Podcast, Mike reveals:

• The Hamra family's journey as Wendy’s franchisees since 1975

• Growing a 200+ franchise empire across Wendy’s, Panera, and Noodles

• Investing in people and training to transform operations

• Family values and harmony as keys to multi-generational success

• Navigating the challenges and rewards of a family-owned business

  
  

On the Importance of Engaging Leadership

Mike: “You have to be a really strong leader, but you also have to manage. There's a difference between being a leader and somebody who's gonna manage your business. Managing your business is really creating a structure that things flow into the restaurant and get managed.”

On Building a Culture of Excellence

Mike: “We pay our student employees in high school and college to do their homework in our stores. That really drives a very different kind of culture inside our organization that, you know, you don't see across the industry.”

On the Future of Hamra Enterprises

Mike: “We're committed to a future of growth and continuing to develop or acquire markets where we can support people that work for us and their families. In ten years, we should be double in size, should be easily because we're getting to that size now where we can take bigger bites on acquisitions.”

How do you turn a small franchise into a massive empire?In this episode, Dan Rowe chats with Neel Bhargava, co-founder of NB Group, who’s reshaping the world of franchise investment with his unique multi-unit, multi-brand approach. Neel’s journey took him from the world of consulting and private equity to becoming a powerhouse entrepreneur, scaling some of the most successful brands in the franchise space.In this episode of Smart Franchising Podcast, Neel reveals:-How he invested in Crunch Fitness group that scaled from just 10 locations to over 65-The European Wax Center’s strategic growth and how it sparked huge expansion-Franchise investment: the pros and cons from a private equity perspective-Managing the complexities of team building, financial infrastructure, and making the right investmentsOn the Investment Strategy that Drove Exponential GrowthNeel: “You start with a platform business, and then you make add-on acquisitions to build it... Rolling up a couple of franchisees to get the volume and continue growth while managing the challenges of integrating various companies.”On Embracing the Franchising ChallengesNeel: “There are pros and cons to franchising... Some of the pros are less upfront thought and work required. There's a playbook that's been written for you... The negatives are, back to the playbook, the quality of that playbook varies and you don’t have control to really impact it.”On Leveraging Analytical Insight for SuccessNeel: “We aim to make at least three and a half times our money on every investment... Payback period on that new build CapEx is critical to determining how much we like a multi-unit concept.”

On today’s episode, we sit down with SG Ellison, the powerhouse behind a 360+ unit franchise empire and the first-ever Taco Bell Cantina.

SG didn’t scale by cutting corners—he scaled by investing in people, pushing innovation, and playing the long game. From buying his first 85 units to developing the highest volume Taco Bell in the world, SG’s story is a masterclass in thoughtful, purpose-driven growth.

In this episode, SG shares:

-How he built a 360-unit portfolio across multiple QSR brands

-The origin of Taco Bell Cantina and what made it work

-How he retains top leaders after major acquisitions

-What it means to grow with purpose—not just profit

-Why franchisees need a seat at the table in policy conversations

“Our purpose is to positively impact the lives of the team and the communities that we serve. And that's it.”

If you’re serious about scaling smart, leading with intention, and being the kind of franchisee brands fight to land, this episode is unmissable.