John Hayes interviews franchise attorney Lee Plave, discussing how franchising has changed over four decades and what “glitches” are affecting businesses in 2026–2027, including uneven economic conditions, shifting post-pandemic demand, real estate challenges, and headwinds from inflation, tariffs, interest rates, climate events, and immigration policy. Plave says it’s not a bad time to franchise but requires greater awareness of risks and opportunities, including technology. They note franchising’s expansion beyond food into medical, hospitality, travel, and mobility, emphasizing the “last mile” and franchisor focus on franchisee success. Plave outlines success factors (strong trademark, desirable offering, compelling system), stresses deliberate scaling, and urges franchisees to read FDDs, hire experienced counsel, and contact current and former franchisees. They cover international pitfalls (culture, regulation, need for local legal advice), AI’s efficiency benefits and confidentiality risks, dispute prevention through reasonableness, better franchisee screening, and mixed effects of brokers and multi-unit deals.

- With Lee Plave

TIMESTAMPS:

02:20 Economy Is Teetering Like A Receiver.

04:25 Not A Bad Time, Just Different.

05:35 Food Franchising Interest Collapsed.

08:30 Dunkin Saw Franchisees As The Customer.

10:10 You Must Replicate Yourself First.

12:25 Three Things Make A Franchise Work.

15:45 Call Current And Former Franchisees.

16:40 Throw Out Highs And Lows.

17:30 Too Many Skip The Franchise Attorney.

19:00 Franchisees Never Read The Disclosure Doc.

21:00 British Told Americans To Stay Home.

23:30 Cross-Border Franchising Needs Local Counsel.

26:30 AI Is A Boon And A Nightmare.

38:00 Broker Commissions Hurt Franchisors.

LINKS:

WEBSITE: http://franchisehotseats.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnhayes/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drjohnhayes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Howtobuyafranchise

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayesjph/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnphayesfranchise

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DrJohnHayes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franchisehotseatpodcast

John conducts an interview with Mike Stasko, the president of Sunny Street Cafe, a breakfast and lunch franchise established by Mike's father in 2007. Sunny Street Cafe operates around 22 locations, with half being company-owned and the rest franchised. Stasko discusses the brand's emphasis on controlled growth over rapid expansion, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. The company's focus is on operational strength, franchisee support, and maintaining brand integrity, even if it means turning down potentially detrimental deals outside their established footprint. Stasko and John also discuss the qualities Sunny Street Cafe looks for in franchisees, including a strong aversion to those who are only interested in returns, indifferent to location, or absent from the business. Stasko emphasizes the importance of franchisees being involved in their local communities, as this is a significant factor in the success of individual units. He also identifies the main financial levers of the business, which include top-line sales, food costs, and labor. Stasko shares insights from past mistakes in menu development, the adoption of operational practices from a franchisee with experience at McDonald’s, and the challenges associated with making personnel decisions in a family-run business. He also discusses how he would approach diagnosing issues with underperforming franchisees in the context of rising industry costs.

- With Mike Stasko.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:55 Why Sunny Street Isn't At 100 Units.

04:55 Sold 200 Franchises, Opened Only 10.

05:20 Two-Thirds Never Reach 100 Units.

06:00 Great Operators, Bad Salespeople.

07:25 Signed A Deal They Couldn't Support.

08:30 100 Units Would Be A Death Knell.

12:30 Mandates That Look Great But Fail.

16:00 Best Franchisees Get Entrenched In Community.

19:45 Chick-Fil-A Waits Years To Pick Operators.

21:25 Ever Sell To Someone Who Might Fail.

24:00 Watching Labor And COGS Lines Daily.

35:30 Family Loyalty Made Firings Harder.

LINKS:

WEBSITE: http://franchisehotseats.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnhayes/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drjohnhayes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Howtobuyafranchise

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayesjph/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnphayesfranchise

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DrJohnHayes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franchisehotseatpodcast

The Franchise Hot Seat podcast features an interview with DiAnne Donley, a junior at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Donley, an honor student majoring in entrepreneurship and franchising with a minor in psychology and leadership certification, shares her aspirations of becoming a business coach. She reveals her transition into the franchising program after discovering the opportunities at the Titus Center and realizing that franchising is not limited to fast food but is a system-based process that requires coachability. Donley's internship experience led her to publish thought pieces on LinkedIn on topics such as the loss of "third spaces" by Gen Z, students' wait to feel qualified, and the importance of "figuring out" as a skill. One of her articles garnered over 4,000 interactions, mostly from senior professionals. Donley also draws a connection between franchising and coaching through systems and accountability. She discusses leadership themes like integrity and serving franchisees, and stresses the importance of applying classroom theory to real-world situations. She provides insights into the initial due diligence required by franchisees, such as understanding the realities of being an owner-operator and reviewing Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs). Donley also offers advice on networking, overcoming remote work challenges, and selecting schools that offer hands-on opportunities and internships.

- With DiAnne Donley

TIMESTAMPS:

02:50 Franchising Isn't Just Fast Food.

04:00 Franchising Needs Business Coaches.

07:25 Gen Z Lost Its Third Spaces.

09:45 Students Wait Too Long To Feel Qualified.

11:05 Figuring It Out Is A Skill, Not A Moment.

12:45 Adaptability Beats Knowing Everything.

14:45 Franchising Teaches Systems And Accountability.

17:35 Integrity Is Doing Right When Nobody Watches.

20:00 Coaches Can Take Load Off Franchisors.

22:30 Telling People What You Want Opens Doors.

26:00 Students Should Post Ideas On LinkedIn.

32:00 Remote Work Needs A Separate Space.

LINKS:

WEBSITE: http://franchisehotseats.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnhayes/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drjohnhayes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Howtobuyafranchise

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayesjph/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnphayesfranchise

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DrJohnHayes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franchisehotseatpodcast