What’s the secret to building lasting, impactful relationships in the fast-paced world of franchising? And how does a whirlwind of acquisitions reshape an industry and serve families better?

In today’s episode we are joined by Josh Wall. Josh serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Unleashed Brands, a leading franchise platform accelerator focused on youth enrichment and family-centric brands. With a presence in over 1,300 operating franchise units and 700+ more in development across 15 countries, Unleashed Brands is dedicated to helping children learn, play, and grow.

Josh shares about spearheading significant acquisitions and expansions at Unleashed Brands and reflects on overcoming initial setbacks, including navigating the complexities of brand mergers, and navigating cultural integrations during rapid acquisitions. Josh shares how prioritizing trust and connection has been crucial to their explosive growth. Josh also dives into his philosophy of change management, including the importance of knowing your “why”, staying humble, and maintaining a sense of urgency.

Josh is a servant leader with a deep passion for developing future leaders within his team. He has cultivated an in-house franchise development team across recruitment and marketing; all focused on attracting top-tier franchise owners who are dedicated to making a positive impact on the next generation. Josh's commitment to nurturing talent ensures that his team is equipped to drive meaningful growth and leadership within the organization.

So, if you are ready to dive into leadership, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of growth, tailor-made for anyone passionate about franchising, business development, and youth enrichment, then this episode is for you!

Connect with Josh Wall:

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

Episode Highlights:

• Meet Josh Wall - Chief Operating Officer for Unleashed Brands

• How Josh entered into working with franchises

• Josh’s professional growth at Christian Brothers Automotive

• An emphasis on long-term professional relationships and mentorship experiences

• Josh talks about acquiring Sylvan Learning

• Josh’s role at Unleashed Brands

• The impact of Covid-19

• The Candyland Board of Life concept

Connect with Tracy

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/

JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale

JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/

Email: podcast@jbfsale.com

Connect with Shannon

Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/

JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale

What does it take to turn a struggling franchise into a billion-dollar retail empire?

Today, we have Steve Murphy, the mastermind behind Winmark Corporation's stunning transformation. Steve shares how inefficiencies in operations can significantly impact profitability and the importance of effective marketing and staff training in keeping inventory in check and maximizing margins.

Steve also underscores the importance of understanding financials beyond just monthly reports, highlighting how financial metrics can dynamically improve operations. As well as optimizing KPIs to significantly boost profitability without additional sales efforts.

Steve Murphy, has been in the franchise industry for over 20+ years. He currently is an independent investor in real estate, venture capital and emerging franchise concepts. Steve serves as a Board Member for BaseCamp Franchising and for Homefront Brands®. Steve had previously worked at Winmark Corporation for over 18 years. He had served as President of Franchising since 2006, helping to grow publicly traded Winmark to over 850 franchisees and 1,250 locations and over $1.1 Billion in retail sales.

So, if you are ready to discover the secrets of unique inventory management, the power of community-focused franchisees, and the indispensable insights that every aspiring franchisor and franchisee must know then today’s episode is for you!


Connect with Steve


LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmurphy65/

Episode Highlights:

• Steve’s insights on inefficiency and what it costs

• Unique inventory management challenges for retailers

• The role of franchisees

• Understanding key financial metrics

• Optimizing KPIs for profitability

• Challenges in resale

• Financial goals and objectives

Connect with Tracy

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/

JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale

JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/

Email: podcast@jbfsale.com

Connect with Shannon

Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/

JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale

Have you wondered how private equity can transform your franchising journey or why timing your exit strategy is as critical as choosing the right franchise?

Today, Alicia Miller is sharing some golden nuggets on scaling your franchise, understanding private equity’s role and most importantly, planning your exit strategy ahead of time.

And if you are confused when it comes to private equity, Alicia breaks it down into understandable bite size pieces. She explains how less than 20% of franchisors get private equity investment and what qualities these firms are looking for - like a strong management team, profitability and great cash flow potential.

And if that wasn’t enough, Alicia gives the lowdown on crucial metrics like the EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) and why it’s a big deal for valuations.

Alicia Miller is the Founder and Managing Director of Emergent Growth Advisors, a boutique strategic advisory firm working at the intersection of franchising and private equity. She supports founders and franchise management teams facing growth, disruption, or transformation challenges, and helps them accelerate their businesses. She also advises private capital firms pre- and post-transaction on strategy and value creation initiatives and co-invests alongside her partners. As a former multi-unit franchisee, she brings a franchisee’s perspective and operating experience into every engagement.

So, if you are ready to uncover the secrets to scaling, sustaining and successfully exiting your business as well as learning about the financial intricacies of franchising that could be the game-changer for your business then today’s episode is for you!

Connect with Alicia

Website: www.emergentgrowthadvisors.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/milleralicia/

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BigMoneyInFran

Amazon: https://a.co/d/coVmI6W

Episode Highlights:

• Importance of private equity

• Understanding what qualities private equities look for

• Have a plan and an exit strategy ready

• Financial preparedness and financial challenges

• Strategic focus on exit strategies and private equity roles

• Viewing a business from a buyer’s perspective

• Importance of business valuation

• Preparing a business for sale

• Strategies for emerging brands when selling

• Role of advisors in franchising

Connect with Tracy

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/

JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale

JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/

Email: podcast@jbfsale.com

Connect with Shannon

Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/

JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale