The Franchise Hot Seat Podcast with Dr. John P. Hayes - Director, Titus Center for Franchising cover art

The Franchise Hot Seat Podcast with Dr. John P. Hayes - Director, Titus Center for Franchising

The Franchise Hot Seat Podcast with Dr. John P. Hayes - Director, Titus Center for Franchising

By: Dr. John P Hayes
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Internationally recognized speaker, personal business coach and Amazon best-selling franchise author Dr. John Hayes offers an honest look at everything involved in researching, evaluating and purchasing a franchise business. On this podcast, Dr. John P Hayes interviews Franchisors, Franchisees, and has solo episodes giving valuable advice in the Franchise Industry. Since 1979, John Hayes has worked in the franchise community as a consultant, franchisee and franchisor. He’s one of an elite group worldwide that has actually owned and operated franchises, including serving as CEO of a major American franchisor company, and advised franchisors and franchisees. He is the author of several franchise-related books and countless articles that have appeared in media worldwide. Dr. Hayes has served for many years as an advisor to franchisors, franchisees and small business owners internationally. His areas of expertise include management development, marketing, customer service, training and strategic planning. He is the author or co-author of 18 non-fiction books including Franchising: The Inside Story, Start Small, Finish Big, You Can’t Teach A Kid To Ride A Bike At A Seminar, and most recently Buy “Hot” Franchises Without Getting Burned. Keywords: franchise tax board , chick fil a franchise , the franchise guy , best franchise to own , franchise business , buying a franchise , franchise opportunities , opening a franchise , owning a franchise© 2025 The Franchise Hot Seat Podcast with Dr. John P. Hayes - Director, Titus Center for Franchising Career Success Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Success, Support & Community in Franchising - With Madalina Iordache
    Jun 9 2025

    DESCRIPTION:

    John Hayes interviews Madalina Iordache, founder of Bright Pink Agency, on the

    Franchise Hot Seat Podcast. They explore Iordache's transition from Romania to the

    United States, her journalism career, and her shift into the franchising industry.

    Iordache recounts her initial experiences in the U.S., her introduction to the

    franchising industry in 2008, and her substantial contributions to brands such as

    Puro Clean. The discussion emphasizes the significance of culture, community, and

    support in the franchising industry, drawing comparisons with non-franchise

    businesses. They underscore the distinctive features of franchising, including

    mentorship, collective success, and its transformative effect on small business

    owners, advocating for the supportive and organized environment franchising

    provides in contrast to independent business ventures.

    - Madalina Iordache.

    TIMESTAMPS:

    00:00 Intro

    00:35 The Name Game and Romanian Roots

    01:43 Journey to the United States

    02:21 Early Career and Personal Life

    07:02 Discovering Franchising

    09:16 The Impact of Franchising

    15:39 Franchising Success Stories

    19:46 The Importance of Culture in Franchising

    20:34 Learning from Franchise Systems

    21:33 Franchising vs. Non-Franchising Businesses

    22:38 The Unique Advantages of Franchising

    27:51 Criticisms and Misconceptions of Franchising

    30:18 The Role of Creativity in Franchising

    35:51 Adapting Franchises to Local Markets

    37:08 The Opportunity Franchising Provides

    38:53 Final Thoughts

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    41 mins
  • Real Estate in Retail Franchising - With Larry Strain
    Jun 2 2025

    DESCRIPTION:

    Dr. John Hayes interviews Larry Strain, Chief Development Officer of Retro Fitness, in

    the Franchise Hot Seat episode, discussing the complexities of real estate in retail

    franchising. Larry shares his three-decade experience in retail development,

    highlighting the changes brought about by e-commerce giants like Amazon. He

    underscores the growing significance of service-based retailers, particularly fitness

    centers, and the real estate challenges they encounter, such as competition for

    space and parking needs. Larry points out the crucial role of franchisors in

    supporting franchisees, especially newcomers, by managing broker negotiations,

    lease terms, and construction. He compares the ease of development between

    various brands he has worked with, including Starbucks and McDonald’s, and

    identifies key factors for long-term franchisee success, such as understanding

    customer needs and reinvesting in the business. The conversation also covers the

    cyclical nature of the real estate market, the importance of choosing the right

    location, and the impact of institutional pressures on franchise sales and selection

    criteria.

    - With Larry Strain.

    TIMESTAMPS:

    00:00 Introduction

    00:29 The State of Retail and Fitness Franchising

    01:21 Challenges in Real Estate for Fitness Franchises

    02:24 Iconic Brands and Real Estate Development

    04:32 Navigating Real Estate for New Franchisees

    07:36 Franchisor Support in Real Estate

    10:53 The Importance of Strategic Real Estate Planning

    24:13 Traits of Top Performing Franchisees

    32:27 The Role of Strategy in Franchise Expansion

    33:32 Food vs. Fitness Franchises

    34:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    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

    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Why I Left Finance For This: Insights and Opportunities - With Fred Fry
    May 12 2025

    DESCRIPTION:

    In this episode of the Franchise Hot Seat, host John Hayes interviews Fred Fry, Vice

    President of Franchise Development for 16 Handles. Fred shares his career journey

    from banking and finance to the franchise industry, highlighting how he discovered

    franchising through a friend at church after relocating to Texas. He previously

    worked with HTO and Shipley Donuts, where he played key roles in their significant

    growth. The episode dives into the appeal of franchising, the opportunities for

    financial and personal growth it offers, and the challenges and benefits of different

    franchise concepts. Fred emphasizes the importance of community involvement,

    systems, and strong management in ensuring franchisee success. The conversation

    also touches on financing options for franchisees, including SBA loans. Fred

    discusses the strategic decisions that new leadership at 16 Handles has made,

    including community engagement, technology stack improvements, and leveraging

    social media, to ensure the brand's growth and success.

    - With Fred Frey

    TIMESTAMPS (Use ChatGPT on Transcript):

    00:00 Intro

    00:28 How did Fred start franchising?

    01:57 What drove transition to franchising?

    03:32 Why franchise in Texas? Costs?

    05:29 Biggest franchise development challenges/rewards?

    07:31 How to finance franchise investments?

    10:20 Best ownership style for engagement?

    16:48 Why is franchisor support crucial?

    21:04 What killed frozen yogurt's boom?

    30:23 Why are franchise systems important?

    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

    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
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