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Send us Fan Mail Taylor Abbott’s family bought an existing San Antonio print shop in 2009 without knowing a thing about printing, and four years later revenue had slid from $1 million to $600,000. Franchising was their last-ditch move, and it turned the business around. In this episode of From A to Franchisee, Taylor talks about converting a respected independent shop, what he inherited when he later bought an existing franchise location, and why he replaced the entire staff within a year. He also explains how documented systems, leaders promoted from within, and a parent-and-son split between sales and operations took the business from one location to three, with a fourth planned for 2027. If you’re weighing a resale, a ground-up location, or going into business with family, he’s candid about what worked and what he’d choose again. Show notes Guest: Taylor Abbott, multi-unit AlphaGraphics franchisee in San Antonio, Texas, who owns and operates three locations with his parents. What you’ll learn Why Taylor’s family chose printing (no weekend work) and how they found the business through a brokerWhat went wrong in the years after the purchase, and why they turned to a franchiseThe trade-offs of joining a system: royalties, monthly reporting, and brand standards, against new products and equipment buying powerWhat you get on day one from an existing business, and what you inherit with it, including the team and cultureHow Taylor grew by acquiring a location, opening one from scratch, and planning a fourthHis advice for first-time owners and for families going into business togetherKey takeaways An existing business brings customers and cash flow, but also the previous owner’s habits and processes.Taylor replaced all eight employees at the acquired location within a year because the culture didn’t match.Scaling came from process: a documented plan from opening the doors to closing, with KPIs.The fourth location’s manager is an employee trained in the company’s system for about three years, not an outside hire.Taylor’s advice: if you can buy something already running, it’s far easier than opening from zero.*While this episode features AlphaGraphics, this is not a sponsored episode. We encourage you to check out this brand and see how their Franchisee Satisfaction Data stacks up! Resources Read: Should You Buy An Existing Franchise?Listen: Pros and Cons of Buying An Existing FranchiseListen: Employee to Entrepreneur: Taxes, Cash Flow, and the Mindset Shift Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Host: Allison Dudas Guest: Anneliese Brosch, Director of Client Success, Franchise Business Review Summary Childcare and tutoring are among the last things families cut when budgets tighten, and that resilience keeps education franchising on prospective owners' radar. In this episode, Allison Dudas and Anneliese Brosch walk through FBR's 2026 education sector report, drawn from more than 1,700 franchisees across 14 brands. They cover what it takes to get started, why finding the right center director often separates owners who scale from owners who bought themselves a job, how many hours the work demands, and what owners actually earn. Despite the long weeks, 86% say they enjoy the business, and this conversation explains why. Resources FBR's Education Sector ReportListen: An Inside Look at a Tutoring FranchiseList: Top Education FranchisesListen: We Ask Franchisees If They're Happy. Here's HowRead: Why Jobs in Supplemental Education Can Pay OffRead: How To Start a Tutoring Center: A Step-By-Step GuideConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Allison Dudas & Mariah Morgan, Franchise Business Review Guest: Aisha "Pinky" Cole Hayes, Founder & CEO of Slutty Vegan Pinky Cole has lived the full arc of restaurant entrepreneurship, from lines down the block and a $33 million investment to a restructuring that left her without her company for 43 days. She joins Allison Dudas and Mariah Morgan to share how she bought Slutty Vegan back and rebuilt it as a franchise system. She also speaks candidly about the mental toll of that stretch and the people who carried her through it. Along the way, she covers how she chooses franchisees, why she's keeping the system small, and what she'd tell anyone considering the leap into business ownership. Resources Listen: Kona Ice Founder Tony LambListen: The Path to Multi-Unit, Multi-Brand Success in FranchisingListen: Industry Spotlight on Brick and Mortar Food FranchisesRead: Chick-fil-A Costs, Pros, and Cons Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Hosts: Allison Dudas and Mariah Morgan, Franchise Business Review Coffee, chicken, pizza, and ice cream all made the cut. In this episode, Allison Dudas and Mariah Morgan reveal FBR's Top 25 Food & Beverage Franchises of 2026, ranked by more than 11,000 real franchisees across 52 brands. They dig into the data behind the rankings, what franchisees love, where brands are falling short, and what income actually looks like in this space, before counting down to this year's number one. Get the full list at franchisebusinessreview.com. Resources Top Food and Beverage Franchises of 2026Read: Hungry for a Career Change? Satisfy Your Craving for Being a Food Franchise EntrepreneurRead: Inside Year One: A Travelin' Tom's Franchisee Tells AllListen: Kona Ice Founder Tony Lamb on Building a Franchise EmpireListen: Multi-Unit, Multi-Brand Success in Starbucks and Ben & Jerry'sConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President, Franchise Business Review Guest: Paul Kuskowski, IRS Enrolled Agent and Founder of Cobalt Tax Services Making the leap from employee to franchise owner means more than swapping a paycheck for a P&L — it means rethinking how you find business, manage cash flow, and structure your company from day one. In this episode of From A to Franchisee, host Michelle Rowan sits down with Paul Kluskowski, an IRS enrolled agent and founder of Cobalt Tax Services, who's built his practice around serving Snap-on Tools franchisees and other franchise business owners. Paul shares how he discovered his niche almost by accident, why entity structure decisions can make or break your first year, and why buying into an existing client base often beats starting from zero. He and Michelle dig into the mindset shift every new owner faces, the real cost of getting comfortable with discomfort, and the one question he wishes more prospective franchisees would ask before signing on the dotted line: what does failure actually cost? Whether you're weighing your first franchise purchase or already running one, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at what it really takes to protect — and grow — what you earn. Resources S1E22: The Pros and Cons of Buying an Existing Franchise Should You Buy An Existing Franchise?Top Considerations for Transferring a Franchise BusinessWhat to Expect in Your First Year As a Franchisee — also covers cash flow/budgeting, ties in well with Paul's checkbook-buffer adviceS1E9: Understanding the Franchise Disclosure Document Local Leader Transforms Wichita Falls Staffing Scene Through Spherion Franchise Ownership Hiring a Franchise Accountant – Is It Worth It? How to Prepare for Franchise Financing Before Making the LeapTrends in Franchise FinancingConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Which Franchises Can Weather a Downturn? FBR's 2026 Recession-Resistant List With economic uncertainty on everyone's mind, Michelle Rowan sits down with Allison Dudas to unpack Franchise Business Review's 2026 list of the Top 50 Recession-Resistant Franchises. Built from survey data on nearly 29,000 franchisees across 330 brands, the list highlights companies positioned to hold steady — or even grow — when consumers start tightening their budgets. Michelle and Allison break down the criteria behind the rankings, share standout examples from senior care to mobile food concepts, and count down this year's top 10. How FBR defines "recession-resistant" (and why it's different from "recession-proof")The five criteria used to build the list, from essential services to investment-to-revenue ratiosStandout categories: senior care, child education, and B2B outsourcingFranchisee satisfaction data comparing this list to FBR's overall benchmarkThe countdown: this year's Top 10 recession-resistant franchisesResources List: Top Recession-Resistant Franchises of 2026Listen: Founder of Kona IceWatch: From Teacher to FASTSIGNS FranchiseeListen: Conversation with a Mathnasium FranchiseeListen: How To Spot a Recession-Resistant FranchiseRead: What's the Best Recession-Resistant Franchise to Invest InRead: Starting a Business In A Recession? 5 Things You Need To Know  Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review Guests; Toni King and Audrey Ryder, Multi-Unit Franchisees from YogaSix Two elite athletes. One shared love of yoga. Seven studios and counting. On this episode of From A to Franchisee, host Michelle Rowan talks with Audrey Ryder and Toni King about trading a rowing career and a black belt in Taekwondo for life as YogaSix franchise owners. They walk through how they picked YogaSix over other franchise options, the due diligence process that nearly sent them down a different path (including a tip involving Undercover Boss), and how they've split roles, scaled to multiple states, and leaned on a tight-knit owner network to grow. Plus: what's actually trending in boutique fitness right now, and their honest advice for couples thinking about going into business together. Topics covered: From Olympic-level athletics to franchise ownershipVetting a franchise: the due diligence questions that matter mostSplitting the workload as co-ownersScaling from one studio to seven across three statesWhat franchisor support should look like for multi-unit ownersBoutique fitness trends: community, flexibility, and consistencyReal talk on running a business with your spouseConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Michelle is joined by multi-unit Taco John's franchisee Tamra Kennedy to discuss whether the American Franchise Act is good for franchisees. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Watch on YouTube Summary This episode explores the American Franchise Act and why it matters for franchisees, franchisors, and anyone considering franchise ownership. Tam Kennedy shares her decades of experience in franchising, offering clear insight into the joint employer debate, the importance of franchisee support, and why transparency, trust, and strong brand standards are essential for long-term success. Resources Read: The International Franchise Association offers its support to the American Franchise ActCongress: HR 5267 Info And Status  Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail From a scrappy startup to the top of Franchise Business Review's satisfaction rankings for over a decade, Kona Ice founder Tony Lamb has cracked the code on franchising. He joins Franchise Business Review's founder Eric Stites to break down the real numbers behind mobile franchising and why he still obsesses over franchisee happiness. You won't want to miss this founder-to-founder conversation. Resources The Top 200 Franchises of 2026Kona Ice's Franchisee Satisfaction ReportTravelin' Tom's Franchisee  Satisfaction ReportOwn A Kona IceOwn A Travelin' Tom's Coffee TruckWho Is Franchise Business Review  Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review Guest: Allison Dudas, Senior Marketing Manager of Franchise Business Review What makes a franchise truly innovative, and how can you tell before you invest? Michelle and Allison Dudas break down FBR's 50 Most Innovative Franchises of 2026 and reveal the signals that separate forward-thinking brands from the rest. They unpack the data behind the list, including why 96% of franchisees would recommend their brand, why innovation and creativity scores run 41% higher than benchmark, and why trust in franchisor leadership is 27% higher among these standout systems. If you are researching franchise opportunities, especially one with strong technology, support, and room to grow, this episode gives you a sharper way to evaluate what is actually happening behind the brand.You'll discover what innovation really looks like in franchising - from product and service development to operational efficiency, marketing, employee training, flexibility, customer experience, and feedback loops that drive improvement. Michelle and Allison use real examples from several brands to show how innovation shows up in the real world. They also share the questions every prospective franchisee should ask the corporate team and current owners before signing anything: How do they roll out new tech? How do they respond when something fails? How do they use franchisee feedback to improve? Those answers can tell you whether a brand is built to adapt or just built to repeat. Essential listening if you want to buy a franchise that fits your personality, your goals, and your appetite for change - or if you want the confidence to spot a system that will keep evolving with the market. Resources Listen: How To Spot A Recession-Resistant FranchiseListen: The American Franchise Act: Is It Good For Franchisees?The Most Innovative Franchises of 2026Read: Can A Proven System Still Be Innovative?Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode, Michelle Rowan and Paul Pickett delve into the essential traits that define a successful franchisee. Drawing from decades of experience, Paul shares his expertise on the importance of aligning with a brand’s culture, mission, and values. They discuss the critical role of emotional intelligence, team-building, and a growth mindset in achieving long-term success. Tune in to discover how focusing on customer relationships and community engagement can lead to thriving franchise ownership. Whether you’re considering franchising or looking to enhance your current business, this episode offers valuable guidance and inspiration. Resources 10 Steps to Franchise OwnershipFrom Values to Victory: How Culture Drives Franchise Strength10 Questions to Ask FranchisorsVeteran Franchise Story: Marine Corps to Wild Birds UnlimitedWild Birds Unlimited Franchise OpportunityTop Franchises in CultureVideo: 5 Key Steps to Owning a FranchiseConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Host: Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review Guest: Mark Jameson, Franchise Development Officer, Propelled Brands Thinking about buying a franchise in today’s market? Before you invest, learn how to identify franchise models designed to withstand economic volatility. Michelle Rowan and franchise executive Mark Jameson break down the traits of recession-resistant franchise systems, the questions candidates should ask during due diligence, and how strong franchisors support owners through uncertainty. *Propelled Brands did NOT sponsor this episode. But their brand, FASTSIGNS, does appear on our Recession-Resistant Franchises list and is worth checking out. Resources List: Top Recession-Resistant Franchises (according to survey data)Read: Starting a Business in a Recession? Five Things You Need To KnowRead: Best Recession-Resistant Business to Invest InWatch: A Thriving Family FASTSIGNS Business (great discussion about how they adjusted during Covid)Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Most franchise opportunities promise stability — but few are as resilient and rewarding as the commercial cleaning sector. In this episode, Allison Dudas dives into the booming world of cleaning and maintenance, revealing how this essential industry is not only recession-resistant but also a hidden goldmine for entrepreneurs willing to manage people, build relationships, and implement proven systems. Learn why the janitorial sector is projected to hit $112 billion by 2026, and how COVID skyrocketed its stature from essential service to critical partner in business continuity. Guest Paul Masters from Anago shares his eye-opening journey from skeptical newcomer to thriving master franchisee, illustrating how recurring revenue and diverse industries—ranging from chocolate manufacturing to jet engine repairs—make cleaning a uniquely scalable and stable business. You'll uncover: The core differences between master franchisees and traditional franchise owners, and how they generate multiple streams of income with minimal overhead.Key operational strategies that keep franchisees engaged and successful, from proactive quality inspections to exceptional customer communication.The real factors behind income disparities in the sector, and what it takes to scale your franchise to six figures and beyond.Why managing relationships and systems—more than just labor—drives job satisfaction, retention, and growth.Who this model fits best—and who should probably steer clear. This episode is perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs, franchise veterans, or anyone seeking a recession-resistant business with high satisfaction and scalability. If you're ready to uncover a robust, often overlooked industry that offers both stability and significant earning potential, this conversation with Paul Masters will change how you see the cleaning sector—and your future in franchising.  Resources Download the Free Cleaning & Maintenance Sector ReportExplore other franchise industry reportsList: Top Recession-Resistant Franchise BrandsRead: Sub-franchising, Master Franchisees, and Multi-Unit Area Developers: What You Need to KnowConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we announce our Most Profitable Franchises of 2026. We name 50 franchise brands in this list whose franchisees report higher earnings than the average. No brand can pay to be on this list! They are on it because of their high franchisee satisfaction scores thanks to FBR's market research.  This episode breaks down the characteristics of the most profitable brands of the year and what you should pay attention to when doing your franchise buying research.  Resources Most Profitable Franchises of 2026Read: How to Find and Compare the Most Profitable Franchise BrandsListen: The Pros and Cons of Buying an Existing FranchiseListen: Announcing the Top 200 Franchises of 2026Listen: How Much Money Can You Make Owning A Franchise?Listen: Consider an Exit Strategy Before You Invest in a FranchiseRead: Researching Franchises? How to Use FBR's DataConnect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Host: Allison Dudas, Senior Manager of B2C Marketing at FBR Guest: Jill Kesler, Franchisee of Fish Window Cleaning This episode delves into the 2026 Women In Franchising Trends Report. It features Allison Dudas as the host and Jill Kesler, a franchisee from Fish Window Cleaning, as the guest. They discuss the increasing role of women in franchising, highlighting that women now own about a third of all franchises. Jill shares her journey from a career in sales and marketing to owning a Fish Window Cleaning franchise, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance and strategic planning. The discussion also covers financial aspects, such as using SBA loans and personal financing, and offers advice for women considering franchising. The episode concludes with insights into the benefits of networking and understanding one's strengths in business. *Download the FREE 2026 Women in Franchising Report Resources Read: The Pros and Cons of Working with A Franchise BrokerRead: 5 Ways Franchising Offers Work Life BalanceRead: 9 Small Business Grants for Female EntrepreneursRead: Female Franchise Owners Rank the Top Franchises to Own in 2026List: Top Franchises for WomenSector Report: Women In Franchising 2026Listen: The Rise of Female Franchisees Connect with Us: Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com Follow us on Instagram, @franchisebusinessreview Subscribe to our newsletter Check us out on YouTube, @FranchiseBusinessReview Connect with us on LinkedIn