I spent more than 20 years as an executive recruiter before I became a franchise matchmaker. So when someone in their 50s or 60s tells me they've been out of work for 8 months after a layoff, I'm not guessing at what's happening. I sat on the other side of that table. Here's the truth […]
I just spoke with a professional who came to me with one franchise already picked out. He'd done his research, talked to owners, and watched the videos. There was just one problem. It wasn't even close to the best fit for him. He came to me with a quick-serve restaurant concept already locked in. Like […]
I got off a call last week with a retired Army officer who's exploring business ownership. He walked in the way most people do… curious, but with no real way to know which direction to even start looking. That's where I come in. I brought 37 franchise categories to the table, and we worked through […]
Quick question before we start. When you spend money at a coffee shop, where does that money actually go? Most people assume the answer doesn't matter. A chain is a chain, right? Not even close. Here's the split most people never know Some brands are "corporate" through and through. Every location, the one on Main […]
I was working with a woman exploring a staffing franchise. She was deciding between two solid paths: buy an existing, proven territory or start fresh with a brand-new one. Then, mid-conversation, she landed on what felt like a brilliant third option: "Keith, why not do both? Buy the existing territory and expand into a new […]
Most families come to me with a list. And somewhere on that list is a category they've already crossed off without a second thought. Home services. Too unglamorous, too hands-on, not the kind of thing either of you went to business school for. Meanwhile, it keeps outperforming nearly everything else I work with. In 5 […]
When most people start exploring franchises, the first thing they do is reach for names they recognize. McDonald's. Subway. Chick-Fil-A. Safe, familiar, and proven. But here's what that instinct is actually telling you - you're shopping by brand recognition, not by fit. And in franchising, that's one of the most expensive mistakes you can make. […]
There's a pattern I see in almost every first conversation with a serious prospect. Before we've talked about their goals, their finances, or what kind of life they want to build, they've already crossed half the franchise world off their list. No food. No cleaning. No pest control. Definitely not painting. I get it. These […]
Here's a conversation I've had more times than I can count. I present a candidate with a strong franchise opportunity - solid unit economics, a growing category, and a proven system. They do a quick Google Maps search, spot a few similar businesses nearby, and say: "There's already a lot of competition in my area. […]
Most executives are sitting on a huge advantage that they often overlook. Over their years of experience, they've acquired all the skills required to run a business successfully But I hear the same worry almost every week: "Keith, I've never run a service business." "I don't know the first thing about home services." "How can […]
I spent more than 20 years as an executive recruiter before I became a franchise matchmaker. So when someone in their 50s or 60s tells me they've been out of work for 8 months after a layoff, I'm not guessing at what's happening. I sat on the other side of that table. Here's the truth […]
I just spoke with a professional who came to me with one franchise already picked out. He'd done his research, talked to owners, and watched the videos. There was just one problem. It wasn't even close to the best fit for him. He came to me with a quick-serve restaurant concept already locked in. Like […]
I got off a call last week with a retired Army officer who's exploring business ownership. He walked in the way most people do… curious, but with no real way to know which direction to even start looking. That's where I come in. I brought 37 franchise categories to the table, and we worked through […]
