Founder Talk with Alex Sheridan

Hosted by Alex Sheridan

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Founder Talk Podcast. The show where we have real conversations with founders turning their businesses into assets, not jobs! The show is hosted by Alex B Sheridan founder of Impaxs Marketing and Podcast Builders. If you want honest conversation, practical insight, and a community of founders who are actually doing the work to build a business that runs without them, you are in the right place!

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October 21, 2026Episode 1291 hr 16 min

60% of Restaurants Fail in 3 Years. What One Owner With 2,800 Reviews Does Differently | Nick Smith

A film school graduate who wrote and directed a horror movie now runs a restaurant with nearly 2,800 Google reviews, and he says the math is already against you before you start. In this episode, Nick Smith, founder of The Old Republic Kitchen and Bar in Elgin and the writer and director of Munger Road, explains how passion starts a business, how break even math, value, and consistency keep it alive, and how a 2020 drive-in movie night sold out in eight minutes. Founders will learn which number to check before taking on any project, why customers who say you are too expensive have a value problem, and what makes a business last. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:23 Q: How do you choose a business idea when you are starting with no money? A: Nick Smith explains that he asked what the best business decision would be before making a movie, then picked the horror thriller genre for its built-in audience instead of a love story that would need a star. 00:32:42 Q: What business realities come with making an independent movie? A: Nick Smith says every movie is basically a corporation, with taxes, accounting, copyrights, insurance, and payroll, and an investment that has to pay off. 00:39:11 Q: What does it take to make a business last? A: Nick Smith says "make it last" is his mantra, and that it can be equally or even more difficult to make a business last, especially for a second generation, than to build it. 00:47:44 Q: How do restaurants avoid failing in the first few years? A: Nick Smith says to do the math before you do anything, check the weekly break even sales, and stay conservative with your sales assumptions. 00:53:12 Q: Are your prices too high, or do you have a value problem? A: Nick Smith says if customers leave feeling a place was overpriced, that is a value issue, not a pricing issue, and the staff culture behind the product is part of that value. 01:04:13 Q: How can a business survive a crisis like COVID? A: Nick Smith says his team stopped waiting for the phone to ring, launched five items for five dollars until five, and later added a drive-in movie night that sold out in eight minutes. If you want to build a business that lasts, this conversation is a playbook. Subscribe to Founder Talk for more conversations with founders building businesses that last. 🔗 CONNECT WITH Nick Smith Old Republic [Kitchen + Bar] Website: https://www.oldrepublicbar.com/ The Old Republic Kitchen and Bar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldrepublickitchenbar/ The Old Republic Kitchen and Bar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldrepublicbar Smith's Prime (opening soon): https://www.facebook.com/smithsprimesteak/ https://www.instagram.com/smithsprimesteak/ Munger Road (streaming on Amazon Prime): https://www.amazon.com/Munger-Road-Nicholas-Smith/dp/B0DJDBBHWB If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

October 15, 2026Episode 1281 hr 10 min

A 30-Year-Old Firm Plateaued for 25 Years. One Change Put It on the Inc. 5000 | Brian Smith

A business advisor whose firm keeps growing at 200 percent a year says the fastest way to grow is to slow down. In this episode, Brian Smith, founder of IA Business Advisors, returns to Founder Talk to explain why he pushed back on investors who wanted to scale in two or three years, and how SOPs and delegation let him step back from the day to day. Founders will learn how to introduce SOPs without overwhelming a team, how to listen to feedback without getting triggered, and why the best advisors warn clients about the disruption before the work begins. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:07:18 Q: Should you take investor money if it forces fast scaling? A: Brian Smith explains that his firm wants to grow before it scales, and that rushing doesn't work in a human-centric business. 00:11:38 Q: How do you build a business that runs without you? A: Brian Smith says to build structure, policies, and SOPs around you, not below or above you, so key people can carry the ball. 00:14:58 Q: Are founders happier on vacation or working in the business? A: Brian Smith says he wasn't happier. After about four hours of work in three weeks, he would have preferred more, because solving problems is his routine. 00:20:39 Q: How do you learn to delegate and trust your team? A: Brian Smith recommends asking for honest observations and listening to what you're hearing, not what you're feeling. 00:25:51 Q: How do you roll out SOPs without overwhelming the business? A: Brian Smith says to explain why, implement in layers, start where friction is highest, and then stop. 00:30:35 Q: How do you spot a consulting firm that will not deliver? A: Brian Smith says run from advisors who promise to solve everything and never name the disruption or the client hours required. 00:39:11 Q: Should you blame contractors when they let a customer down? A: Brian Smith says a failure like the DoorDash order left at a bathroom usually traces to missing support and a broken SOP, and that excuses about contractors may mean you are in the wrong business. If you want a business you can eventually step back from, this conversation is a roadmap. Subscribe to Founder Talk for more conversations with founders building businesses that last. 🔗 CONNECT WITH Brian Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/influenceauthor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/influenceauthor/ IA Business Advisors LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ia-business-advisors/ IA Business Advisors Website: https://iabusinessadvisors.com/ The I in Team Series™ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-i-in-teams/ The I in Team Series™ Website: https://www.theiinteamseries.com/ Previous episode with Brian Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VBZSyBbYdk If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/ #FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

October 10, 2026Episode 1271 hr 20 min

You’re Building Your Brand Wrong. Here's What Actually Works. | Chris McClurg

A branding expert who ran marketing for 3M walked away with one rule that most small businesses ignore: if your brand isn't driving revenue, it's not a brand, it's a hobby. In this episode, Chris McClurg, CEO and Owner of Jim Henry, Inc., breaks down what a brand actually is, why copying big-company playbooks backfires for small and medium businesses, and why proof beats promise every single time. Founders will learn how to spot brand-building that pays off versus brand-building that just drains the bank account, why a logo is the smallest part of a real brand, and why a personal brand only counts as an asset if it can survive without you in the room. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:21 Q: Why does big-company marketing advice fail when small businesses try to copy it? A: Chris McClurg explains that big brands have the time, scale, and resources to build brand for brand's sake, while a small business has to make sure brand-building still drives revenue, or the pocketbook runs dry. 00:06:11 Q: What is a brand, really, beyond a logo? A: Chris McClurg defines brand as how a business makes people think, feel, and do, using an HVAC company most people have never heard of to show why trust matters more than visual identity. 00:09:18 Q: How do you actually build a brand instead of just claiming one? A: Chris McClurg argues you can't manufacture a brand, you can only plant the seeds. Proof, delivering real results customers talk about, beats promise-heavy marketing every time. 00:29:12 Q: Why can Alex Hormozi charge premium prices for his products? A: Chris McClurg explains it isn't popularity, it's the brand and trust Hormozi has built, and why diversifying the faces behind that brand protects it long term. 00:32:27 Q: Does building a personal brand actually make a business money? A: Alex Sheridan and Chris McClurg discuss the real test for a personal brand: does it generate revenue within six months, and does it build brand equity long term, not just ego. 00:44:54 Q: Why do most marketing channels fail to produce results? A: Chris McClurg says founders spread themselves too thin across too many channels instead of doubling down on the one that's already proven it can get a return. 00:49:56 Q: Are traditional marketing funnels dead in the age of AI search? A: Chris McClurg explains the funnel hasn't disappeared, it moved inside each piece of content, and why a business website may already be less important than founders think. If you've ever wondered whether your brand is actually working for you or just costing you money, this conversation with Chris McClurg will change how you think about every dollar you spend on marketing. 🔗 CONNECT WITH Chris McClurg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealchrismcclurg/ If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/ #FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

October 6, 2026Episode 12653 min

This Founder Grew from 0 to $20 Million in 3 Years. Then, He Met Alex Hormozi. | Drew Collom

A solar company went from $0 to $20 million in three years, and the biggest thing standing in the way past $10 million wasn't the market. It was the founder himself. In this episode, Drew Collom, founder of Quality Solar, breaks down how paying for outside mentorship with Alex Hormozi, building a real leadership team, and finally letting go of control took the bottleneck out of his own company. He also gets honest about the family cost of the grind, and why his perfectionism was really just a control problem in disguise. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:37 Q: Is it worth paying for expensive business mentorship? A: Drew Collom says most people he tells about his mentorship with Alex Hormozi have never heard of him, but the relationship gave him a financial blueprint toward $50 million and helped him identify the one or two real bottlenecks holding his company back. 00:06:48 Q: Why don't friends and family understand what founders are building? A: Drew Collom explains that even the people closest to him rarely understand what he's trying to accomplish, which is why he leans on other entrepreneurs striving toward the same thing instead. 00:09:36 Q: How do you know your business doesn't need you every day anymore? A: Drew Collom describes the moment his leadership team handled a major stretch of fires without him, which let him shift from working in the business to working on it. 00:31:13 Q: How volatile is the solar industry for founders right now? A: Drew Collom lists disappearing tax credits, lenders going out of business, and sudden panel and racking changes, and says survival comes down to reading and reacting faster than competitors. 00:36:30 Q: Is perfectionism actually helping or hurting your business? A: Drew Collom admits his perfectionism is really a control problem, since he used to redo his team's work himself instead of teaching them why something went wrong. 00:42:54 Q: Why do so many founders avoid asking for help? A: Drew Collom says ego convinces founders that hiring outside help means admitting failure, when it actually takes real humility to be vulnerable in front of a mentor. 00:49:47 Q: How do successful founders protect family time from the grind? A: Drew Collom sets a hard personal cutoff, rarely working past 10 p.m., and focuses on being fully present with his family in the hours he does have with them. If your business can't run without you, or you're still trying to figure everything out alone, this conversation has the roadmap for what to change first. 🔗 CONNECT WITH DREW COLLOM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-collom-ai/ Website: http://qualitysolarepc.com/ If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/ #FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast #AlexHormozi

October 1, 2026Episode 1251 hr 8 min

This 4X Founder with 2 SUCCESSFUL EXITS Reveals Why You Don't Have to Be the Best | Ron Graziano

A founder who's already sold two companies breaks down the one test that decided whether each one was actually an asset, or just a very well-disguised job he couldn't leave. Ron Graziano, founder of ImpactFlow and creator of LeadIntelPro.AI, walks through what he learned building and exiting a landscaping company (2001–2011) and a martial arts school (2017–2024): the difference between a business a buyer actually wants and a job wearing a business's name. He also shows how he uses AI, transparently, to move faster without losing the human trust that closes a sale. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:01 Q: What actually separates founders who survive a crisis from those who don’t? A: Ron Graziano says it comes down to one instinct: whether you pivot and adapt, or freeze when the business gets hit. 00:15:46 Q: What actually determines the value of a business when you sell it? A: Ron Graziano explains that buyers pay for human capital and branded assets that survive the founder leaving, not for the founder’s personal effort. 00:16:48 Q: What’s the real difference between being the best and being known? A: Ron Graziano argues best known beats best — you can be the top choice in your field and still lose the sale if nobody knows you exist. 00:22:40 Q: How do you know if you own a business or just a very demanding job? A: Ron Graziano says the test is simple: if the tasks rely on you to do them every day, you don’t own a business, you own a job. 00:39:12 Q: What’s the first step toward building a business you could actually sell? A: Ron Graziano’s first rule: put yourself on a real W2 salary, no matter how uncomfortable that feels early on. 00:50:53 Q: What makes a marketing guarantee actually mean something? A: Ron Graziano describes his agency’s policy: if a deadline is missed due to their own fault, the client doesn’t pay, no matter the invoice size. 01:00:41 Q: Is it safe to let AI handle customer-facing conversations? A: Ron Graziano explains why his AI agents always disclose themselves as AI, citing a Harvard Business School study where that honesty still raised bookings 48%. If you've ever wondered whether your business would survive being sold tomorrow, or whether it's actually just a job with better branding, this conversation has the test. 🔗 CONNECT WITH RON GRAZIANO LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-graziano-ppg/ Website: https://impactflowhq.com/ 📚 Grab Ron's book: Finding a Way to Yes: A Culture Powered by an Abundance Mindset and High-Velocity Execution, by Ron Graziano — https://us.amazon.com/stores/Ron-Graziano/author/B0H8KN4VZ5?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/ #FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

September 26, 2026Episode 1241 hr 3 min

How To Turn Your Business Into An ASSET (and NOT Just Another Job!) | Tim Regan

Tim Regan spent years selling other people's financial products before realizing he wasn't running a business — he was just good at a job. Then he broke out on his own, built PrairieView Wealth & Tax Advisors into a multi-location firm, and started buying up accounting practices to grow faster. In this episode, Tim Regan, founder and CEO of PrairieView Wealth & Tax Advisors, joins Alex Sheridan to break down what it takes to build a business that can run without you, and how founders should really be thinking about building personal wealth instead of just chasing the next exit. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:16:54 Q: Why is it so hard for founders to take a big financial risk? A: Tim Regan says it's easy to take a risk with nothing to lose, but comfort becomes the obstacle once you have something. His mantra: abundance always trumps scarcity. 00:23:25 Q: What's the hardest part of scaling a business past the founder? A: Tim Regan shares that the real challenge isn't one dramatic failure, it's quiet drift — small standards slip the moment he steps away, which is why finding the right person in the right seat matters most. 00:29:48 Q: How do you know if your company culture is actually working? A: Tim Regan suggests asking your own team to describe the culture back to you. If they can't say it clearly, it isn't intentional yet, and it's quietly costing you sales too. 00:44:16 Q: What does it mean to build a business as an asset instead of a job? A: Tim Regan explains that most entrepreneurs' biggest asset is their business, but it only counts as an asset if it can run without them. 00:47:26 Q: What should founders do differently before selling their business? A: Tim Regan explains that most owners spend decades minimizing profit to save on taxes, then are surprised their exit multiple is based on that same number. 00:49:19 Q: What is the simplest way for an entrepreneur to actually build wealth? A: Tim Regan says it comes down to one habit: spend less than you earn and put the difference into something that goes up. Tim Regan makes the case that the businesses worth building are the ones that outgrow their founder — and that real wealth is built with intention, not hoped for after an exit. 🔗 CONNECT WITH TIM REGAN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-regan-cfp-chfc-86407668/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prairieview-wealth-tax/ Website: https://www.pv-wp.com/ 📚 Grab Tim's book: Shatter Your Fishbowl: Live Your Two-Comma Life®, by Tim Regan — https://www.amazon.com/Shatter-Your-Fishbowl-Two-Comma-Life%C2%AE/dp/1967575274 If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/ #FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

September 18, 2026Episode 1231 hr 6 min

Could AI really coach your business better than a real coach would? We put it to the test.

In a rare live experiment, Alex Sheridan brings in a business coach, Rick Lochner, and Claude AI at the same time, using his own business as the test case, to compare what each one gets right and wrong about building a business into an asset instead of a job. Rick Lochner, founder of RPC Leadership Associates, has coached executives, small business owners, and nonprofit leaders for decades. In this episode he goes head-to-head, in real time, with Claude AI as Alex Sheridan tries to grow Podcast Builders from $5 million to $10 million in revenue at 50% margins. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction Here's how the coaching conversation actually unfolds: [00:08:26] Start with purpose, not the goal. Rick Lochner opens by asking why Alex wants to grow at all, before any numbers come up. [00:23:02] Claude AI skips straight to the numbers, asking for revenue, client count, and average contract value first. [00:45:59] Claude AI maps the growth engine: contract value, growth model, and where clients actually come from. [00:46:44] Alex catches Claude skipping positioning, and it corrects itself on the spot. [00:54:51] Rick Lochner reframes the real question behind selling a business: what would actually let you walk away. If you've ever wondered whether your business is quietly becoming a job you can't step away from, or been tempted to let AI do the thinking a real coach should be doing, this episode will change how you look at both. 🔗 CONNECT WITH RICK LOCHNER LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricklochner/ RPC Leadership Associates (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/rpc-leadership-associates-inc./ Website: https://rpcleadershipassociates.com/ 📚 Grab Rick's book: The Missing Piece: Achieving Sustainable Success Through Business Alignment, by Rick Lochner — https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Piece-Achieving-Sustainable-Alignment/dp/0615670555 If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/ #FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

September 12, 2026Episode 1221 hr 7 min

Real Estate Is Quietly Outperforming Your Stock Portfolio Right Now. Here’s Why

Partners in Mortgage survived the 2008 housing crash by staying deliberately small, tried paid advertising exactly once, and has grown ever since almost entirely through referrals. Alex Sheridan sits down with all three partners behind Partners in Mortgage: founder Chris Schejbal, and current partners Joe Spero and Sam Noffs. They talk about why the company has deliberately never grown past a small team, the one paid ad campaign that famously flopped, how referrals have carried the business ever since, and why they believe real estate quietly outperforms the stock market as an investment. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:08:57 Q: How did staying a small company help a mortgage business survive the 2008 housing crash? A: Chris Schejbal explains that because Partners in Mortgage never grew past a small team, they were able to pivot and stay open through 2008 instead of laying people off or closing their doors like bigger competitors did. 00:23:05 Q: Does advertising actually work for a small mortgage business? A: Chris Schejbal says paid advertising never worked for Partners in Mortgage. The one time they tried a money-mailer campaign, the only response they got back turned out to be a family member, so the company has grown almost entirely through referrals ever since. 00:26:16 Q: How much money can a mortgage broker actually save a client compared to a big bank? A: Joe Spero says the average savings works out to about $10,000 per client, largely because a broker only gets paid when the loan actually closes. 00:48:03 Q: Is real estate a better investment than the stock market? A: Sam Noffs argues real estate wins because of leverage, letting an investor put down a fraction of a property's value and still capture the full appreciation plus any rental income. 00:55:31 Q: Why is it harder to buy a first home today than it was 20 years ago? A: Sam Noffs and Joe Spero say home prices have appreciated faster than wages for years, pushing the average first-time homebuyer's age up to 38. If you've ever assumed you need to advertise to grow, or that the stock market is the smarter place to put your money, this episode will make you rethink both. 🔗 CONNECT WITH Partners in Mortgage Joe Spero (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-spero-a263a552/ Sam Noffs (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-noffs/ Chris Schejbal (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-schejbal-68640434/ Partners in Mortgage (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/partners-in-mortgage Website: https://www.partnersinmortgage.com/ If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/ #FounderTalk #EntrepreneurPodcast #StartupPodcast

September 8, 2026Episode 12159 min

Why This $10,000 Franchise Beats Multi-Million Dollar Competitors | Julian Good

Julian Good runs a Chick-fil-A that pulls in roughly $8 million a year, stays closed every Sunday, and can't be sold or passed down to his kids. Alex Sheridan talks with Julian Good, owner and operator of Chick-fil-A St. Charles, about the $10,000 franchise fee, the 15% Chick-fil-A takes off revenue, and why the operator model looks nothing like any other franchise. They also get into Chick-fil-A's two-sentence corporate purpose, why automation can quietly gut a business built on people, and what Julian eats to stay lean working in fast food six days a week. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:13:26 Q: How much does it cost to start a Chick-fil-A franchise? A: Julian Good says the franchise fee is $10,000, unchanged in 50 years, and operators can't sell or pass down the business when they retire. 00:16:18 Q: How much does the average Chick-fil-A location make per year? A: Julian Good says average volume runs around $8 million a year, more than double a typical McDonald's, despite being closed on Sundays. 00:18:02 Q: How much of a Chick-fil-A operator's profit does the company take? A: Julian Good says Chick-fil-A takes 15% of revenue, cutting a typical 30% restaurant margin roughly in half. 00:26:38 Q: What is Chick-fil-A's corporate purpose? A: Julian Good explains it in two sentences: to glorify God and have a positive influence on everyone the company touches, and says it drives every executive decision. 00:44:26 Q: Why hasn't Chick-fil-A joined the tipflation trend? A: Julian Good says Chick-fil-A has stayed out of prompting customers to tip 20 to 30% at the counter, unlike most quick service chains. If you've ever wondered how Chick-fil-A actually works behind the counter, this episode breaks it down. 🔗 CONNECT WITH Julian Good LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpgood/ Instagram (Chick-fil-A St. Charles): https://www.instagram.com/cfa_stc/ Facebook (Chick-fil-A St. Charles): https://www.facebook.com/p/Chick-fil-A-St-Charles-IL-61564404151701/ If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/

September 3, 2026Episode 1201 hr 11 min

This Founder Built a Brand So Unique, Customers Travel Hours Just to Experience It | Matthew Gerard

A former SWAT cop who hates gun shops bought a 100-year-old bank and built one of the most creative firearms businesses in the country. In this episode of Founder Talk, Alex Sheridan sits down with Matthew Gerard, founder of Down Range CC in Rochelle, Illinois. From John Wick-style tastings inside a historic bank vault to challenge coins that replace business cards, Matthew is building an experience-driven brand in a lower income town that pulls customers from miles away. Key takeaways: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:36 Q: How do you build a unique business in a traditional industry like firearms retail? A: Matthew Gerard explains that he hated the standard gun shop model, so he designed his store around education and premium experiences rather than volume sales. The building itself, a historic 1908 bank with an original vault, became the centerpiece of a completely different customer experience. 00:36:35 Q: How do you market a luxury product in a lower income area? A: Matthew Gerard spends as little time in his shop as possible and instead goes to golf outings and Chamber of Commerce events in wealthier surrounding towns. He gets in front of people with money rather than waiting for them to find him. 00:40:10 Q: Why are women the fastest growing market in firearms and how should gun shops respond? A: Matthew Gerard notes that most gun shops are not female friendly and default to handing women a small pink gun. Down Range has offered ladies-only classes for years and designs every element of the store experience to be welcoming regardless of gender. 00:55:04 Q: How do you market a firearms business when social media platforms shadow ban gun content? A: Matthew Gerard discovered that Facebook monitors the first 30 seconds of live streams. He opens every stream with "Welcome to the Down Range Natural History Museum" to bypass the filter, then transitions to gun sales content. The hack worked so well that Facebook is now paying him for engagement. 01:00:01 Q: Why is firearms training so critical even if you already own a gun? A: Matthew Gerard compares most gun owners to Linus from Peanuts carrying a security blanket. The gun makes them feel safe but they have never trained under stress. Down Range uses force-on-force training with airsoft to simulate real threat scenarios. 🔗 CONNECT WITH Matthew Gerard Website: https://www.downrangecc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gerard-8776ab270/ If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠ If you want to start a podcast that helps you win clients and become the go-to brand in your industry, Podcast Builders can help! https://podcastbuilders.com/ Podcast Builders is a podcast production and strategy company based in St. Charles, Illinois that helps founder-led B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. The company provides podcast strategy, studio production, editing, and distribution services for businesses across the western Chicago suburbs including St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elgin, and more. Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH Founder Talk YT: https://www.youtube.com/@FounderTalkPodcasts LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founder-talk-podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@founder.talk.podcasts IG: https://www.instagram.com/founder_talk_podcast FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Founder-Talk-Podcast/61578199783458/