We Bought A Franchise!

Hosted by Jack Johnson

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Jun 2026

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We Bought a Franchise – The #1 Franchise Podcast by Real Franchise Owners The top franchise podcast where actual franchise owners reveal what really works in franchise ownership. If you're researching how to buy a franchise or evaluating franchise opportunities, this is your unfiltered source. HOSTED BY REAL FRANCHISE OWNERS Jack and Jill Johnson — certified franchise consultants who've actually owned franchises. Jack built a home care franchise to 100+ units and sold it to private equity. He's guided 600+ clients to franchise ownership and $100M+ in transactions. Every episode features real operators: - Jack & Jill Johnson – Former franchise owners, certified consultants - David San Juan – Pink's Windows franchise owner - Brian Gross – Former Art of Drawers franchisee, CFP - Morgan Noller & Kathryn Allen – Award-winning Soccer Stars operators - Jay & Carolina Orosa – Franchise owners with successful exit These aren't consultants reading scripts. They're owners who've hired employees, managed cash flow, and built sellable businesses. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP ✅ Best franchise opportunities by investment level ($100K-$500K+) ✅ Which categories work: home services, senior care, B2B (and why QSR/fitness often fail) ✅ How to read an FDD and spot Item 19 red flags ✅ Franchise validation strategies that reveal truth ✅ Why "passive income franchises" are myths ✅ Real profitability timelines and working capital needs ✅ Truth about franchise resales and "turnkey" traps ✅ Why private equity buys boring franchises ✅ Franchise financing: SBA loans, ROBS, HELOC ✅ Multi-unit strategies and exit planning for 3-5x EBITDA WHY WE'RE DIFFERENT Most franchise podcasts are sales pitches. We tell you "no" when needed. 🎯 Hosted by former franchise owners, not just consultants 🎯 No sugarcoating: failures and challenges included 🎯 Financial transparency: real investment numbers 🎯 Actionable advice, not motivational fluff We cover franchises under $100K to $500K+: home services (roofing, HVAC, plumbing), senior care (placement, home care), B2B services, food/restaurant franchises, fitness franchises. WHO SHOULD LISTEN? ✔️ First-time franchise buyers researching opportunities ✔️ Corporate executives exploring franchise ownership ✔️ Professionals with $150K-$2M+ evaluating investments ✔️ Current franchise owners scaling operations ✔️ Anyone tired of franchise broker hype RECENT EPISODES 🎙️ Starting a Roofing Franchise With Zero Experience 🎙️ GymGuyz CEO: Scaling Mobile Fitness to 7 Countries 🎙️ How Low-Cost Franchises Build Sellable Equity 🎙️ Why Private Equity Loves Home Services Franchises SUBSCRIBE & GET RESOURCES 📱 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Google Podcasts 🔔 New franchise owner interviews every week Want personalized franchise guidance from former owners? 👉 Franchise Match Quiz: www.thefranchiseinsiders.com 📞 Text 305-710-0050 for calculators, FDD decoder, red flags checklist ✅ Guided 600+ clients to franchise ownership ✅ $100M+ in transactions advised ✅ 200+ franchise brands represented ✅ We tell you "no" when franchises aren't right We'd rather lose your business than watch you fail. Jack & Jill Johnson | The Franchise Insiders #FranchiseOwnership #BuyAFranchise #FranchisePodcast #FranchiseOpportunities #BestFranchises #HowToBuyAFranchise

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June 2, 2026Episode 1054 min

The Home Services Franchise You Run Entirely From Your Phone | Gorilla Property Services

Send us Fan MailOne of Gorilla's franchisees runs his entire business from a cruise ship in Greece — nine vans, all from his phone. That's not a gimmick. It's the model. This week the team sits down with Andrew Edwards, owner of Gorilla Property Services, to break down what might be the most overlooked home services franchise in the market: a high-tech, 100% mobile exterior cleaning and maintenance brand built on B2C and B2B recurring revenue. Gorilla bundles eight essential services — pressure washing, window and gutter cleaning, roof cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, graffiti and snow removal — into a single "one call" relationship, much of it required by insurance carriers and local bylaws. That's demand that doesn't disappear in a downturn. Andrew is the rare franchisor who's actually been a franchisee — he built and sold a business before reshaping Gorilla into a system designed to make owners better operators, not buy them a job. In this episode: The proprietary, AI-powered CRM (Gorilla Pro) that runs the whole business from a phoneWhy recurring revenue made Jack & Jill's Pinks exit sell for ~10x netThe B2B vs. B2C cash-flow balance every home services owner needs to understandWhy this model is largely insulated from AI disruptionRealistic numbers: per Gorilla's Item 19, Canadian franchisees averaged $666,233 in revenue and $162,388 in net income (Jan–Dec 2024) at a 49% gross margin. U.S. results may differ — see the FDD.Low investment, highly scalable, home-based, and VetFran-approved. If you've been waiting on BizBuySell for the "perfect business," this is the conversation that reframes the math. Some markets are already gone — Chicago, Tampa, Boca Raton. Check if yours is still open: 👉 https://www.thefranchiseinsiders.com/gorilla-property-servicesThe Franchise Insiders works with Franchise FastLane on Gorilla Property Services development. Territory availability and investment details subject to change. This is not an offer to sell a franchise. Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.

May 5, 2026Episode 938 min

The $146B ‘Boring’ Business Nobody Talks About: Why This Mobile Showroom Franchise Is Growing Fast

Send us Fan MailMost people exploring franchise ownership are looking in the same places: HVAC. Plumbing. Restaurants. The problem? That’s where everyone else is looking too. Meanwhile, there’s a $146 billion industry hiding in plain sight—fragmented, high demand, and built around a better customer experience. In this episode, we break down one of the most overlooked models in franchising: Why the flooring space continues to attract new franchise owners How a mobile showroom model changes the traditional retail approach What makes this a relationship-driven, consultative business How franchisees operate without needing prior industry experience The role of simple team structure and outsourced installation Why customer experience (not just price) is driving growth in this category And how this model compares to other popular service franchises people are chasing today Here’s the truth: Nobody grows up dreaming of owning a flooring business… But smart operators aren’t chasing what’s trendy—they’re looking for proven models, strong support, and real demand. The challenge? There are dozens of options in every category, and most won’t fit your goals, your market, or your lifestyle. That’s where guidance matters. If you’re exploring franchise ownership and want to understand how to evaluate opportunities like this the right way, this episode is a great place to start. 👉 Want help finding a franchise that fits your goals? Take our free Franchise Analyst: https://thefranchiseanalyst.com/ Or book time with us: https://calendly.com/jack-franchiseinsiders Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.

April 9, 2026Episode 841 min

From Federal Prison to Franchise Owner: The Project Lean Nation Story

Send us Fan MailWhat if a federal prison sentence was the beginning of your best chapter? That's exactly where Tim Doherty's story starts. He joins Jack and Jill Johnson on We Bought a Franchise to share how fitness became his lifeline behind bars, how shame became a mission, and how showing up for one friend with meal prep and training quietly grew into Project Lean Nation — a health and wellness franchise built on discipline, empathy, and second chances. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Project Lean Nation isn't another meal prep delivery service. Tim breaks down the "everything beyond the meal" philosophy: chef-prepared, dietitian-approved meals paired with nutrition coaching, accountability tools, and technology that transforms daily intentions into measurable results. We get into the full customer journey — the low-barrier retail entry point, the in-store consultation experience, InBody composition scanning, and a structured nutrition framework that guides real behavior change without gimmicks or pressure. For anyone exploring health and wellness franchising, we go deep on the business model too: Centralized manufacturing that eliminates kitchen complexityA lean staffing model built for scalabilityRecurring revenue through membership-based nutrition programsCommunity-first marketing that outperforms pure direct-to-consumer advertisingWe also cover why protein-forward nutrition has never mattered more — including the GLP-1/Ozempic weight loss revolution and why preserving skeletal muscle is the longevity conversation your clients are already having. This episode is for you if you're interested in: Health and wellness franchises | Healthy meal prep businesses | Franchise investing | Nutrition coaching franchises | Redemption entrepreneurship | GLP-1 and muscle health 🎙️ Subscribe for more founder stories and franchise investment deep dives. 📲 Share this with someone exploring wellness businesses or franchise ownership. ⭐ Leave a review — it helps us bring on more founders like Tim. Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.

March 22, 2026Episode 746 min

Why GLO30 Franchisees Keep Buying More Units

Send us Fan MailWhen franchisees start buying more units, that's not a marketing claim. That's a verdict. It's exactly what's happening inside GLO30 — and it's why we had to get founder Dr. Arleen Lamba on the show. GLO30 isn't a facial bar. It isn't a med spa. Dr. Lamba calls it a health club for your skin — and she ran four corporate units for 11 years before she ever sold a single franchise. Her first two franchisees weren't investors who found her on Google. They were members who moved to Florida and fought over who got to sign first. In this episode, she walks us through everything: how Gloria, GLO30's proprietary AI skin scan, measures hydration, pigment, and texture so members can actually track progress over time. How a $99 monthly Smart Glow facial adapts to your data instead of pulling from a generic menu. How a $125 Botox membership eliminates the $1,000 quarterly sticker shock. And why customers who have stayed for 13 years didn't stay because of the newest treatment — they stayed because of the system. For the franchise-minded listener, she gets specific: a lean four-to-five room footprint under 1,000 square feet, a presale model that opens studios with members already booked, and a training system you can monitor from the beach. She also makes the case for why keeping a corporate location isn't optional — it's the heartbeat of the brand. When existing franchisees are doubling down with their own money, you pay attention. This episode tells you exactly why. Subscribe, share with someone exploring franchise ownership, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. 📍 Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to get matched with the right franchise for you. 📲 Text or call us at 305-710-0050 with your questions for an upcoming episode. From your pals in franchise ownership — Jack and Jill Johnson and The Franchise Insiders team. Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.

February 18, 2026Episode 647 min

Heights Wellness Retreat CEO Shane Evans on Building a Wellness Empire

Send us Fan MailShane Evans, founder of Massage Heights turned Heights Wellness Retreat, joins Jack & Jill Johnson and the Franchise Insiders team to share how a personal health journey transformed a 100+ location massage franchise into a full-service wellness retreat featuring cryotherapy, red light therapy, infrared saunas, halotherapy, and more.Shane breaks down the brand evolution, why younger millennials and Gen Z are driving the wellness boom, how franchisees are thriving in first-year revenue with the new model, and the pre-opening membership playbook that targets 300 members before day one. Plus, hear what it was really like on Undercover Boss, why the right operator matters more than the right market, and what Shane looks for in franchise partners after 20 years of building the brand.Whether you're exploring franchise ownership or already in the game, this episode is packed with insights on scaling, culture, and riding the wellness franchise wave.🔥 Find your franchise match in under 3 minutes: https://www.thefranchiseinsiders.com/heights-wellness-retreat-franchise Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.

February 4, 2026Episode 547 min

This Protein Smoothie Franchise Is Coming for Smoothie King & Tropical Smoothie — 250 Calories, 35g Protein

Send us Fan MailThis 250-Calorie Protein Smoothie Franchise Tastes Like Ice Cream — And It's Scaling Nationwide HB Protein Smoothies is expanding fast and territories are already moving. ✅ Check territory availability: https://www.thefranchiseinsiders.com/hb-wellness-franchise 📞 Questions? Call us directly: 305-710-0050 🌐 Take the free 3-Minute Franchise Fit Quiz: www.thefranchiseinsiders.comA father-son team in Arizona spent 14 years perfecting a protein smoothie that's 250 calories, 35 grams of protein, sugar-free, gluten-free — blended with just water and ice. And customers say it tastes like ice cream.In this episode, Daniel and Ethan Boone sit down with our full team of franchise owner consultants to break down everything about HB Protein Smoothies — from the proprietary formula to why their customers come back 4-5 days a week.We cover the menu: 20+ flavors like salted caramel, banana cream pie, coffee ice cream, and chocolate peanut butter banana. A plant-based organic line for vegan and dairy-free customers. Clean energy drinks with 75mg caffeine and electrolytes. Vegan, gluten-free protein balls for grab-and-go. And healthy add-ons like creatine, PB2, chia seed, hemp seed, and vitamin C — so every shake can be tailored to weight loss, maintenance, or muscle building without blowing the macros.Daniel breaks down why protein is the single most important macronutrient most people aren't getting enough of — and why creatine isn't just for gym rats. It feeds the mitochondria, boosts ATP production, supports brain function, and is the most studied supplement on the planet. If you had a bad night's sleep, five grams of creatine first thing in the morning resets the body faster than coffee.On the business side, this is one of the most streamlined franchise models we've seen. No grease traps. No ventilation hoods. No kitchen nightmares. Just blenders, an ice machine, and a small team. The vibe inside is built for community — games, wifi, couches, and a culture where regulars are known by name. One organic TikTok about banana cream pie drove new customers for months. That's the kind of brand loyalty you can't manufacture.Dan Rowe — the same franchise operator who built Pay More into a sold-out system — sees HB as a thousand-store brand. Meanwhile, Noodles & Company just closed 36 locations and Starbucks is selling "protein drinks" packed with sugar. The market is telling you where it's going.If you're exploring wellness franchise opportunities, smoothie franchise investments, or you've been waiting for a concept that actually fits the way consumers are eating now — this is the episode.Hit follow, share with someone exploring franchise ownership, and leave a review. Tell us what flavor you'd try first.📩 Subscribe for new episodes every week — real franchise owners, no sales pitches.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.#HBProteinSmoothies #ProteinSmoothieFranchise #SmoothieFranchise #TropicalSmoothieCafe #SmoothieKing #JambaJuice #CleanJuice #FranchiseOpportunity #WellnessFranchise #ProteinShake #WeBoughtAFranchise #FranchiseInvesting #HighProtein #LowCalorie #DanRowe #Creatine #MealReplacementHB protein smoothies franchise, protein smoothie franchise opportunity, best smoothie franchise 2025, best smoothie franchise 2026, smoothie franchise cost, low calorie protein smoothie, wellness franchise, franchise investing, tropical smoothie alternative, smoothie king competitor, high protein low calorie smoothie, creatine benefits, protein meal replacement franchise, Dan Rowe franchise, healthy fast casual franchise Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.

February 3, 2026Episode 442 min

Inside the Ultimate Longevity Center: The Gary Brecka Wellness Franchise

Send us Fan MailSequel Brands is building the next generation of wellness franchises—and the team behind Club Pilates, CycleBar, StretchLab, and YogaSix is doing it again. In this episode, Chief Sales Officer Jen Cain breaks down the full Sequel portfolio, the brand-new Ultimate Longevity Center with Gary Brecka, and why this franchise model is built differently.We cover the four core brands: Pilates Addiction and its proprietary Winduformer that combines four apparatuses in a 1,500 sq ft footprint. Body20's wireless EMS training that replaces heavy weights with muscle-accelerating group sessions. iFlex Stretch Studios for daily mobility and injury prevention. And Beam Light Sauna, featuring infrared plus red, blue, and first-to-market green light therapy for cellular recovery.Then comes the big one—the Ultimate Longevity Center, created with longevity expert Gary Brecka and powered by Life Force. Three zones: the Playground (hyperbaric chambers, infrared, cryo), the Lab (bloodwork, peptides, IVs, personalized protocols), and the Apothecary (curated supplements for energy, recovery, and healthspan). This is the first franchise concept to bring elite longevity protocols to everyday consumers at scale.We get into territory design, investment range, the executive ownership model vs. owner-operator burnout, data-driven territory mapping, market availability, and which franchisee profiles are winning in wellness right now.If you're exploring wellness franchise opportunities, researching longevity business models, or want to understand how the franchise industry's top operators are building what's next—this is the episode.Hit follow, share with someone exploring franchise ownership, and leave a review. Tell us which concept you want in your city.📞 Send your questions for an upcoming episode: 305-710-0050 🌐 Subscribe at www.thefranchiseinsiders.comFrom your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson. Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.

January 20, 2026Episode 334 min

Inside Renew Medic: The Hidden Goldmine In Cabinet Restoration

Send us Fan MailReady to rethink what a “niche” franchise can do? We’re joined by Storm Miller, director of franchise development at Rep’M Group, to dig into the surprisingly large world of cabinet restoration and why institutional capital loves this space. Storm explains how Renew Medic spun out of a legacy brand after franchisees found cabinet jobs paid 10x more than typical furniture fixes, then lined up national insurance relationships to feed consistent, high-value work.We get specific about the numbers. Territories are pre-mapped using owner-occupied homes, with insurance data showing steady demand from everyday water and fire incidents. ITEM 19 data: With average tickets around $8,000 and fewer direct competitors, operators can build multi-million-dollar shops supported by CNC machines, edge banders, and trained techs who restore, store, and reinstall with precision. Storm walks through the ITEM 19 and a Denver operator’s $5.8M revenue and seven-figure EBITDA displayed within, including material costs that can sit near 8 to 10 percent, and payment cycles that land closer to 30 days than 90. It’s a rare three-way win: insurers cut claim costs, mitigation partners speed up cycles, and homeowners stay in their routines without months-long tear-outs.We also tackle the why behind the investment: 7,500 to 10,000 square feet of light industrial space, scalable equipment that qualifies for Section 179, and a workflow designed to keep jobs moving fast. If you’re a white-collar leader comfortable managing blue-collar teams, this model rewards hands-on ownership early and thoughtful delegation later. We cover real estate as a long-term lever, exit planning from day one, and how Discovery Day in Memphis lets candidates see the operation, training center, and leadership up close.Curious whether a need-based, B2B engine with national accounts and large territories fits your goals for 2026? Tap play, subscribe for more frank breakdowns of profitable franchise models, and leave a review with your top question so we can dive deeper next time. Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.

January 15, 2026Episode 251 min

Waterloo Turf Franchise: High-Margin, Low-CapEx Model + 75-Day Launch (What Item 19 Shows)

Send us Fan MailImagine a home services business that turns heads, sparks referrals without begging for them, and actually gives families their Saturdays back. That’s the vision behind Waterloo Turf — and in this episode of We Bought a Franchise, we sit down with founders Lance Ingram and Tim Lovett to unpack how they’re building the first true national artificial turf brand.We start with the origin story. Lance walked away from a traditional corporate path, returned to turf, and validated the model across Austin and San Antonio before ever thinking about franchising. Tim came from a large home services platform and saw turf as a rare opportunity: a niche category with high-ticket installs, low capital requirements, and almost no national competition. Instead of rushing to sell franchises, they raised capital first, built infrastructure, and designed a support system meant to scale responsibly.From there, we dig into the operating model. Waterloo Turf uses generous territories (350,000 population), subcontracted crews, and a single wrapped sales vehicle to keep startup costs lean while preserving room to grow. New owners aren’t burdened with real estate, inventory, or large payrolls — and the launch sequence is designed to get franchisees to revenue in roughly 75 days, not “someday.”We also talk numbers — responsibly. Waterloo shares a combined Item 19 P&L from Austin and San Antonio showing a little over $2M in revenue with approximately 16% EBITDA, along with how owner-operators can improve margins by replacing a manager. We break down how marketing actually works in this business: national brand and content layered with local hustle, referral relationships, and what Lance calls “donut economics.”One of the most interesting pieces of the model is the Fresh & Clean maintenance program. Turf isn’t truly “set it and forget it,” and Waterloo leaned into that reality by creating a recurring service that protects installs, improves longevity, and drives ongoing client touchpoints. The result is better reviews, more referrals, and an additional revenue stream that stabilizes the business.You’ll also hear how turf stretches beyond the typical backyard install — into putting greens, indoor gyms, golf simulators, dog facilities, and commercial spaces — and why those projects often compound through a powerful referral flywheel. We cover supplier relationships, national pricing leverage, turf coaches who fly out to ensure five-star first installs, and why staying focused (no stadium fields, no bolt-on trades) keeps execution tight.If you’re comparing traditional home services like HVAC, plumbing, or roofing, this episode offers a contrarian perspective. Those categories are crowded with private-equity-backed platforms. Turf isn’t. Waterloo owners often compete against generalist landscapers, giving them a real chance to become the turf authority in their market.If this conversation sparks interest, don’t guess whether a turf franchise — or any franchise — is right for you.👉 Visit https://www.thefranchiseinsiders.com and take our free 3-Minute Franchise Fit. It’s personalized, data-driven, and built to help you identify the right model for your capital, goals, and lifestyle — or confirm that now isn’t the right time to invest at all.Subscribe to the podcast, share this episode with someone at a career crossroads, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Franchise ownership isn’t about hype. It’s about fit. Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.

January 2, 2026Episode 152 min

Home Care Franchise Deep Dive with Bobby Kelley: Inside Home Helpers' 28-Year Playbook

Send us Fan MailHome Care Franchise Deep Dive: Home Helpers Franchise Review | Best Healthcare Franchise 2025?Is a home care franchise one of the most profitable franchises to own in 2025? We break down the real numbers with Bobby Kelley, who's awarded 400+ Home Helpers franchise territories over 20 years.If you're researching franchise investment opportunities in the healthcare franchise space—or wondering "what franchise should I buy?"—this episode gives you the inside look at one of the top service franchise opportunities in the country.What we cover:→ Real Item 19 numbers: $1.9M average, $29.8M top performer→ Why home care is now a necessity, not a luxury→ The daily habits that separate top owners from struggling ones→ Startup costs, ramp timelines, and franchise profitability expectations→ Exit strategies and acquisition paths for when life changes→ Why recruiting caregivers is as important as getting clientsWhether you're exploring franchise opportunities with low startup cost, looking for the best franchises to own in Florida, or evaluating healthcare franchise options nationwide—this conversation covers what it actually takes to succeed.About Us:The Franchise Insiders are franchise consultants who are all current or former franchise owners. We help people find a franchise to buy based on real operator experience—not broker commissions. Visit thefranchiseinsiders.com to get matched with your top franchise opportunities in 3 minutes.Subscribe for weekly franchise investment insights. The Franchise Insiders is a franchise consulting firm. We may receive compensation from franchisors when clients invest in their systems. All information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Franchise performance varies. Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) before making any investment decision. Visit www.thefranchiseinsiders.com to subscribe.Send us your questions for an upcoming episode at 305-710-0050.From your pals in franchise ownership, Jack and Jill Johnson.