What does absentee ownership actually mean in franchising? Is it really possible, or is it just another myth in the industry?

In this replay, Erik talks to his business partners, Luke Jacobson and Terry Rackley from StretchLab, who share their raw and honest journey from hopeful semi-absentee franchisees to successful business partners.

After experiencing the reality of burning through 6 managers in 8 months and watching their "10-hour work week" transform into something completely different, they reveal what actually makes absentee ownership possible. Their partnership story shows how the right structure can change everything, leading to profitability increases of up to 200% in some locations.

The conversation pulls back the curtain on franchise success: the truth about support systems, the power of systematic organization, the critical role of employee retention, and most importantly - what it really takes to be a successful absentee owner in franchising.

“We're not a franchisee that does something totally different than what the franchise is asking. We actually stay pretty close. We're not trying to reinvent the wheel, but on the people side, we try to go above and beyond. They'll take care of customers, which in turn will get us good results.” ~ Terry Rackley

In This Episode:

- Luke's background and how he got into franchising

- Terry's background and how he met Luke and Erik

- How Luke and Terry became business partners

- The importance of speed in opening new locations

- Erik's role in the partnership

- Why leadership and organizational skills matter in business

- Critical factors in running a successful business

- Is absentee ownership a myth?

- What comes to mind when you hear the term top franchisees?

- What does a healthy franchisee-franchisor relationship look like?

- Why is aggressive organization necessary when managing a business?

- What makes partnerships a good thing?

Resources:

🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070

🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617

🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617

🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses https://scalablefranchise.com/

🌐 Franchise Equity Partners - www.frontstreetep.com

Connect with Luke and Terry:

💼 LinkedIn (Luke) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-jacobson-68632b75/

💼 LinkedIn (Terry) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/terryrackley/

🌐 Website - https://www.stretchlab.com/

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

What makes a strong personal brand, and how can it transform your business opportunities? In this episode, Erik Van Horn sits down with Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, to dive deep into personal branding.

From building a loyal LinkedIn following to crafting engaging newsletters, Jason shares actionable strategies to elevate your influence and open doors to incredible opportunities. They also explore the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list and how it serves as a vital resource for franchisors and franchisees.

To amplify your brand, tune in for insider tips on personal branding and franchising success!

“Of anything that we are talking about right now, the newsletter is the only one in which you have direct contact with your audience and in which there's no algorithm intervening." ~ Jason Feifer

In This Episode:

- Who is Jason Feifer?

- How to build your personal brand

- Strategies to amplify your brand on LinkedIn

- The ROI of personal branding and its business impact

- Jason's LinkedIn content strategy and how he uses AI

- How franchisors can use LinkedIn to attract franchisees

- Using newsletters to build direct relationships with your audience

- The methodology behind the Franchise 500 rankings

Resources:

🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070

🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617

🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617

🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/

🌐 Tap Into Audience Sentiment in Real-Time With Crowdwave - https://www.crowdwave.ai/

🌐 2024 Franchise 500 Ranking - https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500

Connect with Jason Feifer:

🌐 Website - https://www.jasonfeifer.com/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-feifer-b04543a/

📨 Newsletter - https://www.jasonfeifer.com/newsletter/

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

How does a former police officer and nurse become one of the top-performing franchisees in the luxury pet boarding industry? In this episode, Larkin, a franchise owner with K9 Resorts, shares his incredible journey from public service to running a thriving dog boarding and daycare business. Discover how his people skills, gained from years on the force, translated into exceptional customer service and operational excellence.

Larkin owns K9 Resorts in Apex, NC and has another location in development in the state. After serving as a police officer for 25 years and working as a nurse, Larkin took his passion for community service and became a successful first-time entrepreneur. His K9 Resorts location opened in 2019, and he’s grown to be the highest-growing franchise location in the system.

Larkin reveals why believing in the brand, trusting the process, and committing to hard work during those crucial first years make all the difference. He also shares how resilience through challenges like the pandemic helped him build a business that runs smoothly even when he steps away.

If you're considering franchising, Larkin’s candid insights on due diligence, mindset, and staying focused will inspire and guide you.

Tune in to hear how passion, persistence, and trust in the system can create franchise success!

“If you believe in the brand, if you believe in what you're doing and the product, then you're going to follow those rules to the T. And doing so gives you more chance of success than failure because it's a proven brand with a proven track record of success." ~ Larkin Combs

In This Episode:

- Larkin’s path: from police officer to top franchisee

- Using law enforcement skills to deliver excellent customer service

- Why K9 Resorts stand out in luxury pet care

- Why Larkin chose K9 Resorts over other franchises

- The power of believing in the brand and following the system

- Franchisee collaboration: sharing solutions and best practices

- Larkin’s hands-on approach to daily operations

- Overcoming early challenges, including the pandemic

- Do your homework before buying a franchise

Resources:

🌐 Consult with Erik - https://form.jotform.com/222685728939070

🌐 Want to buy a franchise? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617

🌐 Want to franchise your business? Connect with Erik here - https://forms.gle/n4JedEuU5p7asE617

🌐 Franchisees and franchisors find proven tactics and strategies to scale YOUR businesses - https://scalablefranchise.com/

🌐 International Franchise Expo - https://www.franchiseexpo.com/

Connect with Larkin Combs:

🌐 Website - https://www.k9resorts.com

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/