115: EP 115: Deeper Than Dough - Zach Tanner / Painter Bros

What does it take to turn a side hustle into a national brand—and then disrupt an entire industry?

In this episode, Bennett sits down with Zach Tanner, founder of Painter Bros and FM Flow. At just 19, Zach launched a small painting business that he grew into a 50-unit national franchise, landing contracts with Walmart, Home Depot, and other Fortune 500 companies. But Zach didn’t stop at franchising. He saw firsthand what the service industry was missing—and built FM Flow, a SaaS platform now transforming how service pros manage leads, operations, and profit.

In this conversation, they cover:

The real story behind scaling Painter Bros from a single location to $8.4 million in annual revenue.

How Zach secured national accounts and why most franchises never get there.

The hardest mindset shift franchisees face (and how the best overcome it).

Why gross profit numbers can be deceiving—and what franchisees should really focus on.

How FM Flow is helping small service businesses earn more and operate smarter.

The #1 trait Zach looks for in franchise partners—and who shouldn’t buy a franchise.

Whether you're considering franchising, scaling a business, or building tech in a traditional industry, this episode delivers rare insights from someone who’s done all three.

Connect with Zach:
www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tanner-32322a161/

Connect with Bennett:
Instagram: @bennettmaxwell35
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bennett-maxwell-703717126

Subscribe to Deeper Than Dough
Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/bjozA
Spotify: https://shorturl.at/klE37

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