In this episode, Taco John’s CEO, Heather Neary, shares her full-circle journey, the five C’s of franchising success, and what it takes to grow a legacy QSR in today’s competitive market. From franchisee empathy to marketing/ops integration—this is a masterclass in modern franchising.

Timestamps:

00:00 – The lawnmower hustle: Eric's childhood story

01:25 – Meet Heather: CEO of Taco John’s

03:46 – Her path from cheesesteaks to CEO

04:49 – Uniting marketing & ops under one vision

06:55 – How to support struggling franchisees

09:37 – Food vs. non-food franchising insights

14:56 – Taco John’s legacy and brand refresh

17:54 – How to lead meaningful brand change

20:20 – Listening tours and building trust

26:08 – Franchisee ROI and capital investment strategy

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/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#Franchising #Leadership #QSR

What does it take to build a multi-million dollar business empire in a town of just 65,000 people?

Former pro baseball player Joshua Kalinowski reveals how he transitioned from the Colorado Rockies to real estate, roofing, solar, and beyond—creating multiple thriving companies in a boom-and-bust market. From mindset and leadership to franchise strategy and family priorities, this episode is packed with hard-won wisdom for entrepreneurs and franchisees alike.

🎧 Timestamps:

00:00 – Build confidence by building evidence

00:45 – Joshua Kalinowski’s intro

01:36 – From pro athlete to entrepreneur

04:13 – Starting Coldwell Banker during the 2008 crash

06:01 – Why he diversified beyond franchising

08:52 – Key lessons from franchising

10:59 – Entrepreneur vs. business owner

13:55 – Hiring a COO to scale

17:14 – Mentorship with Sharon Srivatsa

20:47 – Structuring a HoldCo

25:30 – Staying in your lane as a visionary

28:53 – Balancing business and family

32:08 – Health, discipline, and leadership

36:26 – When to check P&Ls

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with a fellow entrepreneur who needs inspiration!

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/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Franchising

Thinking of selling your franchise brand someday? Don’t do it until you hear this.

Investment banker J. Patrick Galleher from Boxwood Partners joins Franchise Secrets to break down the real mechanics behind franchise exits, private equity deals, and what makes a brand worth $100M—or not.

We cover:

-Why “vanity metrics” like territories sold can hurt your valuation

-What smart franchisors do differently to attract premium buyers

-The truth behind 20x multiples (and why most never get close)

-How to avoid common mistakes that kill enterprise value

-When to step aside as founder—and when to double down

-This is the episode every franchisor needs to hear before scaling or exiting.

👉 Join the Franchise Secrets Facebook group: franchisesecrets.com/facebook

👉 Learn more about the Franchisor Mastermind: scalablefranchise.com

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Why some founders thrive after selling… and others don’t

01:22 – Pat Gallagher’s background in franchise M&A

03:00 – How to tell if your franchisor is giving you the full truth

06:47 – The real story behind those $100M franchise exits

08:30 – Second bite of the apple: how founders cash in twice

09:48 – Vanity metrics vs real enterprise value

12:00 – How to avoid a stale “snow” pipeline

13:57 – Why unit-level economics matter more than hype

17:39 – The hidden ways franchisors protect their Item 19

24:52 – When founders should step aside—and how to find the right buyer

29:42 – The truth about 20x multiples (and what it really means)

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/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#FranchiseExits #FranchisorTips #PrivateEquityTruth