In this episode of the Franchise Fit Podcast, Lance Graulich sits down at the International Franchise Association with Brian Jackman, President of Ziebart Corporation, and Nick Lambie, award-winning Ziebart franchise owner, Air Force veteran, VetFran Committee member, and Franchisee of the Year.
Jun 18
19 min
In this episode of the Franchise Fit Podcast, Lance Graulich sits down with Cory Albertson, co-founder of Wet Fuel, a mobile diesel fuel delivery franchise built around B2B recurring revenue, fleet fueling, proprietary trucks, and a small-staff operating model.
Cory shares how Wet Fuel started, why America runs on diesel, and how construction companies, fleet operators, generators, and commercial businesses can save time, labor, and money by having fuel delivered directly to their vehicles and equipment.
If you are looking for a franchise opportunity with no brick-and-mortar location, business-to-business customers, recurring revenue, and a first-mover advantage in mobile diesel delivery, this episode is a must-watch.
Jun 11
26 min
Lance Graulich sits down with Tony Hulbert, CEO of HorsePower Brands, to talk about why home service franchises continue to be one of the strongest categories in franchising.
Tony breaks down the difference between buying an existing business and investing in a franchise, why culture matters in franchise ownership, how HorsePower Brands supports first-time business owners, and how AI is changing call centers, sales coaching, customer service, and lead generation.
Jun 4
27 min
In this episode of the Franchise Fit Podcast, Lance Graulich sits down with Art Coley of CGI Franchise at the International Franchise Association show in Las Vegas to discuss what is changing in franchise development in 2026.
Art shares how franchisors can build stronger sales funnels, why organic lead generation matters, and why many brands do not have a lead problem — they have an appointment-setting and sales process problem.
They also break down the Recruitment Operating System, the importance of data analytics, outbound prospecting, and why franchise development teams need better systems instead of chasing shortcuts.
May 28
33 min
In this episode of the Franchise Fit Podcast, Lance Graulich sits down at the International Franchise Association in Las Vegas with Kristen Denzer, Founder and CEO of Tierra Encantada, one of the fastest-growing childcare franchise brands in the early education space.
Kristen shares how Tierra Encantada is redefining traditional daycare through Spanish immersion, a global meal program, full-time teacher career paths, and a strong recurring revenue model. With 13 corporate locations, multiple states, and impressive Item 19 performance, Tierra Encantada offers a powerful look at why childcare franchises continue to attract serious franchise candidates.
May 21
21 min
In this episode of Franchise Fit, Lance Graulich sits down with Don Tarinelli, Chief Development Officer of Franchise Fastlane, during IFA Week in Las Vegas.
Don shares what makes someone a strong franchise candidate, why “too entrepreneurial” can actually be a red flag, the importance of franchise validation, and what first-time business owners need to know before investing in a franchise. They also discuss Franchise Fastlane, Carpool, semi-absentee ownership, franchise resales, acquisitions, and how to choose a brand that fits your actual skill set.
May 14
21 min
In this episode of the Franchise Fit Podcast, Lance Graulich sits down in Las Vegas during International Franchise Association Week with longtime franchisee Michael Solomon, a 32-year franchise owner with experience in Great American Cookies and Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop.
Michael shares what he has learned from decades in franchising, including how to build strong teams, why franchise systems outperform many mom-and-pop businesses, what first-time franchise buyers need to know, and the biggest mistakes franchisees make when they put dollars over people.
This episode is sponsored by SeoSamba — empowering franchises with predictable results and AI-driven marketing.
May 7
22 min
At the International Franchise Association Show in Las Vegas, Lance Graulich sits down with Dan Claps, CEO of Voda Cleaning & Restoration and founder of Franchise Playbook, shares how Voda almost went out of business in the beginning, what changed when the team started listening to franchise candidates, and how the brand grew to 110 franchise owners and roughly 300 locations.
Apr 30
30 min
In this episode of the Franchise Fit Podcast, Lance Graulich sits down with Medhi of Crazy Pita to talk about building a restaurant brand for 20 years and expanding it through franchising, Walmart locations, virtual brands, AI systems, and new city growth. They break down what makes Crazy Pita different, how the brand maintains consistency, what Medhi looks for in franchisees, and why innovation is critical in today’s food business.
They also cover shared-kitchen concepts like Salad Madness and Chicken Genius, the power of community connection, restaurant hiring, and what first-time business owners need to know before jumping into a franchise or starting from scratch.
Apr 23
24 min
At the International Franchise Association, I sat down with fractional CMO Chantel Soumis to talk about what’s really working in franchise marketing today.
We cover how AI is changing digital marketing, why trust matters more than ever, and why brands can’t rely too heavily on automation. Chantel explains why personal branding, local community marketing, better targeting, and strong operations are still the biggest drivers of results.
We also discuss common marketing mistakes franchisors make, how to audit vendors properly, and why franchisees need to feel heard, seen, and supported.
Apr 16
21 min
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