Show notes
AI has completely changed how people research franchise opportunities—but more information doesn't always mean better decisions. In this episode, Erik Van Horn and Amy discuss how franchise buyers are using AI during the research and due diligence process, why it can create confidence in the wrong information, and why AI should be used as a tool—not the expert making the decision for you. They also look back on more than 20 years in franchising, sharing lessons about franchise ownership, sales, leadership, following the system, hard work, failure, and what they've learned from growing up in the franchise industry together. If you're considering buying a franchise, this conversation will help you think differently about how you research opportunities, evaluate information, and use AI throughout the process. Timestamps: 00:00 – Why Authenticity Matters in Franchise Sales 03:06 – How We Got Started in Franchising 05:12 – Why New Franchisees Are Never Fully Ready 10:08 – Why Franchisees Should Follow the Playbook 17:11 – Learning Sales From Great Mentors 21:12 – Hard Conversations & the Sales Strategy That Backfired 25:01 – The Sales Superpower Most People Overlook 32:19 – How Franchise Buyers Are Using AI Wrong 34:08 – AI, FDDs & Becoming "Confidently Wrong" 46:52 – Can Franchising Really Change Your Life? 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 #FranchiseBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence