Franchise Unfiltered

How WOW WindowBoxes Turned a Simple Idea Into a $5 Million Booming Franchise

Discover how WOW WindowBoxes grew from a simple idea in a garage to a multi-million-dollar franchise that’s transforming the home services industry.

In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes sits down with Bret Schneider the founder and CEO of Wow Window Boxes, to talk about how a passion project turned into a $5 million brand — without subscriptions, without outside investors, and with 87% customer retention.

You’ll learn:

🌱 How Brett’s mom sparked the original idea

🚀 What changed when they finally went “all in”

💡 How Wow Window Boxes is capturing the booming “Do-It-For-Me” market

💰 Why this niche is one of the most exciting new franchise opportunities in 2025

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, franchise investor, or small business owner looking for inspiration — this story will motivate you to take the leap.

 

Wow Windowboxes website: https://www.wowwindowboxes.com/

 

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise: https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes: https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

Connect with Wes:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

#Franchising #Entrepreneurship #Success

The Home-Services Goldmine Hiding in Your Yard

When most people think of franchising, they picture burgers, coffee, or car washes. But Joshua Tree Experts proves there’s massive opportunity hiding in your own backyard — literally. In this episode, Wes Barefoot sits down with Josh Malik, Founder and CEO of Joshua Tree Experts, to talk about how he built a high-growth, multi-service franchise brand around tree care, lawn care, and pest control. Josh started as a climber and crew leader, working his way up from the bottom of the industry to owning one of the most respected tree-preservation brands in the U.S. He shares how focusing on preservation over removal created recurring revenue, loyal clients, and a brand with deep roots. 🌳 You’ll learn: -Why tree preservation beats removal for long-term value -How to scale from one service line to three without confusing customers -The psychology behind pricing, upsells, and customer trust -How Joshua Tree Experts recruits and trains top arborists -The smart way to franchise an equipment-heavy business -What kind of entrepreneurs thrive in this “three-in-one” model This episode is packed with insights on branding, leadership, and building culture in blue-collar industries that are anything but boring.

👉 Learn more about Franchise Unfiltered:FranchiseUnfiltered.com

👉 Explore franchise opportunities with Wes: PathToFreedom.com 👉 Discover Joshua Tree Experts: JoshuaTreeExperts.com

 

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise: https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

Want help finding the right franchise?

Book a free strategy call with Wes:

https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

Connect with Wes:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

#Franchising #Entrepreneurship #Success

Why Zoom Drain Might Be the Sexiest Franchise You’ve Never Considered

Ever think the “sexiest” franchise would be… drains? In this Franchise Unfiltered episode, Wes sits down with Jim Foley, Brand President of Zoom Drain, to unpack a focused service model that’s creating massive opportunities in franchising.

You’ll learn why Zoom Drain is thriving with B2B and B2C demand, how “truck math” makes scaling predictable, and why plumbers actually refer business to Zoom Drain instead of competing with them.

Topics we cover:

-Why specializing in drains beats being a generalist

-The referral flywheel with plumbers

-How apprentices become six-figure technicians

-Predictable growth using “truck math”

-The power of consult-don’t-sell in home services

-Flat-rate pricing and a systemized playbook Whether you’re exploring franchise ownership or just curious how an “unsexy” industry turns into big business, this episode breaks it all down.

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:

https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising 🔗

Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes:

https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

Connect with Wes:

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

#Franchising #Entrepreneurship #Success

Studio F: The Secret Weapon Franchisors Aren’t Using (Yet)

Franchisors are drowning in stale Zooms, dead Facebook groups, and unread newsletters. Enter Studio F—our internal podcast model that turns franchise communication into binge-worthy, high-engagement episodes your system will actually consume. From peer-to-peer “masterclass” wins, to hiring/retention playbooks, to FAQ Unplugged that answers once and scales forever—we show how private podcasts boost culture, speed up SOP adoption, and even power candidate marketing with repurposable clips. Featuring big-brand lessons (AmEx, PepsiCo, Keurig, Harman) and a turnkey rollout franchisors can pilot fast. If you’re a franchisor or franchisee who wants real adoption (not another email), this is your playbook. Subscribe, then grab the strategy call link in the show notes to see if Studio F fits your brand.

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise: https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising 🔗 Want help finding the right franchise?

Book a free strategy call with

Wes: https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

Connect with Wes:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

#Franchising #Entrepreneurship #Success

 

Why He Chose Franchising Over Buying a Business (And Won Big)

🚀 Burned out from corporate America, Ryan ditched banking layoffs and the acquisition rat race to take control of his future. Instead of buying a business, he chose a Cabinet IQ franchise — and the results have been incredible. In this episode, Ryan shares why franchising beat acquisitions, how he scaled fast, and the systems that changed everything. 

 

💡 If you’re tired of corporate burnout and dreaming of building something of your own, this episode shows what’s possible.

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise: https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising 🔗

Want help finding the right franchise?

Book a free strategy call with Wes: https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

Connect with Wes: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

#Franchising #Entrepreneurship #Success

Cleaning Crime Scenes & Changing Lives: The Franchise You’ve Never Heard Of

Most people don’t know this franchise even exists—but it’s one of the most impactful and emotionally intense businesses you’ll ever hear about. BioOne franchisees clean up crime scenes, drug houses, and trauma sites with a mission-first mindset. In this episode, Wes sits down with Danessa Itaya and Cheryl Chason to uncover the powerful, gritty, and purpose-driven world behind BioOne.

 

Timestamps

00:00 – What is BioOne?

02:30 – “Help First, Business Second” philosophy

06:45 – How Cheryl got into crime scene cleaning

08:50 – Why they left corporate jobs for franchising

12:00 – Juggling multiple franchises

17:00 – The mission behind BioOne

22:15 – Drug remediation & industry regulations

29:30 – How to find and keep great technicians

37:00 – Getting out of the day-to-day grind

46:00 – The machine that detects drugs in 8 seconds

 

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:

https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

 

🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes:  https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

 

Connect with Wes:

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

 

#TraumaCleanup #Franchise #BioOne

Is This the Smartest Food Franchise Model in America?

🍕 Is This the Smartest Food Franchise Model in America?

 

Cascadia Pizza might just be the best-kept secret in franchising.

 

In this episode, Thomas Reinhard, co-founder of Cascadia Pizza Co., breaks down how they turned a mobile wood-fired pizza truck into a booming franchise with brick-and-mortar stores, high-margin catering, and massive community buzz — all while offering a launch runway in just 12 weeks.

 

We cover:

 

Why small towns are outperforming big cities

 

How one high schooler became a franchise owner

 

Why Gen Z is fighting for jobs here

 

What makes this model different from every other food franchise you've seen

 

And how Cascadia is redefining pizza as “affordable luxury”

 

If you're curious about business ownership, community-driven growth, or building something fun and profitable, you don't want to miss this.

 

🎯 16–20% net margins | 🚛 Mobile-first launch | 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly & community-focused

 

00:00 – Is This the Smartest Food Franchise Model in America?

01:26 – What Makes Cascadia Pizza So Unique

03:50 – From Law School to Pizza Franchise Co-Founder

06:45 – The Unexpected Path to Franchising

08:37 – How the First Franchisee Launched with Success

11:32 – Who Should (and Shouldn't) Own a Cascadia Franchise

13:29 – Why Small Towns Are a Secret Weapon

16:09 – Pizza as “Affordable Luxury” and a Community Magnet

22:33 – How to Launch with a Food Truck in Just 12 Weeks

42:52 – Cascadia’s Impressive 16–20% Profit Margins Explained

 

 

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:

https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

 

🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes:  https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

 

Connect with Wes:

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

 

Cascadia Pizza: https://www.cascadiapizzafranchising.com/

 

#Franchise #Podcast #FranchiseUnfiltered

How a $20K Fitness Contest Launched Her Franchise Journey

Raisa Zovklaya didn’t have the money to start a franchise—so she entered a $20K fitness contest. She lost… but kept going anyway. In this episode, Wes sits down with Raisa to unpack her bold leap from nursing into franchise ownership with Project Lean Nation, how she funded it, built community, and found purpose. This is what betting on yourself really looks like.

 

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Wes mispronounces Raisa’s last name 😅

00:44 – Meet Raisa: Ukrainian-born, Syracuse-raised

05:13 – From CrossFit curiosity to franchise opportunity

06:50 – The $20K fitness contest that sparked everything

09:40 – Losing the contest but refusing to quit

11:15 – High-interest loan → franchise fee paid

13:30 – Choosing the perfect location with Tim

18:45 – What Project Lean Nation actually does

22:00 – Why passion, not profit, drove her decision

29:50 – Burnout, delegation, and team building

37:00 – How community and networking fuel real growth

45:10 – Why she says: “If you're in it just to open a business, this isn’t for you.”

55:00 – Her vision for store #2 (and beyond)

 

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:

https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

 

🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes:  https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

 

Connect with Wes:

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

 

👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for more insights on business, franchising, and financial freedom!

 

#Franchise #Leadership #Entrepreneurship

He Rebranded a Bug Business into a $31B Empire

In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes Barefoot welcomes back Andy Fuller, founder and CEO of Mosquito Hunters — now expanded into Pest Hunters and Humbug Holiday Lighting. Andy shares the story behind the rebrand, the mindset shift from seasonal hustle to empire-building, and how his franchise model grew from a $2B niche into a $31B multi-service powerhouse.

 

Whether you're a franchisee, business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with gold.

 

⏱️ Timestamps

 

00:16 – Why Andy Fuller is back: A major rebrand & new service lines

02:05 – From corporate burnout to business with purpose

05:14 – The 3-in-1 model: Pest Hunters, Mosquito Hunters, and Humbug Holiday Lighting

08:53 – Why holiday lighting isn’t just a side hustle anymore

15:01 – The “keeping up with the Joneses” effect driving massive demand

21:26 – Marketing strategy: Why “Christmas in July” works

26:59 – What the DQ Blizzard, Big Mac, and stuffed crust pizza have in common with franchising

30:30 – From $2B to $31B: The math that justified the rebrand

33:43 – Higher-caliber franchisee candidates since launching the 3-in-1 model

36:56 – Costs, equipment, and what new owners need to get started

 

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:

https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

 

🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes:  https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

 

Connect with Wes:

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

 

👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for more insights on business, franchising, and financial freedom!

 

#Franchise #Leadership #Entrepreneurship

He Built a Multi-Million Dollar Franchise, Then Sold It — Here's How

After 14 years of building one of the highest-performing ShelfGenie franchises, Alan Regala sold his business and stepped into a brand-new chapter of life. In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Alan shares how he went from mechanical engineer to successful franchise owner — and what it really takes to build a business that’s actually sellable.

 

We cover:

✅ The mindset behind long-term success

✅ How to avoid burnout as a franchise owner

✅ The systems that make a franchise valuable

✅ Why most people don’t think about the exit early enough

✅ What Alan is doing now with Athlete2Owner

 

Whether you're considering buying a franchise, scaling your business, or preparing for a future exit, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

 

🎯 Learn how to build a business with freedom, flexibility, and long-term value.

 

Timestamps:

 

00:00 – From Franchisee to Friend: Alan’s 7-Year Journey

03:10 – The Exit Strategy Most Franchise Owners Ignore

05:45 – How to Build a Franchise That Doesn’t Depend on You

08:30 – The Systems That Made His Business Sellable

13:20 – From Engineer to Entrepreneur: Alan’s Career Shift

16:00 – The Book That Sparked His Business Mindset

20:10 – Why Franchising Was the Perfect Fit (And Almost Didn’t Happen)

25:40 – Innovating Inside the Franchise System

44:00 – The Moment He Knew It Was Time to Sell

57:00 – Life After the Exit: Coaching New Franchise Owners

 

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:

https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

 

🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes:  https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

 

Connect with Wes:

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

 

👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for more insights on business, franchising, and financial freedom!

 

#Franchise #Leadership #Entrepreneurship