Beyond Traditional Acquisition:
Understanding Franchising as a Strategic Alternative
An honest look at franchise ownership for experienced searchers exploring multiple paths to business ownership.
Led by Alan Regala - Former Stanford Engineer, Failed Independent Entrepreneur, Multi-Million Dollar Franchise Owner & Exit
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đź“…Â WEBINAR WITH LIVE Q&AÂ
Beyond Traditional Acquisition: Understanding Franchising as a Strategic Alternative
Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Time: 12pm-1pm PT / 3pm-4pm ET
Location:Â Zoom (link provided after registration)
Cost: Free
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You will receive reminder emails and a post-event recording link. Unsubscribe at any time.
WHAT WE'LL COVER
Your challenges first - We'll start by hearing where you are in your journey and what questions you have about franchising.
Then the fundamentals:
- What franchising actually is
- The FDD and what it reveals
- Validation vs. traditional due diligence
- Timeline and financing
- Real numbers from my $4M+ build and exit
Followed by your questions - This is the most important part. Bring your toughest concerns about franchising.
WHO IS THIS FOR?Â
This presentation is designed for searchers who want to:
âś… Understand franchising with the same analytical rigor you apply to traditional acquisitions
âś… Evaluate multiple paths to business ownership simultaneously
âś… Learn the franchise model from someone who's actually built and exited one
âś… Get straight answers about franchising's advantages and limitations
âś… Explore semi-absentee options that complement your current situation
The opportunity: You already have the capital, skills, and mindset for business ownership. Franchising might be a faster path to your goals—or it might not. Let's look at the data.
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ABOUT ALAN REGALA
Alan Regala is a former Division 1 tennis player, Stanford-trained engineer, and franchise owner who built a ShelfGenie franchise in Seattle from three territories to $4M+ in annual revenue over 14 years.
After leaving corporate America and failing at an independent consumer products business, Alan bought his first franchise in 2010. He became the #1 performer in his franchise system for 12+ consecutive years while maintaining a semi-absentee ownership model that allowed him to attend his kids' activities and compete in tennis tournaments nationwide.
He sold the business in 2024 and now helps successful professionals evaluate business ownership through Athlete to Owner Franchise Coaching.
Educational Background:
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
- M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
- Former Product Designer, IDEO
WHAT TO EXPECT
This IS: An analytical comparison with real data, honest discussion of trade-offs, and your questions driving the conversation.
This is NOT: A sales pitch for franchising over ETA, or an attempt to sell you a specific franchise.
RegisterFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: I'm actively searching. Is this still relevant?
A: Yes. Many searchers explore both paths or keep franchising as an alternative.
Q: Will you push me toward franchising?
A: No. My goal is education so you can decide what's right for you.
Q: Can I build a sellable asset?
A: Yes. I sold mine for a multiple of SDE comparable to traditional exits. We'll discuss this.
Q: What about operational freedom?
A: We'll discuss multiple options to ownership, including semi-absentee.Â
