41. He Spent 25 Years at Dairy Queen, Great Clips & Planet Fitness — Then He Became a Franchisee
25 years coaching franchisees at Dairy Queen, Great Clips and Planet Fitness. Then Jon Steward crossed the table. That's when he discovered what expertise alone can't teach you.
⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with Alan today at https://athletetoowner.com/ready
🎙 Episode 41 - Jon Steward spent over two decades as a franchise business coach, working alongside hundreds of owners at Dairy Queen, Great Clips, and Planet Fitness on growth, financial planning, and exit strategy. He held a Certified Franchise Executive designation, published research on what actually makes franchisees succeed, and knew the playbook better than almost anyone.
So when he and his brother opened Mr. Handyman in Southern New Jersey in 2020, and Jon later acquired a Mosquito Shield franchise through a coffee meeting that turned into a closing table 104 days later, he thought he knew what to expect. He was right about most of it. What surprised him is something every prospective owner needs to hear before they sign.
⏱ Video Chapters
0:00 - Introduction: 25 Years on the Franchisor Side
1:03 - How Jon Got Into Franchising (Dairy Queen, Great Clips, Planet Fitness)
2:48 - Why His Brother's Decision Changed Everything
3:54 - Why They Chose Mr. Handyman and the Role Fit Played
4:24 - Three Territories, 20 to 30 Percent Growth Per Year, and What Happened Next
5:14 - Opening in November 2020: Virtual Training, Closed Offices, and a Home Services Tailwind
8:42 - Why They Wanted an Acquisition, Not Another Build
9:12 - How Two Brothers Split Two Businesses Without Getting in Each Other's Way
10:45 - The Monthly Shareholder Meetings That Keep Family Business Functional
13:12 - What Mosquito Shield Does and How a Seasonal Business Actually Works
15:05 - Season Dates, Tick Treatments, and How the Year Is Structured
16:53 - What Happens in the Off-Season (and How They Retain Technicians with an Average of 5 Seasons)
20:44 - How Jon Acquired Mosquito Shield in 104 Days from a Single Coffee Meeting
22:36 - The Lesson Inside That Story: Why Relationships Drive Acquisitions
24:44 - What 25 Years of Expertise Didn't Prepare Him For
26:22 - The Weight of Knowing Your Decisions Affect 25 People's Families
27:34 - Working with Family: Structure, Veto Authority, and the Exit Strategy You Set Up on Day One
30:56 - Jon's Published Research on Franchise Peer Groups and What the Data Showed
34:43 - Why Community Is the Most Underrated Advantage in Franchising
37:44 - His Father, the Reluctant Farmer Who Never Got to Own a Business
40:26 - The Two Things Most Franchisees Get Wrong
42:36 - Final Advice: Make Sure Your Care Network Is with You Before You Leap
📌 Resources and Mentions
▸ Interested in connecting with Jon or learning more about Mr. Handyman or Mosquito Shield? Reach out to Alan for an introduction: https://athletetoowner.com/ready
▸ Neighborly (franchisor for Mr. Handyman): https://www.neighborly.com
▸ Five Star Franchising (franchisor for Mosquito Shield): https://fivestarfranchising.com
▸ Athlete to Owner Franchise Coaching: https://athletetoowner.com
▸ Schedule a free consultation: https://athletetoowner.com/ready
▸ Download "The Franchise Fit Playbook" for free: https://athletetoowner.com/playbook
▸ Subscribe to The Franchise Champion Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform
▸ Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if you enjoyed the episode, we appreciate your support!
Connect on Social Media:
▸ Website: https://athletetoowner.com
▸ LinkedIn: / alanregala
▸ YouTube: / @athletetoowner
▸ Facebook: / athletetoowner
▸ Instagram: / athleteowner
▸ Email: alan@athletetoowner.com
⭐ READY TO EXPLORE FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Alan helps successful professionals find the perfect franchise match and prepare for championship-level success. As a franchise coach, he works one-on-one with qualified candidates to navigate the entire franchise selection process, completely free of charge. Visit https://athletetoowner.com to get started on your path to greater autonomy, wealth, and purpose through business ownership.
#franchise #entrepreneur #businessowner #franchising #homeservices #mrhandyman #mosquitoshield #neighborly #franchisegrowth #franchiseacquisition #familybusiness #TheFranchiseChampionShow #AthleteToOwner #franchisesuccess #smallbusiness
