Creating Franchise Owner Manuels

Penny Hopkinson is founder of Manual Writers International® and has an extensive background in journalism as a trade and specialist journalist, international editor, and in various correspondent roles. She launched Manual Writers International® in 1986 to bring a fresh perspective to the operations manuals needed to underpin quality management systems for organisations that didn’t need BS5750 (ISO9001) accreditation.

Penny Hopkinson joined the British Franchise Association in 1989 as an affiliate professional advisor, having developed operations manuals for three franchisors, and in 2011 she was appointed a Companion of the BFA. Her experience working with franchisors and franchisees in almost every sector has provided unique insights into the challenges faced by both parties and the power of a well-crafted Operations Manual that evolves with the times.

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Franchise Secrets With Erik Van Horn

Erik Van Horn is known for his expertise in franchising and has become one of the most coveted advisors in the niche. He is a family man, master connector, mentor to early-stage brands, and lifestyle investor.

Erik’s first business was a franchise that grew to 42 locations in Austin, TX. After learning how to leverage the franchise model, he bought seven more bands as a franchisee, started one as a franchisor, and had successful exits, including an 8-figure exit to private equity.

Erik grew his network and net worth through masterminds. Seeing the value of being in the right room, he founded two masterminds for franchisees and franchisors.

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Create Momentum in Your Franchise with Brooke Budke

Momentum Brands is a marketing consulting company specializing in fractional CMO agreements with franchise brands.

The founder, Brooke Budke, is a sought after Keynote Speaker. She is a Marketing Expert, and founder of Momentum Brands.

Brooke’s early days in franchising was spent as the head of marketing and eventually the President of an emerging franchise brand. She was pivotal in taking the concept from 20 to 200 units in eight years. Today, she has consulted on more than 20 franchise brands, successfully leading companies through acquisitions, franchise development initiatives, consumer marketing strategies, and local store sales growth.

She now leads a team at Momentum Brands that simplifies the success model for growing franchise brands.

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Why You're Stuck - Learning to Deal With Change

Our decisions are made out of either love or fear. Or, as I say, uncertainty or unhappiness. Phil Johnson says you can never fail if you never give up. But, you are more likely to give up and fail at what you do not love or what makes you unhappy. So you may as well make a change.

The passion and emotional intelligence you or your company demonstrate in the service of others will determine the value of your relationships and exchanges. This is your true source of wealth. Doing what you love will ensure your ultimate success. However, you must choose uncertainty to make the change. That is scary.

The transition to choosing uncertainty often takes place somewhere in the middle of confusion, disappointment, and for some, it occurs when they get the “brass ring” and realize they are unhappy anyway. So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. That is choosing Unhappiness. Take the leap of faith in doing what you love by choosing uncertainty. The world is starving for your leadership.

#emotionalintelligence #leadership #executive #success #management #innovation

Phil Johnson, Founder & CEO

Master of Business Leadership Program

https://calendly.com/mblcoach/chat-with-phil

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How to Make Any Business Successful with Jim Wilcox, Sandler Training

Jim Wilcox is the President and Owner of Wilcox & Associates, a Sandler Training, Coaching & Consulting company. As a serial entrepreneur and a clinically trained healthcare professional, Jim brings a unique perspective and passion for business.

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Military Spouses - Feel Good Stories with Surinder Goode

Surinder Goode is an entrepreneur with work experience in the U.K., the Middle East and the
United States.

Born in England, at a young age, the family decided to move to Scotland. After graduating college, she moved to the Middle East, working as a flight attendant on commercial and private flights.

It was in 1998 while visiting a friend in Coronado, CA that she met her future husband who was on active duty.

‘I had no idea what the life of a military spouse looked like; I wasn’t briefed on what I should expect or how to overcome the new challenges that are a part of this lifestyle. The saying is true…If only I knew then what I know now.”

 Acting on an impulse to provide a service to the U.S. military and seeing a mutually beneficial opportunity, she drafted and presented a business plan to NEXCOM (Navy Exchange Command) to open and operate coffee stands on naval bases throughout San Diego. Starting with one cart in 2002 on Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, her business expanded to thirteen carts and a staff of twenty-eight employees. This venture gave her a better understanding of the military from both genders.

In April 2023, Surinder launched her podcast The Goode Show. This is a platform dedicated to highlighting Veteran and Spouse entrepreneurs, talking with retired Vets about their military experience, and talking with kids about growing up as a military child.

Surinder is the mother of two teenagers, Jake and her daughter Jordan. She’s also a dog mom to two German Shepherds.

Her husband served 30 years before retiring as a CMC.

She has been married for 25 years.

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How to Transition Into a Franchise with Bob Barber

Bob has 36 combined years of business ownership over 33 years. 12 years of a pizza delivery company and 24 years of a business consulting/coaching/training with Sandler.  He and his wife have an adult son and daughter as well as a comical English Lab, Walter. He and Marnie love entertaining, dining, and traveling. 

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How to Market a Service Franchise with Mark Montini

Mark Montini is a Marketing Maverick. Say that three times fast! Mark is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Premium Service Brands (PSB). PSB is currently operating nine different and distinct service-based concepts that focus on home services. Mark has led organizations such as Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Floor Coverings International, and Naranga. Mr. Montini is also a sort after speaker in the world of business and franchises. Listen to this episode to hear more about Mark’s forward-thinking and disruptive business leadership best practices.

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Woman In Franchising Featuring Nora Farhat, Multi-Unit/Brand Owner

Nora Frahat is a highly accomplished professional with a proven track record in creating excellent working relationships with internal and external customers, significant profit improvements, business process development, and achievements in management. She gave up corporate America and now controls her destiny and her family’s bright future with three different franchise brands, British Swim Schools, Pool Scouts, and Mathnasium.

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Barry Falcon, Advice from a Franchise Executive

Barry Falcon’s professional career spans more than 40 years across a range of industries and functions, including communications technology, operational and manufacturing consulting, marketing, project management, and business development. Mr. Falcon has over 18 years of direct experience in franchising, both as a franchisee and as an executive within multiple national franchisor systems.

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Tom ScardaComment
Heather Hakes - The Mindset Coach

Heather Hakes couldn’t fathom dreading another Monday and cheering on Friday for the rest of her life. In 2017, Heather took a HUGE leap of faith and followed an intuitive nudge. She said goodbye to the corporate world knowing there had to be a better reality.

She learned about the power of mindset and how to shift paradigms from many teachers along her journey. She knows that a shift in perception will literally change your reality.

Heather is now on a mission to be a lighthouse for humanity to re-mind you to take your innate power back through awareness and self-empowerment.

Heather’s vision is to help you to unlearn all of the false beliefs holding you in fear, lack, and limitation.

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Diane Pleuss - The Franchise Fitter

Since 2004, Diane Pleuss has matched hundreds of entrepreneurs with their perfect fit franchise opportunity, while successfully guiding them to avoid rookie mistakes – at no cost to her candidates. As a result, they are creating wealth, making an impact in their community, and enjoying the systems already in place to accelerate their path to success.

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How to Evaluate Opportunities with Level 5 Capital Principal, Danny Kenny

Danny Kenny joined L5 in 2018 and is a principal on the Investment Team. In this role, Danny is involved in deal sourcing and diligence, portfolio company operations, overseeing portfolio company integration with AS, investor relations, and day-to-day management of the Investment Team.

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David Weaver - Franchise Your Freedom

David Weaver has a diverse and comprehensive entrepreneurial background to draw on as a FranChoice consultant.

Having honed his business skills in a variety of ways, he now looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experience with others interested in business ownership.

David embodies the Midwestern values of honesty and integrity in all aspects of life. He was born and raised in Indiana and got his first taste of business ownership by watching both parents build and operate successful businesses.

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Alicia Miller, CFE - Understanding Private Equity and Franchising

Alicia Miller is Co-Founder and Managing Director of Catalyst Insight Group a boutique investment bank and strategic advisory firm focused on franchising. She supports franchise brands facing growth or transformation challenges. She also works with platforms, private equity firms, and family offices investing in franchises.

She currently serves on the Board of the International Franchise Association’s certification program (CFE), and writes a monthly column in Franchise Times about franchising best practices.


Alicia holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Science from the University of Maryland. She graduated from Smith College, and also earned a Graduate Certificate in Franchise Management from Georgetown University.

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Hashtag Smart Marketing with Founder Paul Mackiewicz

Paul Mackiewicz, founder of #Smart and an Army Veteran. After finding his way into the digital marketing industry working at two different INC 5000 fastest growing companies, Paul struck out on his own. Now he helps small businesses get a true understanding of their client’s behavior and uses that information to create highly effective digital marketing strategies.

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David Shriner-Cahn, Overcoming Challenges as a Coach or Consultant

After 28 years as a highly-skilled employee, David was told that his job was over. In spite of the immediate trauma and fear, he knew that as his next step, he’d rather work for himself and have more control over his destiny. That was in 2006. Today, David is a thriving community builder, podcaster, and speaker. He helps high-achieving professionals, who have had a late-career job loss, build their consulting or coaching business, so they can do what they love and get paid what they’re worth.

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