Item 19 - All things Franchising https://Item19.podbean.com Item 19 Podcast will be a monthly podcast with nothing but franchise experts who will help you find, finance, own and grow the right franchise for you.  We will interview industry experts who have helped 1000s of people just like you go into franchise ownership successfully, safely and intelligently.  

Blair Nicol, CFE who is with FranNet and is the host of Item 19 has helped hundreds of people just like you find the franchise that is right for them and their local community.  Blair has been in franchising for over 30 years and owns multiple franchises himself.

Why is this Podcast titled "Item 19" you ask - that is the disclosure item where franchisors disclose the financial performance of their franchisees, which is what everyone wants to know.  It's that simple...

]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 10:15:32 -0700 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en us Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Business:Entrepreneurship 1440 episodic Blair Nicol Blair Nicol No false https://feed.podbean.com/Item19/feed.xml https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/21889233/Podcast_Image.png Item 19 - All things Franchising https://Item19.podbean.com 144 144 The Funding Strategy Half of Our Clients Use (And Most People Have Never Heard Of) The Funding Strategy Half of Our Clients Use (And Most People Have Never Heard Of) https://Item19.podbean.com/e/the-funding-strategy-half-of-our-clients-use-and-most-people-have-never-heard-of/ https://Item19.podbean.com/e/the-funding-strategy-half-of-our-clients-use-and-most-people-have-never-heard-of/#comments Tue, 19 May 2026 10:15:32 -0700 Item19.podbean.com/c9c38974-bb84-30ef-bd9b-d409b94d3a51 In this episode Blair Nicol interviews franchisees Brad Goodlow and Gary Dodge about using ROBS (Rollover for Business Startups) to fund a franchise. They cover how the program works, typical funding timelines of around 30 days, top providers like Benetrends, setup costs, and the annual compliance process tied to the C-corp structure.

The guests share real funding experiences, tax and retirement considerations, and practical advice for anyone exploring this route, including why a solid business plan matters just as much as the financing strategy itself.

]]> In this episode Blair Nicol interviews franchisees Brad Goodlow and Gary Dodge about using ROBS (Rollover for Business Startups) to fund a franchise. They cover how the program works, typical funding timelines of around 30 days, top providers like Benetrends, setup costs, and the annual compliance process tied to the C-corp structure.

The guests share real funding experiences, tax and retirement considerations, and practical advice for anyone exploring this route, including why a solid business plan matters just as much as the financing strategy itself.

]]> Blair Nicol false No 1493 6 full From Corner Office to Green Trucks: The Making of a Top Franchisee From Corner Office to Green Trucks: The Making of a Top Franchisee https://Item19.podbean.com/e/from-corner-office-to-green-trucks-the-making-of-a-top-franchisee/ https://Item19.podbean.com/e/from-corner-office-to-green-trucks-the-making-of-a-top-franchisee/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0700 Item19.podbean.com/00dc664c-bfa1-3468-8611-9ff646c67c9d Blair Nichol interviews Josh Eaton of The Junk Luggers about his journey from a tech career to multi-territory franchise owner in Oregon. They discuss starting during COVID, following the franchise playbook, and focusing on customer service.

Josh shares how running lean, investing in targeted marketing, and measuring results helped them break even in month two and earn awards like Rookie of the Year and Franchisee of the Year. He highlights the value of franchisor support and peer networks.

Parting advice: make an educated decision, don’t let fear hold you back, invest time and energy upfront, and track metrics to grow a successful franchise business.

]]> Blair Nichol interviews Josh Eaton of The Junk Luggers about his journey from a tech career to multi-territory franchise owner in Oregon. They discuss starting during COVID, following the franchise playbook, and focusing on customer service.

Josh shares how running lean, investing in targeted marketing, and measuring results helped them break even in month two and earn awards like Rookie of the Year and Franchisee of the Year. He highlights the value of franchisor support and peer networks.

Parting advice: make an educated decision, don’t let fear hold you back, invest time and energy upfront, and track metrics to grow a successful franchise business.

]]> Blair Nicol false No 1471 5 full Inside a Discovery Day: How a Stretch Studio Sealed the Deal Inside a Discovery Day: How a Stretch Studio Sealed the Deal https://Item19.podbean.com/e/inside-a-discovery-day-how-a-stretch-studio-sealed-the-deal/ https://Item19.podbean.com/e/inside-a-discovery-day-how-a-stretch-studio-sealed-the-deal/#comments Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:35:07 -0700 Item19.podbean.com/2c986238-054e-3d13-bf08-f86702982247 Host Blair Nicol talks with Joe Aguilar about his recent discovery day with iFlex/Sequel Brands, covering the in-person unit visit, corporate meetings, and the social interactions that shaped his decision to sign franchise agreements.

Joe explains his research process, what to expect during discovery day, key questions to ask, and practical advice—be about 80–90% sure before attending—along with the follow-up steps, approval, and next actions toward opening multiple units.

]]> Host Blair Nicol talks with Joe Aguilar about his recent discovery day with iFlex/Sequel Brands, covering the in-person unit visit, corporate meetings, and the social interactions that shaped his decision to sign franchise agreements.

Joe explains his research process, what to expect during discovery day, key questions to ask, and practical advice—be about 80–90% sure before attending—along with the follow-up steps, approval, and next actions toward opening multiple units.

]]> Blair Nicol false No 1412 1 3 full Funding Your Franchise: SBA Loans, ROBS & Real-World Strategies (audio) Funding Your Franchise: SBA Loans, ROBS & Real-World Strategies (audio) https://Item19.podbean.com/e/funding-your-franchise-sba-loans-robs-real-world-strategies-audio/ https://Item19.podbean.com/e/funding-your-franchise-sba-loans-robs-real-world-strategies-audio/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:57:52 -0700 Item19.podbean.com/55b76cca-e636-3ef6-bde7-02b635bbeb84 Blair Nicol talks with Eric Schechterman of FranFund about financing a franchise: minimum liquidity to consider, comparing conventional and SBA loans, and faster alternatives like HELOCs and portfolio lines of credit.

They dive deep into ROBS (rollovers for business startups), how it works, when to use it, typical funding splits for a $200,000 example, and practical tips for combining funding sources to make a franchise purchase work.

]]> Blair Nicol talks with Eric Schechterman of FranFund about financing a franchise: minimum liquidity to consider, comparing conventional and SBA loans, and faster alternatives like HELOCs and portfolio lines of credit.

They dive deep into ROBS (rollovers for business startups), how it works, when to use it, typical funding splits for a $200,000 example, and practical tips for combining funding sources to make a franchise purchase work.

]]> Blair Nicol false No 2075 1 3 full Funding Your Franchise: SBA Loans, ROBS & Real-World Strategies Funding Your Franchise: SBA Loans, ROBS & Real-World Strategies https://Item19.podbean.com/e/funding-your-franchise-sba-loans-robs-real-world-strategies/ https://Item19.podbean.com/e/funding-your-franchise-sba-loans-robs-real-world-strategies/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:32:09 -0800 Item19.podbean.com/bffac6bd-c08e-372e-a3bc-2664264f2cf6 Blair Nicol talks with Eric Schechterman of FranFund about financing a franchise: minimum liquidity to consider, comparing conventional and SBA loans, and faster alternatives like HELOCs and portfolio lines of credit.

They dive deep into ROBS (rollovers for business startups), how it works, when to use it, typical funding splits for a $200,000 example, and practical tips for combining funding sources to make a franchise purchase work.

]]> Blair Nicol talks with Eric Schechterman of FranFund about financing a franchise: minimum liquidity to consider, comparing conventional and SBA loans, and faster alternatives like HELOCs and portfolio lines of credit.

They dive deep into ROBS (rollovers for business startups), how it works, when to use it, typical funding splits for a $200,000 example, and practical tips for combining funding sources to make a franchise purchase work.

]]> Blair Nicol false No 2075 1 2 full Item 19 Revealed: Franchise Legal Advice with Bob Steinberger Item 19 Revealed: Franchise Legal Advice with Bob Steinberger https://Item19.podbean.com/e/item-19-revealed-what-franchisors-wont-always-tell-you/ https://Item19.podbean.com/e/item-19-revealed-what-franchisors-wont-always-tell-you/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:53:39 -0800 Item19.podbean.com/091a9b34-d002-31d3-b435-b23e991edd82 Attorney Bob Steinberger and host Blair Nicol break down the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), explain key sections like Item 19, itemized fees, training, trademarks, and termination data, and discuss registration-state rules and sale/renewal considerations.

]]> Attorney Bob Steinberger and host Blair Nicol break down the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), explain key sections like Item 19, itemized fees, training, trademarks, and termination data, and discuss registration-state rules and sale/renewal considerations.

]]> Blair Nicol false No 1752 1 full