Asking the right questions is often the first step toward building a successful agency. In this episode, Cal sits down with Nick Francis, Founder and Visionary Officer of The Franchise Group, an award-winning creative and strategic marketing agency.

Nick shares how his team delivers high-impact events by focusing on early planning, intentional post-event follow-up, and a tailored approach that meets the needs of both large enterprises and smaller clients. See how his agency minimizes risk by leveraging a flexible freelancer network and why maintaining work-life balance is central to leading a resilient team. From navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to staying connected through community nonprofit work, Nick offers honest, actionable advice on what it takes to lead with clarity and purpose.

Whether you're managing events, scaling a creative business, or building culture into your operations, this episode delivers practical takeaways you can apply right away.

Takeaways:

• Use early client touchpoints to set the stage for event success
• Follow up with clients to strengthen relationships and reinforce value
• Customize your process for both large and small clients
• Minimize overhead and stay nimble by leveraging freelancers
• Protect work-life balance to lead with intention and avoid burnout
• Ground your business in values that endure through change and growth

Connect with Nick:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickpfrancis/
• Instagram: instagram.com/the_franchise or instagram.com/thefranchisegroup
• The Franchise Group: thefranchisegroup.com

Ways to Tune In:

• Transistor: https://marketingagencypowerhour.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19ECltpQuJWu6rfXlx98wT
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/marketing-agency-power-hour/id1809205281
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/344bea8c-7897-4dfc-8cdc-f31a92514243
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-marketing-agency-power-hou-272863996/
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/marketing-agency-power-hour-6067409
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingAgencyPowerHour