What does it really take to grow a franchise beyond the first few locations? In this episode, Shaina breaks down the playbook for scaling smarter, supporting franchisees, and building a brand that lasts.

From personalized sales outreach to franchisor–franchisee partnerships and the hidden costs of growth, this conversation is packed with insights every entrepreneur needs before making the leap into franchising.

0:00:00 Intro & Guest Background
00:02:00 How Dog Drop Started
00:05:30 Early Challenges & Lessons Learned
00:10:00 Why Franchising?
00:15:00 Building Systems & Operations
00:20:00 Scaling a Franchise Brand
00:27:00 Marketing & Customer Acquisition
00:33:00 Competition & Differentiation
00:40:00 Technology & Innovation in Pet Care
00:47:00 Challenges of Rapid Growth
00:54:00 Leadership & Team Culture
01:02:00 Advice for New Franchisors
01:10:00 Future of Dog Drop & Closing Thoughts

Aaron Harper sits down with Kelcey Lehrich, co-founder of 365 Holdings, to unpack how he and his partner built a portfolio of consumer brands doing $60M+ in revenue—without raising outside capital. From buying a business with a $10K down payment to navigating a near financial meltdown in 2023, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom on e-commerce, partnerships, and founder resilience.

⏱️ Timestamps & Topics:
00:01 – Making friends in your 30s through business, skiing, and Twitter
01:09 – Kelcey’s first ecommerce business and how 365 Holdings began
02:53 – Scaling from $2M to $60M in revenue
04:30 – How many brands are in the portfolio (and how many flopped)
05:51 – The original thesis vs. today’s strategy
06:45 – Why the e-commerce aggregator model failed (Thrasio, etc.)
09:00 – Starbucks vs. “duct-taped” coffee shops analogy
10:30 – Kelcey's favorite type of business: own supply AND demand
11:20 – Cuddle Clones: the artisan product business they scaled
12:40 – Community, connection, and why Kelcey joined YPO
14:50 – The jump from $45M to $60M: acquisition + turnaround
16:40 – Buying a distressed jewelry brand (Brian Anthony’s)
17:44 – Tariffs, China, and global supply chain strategy
20:14 – Kelcey’s role: M&A, external relationships, and deal flow
21:19 – Ideal acquisition pace: 1 every 9 months
22:22 – “SEAL Team” for turnarounds + special situations
23:08 – Why they love distressed deals over premium growth buys
24:21 – What’s happening in capital markets & Holdco land
25:52 – No outside capital: how they bootstrapped from $10K
27:17 – 2023 financial crisis: the CFO lied, debt stacked up
30:00 – Daily cash flow, layoffs, workouts… and recovery
32:39 – How Kelcey’s wife handled the meltdown at home
34:56 – Faith, identity, and separating self-worth from business
37:30 – Aaron’s personal story: baby on the way, stepping back, hiring a CEO
40:24 – “I’m not my business” → writing it all down → reset
41:43 – Growth curve pressure: why some team members can’t keep up
43:00 – Making space for others to rise as the founder steps back
45:43 – Ironman idea: Aaron’s next personal growth & content move
46:14 – Kelcey gave up his office to make room for the CFO
47:38 – Holding company evolution: ops vs. strategic layer
50:12 – Kelcey on content: “not a focus, but I’ll show up if it’s meaningful”
52:59 – Why he shares: paying it forward to the next entrepreneur
54:45 – How Aaron’s Twitter & podcast directly drove revenue and talent
56:25 – Kelcey’s soapbox: “There is no such thing as an e-commerce business”
59:00 – The danger of launching too many brands in a holdco
01:00:54 – “Your worst asset is always for sale” – capital allocation logic
01:02:14 – Why Aaron isn’t opening trucks—his CEO is on a listening tour
01:04:01 – What comes next as Rolling Suds scales

Thinking about buying a business? Not sure what’s real and what’s hype?

In this episode of The Scaling Podcast, Aaron Harper sits down with Matthias Smith, founder of Pioneer Capital, to unpack exactly how SBA financing works, what makes a business lendable, and the harsh truths nobody on TikTok is telling you. From seller equity to working capital to divorce derailing deals (seriously), this episode dives deep into the real mechanics of acquisitions — whether you're a searcher, operator, or future franchisee.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
3:00 How Matthias helps business buyers get financed
6:50 Where deal flow comes from
10:00 SBA myths (zero money down?)
14:00 Seller equity changes
20:00 Why some businesses can’t be sold
25:30 Real talk on finding deals
35:00 Real estate in SBA loans
47:00 Bigger deals & private equity pressure
55:00 Aaron’s origin story
1:02:00 Why capital matters when starting

Learn more about Matthias:
Website: https://pioneercap.com
X (Twitter): @SBA_Matthias

Franchising can create freedom—or become a financial trap. It all comes down to who’s buying and what they believe they’re buying.

In this episode of The Scaling Podcast, Aaron Harper sits down with former franchisee and franchise coach Tariq Johnson. Together, they unpack what people get wrong when investing in a franchise, how to identify a good opportunity, and what questions buyers don’t ask (but should).

Tariq shares hard-won lessons from his own journey as a multi-unit franchisee who walked away—and how he now helps others find the right path to business ownership.

Whether you're evaluating your first deal or trying to scale an emerging brand, this is a must-listen for anyone serious about building a business that lasts.

[00:00] – Intro: Meet Tariq Johnson

[03:00] – Why Franchising is a Risk (and an Opportunity)

[07:30] – From Corporate to Franchise Owner

[11:20] – The Hardest Year of His Life

[16:40] – Creating a Personal Brand After Franchising

[22:15] – Why Most Franchise Buyers Are Unprepared

[29:00] – Owning vs. Operating: The Scaling Decision

[34:30] – The Money Trap: When Success Becomes a Cage

[40:00] – Coaching, Consulting, and Content: A New Chapter

[47:50] – Aaron’s Take: Why Some Franchisees Win and Others Burn Out

[52:30] – Final Advice for Aspiring Franchisees

[58:30] – Where to Follow Tariq

Ask ChatGPT

In this episode, Aaron Harper sits down with Eric Pacifici—attorney, entrepreneur, and co-founder of SMB Law Group—to discuss what every franchise buyer, founder, and seller needs to know about small business transactions, legal pitfalls, and structuring deals the right way.

From leaving Big Law to closing over $1B in Main Street transactions, Eric shares hard-earned lessons on legal innovation, franchise diligence, and how social media unexpectedly launched one of the most trusted firms in SMB M&A.

00:00 – Intro
01:41 – Eric returns and shares his backstory
03:30 – Why he left Big Law and redefined success
05:10 – Founding SMB Law Group and identifying unmet legal needs
07:30 – The problems with billable hours and deal structures
10:12 – Tradeoffs of innovating in a traditional industry
12:41 – Launching a law firm off a Twitter account
14:00 – Early traction, demand problems, and scaling the team
16:30 – What makes a “blue chip ETA” deal work
17:50 – Building the Kirkland & Ellis of Main Street
19:45 – Remote-first legal practice and quality of life
21:00 – Golden handcuffs, entrepreneurship, and personal freedom
25:30 – Franchising overlap: why M&A and franchise law intersect
27:00 – Franchise diligence and risks
28:30 – Trends in ETA and franchise buyers
30:45 – SBA 7(a) deal structures explained
34:50 – Silver tsunami, generational wealth transfer
39:30 – How to structure “ugly” or non-underwritable deals
42:00 – Earn-outs, seller financing, and legal risk mitigation
45:25 – Franchising through acquisition strategy
47:24 – Legal marketing and firm visibility
48:41 – Where SMB Law gets its clients: Twitter, referrals, and more
52:07 – The value of project-based legal work
54:16 – Marketing restrictions for lawyers + content strategy
56:14 – Why Eric started creating content accidentally
57:30 – Social media and personal brand dynamics
59:30 – Commentary on content creators and public perception
01:07:29 – Lessons from Alex Hormozi and the value of free education
01:09:40 – How social media influences franchise client growth
01:11:46 – Feedback, self-awareness, and creating authentic content
01:13:00 – Final thoughts on building a business with soul

In this episode of The Scaling Podcast, Aaron Harper sits down with Collin Rutherford—founder of two fully remote businesses: Greenbox Storage and Founder Brands. They dive deep into what it actually takes to scale a startup without an office, how to lead through chaos, and why your business only grows as much as you do.

00:00 – Intro
Aaron introduces Collin and sets up the episode

01:15 – Launching Greenbox Storage in College
How Collin started the business as a junior at Dartmouth

02:59 – Transitioning to Remote Operations
From driving U-Hauls to running 23 campuses remotely

04:40 – Customer Acquisition with Email & Interns
Email marketing + boots-on-the-ground interns = growth strategy

08:27 – Starting Founder Brands
How building his own content system led to a new business

10:08 – The Monthly Content Framework
One recording → a full month of written + video content

12:34 – Case Study: Local Hockey Coach → Newsletter & YouTube
How content transformed a small business’s growth

13:59 – Letting Go of Daily Ops
Why Greenbox runs without Collin today—and how he got there

16:38 – Founder Brands: Still in the Trenches
Finding product-market fit and building an A+ team

18:12 – Founder’s Role in Early-Stage Growth
Lead gen, sales, and how founders should spend their time

20:10 – Going All-In on Twitter (X)
Why June 2023 was Collin’s turning point for personal branding

21:43 – Stop Posting. Start Engaging.
How to grow from 100 followers to 1,000+ by leveraging others' reach

27:50 – Lead Magnets & Email Growth
The power of gated value and building a subscriber list

32:13 – Aaron’s Content Flywheel at Rolling Suds
Using content to replace a sales role and scale franchise leads

33:18 – Stories Always Win
Why personal stories outperform tips in tough algorithm cycles

34:34 – Social as Leverage (Not Just for Leads)
Use your brand to hire, raise money, and build your network

35:45 – Followers Are a Vanity Metric
Real revenue from small audiences and niche accounts

37:56 – Tribe: Founder Peer Group Benefits
How Collin finds support, connection, and perspective

42:00 – Bringing On a Co-Founder
Why Collin sold 20% of his company and how he structured the deal

44:38 – First Acquisition: Buying a Competitor
How a helpful email turned into an M&A deal

46:54 – Greenbox’s Ceiling & Growth Strategy
How big this niche business can get—and what it takes to get there

48:53 – What Collin Needs to Grow Next
Founder evolution, systems, and recruiting the right people

54:47 – Quick Interruption (Cleaners)
Aaron returns to continue the deep dive

55:38 – Partner’s Role and Work-Life Balance
Collin shares what his girlfriend does and how they live remotely

56:00 – Why Entrepreneurship
Freedom, flexibility, and risk vs reward

57:26 – The Hard Part: No One Tells You What to Do
Entrepreneurship means making decisions in the dark

58:14 – $20K Mistake: Auctioned Storage Units
The hardest calls Collin ever had to make—and how he recovered

01:03:28 – Advice for First-Time Founders
Solve a real problem. Don’t reinvent the wheel.

01:09:25 – Why One Business is Usually Enough
Walker Deibel’s advice on focus vs fragmentation

01:13:08 – Final Thoughts on Growth & Discipline
What to do when you already have something working

What does it really take to scale a franchise from scratch to 1,500+ locations?

Scott Abbott has built, sold, and reinvested in some of the biggest names in home services—and in this episode, he shares the raw truth behind what works and what fails in franchising. From his first business at 15 to navigating a private equity roll-up, this conversation is packed with insight for any entrepreneur or franchise rookie.

🚨 Whether you're exploring your first concept or already scaling, this is a masterclass in long-term growth, leadership, and living a life by design.

⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & Snowboarding Story
01:08 – Scott’s First Business at Age 15
04:37 – Cold Calling Retailers as a Teen
06:17 – The Birth of “Bass Brothers Fishing”
09:22 – First Lessons in Value Creation
10:05 – The Business That Failed (And Why)
11:58 – How Five Star Painting Was Born
13:26 – What Made Their Marketing Work
14:57 – Scaling Through a Call Center
16:49 – The “Feed What Works” Philosophy
17:56 – How Many Units Before Franchising
18:08 – When Scott First Learned About Franchising
19:22 – Selling Five Star Painting
21:47 – Navigating the 2008–2009 Crash
23:12 – Why He Sold to Neighborly
24:35 – Building a Franchise Platform
26:23 – “I Became Grandpa, Not Dad”
28:15 – Current Portfolio Breakdown
29:13 – System-Wide Sales & Unit Count
29:41 – Why Most M&A Deals Fail
32:18 – What Makes a Great Leader
34:26 – Aaron on Hiring Ahead of the Curve
36:26 – Should You Step Aside as CEO?
37:04 – Scott on Personal Growth
40:27 – Doing Standup Comedy to Face Fear
41:56 – How Scott Scaled His Life Alongside Business
46:02 – Planning the Next 10 Years with His Wife
47:54 – Creating a Family Mission Statement
50:44 – Building Intentional Family Traditions
55:15 – Money & the Power of Shared Experiences
58:56 – Aaron on Becoming a Ski Family
01:01:16 – Defining Great Partnerships
01:04:26 – The Watch Story: How to Celebrate Wins
01:07:57 – What’s Really Enough? The Wealth Trap
01:08:51 – Final Thoughts on Purpose, Happiness & Building for the Long Term

Shannon Jean has built 10+ businesses over the past 25 years—including a $3M handbag company and a repair service that Apple tried to shut down. In this episode, he breaks down the simple, repeatable systems behind each venture.

From flipping gear and launching a podcast with 600+ episodes, to mentoring others on how to make their first $1,000—this conversation is a masterclass in sustainable entrepreneurship.

We talk mindset, leverage, and why Shannon focuses on building real businesses instead of chasing unicorns.

Timestamps (Full)
0:00 – Intro
1:08 – Shannon’s first flip: vintage gear and Apple repairs
5:40 – The business that Apple tried to shut down
8:15 – From $500 sales to a $3M handbag brand
12:30 – The $1,000 Brain Switch (start your first business here)
16:42 – Why Shannon builds “boring” businesses
20:18 – Starting a podcast that scaled to 5K downloads/day
25:10 – Playbooks vs passion: why repeatability wins
30:45 – The mindset shift that leads to real independence
34:20 – Shannon’s advice to founders at any stage
38:54 – Systems Goals: how Shannon avoids burnout
41:25 – The lawsuit that cost $1M—and what it taught him
46:15 – Why Shannon never took outside money
49:08 – Letting go: how he stepped back from operations
52:00 – Finding purpose after the “big exit”
54:55 – How to find community as a solo entrepreneur
59:10 – The secret power of asking, “Can I help you?”
1:02:18 – Shannon’s business group: content, connection, and shirts
1:05:30 – What founders really need (but don’t talk about)
1:08:24 – Final thoughts + where to follow Shannon