Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
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Inspiring conversations with real people who took the leap into business ownership, franchising, and freedom. Hosted by franchise guru, consultant and trusted small business advisor, Meg Schmitz.
If you're looking to make the next phase of your life the best phase, this podcast is for you.
From corporate refugees and executives tired of the desk job life, to entrepreneurs and investors looking for more support in their business journey, you'll hear from real people who stepped into the unknown, took control of their destiny and became their own boss.
If you're looking to make the next phase of your life the best phase, this podcast is for you.
From corporate refugees and executives tired of the desk job life, to entrepreneurs and investors looking for more support in their business journey, you'll hear from real people who stepped into the unknown, took control of their destiny and became their own boss.
196 Episodes
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In this milestone episode, we celebrate one year of IMAGE Studios Wauwatosa—a hub where beauty, wellness, and entrepreneurship collide. 🥳 But this isn't just about a grand opening. It's a spotlight on what happens when bold vision meets real opportunity. Makayla, a first-time entrepreneur, shares her leap from stylist to studio owner—navigating the fears, the wins, and the freedom that comes with building something of her own. Standing right beside her is Meg Schmitz, who isn't just coaching others into franchise ownership—she's in the arena herself, leveraging her own franchise to mentor and uplift new entrepreneurs like Makayla. This episode is a reminder: entrepreneurship isn't meant to be a solo act. It's a community-powered movement where smart structure and shared courage turn dreams into legacies.
When the system breaks you down, some people shrink. Others rise. Samantha is walking away from a healthcare career that's eating away at her time, her health, and her spirit. She's building Skinship Esthetic Spa inside IMAGE Studios Wauwatosa — creating a future where beauty professionals don't just survive... they own their freedom. This isn't a story about chasing money. It's about reclaiming time, rewriting the rules, and building a legacy that outlives the pain. This special episode highlights emerging entrepreneurs in the beauty and wellness industry to celebrate the grand opening of Meg's IMAGE Studios, Wauwatosa location.
Behind the polished brand lives the mess—marriage stress, deal drama, and founders numbing instead of feeling. Meg and Jaime White strip away the armor to discuss "divorce version one," choosing each other again, and reordering their lives as: self → partnership → business. Trade optics for alignment and watch profit follow meaning—this episode is your mirror and your map.
Life doesn't wait for your business plan— and business doesn't stop for life. In this episode, you'll hear Meg describe her upcoming surgeries, dealing with aging parents, and the biggest shock of putting her beloved young dog into hospice care. Personal issues have collided with Meg's empire-building, and they are unavoidable. In this raw update, she reveals how personal storms mirror the chaos of scaling multiple franchises. The takeaway? Dream big, plan bigger, and keep moving forward—because this too shall pass.
In this episode, Meg Schmitz and PR legend Rhonda Sanderson cut through the hype and dig into the hard-earned lessons of business ownership and franchising. From Subway's scrappy beginnings to AI's looming future, they unpack how candor, care, and year-one grind transform shaky startups into resilient, saleable brands. If you're tired of recycled success clichés and ready for raw insight that actually moves the needle, this conversation is your wake-up call.
Is it smarter to buy a business with "instant" cash flow or build one from scratch? In this episode, Meg Schmitz and Josh Skolnick expose the brutal truth about control, risk, and what really drives long-term freedom. If you're wrestling with self-doubt and searching for the most reliable path to ownership, this conversation will flip the way you think about your next move.
Tired of making millions for someone else while your soul shrinks in a cubicle? Rob & Nick of REPM break down how top execs can flip their skills into franchise ownership — with real systems, real support, and real ROI. If you're ready to stop renting your talent and start owning equity, this is the episode that shows you the playbook.
Leaving corporate for business ownership is thrilling—and terrifying. Verdine Baker, a franchise executive who's guided hundreds of owners, shares what really happens when fear meets opportunity—and how resilience and culture create lasting success. With Meg Schmitz leading the conversation, senior executives will discover the playbook to step out confidently and build freedom on their own terms.
Anthony Geisler, the force behind scaling Club Pilates from 12 to 1,300 units and taking Xponential Fitness public with a multibillion-dollar valuation, is back with a new play: Sequel Brands. Alongside industry veteran Bob McQuillan, he's building a wellness platform featuring Pilates Addiction, iFlex Stretch Studios, Beem Light Sauna, and Body20. In this episode, they share how Sequel is engineered with infrastructure, profitability, and innovation from day one—and why they'll never let Wall Street distractions steer the ship again.
"Follow the playbook. Be your own boss. Live the dream." But what happens when the dream looks different from what you experience? In this candid conversation, Catherine Wilson shares the lessons, surprises, and wins from her franchise journey — and offers insights on navigating the gap between expectations and reality.
Andy Weins is back- and he's not just talking business, he's talking freedom. From franchise rookie to author and fractional CFO, Andy's journey is proof that you don't have to be "born" for entrepreneurship to master it—you build it, brick by brick, mindset by mindset. If you've ever wondered if you have what it takes to own your future, this episode will give you the raw truth and the blueprint.
Everyone wants to go viral—but what happens next? In this episode, Meg and Thasia Williams unpack the reality behind viral moments, visibility, and the marketing moves that drive revenue. If you're a business owner, franchisee, or sales pro chasing attention, this convo will shift your focus from "likes" to lasting impact.
Dan Schauer had a family business in his back pocket and startup dreams in his head—but when layoffs hit, he chose a franchise. In this episode, we dig into the real-life pivot that gave him freedom, legacy, and an exit strategy all in one. If you're stuck between building, inheriting, or buying in—this story will shake up how you see your options.
Think LinkedIn is just for job seekers? Think again. In this episode, Meg and Angela Dunz unpack why your profile may be silently sabotaging your credibility—and how small shifts can lead to big money moves.
You can build an empire and protect your marriage—if you know how to spot the landmines before they blow. In this follow-up to our most talked-about episodes featuring Ted Santos (Episode 7.4)and Karen Covy (Episode 5.2), we explore the silent tension that can kill business dreams and relationships alike. If you and your spouse are dreaming big but stuck in indecision, this convo is your blueprint to move forward together.
What makes an emerging brand worth betting on? In this episode, I sit down with franchise veteran Candice Weeter to discuss grit, growth, and how to identify genuine leadership behind the pitch. If you're serious about building wealth through franchising, this one's a must.
When chaos calls, most chase the money. John and Kami Griffith chose the mission. In this episode, Meg Schmitz sits down with the power couple who walked away from corporate burnout, turned a LinkedIn ad into a life-changing franchise investment, and built a business rooted in faith, family, and future-proof cash flow. If you're an exec craving more than paychecks and performance reviews, this one's for you.
Most business owners think their company is worth more than it is. Most buyers waste time chasing the perfect deal. In this episode, Meg and business advisor, Mark Bailey, expose the hard truths about buying and selling businesses—and how tax strategy and mindset shifts separate the winners from the wishers.
What do you get when you mix pest control, holiday lights, and big franchise energy? A boring business that's quietly building empires. In this episode, Meg sits down with Andy Fuller, founder of Pest Hunters, to unpack how one "unsexy" brand is helping franchisees create recurring revenue, generational wealth, and year-round impact.
In this mind-bending episode of Free Agent, Meg Schmitz sits down with leadership strategist Ted Santos to explore the hidden beliefs sabotaging our potential—and our portfolios. From unresolved childhood loops to unconscious limitations, Ted reveals how self-inquiry and intentional disruption are the real keys to personal growth and wealth creation. If you've been operating on autopilot, this is your wake-up call.
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