Franchise Secrets Podcast

AI has completely changed how people research franchise opportunities—but more information doesn't always mean better decisions.   In this episode, Erik Van Horn and Amy discuss how franchise buyers are using AI during the research and due diligence process, why it can create confidence in the wrong information, and why AI should be used as a tool—not the expert making the decision for you.   They also look back on more than 20 years in franchising, sharing lessons about franchise ownership, sales, leadership, following the system, hard work, failure, and what they've learned from growing up in the franchise industry together.   If you're considering buying a franchise, this conversation will help you think differently about how you research opportunities, evaluate information, and use AI throughout the process.   Timestamps: 00:00 – Why Authenticity Matters in Franchise Sales 03:06 – How We Got Started in Franchising 05:12 – Why New Franchisees Are Never Fully Ready 10:08 – Why Franchisees Should Follow the Playbook 17:11 – Learning Sales From Great Mentors 21:12 – Hard Conversations & the Sales Strategy That Backfired 25:01 – The Sales Superpower Most People Overlook 32:19 – How Franchise Buyers Are Using AI Wrong 34:08 – AI, FDDs & Becoming "Confidently Wrong" 46:52 – Can Franchising Really Change Your Life?   Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/    📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/   👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/   💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/    Best Franchise Starter Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL   #Franchising #FranchiseBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence

Most business owners are using AI—but very few are using it to actually think better.   In this episode of Franchise Secrets, Erik Van Horn sits down with Geoff Woods, author of The AI-Driven Leader, to explain why leaders need to stop treating AI like Google and start using it as a strategic thought partner.   Geoff breaks down the CRIT framework for getting better results from AI, why most people are using AI to optimize low-value work, and how the 80/20 principle can help leaders focus AI on the decisions that actually drive growth.   You'll also hear how Geoff uses AI to analyze financials, challenge his thinking, identify blind spots, and even build an AI-powered CFO. Plus, he explains why much of the hype around AI agents misses the bigger opportunity for business owners.   AI shouldn't just help you write emails faster. It should help you become a better leader.   If you're a franchise owner, entrepreneur, or business leader trying to turn AI into a real competitive advantage, this episode will show you where to start.   Timestamps: 00:00 Why Most Leaders Are Using AI Wrong 05:34 AI Adoption Isn't the Goal 08:24 The CRIT Framework for Better AI Results 14:58 Use AI as a Thought Partner, Not an Assistant 18:46 How Geoff Built an AI CFO 22:33 Finding the Lead Domino With AI 30:53 The Truth About AI Agents 35:12 Using the 80/20 Rule With AI 55:07 Turn Your Strengths Into Superpowers With AI 57:13 Connecting AI to Your Business Data   Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/    📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/   👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/   💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/    Best Franchise Starter Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL   #AI #BusinessLeadership #Franchising

AI is changing franchising fast—but most people are still barely scratching the surface of what it can actually do.   In this episode of Franchise Secrets, Erik Van Horn breaks down how he's using AI across his franchise businesses right now—from analyzing opportunities and improving lead follow-up to auditing marketing, documenting processes, and building AI agents that function more like employees.   Erik also explains one of the biggest mistakes he sees people making with AI: trusting its answers without knowing how to challenge them. Whether you're researching a franchise, operating locations, or building a brand, AI is only as useful as the context and direction you give it.   You'll learn how Erik is using AI to:   • Turn conversations and meeting transcripts into SOPs • Build and organize operational playbooks automatically • Audit lead follow-up and identify missed opportunities • Evaluate social media performance against competitors • Research franchise opportunities more intelligently • Build AI agents that handle real business tasks • Document the journey of scaling a franchise brand • Use AI as a tool for learning—not a replacement for thinking   AI isn't just another piece of software. Used correctly, it can become part of the team.   Subscribe to Franchise Secrets for more real-world strategies on buying, building, operating, and scaling franchise businesses.   Timestamps: 00:00 – Social Media Audit Cold Open 00:40 – How I'm Actually Using AI Right Now 02:29 – AI and the Future of Franchise Development 03:52 – Why Most People Are Using AI Wrong 04:14 – The Problem With AI Franchise Research 08:27 – Using AI Agents as Employees 09:47 – Turning Conversations Into SOPs 13:36 – Documenting a Franchise From 0 to 100 Locations 14:38 – How to Start Documenting Your Business With AI 17:16 – Using AI to Find Leaks in Lead Follow-Up 21:04 – Auditing Your Social Media With AI 24:50 – Why You Should Push Back on AI 26:40 – How I Used AI This Week 27:33 – The Leadership Lesson I Taught My Daughters 31:28 – Final Thoughts   Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/    📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/   👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/   💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/    Best Franchise Starter Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL   #Franchising #AIForBusiness #FranchiseBusiness

Most business owners are asking how AI can save them time. Chick-fil-A Operator Jon Harmeling is asking a different question: What are you going to do with the time AI gives back to you?   In this episode of Franchise Secrets, Erik Van Horn sits down with Jon Harmeling to discuss how he's using AI to automate repetitive administrative work while focusing on something much bigger than efficiency: leadership.   Jon explains how he uses AI to better understand and invest in his 88 team members, identify employees who may be overlooked, keep track of individual goals, and free himself from repetitive tasks so he can spend more time developing people.   They also dive into Chick-fil-A's unique Operator model, servant leadership, building a business that doesn't depend on the owner, experimenting with AI for employee scheduling, Claude Co-Work, and why business leaders need to start taking AI seriously.   Jon's central message is simple: Managers focus on tasks. Leaders focus on people. AI can help get the tasks done—but what you do with the time it gives back may be far more important.   TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Building a business that doesn't need you 04:01 The Chick-fil-A visit that changed Jon's life 09:02 How the Chick-fil-A Operator model actually works 13:20 Servant leadership and building the right culture 18:23 Working on the business vs. working in it 22:30 Can a Chick-fil-A Operator take a vacation? 26:56 How Jon is using AI in his business 28:46 Managers focus on tasks. Leaders focus on people. 32:21 Using AI for efficiency vs. significance 42:45 Preparing the next generation for AI   Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/    📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/   👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/   💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/    Best Franchise Starter Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL   #ArtificialIntelligence #Leadership #Franchising

Scaling a franchise can look successful on paper while quietly draining your available cash.   In this episode of Franchise Secrets, Erik Van Horn sits down with Sherri Seiber, President of FranFund, to break down what franchise owners need to know about funding growth without running out of capital.   They discuss SBA lending, post-closing liquidity, burn rate, FDD Items 7, 19 and 20, and why both struggling and fast-growing franchise businesses can run into cash problems. Sherri explains how franchise buyers should think beyond simply funding Unit 1 and develop a strategy for Units 2, 3, and beyond. Erik also shares lessons from building 12 SOLA locations and what happened when their original SBA funding strategy suddenly changed.   Timestamps: 00:00 – Why SBA financing matters to franchise growth 02:16 – Rising loan defaults among emerging franchise brands 04:13 – Why post-closing liquidity is critical 07:12 – The financial reality first-time franchise buyers need to understand 08:23 – Using FDD Items 7, 19 & 20 to evaluate a franchise 09:58 – Understanding your burn rate and true capital needs 13:57 – The financial challenge of becoming a multi-unit "empire builder" 15:58 – How to build a funding strategy for multiple franchise locations 18:25 – Erik's real-world experience scaling to 12 SOLA locations 21:06 – What happens when your original financing plan falls apart   Connect with Erik Van Horn: 🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/    📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/   👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/   💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/    Best Franchise Starter Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL   #Franchising #FranchiseGrowth #Business