Welcome to the Franchise Frontier, the podcast where we explore the evolving franchise landscape, dive into the latest industry trends, and share actionable tools and tactics to help you build and grow your business. Whether you're a seasoned franchisor, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the world of franchising, this is your go-to resource for insights, inspiration, and strategies to thrive.
He Built a Business That Ran Without Him | Nick Whitehead
What happens when you build a business, start finding success, and suddenly have to leave it for nine months?
For Nick Whitehead, owner of Mighty Dog Roofing of Western Montana, that wasn't a hypothetical question.
After transitioning from a successful tool sales franchise into the roofing industry, Nick set out to build something bigger than himself.
Then came an unexpected challenge: deployment to Iraq with the Army National Guard.
In this episode of Franchise Frontier, Nick joins host Dave Kimura to discuss what it really takes to build a scalable business, develop leaders, navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, and create an organization that doesn't depend on the owner for every decision.
They explore the realities of franchise ownership, the importance of hiring the right people, the financial commitment required to start a business, and why leadership sometimes means getting out of your team's way.
Nick also shares valuable lessons about evaluating franchise opportunities, understanding the support provided by a franchisor, and taking personal responsibility for the success of your business.
Whether you're considering franchise ownership, building your first business, or looking to become a better leader, this conversation delivers practical insights from someone who's lived the experience.
29 Sept 2026
They Never Wanted to Own a Business. Then Everything Changed.
Jeff spent years building teams and helping companies improve. But after experiencing layoffs and eventually having a position eliminated after helping turn a company around, something changed.
Liz was on the other side.
When I asked if she ever pictured herself as an entrepreneur, her answer was simple:
"Never. Like never."
That's what makes their story interesting.
One was ready to go.
One was terrified.
Now they're building together.
Business ownership isn't always a lifelong dream.
Sometimes it starts with realizing you're ready to bet on yourself.
15 Sept 2026
He Evaluated 20 Businesses Before Choosing This One
What does franchise ownership look like before the doors even open?
In this episode of the Franchise Frontier Podcast, Dave Kimura sits down with Josh Powell during a stage of the ownership journey we don't often get to capture: right after making the decision and while going through onboarding.
Josh didn't jump into business ownership on impulse. He researched roughly 20 home-service businesses, built relationships with brokers and attorneys, and even submitted an offer to purchase an existing HVAC company. After another buyer came in nearly $200,000 higher, Josh decided that if HVAC was where he wanted to be, he might have to build the business himself.
Josh shares how he evaluated Varsity Zone HVAC, what he learned during Discovery Day, why his goal was actually to find a reason not to move forward, and what ultimately gave him and his wife the confidence to say, "Let's do it."
He also gets candid about balancing a demanding career, four young children, hiring his first GM, and completing franchise onboarding late at night. His message for prospective owners is simple: if you're going to commit, be ready to commit.
Inside a recent episode
Is There Demand for Your Business?
Published 21 Oct 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] So what I did is I wanted to try to play the long game and I'm going to kind of pick on myself here a little bit. But then I'm proud of myself as well, but I wanted to play the long game. I wanted to focus more on that reoccurring model. So I knew that once I got to a certain amount of clients, once we got to a certain amount of clients, we were set. What the challenge and lies of that is you're obviously talking about a lot of clients, but again, that model of Netflix or whatever you want to look at that is reoccurring your local car wash company. I mean, look how much those have blown up the reoccurring model. […]
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