Welcome to Meet the Franchisee, the podcast dedicated to sharing real-life franchisee stories and the invaluable lessons they've learned.
Hosted by Nick Powills of 1851 Franchise, each episode is a direct conversation with small business owners who have found franchise success. Go beyond the headlines to get honest, practical advice from business owners on their journey—from initial investment to daily operations. These candid success stories are your guide to the realities of entrepreneurship and offer the inspiration you need to build your own business.
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a current franchisee, tune in to hear from the people who have been there.
Get equipped for your journey! Discover how to buy or grow a franchise with Growth Club! (https://bit.ly/4cMPOqA)
How This Couple Opened Their Dream Craft Beer Bar With The Brass Tap
Michael (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-snavely-pmp-63676539/) and Josephine Snavely, an Army and Air Force veteran husband-wife duo, have always dreamed of opening a craft beer bar together. Having no prior restaurant experience, they were determined to push through the struggles to a life of ownership. After discovering The Brass Tap (https://1851franchise.com/brasstap) and FSC Franchise Co, their dream has become a reality, and then some.
The Brass Tap is an upscale American tavern that boasts over 50 locations across 16 states. Operating under the parent company FSC Franchise Co., this franchise model offers incredible support for entrepreneurs like the Snavelys, including advanced real estate traffic forecasting and high-tech improvements that ease bar operations. Over two years, the duo successfully launched two locations in Maryland and Alabama, while continuing to build out their remaining three-unit commitment at a sustainable pace.
14 Sept 2026
Why This Multi-Unit Entrepreneur Is Betting On KidStrong
After climbing the executive ladder in corporate insurance, Mike Reyes made the leap to full-time entrepreneurship, and he built something real with it. Today, he's the founder of NextGen Holdings, a KidStrong multi-unit owner with centers open across six states.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-reyes-866ba6 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-reyes-866ba6)
Reyes spent 10 years as a multi-unit Orangetheory Fitness franchisee and built an active real estate portfolio alongside it, giving him a close look at what separates operators who scale from operators who stall. When he found KidStrong, he did what he always does. He went past the FDD, talked to operators across the system, and asked the only question that mattered to him: how many centers are actually thriving, and how fast are they getting there?
Four years ago, NextGen was one of the KidStrong centers on Long Island. Today, 17 centers are open, four more are under construction, and there is a signed area development agreement for 46 units, one of the largest development commitments in KidStrong's system.
For Reyes, the number was never the point. It's what the number represents: the right team, the right infrastructure, and a business built to scale without losing what makes a center work. As he puts it, capital can help you grow, but capital doesn't build a company. People do.
Join us for a live webinar with 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills as he sits down with Reyes to talk about what's behind one of the largest development commitments in KidStrong's history.
Read the full interview here: https://1851franchise.com/kidstrong/46-unit-area-development-agreement-2732817 (https://1851franchise.com/kidstrong/46-unit-area-development-agreement-2732817)
11 Sept 2026
Why This Entrepreneur Is Continuing The Family Tradition Of Restaurant Ownership With Beef 'O' Brady's
Andy Bosko spent most of his life in restaurants, working with his father, Don Bosko. Ever since Don opened his own Beef 'O' Brady's in 1991, Andy has been involved, from washing dishes at age 10 to working across five different restaurant concepts before becoming the leader of two Beef 'O' Brady's in Lakeland, Florida. Andy carries a deep-rooted legacy that makes his journey unique and inspiring. His family has weathered numerous hurricanes and rebuilds, but with Andy's leadership, the Bosko family Beef 'O' Brady's restaurants remain a pillar of the Florida communities they serve. Beef 'O' Brady's is a family sports pub concept operating nearly 100 mature units in the casual dining and sports bar sector. Since taking over the family business, Andy has reinforced the brand's mission by embedding his business into local schools, sports leagues, and community organizations to drive steady sales growth. Andy Bosko will join 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills for a live webinar on his journey to becoming a second-generation Beef 'O' Brady's owner-operator and the valuable lessons he's learned along the way. Learn more about franchising with Beef 'O' Brady's: https://1851franchise.com/beefobradys
Who has been a guest on Meet the Zee
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Alexis Legg
Rabbi Shalom Plotkin
Holly Holton
Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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46
Social presence
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YouTube
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Engagement
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Questions about Meet the Zee
Who hosts Meet the Zee?
Nick Powills host the show. Published by 1851 Franchise | Everything Franchising Resource.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes bi-weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Meet the Zee take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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