The Infinite Franchisee Show

Secretsos™ is a technology platform that provides professional development for small business owners. It fills the gap in available professional development for underserved small business owners. The platform offers practical education and strategic guidance in various areas of business, such as operations, mindset, team development, marketing strategy, sales strategy, legal considerations, and HR. Secretsos™ brings together experts from different specialties to provide comprehensive and targeted content. It offers different membership levels based on the size and stage of the business. The platform also includes AI-powered assistance and a grant program for small business owners.

In this podcast episode, Lane Kawaoka, a successful real estate investor, shares his journey from engineer to owner of over 10,000 rental units. He discusses the shift from active to passive investing, highlighting the benefits of real estate and tax strategies in wealth building. Lane emphasizes the importance of understanding one's wealth-building stage and offers actionable tips for listeners. His book, "The Wealth Elevator," and podcast provide further resources for those interested in financial independence through real estate.

Lane Kawaoka, Founder and Author of The Wealth Elevator, owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of “Hui Deal Pipeline Club” which has acquired over $2.1B+ dollars of real estate by syndicating over $200 Million Dollars of private equity since 2016 with over $45M of distributions to investors. 

Join us for an exclusive interview with Wade Swikle, the visionary founder of Two College Brothers Moving Storage and Franchising. Wade shares his incredible journey from starting a moving company in college to building a multimillion-dollar business. Discover his unique approach to franchising, his million-dollar guarantee for franchisees, and his mission to create businesses that make a positive impact on communities. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the power of service.

Dive into the world of captivating copywriting with Julie Cabezas, the mastermind behind Copy Crimes, a trailblazing copywriting agency. Tune in to learn the secrets behind crafting compelling content that drives small businesses to success!

Discover the pivotal role copywriting plays in amplifying your business's reach and revenue. Julie sheds light on the common mindset barriers hindering entrepreneurs from fully grasping the power of persuasive writing. Unveil the distinction between mere content creation and the art of selling through words.

Unlock the keys to crafting strategic, attention-grabbing copy that sparks action and fosters lasting connections with your audience. Julie's insights debunk the myth of AI dominance, underscoring the irreplaceable value of human touch in creating truly engaging content.

Ready to revolutionize your approach to copywriting? Press play now and embark on a journey towards unleashing the full potential of your brand's messaging!

Michael Hutchins and Chad Harrison from Authority Brands delve into the pivotal role of talent within the franchising sphere. They shed light on the comprehensive training and unwavering support extended to franchisees, underlining the profound significance of the symbiotic relationship between franchisors and franchisees. The conversation touches upon the essential qualities that define an exceptional franchisee, and explores emerging trends within the franchising landscape, with a particular focus on the dynamic home services industry. Finally, listeners gain insight into the diverse portfolio of brands under Authority Brands.

Discover the transformative power of infusing fun into the workplace with Pete Kusiak, founder of the Fun First Strategy™ and seasoned franchisee. Pete shares invaluable insights on why prioritizing fun is essential for fostering a thriving work environment. Learn how intentional culture and a focus on enjoyment can lead to greater employee satisfaction and long-lasting legacies. With practical tips for integrating fun into various business models and the crucial role of franchisors in shaping company culture, Pete's expertise shines through. Get ready to ignite creativity and positivity by asking yourself, 'How can I make this fun?' Don't miss out on unlocking the secrets to a more enjoyable and productive workplace—unleash the power of the Fun First Strategy™ in your business!

Join us in this episode as we navigate the intricate process of selecting optimal software solutions for small businesses and franchisees. Learn the art of crafting a bespoke software wishlist to meet specific business needs and uncover valuable recommendations within your professional network. Explore effective research strategies to discern key differentiators among software platforms, and master the art of sales appointments for informed decision-making.

The episode emphasizes the critical role of hands-on testing and evaluation, steering businesses away from pitfalls and ensuring a seamless fit. Gain confidence in making strategic software decisions, with insights into implementation and integration for sustained growth. Tune in for actionable insights that redefine small business approaches to software adoption and drive lasting success.

Dive into the world of financial empowerment with Andrew Czerwanka on this eye-opening podcast episode! Discover the crucial role of building and leveraging business credit for franchisees and business owners. Andrew demystifies the distinction between personal and business credit, unveiling the game-changing consequences of personal guarantees and the incredible perks that come with a robust business credit profile.

Uncover the secrets to successfully building business credit as Andrew shares valuable insights and a compelling case study that unveils the transformation from personal guarantees to the freedom of business credit. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, this episode provides actionable steps to elevate your financial game.

Andrew doesn't stop there! Be prepared to supercharge your credit strategy as he extends a personalized invitation for consultations and evaluations. Discover your current credit landscape, explore untapped opportunities, and set your business on the path to financial excellence.

Ready to unlock the potential of your business credit? Press play now and embark on a journey to financial success with Andrew Czerwanka! 

Join us as we explore the three crucial steps to accelerate your journey to SWAG™—Sanity, Wealth, and Gratitude™. Discover how aligning your actions with your vision can transform your business into a source of profound fulfillment. Ready to make your SWAG™ a reality? Hit play and let's dive into the keys to entrepreneurial success!

Jeremy Bollington, a franchise consultant, discusses the E2 visa program and its role in franchising. The E2 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows individuals to come to the US by investing in a business. Jeremey explains the challenges and benefits of working with E2 candidates, including language barriers and motivation for success. He also highlights the win-win-win nature of the E2 visa program, as it strengthens the US economy, creates jobs, and provides opportunities for foreign families. Jeremey provides insights into the process of using the E2 visa and recommends being flexible in location and considering franchise ownership.

Explore the essential strategies for building wealth in business, moving beyond delegation to focus on a well-crafted customer journey. In the episode, April shares a practical example of a business's misstep in implementing a reward system. Emphasizing the importance of a strategic customer retention roadmap, the discussion offers insights into the customer's post-purchase psychology.

Listen in on this juicy conversation with guest, Steve aka Mr. Pineapple, as he explains the transformative Pineapple Theory for business and life. Discover the symbolic richness of the pineapple, its historical ties to wealth and hospitality, and how it can reshape your approach to leadership and business.

Steve shares key mindsets and principles from his upcoming book, offering a unique perspective on emotions, growth mindset, and authenticity. Learn about the power of persuasion, the one 250 principle, and the art of being positively curious. Steve's pineapple adventures, carrying an actual pineapple worldwide, add a delightful twist to this episode. Dive into the Pineapple Theory and find out how you can infuse your life and business with pineapple-inspired wisdom.

Connect with Steve on his website and social media for more pineapple goodness.

Dani Pelleva from Franchise Fame discusses her experience as both a franchisor and a franchisee, and how it has shaped her understanding of the challenges in the franchising industry.

She also talks about her book, 'Franchise Fame,' which introduces the five F's of franchising in regards to marketing. These five F's include fantastic reputation, finding the right fit, having a full funnel, franchisee network, and a focused team.

Dani emphasizes the importance of these elements in achieving franchise success. She also highlights the need for franchisors to shift their focus from the end customer to the franchisee.

Tanessa Shears, a kinesiologist and certified sleep science coach, joins April this week to  share her 12 Becoming Limitless Protocols which help entrepreneurs double their energy and focus so they can make more money in their business.

They discuss the mindset and habits that hinder sleep, the fallacy of completing all tasks, and the self-made urgency and phantom finish line that often lead to burnout. 

Tanessa shares her 12 protocols of becoming limitless, which focus on optimizing brain function through sleep and other health practices. They also explore the impact of sleep on problem-solving, emotional stability, and overall well-being. 

Tanessa provides practical tips for creating a wind-down routine and managing sleep with children.

For more information, you can find Tanessa at: 

Cheryl White joins April in this episode. Cheryl is a successful franchisor and franchise strategist. They discuss the importance of investing in oneself and one's business, the mindset of business owners, and the significance of exit planning. 

Cheryl shares her insights on how to differentiate between expenses and investments, and emphasizes the value of personal development. They also touch on the importance of strategic planning and understanding one's exit strategy from the beginning. 

Overall, Cheryl serves as an example of a franchisor who prioritizes the success and well-being of her franchisees.

Welcome to an episode where the worlds of direct sales mastery and franchising collide! 

In this unique crossover, April and Jennie Bellinger join forces to unveil the hidden realities of direct sales and franchising. Together April and Jennie dive deep into the dynamics of finding committed team members, exploring the value of quality over quantity, and legal concerns not to be overlooked. 

In essence, this episode becomes a masterclass on navigating the complex landscapes of direct sales and franchising, providing a wealth of insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts alike. Don't miss this eye-opening journey into the nuanced worlds of business mastery!

Transitioning into the new year can cause a desire for change to stir within us. In this episode, we are talking about our mindset when deciding what we want for our life, rather than what we want for our days.

Join us in reflecting on an extraordinary year with Ask April Porter and the Infinite Franchisee® Program! Dive into the thrilling highlights, including the groundbreaking SWAG™ Conference—an exclusive event for entrepreneurs craving advanced business education. Thanks to our incredible sponsors, the SWAG™ Conference left a global impact, sparking emotional breakthroughs and transformations.

But the adventure doesn't end there—2024 holds the promise for much more! This isn't just a recap; it's your invitation to a future where innovation and success collide. Listen in to learn more.

This week we welcome David Weaver, a seasoned franchise consultant with a background in Midwestern values and a diverse career spanning sales, project management, operations, and finance.

David shares insights from his experience owning and partnering in seven businesses, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal values with business characteristics in franchise ownership. 

The conversation explores common mistakes, including choosing businesses based solely on passion without considering crucial factors. David advocates for thorough due diligence, dispels the misconception that all franchises are the same, and highlights the unique role of franchise consultants. 

The episode concludes with David's commitment to guiding candidates through informed decisions in the challenging realm of business ownership. 

Special guest Josh Brown, a veteran in the franchise industry and a franchise lawyer, joins us this week on the podcast. Josh shares insights from his 18-year experience, discussing his journey from focusing on franchisees to working with franchisors. He emphasizes the importance of responsible growth for franchisors, suggesting a strategy of dominating a hundred-mile radius before expanding regionally. 

The conversation touches on challenges faced by emerging franchisors, the significance of clear growth plans, and the critical role of well-capitalized franchisees. 

The episode concludes with a discussion on setting realistic expectations, the necessity of marketing investments, and the importance of open communication between franchisors and franchisees.

Ever caught dreaming about running your own business one day? But you never act on that desire because things like a steady paycheck, needing a surplus of cash to start the business, or the fear of not knowing enough kicks in.

These are the MYTHS that hold us back. Yes, myths, the false narratives that keep us from our dreams. 

If you're curious about making a leap into business ownership or just need a fresh perspective on your career, hit play. It's like chatting with your savvy friend who's got the inside scoop. 

Let's bust those myths and unlock your true potential together! 

Discover the dynamic world of franchising in this engaging episode featuring Jason West-McReynolds, a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the franchise industry.

Jason's background and extensive industry experience come to life as he shares his entrepreneurial journey, which began at just 15 years of age. His impressive resume includes being a Certified Franchise Executive and a member of the International Franchise Association for five years. Notably, Jason served as the CFO and Head of Franchise Relations for a major pizza franchise, helping expand it to over 30 locations.

The conversation places a strong emphasis on the critical role of core values and company culture in franchise success, along with the potential challenges and benefits of multi-unit or area development deals for franchisees.

Moreover, the episode highlights the importance of establishing and running multiple corporate-owned locations before venturing into franchising. This practical advice is incredibly valuable for those looking to enter the world of franchising. Jason's expertise and guidance are particularly relevant for both emerging and established franchisors.

WARNING! In this episode, I am giving you 5 areas that should be priorities for every business owner to succeed in 2024. Make sure to actually prioritize these steps and you will be well on your way to a prosperous 2024 and beyond.

Let's dive into the emotional and financial aspects of entrepreneurship! In this episode we highlight the challenges and rewards of franchise ownership while emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making and the significance of a well-structured team. I am joined by Ann Marie Weaver, who has a 20+ year career in the HR compliance and payroll industry. You can learn more about Paylocity at I need to send you the link to add to the last sentence of the Show Notes when I receive it from Ann Marie.

There are two actions you need to take while selling and they will take away any uncomfortable feelings you have around selling every single time. Selling makes a lot of people uneasy because they view it from a consumer's standpoint. If you take action on the concepts I bring up in this episode, you will be confident that you are not pushy or annoying at your next sales call.

Take a peek into one of our client meetings! Last week we had the wonderful Laura Pfeiffer as a guest coach in our Infinite Franchisee® Program. The message she had for those in attendance was so good we had to shareLaura Pfeiffer it with all of you.

During the call we covered how to deal with difficult conversations with employees and imposter syndrome. Hope you enjoy the episode.

In this episode, we dive into the economic slowdown and how it's affecting small businesses. The key insight? It's not just the economy—it's how your customers perceive it. Rising costs and changing spending habits are real, but it's your messaging that needs a refresh. Your customers are still out there, waiting to spend, and you can win them back. How? By revising your customer avatar. Listen in and I'll show you how. 

Angela Coté and I had a great conversation about how valuable franchise business coaches are and the support they can provide for franchisees. They are not just another expense, oftentimes franchisees up-level their businesses and mindsets once they work with a franchise business coach.

The #1 driver of franchise system success is profitable, engaged franchisees. Coaching franchisees to become better business owners is how you create overall system success!

Angela Coté is the CEO and Founder of AC Inc and an international speaker and facilitator.

After growing up in franchising and working in all areas of the franchise relationship, Angela knew there was a need in the franchise industry for field coach training, assessment, and development.

The AC community is a network of franchise systems that truly care for the success of their owners and believe in the power of professional development.

Matthew Gourgeot with Thryv is my guest this week. Matt helped launch Thryv's software business within the franchisee space in 2019. We had a great conversation about the franchising industry and the importance of a simple, reliable business software for small business owners and emerging franchisors. Thryv helps streamline operations & marketing by placing all the tools needed in one place including tools that can help manage customer communications, marketing and payments on 1 system.

If having a membership with 6 to 8 different software tools to manage your customer experience sounds familiar, then Thryv will be your best friend.

As a Software as a Service platform designed for small businesses, Thryv prides itself on having a holistic and easily-navigable platform that can fit the molds of various different industries. In the franchise space franchisors install Thryv at every franchise location to standardize the customer experience across each unit.

Numbers can be a scary site when you are running a business. That's why this week we have guest Jill Shaver of Solutions by Shaver on the podcast. Solutions by Shaver is a bookkeeping and accounting firm who helps small business owners get their numbers right by customizing support for each business owner they work with. They offer bookkeeping, payroll, financial reporting and a variety of other services including partnering with Cavin CPA’s & Advisors to offer tax planning to enhance the client experience. 

Learn from a true number's gal how to look at your numbers, what the most difficult part of finances is for the majority of small business owners, and the relief you will feel from leaving the bookkeeping to the professionals. 

The time is now! Black Friday is right around the corner, and in order to have a successful holiday season, you need to start working on Black Friday strategies 90 days out! (We are already past the 90 day mark when this episode airs!)

So, I'm sharing some strategies that are necessary for every business owner to use this holiday season and how you can make the most with the time you have left leading up to Black Friday.

Tune in to learn what they are and how to implement them.

April is joined by three special guests: Cheryl Parrish, owner of the Rose & Hook and Lillie James Boutique, Mary Armstrong, owner of 314 Garden Supply, and Cheryl Torres, owner of 9Round Kickboxing. All three ladies recently attended an In-Person VIP event for 2 days with April. 

Listen in as they discuss the wins they are experiencing from attending the event, (just a mer 10 days after the event was held as of the recording date) and the mindset shifts and challenges they faced at the event. They round out the episode discussing the value of being in-person rather than just meeting virtually. 

It's hard to fully understand what I do. So, I'm going to lay it all out for you today! Here's a little hint.... I'm NOT a franchise consultant. ;) Tune in to find out what I call myself and the importance of making sure your audience knows what it is you exactly do.

Do you ever think, "My team won't do that! They would all quit." Have you ever thought that if you make a requirement your team would be mad and revolt?

In this episode, I'm sharing the secrets to unlocking your team's true potential and sharing perspectives with you so you don't ever have to think that your whole team would quit again.

The Director of Digital Marketing at Hay House Publishing, Debbie Ward, is with April this week. They are breaking down what digital marketing means for franchisees and small business owners, how to make the biggest impact online for your business and learn if it is possible to "take back the power" from social media.

Do you journal everyday?

As a business owner, you should be! I am going to share with you the benefits of journaling and how it can transcend and grow your mindset as a business owner. 

When you list your business for sale, how do you continue your motivation to grow it? These 3 priorities I share are the ways you can do just that.

Keep up with April here:

Tune in for a little taste of the Business Sanity Formula Masterclass. This clip is focused on growing your mindset and helping you overcome the programming you had ingrained in you since your first day of school.

Tune in to hear the inspiring story of Dan Claps and the Voda franchise in this week's podcast episode. From humble beginnings to CEO, Dan's journey is f illed with valuable lessons and a drive to redefine success. We discuss the rapid growth of Voda, the challenges faced, and the innovative approach that sets them apart.

Get ready to be moved and motivated as Dan shares his vision for building an empire.

Keep up with April here:

Franchisees and Franchisors are actually at a higher-risk of having something holding their business back. Now, that goes against everything we are told about franchising, because in franchising, long as you follow the model, you will succeed. Right? 

But there is a bigger threat to franchisees than any other kind of business owner. Listen in to learn what that threat is and how to avoid it in your business.

Business ownership is hard! Often times we put out as many fires as we can before the next one pops up.Leaving us fed up and ready to call it quits with the business.

But there is a way we can create a life of sanity around our business and I’m going to show you how.Listen in as I cover a few ways you can bring sanity to your life, so that you can live the life you dreamt of before you started your business.

And join me for my first ever Business Sanity Formula Masterclass the week of July 17 for 1-hour each day as I share easy strategies to implement in your business to gain more sanity in your life.

In this episode, I am asking you some questions that will help you realize what's holding you back, where you want to go, but most importantly, what's holding you back from getting there and reaching your SWAG™.

These are great questions to ask yourself for your business but also for your personal life. 

Check out the episode and discover what's holding you back.

Keep up with April here:

Finding employees is hard! In today’s we’ll cover why that is and how you have the power to change the narrative.

Download my free e-book “Maximizing Your Workforce” - 11 Hiring Mistakes to Avoid

Hear how Ask April Porter came to be and learn about April's background as a prosecuting attorney that led her to becoming an award-winning multi-unit franchisee. 

Hear from a franchisor who exemplifies SWAG™ - Sanity, Wealth, and Gratitude™ for her franchisees. This is one of the stories that will give you hope for the franchising industry and learn a little bit about salt therapy along the way. 

The Salt Suite: TheSaltSuite.com

It's been turning into a struggle to gather customers online and we have found success on these three platforms.

Tune in to find out which they are and tell us if you have heard of them too!