Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)

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Too many aspiring entrepreneurs spend years saving for business ownership, only to invest in an opportunity that was never the right fit. Alex Smereczniak has seen buyers focus on passion, hype, or income potential before asking whether a business matches their skills, lifestyle, and financial reality. In Part 2 of this How We Profit episode, Alex shares his five-step framework for evaluating franchise opportunities and breaks down real business models that can help entrepreneurs build wealth through franchising. 

In this episode, Hala and Alex will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:15) Franzy’s Business Model

(12:27) The Five-Step Process for Franchise Buying

(29:29) Red Flags Every Buyer Should Watch Out For

(32:20) Why Artificial Turf Franchises Are Booming

(38:25) The Business of Pediatric Therapy Centers

(43:53) Beauty and Wellness Studio Margins

(46:00) Pilates Studios as Cash Machines

(48:17) The Economics of Coffee Shop Franchises

(53:11) Profitable Franchise Categories for Entrepreneurs 

Alex Smereczniak is the co-founder and CEO of Franzy, an AI-driven franchise discovery platform that helps aspiring business owners find and evaluate franchise opportunities. Before Franzy, he co-founded 2ULaundry and LaundroLab, a tech-enabled laundry delivery and laundromat franchise business. He has experience building marketplace businesses, raising venture capital, and scaling franchise systems. Join the thousands that use Franzy to research, match with, and buy a franchise at franzy.com 

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Prolon - Reset your body with Prolon’s five-day plant-based program. Go to ProlonLife.com/PROFITING for 15% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing. 

Resources Mentioned:

Alex’s Platform, Franzy: https://franzy.com/ 

Alex’s Instagram: instagram.com/alexfromfranzy/   

Alex’s Twitter: x.com/AlexfromFranzy  

Alex’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329   

HWP with Alex Part 1: youngandprofiting.co/AS-HWPE3PT1 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Entrepreneurship gave Natalie Ellis the success she had always wanted, but behind the scenes, BossBabe started to feel like a business she could not step away from. When motherhood, burnout, and a difficult co-founder split forced her to slow down, she realized the freedom she built the company for was no longer reflected in how the business ran. So she rebuilt BossBabe into a business designed for freedom; one that could scale without needing her at the center of it all. In this episode, Natalie reveals the systems that allowed her team to generate $2.2 million during her maternity leave and shares how entrepreneurs can build a freedom-based business that supports their life, not traps them inside it.

In this episode, Hala and Natalie will discuss: 

(00:00) Introduction

(01:27) When Success Becomes a Business Trap

(05:44) The Cost of People-Pleasing

(10:05) Navigating the Business Partner "Divorce" 

(14:40) Building a Scalable Freedom-Based Business

(19:31) Natalie’s Strategy as a Creator Entrepreneur

(30:55) Scaling Revenue With One Core Offer

(35:58) BossBabe Before and After Motherhood

(43:13) Building a Lifestyle Business for Freedom

(49:09) Natalie’s Entrepreneurship Journey

(59:40) Leveraging AI for Business Growth

Natalie Ellis is the founder and CEO of BossBabe, a business education platform and community for women entrepreneurs. She is also the co-founder of the wellness brand glōci, host of the BossBabe Podcast, and an angel investor in female-owned brands. Her new book, The Freedom-Based Business Method, teaches entrepreneurs how to build a business that creates both financial success and lifestyle freedom.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Remitly - Transfer money internationally across 100+ currencies with no hidden fees. Download the Remitly app or visit remitly.com to get started. Use code BUSINESS to get a $100 bonus after you send $300 or more. New customers only.

Prolon - Reset your body with Prolon’s five-day plant-based program. Go to ProlonLife.com/PROFITING for 15% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing. 

Cash App - If you’ve been curious about bitcoin but haven’t made the jump yet, Cash App makes it easy. Sign up at https://click.cash.app/ui6m/qmgmlraz

For a limited time, new customers can get $10 added to their balance. Just use code CASHAPP10 when you sign up, and—don’t forget this part—send at least $5 to a friend in the first two weeks. Terms apply. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. brand. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures at cash.app/legal/podcast  

Resources Mentioned:

Natalie’s Book, The Freedom-Based Business Method: bit.ly/NE-TFBBM 

Natalie’s Website: natalie-ellis.com 

Natalie’s Instagram: instagram.com/iamnatalie  

Natalie’s Podcast, The Bossbabe Podcast: bit.ly/TBBP-apple 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The true engine of business growth is customer loyalty, and Fred Reichheld has spent decades proving it. While working at Bain & Company, he noticed that businesses with obsessive customer focus were crushing their competitors, yet no one was measuring the loyalty behind those results. So he created the Net Promoter Score (NPS), giving entrepreneurs a way to measure customer loyalty and retention. In this episode, Fred shares how companies like Costco, Apple, and Chick-fil-A create lasting loyalty and why enriching your customers’ lives is one of the most powerful drivers of business growth and endless referrals.

In this episode, Hala and Fred will discuss: 

(00:00) Introduction

(00:37) Building An Intrapreneurial Career Path

(03:23) The Origin of Net Promoter Score

(10:35) The Three Types of NPS Customers

(13:47) How Love Drives Customer Loyalty

(20:02) Turning Customers Into Promoters

(23:20) Launching NPS as an Open-Source System

(31:31) Why Referrals Beat Paid Marketing

(39:35) The Philosophy of Winning on Purpose

(44:08) Fred’s Top Business Lessons 

Fred Reichheld is a business strategist, author, and fellow at Bain & Company. He is the creator of the Net Promoter System, a widely used management system for measuring customer loyalty and improving retention. Named the “high priest of customer loyalty” by The Economist, Fred has shaped how the world’s most successful companies, including Apple, Costco, and Lego, build and measure customer relationships. 

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Remitly - Transfer money internationally across 100+ currencies with no hidden fees. Download the Remitly app or visit remitly.com to get started. Use code BUSINESS to get a $100 bonus after you send $300 or more. New customers only.

Prolon - Reset your body with Prolon’s five-day plant-based program. Go to ProlonLife.com/PROFITING for 15% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing. 

Cash App - If you’ve been curious about bitcoin but haven’t made the jump yet, Cash App makes it easy. Sign up at⁠ https://click.cash.app/ui6m/qmgmlraz⁠

For a limited time, new customers can get $10 added to their balance. Just use code CASHAPP10 when you sign up, and—don’t forget this part—send at least $5 to a friend in the first two weeks. Terms apply. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. brand. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures at cash.app/legal/podcast

Resources Mentioned:

Fred’s Book, Winning on Purpose: bit.ly/FR-WonP 

Fred’s Book, The Ultimate Question 2.0: bit.ly/UltimateQstn 

Fred’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fredreichheld  

Fred’s Website: bain.com/our-team/fred-reichheld/ 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Online Selling, Economics, E-commerce, Ecommerce, Negotiation, Prospecting, Persuasion, Inbound, Value Selling, Account Management, Sales Strategies, Scale, Scaling, Sales podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting a business from scratch is not the only path to entrepreneurship, and Alex Smereczniak learned that through franchising. After building and exiting his first franchise business, he saw how confusing, outdated, and commission-driven the franchise-buying process could be. Spotting those gaps led him to build Franzy, a data-driven marketplace that helps aspiring entrepreneurs buy franchises with more transparency. In part 1 of this How We Profit episode, Alex breaks down the realities of raising capital for an unsexy business, why franchising creates more millionaires than most people realize, how he sold 118 franchise locations in a year, and the lessons he learned from scaling.

In this episode, Hala and Alex will discuss: 

(00:00) Introduction

(02:26) Franzy: The Zillow of Franchising 

(06:49) Why Franchising Creates More Millionaires

(12:30) Starting a Business vs Buying a Franchise

(16:08) Is Franchising Really Passive Income?

(19:09) Alex’s Franchising Journey

(35:13) Raising Millions for Unsexy Businesses

(39:24) Stepping Down as CEO: The Real Story

(45:42) The Cost of Starting Franzy

(56:10) Using Data to Create Entrepreneurs

(58:32) Franzy’s Revenue, Marketing, and Operations

Alex Smereczniak is the co-founder and CEO of Franzy, an AI-driven franchise discovery platform that helps aspiring business owners find and evaluate franchise opportunities. Before Franzy, he co-founded 2ULaundry and LaundroLab, a tech-enabled laundry delivery and laundromat franchise business. He has experience building marketplace businesses, raising venture capital, and scaling franchise systems. 

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Remitly - Transfer money internationally across 100+ currencies with no hidden fees. Download the Remitly app or visit remitly.com to get started. Use code BUSINESS to get a $100 bonus after you send $300 or more. New customers only.

Prolon - Reset your body with Prolon’s five-day plant-based program. Go to ProlonLife.com/PROFITING for 15% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing. 

Cash App - If you’ve been curious about bitcoin but haven’t made the jump yet, Cash App makes it easy. Sign up at https://click.cash.app/ui6m/qmgmlraz

For a limited time, new customers can get $10 added to their balance. Just use code CASHAPP10 when you sign up, and—don’t forget this part—send at least $5 to a friend in the first two weeks. Terms apply. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. brand. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures at cash.app/legal/podcast

Resources Mentioned:

Alex’s Platform, Franzy: https://franzy.com/ 

Alex’s Instagram: instagram.com/alexfromfranzy/   

Alex’s Twitter: x.com/AlexfromFranzy  

Alex’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329   

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One leadership decision helped Will Guidara transform Eleven Madison Park from the lowest-ranked restaurant on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list into the number one restaurant in the world. While most businesses competed on products, pricing, and technology, Will became obsessed with something most companies overlook: how people feel. In this episode, Will shares his philosophy of unreasonable hospitality and reveals why customer experience is a powerful business advantage. He explains the leadership skills, strategic planning, and team-building principles that empower employees to create unforgettable moments and build the kind of customer loyalty that drives business growth. 

In this episode, Hala and Will will discuss: 

(00:00) Introduction

(02:02) The Role of AI in the Hospitality Business

(05:07) Service vs. Hospitality: The Key Difference

(10:49) Going from Last Place to Number One

(14:55) Mapping Every Customer Touchpoint 

(21:58) Turning Transactions Into Unforgettable Experiences

(28:27) Balancing Excellence and Hospitality

(33:50) Building Team Culture With Shared Language

(37:48) Will’s Hospitality Catchphrases

(46:36) Scaling Hospitality Through Pattern Recognition

(54:31) How Leaders Can Empower Their Teams

(01:03:15) Turning Business Mistakes Into Loyalty

(01:08:03) Giving Feedback and Inspiring Teams

Will Guidara is a restaurateur, speaker, and bestselling author of Unreasonable Hospitality. As the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, he helped lead the restaurant to three Michelin stars and the title of World’s Best Restaurant. His work has since redefined hospitality as a core leadership and business strategy across industries. Will is also a co-producer on the Emmy Award-winning series The Bear. 

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Quo - Run your business communications the smart way. Try Quo for free, plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/profiting

Remitly - Transfer money internationally across 100+ currencies with no hidden fees. Download the Remitly app or visit remitly.com to get started. Use code BUSINESS to get a $100 bonus after you send $300 or more. New customers only.

Prolon - Reset your body with Prolon’s five-day plant-based program. Go to ProlonLife.com/PROFITING for 15% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing. 

Cash App - If you’ve been curious about bitcoin but haven’t made the jump yet, Cash App makes it easy. Sign up at https://click.cash.app/ui6m/qmgmlraz

For a limited time, new customers can get $10 added to their balance. Just use code CASHAPP10 when you sign up, and—don’t forget this part—send at least $5 to a friend in the first two weeks. Terms apply. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. brand. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures at cash.app/legal/podcast  

Resources Mentioned:

Will’s Book, Unreasonable Hospitality: bit.ly/WG-UHosp  

Will’s Book, The Field Guide: bit.ly/WG-FieldGuide 

Will’s Website: unreasonablehospitality.com

Will’s Instagram: instagram.com/wguidara/ 

Will’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/willguidara/ 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Networking, Goal Setting, Time Management, Problem Solving, Decision Making
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices