Many mid-career professionals dream of leaving the 9–5 grind, but the fear of starting a business from scratch holds them back. Creating systems, building operations, and taking on risk can feel overwhelming.
This fear keeps people stuck—working long hours for someone else’s dream, instead of building their own. Too often, people dive into the wrong franchise, like restaurants, without understanding the razor-thin margins and lifestyle demands. The result? Burnout, financial strain, and disappointment.
In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with James Hilovsky, franchise consultant and founder of The Fran Dream. With over 20 years inside the franchise world—supporting openings, operations, and franchisees—James reveals how franchising can be the ultimate “business in a box” when done right. He explains what makes a good franchise fit, common mistakes people make, and how to choose a path that builds wealth, freedom, and legacy.
Key Takeaways:
• How James went from Del Taco corporate to scaling Pyology from 1 to 100 locations.
• Why not all franchises are created equal—and why restaurants are often the riskiest.
• The benefits of working with a franchise consultant vs. going it alone.
• How to choose franchises that fit your lifestyle, goals, and risk tolerance.
• Why mindset and willingness to “bet on yourself” are the key traits of successful franchisees.
• The step-by-step process of evaluating, funding, and validating a franchise.
• Why support from franchisors and fellow franchisees makes all the difference.
• The truth about margins, training, and why some businesses are better avoided.
About the Guest:
James is a former minor league baseball player who knows firsthand what it’s like to face the question, “What’s next?” After his time in professional sports, he transitioned into the restaurant industry, steadily working his way up through the ranks. Yet, even after years of climbing the corporate ladder, he held onto a bigger vision owning something of his own.
That pursuit led James into the world of franchising, where he discovered his passion: helping others make the leap into business ownership. Today, he guides aspiring entrepreneurs, former athletes, and career professionals through the process of finding the right franchise to match their goals, lifestyle, and investment level. He represents more than 400 brands across industries such as kids’ education, fitness, senior care, home services, and beyond.
In addition to supporting new franchise owners, James also partners with independent business owners who want to scale their companies by turning them into franchise models.
Whether someone is transitioning from sports, seeking a way out of the corporate grind, or simply exploring entrepreneurship, James brings a unique perspective and real-world insight into what it takes to succeed in franchising and how to build a business that truly works for one’s life.
Links:
https://www.thefrandream.co
Fast Five Questions:
1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I would use my knowledge on my laptop to start conversations right away—reaching out to my network, creating quick content, connecting with franchisors. Conversations become candidates. Networking and relying on my network would get me back up.”
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “In corporate, it was playing office politics instead of standing by what I knew was best for my team. As an entrepreneur, it was losing focus on customers—the main thing is always the main thing.”
3. What is a book that you would recommend? "Big Money Energy by Ryan Serhant. “It’s all about how to dominate at life, how to use your network, and build both your business and others’ at the same time.”
4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “ChatGPT—I use it to rewrite every email and text I send. It makes sure every message is right before it goes out.”
5. What is your definition of freedom? “Gratitude and generosity are the gateway to freedom. Freedom is being in a career where you have time to enjoy life—watch your kids grow, catch a game, make memories. Nobody says on their deathbed, ‘I wish I worked another day.”
About Jeff:
Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation
Connect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/
Connect with Jeff:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomnationpodcast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffKikel
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkikel/
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