Welcome to this episode of Empire Builders, hosted by Tommy Yionoulis. Today, we sit down with Dave Hansen, CEO of ClientTether, a leading franchise CRM platform. Dave shares insights about his role at ClientTether and the journey that led him there, including his extensive experience in sales, tech, and franchise development. We discuss how ClientTether's unique technology is tailored to the needs of franchise businesses, streamlining everything from lead response to customer service follow-ups.

Key Highlights:

Dave's Background:

• From selling door-to-door at the age of five to leading sales teams in the tech and EdTech industries, Dave’s journey to ClientTether has been driven by a passion for sales and technology.

ClientTether's Niche:

• Unlike other CRMs, ClientTether is designed specifically for franchisors and franchisees, offering unique features that support both parent companies and individual franchise operations.

Challenges and Solutions:

• Dave discusses the early challenges ClientTether faced, such as resource constraints and finding focus. He also highlights the importance of automating communication and follow-ups for consistent customer engagement.

Franchise Dynamics:

• We explore the unique needs of the franchising industry, including the balance between corporate support and franchisee independence, and how ClientTether meets these needs better than other CRM solutions.

Scaling with Quality:

• Maintaining high-quality service while scaling operations is a significant challenge. Dave shares ClientTether’s strategy of combining technology with hands-on support to ensure customer satisfaction and continued growth.

Join us as we dive into the world of franchise CRM technology, the lessons learned from scaling a tech business, and how automation can revolutionize franchise operations. Stay tuned for more insights from industry leaders on Empire Builders. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed the episode!

Links And Resources:

• ClientTether
• Dave Hansen on LinkedIn

• Tommy Yionoulis on Linkedin
• OpsAnalitica

Thank you for joining us this week! Are you interested in subscribing to Empire Builders? We would love to hear your feedback! Connect with us on Spotify or Captivate.fm and leave us a review.

Welcome to the latest episode of Empire Builders! In today's conversation, host Tommy Yionoulis is joined by Jolita Brilliant, founder of Brilliant Massage & Skin. Jolita shares her inspiring journey of building a wellness business from the ground up, expanding into multiple locations, and now exploring franchising opportunities. Whether you're interested in wellness, entrepreneurship, or franchising, this episode offers valuable insights.

Key Points Discussed:

Brilliant Massage & Skin’s Beginnings:

• Jolita talks about how she started as an individual practitioner and grew her business to include multiple locations in Vermont, with a focus on providing quality massage and skin care services.

Challenges of Hiring and Managing Staff:

• Jolita shares her initial fears about hiring her first employee and the responsibility that comes with managing a team. She discusses the balance between needing employees to grow and the challenges they can bring.

COVID-19 Impact and Adaptation:

• Jolita discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her business, the difficulties faced during the shutdown, and how these challenges ultimately led to strengthening their marketing efforts and operational systems.

Transition to Franchising:

• Jolita reveals her decision to start franchising Brilliant Massage & Skin. She explains the motivation behind this move, given Vermont’s limited market size, and her goal to expand the brand across the East Coast, with a focus on states like New York and New Jersey.

Importance of Systems and Processes:

• As a process-oriented business owner, Jolita emphasizes the significance of having robust systems in place for scheduling, client management, and staff training. She highlights how these systems help maintain service quality and support franchisees.

Marketing and Customer Retention:

• Jolita touches on the marketing strategies that have been successful for her business, including using technology for virtual management and outsourcing reception services, which allows her to offer competitive compensation to attract high-quality talent.

Personal Story and Motivation:

• Jolita shares her personal journey from Lithuania to the U.S., her passion for wellness stemming from personal loss, and how these experiences have shaped her approach to business and life.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Empire Builders, where we explore the journeys of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and innovators. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, share it with your network, and subscribe to the podcast for more insights on building successful businesses.

Links And Resources:

• Brilliant Massage & Skin
• Brilliant Franchise LLC
• Jolita (Brilliant) Sakmanaite on LinkedIn

• Tommy Yionoulis on Linkedin
• OpsAnalitica

Thank you for joining us this week! Are you interested in subscribing to Empire Builders? We would love to hear your feedback! Connect with us on

In this episode of "Empire Builders," host Tommy Yionoulis sits down with Isaac Aldridge, a determined entrepreneur and franchisee of Dirty Dough, a growing brand specializing in delicious cookies and milkshakes. Isaac shares his journey from choosing Dirty Dough for its operational simplicity to managing his first store in Springfield, Missouri.

Key Points Discussed:

Why Dirty Dough?

• Isaac explains his decision to franchise with Dirty Dough, drawn to the product's quality and the ease of operations, where cookies are pre-made and shipped frozen to the store. He highlights the flexibility of the business model, which includes options like food trucks and drive-thrus.

Challenges in Construction and Staffing:

• With no prior experience, Isaac faced significant challenges in construction and staffing. He discusses the steep learning curve involved in setting up the store, managing construction, and overcoming early staffing issues by stepping into management roles alongside his wife.

Operational Simplicity and Expansion Plans:

• Isaac emphasizes the importance of simplicity in business operations, especially when planning for expansion. He aims to create processes so streamlined that a young manager could run a store without needing a business degree.

Balancing Freedom and Responsibility:

• The discussion explores the dual nature of entrepreneurship—freedom to solve problems creatively versus the continuous responsibility of running a business. Isaac shares his thoughts on the type of freedom he values, focusing on control over problem-solving rather than maximizing income.

Unexpected Setbacks and Resilience:

• Isaac recounts a major setback where a clerical error led to the loss of a prime store location. Despite this, he and his team secured a new site, albeit with delays and added financial strain, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.

Looking Ahead:

• As Isaac prepares for the grand opening of his Dirty Dough location at the end of August, he reflects on the lessons learned and the excitement of welcoming customers to his store.

Join us for an insightful conversation that delves into the real challenges and rewards of franchise ownership, as Isaac Aldridge shares his experiences and aspirations for the future.

Links And Resources:

• Dirty Dough
• Isaac Aldridge on LinkedIn
• Dirty Dough on Instagram

• Tommy Yionoulis on Linkedin
• OpsAnalitica

Thank you for joining us this week! Are you interested in subscribing to Empire Builders? We would love to hear your feedback! Connect with us on Spotify or Captivate.fm and leave us a review.