What happens when franchisees become owners of the very brand they believed in? In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman welcomes Ashley Morris, CEO of Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, whose journey began not in the corporate office, but behind the counter as a Capriotti's franchisee.

After experiencing the brand's potential firsthand, Ashley and his partners made the bold decision to acquire the entire company—closing the transaction on January 1, 2008, just as the global financial crisis was beginning to unfold.

Most would have pulled back. Ashley doubled down. Rather than cutting corners, Capriotti's invested in product quality, franchisee support, and disciplined growth. That commitment transformed a beloved regional sandwich shop into one of the most respected brands in the QSR/fast casual franchise space, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In this conversation, you'll discover:

• Why becoming a franchisee first gave Ashley a fundamentally different perspective on leadership.
• How buying the company just before the Great Recession, shaped every decision that followed.

• Why protecting quality became Capriotti's greatest competitive advantage.
• The importance of franchisee trust, culture, and long-term thinking.

• What Ashley sees ahead for restaurant franchising, AI, and sustainable growth.

This isn't simply the story of a sandwich brand. It's the story of franchisees who believed in a business enough to buy it—and then spent the next two decades proving they were right.

What happens when your first business collapses and leaves you deeply in debt? For Tom Spadea, it became the foundation for everything that followed.

In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman welcomes Tom Spadea, co-founder of Spadea Lignana, one of franchising's most respected law firms.

Tom's journey began in a family machine shop business before launching a radio transmitter manufacturing company with childhood friend Josh Lignana. When that business failed, Tom found himself searching for a new direction. That search led him through business brokerage, franchise sales, law school, and eventually to building a law firm that today includes fifteen attorneys and more than forty team members.

In this conversation:

• Why franchising is a 50X–100X growth strategy
• The transition from operator to coach
• Why franchise agreements should function like constitutions
• The biggest mistakes emerging franchisors make
• Private equity's impact on franchising
• The importance of transparency and franchisee profitability
• Why foundations matter before "the cement hardens"

Tom also shares lessons from fourteen years of helping founder-led businesses scale through franchising and what he looks for in successful franchisor clients.

Whether you're considering franchising your business or already building a franchise system, this episode is packed with practical wisdom.

What happens when a franchisor executive becomes a franchise operator? Everything changes. In this episode of Franchise Today, Stan Friedman welcomes Heather Leed Neary, President and CEO of Taco John's, for a candid conversation about franchising, restaurant leadership, labor challenges, operational simplicity, and what she learned after moving from corporate leadership into the franchisee world.

Heather's journey began with what was supposed to be a temporary marketing position at Auntie Anne's. Instead, it launched a decades-long career in franchising that eventually led her to leadership roles at several iconic brands before becoming President and CEO of Taco John's.

But perhaps her greatest leadership education came when she stepped into the franchisee side of the business.

Managing more than 1,300 Taco Bell restaurants taught her lessons that many franchisors never fully appreciate. A $1,000 corporate mandate isn't just a $1,000 decision. Across a franchise system, it can become a six-figure expense for operators who live with the consequences every day.

In this conversation:

• Why simplicity beats complexity in restaurant operations
• What COVID taught restaurant leaders about labor and flexibility
• Creating pathways: from crew member to franchise owner
• Maintaining hospitality in a digital-first world
• The importance of community engagement and local leadership
• Why successful franchisors must think like franchisees

Heather also shares her vision for the future of Taco John's and why operational excellence starts with understanding the economics of the people who make the business work every day.