Most people think choosing a franchise starts with picking the right industry.

They're wrong.

In this episode, Erik Van Horn sits down with George to discuss what experienced franchise buyers actually look for before investing. From evaluating founders and leadership to understanding Item 19, customer experience, recurring relationships, and long-term growth, this conversation will change the way you research franchise opportunities.

If you're considering buying a franchise, this episode could save you from making one of the biggest mistakes new buyers make.

Timestamps:

00:02:54 Why Leadership Matters More Than the Industry

00:05:14 Inside the Zinga's Business Model

00:06:58 What Makes This Industry Different

00:09:09 Why Happy Customers Matter More Than You Think

00:12:29 The Biggest Challenge in the Business

00:15:11 Why Home Depot Isn't the Real Competition

00:17:57 How COVID Changed the Home Service Industry

00:21:41 How to Read an Item 19 the Right Way

00:28:49 The Lead Generation Strategy Every Franchise Owner Needs

00:31:15 The Relationship-Building Secret to Recurring Revenue

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#FranchiseBusiness #FranchiseOpportunities #BusinessOwnership

Why do so many successful entrepreneurs struggle when they become franchisors?

Owning a profitable business and building a successful franchise system are two completely different skill sets. In this episode of the Franchise Secrets Podcast, Erik Van Horn explains why business success alone doesn't prepare you to become a great franchisor.

You'll learn why your customer changes, why franchisee profitability should become your product, why sales can become a dangerous vanity metric, and what separates franchise brands that reach 100+ locations from those that never scale.

Whether you're considering franchising your business, already operating a franchise system, or looking to buy a franchise, this episode will help you avoid some of the biggest mistakes founders make.

In this episode:

-Why successful entrepreneurs often struggle as franchisors

-The biggest mindset shift every founder must make

-Why franchisees—not customers—become your focus

-The dangerous obsession with franchise sales

-How to build a franchise brand that actually scales

-The difference between running a business and running a franchise system

Timestamps:

00:00 Why Successful Business Owners Fail as Franchisors

00:58 Recording From Florida

02:28 The Bahamas Spearfishing Trip

09:29 Sharks, Leadership & Big Questions

12:38 The Road to 100 Franchise Locations

15:09 Your Franchisee Is Your Customer

16:32 Why Business Success Doesn't Equal Franchise Success

18:23 Why Franchising Is a Completely Different Business

20:57 Stop Chasing Franchise Sales

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#Franchising #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur

What happens when you walk away from a stable healthcare career to start selling window blinds?

In this episode of Franchise Secrets, George Huizinga shares the unexpected journey that led him from managing nursing homes to building Zinga's, a multi-state home shading company that's now expanding through franchising. Along the way, he reveals how relationships—not advertising—became the foundation of his growth, why he believes culture beats strategy, and how faith shaped the way he built his business.

You'll learn:

-Why George left healthcare to become an entrepreneur

-How relationship marketing fueled decades of growth

-The mindset shift that changed his business

-How Zinga's expanded into multiple states before franchising

-Why culture and leadership matter more than most entrepreneurs realize

Whether you're exploring franchise ownership, building a home service business, or looking for proven leadership principles, this episode is full of practical wisdom.

Timestamps:

00:00 Why Zinga's Was Built for Franchising

04:38 What Zinga's Actually Does

07:21 Growing Up with an Entrepreneurial Mindset

09:14 Leaving Healthcare to Start a Business

10:33 Why He Chose the Window Covering Industry

14:58 The Relationship Strategy That Fueled Growth

19:19 Scaling Beyond a One-Man Business

23:46 Why Zinga's Chose Franchising

29:28 Building a Culture People Never Want to Leave

38:05 Success Is About More Than Money

👇 Learn more about franchising and growing your business in the links below.

Connect with Erik Van Horn:

🌐 Website - https://franchisesecrets.com/

📷 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikvanhorn/

👍 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erik.v.horn/

💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanhorn/

Best Franchise Starter Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMlgRgsBAo4LWNCMSOthnK0r&si=TD1z25-ie2d23rGm

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMle5_OUXiuLbc_UPBtz1vTE&si=uCOgDya1VnnCarDf

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEithd54kMk2Kw07KwZGWgF8UTx9N5_T&si=ZldjBOqFanGE-JUL

#Franchise #Entrepreneur #Zingas