She was 23, miserable in her "dream job," and had never run a business in her life. Today, Anna Dey is a multi-brand, multi-unit franchisee who has owned six different franchise systems — and retired her parents in their 50s along the way.

In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Anna breaks down exactly how she got started using her dad's ROBS (Rollover for Business Startups) funds, how she went from sweaty owner-operator grinding 7 days a week to building a team that runs her businesses without her, and why she'll never buy an existing business when she can build one from scratch.

We cover:

→ How to use ROBS to fund your first franchise with zero outside investors

→ Why passion alignment works for some franchisees — and destroys others

→ The phantom equity structure Anna uses to keep her best leaders loyal

→ Why she cut her portfolio in half and what triggered that decision

→ The "sweat equity vs. financial equity" rule every aspiring owner needs to hear

→ Why franchise resales that never sold inside the network are a red flag

→ The difference between being an owner-operator and a true portfolio owner

Whether you're thinking about your first franchise or your fifth, Anna's story is one of the most honest, real-world looks at what multi-unit franchise ownership actually takes.

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CHAPTERS

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0:00 Intro — Meet Anna Dey, multi-brand franchise owner

2:02 Anna's current portfolio: Clean Eats, Smoothie King & Go Glow

4:12 Miserable in her "dream job" at 23 — the origin story

6:18 Using ROBS (401k rollover) to fund her first franchise

8:10 Being an all-in owner-operator: 7 days a week, top 5% nationally

9:59 The Cinderella exit: selling after 9.5 years & retiring her parents

12:10 How to start with a partner using a shifting equity structure

14:29 "You have to be the sweat equity OR the financial equity."

16:50 The #1 key to success across all 6 systems: people

19:39 Phantom equity explained — how to make great people stay

24:31 How Anna finds leaders: personal referrals over job postings

28:30 Her honest confession: going wide across brands vs. deep in one

35:15 Why brand diversification saved her during COVID

39:15 Why she will never buy an existing business

45:18 The red flag in franchise resales

50:30 Where to start if you're overwhelmed by franchising options

57:56 "Your passion stops being your passion the second it's your livelihood"

59:39 Where to connect with Anna Dey

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CONNECT WITH ANNA DEY

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LinkedIn: Anna Dey (D-E-Y)

Website: TheFranSpot.com

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WORK WITH WES

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7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:

https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes: https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

Connect with Wes:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

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#FranchiseOwnership #FranchiseUnfiltered #Franchising #BusinessOwnership #SmallBusiness #MultiUnitFranchise #EntrepreneurMindset #FranchiseConsulting #ROBS #PhantomEquity #BusinessFreedom #WealthBuilding #FranchiseTips #PassiveIncome #FinancialFreedom

Most people think committing to multiple franchise locations means opening all of them at once… and needing ALL the money upfront.

That’s not how it works.

In this video, we break down the truth about multi-unit franchising — including what actually happens when you commit to multiple locations, how development timelines really work, and why many experienced operators choose this strategy.

If you’re considering franchise ownership, this is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

Watch this before you commit.

Timestamps:

0:16 — One Location or Multiple?

1:03 — What This Video Is Really About

2:05 — The Big Decision Explained

3:12 — Do You Have to Open All at Once?

4:41 — What Is a Multi-Unit Agreement?

5:55 — Why People Choose Multiple Locations

8:29 — The Cost Advantage Explained

13:45 — Why Multi-Unit Owners Scale Faster

20:12 — The Downsides You Need to Know

32:40 — The Truth About Opening Multiple Locations

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:

https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes: https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

Connect with Wes:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

#Franchise #MultiUnit #Business

The wellness industry isn’t just growing—it’s exploding into a trillion-dollar global market. In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Wes sits down with Jeff Ono (Co-Founder & President of Pause Studio) and Lisa Tengbom (Strategic Specialist) to break down what’s driving this surge—and how Pause Studio is positioning itself within it.

They unpack how modern lifestyles, increased stress, and a shift toward proactive health are fueling demand for recovery and wellness services. From cold plunges and IV therapy to flotation and contrast therapy, Pause Studio brings multiple science-backed modalities under one roof—making high-end wellness more accessible.

But what really sets them apart?

A new credit-based membership model designed to increase flexibility, usage, and long-term engagement

A focus on repeat clients over vanity metrics

A premium, high-touch experience that prioritizes how customers feel the moment they walk in

A disciplined expansion strategy—growing intentionally, not everywhere

They also share what they’ve learned scaling the brand:

Why leadership style is the biggest differentiator among top franchisees

The key KPIs that actually matter (and what to ignore)

Why this is not an absentee-owner business—and what it really takes to succeed

With dozens of locations open and many more in development, Pause Studio is tapping into a massive shift: people are no longer treating wellness as a luxury—it’s becoming a lifestyle.

If you’ve been curious about franchising, business ownership, or where the wellness industry is headed next—this episode breaks it down.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Welcome to Franchise Unfiltered

01:44 — What Pause Studio Actually Does

03:45 — The Trillion-Dollar Wellness Boom

04:58 — Why People Are Shifting to Proactive Health

07:00 — The New Membership Model Explained

08:10 — How Credits Increase Customer Spending

11:50 — How Fast Pause Studio Is Expanding

13:20 — The “Pause Lite” Expansion Strategy

15:42 — What Makes Top Franchisees Successful

20:34 — The Biggest Mistakes Franchise Owners Make

7 Steps to Owning a Franchise:

https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising

🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes: https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes

Connect with Wes:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/

#PauseStudio #Wellness #Franchise