Many aspiring business owners believe buying a franchise is a shortcut to success, but Cliff Nonnenmacher explains why that assumption leads to costly mistakes. In this episode, Cliff joins Russ and Joey to share his journey from Wall Street investment banking to building, scaling, and exiting multiple franchise businesses. Drawing from decades of experience, Cliff explains why most people fail in franchising, not because the model is broken, but because they skip proper valuation, due diligence, and execution. He breaks down why buying at the right price matters more than brand recognition, how a poor "skills fit" destroys profitability, and why execution (not hype) creates real opportunity.
