The Brian Beers Show

Episode 273: These 14 Big Brands Are Franchises (And You Had No Idea)
Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Brian Beers

Overview

In this episode, Brian Beers debunks the myth that franchising is limited to fast food and fitness, revealing 14 surprisingly diverse franchise opportunities. Drawing from his experience building an 8-figure portfolio, Brian breaks down each business's model, ideal owner profile, startup costs, and success factors. The tone is fast-paced, practical, and genuinely enthusiastic, aimed at those looking to build wealth through franchising—whether as a career shift, side hustle, or investment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Franchising Beyond Food & Fitness

• Theme: Franchises are everywhere, especially in industries unsuspected by the public.
• “It’s not all fast food and fitness. There are businesses hiding in plain sight owned by ordinary people like me and you, who are crushing it every day without having to reinvent the wheel.” (00:00)

2. The 14 Surprising Franchise Brands

1. Crime Scene Cleanup

• Overview: Handles cleanup after deaths, crimes, and hoarding situations.
• Startup Cost: $115K–$200K
• Key Skills: B2B relationship building with law enforcement, insurers, property managers.
• “If you can’t stand the smell or something like that would totally gross you out, probably not the right business for you.” (01:50)

2. Artificial Turf (Waterloo Turf)

• Overview: Installs synthetic lawns with recurring maintenance plans.
• Startup Cost: $106K–$150K
• Ideal Owner: Consultative sales ability, project management, detail-oriented.
• “They just… want to get their Saturdays back. Instead of mowing, they get to enjoy it.” (03:05)

3. Used Electronics Retailer (Paymore)

• Overview: Buys used electronics for cash, resells for profit.
• Startup Cost: $150K–$260K
• Profile: Tech-savvy, community-focused, comfortable running retail.
• “This is like a recession-proof industry when you think about it.” (05:20)

4. Frio’s Gourmet Popsicle

• Overview: Sells natural handmade popsicles from vans/carts at events and neighborhoods.
• Startup Cost: $60K–$120K
• Ideal For: Community-oriented, family-friendly, enjoys events.
• Best quote: “You’re literally handing them happiness on a stick, as they say.” (07:20)

5. Go Glow Spray Tan

• Overview: Modern, airbrush-style spray tan, sold via subscription.
• Startup Cost: $255K–$485K (retail buildout)
• Profile: Women/power couples, community builders, membership-focused.
• “You walk into this booth and within minutes someone’s got like this airbrush tan. And it’s natural and it looks great.” (09:05)

6. Hello Sugar (Sugaring/Hair Removal)

• Overview: Tech-driven, lower-pain hair removal with membership model.
• Startup Cost: $95K–$120K (salon suite), $300K–$400K (flagship)
• Unique Approach: Start small in a salon suite, graduate to full store.
• “There’s not a lot of businesses that can do this kind of stair step approach.” (11:50)

7. Dog Poop Removal

• Overview: Residential/commercial subscription dog waste pick-up.
• Startup Cost: $70K–$85K
• Day in the Life: Hustle-oriented, not afraid of “dirty work.”
• “A lot of people don’t want this type of business, but for a low cost kind of stepping stone…it could be a good option.” (14:05)

8. Mini Weight Loss

• Overview: Physician-developed clinics (owners needn’t be doctors), serving medical and coaching services.
• Startup Cost: $225K–$430K
• Ideal Owner: Experience managing professionals, healthcare familiarity.
• “You build out a retail concept...you hire them and so you build out a retail concept and you have, you know, physicians and nurses there.” (15:30)

9. Auto Repair (Midas & others)

• Overview: Ranges from full repair (Midas) to oil change, glass, tinting.
• Startup Cost: $200K–$1M+ (varies by acquisition/new build)
• Profile: Not mechanically required, must be good at operations/management.
• “I own 34 Midas Auto Repair shops and you know, we do a great job with it. And so it’s not just Midas.” (17:10)

10. Salon Suites (Image Studios)

• Overview: Owns/rents suite spaces to beauty professionals; owner acts as property manager.
• Startup Cost: $1M–$2M
• Ideal Franchisee: Well-capitalized, B2B/real estate, property management skills.
• “Once you fill up the studios…you’re kind of like done.” (19:15)

11. Parking Lot Maintenance (Everline)

• Overview: Striping, sealing, repairs for commercial lots.
• Startup Cost: $160K–$300K
• Profile: B2B sales/project management.
• “Often these are large contracts. They’re bidded out in the beginning of the year…huge opportunity.” (21:20)

12. Senior Care (Right at Home, Home Watch Caregivers, Visiting Angels)

• Overview: Non-medical companion care and home assistance for seniors.
• Startup Cost: $130K–$200K
• Success Factors: Caregiver recruiting/retention and matching; empathy.
• “With baby boomers getting older, demand is only rising.” (23:00)

13. Smart Home Systems (Savvy Homes)

• Overview: Installs and maintains tech-driven home automation.
• Startup Cost: Not specified; high tech/consultative approach.
• Ideal Franchisee: Passionate about tech, consultative sales ability, enjoy innovation.
• “You really gotta love technology and want to be in a business that is…new but has a ton of potential.” (24:50)

14. (Meta-Insight)

• Many more franchises exist in niches most people never consider (over 3,000 opportunities).
• “It’s not just McDonald’s, it’s not just Chick-fil-A. You can get in almost anything.” (26:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You don’t need millions of dollars. Almost all the ones I’m going to talk about are less than $350,000.” (06:40)
• “My favorite is strawberry cheesecake. My daughter loves cotton candy, which literally has pieces of cotton candy that you pull out of it.” (07:05) [On Frio’s]
• “I’m not a car person by any means, but I own 34 Midas Auto Repair shops…” (17:20)
• “This is just scratching the surface…over 3,000 different franchises out there.” (26:00)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – Franchising misconceptions & intro
• 01:05 – Crime Scene Cleanup explained
• 03:00 – Artificial Turf
• 05:10 – Used Electronics Retail
• 07:05 – Frio’s Gourmet Popsicle
• 09:05 – Go Glow Spray Tan
• 11:30 – Hello Sugar / Sugaring
• 14:00 – Dog Poop Removal
• 15:20 – Mini Weight Loss
• 17:10 – Auto Repair
• 19:00 – Salon Suites (Image Studios)
• 21:10 – Parking Lot Maintenance (Everline)
• 23:00 – Senior Care
• 24:40 – Smart Home Franchise (Savvy Homes)
• 25:50 – Broader franchise landscape wrap-up

Tone and Advice for Listeners

Brian is direct, energetic, and encourages a no-fluff, action-oriented approach to evaluating franchise options. He consistently emphasizes due diligence, fit for personality and skills, and practical startup costs—often much lower than assumed. He encourages leveraging his team’s resources and experience for those interested in any of the discussed brands, noting, “It literally costs you nothing.” (27:00) For aspiring franchise owners, the key is: “Finding something that’s right for you, that matches your goals, your skills, your budget.” (26:20)

In Short

Brian Beers uncovers a world of franchise businesses hiding in plain sight—from crime scene cleanup and senior care to dog poop removal and popsicle trucks. By sharing real figures, operator profiles, and industry nuances (with plenty of humor and candor), the episode is essential for anyone considering an unconventional path to franchise wealth.