Two people who never wanted a franchise… end up thriving as franchise owners. What happened? 👀

In this episode of The Sidekick Life, Ryan sits down at Sidekick Summit in Scottsdale with Amanda and Frank Lorenz, Bar-B-Clean franchisees in the East Valley of Arizona. They walk through their full journey—from searching for an existing business, swearing off franchising, and worrying about “losing control”… to finding Bar-B-Clean through Franchise Sidekick, validating the brand, and building a growing business while both still working full-time jobs.

They talk honestly about:

Why they originally said “absolutely not” to franchising
The perception of less control vs the reality they live today
Working with Sidekick advisor Des to narrow brands and reduce risk
Hiring struggles, seasonality, and what it’s really like running a “dirty job” in Arizona heat
How community with other franchisees and the franchisor has been a game changer
The turning point moment at a trade show when they realized, “Oh wow… this is going to be big.”
Their #1 piece of advice for anyone thinking about opening a business or buying a franchise:
Use your own judgment, make decisions based on facts, not fear or other people’s opinions.

If you’re on the fence about starting a business or buying a franchise—and everyone around you is saying it’s “too risky”—this episode will help you see the decision more clearly.

Is Franchising Worth It? A Real Couple’s Journey From Doubt to Success