From Googling “Can you sell a franchise after 4 months?” to owning and scaling a multi-brand franchise empire, Anna Dey’s story is the ultimate masterclass in perseverance and smart growth.
In this episode of Franchise Secrets, Erik sits down with Anna to uncover how she:
-Survived brutal 2 a.m. shifts and near-burnout
-Has owned and scaled brands including Anytime Fitness, Clean Eatz, Smoothie King, goGLOW, and more
-Learned to empower leaders, exit markets strategically, and build a thriving charity that’s raised $2.6 million for kids
Whether you’re an aspiring franchisee or a seasoned operator, Anna’s hard-won insights on pivoting, scaling, and staying profitable will inspire and equip you.
Timestamps
00:00 — Anna’s early struggles and the 4-month near-quit moment
02:18 — From corporate America to first franchise success with Anytime Fitness
06:43 — The challenge of managing six different franchise concepts at once
11:35 — Why Anytime Fitness had to reinvent its brand (and how owners reacted)
15:12 — Clean Eatz: from exhausting all-nighters to top-performing units
20:37 — Staying calm when early months feel overwhelming (and money is tight)
24:42 — The surprising grand-opening flop that turned into her best Smoothie King
28:42 — Why GoGlo fit Anna’s perfect investment formula (low labor, small footprint)
36:34 — Inside the 24-and-24 Foundation: $2.6 million raised for kids’ wishes
42:50 — How empowering better-than-you managers unlocks exponential growth
Resources:
Join Erik’s free franchise community: FranchiseSecrets.com/Facebook
Explore the Franchisee Mastermind: ScalableFranchise.com
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 #Entrepreneurship #Resilience