Real Estate in Retail Franchising - With Larry Strain Artwork

The Franchise Hot Seat Podcast with Dr. John P. Hayes - Director, Titus Center for Franchising

Internationally recognized speaker, personal business coach and Amazon best-selling franchise author Dr. John Hayes offers an honest look at everything involved in researching, evaluating and purchasing a franchise business. On this podcast, Dr. John P Hayes interviews Franchisors, Franchisees, and has solo episodes giving valuable advice in the Franchise Industry. Since 1979, John Hayes has worked in the franchise community as a consultant, franchisee and franchisor. He’s one of an elite group worldwide that has actually owned and operated franchises, including serving as CEO of a major American franchisor company, and advised franchisors and franchisees. He is the author of several franchise-related books and countless articles that have appeared in media worldwide. Dr. Hayes has served for many years as an advisor to franchisors, franchisees and small business owners internationally. His areas of expertise include management development, marketing, customer service, training and strategic planning. He is the author or co-author of 18 non-fiction books including Franchising: The Inside Story, Start Small, Finish Big, You Can’t Teach A Kid To Ride A Bike At A Seminar, and most recently Buy “Hot” Franchises Without Getting Burned. Keywords: franchise tax board , chick fil a franchise , the franchise guy , best franchise to own , franchise business , buying a franchise , franchise opportunities , opening a franchise , owning a franchise

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The Franchise Hot Seat Podcast with Dr. John P. Hayes - Director, Titus Center for Franchising

Real Estate in Retail Franchising - With Larry Strain

June 02, 2025 • Dr. John P Hayes • Season 1 • Episode 59

DESCRIPTION:

Dr. John Hayes interviews Larry Strain, Chief Development Officer of Retro Fitness, in

the Franchise Hot Seat episode, discussing the complexities of real estate in retail

franchising. Larry shares his three-decade experience in retail development,

highlighting the changes brought about by e-commerce giants like Amazon. He

underscores the growing significance of service-based retailers, particularly fitness

centers, and the real estate challenges they encounter, such as competition for

space and parking needs. Larry points out the crucial role of franchisors in

supporting franchisees, especially newcomers, by managing broker negotiations,

lease terms, and construction. He compares the ease of development between

various brands he has worked with, including Starbucks and McDonald’s, and

identifies key factors for long-term franchisee success, such as understanding

customer needs and reinvesting in the business. The conversation also covers the

cyclical nature of the real estate market, the importance of choosing the right

location, and the impact of institutional pressures on franchise sales and selection

criteria.

- With Larry Strain.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction

00:29 The State of Retail and Fitness Franchising

01:21 Challenges in Real Estate for Fitness Franchises

02:24 Iconic Brands and Real Estate Development

04:32 Navigating Real Estate for New Franchisees

07:36 Franchisor Support in Real Estate

10:53 The Importance of Strategic Real Estate Planning

24:13 Traits of Top Performing Franchisees

32:27 The Role of Strategy in Franchise Expansion

33:32 Food vs. Fitness Franchises

34:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

LINKS:

WEBSITE: http://franchisehotseats.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drjohnhayes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Howtobuyafranchise

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnphayesfranchise

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DrJohnHayes/

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