Inside the World’s Largest Franchise Group with Greg Flynn

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

DESCRIPTION:
John Hayes interviews Greg Flynn, the creator of the Flynn Group, which operates seven iconic brands across 44 states and three countries. Flynn discusses his motivation for growing his franchise empire, emphasizing that growth equals opportunity in the Flynn Group. He shares that the company experiences 30 percent annualized growth and employs over 75,000 team members across nearly 3,000 units. Flynn explains his journey into franchising, which started with a background in real estate and a friend's restaurant concept called World Wraps. He also shares how his father's ownership of two Burger Kings influenced his understanding of franchising. Flynn's company operates brands like Applebee's, Taco Bell, Panera, Arby's, Pizza Hut, Wendy's, and Planet Fitness. He explains that the company's growth can be divided into chapters, with the first focusing on Applebee's, the second on diversifying domestically, and the third on expanding internationally and into adjacencies like Planet Fitness. Flynn also reveals that the Flynn Group owns 120 hotels, 114 of which are franchised. He shares his belief that owning multiple franchises is less risky than owning one or two and advises potential franchisees to view it as an operating business. Flynn's goal is for the Flynn Group to be the premier franchise operator in the world, not just in terms of size but also in terms of performance. He emphasizes the importance of selecting premier brands and considering factors like market viability and margins when deciding what franchises to buy or build.
- With Greg Flynn
TIMESTAMPS (Use ChatGPT on Transcript):
00:00 Introduction to Greg Flynn and His Franchise Empire
00:41 The Drive Behind Flynn Group's Growth
02:16 Discovering Franchising: Greg's Journey
03:20 The Role of Burger King in Greg's Career
04:31 Expanding Beyond Restaurants: Planet Fitness and More
13:28 The Secret to Selecting the Right Brand
15:55 Overbuilt Market and Diversification Strategy
16:39 Applebee's Acquisition and Growth
18:17 Franchisee-Franchisor Relationship Dynamics
19:55 Value of Franchise Systems
21:16 Brand Selection and Differentiation
23:02 Operational Challenges and Strategies
25:32 Economies of Scale in Franchising
27:46 Daily Routines and Problem Solving
29:25 Franchising Philosophy and Goals
32:45 Impact of AI on Operations
33:32 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