Why Use a Franchise Broker Instead of Going Directly to the Franchisor?

A franchise broker brings industry expertise and insights that you may not have access to when dealing directly with a franchisor. We know which franchises are reliable, profitable, and available in your area. More importantly, we help identify which franchise aligns best with your goals as a business owner. Working with us saves you time, money, and stress by streamlining the decision-making process and ensuring you’re choosing the right opportunity.

How Much Does It Cost to Use a Franchise Broker?

Our services are completely free for you as a candidate. You pay the same price for the franchise as you would if you went directly to the franchisor. The franchisor covers our fees as part of their marketing costs, recognizing the value we bring by connecting them with quality, vetted candidates. This creates a win-win situation for both the franchise candidate and the franchisor.

What Are the Benefits of Buying a Franchise?

Franchising allows you to own your own business with the support of an established brand. The franchisor provides you with training, marketing support, and proven systems to help you succeed. They’ve already navigated the common challenges, so you benefit from their experience. In essence, you get to build on the successes of those who came before you, reducing your risk and increasing your chance of success.

Is Financial Assistance Available?

Yes, we can connect you with trusted funding sources to help finance your franchise purchase. Since securing funding is a critical step, we make sure to address it early in the process, ensuring any challenges are managed proactively.

How Long Will It Take to Get My Business Started?

The timeline is largely up to you. Once you engage with us and are motivated and responsive, we can typically match you with a suitable franchise opportunity within one to three months.

Do I Need Industry Experience to Buy a Franchise?

No, most franchisors actually prefer candidates with no prior industry experience. They want owners who are coachable and can follow their established systems. What they look for are people with transferable skills like leadership, sales, and operations management, rather than specific industry expertise.

How Does a Franchise Broker Help Find the Best Fit?

We start by learning about your specific goals and preferences through a detailed consultation. We’ll ask questions like: Why do you want to own a business? What hours do you prefer to work? Do you enjoy sales or customer service? What location preferences do you have? How much capital do you have to invest? Is brand recognition important to you? From there, we create a personal profile and research franchise opportunities that meet your criteria. We then narrow down the options to a short list, saving you time and effort. Each franchise in our inventory has been thoroughly reviewed to meet our high standards, ensuring you only see the best opportunities. In short, working with a franchise broker simplifies the process, helps you make informed decisions, and increases your chances of finding the right franchise to help you achieve your business goals.

Why Use a Franchise Broker Instead of Going Directly to the Franchisor?

A franchise broker brings industry expertise and insights that you may not have access to when dealing directly with a franchisor. We know which franchises are reliable, profitable, and available in your area. More importantly, we help identify which franchise aligns best with your goals as a business owner. Working with us saves you time, money, and stress by streamlining the decision-making process and ensuring you’re choosing the right opportunity.

How Much Does It Cost to Use a Franchise Broker?

Our services are completely free for you as a candidate. You pay the same price for the franchise as you would if you went directly to the franchisor. The franchisor covers our fees as part of their marketing costs, recognizing the value we bring by connecting them with quality, vetted candidates. This creates a win-win situation for both the franchise candidate and the franchisor.

What Are the Benefits of Buying a Franchise?

Franchising allows you to own your own business with the support of an established brand. The franchisor provides you with training, marketing support, and proven systems to help you succeed. They’ve already navigated the common challenges, so you benefit from their experience. In essence, you get to build on the successes of those who came before you, reducing your risk and increasing your chance of success.

Is Financial Assistance Available?

Yes, we can connect you with trusted funding sources to help finance your franchise purchase. Since securing funding is a critical step, we make sure to address it early in the process, ensuring any challenges are managed proactively.

How Long Will It Take to Get My Business Started?

The timeline is largely up to you. Once you engage with us and are motivated and responsive, we can typically match you with a suitable franchise opportunity within one to three months.

Do I Need Industry Experience to Buy a Franchise?

No, most franchisors actually prefer candidates with no prior industry experience. They want owners who are coachable and can follow their established systems. What they look for are people with transferable skills like leadership, sales, and operations management, rather than specific industry expertise.

How Does a Franchise Broker Help Find the Best Fit?

We start by learning about your specific goals and preferences through a detailed consultation. We’ll ask questions like: Why do you want to own a business? What hours do you prefer to work? Do you enjoy sales or customer service? What location preferences do you have? How much capital do you have to invest? Is brand recognition important to you? From there, we create a personal profile and research franchise opportunities that meet your criteria. We then narrow down the options to a short list, saving you time and effort. Each franchise in our inventory has been thoroughly reviewed to meet our high standards, ensuring you only see the best opportunities. In short, working with a franchise broker simplifies the process, helps you make informed decisions, and increases your chances of finding the right franchise to help you achieve your business goals.

Layoffs💫

Updated 7/25/25

🟢 Open to Work? Laid Off? Here’s Help from Someone Who’s Been There

Navigating Career Transitions: Resources and Support for Job Seekers and Entrepreneurs – Watch Video

💬 A Quick Note from Gresh

I’ve been laid off. I’ve felt the uncertainty, the pressure, the frustration.

But that season also opened a door — one that led me to entrepreneurship, building multiple businesses, and helping others find their path.

This page is a work in progress, just like the journey you might be on. I’m pulling together tools, insights, and opportunities that have helped me — and might help you too. I’ll keep updating it, so feel free to check back or connect if there’s something specific you need.

🔧 Tools & Resources to Support You

🛠️ Career Transition Help

✅U.S. Department of Labor Layoff Resources: Access rapid response services, career counseling, resume preparation, and interviewing skills workshops.
✅Careerflow Layoff Resource Guide provides guidance for coping, networking, and financial planning after a layoff.
✅InCharge: What to Do When You Get Laid Off: Checklist and action steps for newly laid-off workers.
✅NerdWallet: 7 Steps to Take If You’ve Been Laid Off: Financial and benefits advice.
✅YouTube: Laid Off? Next Steps With Career Expert
Laid off? Here’s some next steps to take after being laid off.
✅A Life After Layoff (YouTube Channel): Tips, job search strategies, and encouragement for laid-off workers.
✅ AI Resume Builder, Cover Letter, Job Tracker & LinkedIn Profile Optimizer (CEO Hack – Resumeup.ai)
✅ Resume Generator | Cover Letter Generator (CEO Hack – Canva)
✅ LinkedIn Profile Optimization Checklist (PDF) | Blog Post
✅ Interview Prep Guide (Glassdoor) | Interview Prep Guide (PDF -Princeton)
✅ Job Search Tracker (Notion Template)
✅ Land a Job using ChatGPT: The Definitive Guide! (Video)
✅ Get America Back to Work: Your Guide to Getting a Job FAST in a COVID-19 World (Book) – Fletcher was a guest on the I AM CEO Podcast
✅I wish every Job Seeker would watch this (Video)

📚 Learn & Grow

🤝 Explore What’s Next, for Existing or Aspiring Entrepreneurs & Business Owners

🧭 Looking to start your own business? Explore franchises here.
📨 Join the Newsletter to help you launch, grow and market your venture
🎙️ Want to share your story? Apply to be on the I AM CEO Podcast
📅 Book a 15-min Clarity Call — no pressure, just support

🤝 Biblical & Faith-Based Resources powered by Shepherd Threads

Article: Grieving the Loss of a Job
Faith On The Journey: Practical steps from a faith perspective; includes biblical explanations for grief and healing through unemployment (references Job 1:21, Ecclesiastes 3, and more).
11 Passages to Read When You Lose Your Job
Crossway: Bible verses for encouragement and hope specifically for those facing job loss (including Psalm 23, Matthew 11:28–30, Philippians 4:4–7, and others).
Mosaic Church Fort Worth: Why Did God Let Me Lose My Job?
Article offering biblical perspective and real advice for finding purpose and trust in God after a layoff.
Where God Was When I Lost My Job – Personal encouragement and testimony on finding God’s comfort through unemployment.
All Is Not Lost: 6 Lessons to Learn When Losing Your Job
Offers practical, scriptural advice and encouragement (Philippians 4:7, Book of Job, James 1:2-4).

🧠 A Thought to Keep in Mind

“If you run your race, you can’t lose.”

💬 Final Note

This resource is just getting started — just like you might be. I’ll continue adding tools, templates, and opportunities. If there’s something you need, let me know — and I’ll try to connect the dots or connect you with someone who can help.

—

🔗 Connect with Me

🔗 Website: http://iamgresh.com
🔗 Franchise Website: http://bluestarfranchise.com
📩 Email: hello@iamgresh.com
🎧 Podcast: I AM CEO
💼 LinkedIn: LinkedIn profile link

How Did I Get Here?

I’m Gresh, the founder of CBNation powered by Blue 16 Media. I started everything by interviewing entrepreneurs and business owners to learn more about business and entrepreneurship. At that time, I was doing freelance writing for various publications like Fox Small Business, Under 30 CEO, Reader’s Digest, Patch, and many more.

I’ve always wanted to start a business but wasn’t sure what that business would be. I was the kid who sold potato chips on the playground and got my parents to be my VC for trips to MJ Designs to create necklaces and bracelets. My crowning achievement was the family newspaper I launched when my dad was restationed for a year when I was 10. It was basically a TMZ for my family, covering all the top family stories—from a squirrel breaking into my grandma’s house, to my cousin being born, to a wedding that didn’t happen. I mixed in some current events and news from other media sites like Soap Opera Digest and NBA Finals results.

It was my first “media company,” planting a seed I continued to cultivate and grow.

Fast forward many years, after college and grad school, I knew I wanted to start a business but wasn’t sure exactly what it would be.

I’ve been laid off from one of my favorite jobs, expected to get laid off again so while I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’m an “Accidental Entrepreneur” but (it’s something deep down I wanted for a while) I would say that getting laid off once and expecting it again would flipped a switch that changed everything for me.

I have seen “mentors” leave jobs after a few weeks I was expecting to learn from them and been promised positions that never materialize.

So I did what “10-year-old Gresh” would do and started freelance writing and what eventually became Hearpreneur, which evolved into CEO Blog Nation, and finally, CBNation. This venture includes blogs, podcasts, and video content to help businesses succeed. At its heart it was always the goal of learning from others why they started their businesses, the advice they would have for others (like myself), and the resources and information they relied on.

I was standing on the “shoulders of giants,” which allowed me to start a six-figure digital marketing business—Blue 16 Media (which has pivoted slightly). This gave me the confidence, resources, and tools to grow. I always say CBNation was my “business school.”

What better way to learn than from people who are actually doing “IT”?

I’ve kept going with CBNation, and now we have over 5,000 blog posts and roundups across CEO Blog Nation. Our podcast, which started as a weekly podcast and inspired a daily podcast, has over 1,600 episodes and hundreds of video interviews.

I took a “sabbatical” for a year to figure out what to do with all this content. I tried many things, but they didn’t quite fit—like a pair of shoes.

Then I tapped into “10-year-old Gresh” and realized that while the content was great, my focus needed to be on actually helping businesses and organizations succeed.

From there, thousands of pieces of content revealed hundreds of hacks and nuggets that could help people level up in their organizations.

📚Become a Founding Member of Our Full CEO Hack Library

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Layoffs💫