Hey everyone, Giuseppe Grammatico here, your Franchise Guide! Welcome back to the Franchise Freedom Podcast, the show dedicated to helping corporate executives like you find time and financial freedom through franchising.
You asked for more guests and diverse perspectives, and I’m thrilled to deliver! Today, I have a fantastic guest, Ryan Parsons, CEO of Evive Brands. I’ve known Ryan for a while and have always been impressed by his journey and insights into the franchise world. We recently reconnected, and I knew I had to get him on the show to share his wisdom with you.
Before we dive in, remember, if you’re exploring the idea of investing in a franchise and feel unsure where to start, that’s what I’m here for. Visit ggthefranchiseguide.com to book a free, no-obligation call. Let’s chat about your goals.
Now, let’s get into my conversation with Ryan Parsons!
From Gutters to CEO: Ryan Parsons’ Franchise Journey
Ryan’s path is a testament to entrepreneurial grit. He didn’t start at the top; he started on a gutter truck!
“Starts back in 1999. My brother started a gutter company just by himself. In 2002, I joined him… us two knuckleheads are on a gutter, gutter truck just slinging up gutters and trying to make a living.”
That company became The Brothers That Just Do Gutters. Ryan and his brother Ken had the dream of franchising early on but recognized the need to build robust systems first. After a pilot launch revealed they weren’t quite ready, they spent years refining their model before officially franchising in 2015. They grew The Brothers That Just Do Gutters to over 100 franchisees and 300+ territories before being acquired by Riverside and becoming part of the Evive Brands platform. Ryan’s deep operational and growth experience led him to his current role as CEO of the entire Evive platform.
The Power of a Franchise Platform: What is Evive Brands?
Evive Brands isn’t just one franchise; it’s a platform company housing multiple brands primarily in the senior services and home services sectors. Current brands include:
- Assisted Living Locators
- Grasons Estate Sales & Business Liquidations
- Executive Home Care (Non-medical in-home care)
- The Brothers That Just Do Gutters
I asked Ryan about the advantages of being part of a larger platform, both for the franchisor and the franchisee. He highlighted several key benefits:
- Shared Resources: “Deep pockets” and access to established infrastructure (marketing teams, tech stacks, legal, compliance) that a younger, standalone franchisor might struggle to afford. Ryan noted, “Our smallest brand has access to all that knowledge… they’re getting… the kind of attention and access to the type of marketing we’re able to do.”
- Know-How & Expertise: Leveraging the collective experience of leaders who have “been there, done that” across multiple brands.
- Cross-Brand Synergy: Opportunities for franchisees of different Evive brands in the same market to cross-refer business, creating a powerful local ecosystem.
- Multi-Brand Ownership: A pathway for successful franchisees to potentially own multiple complementary brands within the Evive family, allowing them to dominate their market and continue growing even after saturating their initial territory. Ryan loves this aspect: “I hate when somebody can possibly get landlocked. Great. Grab another brand that, you know, has a symbiotic relationship. So now you can, you’re referring yourself now…”
Evaluating Fit: Look in the Mirror First!
When discussing how corporate executives should evaluate franchise opportunities beyond the financials (like Item 19 data), Ryan’s advice was refreshingly direct:
“The number one thing that they should look at is themselves in a mirror. The biggest disappointment will be their own leadership… I’d say the number one thing they should be reading and devouring anything about leadership. Anything on running a team.”
He stressed that managing a corporate team is vastly different from building a business team from scratch, especially in potentially blue-collar or service industries. You’re selling a vision, building a culture, and often competing for talent without the extensive benefits package of a large corporation. Your leadership ability is paramount.
The Transition Reality: What No One Tells You
Making the leap from a structured corporate job to the often-unpredictable world of franchise business ownership involves a significant mindset shift. Ryan shared some realities people often overlook:
- The Initial Grind is Real: “It was gonna be hard work. I didn’t realize it was gonna be this hard.” Don’t underestimate the effort required, especially in the first year or two.
- Item 19 Doesn’t Reflect Year One: Financial Performance Representations (FPRs) typically show data from franchisees operating for at least a full year. Your first few months won’t look like those mature numbers. Be patient and manage expectations.
- You Will Get Punched in the Face: Referencing Mike Tyson, Ryan emphasized that challenges are inevitable. Employees quit, customers complain, things break. Your ability to navigate these punches is crucial.
- It’s Not Passive: “If you treat your business like a hobby, it will pay you like a hobby.” Success requires active involvement, leadership, and consistent effort. There’s no “set it and forget it” franchise.
Scaling Strategies: Going Deep Before Going Wide
We talked about strategies for growth and expansion. While acquiring multiple territories might seem like the ultimate goal, Ryan cautioned against spreading yourself too thin too early:
“I’m a big believer in deep verse wide… most people hardly ever saturate their territories anyway… you better be exceptional [to manage multiple territories effectively].”
He also warned about potential franchisor “clawback” clauses if development milestones for additional territories aren’t met, which can add unnecessary pressure. The focus should initially be on mastering operations and maximizing potential within your core territory before aggressively expanding.
The Crucial Element: Your “Why”
Ultimately, success in franchising, like any entrepreneurial endeavor, comes down to more than just systems and numbers. It requires resilience, passion, and a strong sense of purpose. Ryan beautifully articulated this:
“Have a really strong why… because you’re gonna need grit to get through starting a business… your why has to be bigger than the pain and the, and the difficulty.”
Whether your “why” is building a legacy, achieving time freedom to spend with family (like my goal of never missing a soccer game!), making a community impact, or controlling your own destiny, that core motivation will fuel you through the inevitable challenges.
Final Thoughts
My conversation with Ryan was packed with practical wisdom grounded in real-world experience. His insights on leadership, the realities of the transition, the benefits of a platform model, and the importance of a strong “why” are essential for anyone considering investing in a franchise.
It’s not just about buying a business; it’s about building a life aligned with your goals and values. It takes work, grit, and self-awareness, but as Ryan attested, the rewards – both financial and personal – can be immense.
“It is the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do. To grow a business, have it running and successful, and create opportunity for other humans to strive and hit their dreams through what you’re doing.”
Ready to explore if franchise ownership is your path to freedom and reward?
- Learn more about Evive Brands: https://evivebrands.com/
- Connect with Ryan Parsons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brothersgutters/
- Find the franchise that is a right fit for you: https://ggthefranchiseguide.com/right-fit
Fun Fact: Ryan Parsons isn’t just leading a major franchise platform; he’s also a dad to six kids ranging from 1.5 to 15 years old! Talk about managing a busy household and a thriving business!
