Dear Frannie: Franchise Growth, Leadership and Scaling Advice

Jim Nusbaum, President of Barry Bagels, joins Katherine and James for a live, on-the-spot Dear Frannie question: How do you scale from 23 to 100+ locations without losing the culture, quality, and experience that built the brand?

This conversation goes beyond the theory. Jim is sitting in the original Berry Bagels restaurant — opened in 1972 in Toledo, Ohio — and sharing the real challenges of geographic expansion, construction management, franchisee innovation, and knowing when to hire before the pain sets in.
If you're in the middle of growth and wondering how to protect what you've built while reaching for what's next, this one's for you.

🎙️ Produced by My Podcast Host — the podcast platform built for franchising.

Dear Frannie is the franchise advice column for leaders navigating growth from 10 to 100 locations...the messy middle of scale.

What is Dear Frannie: Franchise Growth, Leadership and Scaling Advice?

Dear Frannie is the franchise advice column you didn't know you needed. Hosted by Katherine LeBlanc, Fractional CMO, and James Vitrano, Franchise Operator, each episode tackles one real question franchisors are quietly wrestling with - from franchisee adoption and growth friction to leadership blind spots and operational scale.

No panels. No keynote speak. No fluff. Just two people who've been inside franchise systems answering the questions brand leaders are afraid to ask out loud.

If you're a franchisor navigating the messy middle of scale - this show was made for you.

New episodes drop bi-weekly. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one.