After 14 years of building one of the highest-performing ShelfGenie franchises, Alan Regala sold his business and stepped into a brand-new chapter of life. In this episode of Franchise Unfiltered, Alan shares how he went from mechanical engineer to successful franchise owner — and what it really takes to build a business that’s actually sellable.   We cover: ✅ The mindset behind long-term success ✅ How to avoid burnout as a franchise owner ✅ The systems that make a franchise valuable ✅ Why most people don’t think about the exit early enough ✅ What Alan is doing now with Athlete2Owner   Whether you're considering buying a franchise, scaling your business, or preparing for a future exit, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.   🎯 Learn how to build a business with freedom, flexibility, and long-term value.   Timestamps:   00:00 – From Franchisee to Friend: Alan’s 7-Year Journey 03:10 – The Exit Strategy Most Franchise Owners Ignore 05:45 – How to Build a Franchise That Doesn’t Depend on You 08:30 – The Systems That Made His Business Sellable 13:20 – From Engineer to Entrepreneur: Alan’s Career Shift 16:00 – The Book That Sparked His Business Mindset 20:10 – Why Franchising Was the Perfect Fit (And Almost Didn’t Happen) 25:40 – Innovating Inside the Franchise System 44:00 – The Moment He Knew It Was Time to Sell 57:00 – Life After the Exit: Coaching New Franchise Owners   7 Steps to Owning a Franchise: https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising   🔗 Want help finding the right franchise? Book a free strategy call with Wes:  https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes   Connect with Wes:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/   👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for more insights on business, franchising, and financial freedom!   #Franchise #Leadership #Entrepreneurship