Michael Seitz went from dental school dropout to building a $150M+ national franchise in the pet services industry with no private equity and no shortcuts. What started with a family grooming shop in 1977 has grown into EarthWise Pet, a multi-brand platform with over 200 brick-and-mortar and mobile locations, 1,400+ employees, and a one-of-a-kind AI-powered pet dietitian. But Michael didn’t just expand a family business; he reinvented what pet retail and service could look like at scale. By blending deep industry expertise with bold operational moves (including acquiring 42 stores in a single day), he built a business that serves pets and empowers franchisees while keeping ownership in the hands of real operators. In this no-fluff, tactical episode, Michael shares: Why franchising surges during economic downturns How he scaled without VC or PE funding What went wrong with two major acquisitions (and how he recovered) His “buy then flip” strategy that lowers franchisee barriers How EarthWise uses AI to build authority, not cut costs The make-or-break moment in founder partnerships Why building the right team is more important than EBITDA Key Lessons: Grow With Purpose – Scale isn’t just about size—it’s about systems, talent, and strategic timing Franchise the Right Way – Say no often, protect the culture, and hand-pick operators who expand Let Go to Grow – Founders must release control and ego to evolve as leaders Talent Is a Growth Strategy – Use M&A to bring in people, not just profits Tech With Trust – AI should empower your customers, not replace your values Host: Tyler Martin, Think Business Podcast Want to build a service business that actually scales? Let’s talk: 📅 Book a Strategy Call https://calendly.com/tylermartin/strategy 🎧 Subscribe: ThinkBusinessWithTyler.com Follow Tyler: 🔗 LinkedIn 📸 Instagram ▶️ YouTube 🎵 TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices