The Path to Franchise Ownership, with Sue and Craig Derene, Franchise Connect Pro (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 777)
On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray interviews Sue and Craig Derene of Franchise Connect Pro. Sue and Craig discuss how they assist individuals in selecting the right franchise model based on their backgrounds, skills, and financial capabilities. The Derenes emphasize the importance of responsible franchising, including the concepts of transparent business models and sustainable growth. They share success stories of clients who have successfully transitioned from corporate roles to franchise ownership, highlighting the importance of fit and commitment in achieving business success. Sue and Craig also provide insights into their process, from initial consultations to detailed discovery steps and funding assistance.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Sue and Craig Derene, Franchise Connect Pro
Sue and Craig Derene’s passion for helping people led them to a career guiding individuals toward their dreams of business ownership. Franchising can provide financial security, lifestyle freedom, and legacy building.
Franchise Connect Pro specializes in finding the perfect franchise or business opportunity. Their free consultation process has a proven track record of success, helping to identify and research franchise opportunities that present a true chance for success in specific target markets. With over 3,000 franchise concepts available in the United States alone, searching for the right franchise can be a daunting task.
Additionally, not all franchises are created equally, and even top-rated franchises are not always the best fit for everyone. Their process takes a close look at an individual’s goals, experience, strengths, weaknesses, desired lifestyle, and more to find opportunities that present a realistic chance for long-term success and happiness.
At Franchise Connect Pro, they provide free franchise consulting services to assist in making the best decision when buying a franchise or business opportunity. They represent over 900 of today’s leading franchise opportunities and are affiliated with a strong, dedicated franchising network of professionals and franchise partners.
Their focus is on helping clients navigate through the entire process and matching them with the ideal business.
Website | Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter) | Sue LinkedIn | Craig LinkedIn | Company LinkedIn
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:31 Meet Sue and Craig Derene
01:58 Franchise Connect Pro: What They Do
03:30 The Derene’s Journey to Franchise Consulting
04:38 Helping Clients at a Crossroads
10:54 Responsible Franchising
19:08 Matching Skill Sets with the Right Franchise
20:37 Ideal Clients for Franchise Connect Pro
22:54 The Process of Working with Franchise Connect Pro
26:10 The Importance of Transparency and Commitment
31:40 Success Stories and Client Experiences
34:38 How to Connect with Sue and Craig
35:38 Closing Remarks and Additional Information
Renasant Bank and Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant support North Fulton Business Radio
Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
Casa Nuova is a proud family-owned and operated restaurant, serving classic, authentic and traditional Italian cuisine and top tier hospitality since 1998.
Casa Nuova is a cook-to-order kitchen, serving traditional fare including pasta, chicken, seafood, veal, vegetarian and gluten-free options, plus daily specials. They are a farm-to-table establishment, meaning that in the summertime, they cultivate their own vegetables in their garden, steps away from the restaurant, including tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, sunflowers and more!
Celebrating more than 25 years, Casa Nuova has become a true staple in the Alpharetta area, serving more than three generations of families, including friends old and new, visiting near and far from all over the metro Atlanta area and beyond.
Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray
With over 770 shows and having featured over 1,200 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!
The show welcomes a wide variety of business, non-profit, and community leaders to get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignore. Some media leans left. Some media leans right. We lean business.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.
The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.
