Attorney Gary Remer on Turning a Business into a Franchise

Could your business be a franchise — and you don't even know it yet? I sat down with Attorney Gary Remer, who leads the Franchise Group at Maddin Hauser, and we broke down what it takes to turn a business into a scalable franchise model. 👀 Most entrepreneurs are so busy working IN the business they never stop to ask: • Is my model teachable? • Can it scale without me? • Could this become a franchise system? My Takeaways from Gary: ✅ Strong businesses are built on systems — clarity makes scale possible ✅ Replicability matters — if it can't be taught in 10–14 days, it's not ready ✅ Protect your brand early with trademarks ✅ Pick up the phone — conversations are better than emails ✅ Invest in advisors who speed up growth and reduce risk Gary Remer's Franchise Videos: Evolution of Franchise: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrUYLEyD2WCfuGDa4Xv_JqgR4dmk1tvf_ Franchise Bites: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrUYLEyD2WCcdboN1pCErhub46M4CoB9Z -- A consummate business lawyer whose counsel includes invaluable insights on M&A, franchising, tax, and employee benefits matters, Gary Remer has been a trusted advisor and ally to businesses across a broad spectrum of industries for almost 30 years. Gary's representation is granular and big-picture in equal measure. He has the vision to see down the road to help his clients minimize risk and seize strategic opportunities while also immersing himself in the minutiae and nuances of the laws, regulations, and contractual terms that can profoundly impact their bottom lines. His straightforward style, personable nature, and tailored approach not only form the foundation of enduring client relationships but also facilitate the smooth consummation of deals or the efficient resolution of disputes. Clients turn to Gary when considering or presented with potentially game-changing transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, buy-sell agreements, syndication of equity, and exit strategies. Complementing his legal experience with his background as an IRS agent and Certified Public Accountant, Gary can provide a holistic view of a deal that thoroughly assesses the dollars and cents implications of a deal as well as its legal ones. Gary's legal acumen serves mortgage industry clients well during all phases of mergers and acquisitions, which involve unique issues relating to multiple branches, state and federal regulatory requirements, licensing, investor relationships, warehouse credit lines, integration of technology platforms, transfer of confidential and regulated consumer information, disposition of loan pipelines, servicing rights, portfolio and investment loans, just to name a few. As outside general counsel for many of his clients, Gary assists businesses with all other legal and operational issues they face, from entity formation and governance to employment matters to succession planning. Gary is particularly well-versed in the legal, strategic, and practical landscape of franchising, representing franchisors and franchisees at all stages of their business lifecycle. He has abundant experience drafting franchise disclosure documents and franchise agreements, preparing and filing multi-state registrations, and advising on risk management. Gary understands both the promise and peril of franchising and is committed to helping his clients transform their ideas and investments into thriving and growing concerns. As an IRS revenue agent in its Employee Plans Division, Gary audited qualified retirement plans, assessed tax liability, and issued determination letter rulings. During his tenure, he amassed a wealth of knowledge and insights regarding employee benefit plans and ERISA issues, allowing him to better guide his clients and help them avoid potential problems or liabilities. Over the ensuing decades, Gary has worked with clients of all sizes to design and implement qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements, with an emphasis on 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans, and defined benefit plans. Gary's IRS experience also informs his efforts to prevent and resolve issues and concerns raised by the agency. He has conducted analysis regarding controlled groups and affiliated service groups under the Internal Revenue Code and has drafted submissions and represented numerous clients with tax/Internal Revenue Code controversies before the IRS and ERISA controversies before the DOL. A prolific speaker and writer on a range of legal issues, Gary has been consistently recognized by his peers for his professional achievements, including being named by Chambers USA as a Leading Lawyer in Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 and by DBusiness as a Top Lawyer in Franchise Law for 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience/ Website: https://jondwoskin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin/ Email: [email protected] Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big! Connect with Gary Remer:Website: maddinhauser.com Bio: https://maddinhauser.com/people/gary-m-remer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-remer-8b38ba4/ *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast.