From Boiler Room to Business Boss: Chris Mesker's Wild Ride

Ever thought about owning a franchise but had no idea what kind would actually fit? Chris Mesker’s been there and most people don’t realize how many are built for the trades.In this episode, we dig into what franchise ownership really looks like, especially for those of us coming from the trades, stuck in a job you hate, or just done working for someone else. Franchising isn’t just fast food. There’s a whole world of blue collar opportunities out there, from dog poop pickup to drone powered power washing.Chris shares how things have shifted post-COVID, why veterans and younger people are jumping in, and what to watch out for when private equity gets involved. He’s honest about who makes it, who doesn’t, and how to know if you’re actually cut out to run your own thing.This one is full of real talk, unexpected paths, and hard earned lessons. If you’ve ever thought about doing your own thing but didn’t know where to start, this is it.Highlights:Chris’s wild journey from finance to franchisingWhat people get wrong about “semi-absentee” businessesHow private equity is shaking up the franchise worldGenerational trends in blue collar business ownershipThe one mindset shift that makes or breaks new ownersIf you’re thinking about owning a business or just tired of your current gig listen in. Chris lays out what most people miss when chasing that next step.Get in touch with Chris:WebsiteLinkedInGet in touch with us:Check out the Blue Collar BS website.Steve Doyle:WebsiteLinkedInEmailBrad Herda:WebsiteLinkedInEmailThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpOP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy