From Overseas Upbringing to Franchise Empire | Barry Meisel’s Story

Barry Meisel grew up in the Philippines as the child of missionaries, built an early career in corporate America, and then made the leap into multi-unit franchising. In this episode of How I Franchised This, host Alex Smereczniak dives into Barry’s remarkable path — from Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Fortune 50 financial services to becoming CFO of a 30-unit franchise group and ultimately owning 12 salons across Illinois and Wisconsin. You’ll hear how Barry: Turned formative overseas experiences into an entrepreneurial mindset Built relationships that led to unexpected opportunities (and why he says “take the call, take the meeting”) Structured creative financing, including seller financing, to acquire existing units Leads and motivates a dispersed team while living hundreds of miles away If you’re thinking about buying a franchise or moving from corporate to business ownership, this conversation is packed with practical tips, honest lessons, and inspiration.