Franchise or From Scratch: How to Choose the Right Path with Catherine Knabb

If you have ever wondered whether to buy a franchise or build a business from scratch, this episode is your starting point. In this episode, I sit down with business ownership architect Catherine Knabb to break down one of the most common questions entrepreneurs face: how do you choose the right path forward? We get into what separates successful franchise owners from those who struggle, why most people coming from corporate miss the sales piece entirely, and the one thing you should never automate before you have figured out the manual process first. We also talk about what it really means to build a business and not just another job, and Catherine closes with why strong communities are built on strong small businesses. Watch the Power Your Voice podcast for the full conversation on how to create, grow, and scale a business that works for you. Key Points: 00:00 Introduction 01:43 Franchise vs. starting from scratch: where to begin 03:10 When franchise ownership is not the right fit 05:58 Industries showing the greatest growth opportunity right now 07:25 How to approach business ownership part-time before going all in 14:02 The biggest mindset shift from employee to business owner 16:34 Common first-year mistakes and how to avoid them 21:53 Why you should never automate before the manual process works 26:30 Core systems every business needs before it can scale 31:07 The create, grow, and scale model explained 36:28 What Power Your Voice means to Catherine Knabb Catherine Knabb is a Business Ownership Architect who helps people Create, Grow, and Scale businesses. After nearly 30 years helping large organizations improve systems and execute major initiatives, Cath now helps entrepreneurs and professionals strengthen their Personal Economy through business ownership, referral-based growth, and scalable business systems. Whether someone is researching franchise or independent business ownership, growing an existing business, building strategic partnerships, or preparing to scale, Cath helps them design the right path forward. She is the owner of Knabb Consulting and leads Network in Action business exchange teams in Memphis and online. Connect with Catherine Knabb: Website: https://knabbconsulting.com/ Facebook:   / careerfranchiseownership   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ X: https://x.com/catknabb LinkedIn:   / catherineknabb   Knabb Consulting LinkedIn Page:   / knabb-consulting   NIA LinkedIn Page:   / network-in-action-nia-memphis-virtual   Delaine Blazek is the Founder of Solis Coaching & Consulting, an Amazon Best Selling Author, and a Sales Coach for Female Entrepreneurs. She specializes in helping entrepreneurs and corporate leaders break through barriers and transform their businesses by turning their aspirations into tangible business success. She is also a fractional CCO for companies that are ready to accelerate their growth. Website: https://www.soliscoaches.com/ IG:   / delaineblazek   Facebook Page:   / soliscoaches   LinkedIn:   / delaine-blazek   #EntrepreneurMindset #FranchiseOwnership #BusinessGrowth