SBA Loans, ROBS, and The Reality of Buying a Franchise

Buying a franchise in 2026? Rich Potter explains franchise opportunities, funding, costs, and what to know before you buy a business. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Matt and Luigi talk with Rich Potter, founder of Franchise Heroes, about what franchise ownership really looks like in 2026. They cover franchise costs, SBA loans, ROBS funding, FDDs, licensing agreements, senior care franchises, home service businesses, multi-unit ownership, and the big question: is franchising actually a smart path to business ownership? Whether you’re looking at franchise opportunities, researching how to buy a franchise, comparing small business ideas, or deciding whether to buy a business instead of starting from scratch, this conversation gives you a real look at the numbers, risks, and decisions behind franchising. What You’ll Learn: What a franchise really costs in 2026 The difference between a franchise and a licensing agreement Why the FDD matters before you buy anything How SBA loans and ROBS funding work for franchise buyers Why many franchisees buy multiple territories What “business in a box” actually means Why senior care may be one of the biggest franchise plays right now How to tell if you’re buying a business or just buying yourself a job Connect : Rich Potter is the founder of Franchise Heroes, where he helps people explore real-world franchise ownership without the smoke, mirrors, or brochure nonsense. Franchise Heroes: https://franchiseheroes.co LinkedIn:   / rich-potter-533381a   Substack: https://franchiseheroes.substack.com/ Chapters: 00:40 Franchising Is Not Just Fast Food 03:09 Franchise vs. Licensing 05:20 Finding a Franchise That Fits 07:48 What It Costs to Buy In 11:43 Why Multi-Unit Ownership Matters 14:22 Funding, SBA Loans, and ROBS 16:43 What Good Support Looks Like 19:32 Turning Your Business Into a Franchise 22:00 How Many Locations Before Franchising? 23:27 Consulting Franchises and Owner-Led Businesses 25:40 Where to Find Rich 26:10 The Senior Care Opportunity #️Hashtags: #franchising #franchisebusiness #franchiseownership #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #businessownership #sbaloans #robsfunding #seniorcarefranchise #homeservicebusiness #liquidlunchproject Keywords: franchising, franchise industry, franchise costs, franchise funding, franchise support, franchise opportunities, franchise licensing, franchise development, senior care franchises, business in a box