Aaron Harper’s path to franchising was anything but ordinary. From navigating the glitz and glam of Hollywood to building Rolling Suds into a standout franchise, Aaron has seen both the spotlight and the shadows of entrepreneurship. In this episode of Smart Franchising with Fransmart, he doesn’t hold back on what it takes to build a franchise system that truly works—for both the franchisor and the franchisee.

Aaron pulls back the curtain on the dark side of franchising, sharing how glossy pitches can fail franchisees when expectations and support aren’t aligned. He also offers a roadmap for change, unveiling six strategies to reshape franchising into a transparent, supportive ecosystem. From ethical franchise sales to providing education for franchisees, Aaron paints a picture of what responsible franchising should look like—and why it matters.

He even dives into the bold steps the International Franchise Association (IFA) is taking to regulate the sales process and what franchisors must do to set their franchisees up for success, starting with solid systems, proper vetting, and a rethinking of compensation models. If you’re passionate about building something bigger than yourself—whether you’re a franchisor, broker, or potential franchisee—Aaron’s insights will inspire you to rethink what success really means in franchising.