Franchising often gets painted as a simple path to expansion, but as Sean McKay uncovers in this conversation with AnnMarie Baranik and William Anthony, the journey can be anything but easy. From losing $40,000 to a smooth-talking salesman, to drowning in legal fees with over-lawyering, to navigating the headaches of social media permissions and failed technology platforms, the duo behind Angels Monitoring share an unfiltered look at the realities of becoming a franchisor.

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They open up about challenges with compliance, franchisee expectations, and the myth of easy money in franchising. At the same time, they highlight how their mission to help families through supervised visitation keeps them committed. This is a candid exploration of mistakes, lessons learned, and the ongoing balance between growth and control.

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👤 Guest Bios

AnnMarie Baranik is the CEO of Angels Monitoring. She began franchising in 2018, motivated by the growth of her business in California.

William Anthony is the CIO of Angels Monitoring. He has guided the company through legal hurdles, franchise operations, and technology struggles, shaping their current approach to growth.

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📌 What We Cover

• How a quick decision to franchise led to a costly $40,000 mistake without receiving an FDD
• The danger of being over-lawyered and burdened with paperwork as a small company
• Lessons from allowing franchisees too much leeway with compliance and social media
• Why partial buy-ins and payment plans failed to produce committed franchisees
• The myth of “easy” franchising and why absentee ownership rarely works
• Technology pitfalls, from failed custom platforms to the importance of owning your systems
• The role of organic growth, relationships with courts, and zero advertising in their expansion
• Counterintuitive advice: don’t franchise unless you’re already huge and can fully control the system

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🔗 Resources Mentioned

• FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document)
• Angels Monitoring