#070 Building Better Businesses Through Better Franchisees with Jordan Levine

Built For This Podcast, with Carly Pepin

August 6, 2026 by

Carly Pepin

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In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Jordan Levine, President and Chief Operating Officer of Stretch Zone, to explore what it really takes to build a franchise brand that scales without losing the personal touch that makes it successful.

Drawing on more than 25 years of franchise leadership across brands including Cold Stone Creamery, Massage Envy, Amazing Lash Studio, Sola Salons, and now Stretch Zone, Jordan shares the lessons he's learned about sustainable growth, leadership, and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs. From helping expand franchise systems to supporting thousands of business owners, he explains why the strength of a franchise is ultimately determined by the people behind it.

Throughout the conversation, Jordan reflects on his journey from working behind the counter at Cold Stone Creamery as a teenager to leading some of the country's fastest-growing franchise organizations. He discusses how successful franchise systems balance consistency with local ownership, why selecting the right franchisees matters more than finding the perfect location, and how strong leadership and operational support create lasting success.

Carly and Jordan also explore customer experience, recurring revenue models, scaling company culture, leadership development, and the importance of making decisions that serve both franchise owners and the customers they support. They also discuss Stretch Zone's mission to bring assisted stretching into the mainstream through education, research, and measurable health outcomes.

Whether you're building a franchise, growing a business, or leading a team through expansion, this episode offers practical insights into scaling with intention while keeping people at the center of every decision.

Key Themes

Great Franchise Systems Are Built Around Great People

Jordan believes the biggest predictor of franchise success isn't the territory or the brand. It's the quality of the franchisee. By selecting owners who share the company's values and are committed to serving their communities, businesses create stronger long-term outcomes for everyone involved.

Customer Experience Must Grow Alongside the Business

As organizations scale, it's easy to focus on systems and efficiency. Jordan explains that the strongest brands never lose sight of the customer, ensuring every decision enhances the experience rather than simply improving operations.

Culture Is a Competitive Advantage

Rapid growth only succeeds when culture grows with it. Jordan shares how investing in leadership, communication, collaboration, and franchisee support helps preserve the values and relationships that made the business successful in the first place.

About Jordan Levine

Jordan Levine is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Stretch Zone and a franchise executive with more than 25 years of experience building and scaling some of the most successful franchise brands in the United States. Throughout his career, he has helped grow organizations including Cold Stone Creamery, Massage Envy, Amazing Lash Studio, and Sola Salons, where he played a key role in expanding the brand to more than 720 locations while empowering thousands of independent business owners.

Known for his people-first leadership style, Jordan focuses on creating systems that support franchisees, strengthen customer experiences, and drive sustainable long-term growth. His passion for developing entrepreneurs and building high-performing franchise organizations continues to shape the next chapter of Stretch Zone's expansion.

Memorable Quotes
"The franchisee matters more than the location."
"When sales is done right, it feels really good because you're matching a real problem with a real solution."
"You can make decisions that are good for the business but bad for the customer. In the long run, those are actually bad decisions for the business."

Jordan Levine