In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with John T. Hewitt, founder of Jackson Hewitt and Liberty Tax Service and CEO of Loyalty Brands, to explore what more than five decades of entrepreneurship have taught him about building businesses that can achieve extraordinary growth.
John shares his journey from starting at H&R Block in 1969 to building Jackson Hewitt from just six offices into a national franchise network with approximately 6,000 locations, eventually selling the company for $483 million. Along the way, he faced serious financial challenges, learned from mistakes, and discovered how franchising could turn a successful business model into something much bigger.
Carly and John explore why repeatable systems are essential for scaling, how continuous improvement creates a competitive advantage, and why listening to franchisees and customers is one of the most valuable things a business leader can do.
They also discuss John's latest ventures through Loyalty Brands, including the growth of mobile pet grooming franchise Zoomin Groomin, and why after 57 years in business, he remains passionate about mentoring entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for others to succeed.
Key Takeaways
Build Systems That Make Growth Repeatable
John believes a successful franchise needs systems that ordinary people can follow and replicate. Rather than relying on exceptional individuals to make a business work, he focuses on creating clear processes, consistent support, and proven methods that allow franchisees to succeed across hundreds or even thousands of locations.
Continuous Improvement Creates Competitive Advantage
No matter how successful a business becomes, John believes there's always room to improve. By listening to franchisees, understanding customer needs, testing new ideas, and identifying meaningful differences from competitors, businesses can continue growing while staying relevant in changing markets.
Business Success Comes From Helping Others Succeed
For John, the foundation of a great franchise is having happy, profitable franchisees. His leadership philosophy centers on creating opportunities, mentoring entrepreneurs, and building businesses that genuinely improve people's lives. It's a mission that continues to motivate him after more than five decades in business.
About John T. Hewitt
With more than five decades of experience in the tax preparation and franchising industries, John has built some of America's most recognizable franchise organizations. He helped grow Jackson Hewitt from six offices to approximately 6,000 locations and went on to establish Liberty Tax Service as another major national franchise network.
Today, John leads Loyalty Brands, a portfolio of franchise businesses across multiple industries, including the rapidly growing Zoomin Groomin mobile pet grooming franchise. He continues to mentor entrepreneurs and develop scalable business models, guided by his personal mission of having fun while improving lives.
Memorable Quotes
"If you're not improving, your competitors gain less."
"You have to have a system that doesn't need an extraordinary operator."
"There's nothing more rewarding than improving lives."
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Host: Carly Pepin
Co-Founder & Host Built For This
West Coast Growth Advisors
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