How James Hilovsky Helps You Bet on Yourself and Find the Right Franchise
- Gabriel Flores
- May 8
- 4 min read
James Hilovsky isn’t your typical franchise consultant.
With 25 years of corporate experience at Del Taco and hands-on success supporting NFL athletes turned entrepreneurs, James now runs The Fran Dream, a franchise consulting firm built on one mission: helping people find the right business to own and operate.
He’s not here to sell you a franchise. He’s here to match you with one that actually fits your life, values, and goals.
“I don’t really sell anything,” James says. “I’m just a matchmaker helping people ask the right questions.”
Bet on Yourself and Find the Right Franchise
James started his career in the fast food industry, climbing from district manager to regional manager at Del Taco. He eventually joined another restaurant brand in its early franchising phase, helping scale it from 1 to 100 stores.
Along the way, he partnered with two NFL players—Matt and Ryan Kalil—and helped launch multiple restaurant concepts, including cookie dough and coffee shops.
When the brothers transitioned into the tequila business, James took the leap into entrepreneurship, using his experience to launch The FranDream.
His goal?
Prevent others from stumbling blindly into franchise deals without doing their homework.
The FranDream: What It Is and Who It’s For
James works with a diverse range of clients—from corporate escapees and military veterans to active professional athletes. His typical client is someone who’s ready to bet on themselves.
Whether you're looking to build generational wealth, retire early, or transition out of the 9-to-5 grind, James helps you navigate:
Franchise research and selection
Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs)
Franchisee interviews
Funding options (HELOC, 401k rollovers, SBA loans)
He doesn’t just hand you a list—he walks you through the process, guiding you from interest to ownership.
Inside the Franchise Process: How James Helps You Find the Right Fit
Here’s how James guides his clients:
Step 1: Discovery: understand what industries you’re drawn to: home services, wellness, fitness, food, retail, etc.
Step 2: Budget and Role Clarity: determine liquid capital, total investment range ($100K–$200K+), and whether you want to be an owner-operator or passive investor
Step 3: Option Review: James narrows down 5–10 vetted franchises based on your goals
Step 4: Franchisee Interviews: speak directly with current owners to get real insights
Step 5: Funding Strategy: explore options for capital and risk tolerance
Step 6: Final Decision: you sign only when the match is right
Franchising isn’t just about buying a business. It’s about buying into a system of support, including ongoing mentorship from both the franchisor and fellow franchisees.
Case Study: NFL Player Plans Post-Career Revenue with a Gym Franchise
James shared a recent success story of a current NFL athlete who’s planning life after football. The athlete’s goal was clear: have $500K in revenue lined up by the time he retires in a few years.
After reviewing multiple options—dog grooming, wellness, gym franchises—they landed on a gym concept that combines fitness with six-week weight loss challenges and branded protein products.
The player’s response?
"If I’m putting my name on this, I want to know what is at stake.”
He took a year to vet the opportunity, and now he’s launching a three-store deal with long-term plans for expansion and generational wealth.
Franchises Are Everywhere—You Just Don’t Realize It
James notes that most people only associate franchising with restaurants—but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Franchise industries include:
Home services (window cleaning, air ducts, painting)
Dog grooming (high-margin, low-labor)
Fitness and wellness (gyms, cryotherapy, saunas)
Golf simulators (emerging niche for passive income)
B2B services and consulting
Even that branded service truck you saw on your street? Likely a franchise. And if you have a business yourself, James can help you explore how to turn it into a franchise.
High-Risk vs. Low-Risk: What You Should Know About Franchising
High-Risk
Restaurants. Margins are thin, startup costs are high, and staffing turnover can eat your profits. James recommends avoiding them unless you have seasoned restaurant operators on your team.
Low-Risk
Home-based service businesses (lower overhead, scalable), passive models (like golf simulators or mobile dog grooming), and health and wellness franchises with recurring revenue.
Each opportunity has trade-offs. That’s why talking to current franchisees is key.
“Would you do this again?” is the most telling question you can ask a franchise owner.
Networking is Everything—Especially in Franchising
James emphasized the power of community in entrepreneurship. Franchisees don’t just benefit from the franchisor’s playbook—they lean on each other.
“You’re joining a team,” he says. “And that network can be just as valuable as the business model.”
Whether you’re launching your first business or expanding your investment portfolio, connecting with fellow owners gives you insider perspective, support, and strategy.
Interested in Franchising? Start Here:
James Hilovsky will walk you through every step:
🌐 Visit: The FranDream
💼 Connect: LinkedIn - James Hilovsky
Listen to the Full Episode
Hear how James:
Helped NFL athletes build retirement revenue
Breaks down FDDs and franchisee red flags
Identifies which industries are best for first-time entrepreneurs
Builds generational wealth through strategic franchise ownership
🎧 Stream Episode 203 at theshadesofe.com📱
Follow us @theshadesofe on social media.
Join Patreon for early access, extras, and transcriptions
👉🏽 Join our Patreon for exclusive content & early access!