Non-Food Franchises: A Shortcut to Entrepreneurship, Wealth & Tax Benefits w/ Jon Ostenson
Release Date: 10/23/2025
Money School Podcast
For most people, debt isn’t a mistake; it’s just life. The mortgage, the car loan, and the credit cards are what everyone does. Making the minimum payments feels normal, but that actually keeps people stuck. Millions of families are drowning in debt, and they’re barely managing. They’re working hard, keeping up with their bills, but almost every dollar they earn goes right back out in interest. They’re not moving forward; they’re treading water. The hard part is, they’re not doing anything “wrong.” They’re doing what the system taught them to do: stay cash-poor while the...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
When people hear “franchise”, they immediately picture a drive-through window and a fryer in the back. That narrow view hides one of the most accessible and profitable paths to business ownership today: non-food franchising. We’ve been taught that entrepreneurship means starting from scratch: writing business plans, building systems, and hoping your idea sticks. Franchising flips that equation. You’re not reinventing the wheel; you’re stepping into a proven system with training, marketing, and infrastructure already built. The best part? You can own a business that runs...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
From the outside, pro athletes look like they’ve made it; like they’ll never have to worry about money again. Multi-million-dollar contracts, highlight reels, and luxury lifestyles suggest money will never be an issue. But behind the scenes, most players are one injury, one bad decision, or one contract away from financial ruin. The truth is, the average NBA career lasts just 4 years. Taxes, agents, lavish spending, and poor planning chip away at earnings until the fortune is gone, and with no plan for life after the game, many athletes end up broke and starting over from scratch....
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most investors don’t fail because they pick the wrong stock or buy into the wrong trend. They fail because they never define success for themselves. They chase returns without knowing what a win actually looks like. Without a clear target and purpose, investing becomes guesswork, and the chances of losing money are higher. Worse, they choose methods that look cool instead of ones they actually understand. They don’t give themselves a hard out, so they hold too long or sell too soon. And often, they pick investment vehicles that only pay them in one way. That’s where real estate...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most investors don’t fail because they pick the wrong stock or buy into the wrong trend. They fail because they never define success for themselves. They chase returns without knowing what a win actually looks like. Without a clear target and purpose, investing becomes guesswork, and the chances of losing money are higher. Worse, they choose methods that look cool instead of ones they actually understand. They don’t give themselves a hard out, so they hold too long or sell too soon. And often, they pick investment vehicles that only pay them in one way. That’s where real estate...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
From the outside, doctors and dentists look like they’ve got it all: good money, respected careers, the kind of lifestyle most people want. But what almost no one talks about is how fragile that life really is. One accident, one injury, and the very hands that their entire career depends on can suddenly stop producing income. That was Dr. Jeff Anzalone’s reality after a skiing accident nearly ended his ability to practice dentistry. It forced him to realize: as much as medicine can be rewarding, it’s still trading time for money, and it can all disappear in an instant. The solution...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
From the outside, doctors and dentists look like they’ve got it all: good money, respected careers, the kind of lifestyle most people want. But what almost no one talks about is how fragile that life really is. One accident, one injury, and the very hands that their entire career depends on can suddenly stop producing income. That was Dr. Jeff Anzalone’s reality after a skiing accident nearly ended his ability to practice dentistry. It forced him to realize: as much as medicine can be rewarding, it’s still trading time for money, and it can all disappear in an instant. The solution...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most people who buy life insurance never read the fine print. They’re promised “stock market–like returns without the risk,” a retirement account that doubles as a tax-free loan machine, and peace of mind for their families. On paper? It looks like the perfect product. But what happens when the math doesn’t add up, the illustrations don’t match reality, and families find out, years later, that the policy they’ve been funding is set to collapse? That’s the dark underbelly of the Indexed Universal Life (IUL) industry. And it’s exactly what my guest, Jonathan, aka the IUL...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most people who buy life insurance never read the fine print. They’re promised “stock market–like returns without the risk,” a retirement account that doubles as a tax-free loan machine, and peace of mind for their families. On paper? It looks like the perfect product. But what happens when the math doesn’t add up, the illustrations don’t match reality, and families find out, years later, that the policy they’ve been funding is set to collapse? That’s the dark underbelly of the Indexed Universal Life (IUL) industry. And it’s exactly what my guest, Jonathan, aka the IUL...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most business owners only call the bank when they’re in trouble. Cash is tight, deals are falling apart, stress is mounting. By then? It’s too late. The banks shut the doors and wave at you from behind the glass. That’s the obvious mistake. The less obvious one? Not realizing the best time to secure financing is when you don’t need it. That’s when banks give you more, on better terms, and when private lenders are willing to play ball. That’s the theme of my conversation with George Otel, founder of U.S. Business Funding. He’s closed 400+ deals, from SBA loans to $50M...
info_outlineWhen people hear “franchise”, they immediately picture a drive-through window and a fryer in the back. That narrow view hides one of the most accessible and profitable paths to business ownership today: non-food franchising.
We’ve been taught that entrepreneurship means starting from scratch: writing business plans, building systems, and hoping your idea sticks.
Franchising flips that equation. You’re not reinventing the wheel; you’re stepping into a proven system with training, marketing, and infrastructure already built. The best part?
You can own a business that runs without you being chained to it.
The real secret is that most high-income professionals, doctors, executives, and even W-2 employees can buy or build semi-passive franchises that generate cash flow, deliver powerful tax advantages, and diversify their wealth far beyond the stock market.
And yet, most never explore it because they still think of “fast food.”
Why is buying a franchise a better path into business ownership? What are the lesser-known benefits you get from this model?
In this episode, I sit down with Jon Ostenson, founder of FranBridge Consulting and author of Non-Food Franchising. We unpack the world of franchises that don’t involve burgers or coffee cups. We talk about how to identify the right concept, fund your investment, and leverage the new tax rules that make owning a franchise smarter than ever.
Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
-The shortcut to entrepreneurship
Most people think you need to invent something new to build wealth. What if the fastest path is owning a system that’s already proven to work?
-Semi-passive ownership, real results
Some franchises thrive even when the owner isn’t there daily. How do they do it, and what separates a true “executive model” from wishful thinking?
-The hidden tax advantage of business ownership
Business owners play by a completely different tax rulebook. How can franchising open those same doors for people still working a W-2 job?
-The non-food franchise boom
From home services to senior care, boring is the new profitable. Why are the most recession-resistant franchises the ones no one talks about?
Guest Bio
Jon Ostenson is a Top 1% Franchise Consultant; 2 x Inc 5000 Founder; author of 'Non-Food Franchising’, Forbes Contributor, and CEO of FranBridge Consulting. Specializing in the area of non-food franchising, he draws on his experience as both the president of an Inc. 500 franchise system and as a multi-brand franchisee in serving his consulting clients who are looking to explore business ownership opportunities. Jon helps clients understand all aspects of non-food franchising in the process of introducing them to opportunities from the over 600 high-growth brands that he represents. Before FranBridge, Jon was the President of ShelfGenie, a national franchise system with 200 locations. To learn more and get a free copy of his book 'Non-Food Franchising’, go to http://franbridgeconsulting.com/.
About Your Host
From pro-snowboarder to money mogul, Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America’s #1 Money Mentor. With a core belief that success is built not by the resources you have, but by how resourceful you can be. Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is the founder of The Money School™ and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier.
His success also includes managing tens of millions of dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and in real estate transactions. As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works.
Chris is also a nationally recognized speaker, author, and podcast host. He has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans, delivering the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom.
Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!