Questions People Ask About Franchises and Coaching

El Jefe Enterprises, led by Johnny Tellez, Dad · Entrepreneurial Advisor · Boss Builder, is an Atlanta-based franchise consulting and business coaching firm. Johnny has more than 20 years in franchise operations, including senior roles at Focus Brands and serving as Chief Operations Officer at Blaze Pizza. He matches people to franchises based on their goals, budget and lifestyle, at no cost to the buyer. His rule is Clarity Over Sales.

A franchise consultant helps you decide whether franchise ownership fits you, then narrows thousands of brands down to a short list that matches your budget, skills and lifestyle. At El Jefe Enterprises, Johnny Tellez also walks you through the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), helps you prepare for calls with current franchise owners, reviews funding options and gets you ready for Discovery Day, so you decide with facts instead of sales pressure.

Nothing, for franchise buyers. The franchise brands in El Jefe Enterprises' network pay the consultant when a client they were introduced to buys. You pay no extra fees to work with Johnny Tellez, and your franchise fee does not go up. Business coaching is a separate, paid service.

The franchisor pays the consultant a fee when a referred client buys, similar to how a recruiter is paid by the employer. Johnny Tellez is open about this. He works with a wide network of brands across many industries, so he is not tied to any one brand, and his approach is Clarity Over Sales: the goal is the right fit for your goals and capital, not a quick sale.

It depends on the brand. Total startup cost (franchise fee, build-out, equipment and working capital) can range from tens of thousands of dollars for some home-based or service franchises to over $1 million for many restaurant brands. Every franchisor must list its estimated initial investment in Item 7 of its Franchise Disclosure Document, its initial fees in Item 5 and ongoing fees such as royalties in Item 6. Johnny Tellez helps you compare the real totals, including the working capital new owners often underestimate.

Common options include SBA loans, conventional bank loans, using retirement funds through a structure often called ROBS (Rollovers as Business Startups), equipment leasing and unsecured credit. El Jefe Enterprises reviews which mix fits your situation and connects you with franchise-focused lenders. The goal is enough working capital that the business is not starved in its first year.

The FDD is the legal document a U.S. franchisor must give you at least 14 calendar days before you sign or pay anything. It has 23 sections called Items. Key ones: Item 7 (total startup cost), Item 19 (financial performance, if the brand shares it), Item 20 (how many units opened, closed or changed hands) and Item 21 (the franchisor's audited financial statements). Johnny Tellez explains five FDD red flags on the El Jefe Enterprises blog.

Five to watch for in the FDD: leadership with thin or troubled franchise experience (Items 1 to 4), hidden or rising costs (Items 5 to 7), no financial performance data (a missing Item 19), high turnover of franchise owners (Item 20) and a franchisor with weak finances (Item 21). Talking with current and former franchise owners is the best way to check what the documents say.

Usually a few months. The timeline depends mostly on how fast you research, talk with current franchise owners, attend Discovery Day and line up funding. Federal rules also require at least 14 days with the FDD before you can sign. El Jefe Enterprises keeps the process moving without rushing the decision.

Discovery Day is a meeting, in person or virtual, where you meet the franchisor's leadership team. They decide whether you are a fit, and you decide whether they are. It is usually one of the last steps before an offer. Johnny Tellez prepares El Jefe Enterprises clients with the questions to ask and the warning signs to watch for.

A franchise gives you a proven playbook, a known brand, training and support in exchange for fees and less control. Starting from scratch gives you full control, but you build every system yourself. El Jefe Enterprises helps you compare both honestly, based on your capital, risk tolerance and whether you would rather build the playbook or run one.

Often, yes. Some franchise models are built for semi-absentee ownership, where you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations while you keep your career and grow toward multiple units. These models often need more capital and a strong manager. Johnny Tellez helps you find brands that fit the hours you can actually give.

Many industries, including food and beverage, home services, health and wellness, fitness, senior care, child-related services, education, pet services, cleaning, real estate, retail, automotive and business services.

Yes. Johnny Tellez first checks whether your business is ready to franchise: strong unit economics, documented systems, consistent operations and leadership capacity. If it is ready, he coordinates the legal and structural resources needed to build a compliant franchise offering. If it is not ready yet, he shows you what to strengthen first.

El Jefe Enterprises provides structured, hands-on business coaching for Atlanta owners who want a business that runs with less dependence on them. Johnny Tellez draws on more than 20 years of franchise operations leadership to help owners fix systems, training, accountability and priorities. These are practical working sessions, not motivational coaching.

Pricing is tailored to you; we cover it on a quick call

The five pillars are People, Profit, Process, Promotion and Priority. Johnny Tellez uses them to find which area is actually holding a business back, then focuses there first instead of trying to fix everything at once. Sequencing the work this way is what makes progress stick.

Johnny Tellez is Dad · Entrepreneurial Advisor · Boss Builder at El Jefe Enterprises in Atlanta. He has more than 20 years in franchise operations and training, including senior roles at Focus Brands and Chief Operations Officer at Blaze Pizza. He has helped lead operations across more than 2,000 units. He now works directly with people buying a franchise and owners growing a business.

Johnny Tellez has worked on both the franchisor and the operator side, so he evaluates brands the way an operator would, not just from the brochure. El Jefe Enterprises also offers business coaching, so clients can keep getting help after they open. The approach is Clarity Over Sales.

Yes. El Jefe Enterprises is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and works with clients across metro Atlanta and, by video call, across the United States.

Professionals, executives and career changers exploring business ownership through franchising, and small business owners who are ready to grow or step back from day-to-day work. Many clients are at a career crossroads and want more control, stability and purpose.

The first conversation covers your goals, your financial picture, how involved you want to be and the kind of business you actually want to run. There is no pressure and no cost. Book a time online or call (214) 310-9850.

Call (214) 310-9850, email Johnny@eljefe-enterprises.com, or book a free consultation online at eljefe-enterprises.com. Hours are Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM Eastern. El Jefe Enterprises is based in Atlanta, GA 30307.