Introduction: Why I Talk About Franchises for W2 Professionals
I’m Beau Eckstein, the Business Ownership Coach behind the Investor Financing Podcast, and I help high-earning W2 professionals find franchise opportunities that let them keep their day job while building wealth. In this article I break down which franchise models tend to work best for doctors, tech workers, and other high-paid employees who want better tax write-offs, recurring revenue, and more control over their financial future. If you’ve been asking, “What franchises are best for keeping my W2 job?” this is a practical guide you can use to start evaluating options immediately.
Photo by Van Tay Media on Unsplash
Why High-Paid Professionals Are Turning to Franchises
Many of the calls I get lately are from doctors and high-paid tech workers. They enjoy their W2 roles, the steady income, and career benefits, but they want a path to grow wealth beyond their paycheck. Franchises can be an attractive option because they often provide:
- Proven systems and training that reduce startup risk
- Recurring revenue models that deliver predictable cash flow
- Potential tax benefits and write-offs that W2 employment doesn’t offer
- Financing options, such as SBA loans, that make ownership feasible
From my perspective as a Business Ownership Coach | Investor Financing Podcast host, franchising fills a unique niche: it offers structure and support for new business owners while letting you remain a W2 employee during the startup and stabilization phases.
Health & Wellness Franchises: Infrared Saunas and Membership Models
One of the franchise categories I recommend to professionals who want to stay W2 is health and wellness—specifically membership-based concepts like infrared sauna studios. These models have several advantages:
- Memberships create recurring revenue; a stable subscriber base helps reach break-even before opening.
- Operational staffing can be lean—many concepts require as few as two employees per shift.
- Customers tend to be local and repeatable, which supports predictable cash flow.
- Because it’s retail with equipment, upfront investment is higher, but it’s often financeable through SBA loans or similar products.
Key tactical advice: before you commit to buildout and equipment purchases, try to pre-sell memberships so you open with a runway to break-even. For many of my clients that strategy reduces risk and gives lenders confidence during the financing process.
Golf Simulator Franchises: Keyless Access and Membership-Based Play
Another category that works well for semi-absentee owners is golf simulator franchises. These concepts often feature keyless access, reservation systems, and membership plans. They can be operated with relatively low labor intensity while still offering premium revenue potential.
Why they fit W2 owners:
- Keyless access and robust software make management smoother and reduce on-site staffing needs.
- Members often buy packages or subscriptions, which smooths revenue.
- These venues appeal to a wide demographic—corporate events, leagues, and casual play—diversifying income streams.
I’ve seen investors leverage financing and deploy teams to handle day-to-day operations so the owner can remain working a W2 role while overseeing strategic direction part-time.
The CEO Model: Semi-Absentee Ownership and Hiring a Regional Director
Some franchise companies now offer what’s called a “CEO model.” This structure is explicitly designed for busy professionals who want to keep a W2 job. The idea is straightforward: you hire a regional director or general manager to run the business, and you act as the strategic owner.
Typical expectations after setup:
- Once the regional manager is in place and systems are running, owners may spend as little as 5–10 hours per week overseeing the business.
- During the ramp-up period, expect to be more involved—often 15–25 hours per week—until your management team is fully trained.
- Strong systems, reporting, and KPIs are essential so you can manage from a distance and make informed decisions quickly.
Popular investors like Cody Sanchez have popularized this approach by building portfolios where operational managers handle execution while the owner focuses on growth and capital deployment. If you’re good at following systems and hiring reliable operators, franchising via a CEO model can be an effective way to scale while keeping your job.
Realistic Time Commitment: What to Expect
It’s important to be honest about time. While some franchises are designed for semi-absentee ownership, most will require active oversight, especially in the early months. Expect:
- Initial phase: heavy involvement for training, staff hiring, and systems setup (often 15–25 hours/week).
- Post-setup: reduced oversight if you hire strong managers (5–10 hours/week for CEO model franchises).
- Ongoing: regular reviews, financial oversight, and periodic problem-solving. Even absentee models need engagement at strategic intervals.
Remember: it’s your business. The level of involvement you choose affects performance and the returns you’ll see. If your goal is to stay W2, choose concepts with predictable operations and clear SOPs so you can delegate effectively.
Discovery Process: Aligning a Franchise with Your Schedule
When we run discovery with prospective buyers, we map their current work schedule, risk tolerance, capital availability, and long-term goals. Key discovery questions include:
- How many hours per week can you realistically commit?
- What level of cash investment and debt are you comfortable with?
- Do you want recurring revenue, higher margin retail, or event-based businesses?
- Are you comfortable hiring and managing a regional director or GM?
We use these answers to filter franchise opportunities. A franchise that requires daily owner presence is a mismatch for someone keeping a W2 role. Conversely, membership-based health concepts, keyless golf simulators, and CEO model franchises often align well with limited-owner-time strategies.
Financing and Investment Considerations
Investment amounts vary by concept. For example, a well-equipped health studio with buildout and equipment can require significant capital—often in the $100,000+ range. Fortunately, SBA financing and other lending products can bridge that gap for qualified borrowers.
Practical financing tips:
- Pre-sell memberships or secure letters of intent to strengthen loan packages.
- Structure payroll and manager compensation to incentivize performance while preserving cash flow.
- Build conservative financial projections that account for ramp-up periods and marketing spend.
- Work with advisors who understand franchise finance—this is where a Business Ownership Coach | Investor Financing Podcast perspective helps immensely.
Final Advice: Is Franchising Right for You?
If you are a disciplined W2 professional who wants to diversify income, capture tax advantages, and build an asset you can scale, franchising can be an excellent path. The keys to success are choosing the right model, lining up financing, pre-validating revenue (memberships or pre-sales), and hiring competent managers if you plan to stay at your W2 job.
As the host of the Business Ownership Coach | Investor Financing Podcast, I encourage anyone considering this route to start with a discovery conversation. Map your hours, set realistic capital expectations, and look for franchise brands that explicitly support semi-absentee ownership or CEO models. If you can follow systems and hire well, franchising can deliver strong returns and reliable cash flow while you keep the security of your W2 income.
If you want help evaluating opportunities, book a call: http://bookwithbeau.com/ or join our community at http://businessownershipacademy.com/ and our newsletter at https://business-ownership-newsletter.ck.page/aaca0e0471.