Are you struggling to figure out how to scale your franchise business while maintaining its core mission? Many entrepreneurs face the challenge of expanding without sacrificing the quality and purpose that drive their business. In an interview with Ford Saeks, Jeff Gartner, co-founder and CEO of Hudson Valley Swim, shared his journey through the world of franchise business growth, offering insights into how he transformed a simple swim lesson into a thriving franchise operation. Jeff’s story began with a personal need—ensuring his children received high-quality swim lessons—and quickly grew into something much larger. From his backyard in the Northeast, Jeff recognized a gap in the market, where the available swim instruction lacked the quality he experienced privately. This realization sparked the foundation of Hudson Valley Swim, a business that has grown from a single operation to a franchise model with eight corporate locations and six franchise locations. Jeff’s focus was never just on growth for the sake of expansion but rather on building a brand that prioritized safety and skill development in swim education. In a business built around saving lives, Jeff explains how maintaining the core mission was essential as the franchise expanded. His commitment to making sure that every location upheld the same standard of excellence that the original swim school had is a vital element in the brand’s success. For Jeff, franchise business growth wasn’t simply about opening more doors; it was about ensuring that every franchisee bought into the mission of reducing the risk of drowning through effective swim education. It’s this mission-driven focus that sets Hudson Valley Swim apart in a competitive industry, and it’s what potential franchisees must fully embrace to join the network. Scaling a franchise, however, is not without its challenges. Jeff reveals that building a foundation rooted in strong systems and processes was key to creating a replicable and scalable model. With decades of experience, he built a turnkey operation, making it easier for franchisees to start strong. From insurance to payroll, Jeff's approach was to have every system ready to go so new franchisees could focus on building their business, rather than getting bogged down in the logistics. This approach allowed his franchise to grow quickly and efficiently while maintaining the high standards of the original brand. Jeff also emphasized the importance of local community engagement in achieving long-term franchise business growth. While digital marketing plays a role, connecting directly with families through local events and partnerships has proven to be a critical component of the brand’s success. By tapping into schools, sponsoring local sports teams, and attending community events, Hudson Valley Swim builds trust with parents, positioning itself as more than just a swim school but a vital part of the community. Technology, too, plays an important role in Jeff’s model. His background in tech allowed him to streamline operations through automation, making tasks like registration and scheduling more efficient. Yet, as both he and Ford discuss, technology alone is not enough. Personal engagement and connection remain at the heart of the brand’s identity, and Jeff has been careful to ensure that while technology improves the efficiency of operations, it doesn’t replace the human touch that defines the customer experience. For many entrepreneurs, the idea of scaling a business can seem daunting. Jeff’s approach to franchise business growth offers a roadmap for how to do so with purpose. It’s not just about adding more locations but about ensuring that each new franchise is set up for success from the start. By fostering a strong sense of community, prioritizing customer relationships, and leveraging technology in thoughtful ways, Hudson Valley Swim has managed to grow without losing sight of its original mission. For business owners looking to scale, Jeff’s experience serves as a powerful example of how to combine operational excellence with a deep commitment to the values that drive the business. By putting systems in place and finding franchisees who truly align with the mission, Hudson Valley Swim continues to thrive as it expands across new markets. Watch the full interview on YouTube. Don’t miss out on future episodes of Fordify LIVE! Join us every Wednesday at 11 AM Central on your favorite social platforms, and tune in to The Business Growth Show Podcast every Thursday for a weekly dose of business growth wisdom. About Jeff Gartner Jeff Gartner is a franchisor, technologist, entrepreneur, and inventor, best known as the co-founder of Hudson Valley Swim, a premium swim lesson program launched in 2003 with a mission to save lives through high-quality swim education. In 2022, alongside his wife Joan, Jeff expanded the business into a franchise, which has since been recognized as an "emerging franchise...
