How Shideler Bennett Built a $12M Crumbl Franchise & SaaS Biz Before 30
In this episode, I sit down with Shideler Bennett, a multi-unit Crumbl Cookies franchisee, SaaS founder, and business builder who scaled a $12 million portfolio by the age of 30. From cold-calling insurance agencies to building a 10-unit franchise empire and launching a software company that’s changing how franchisees operate — Shideler shares the gritty, behind-the-scenes truth of what it really takes to grow fast, take risks, and build a business that lasts. Whether you're looking to buy a franchise, start a SaaS business, or just get inspired by someone who took massive action during uncertain times, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss. 🔑 What We Cover in This Episode: How Shideler started with Crumbl Cookies during the pandemic Scaling from 1 to 10 Crumbl locations across 3 states Raising capital through creative funding (friends, family, investors) Why he launched a SaaS platform for franchisors & franchisees (CoverPanda) The emotional toll of rapid growth and how he pushed through doubt Practical tips for franchise funding, scaling, and operations What to know about owning a franchise in California Why he believes franchising is the best fast track to entrepreneurship 🎯 Who This Episode Is For: Aspiring franchise owners Entrepreneurs in their 20s & 30s Founders scaling multi-unit businesses SaaS startup builders Anyone looking for business growth inspiration 📈 Connect with Shideler Bennett: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scheidlerbennett 💼 CoverPanda (SaaS for Franchises): https://coverpandaco.com 7 Steps to Owning a Franchise: https://path2frdm-1.hubspotpagebuilder.com/path-to-freedom-about-franchising If you would like to learn more about this particular franchise opportunity or discuss franchise ownership in general - feel free to use the link to my calendar below to schedule a free, no-obligation introductory meeting. https://calendly.com/wes-barefoot/introcallwithwes Connect with Wes: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path2frdm/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/path2frdm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleybarefoot/ 👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for more insights on business, franchising, and financial freedom! #Franchising #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship