The Cost of Regret: Why Franchise Freedom is Safer Than Corporate Employment

Welcome back to the Franchise Freedom Podcast. I’m your host, G—Giuseppe Grammatico, your franchise guide. The show is all about helping corporate executivesexperience time and financial freedom, and today, I couldn’t be more excited to share a conversation with my good friend, Mike Bahun, the Founder and CEO of Fundraising University.

Mike’s brand is a true standout in the franchise space. It’s a business built not just on profit, but on purpose—making a profound difference in the lives of student-athletes and school programs across the country. It’s the kind of business that checks all the boxes for someone looking for franchise freedom while leaving their community better than they found it.

In our chat, Mike and I didn’t just dive into his business model; we tackled the big, often scary, philosophical question that stops so many talented people in their tracks: Is the leap into entrepreneurship truly riskier than staying in a corporate job? I think our discussion will change the way you look at your own career safety.

From Sideline to CEO: The Evolution of Fundraising U

Mike is a coach at heart. His journey started not in a boardroom, but on the baseball field. After his playing career ended in 1999, he was handed the keys to his old high school baseball program with one catch: “you get two dozen baseballs and the rest of the money you have to come up with yourself.” That single moment, born out of necessity, was the spark for Fundraising University.

For 26 years, he saw the need for a better, more consistent solution for schools. By 2016, he had 10 successful locations. But it wasn’t until he studied the model that he realized the power of franchising. After two years of building a compliant system—a real FDD and a real operations manual—Fundraising U launched as a franchise system in March of 2020. I was thrilled when he shared the news that they recently awarded their 100th territory.

That is an amazing feat. The stat you hear is that only about 6.4% of all franchise brands ever reach the 100-unit milestone. This is validation that the system works, and it provides significant benefits to every franchisee through economies of scale, national presence, and more efficient marketing.

Franchise Freedom Through a Service-Based Model: Ditching the Candy Bars

When people hear “fundraising,” they instantly picture those painful mercy sales, the boxes of candy, the order forms, and the endless deliveries we all experienced in Little League. As Mike explained, that’s viewing it as a commodity or a product. The genius of Fundraising U is that they redefined the industry as a true service brand.

What do schools and coaches want? They want fast money with minimal effort. Fundraising U provides a system that is:

• Fast: One-week fundraisers.
• Digital: 100% digital, no order forms, no checks, no cash-handling.
• Efficient: All products are delivered directly to the home. It’s truly an Amazon model for activity groups.

This system is dramatically effective. The brand is averaging three times the industry norm. Even more impressively, they boast a very high reoccurring rate on their customer base. As an franchise consultant, I can tell you that kind of recurring revenue is the holy grail of stability when investing in franchise opportunities.

The Ideal Franchise Business Advisor: Finding Your Fit

Who is the right fit to become a franchisee with Fundraising U? Surprisingly, it’s not just former coaches or teachers. We’ve seen everyone from engineers and lawyers to former NFL players succeed. Mike nailed the avatar: it’s someone with high empathy who genuinely wants to make a difference.

While the business is highly profitable, the core requirement is character. Because the school calendar is fixed, this is also a very lifestyle-friendly role, making it appealing to those looking for executive semi-passive franchise ownership or a semi absentee franchise ownership model that lets them control their time and value.

As I’ve discussed in previous episodes on the right-fit franchise model, the goal is always to find a concept that leverages your soft skills and aligns with your personal mission. Here, it’s about relationship building and connecting with the 25+ potential programs in any given school (basketball, band, cheer, orchestra, etc.). You’re not selling a product; you’re solving a pervasive, painful problem with a proven system.

Beyond Training: Business Coaching Franchise with a Focus on the Person

When you invest in a franchise, you expect a manual and a training period. Mike Bahun takes this concept to another level, calling it “development,” not just support.

“We don’t call it training or we don’t call it support. We call it development because that’s an active, ongoing thing,” Mike said.

This is what truly differentiates a high-quality franchise—their investment in you. Beyond the ERP and financial coaching (which includes former NASA engineers teaching you how to build a proforma), their development system includes a mental performance coach and a physical fitness person.

Their philosophy is simple: “if you build the best person, you’re gonna get the best results.”

This holistic approach to coaching the franchises is something I’ve rarely seen. Your physical health, nutrition, and mental performance directly affect your attitude and your business’s results. For any aspiring entrepreneur, having a franchise system that coaches your mindset is invaluable.

The Real Risk: Why Entrepreneurship is Safer Than Employment

This was the most impactful part of our conversation, and it’s advice I share often as a franchise coach. When you look at the leap to owning a franchise, everyone talks about the risk. Mike flipped the script:

“I respect and understand that leap to entrepreneurship is scary, but to me, being an employee is way more scary because now I’ve decided to put my family’s safety in the hands of another person…”

Mike’s point is powerful: corporate life isn’t safe. I was laid off from three companies before I chose to build my own business. When you are an employee, your salary, commission, and even your job existence are dictated by people above you. You are a liability that can be replaced or downsized.

“I think it is taking a six to eighteen month leap to be an entrepreneur because not only now are you creating safety by taking activity, you’re also building an asset and you’re not a liability.”

The ultimate question he posed to those who have been “simmering” on the idea of starting a business for years is this: “Let’s assume you don’t do anything and it’s 10 years from now. What happens if you don’t do it? What is the cost of regret?”

The data shows that if you follow a proven plan, you will be successful. As Mike said, “If someone will go to work and follow the plan, you’re going to be successful.” A franchise gives you that proven plan, the tools, and the team. You walk into the dugout with the equipment and the game plan already set. The only thing missing is you taking the swing.

The fulfillment you gain from standing on your own and controlling your fate is immeasurable. Your children are watching, and when you choose to take action and build something of your own, you are demonstrating the power of personal control.

The Fundraising University mission—enriching opportunities for kids by giving resources to the coaches and teachers who raise them—is truly inspiring. If you’re a franchise career advisor looking for a system with massive demand, incredible recurring revenue, and a built-in mission, this is one to explore.

Find the franchise that is a right fit for you at https://ggthefranchiseguide.com/right-fit