What does semi-absentee ownership actually look like in real life? Not the glossy version, the real one, where you grinded through 9 p.m. nights to get there, made hard calls on people and eventually woke up one day with two thriving businesses.
That's Doug Anthony's story. On this episode, Ryan and Tyler sit down with Doug to talk multi-brand franchise ownership, what it really takes to go semi-absentee and the mindset that's driven him since he was a kid growing up in Las Vegas watching his friends' dads live the life he wanted.
Doug isn't new to entrepreneurship. He started a masonry company in 1999 at 25 years old. He knew how to sell, how to get a job done and how to grind. But he also knew firsthand what building from scratch actually costs.
"I've done that before," Doug said. "I learned some tough, expensive lessons."
When he got into his staffing franchise years later, the contrast was stark. The systems, the support, the speed to scale, none of it compared to doing it alone. So when the roofing opportunity came up, he didn't need much convincing.
"The quickness to scale was infinitely faster with a franchise," Doug said. "The confidence, everything. I can't say enough about franchising."
He also gave credit to having a trusted advisor in his corner, someone who knew his goals, his background and what would actually be a good fit. Not someone rushing him toward a decision, but someone watching the market on his behalf.
"I feel like Curt would go to bat for me," Doug said. "Having an advisor is the way to go. I wouldn't want to do this on my own."
For anyone wondering whether a roofing franchise can actually move the needle financially, Doug's business numbers speak clearly.
He put roughly $100,000 of his own capital into the business, covering one territory, three office buildouts across Salt Lake City, Ogden and Logan and everything needed to get started. He financed approximately $220,000 through the SBA loan funding option for four additional territories. By his second year, he'd paid himself back the $100,000 he'd initially put in.
Year one: nearly $2.5 million in revenue. Year three (2025): $3.3 million with improved margins and a bottom line of around $500,000 to $550,000. That's before accounting for the equity he's building, the tax advantages of ownership or the value of a scalable asset he can one day sell.
"Last year we actually lowered our labor costs, so our margins are even better," Doug said. "It's going really well. It was the best decision."
And he does all of this while going into the office about three hours a day.
Semi-absentee ownership is one of the most searched phrases in franchising and one of the most misunderstood. But Doug is clear, it doesn't happen on day one. It happens because you put in the work upfront to build something that doesn't need you to function.
For Doug, that meant grinding hard in the early days, making smart hires and investing in the people around him long before it felt comfortable to do so.
"You have to grind when you open both businesses," Doug said. "But I knew what the outcome was going to be."
Today, his roofing company has a general manager, a production manager, two sales managers and a standout admin. He treats them well, pays them fairly, invests in their growth and gives them flexibility when life calls for it. At his staffing company, he has a recruiter who's been there nearly 11 years, in an industry where the average tenure is around two and a half years. That kind of retention doesn't happen by accident.
"It really comes down to bringing in the right people," Doug said. "Save it, invest back into the company and when you start making money, don't spend it."
His hiring philosophy is just as intentional. During interviews, he asks candidates one question that tells him everything: Is money, title or opportunity most important to you?
"If somebody comes in and says opportunity, that's what I'm looking for," Doug said. "I want somebody that can see there's an opportunity and that they want to grow."
For key team members, he backs that up with substance through profit sharing at the staffing company and an equity pathway for his general manager in roofing. If your team is putting in the work, let them benefit when you do.
Doug started with nothing but hustle. A former baseball player turned masonry contractor, he talked a trainer from his high school days into fronting him about $10,000 for labor on his first job with 20% of the profit in return. That first project netted $70,000 in about three weeks, working 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
The drive was always there. What took longer to develop was the leadership.
"I didn't know anything about leadership at all," Doug said. "Looking back, I would tell myself to learn people, learn how to retain your employees and what it looks like to be a real leader."
He paid his early employees well. He gave them trucks, cell phones and healthcare. But he played too much golf and didn't stay connected to their satisfaction. Today, he knows the difference between compensation and culture – and he leads with both.
If he could go back with everything he knows now?
"Definitely don't do it on your own, get a franchise," Doug said. "It really is a good decision, especially if you're pretty green and don't know a lot."
Two businesses, strong margins and trips on the calendar, but Doug isn't done. He's got five territories in Utah and a market he estimates is worth $550 million a year in roofing alone. In 2026, his team sat down together – general manager, production managers, sales managers and his son-in-law who runs the roofing operation – to plan growth together, get into digital advertising and test new sales models.
He's also got his eye on something else. His Sidekick Advisor called recently with a new opportunity.
"I trust you guys and what you guys do, the process, everything," Doug said. "Whatever brand you guys are selling, I would have no problem being involved with."
His long-term vision looks a lot like what he's already building: businesses that generate income and equity, key people with a stake in the outcome and the freedom to pursue the next opportunity or just enjoy the one he's already built.
If Doug's story has you thinking about what your next chapter could look like, that's exactly what we're here for.
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