Some people stumble into entrepreneurship. Matt George was born into it.
Matt grew up in the restaurant business, literally. He started working in restaurants at 13, fell in love with the industry and never looked back. That passion led him to Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, where he studied hospitality management to deepen not just his craft, but his business instincts.
After graduation, he briefly explored the corporate world, but it didn't stick. The energy, the pace, the personal ownership of a mom-and-pop operation, that was where Matt thrived. So, when a longtime mentor asked him to come on as opening-day general manager for a new restaurant, Matt said yes.
Six years later, he had the opportunity to purchase the restaurant with a 300-seat dining room and a 13-room inn dating back to the 1700s. Located just outside Philadelphia, it remains the cornerstone of his business portfolio today.
Now, a few years into ownership, the systems are running smoothly. The team is solid. And Matt, a guy who runs on momentum, started to feel ready for his next challenge.
"I got bored, so I was looking for a new project, a new something,” Matt said.
He started browsing businesses for sale and around the same time, he found himself searching for an in-home golf simulator. Those two searches came together and ended up pointing him in the same direction – indoor golf simulators, golf simulator franchises, and eventually, Franchise Sidekick.
Matt came to Sidekick with serious business chops but zero franchise experience. He'd built and sold a business during the pandemic, managed staff, negotiated with vendors and run a complex hospitality operation for years.
But the franchise world – with its franchise disclosure documents, royalty structures, preferred vendor networks and legal fine print – was entirely new territory.
That's where his Sidekick Advisor, Mike Flowers, came in.
Matt initially came in with interest in another golf simulator concept, The Back Nine, but Mike didn't just process that interest, he challenged it.
"He didn't let me just stay focused on one thing,” Matt said. “He wanted me to see other options, so I could see what possible competition might look like. What my other options were. He didn't want me to just get locked into one thing right away."
That broader exposure is what led Matt to Golf Envy. He was sold on their vision, energy and potential.
But getting from interest to signed franchise agreement required more than enthusiasm. Matt needed a lawyer who actually understood franchise law, and a funding strategy built around a Small Business Administration loan.
"Franchise Sidekick was like a one-stop shop,” Matt said. “It really provided me with all aspects, from start to finish, of getting through this process."
Mike connected Matt with a franchise-specialized attorney who knew exactly what to look for in a FDD and a franchise agreement, two documents that, as Matt put it, are overwhelming at first glance. He also walked Matt through multiple funding options, helping him navigate the SBA loan process with confidence.
The result wasn't just a smoother process, it was a well-informed one, which for someone stepping into a new industry, made all the difference.
Golf Envy wasn't a household name when Matt signed on. In fact, he was among the first dozen franchisees to join the brand and the second location to actually open its doors. For someone new to franchising, that kind of early-stage commitment comes with real risk.
"The initial fear with Golf Envy was that it was a brand new franchise,” Matt said.
But Mike had prepared him for exactly that kind of uncertainty. He'd walked Matt through the rhythms of the franchise process, the waiting, the paperwork, the moments of doubt and then, the reward.
Matt opened his first location with four Golf Envy simulators, but memberships grew so quickly that he had to add a fifth. Then three months in, his location set the brand record for best pre-sales, and now, he signed on to open his second location.
The relationship with the franchisor has been a strong one, too, with a team that's been receptive to feedback and enthusiastic about growth. Matt has become a key validator for prospective franchisees, fielding calls and welcoming site visits from people who are considering the brand.
"I feel like I'm a big part of growing something,” Matt said. “I've been doing a lot of validation phone calls. I love talking about the process, my story and how things have gone so far."
Matt George didn't just buy a franchise. He found a partner, a process and a path that turned a casual idea into a record-breaking business with more locations on the way.
That's what Sidekick is built to do. Whether you're a seasoned business owner like Matt looking for your next venture or a first-time entrepreneur ready to take the leap, our expert advisors bring the roadmap, the resources and the real-world experience to guide you every step of the way.
"It can be a scary process starting a business, buying into a franchise,” Matt said. “But having the support team there really adds confidence."
Schedule your free, 10-minute call with an advisor today and find out which franchise is the right fit for you.
Not quite ready to speak to someone? Explore brands on your own terms using Sidekick SeeThrough, our free franchise research platform.