Franchising with Katie

10/07/2026

Are you guilty of a few of these costly habits?

Chris Mead shares with The Spruce some of the most common ways we waste water, and increase our monthly bills.

https://hubs.ly/Q04rKJbW0

10/06/2026

IFPG is where my franchising story started.

When I came into this industry as a consultant (by way of FranCoach | Franchising Consultant 💪), it was the only association I knew. I walked in not knowing anyone, and I walked out with people who’ve since stood by me through business wins, hard seasons, and everything in between. Some of them are now my closest friends.

So this retreat isn’t just another event on my calendar. It’s coming home.

This year I got to show up representing, bluefrogplumbinghq a brand that runs on integrity, with franchisees who pour their hearts into what they’ve built. And I’m proud to be part of Stellar Service Brands, where leadership is focused on bringing in the right people, not just filling territories. Growth done responsibly is the only kind worth having. Standing in that room, proud of where I’ve been and where I am now, meant more than I can really put into words. 💙🐸🙌

Thank you to Red Boswell and Matt Otskey for creating a space where the connections are real.

And to Kelly Lynn, Amy Comerford, Jenna Miller ☆ and the whole IFPG team: as a former event planner, I know the late nights and endless details behind something like this. You poured your hearts and time into it, and it shows!

To my franchising family, old friends and new: thank you for being part of my story.

09/17/2026

Let’s chat! Has anyone else noticed how much LinkedIn has changed? 👀

Remember when LinkedIn was basically your professional résumé online? Slightly boring and bland.

Then it became an incredible networking tool. Jobs, employees, connections, opportunities. Even sales outreach felt more natural because a connection didn’t automatically mean, “Here comes the pitch.” 😂

Fast forward to today…

My inbox is FULL of cold pitches. I’ve gotten to the point where I check someone’s profile before accepting a connection request because I need to know if we’re genuinely connecting or if I’m about to get a five-message sales sequence. 😆 That also takes time out of my day.

And then there’s the content shift. More personal stories, families, life experiences, wins, struggles… and yes, even reels…. And they are fun reels!🫣

Honestly, I think some of that is a good thing. Business is personal, and I love getting to know the human behind the title. If you know me, culture and personal connection are truly the most important things to me!

But where do we draw the line?

How do we keep the human connection without losing the professionalism and purpose that made LinkedIn such a valuable tool in the first place?

I’ve had this conversation with people in and outside of my industry, and I’m curious…

What do you think LinkedIn is getting right, and where has the noise started to outweigh the value? 👇

**Picture posted for attention on purpose, because a post with personal pictures or selfies DO get more clicks…..also who doesn’t love a mimosa and a sunset?💃🏼

09/11/2026

Who says networking needs a conference badge? 😉

Last night’s IFA Women’s Franchise Network | Tampa Bay gathering was exactly what I love about this industry: great people, good laughs and a whole lot of camaraderie.

We had a little bit of everything around the table, franchise developers, consultants, franchisees, attorneys, marketing pros and corporate leaders.

I was proud to represent bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, and even better, I got to hang with some pretty awesome franchise neighbors right here in our own stomping grounds. 🐸💙

No agenda. No ballroom. Just time to sit back, chat, laugh and enjoy the beautiful surroundings at Armature Works.

These are the nights that make this industry feel like a community. ❤️

09/02/2026

Discovery Day in Dallas. And one VERY excited Franchise Developer,(me). 🐸💙

My first visit to the Stellar Service Brands headquarters (Stellar Academy) was everything I hoped it would be….and more.

Two fantastic candidates came ready to dive deeper into bluefrogplumbinghq meet our incredible team, and explore what their own leap into entrepreneurship could look like.

I got to spend time with my team/new besties, Richard Fulghum, Beth McKeithen, and Zach Munroe….and meet the amazing people behind the scenes who keep this machine moving, including our fabulous CEO, Jessica Wescott!

And then there’s my favorite part of Discovery Day: breaking bread!

Scuba adventures. Favorite sports teams. Life stories. And, most importantly, why entrepreneurship and franchising are calling them.

We even had our Bluefrog Plumbing and Drain of Metro Fort Worth, Trish and Robert join us, along with another Texas couple exploring Restoration 1!

Different stories. Different motivations. One beautiful thing in common: the desire to build something of their own in a ridiculously stable industry.

I feel incredibly blessed that within my first few weeks of taking my own leap, I’ve had the opportunity to experience a full bluefrogplumbinghq training AND a deep dive into Discovery Day!

I’m learning the operations, marketing, technology, vendors, partnerships, and most importantly….the people behind the support!

I don’t just want to develop a franchise. I want to know it. Believe in it. And feel confident helping the right people take their leap.

And I absolutely do. 🐸💙

The business matters. The relationships matter more.

StellarServiceBrands

08/28/2026

Plumbing💙🐸
Pizza🍕
Brewery🍺
Popsicles🍨(who do I talk to about creating a popsicle emoji)

A funny thing happened in Dallas…

Zach Munroe, Beth Allen McKeithen, and I were talking franchising with a candidate in town for bluefrogplumbinghq Discovery Day over brews at Heritage Pizza & Taproom, a local, family-owned spot featuring beers from local breweries and a whole lot of community pride.

Then I spotted a cooler full of gorgeous and delicious Frios Gourmet Pops!

And I thought: THIS is franchising. This is entrepreneurship. This is small business ownership.

Big or small. Home services, food, mobile, brick-and-mortar, you don’t have to be an expert in an industry to become an owner.

You can build it yourself from scratch, OR invest in the proven systems, support and expertise of a franchise.

Either way, the goal is the same:

More control. More freedom. More financial opportunity. Creating a legacy.

Business ownership is far more attainable than most people think.

You don’t have to spend your life making someone else’s business richer.

You can take the leap and build your own. 🐸

And I loved seeing Frios Gourmet Pops because my dear friend Casey Hughes Floyd is doing exactly that! She and her husband are multi territory home service franchise owners, Franchise Coach and Founder at The Franchise Fit Company and the Frios Gourmet Pops Franchise Development team.

The possibilities are pretty incredible.

08/26/2026

Some of the best business conversations happen after the business conversation. 💙🐸

While Zach Munroe and I were in Columbus, Georgia for bluefrogplumbinghq franchisee training, we made a detour back toward Atlanta to take a few of our favorite IFPG consultants to dinner.

Nancy Delgadillo , Jermey Jeremy Bowen and Sylvester Ford , thank you for fighting insane Atlanta traffic to join us! 🙌😂🍑

Having been an IFPG consultant myself, these relationships hold a special place in my heart. I know how much the personal connection matters and now being on the franchisor side, I appreciate it even more.

We ate an absurd amount of food, laughed, and talked about everything from industry trends and best practices to struggles, families, vacations, and what we all did before franchising.

Because in a world of Teams calls, texts, and emails, there’s something pretty special about sitting around a table with people you respect and simply getting to know them.

The business matters. The relationships matter more. And if you know me, you know I’ll choose a real, genuine connection every time.💗

Grateful for these people, these conversations, and this crazy little industry that brought us all together. 💙🐸

08/25/2026

https://www.franchisechatter.com/2026/08/20/bluefrog-plumbing-drains-katie-lepper-on-why-you-dont-have-to-be-the-technician-to-own-a-franchise/

08/21/2026

This week I got to experience bluefrogplumbinghq franchisee training firsthand in Columbus, GA! I came home even more excited about the brand I get to represent! 💙🐸

One of our top performers, Chris, opened his Columbus operation to us, with some incredible Southern hospitality from him, his wife, and his team! Joe, our Marietta owner, who opened just last November and is already crushing records, came down to share his experience and welcome Brian, our newest Alpharetta owner, who brought his Master Plumber and Journeyman along for classroom and in-field training.

Everyone drove their bluefrog vehicles down, so naturally, the parking lot turned into a little bluefrog car show of wrapped vehicles. 🐸🚐

We trained, broke bread, shared real experiences, and learned from owners at different stages of the journey.

And I have to shout out Richard Fulghum, Beth McKeithen, Grey Valenta, and Zach Munroe . The expertise they brought to the week was instrumental! Not only in giving Brian and his team the education and tools they need, but in showing exactly what franchise support should look like. I’m pretty darn excited to be surrounded by a team of absolute rock stars.

As a Franchise Developer, I learned more about the ins and outs of this business than I ever thought I would…..and I LOVE that. I don’t just want to represent bluefrog Plumbing + Drain® Headquarters, I want to truly understand the business so I can better educate and support candidates as they research what their next move could look like.

New owners. Seasoned owners. Plumbers. Families. Corporate team. One pretty incredible pond.

Grateful to be part of it and even more excited about what’s ahead. 🐸💙

08/19/2026

Absolutely thrilled to see my bluefrog Plumbing + Drain® Headquarters announcement featured in PM Magazine! It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the trusted voice of plumbing and mechanical contractors and engineers. What a fantastic moment for us!

Stellar Service Brands
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain® Headquarters
Restoration 1 Headquarters

As demand for essential home services continues to grow, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is focused on expanding its footprint in key markets across the country.