Aaron Harper’s journey is anything but conventional. From navigating the fast-paced world of film and television to becoming a formidable force in the franchising industry, his career trajectory is a testament to adaptability, vision, and an unrelenting drive to create scalable success. As the CEO of Rolling Suds, Harper has transformed a 30-year-old power washing business into one of the fastest-growing franchise brands in the country, selling nearly 250 territories in just two years.
But Harper’s success isn’t just about rapid expansion; it’s about doing things differently. With a focus on building elite leadership teams, selecting franchisees with intention, and implementing a franchise model that mitigates risk while maximizing growth, he’s redefining what it means to scale a business in the modern era. His passion for franchising extends beyond business ownership; he’s on a mission to elevate the industry, ensuring entrepreneurs have the tools, support, and financial foundation to thrive.
In this exclusive interview with Exeleon Magazine, Aaron Harper dives deep into his unexpected path to franchising, the keys to Rolling Suds’ explosive growth, and the strategies he employs to build businesses that last. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or someone fascinated by the mechanics of scaling, Harper’s insights offer a masterclass in sustainable success.
You’ve had an impressive journey from working in film and television to becoming a powerhouse in the franchising world. What inspired your transition into business and entrepreneurship?
Aaron Harper: Working in film and television has its share of exciting moments, it is fast-paced and full of creative people. But the reality? Long days, low pay, and a constant grind with very little control over my future. I looked around at people further along in their careers and realized that even the successful ones were always chasing the next project. It just wasn’t sustainable for the kind of lifestyle I craved, and more importantly, it wasn’t fulfilling for me the way I had thought it would be.
So, I started asking friends in other industries if they liked their jobs. When I talked to people in franchising and sales, I was shocked by how many of them genuinely loved what they did. They were helping other people become business owners, changing lives, and building something bigger than themselves. That stuck with me.
What clicked for me, though, was how scalable and predictable franchising could be. I love creating systems that work, analyzing something complex, breaking it down, and making it repeatable. I took the skills I learned in the entertainment agency world and applied them to sales within the franchising industry. With franchising, you’re not reinventing the wheel every time you open a new location. You take a proven model, eliminate the guesswork, and give franchisees the blueprint to succeed.
I couldn’t have predicted how much I’d fall in love with franchising. After a few years of helping existing franchises become leaders in their industries, I realized I didn’t just want to build someone else’s brand, what I wanted was to acquire a business of my own and scale it my way. I had seen what worked, what didn’t, and how to create a system that truly set franchises up for success. That’s what led me to Rolling Suds, a business with incredible fundamentals but massive untapped potential. Now, I get to apply everything I’ve learned to build something lasting, not just for myself but for every franchisee.
You’ve mentioned before that franchising found you rather than the other way around. Can you share more about that and what ultimately convinced you to build a career in this space?
Aaron Harper: Yeah, franchising wasn’t the plan. I stumbled into it after talking with friends in the industry and decided to make the jump to franchise sales when I was ready for a career and lifestyle change. At first, I thought, “Okay, this is just another business model.” But then I saw how franchising could change people’s lives. I watched people (who may have never started a business on their own) step into ownership, build something for their families, and create generational wealth. That’s when I knew I was in the right place.
From there, I became obsessed with how to make franchising better. I saw the common pitfalls, lackluster support, unqualified franchisees being set up to fail, etc. and I knew there was a better way. That led me to Rolling Suds, where we’ve built a model that eliminates those risks and puts franchisees in the best position to win. We actually turn down more franchisees than we accept because we’re not just looking for people who can write a check. We want franchisees who truly understand the commitment it takes to succeed. Rolling Suds isn’t a side hustle or a passive investment; it requires passion, grit, and a willingness to put in the work. We’ve built a system that works, but even the best system won’t help someone who isn’t fully bought in. That’s why we’re selective, because when the right people join, they build something life-changing that fulfills them and their community as well.
Rolling Suds has seen extraordinary growth, with nearly 250 territories sold within just two years of franchising. What key factors have contributed to this rapid expansion?
Aaron Harper: The key to our rapid growth comes down to three things: building a great leadership team, bringing in the right franchisees, and hiring people who have done this before.
From day one, we focused on assembling an executive team with deep experience in franchising—people who have spent decades scaling brands successfully. This isn’t our first time building a franchise system, and that expertise allows us to move faster while avoiding the common pitfalls that slow other brands down.
Second, we don’t just award franchises to anyone. We’re highly selective, only bringing in franchisees who understand the commitment it takes to succeed. Rolling Suds isn’t a “set it and forget it” investment—it requires hands-on leadership and a drive to grow.
Lastly, our systems are proven. We took a 30-year-old business with a track record of success, refined it, and built an infrastructure that allows franchisees to scale quickly and efficiently. When you combine the right leadership, the right franchisees, and a rock-solid system, growth is inevitable.
You’ve emphasized the importance of building teams before you need them. How has this approach helped Rolling Suds scale so quickly?
Aaron Harper: We hired and built a C-suite with over 200 years of combined franchise experience way earlier than most brands would. Typically, at two years into franchising, companies are still figuring things out, running lean, and only bringing in high-level leadership when they absolutely have to. But we did the opposite.
Because of what we’re building, and because we’ve been so vocal about why it’s special, we’ve been able to attract top-tier franchise talent much earlier than expected. These are people who have already scaled brands to hundreds of units, and they saw the potential in Rolling Suds from the start.
This has been a game-changer for our growth. Instead of scrambling to solve problems as they arise, we have a team in place that’s already been there, done that. We’re operating like a mature, established franchise system even though we’re just two years in, and that’s why we’ve been able to scale so quickly while still delivering world-class support to our franchisees.
You’ve built a unique franchise model that lowers risk for founders while providing robust support to franchisees. Can you explain how this structure works and why it’s so effective?
Aaron Harper: At Rolling Suds, we set things up so that our success is directly tied to our franchisees’ success. We’re not just looking for anyone with a check, we want the right people who are ready to put in the work. In return, we give them everything they need to succeed: full-scale operational training, ongoing support, lead generation, and back-office systems that take the guesswork out of running the business. The goal is to remove as many roadblocks as possible so they can focus on execution. That’s why our franchisees ramp up so fast and see strong returns.
From the very beginning, I knew we needed a solid financial foundation to do this the right way. I worked hard to raise the proper capital upfront, so we had the runway to build out real systems, not just patch things together as we grew. On top of that, we secured continued capitalization to make sure we weren’t just relying on franchise fees to keep the business running. That financial stability gives us the freedom to reinvest in better support, stronger infrastructure, and more resources for our franchisees.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who are considering franchising as a way to grow their business?
Aaron Harper: Franchising is an incredible way to scale, but it’s not just about taking a successful business and turning it into a franchise. If you’re considering franchising as a growth strategy for your business, you need to ask yourself a few key questions:
- Can this business work in multiple markets? A great franchise model isn’t just successful in one specific city or under unique circumstances. It needs to be adaptable to different regions, demographics, and economic conditions. If your business only works in one type of market, franchising may not be the best fit.
- Does it serve multiple types of customers? The best franchise opportunities have a broad customer base. At Rolling Suds, we serve both residential and commercial clients, which means franchisees have multiple revenue streams. If one side of the business slows down seasonally or due to economic shifts, the other can help balance it out. If your business is dependent on one narrow customer segment, that’s a risk you need to address before franchising.
- Is there a proven system that takes the guesswork out? A franchise should provide a blueprint for success, not just an idea. Your franchisees won’t have your level of expertise, so the systems need to be so strong that they can step in, follow the process, and build a thriving business without having to figure things out on their own. If you can’t clearly define how someone else can replicate your success, you’re not ready to franchise.
- Are you ready to become a coach, not just a business owner? Franchising is purely about supporting other entrepreneurs. If you don’t want to invest in training, mentorship, and ongoing support, franchising may not be the right path.
At the end of the day, a great franchise is repeatable, scalable, and adaptable. If your business meets those criteria and you’re ready to take on the role of a franchisor, franchising can be one of the fastest and most sustainable ways to grow. But if those pieces aren’t in place, focus on refining your model first, because a weak foundation will only lead to bigger problems down the road.
With your background in franchising across different industries, do you see Rolling Suds as the final chapter of your career, or are there other industries you’re looking to transform?
Aaron Harper: Franchising is where I’ll always be, I am so passionate about this industry, but my role in it continues to always evolve. Rolling Suds is my major focus, but beyond that, I’m doubling down on content creation, sharing my story, breaking down what works (and what doesn’t) in franchising, and helping more people understand this business model. There are so many myths and assumptions out there. That’s why I’m launching my podcast, The Scaling Podcast with Aaron Harper, where I’ll dive deep into franchising, scaling businesses, and have transparent long-form conversations with other business leaders.
My driving force is about evolving the franchise industry as a whole. There’s so much opportunity to make franchising better, more transparent, and more accessible for the right operators. Through content, conversations, and continuing to explore the franchise economy, I plan to keep pushing the industry forward and seeing where that journey takes me.
Lastly, what’s next for you and Rolling Suds? Any exciting developments or long-term visions you’d like to share?
Aaron Harper: We’ve got some big moves coming. This year, we’re going after national accounts to bring large-scale business directly to our franchisees. The goal is to give them a steady pipeline of both residential and commercial work so they can focus on execution and growth instead of worrying about lead flow.
Beyond that, we’re continuing to take the top spot as the largest power washing franchise in the world, not just by expanding, but by making sure we deliver best-in-class service at every level. Growth is great, but only if it’s backed by quality, and that’s what we’re doubling down on.
The big vision is to be in all 50 states by 2026. We’ve built the team, the systems, and the momentum to make that happen, and we’re bringing on the right franchisees to help us get there. Rolling Suds is scaling fast, and we’re just getting started.
Contact Aaron Harper on Linkedin.
