We are meeting with Carl Comeaux, CEO of Crust Pizza Company. Comeaux's entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 16 as a personal trainer, initially driven by the desire to transform people's lives through fitness. His focus then evolved to entrepreneurship, where he is motivated by creating opportunities and jobs. Witnessing employees' growth, such as moving from an $8/hour wage to earning a $40,000-$50,000 salary, fuels Comeaux's dedication to expanding his business. Now, through the Crust Pizza Co. franchise, he aims to transform the lives and financial well-being of both franchisees and their teams.

Crust Pizza Co. is the brainchild of Clint Price and Mark Rasberry, whose lifelong friendship and shared passion for pizza led them to establish a partnership leveraging their professional experience with a vision for growth.

Key takeaways:

1. Emphasis on Passion and Values: Carl emphasizes the importance of passion in business and looks for franchisees who share Crust Pizza's core values, summarized by the acronym "CRUST" - Commitment, Respect, Unity, Service, and Thankfulness.
2. Focus on Creating a High-Quality Customer Experience: Crust Pizza aims to provide a unique dine-in experience, focusing on ambiance, fresh ingredients, and a distinct Chicago-style thin crust pizza.
3. Strategic Growth and Support for Franchisees: Crust Pizza is focused on steady, clustered growth in the Southeast, with a strong emphasis on supporting franchisees through comprehensive training, technology, and ongoing support to ensure mutual success.