John T. Hewitt | CEO of Loyalty Brands
John T. Hewitt, founder and CEO of Loyalty Brands, explains how he’s applying decades of franchise-building experience to create an “Everything Pets” ecosystem—spanning grooming, daycare, hiking, and cleanup—while using shared services and systems to help franchisees scale faster across multiple pet brands.
Loyalty Brands isn’t just franchising; it’s redefining what franchise ecosystems can be, and pets are at the heart of its next big chapter.
We speak with John T. Hewitt, the founder and CEO of Loyalty Brands, about how one of America’s most accomplished franchise builders is turning his sights to pet care—and creating what he calls the “Everything Pets” ecosystem. From grooming and daycare to clean-up and community, Hewitt’s approach combines decades of franchise mastery with a mission to have fun and improve lives.
You started your career at H&R Block, where you rose quickly through the ranks before founding Jackson Hewitt. What lessons from those early years in tax preparation shaped your belief that franchising could be a vehicle for helping others succeed?
When I started at H&R Block in 1969, I learned two lessons that have guided me for more than fifty years: people want opportunity, and systems create it.
At Block, I saw ordinary people become extraordinary business owners because they had the right training, technology, and support. That’s what inspired me to build Jackson Hewitt and Liberty Tax, to give others a path to success through franchising.
The model works when you empower people to work for themselves, but not by themselves.
Other Interviews
More conversations with founders, operators, and investors building the future of pet care.
Alexandru Bacita | Co-Founder & COO, The Cat Health Company
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Sarah McLean | Co-Founder & CEO, Big Damn Dog Co.
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