How an 18-year sales veteran became a Retreva franchise owner
Brian Armendinger spent five years using Retreva to hit his numbers at Valpak. In May 2025, he bought a Retreva franchise and started building for himself.
The Challenge: An Income Ceiling in Corporate Sales
Brian Armendinger spent 18 years at Valpak in roles ranging from sales to management. He knew B2B sales inside and out, and he knew where most deals are won: in the follow-up. Prospects rarely buy on the first touch, and keeping up with every lead by hand takes time a busy rep seldom has.
He also knew the ceiling that comes with building someone else’s pipeline. Every deal he closed grew another company’s business. Brian wanted ownership, but the franchise opportunities he had looked at came with rent, employees, inventory, and royalty fees that had to be covered before an owner saw a dollar of profit.
"Most franchises have a lot of overhead and royalty fees that need to be paid before you can even make a profit. Rent, employees, inventory."
Why He Chose the Retreva Franchise Model
Brian did not find Retreva as a franchise opportunity. He found it as a customer. For five years at Valpak, he used Retreva’s AI-powered sales prospecting to automate his follow-up, and it played a big part in helping him reach Valpak’s Premier President’s Achievement Club.
By the time he considered ownership, the product had already proven itself. So had the people behind it. Brian spent about six months as a Retreva selling partner before officially acquiring the franchise in May 2025.
A $45,000 investment with no storefront or inventory
A Retreva franchise requires a $45,000 investment. There is no retail space to lease, no inventory to carry, and no staff to hire. The business runs on a laptop and an internet connection. Retreva charges zero royalties and pays franchise owners a monthly revenue share, and corporate handles the technology, client onboarding, and ongoing support.
A typical workday
Brian spends his day on sales and client relationships. When a client has a question, the Retreva support team handles it. If something comes up while he is away, he can usually take care of it from his phone or open a support ticket and let the team take it from there.
He works 30 to 40 hours in a typical week, and roughly 20 of those hours go to active selling. The rest goes to keeping up with the clients he already has.
"When you buy a franchise, you are really buying the owners. You have to believe in them and their vision to truly be successful. Amy and Chuck are very supportive and really want you to succeed."
"With Retreva, you need a laptop and internet and that's about it. It's very little overhead."
"If I want to take a vacation, I ask myself for permission. It's great to have this flexibility. I will never go back to the corporate world."
Results as a Retreva Franchise Owner
How he builds his pipeline
Brian built his book of business through local networking groups and by using Retreva to prospect for his own franchise. His existing network opened a few doors, but most of his business came from prospecting. Today, referrals keep the pipeline growing.
His clients span home services, commercial cleaning, signs and graphics, marketing and print, business services, and real estate. Because a Retreva subscription is $249 per month, many prospects decide on the spot or within a couple of days of seeing a demo.
What Brian is saying
"In sales, the magic happens in the follow-up. People rarely buy on the first try. Retreva automates this so you can focus on closing new clients."
Brian Armendinger
Owner, Retreva by Brian
"I don't have to write a check. Retreva pays me. I don't handle payments or manage a staff, so I really get the best of both worlds, and I have ownership."
Brian Armendinger
Owner, Retreva by Brian
"There is an entire team who is always there to support you. Retreva corporate handles pretty much everything, so I can stay focused on my client relationships and on getting new customers."
Brian Armendinger
Owner, Retreva by Brian
"I have always been in B2B sales, so that part is not new. But after becoming an owner, people want to talk to you more. They understand you are invested in your business and that you're a small business owner like them. They can relate to you."
Brian Armendinger
Owner, Retreva by Brian
About Retreva by Brian
Retreva by Brian is owned by Brian Armendinger, a former Valpak sales leader and longtime Retreva customer. He helps small and midsize businesses across the country automate follow-up and keep their sales pipelines full with Retreva’s AI-powered sales prospecting, backed by a human support team.
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Retreva franchise owners work from anywhere with a $45,000 investment, no inventory, no royalties, and a monthly revenue share. Corporate handles the technology and client fulfillment so owners can focus on selling.
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EARNINGS DISCLAIMER
Brian Armendinger’s experience is his own and is not a guarantee or projection of the results any franchise owner will achieve. Retreva does not make any representation on this page about the actual or potential earnings, sales, or profits of its franchise owners. Refer to Item 19 of the Retreva Franchise Disclosure Document for information about financial performance. This is not an offer to sell a franchise. An offer can be made only by a Franchise Disclosure Document delivered in compliance with applicable law.