Job description
Join NorthBridge Franchise Partners as a Franchise Development Manager in Chicago. You will lead the identification, recruitment, and ongoing support of multi-unit franchisees to fuel a rapidly expanding network.
As a strategic leader in franchise development, you will craft market-entry plans, manage the due-diligence process, and collaborate with Marketing, Legal, and Operations to ensure a smooth onboarding experience for new franchise partners.
You will own the full sales cycle from prospecting to signed agreements, monitor performance against growth targets, and represent the brand in local markets to attract high-potential operators.
Responsibility
- Source and qualify potential franchise candidates through targeted outreach, referrals, and broker networks.
- Lead the end-to-end franchise development process from initial interest to franchise agreement.
- Develop market feasibility studies and expansion plans to identify high-potential regions.
- Collaborate with Marketing to create compelling franchise offerings and recruitment campaigns.
- Negotiate terms, assist with site selection guidance, and coordinate support during onboarding.
- Manage relationships with prospective and existing franchisees to ensure ongoing performance and compliance.
- Track pipeline metrics, forecast growth, and report results using CRM and analytics tools.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree; MBA or equivalent in business, marketing, or real estate preferred.
- 5+ years of franchise development, sales, or business development experience, with a proven multi-unit deal track record.
- Strong knowledge of franchising laws and franchise disclosure documents (FDD).
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation abilities.
- Proven ability to manage complex sales cycles and build strategic partnerships.
- Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and data-driven decision making.
- Extensive network of potential franchisees, brokers, and real estate professionals (preferred).