Jon Ostenson: Scaling Through Systems: The Strategic Case for Franchise Ownership

Jon is a top Franchise Consultant, investor, author, and speaker specializing in non-food franchising. As CEO of FranBridge Consulting, he draws on his experience as a former Inc. 500 franchise system president and multi-brand franchisee to help clients explore business ownership. Through FranBridge, Jon connects entrepreneurs with over 600 high-growth non-food franchise opportunities, providing expert guidance throughout the process.

Previously, Jon served as President of ShelfGenie, a national franchise with 200 locations, and was Vice President of Sales at Carter’s Inc., where he managed over $350 million in annual sales. He began his career as a Consultant with Accenture, working internationally. He is also the author of Non-Food Franchising and a recognized thought leader in the franchise and investment space.

Jon earned a BBA in Finance and an MBA from the University of Georgia and was named to UGA’s “40 Under 40” list in 2014. He lives in the Atlanta area with his wife and three children and serves on the boards of Growing Leaders, Inc. and the Entrepreneur’s Organization while mentoring through various nonprofits.

During the show we discussed:

• Why focus on non-food franchises
• Why non-food often beats food franchising
• Helping clients discover unexpected franchise options
• What it’s like to work with FranBridge Consulting
• Finding the right franchise fit
• Typical franchise investment range
• Common funding options (SBA, retirement, etc.)
• Why franchises earn 1.5X higher exit multiples
• Balancing risk vs. return in franchising
• Owner-operator vs. semi-absentee models
• Support systems from franchise partners
• Common franchising misconceptions
• Traits of successful franchise owners

Resources:

https://franbridgeconsulting.com/