Franchise ownership, approached like an investment.
Whether you're an executive, a professional or an investor, I'll help you find franchises that can build income, equity and freedom, and teach you to evaluate them the way a private equity investor would. All at no cost to you.
Founder of Kickstart My Franchise
Former franchisee & ex-PE strategist · Advising buyers since 2012 · FranServe top consultant, 3 years running
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An investor's discipline.
An owner's perspective.
I've been helping people buy franchises since 2012. Alongside that work, I built a career evaluating businesses: as a trader in Chicago, leading commercial due diligence for private equity clients at EY-Parthenon, as Director of Corporate Strategy at a Fortune 500 company, and as Head of Strategy & M&A at a private equity–backed company.
I've also invested my own money as a franchisee, owning two home services territories in the Chicago suburbs. The support was excellent, but my market's costs and competition were very different from what owners elsewhere saw. It taught me to look past the pitch, and it's why I encourage every client to talk with owners in markets like their own.
Today I lead Kickstart My Franchise, advising clients nationwide. My role is to bring you options that fit your goals, capital and lifestyle, and to show you what to look for and what to ask so you can make your own well-informed decision.
Guidance built for people with
a lot on the line.
For many buyers, a franchise is one of the largest investments they'll ever make. It deserves to be evaluated like one.
Think like an investor
I teach you what a private equity deal team looks for: unit economics, closures, transfers and franchisee churn.
Been in your seat
I've signed a franchise agreement with my own capital, so I can help you know which questions to ask.
Fit first, never pressure
Recommendations start with your goals and lifestyle. If nothing fits yet, I'll tell you to wait.
Recognized results
A FranServe top franchise consultant three years running, with clients operating across the country.
Accomplished people who want
more control.
Over their time, their income and the legacy they leave. Most of my clients are successful already. They're looking for what's next.
Executives & senior leaders
Directors, VPs and C-suite leaders ready to build equity in something of their own.
Investors & wealth builders
Diversify beyond public markets with businesses that can scale into multi-unit portfolios.
Keep-your-career owners
Semi-absentee models run by a manager and proven systems, while you stay in your role.
Professionals in transition
Between roles or planning an exit? Evaluate ownership with the rigor you'd bring to any major decision.
A deliberate process, at your pace.
You stay in control at every step. My role is to bring you better options and help you ask sharper questions.
Initial Consultation
We discuss your background, goals, capital and the role you want to play in the business.
Personalized Matching
From 700+ brands, I recommend a short list selected specifically for you.
FDD Review & Due Diligence
You review each brand's FDD and financials. I show you what to look for and which questions to ask, and connect you with attorneys, accountants and funding partners.
Franchising Education & Validation
I introduce you directly to franchisor leadership, and you speak with a random sample of current and former franchisees, including owners in markets like yours.
Meet The Team / Confirmation Day
If there's mutual interest, you meet the leadership team, in person or virtually, and see how the company really operates.
Decision Time
Weigh everything you've learned and decide: yes, no or not yet. There's never any pressure.
In their words.
From our first conversation, it was clear that Tim has a strong grasp of the franchise industry and a practical approach to helping clients… I'd recommend Tim Michaels and Kickstart My Franchise to anyone considering franchise ownership.
It was evident that he was looking out for what was best for me and was deliberate in not pushing me in one direction or another or swaying me in order to make a sale.
He presented multiple options and never once pressured us to make a decision. He is a wealth of information on conducting diligence, financing options, is extremely responsive, honest and a true professional.
He brought tons of interesting businesses to me and did not charge me a cent… He's been an honest and thoughtful partner and is always focused on finding the right fit for his buy-side clients.
He gave us dedicated time and was knowledgeable about the franchises he recommended… We had our franchise selected within 60 days after connecting with him!
I gave Tim my requirements, and in a very tough market, he was able to deliver… Can't recommend working with Tim highly enough.
He presented my business partner and me with well-researched franchise options that aligned with our goals and guided us through each step with clarity and confidence.
Tim is amazing to work with! He was able to quickly give me ideas and resources to help me forward with finding the best franchise match. Tim knows his stuff!
Tim was invaluable; he used a no-pressure approach and listened to me about my strengths and preferences.
Excerpts from recommendations on Tim's LinkedIn profile.
Avoid Franchise Failure
What the wreckage teaches smart buyers. Like investigators studying a black box, the buyers who study franchise failures are the ones least likely to repeat them.
- Real franchise collapses told as case files, each with the research step that could have caught it
- Franchisees who built remarkable businesses, and what they had in common
- How to read an FDD like an investigator and run validation calls that get the truth
- A closing checklist and the exact questions to ask before you sign
Kickstart My Franchise
I founded Kickstart My Franchise, a franchise consulting firm that helps people across the U.S. find, compare and evaluate franchise opportunities, at no cost to them. We work with 700+ of the top franchise brands in the country, across home services, health and wellness, kids enrichment, senior care, fitness, B2B and more.
Not sure where to start? The short Kickstart My Franchise Fit Survey helps narrow down which franchise categories fit your goals, budget and lifestyle.
Subscribe to Kickstart My Franchise Weekly on LinkedIn for a weekly look at standout brands and industry trends.
Questions clients ask most.
What does a franchise consultant do?
I help you clarify what kind of business fits your goals, skills, capital and lifestyle, introduce you to franchise brands that match, and guide you through the process. Along the way I teach you what to look for and which questions to ask as you do your own research.
What does it cost to work with you?
Nothing. My service is free to you. Franchise brands compensate me when a client I introduce decides to invest, and you pay the same franchise fee you would going to the brand directly.
If brands pay you, how do I know you're objective?
My business depends on clients who succeed and refer others. With 700+ brands, I have no reason to push any single one, and I'll show you how to verify everything yourself, including calling a random sample of current and former franchisees rather than only the names a franchisor provides.
Do you do the due diligence for me?
No. Your due diligence is your own, and it should be. What I do is teach you what to look for and what to ask: how to read an FDD, which numbers deserve a second look, and how to run franchisee calls that get honest answers. I also strongly recommend having a franchise attorney and an accountant review any opportunity before you invest, and I'm happy to introduce you to professionals I trust.
Can I keep my current role while I own a franchise?
Many of my clients do. Semi-absentee models are designed to run with a manager and systems. The key questions are whether the margins support a manager and the royalty, and whether existing owners actually run it in a few hours a day.
I'm interested in multiple units or a larger portfolio. Can you help?
Yes. Many clients start with a multi-territory or multi-unit plan from day one. We'll look at brands built for that kind of growth and talk through what building a portfolio could look like.
How much capital do I need?
It varies widely by brand. On our first call we'll talk through liquid capital, net worth and how you'd like to structure the investment. I also work with funding partners who can walk you through financing options.
Do I need experience in the industry?
Usually not. Strong franchise systems are built to teach owners the business. What matters more is matching the role you'd play, whether leading people, building relationships or overseeing operations, to your strengths.
How long does the process take?
It moves at your pace. Some clients select a franchise in about 60 days; others take several months. There's never pressure to decide, and "not yet" is a perfectly good answer.
What is Kickstart My Franchise?
Kickstart My Franchise is the franchise consulting firm I founded. It's how my team and I work with clients: free, personalized help finding franchise opportunities that fit, plus education on how to research them. If you've found me here, you're in the right place either way.
Do you work with clients outside Chicago?
Yes. I advise clients nationwide by phone and video.