FranchiseNow, Inc., a SaaS platform that transforms franchise development by bringing accountability, control, and transparency to the qualification and funding process, has appointed Marni Smith as Vice President of Success and Growth. Smith, a certified franchise executive (CFE), brings more than 25 years of c-suite-level experience in franchise operations, development, technology, and relationship management, having worked with organizations such as Great Clips, Propelled Brands, CarePatrol, and Sandler.
In her new role, Smith will lead franchisor onboarding, adoption, training, engagement, and growth initiatives across FranchiseNow's expanding network of franchise partner brands. “Marni's experience, industry relationships, and passion for helping franchisors succeed make her an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” said Sam Phelps, president of FranchiseNow. “As we continue to scale our platform and support more franchise brands, Marni will play a critical role in helping our partners maximize the value of FranchiseNow while creating greater accountability, control, and transparency throughout the franchise development and funding process.”
Before joining FranchiseNow, Smith built a distinguished career working alongside franchisors and franchise development teams, helping organizations improve operational performance, drive growth, and enhance the franchise candidate experience. Her background positions her to help franchise brands integrate FranchiseNow into their development process while accelerating adoption and engagement across franchise sales organizations.
“When I was introduced to FranchiseNow, I immediately recognized that they’re revolutionizing the franchise development and funding experience,” said Smith. “The ‘Now’ in FranchiseNow is significant. When a candidate signs the Franchise Agreement, they no longer have to wait for the traditional (and troublesome) 45, 90, or even 120 days to fund their franchise. The franchisor gets paid now. The new franchisee starts training now. Think of it as Venmo meets franchise funding.”
Smith added, “This creates a powerful win-win-win. FranchiseNow provides franchisors, franchise candidates, and development teams accountability, transparency, and control. A source of truth to dramatically reduce development bottlenecks during a vital stage of a candidate’s franchise ownership decision. Our online, do-it-yourself platform makes franchise funding accessible and easy to understand. I’m excited to help our franchisor partners embrace the platform and realize its full potential.”
FranchiseNow's platform helps franchisors and franchise candidates navigate qualification and funding through a centralized process designed to improve communication, accelerate timelines, and provide real-time visibility. Through its DreamStart™ Funding Program and integrated qualification platform, FranchiseNow aligns franchise candidates, franchisors, and funding resources while reducing delays and uncertainty. The addition of Smith comes during a period of significant growth for the company, which continues to expand its partner network, onboard new franchise brands, and help candidates move from inquiry to ownership with greater speed and confidence.
