What Franchise Development Group does

Franchise Development Group (FDG) is a privately-held, founder-led franchise development consultancy headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Founded in 2008 by President Andy Klie, FDG helps business owners convert proven local concepts into national franchise systems by guiding them through the full lifecycle: feasibility assessment, Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) preparation, franchise agreement drafting, trademark registration, state filings, operations manual creation, training program design, franchisee recruitment, and ongoing sales support. The firm's engagement-level pricing is publicly disclosed at $45,000-$55,000 per franchise development project, and engagements are contracted on a multi-year basis that covers the concept-to-launch timeline (typically 3-4 months, plus 1-3 months of state approval depending on jurisdiction).

FDG has no proprietary technology platform; its core "product" is the BrandBuilder System, a structured methodology that codifies the firm's process, supplemented by the Franchise Success Quiz (an online self-assessment lead capture tool), the Franchise Forward podcast, and "FDG On Tour" in-person consulting events. The team is small (approximately 7 professionals including the President, a Director of Operations, a Director of Business Development, regional development directors in California and Kentucky, a Franchise Analyst, and a Business Development Specialist), and the customer base consists of SMB owner-operators primarily in food, restaurant, and consumer-brand categories with select forays into healthcare (e.g., ProMD Health). Named client outcomes include Shark Tank-featured Cousins Maine Lobster (1 truck to 19 locations in 1.5 years), Tom & Chee (100+ franchises awarded in a single year), and viral-brand Roni's Mac Bar. Since inception, FDG reports launching 150-200+ franchise concepts and supporting the award of 500+ franchises across emerging and established systems.

The go-to-market motion is consultative and sales-led: lead generation through content marketing, SEO, the Franchise Success Quiz, and FDG On Tour events feeds personalized Franchise Strategy Calls with consultants, which convert into multi-thousand-dollar franchise development engagements. FDG has not raised institutional capital, has no parent company, and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Franchise Development Group

Legal name

Franchise Development Group, LLC

Website

https://franchisedevelopmentgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Franchise Development Group is a Buffalo-based franchise development consultancy that helps SMB owner-operators convert successful local businesses into national franchise systems via FDD preparation, legal filings, operations manuals, and franchisee recruitment, for a $45,000-$55,000 engagement fee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Franchise Development Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Franchise Resale & Franchise Brokerage (Transfers/Resales) (FSAEAIAG)

Keywords

• Franchise consulting services
• Franchise development advisory
• Franchise business conversion
• Franchise legal documentation
• Franchise sales support

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Franchise Development Consulting: FDG charges fees for comprehensive franchise development services including legal document preparation (FDD, franchise agreements), operations manual creation, trademark registration, state filing, and franchisee recruitment support. The company guides businesses through the entire franchise process from concept to launched franchise system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Franchise Development Group provides end-to-end franchise development consulting that converts successful local businesses into franchise systems. Engagements cover FDD and franchise agreement preparation, trademark registration, franchisor entity formation, state filings, financial statements, operations manual creation, training program development, and franchisee recruitment support. Engagements are typically delivered as a comprehensive fixed-fee package under a multi-year contract.

Product overview

Franchise Development Group (FDG) is a franchise development consulting company offering a comprehensive suite of services to help businesses transform into franchise systems. The core offering is the BrandBuilder System, a structured methodology that guides clients through the complete franchise development process. FDG's portfolio includes the Franchise Success Quiz (an online assessment tool), Franchise Feasibility Calls (strategic consultations with franchise experts), educational resources such as the '50 Insights into Franchising Your Business' guide, and the Franchise Forward Podcast featuring industry insights. These offerings work together to provide end-to-end franchise development support from initial assessment through franchise launch and franchisee recruitment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BrandBuilder System: The company's proprietary franchise development methodology and roadmap that guides businesses through the franchising process.
• Franchise Success Quiz
• Franchise Forward

Products and services

• BrandBuilder System Structured roadmap guiding businesses through the complete franchise development process — providing clarity, confidence, and resources to navigate every step from initial concept to launched franchise system. Sold as part of FDG's comprehensive consulting engagement.
• Franchise Feasibility Call (Franchise Strategy Call) One-on-one strategic consultation with FDG franchise experts covering franchise potential assessment, expected costs and legal requirements, potential franchisor revenue, and a personalized roadmap of next steps. Designed for business owners evaluating franchising as a growth path.
• Franchise Success Quiz Online assessment that helps business owners discover if franchising is the right path to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams, evaluating readiness and franchise potential before engaging with FDG consultants.
• 50 Insights into Franchising Your Business Free downloadable guide that answers 50 critical questions on franchising a business, covering legal and financial considerations, franchisee recruitment, and franchisee support — used to educate and qualify prospects before a strategy call.
• Franchise Forward Podcast Podcast hosted by Andy Klie and Tyler Clark featuring discussions on business growth through franchising, franchise strategies, and insights for businesses considering franchising; available on Spotify and other channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Franchises can achieve 2-3x higher exit valuations compared to standalone businesses (5-7x EBITDA multiples)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/franchisedev

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franchise Development Group