Fransystems is an Atlanta based franchise consulting company founded in 1994. Fransystems advises and educates franchisors based on the Franchise Lifecycle Management™ methodology which is a proprietary methodology designed to teach franchisors how to build, execute, and maximize efficiency at every stage of the lifecycle of franchising. It enables and aligns growth while reducing liability and avoiding common mistakes.
We are fortunate to have served the franchise industry for many years and have maintained and independent identity to work only on behalf our clients. We are systems focused, not sales focused. If you take the time to build the right support and foundations the franchise sales process is much easier.
Our Values:
1. Always do the right thing.
2. Educate clients first and figure out a business relationship second.
3. Aways work for the client, not the industry.
Our Late Founder: Karen Spencer
Karen spent her entire career and life working to improve franchising by keeping the franchisee front and center while educating and advising franchisors to improve their process.
At an early age in her career Karen worked through the entire franchise lifecycle through departmental role in legal, sales, administration and operations, gaining critical insight into the disconnects within franchise companies. She developed the Franchise Lifecycle Methodology™ along with an audit process to find the loop holes, inefficiencies, and liability in a multi branded and multi concept high volume franchisor resulting in bringing over three quarters of a million dollars to the bottom line bypassing all franchise sales revenue in one quarter. This was her “Jerry McQuire” moment to leave the corporate world and help all sizes of franchisors from startup to mature to implement more complete franchise systems that are cross trained resulting in more efficient communications and healthier franchisees. Her legacy lives on in Fransystems today after her passing from breast cancer in April of 2018. Our systems and focus continues her legacy and mantra today and into the future.
Shawn Spencer, Partner & Co-Founder
Shawn is a Partner and Co-Founder of Fran-Systems, an Atlanta-based franchise education and consulting company that was founded in 1994. Shawn co-developed and enhanced the Franchise Lifecycle Management™ methodology. Shawn’s also has a primary focus on operations management and client system implementation.
Shawn’s restaurant career started at a young age n the back of the house in a small independent restaurant in Atlanta, GA. He worked for multiple chain restaurants from Subway, Chili’s, and China Coast (General Mills), to Grady’s American Grill in store-level management and training during and after graduating from Georgia State University, J. Mack Robinson College of Business-School of Marketing.
Shawn continued in restaurant franchise operations and served as Partner and COO for Yeah Burger Development from 2011 through 2014. During this tenure, a significant reduction in food cost through intense product system reviews created multiple solutions in the organic supply chain and fast casual operations from custom oil delivery design to national product partnership with Hampton Creek-Just Mayo reducing product cost and reducing calorie content for menu labeling.
Shawn also founded Motivate Marketing working in multiple disciplines of marketing services domestically and internationally with such companies as FOX News Channel, Siemens, E-Trade Financial, Verizon Wireless, Maxxis Tires, Emerson, and Colgate Palmolive. Which was acquired in early 2001.
Debra Webb Ivy - Partner
Debra began her career in Dallas, Texas representing franchisors such as Grandy’s, I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt, Tony Roma’s Restaurants and was a primary owner of Elm Street Hauntrepreneurs. Recruited to Atlanta in 2003, Debraprovided extensive experience from franchise administration, to development and operations for Atlanta Bread Company, Huddle House, Focus Brands and Primrose Schools. Joining Fransystems in 2022 Debra brings that vast knowledge to the Franchise Lifecycle Methodology and systems expertise to further the founding legacy.