FEATURED FRANCHISE CONSULTANT: Marty Welch, FranServe, Inc.
Over 30 years ago, when he was still fresh out of college, Marty Welch was hired by a growing franchisor called Blimpie Subs and Salads. He knew nothing about franchising but was picked to train franchisees all over the country prior to and during their openings. He eventually oversaw and managed a franchise operational support team and directed a regional office for the brand’s largest sub-franchisor before the company was sold. All of that experience led Welch to launch his own franchise brand consulting company in 2009.
“I basically have been in the franchise industry for my entire career – from the franchisor support side to the consulting side, now,” he said. “I decided to become a consultant as my passion for entrepreneurship is the cornerstone of my career. I love helping people looking for the American dream control their financial and emotional destiny.”
As the owner of Martin Franchise Consultants, he officially joined FranServe in 2021 with his wife, Kelly, who is the owner and president of Franchise Bulldog LLC.
“FranServe has the largest and most diverse portfolio of brands in the franchise industry to offer to my clients as well as the best and most transparent leadership team in the industry,” Welch said. “They provide excellent educational tools via the annual conference, regional/online events and the fantastic internal consultant website and new FranFlow CRM. With my decades of experience in franchising, I had the highest respect for the FranServe leadership team and the fantastic family of consultants.”
For Welch, the best parts of being a franchise consultant are helping people change their lives, building relationships and assisting individuals achieve their personal and financial goals. He also touted the fact that he can work from “anywhere on the planet” with wifi and a cell signal, and he truly enjoys the idea that no two days are the same.
Additionally, he noted that his consulting approach is unique because he has been in the franchise game for so long.
“It’s hard to find someone with 34 years of experience in the franchise industry doing everything from training employees on how to clean toilets to educating a multi-millionaire about franchising,” he said. “I’ve been a franchisor, a franchisee and a consultant. I’ve worn all the hats and can speak from personal experience.”
His company tagline – “Knowledge, Integrity and Results!” – defines his multifaceted process.
“I take a deep dive into discovery for all brands for fit and not just a few brands that pay the highest commissions,” he said, detailing his approach. “I prioritize fit over placement. I believe strongly in building rapport and trust. I get to know the candidates’ ‘whys’ and ‘pain points.’”
He also stated that he is fully transparent and communicates concisely and directly, meaning there’s no sugar coating and nothing “salesy.” He describes his technique as “Listen, listen, listen!”
In the future, Welch plans to continue developing a recognizable personal brand with plenty of diversification, participating in speaking engagements, teaching educational courses and possibly writing a book or guide on franchise ownership.
“The goal is to continue doing what I love: Helping people change their lives,” he said.
Jessica Petrucelli
MARTIN FRANCHISE CONSULTANTS
30+ years In franchise sales & development
500+ Franchise candidates placed worldwide
2,000+ Franchised territories awarded
martinfranchiseconsultants.com