Franchise Development Manager

We are looking for a high-calibre franchise development manager to drive the expansion of a premium, design-led consumer brand through a structured franchise model.

This is a sales-first, target-driven role with ownership of the complete franchise lifecycle — from sourcing and closing the right partners to executing and launching franchise units, and eventually building a franchise development team.

What This Role Owns

Franchise Sales & Partner Acquisition

• Drive franchise sales by identifying, engaging, and converting high-quality franchise partners through personal networks, referrals, inbound leads, and strategic outreach.
• Conduct structured discovery discussions to assess partner suitability, financial strength, and long-term alignment with the brand.
• Present the franchise opportunity through compelling storytelling, professional presentations, and in-person or virtual meetings with investors and partners.
• Lead commercial negotiations and close franchise agreements while maintaining brand standards and long-term business viability.

Sales Cycle Ownership & CRM Management

• Own the complete franchise sales cycle from first contact to deal closure, ensuring disciplined pipeline management and timely conversions.
• Maintain accurate CRM records covering calls, meetings, follow-ups, deal stages, and forecasts to ensure visibility and predictability of franchise growth.
• Manage multiple active opportunities simultaneously while maintaining structured follow-ups and closure momentum.

Business Acumen & Financial Modelling

• Develop customised franchise proposals and financial projections based on market dynamics, location economics, and partner investment profiles.
• Demonstrate strong understanding of unit economics, EBITDA, P&L structures, ROI, and payback periods during partner discussions and negotiations.
• Confidently explain financial assumptions, scenarios, and projections using clear logic and sharp numerical reasoning.

Commercial Closure & Legal Coordination

• Initiate franchise agreement processes post-closure and coordinate with legal, finance, and tax teams to complete all formalities accurately and on time.
• Ensure clarity and alignment on commercial terms, timelines, and obligations between internal teams and franchise partners.

Property Identification & Location Finalization

• Work closely with franchise partners to identify, evaluate, and finalize suitable properties based on brand requirements and commercial feasibility.
• Support partners in rental evaluations and landlord negotiations to ensure sustainable long-term economics for each franchise unit.

Studio Setup & Project Execution (Till Launch)

• Act as the central owner coordinating all pre-launch execution activities across design, construction, branding, marketing, and procurement teams.
• Drive project timelines, resolve execution bottlenecks, and ensure studio setup progresses in line with approved plans and schedules.
• Ensure that execution aligns with brand standards, quality benchmarks, and approved budgets.

Project Financial Oversight

• Track and manage project-level budgets, CAPEX utilisation, and financial forecasts throughout the setup and launch phase.
• Ensure financial discipline by monitoring actuals against projections and flagging deviations early.

Pre-Launch Readiness, Launch & Handover

• Ensure all pre-launch audits, compliance checks, and readiness milestones are completed before studio go-live.
• Coordinate hiring and training activities through respective internal teams to ensure launch readiness.
• Lead the launch phase and formally hand over the studio to the franchise partner and operations team post go-live.

Team Building & Franchise Scale

• Build and lead a franchise development team as the network expands, including hiring, mentoring, and performance management.
• Establish scalable franchise sales and execution processes to support multi-city and future international expansion.
• Contribute to structuring advanced franchise models, including master franchise and international franchising opportunities where applicable.

Who We’re Looking For

• 8 to 12 years of experience in franchise development.
• A proven franchise development / expansion leader, not just a salesperson.
• Strong experience in franchise sales, retail expansion, or multi-unit business growth.
• Exceptional business and financial acumen — comfortable with numbers, mental math, and investor-level financial discussions.
• Strong negotiation skills with a demonstrated history of closing high-value deals.
• High executive presence: articulate, confident, well-presented, and persuasive.
• Deeply resourceful, with the ability to navigate complexity and get things done.
• Existing network of investors, franchisors, master franchisees, or multi-unit operators preferred.
• Exposure to international franchising and master franchise models is a strong advantage (not mandatory).