How One Decision to Walk Away Built an Eighteen-Year Mission to Change an Entire Industry.
The Franchise Brokers Association story isn’t about starting a company—it’s about refusing to compromise standards. Nearly twenty years ago, my insurance business was thriving, everything looked perfect from the outside, and I had no intention of changing paths until one unexpected phone call changed everything.
A former colleague asked if I’d consider buying a franchise together. We decided to explore the idea and hired a franchise consultant to help us. It should have been an exciting experience—but it wasn’t. He was confusing, dismissive, and seemed uninterested in helping us understand what we were getting into. When we didn’t fit his ideal profile, he simply stopped trying.
I remember walking away thinking, I could do this better.
At the time, I had no idea that one thought would eventually lead to what people now search for as the Franchise Brokers Association story—an eighteen-year mission that has helped thousands of future business owners find the right path to success.
What the Franchise Brokers Association Story Is Really About.
The Franchise Brokers Association (FBA) was built on one core promise: do things the right way, even when it’s hard. That promise became a mission to raise standards in franchise consulting through education, transparency, and a supportive community—so outcomes improve because standards improve.
If you’re exploring franchise ownership and want guided options instead of guessing, start here: Find Franchises.
If you want to learn how FBA approaches education and guidance, explore the Franchise Webinar.
Discovering a Hidden World.
As I began researching franchising on my own, I was shocked by what I found. I’d always assumed franchising was reserved for fast-food chains and multimillion-dollar investors—but that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
There were endless opportunities beyond the big brands, accessible to people who made smart financial decisions and wanted to build something of their own. It opened my eyes to a world I didn’t even realize existed—a world where the average person could become a successful business owner.
I started sharing what I learned with clients, adding franchise consulting to my insurance business. What began as a side endeavor quickly became my passion—and the first real chapter of the Franchise Brokers Association story began to take shape.
The Lesson That Defined My Standards
Before franchising, I’d already learned a painful but vital lesson about integrity.
One of my insurance clients once told me, “You seem like a really nice girl, but you need to align yourself with a company that sells good products. The one you’re with—it’s not it.”
That moment stunned me. When I looked deeper, I found serious gaps in the coverage I’d been selling. I had unknowingly recommended policies that failed to protect families when they needed it most. Fixing that mistake cost me money, time, and a few client relationships—but I knew it had to be done.
From that day forward, I made a promise:
- Never align yourself with a company you don’t fully understand.
- Never recommend something you wouldn’t recommend to your own family.
That principle became a non-negotiable standard—and it’s one of the defining pillars of the Franchise Brokers Association story to this day.
When Doing the Right Thing Meant Starting Over.
As I grew in experience, I became obsessed with developing tools and research systems to help franchise consultants make more responsible recommendations. I wanted transparency, collaboration, and data that actually served the people we were helping.
I took my ideas to the organization I worked under at the time. I offered to share everything—to give them the system, maintain it, and help standardize how consultants evaluated franchises.
They said no.
Worse, they told me to stop collecting and sharing this kind of information altogether.
That was the moment I realized I couldn’t stay. I wanted to help people succeed. They wanted to protect commissions. Our priorities didn’t align.
So I left.
And that’s how the Franchise Brokers Association (FBA) was born—out of a deep belief that the right education, tools, and support could transform not only consultants’ careers but the entire industry itself. In many ways, that decision to walk away is the moment the Franchise Brokers Association story truly began.
The 90% Crisis.
A few years later, I learned something that changed everything again.
A colleague told me that nine out of ten franchise consultants were failing. Their businesses were closing, their credit cards were being declined—and the industry simply accepted it as normal.
Ninety percent failure.
That number haunted me. Everyone else might have accepted it, but I couldn’t.
So I set out to change it. To flip that statistic.
Through the FBA, I established the Franchise Training Institute—a resource built to give consultants the education, systems, and community they needed to succeed. It wasn’t easy; there was no roadmap, no standardized curriculum, and no guide for what we were trying to build. But we persisted.
Eighteen years later, that work continues—and today, we’re proud to be approaching the reverse of that statistic: nearly 90% of FBA-trained consultants are succeeding. That transformation is one of the outcomes people most often connect to the Franchise Brokers Association story.
If you want to explore how this support applies to your franchise journey as a future owner, start with Franchise Consulting.
A Mission—and a Movement.
What began as one consultant’s mission has become a growing movement. At FBA, we set a higher bar: research thoroughly, serve ethically, and build success the right way. We believe transparency and collaboration aren’t luxuries—they’re requirements.
Here’s what that looks like in practice: we train and support some of the best franchise brokers in the industry—professionals who help prospective business owners navigate the franchise landscape with clarity and confidence. Our brokers don’t “sell” franchises. They guide clients through a structured discovery process, helping them identify the opportunities that best align with their goals, budget, lifestyle, strengths, and long-term vision.
Just as important, FBA maintains a diverse network of franchise brands across industries—each with different business models, investment levels, day-to-day responsibilities, and growth paths. That variety matters, because the “right” franchise isn’t the biggest brand—it’s the one that fits. Our role is to help match the right person to the right concept, backed by the research, systems, and support that make those recommendations responsible.
Our community is proof that when you combine training, data-driven tools, and a strong support network, you empower both brokers and business owners to reach goals they once thought were out of reach.
And that’s the heart of the Franchise Brokers Association story: building an industry where outcomes improve—because the standards improve.
Voices from the FBA Community.
“The team at FBA is incredibly supportive, warm, and welcoming, truly committed to helping us succeed and match clients with the right franchises.”
— Anne Nguyen
“We can see that the FBA is extremely committed in providing to the new brokers as much information as possible, and to prepare us in the best way to be a broker.”
— Christian de Berail
“The FBA’s training is unsurpassed, with continuous learning and support that truly sets them apart for anyone looking to become a successful franchise broker.”
— Keith Liscio
“FTI live training week has been fantastic. There’s a lot of information. The technology is second to none. And I’m excited to get home and get my business cranked up.”
— Martin Fiesel
“The Franchise Brokers Association’s National Training Program is wonderful, helping us achieve our goals while supporting clients in a win-win scenario.”
— Greg Roquet
“FBA has really demonstrated the commitment to have an impact on families by making sure that their brokers have the information they need to present high quality franchises.”
— Peter Irungu
“The Franchise Brokers Association is the premier broker association in the industry. Their commitment to broker success is unparalleled and could not be more pleased with their support over the past decade that I have been a member.”
— Curt Maier
“Entering the franchise brokering world and doing so via the Franchise Brokers Association (FBA) has been a true positive life-changer for me, especially because of the knowledge base, professional support, and humanity the FBA consistently offers. The culture is first-rate, and their “integrity first and foremost” mission is no lie! In fact, the focus on integrity was a chief driver towards my sign-up. No disappointment here…I love the FBA, its leadership, support staff, the events and continued educational programs they lead or otherwise support.”
— Bob Wehokur
“It’s awesome working with FBA Brokers who are well-trained, professional and really care about their clients. I know when I get an FBA referral to work with, they’ve been properly prepared to begin their Discovery Journey.”
— Daniel Durney
From everyone here at Neighborly — thank you. We love working alongside FBA and appreciate everything your team does to help connect the right candidates to the right opportunities. We are grateful for this partnership and excited for what’s ahead!**”
— CodyJordan Mather
“The FBA has delivered to my expectations in just about every way. The team supporting me is highly experienced and attentive to my needs as an emerging franchise consultant. The people, processes, and technology provided is truly exceptional and has helped accelerate my success well beyond what I could have accomplished on my own.”
— Michael Davis
“The Franchise Brokers Association sets the standard for professionalism and expertise in franchising. Their team has a deep understanding of what it takes to match quality brands with the right buyers and truly supports brokers through education, training, and resources. FBA’s commitment to elevating the industry and doing things the right way is evident in everything they do. Highly recommended.”
— Tony Hulbert
“As a Franchise Development Specialist, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many organizations in the franchising world, and the Franchise Brokers Association truly stands out. The team is knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely invested in helping both brokers and brands succeed.
They provide exceptional training, valuable tools, and an incredibly supportive network that makes navigating the franchise industry smoother and more rewarding. The FBA doesn’t just talk about collaboration — they live it.
If you’re looking to grow in franchising with the backing of a professional, well-connected, and forward-thinking organization, I can’t recommend the Franchise Brokers Association enough.**”
— Kelly Stevens
The Work Ahead.
The Franchise Brokers Association was founded on one promise: to do things the right way, even when it’s hard.
Every system, training, and partnership we’ve built stems from that conviction.
Because success in franchising shouldn’t depend on luck—it should depend on integrity, knowledge, and community.That’s what the FBA stands for—and that’s the Franchise Brokers Association story we’re still writing every day. Ready to explore your options with guidance? Start here with filling this form: Find Franchises.
