1851

The Broker:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakeemartin/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=2023s-top-franchise-brokers-blake-martin-2723196" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Blake Martin</a>The Company:&nbsp;<a href="https://frannet.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=2023s-top-franchise-brokers-blake-martin-2723196" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">FranNet</a>1851 Franchise talked to Blake Martin about the importance of communication, his advice for prospective franchise owners and what winning looks like to him.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: What makes you successful as a franchise broker?Martin:&nbsp;Transparency at all levels of communication. Throughout the course of my career, I’ve been both a franchisor and a franchisee, which has given me a unique perspective in this industry. Whether you’re helping a candidate learn about the value proposition of a franchise concept, or if the roles are reversed and you’re the one thinking of buying a franchise, transparent communication plays a central role in achieving a successful outcome. My experience has taught me that, if you want to be a successful franchise broker, there’s nothing more important than establishing open, honest and candid discussions with your clients. I also focus on innovation when it comes to delivering my services. At the moment, I’m tinkering with some new ideas for outreach and how I connect with my clients. I’m looking into technologies that broaden my reach and ability to connect with entrepreneurs on their own turf.1851 Franchise: What advice do you have for people wanting to become franchise owners?Martin: For prospective franchise owners, I think you have to be ready and willing to be brutally honest with yourself. You have to define what it is you truly want — or don’t want — in a business. That takes time and contemplation to get it right. I advise clients to seek as many opinions from their support group as possible. Hearing that feedback from various sources can go a long way in helping you make informed decisions about your future. Becoming your own boss is a decision that you shouldn’t take lightly, so I advise clients that they must be patient and willing to invest serious time in doing their due diligence. If you want to become a franchise owner, there are three distinct qualities you should nurture and develop. Resilience, optimism and curiosity — what I call “ROC” for short. If you can train your mind to develop these qualities and live by these ideals, you’ll have a better-than-average chance of success.1851 Franchise: What does “winning” look like to you?Martin:&nbsp;I think the easy answer would be meeting or exceeding your benchmark sales goals, which is definitely a win for any franchise consultant or broker. But, to me, an even better win is the feeling I get when I watch my alumni clients earn recognition from their franchisors for being among the most successful owners in the system. Over the years, several of my previous clients that I helped become franchise owners have been singled out as top performers or “Franchisees of the Year.” Every time it happens, it gives me such a feeling of pride and accomplishment — it’s hard not to feel like a proud father on those occasions.1851 Franchise: What advice do you have for franchisors wanting your help to award more franchises?Martin:&nbsp;Once again, I think it all comes back to communication. As we’re all aware, there are thousands of franchise concepts to choose from and it’s an extremely competitive marketplace. Whenever I’m dealing with franchise development representatives, it’s important for them to be open, honest and transparent. You have to clearly articulate both the value proposition of the product or service your brand provides, as well as its key differentiators. I have to know the “why” — as in, why my candidates should be investigating this franchise opportunity. What’s driving the interest and making it special? Then there are the proof points. I like data, so it’s important to communicate the current statistics and analytics that highlight the brand’s success. If you can’t readily communicate your case for business ownership, I’m probably going to have the same difficulty communicating it to my candidates.1851 Franchise: How can franchisors better communicate with you?Martin:&nbsp;I think most franchisors understand that consultants and brokers operate with tight schedules. There’s always a sales call to jump on, a Discovery Day to help plan or a resource our clients need. Our calendars fill up fast, and they tend to stay that way. If you’re a franchise development representative, develop and employ a succinct sales pitch that covers the who, what, where, when and why of your opportunity. Tell me what’s new and different. What initiatives are you pushing at the moment that benefit franchisees? Any brand enhancements like a new digital platform or an innovative mobile or online solution that improves the way the brand does business? Let me know if you’ve expanded your funding network. Some franchisors do a tremendous job, which isn’t surprising when you consider how important it is for them to generate new leads and maintain a robust sales operation. Some environments, like trade shows or peer group meetings, can also be a golden opportunity to secure that one-on-one time you’re looking for. If you want my preference on tactics, emails are much better than cold calls.

2023’s Top Franchise Brokers: Blake Martin

Blake Martin | Top Franchise Brokers 2023 | 1851 Franchise

1851 Franchise

Here’s 1851 Franchise’s annual roundup of the most popular and effective franchise brokers in the industry.

2023s-top-franchise-brokers-blake-martin

Layne's Chicken Fingers

image of laynes chicken finger restaurant with 4 hands holding cups in the air to celebrate 

 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Crosses Mid-Year Mark With 11 New Restaurants Opened, Including the First Time the Brand has Seen Two Openings on the Same Day on July 14

laynes-chicken-franchise-growth-2025

HomeTeam Inspection Service

image of an employee from home team checking an outlet with an ipad

HomeTeam Inspection Service Franchise Owners Diversify Income With Multi-Service Model

hometeam-inspection-service-revenue-streams

Right at Home

image of jennifer selden right at home franchisee for a webinar with nick powills

Right at Home Franchise Owner Jennifer Selden To Share Franchise Journey, Sparked by Personal Care Experiences

jennifer-selden-right-at-home-franchise-journey-webinar

Paris Baguette Canada

image of a paris baguette bakery cafe latte with delicious food, croissants, and pastries

What Paris Baguette Franchisees Have To Say About Their Experiences

paris-baguette-franchise-canada-eric-chang

image of right at home franchisee gregory brewer for a webinar with nick powills

Gregory Brewer To Share 20-Year Franchise Journey With Right at Home in Upcoming Webinar

gregory-brewer-right-at-home-franchise-winston-salem-webinar

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

AI Is Reshaping Franchising: $100 Billion Valuations and Hyper-Localized Advertising

ai-is-reshaping-franchising-100-billion-valuations-and-hyper-localized-advertising

Mega Franchisee Sizzling Platter Acquired by Bain Capital

mega-franchisee-sizzling-platter-acquired-by-bain-capital

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Mike Revak - Chief Business Officer - Sky Zone - Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Mike Revak — President and Chief Business Officer, Sky Zone

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-mike-revak-chief-business-officer-sky-zone

Coffee & Analytics graphic with photo of Nick Powills

Franchise Growth Is Messy. Lead Gen Is Uncomfortable. Let’s Fix It.

franchise-lead-generation-insights

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

2023’s Top Franchise Brokers: Blake Martin

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS