1851

<a href="https://franchiserealtypartners.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Franchise Realty Partners</a>, a full-service commercial real estate company that operates as an internal real estate department for emerging franchisors, is ready to solve the pain point of real estate for emerging brands across the country. Especially as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/commercial-real-estate-sales-and-values-surge-to-records-11635249600?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">commercial real estate market</a> deals with pent-up demand and a severe lack of inventory, emerging franchisors can enlist the help of Franchise Realty Partners to ensure their franchisees secure prime locations and attractive lease terms.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlkirstein?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Darah Kirstein</a>, the owner of preschool and child care franchise&nbsp;<a href="http://ivybrook.academy/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ivybrook Academy</a> in Pittsburgh, is one such franchisee.&nbsp;The mother of four decided to invest in the franchise with her husband after working for a financial institution for 15 years. Kirstein says she recognized an unmet demand for preschools and daycares in her area, and after meeting with the Ivybrook team — including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-mcwilliams-3b041a5?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Drew McWilliams</a> and the Franchise Realty Partners (FRP) team — she knew she had found the right choice.When Kirstein signed on with the brand last June, she says she was nervous to start the real estate process, but saw right away that McWilliams was there to make it as smooth as possible. McWilliams, the founder of Franchise Realty Partners, is a commercial real estate broker in the Carolinas with over 20 years of real estate experience, as well as a franchisor with firsthand experience in the franchise industry.“This FRP concept was born because, as a franchisor, I knew from actual experience the pain points that both franchisors and franchisees go through,” said McWilliams. “That is the number-one reason we stand out in the real estate industry. We walk and talk franchising. We understand the complex process of outsourcing an essential component of the onboarding process. I had peers in the franchise industry who kept telling me real estate was a major pain point for them, and I realized that if I could do it myself, why not do it and help other brands as well?”For one, the team at Franchise Realty Partners offers access to an invaluable, nationwide network of brokers that franchisees like Kirstein can tap into. “Drew reached out to some contacts that he had in Pittsburgh and hooked us up with agents from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.howardhanna.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Howard Hanna Real Estate</a>, a very prominent agency in the area,” said Kirstein. “They were able to show us info for the commercial market in the area, specifically tailored to our search for sites that were 5,000-square-feet or larger with outdoor space.”Especially with today’s real estate market, in which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/housing-demand-outpacing-supply-construction-816e1c64-d164-4cfd-9b83-9f40b3079b36.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">demand far outpaces supply</a>, Kirstein says these connections were incredibly important. “The real estate industry is crazy right now, and we knew pickings would be slim, so we were open to all creative solutions,” said Kirstein. “They gave us a list of about seven to eight properties, and we eventually narrowed in on our top choice. The agents that Drew connected us with also ended up being the listing agents for the property, so that was a huge help.”As ideal sites become harder and harder to come by, the team at Franchise Realty Partners can help connect franchisors with the resources and expertise they need to quickly and efficiently complete the real estate process and move on with the opening.&nbsp;“When we initially found our site, Drew flew up here to give us his expert opinion before we officially signed the lease,” said Kirstein. “Then, Drew worked with us and the agents to draft up a letter of intent to share with the landlord and represent us as a viable tenant. Drew took on most of the lease negotiations — there were a few small challenges that came up along the way, but Drew helped with everything. For example, when the bank was hesitant to give us a loan because our landlord was also our general contractor, the team went through the lease line-by-line and found the verbiage the bank wanted to see. They really put in a lot of hard work to make sure the process was easy for us.”Through it all, Kirstein says there was constant communication with the Franchise Realty Partners team, which aligns with FRP’s mission to provide an unparalleled experience for clients by, first and foremost, always picking up the phone.“It honestly felt like Drew was our agent,” said Kirstein. “He would call us on Saturday mornings and tell us about where we were in the process to ensure everyone was on the same page. I’m someone who likes to be hands-on and know all the details, and Drew made sure to put everything in layman’s terms so I could feel confident I didn’t need to be an expert in real estate and lease agreements — I just needed to be an expert in selling the service to the community and being a franchisee.”&nbsp;But Kirstein says what she is most appreciative of is the speed at which she has been able to go through the whole process. “We signed with the franchise last June and we’re going to be open this August,” she said. “So many other franchisees aren’t able to find a piece of real estate, or they need to have building development so their opening is delayed. Everything went smoothly for us, and I’m so excited to get started.”McWilliams says this ability to open sites faster is a prime advantage for not only the individual franchisee, but also for the franchisor.&nbsp;“The faster franchisees can find sites and open new stores, the faster franchisors can start to bring in royalties,” McWilliams said. “We want to be a turnkey solution — when a franchisor signs a new franchisee, we will take on 100% of the site selection and real estate work to make their role easier. They no longer need to hire one company to handle data-driven site selection and another brokerage to show the properties to franchisees and yet another to negotiate the lease. We will handle it all through our established connections in the industry, so the franchisor and franchisee just have one point of contact, us.”Now, McWilliams says Franchise Realty Partners is looking to provide this much-needed service to more clients, with a focus on adding 10 new and emerging (between 0 to 100 units) franchisor brands to its roster. In addition to Ivybrook Academy, the firm works with franchisees of multiple brands, including salon franchises&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supercuts.com/about-supercuts.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Supercuts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.costcutters.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cost Cutters</a>, Mad Splatter, ActivAge and Atlantic Poke.“As a first-time franchisee, this whole process was so new to me,” said Kirstein. “Drew and his team truly made the experience as seamless as possible, solving all of the usual pain points and guiding me down this path of following my entrepreneurial dreams.”For more information on Franchise Realty Partners, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://franchiserealtypartners.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners-2718630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://franchiserealtypartners.com/</a>

Why This Ivybrook Academy Franchisee Partnered with Franchise Realty Partners

1851 Franchise

Although the real estate process has traditionally been a major pain point for franchisors, the Franchise Realty Partners team offers a turnkey real estate solution to help franchisees find optimal sites, connect with brokers, negotiate leases and more.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

why-this-ivybrook-academy-franchisee-partnered-with-franchise-realty-partners

Children's Lighthouse

How This IT Architect Became a Successful Children’s Lighthouse Franchisee

childrens-lighthouse-franchise-san-antonio-justin-leggett

Busy Bee Jumpers

Busy Bee Jumpers Buzzes into Franchising: Three New Franchisees Signed in First 30 Days

busy-bee-jumpers-buzzes-into-franchising-three-new-franchisees-signed-in-first-30-days

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs Reports Strong Midyear Momentum 

Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs Reports Strong Midyear Momentum with Revenue Gains, Record Membership, and Strategic Expansion

fitness-premier-mid-year-growth-2025

Woodhouse Spas

image of a woodhouse spa franchise buildings exterior 

Woodhouse Spas Continues Strong Momentum With Double-Digit Growth in Q2

woodhouse-spas-q2-2025-growth-expansion

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-Mountain-State-Devo-June-2025

Layne’s Chicken Fingers Eyes Expansion in Mountain States

laynes-chicken-fingers-franchise-mountain-states-expansion

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

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

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Blending Tech, Hospitality and Health Care: How Three Women From Different Worlds Came Together to Build a Paris Baguette Franchise

paris-baguette-franchise-flower-mound-texas

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

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

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

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

Why This Ivybrook Academy Franchisee Partnered with Franchise Realty Partners

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS