How Michael Stone Is Helping Professional Athletes Transition Into Being Franchisees

The founder and executive director of the Professional Athlete Franchise Initiative, Michael Stone, is helping athletes find a career after sports with franchising opportunities.

By Brigit Larson1851 Contributor

SPONSOREDUpdated 12:12PM • 01/18/16

After a sudden hip injury, Michael Stone realized his NFL career would be ending before he ever would have guessed. Besides having a busboy job at an Italian restaurant growing up, his seven years as a professional football player for the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Houston Texans and the New York Giants was his only professional experience.

Rightfully so, he felt there was a void that needed to be filled. Spending your whole life working towards a goal you have achieved begs for one question: What’s next?

Stone saw this problem of his as a larger issue for athletes post professional career. This was not only an issue he struggled with, but also for many other professional athletes once their careers end.

“It became my personal mission to help athletes fill that void,” said Stone.

Growing up, Stone always felt that he had an entrepreneurial spirit. He explained, “If there is a need for something, and you can fill that need in a unique way, there is an opportunity to make income.” With that mindset, Stone was destined to be an entrepreneur.

When asked why he became interested in franchising specifically, he said, “It provides an opportunity without any formal business experience needed. It also gives you coaching and support.”

Junior Bridgeman also convinced him of the unique opportunity franchising could provide. “He encouraged me to look at franchising in a different light,” said Stone. Meeting with another titan of athletes in franchising, George Tinsley, as well as Stan Friedman from the International Franchise Association, Stone started to become educated and informed on the industry and how he could help athletes. He attended the IFA’s Diversity Institute, which helps promote and foster diversity in the franchising community and build awareness of franchising within minority communities.

With three top mentors in the franchising industry, Stone started to see an obvious connection for professional athletes. Stone helped put together a summit at Emory University to educate and inform others on franchising around eight years ago.

“Local brands came and supported us, and from that summit, more athletes started to call,” said Stone. From this success, they then moved on to create a platform that is now known as the Professional Athletes Franchising Initiative.

PAFI is a platform that assists professional athletes in understanding the world of franchising through research, education and interaction. The platform serves as a bridge that connects franchisors and suppliers together with professional athletes interested in franchising.

The platform includes programs and resources for athletes. To name a few, PAFI has resources such as a Franchise Playbook, monthly emails, the Franchise Summit, Convention and Expo, along with programs for continued development.

Members of PAFI are the franchisors and suppliers where they can choose how involved they would like to be. “There is a small financial commitment for members, and also a commitment to the PAFI mission,” Stone said. Members must be willing to give their own time to the organization so that they can help athletes, and in turn, receive potential interested franchisees.

A few of the franchisors that PAFI works with include Dunkin’ Donuts, Jersey Mikes, and Title Boxing Club.

While Stone does not currently own any franchises himself, he is working on owning one and is hoping to in February of next year.

How Michael Stone Is Helping Professional Athletes Transition Into Being Franchisees

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