The Great Franchisee: Megan Allen, FranNet, Denver

After running her own independent franchise consultancy in Denver for more than six years, franchise guru Megan Allen has joined forces with FranNet, a franchise consulting firm with locations across the U.S. and Canada.

Allen got her first taste of franchising in college, when she helped her father grow a franchise that leased equipment for property-improvement plans. Later, Allen joined Colorado-based doggie daycare franchise Camp Bow Wow, where she started as the Director of Strategic Development before working her way up to the role of Chief Operations Officer. 

After leaving Camp Bow Wow, Allen started her own franchise consultancy, FranPromise, where she leveraged her experience in the industry to help other entrepreneurs find the right franchise opportunities that aligned with their goals, skillets and values.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Allen helped her FranPromise clients survive lockdowns and a dire economic downturn by helping to renegotiate leases and walking through loan applications, all pro bono. Allen says she enjoyed helping her clients so much that she decided to expand her business by taking over as the market president for FranNet Colorado, where she will continue aiding other franchise owner candidates, now with the backing of one of the country’s premier franchise consultancies.  

1851 Franchise: What did you do before franchising?

Megan Allen: I went to Metro State in downtown Denver as an English major — I really wanted to become an English professor. My dad started a financial brokerage business and was able to partner with Holiday Inn. I learned a lot from his persistence. He had a job offer for me that I could not refuse, so I reduced my credits at Metro State to help him with his business. Together, we grew that relationship with Holiday Inn, and eventually, his business was purchased by another company, which in turn was purchased by American Express. Through this transition in ownership, I went to work for American Express as an account manager where I worked with their franchise partnerships. It gave me the opportunity to be involved with many franchise brands, like McDonald’s and Dairy Queen*. I learned a lot about entrepreneurship at the franchise level through this position.

Later on, I reached out to Heidi Ganahl, the owner of Camp Bow Wow, a doggie daycare franchise that had just started in Colorado, and told her I wanted to make it the best place ”where a dog could be a dog.” I rose through the ranks there and was eventually promoted to COO at Camp Bow Wow. 

In 2014 I created FranPromise, my own franchise consulting concept, while still remaining involved with Camp Bow Wow as they were being sold to VCA. Through Camp Bow Wow, I was an International Franchise Association development speaker and had the opportunity to grow FranPromise to six clients that were strong franchisors. Creating this concept eventually led me to take on my own franchise consulting franchise in Denver where I could help franchisors and franchisees alike to achieve positive growth.

1851: Why did you decide to become a franchisee yourself?

Allen: I realized during COVID-19 that we need to save franchising. I have dedicated my career to the industry and am proud to complete my journey as a franchisee myself.

I was doing some pro bono work with FranPromise to help franchisees through the pandemic. I was helping people renegotiate their leases, apply for loans, etc. I was doing franchise coaching and when this opportunity came up, I realized this was a great option for me. This opportunity felt like almost the only thing I have not done yet.

I saw a value in FranNet over other brokerages based on the support FranNet provides. At FranNet, you can access franchisee-to-franchisee coaching so that everyone is living up to the potential of the state they operate in. I cannot wait to make an impact on FranNet internally and also potentially nationally or even internationally. 

1851: What types of brands did you look at?

Allen: I know all the brokerages for franchising, but FranNet was the only franchise I would buy. If it weren’t focused on franchise consulting, I would have investigated a home service or pet care franchise. I was having too much fun helping people and making a bigger impact through FranPromise. I had owned my own private business, but I had never owned my own franchise. There is so much consumer action in franchising, it is good to know what these franchisees have to go through to own a franchise. 

1851: Why did you pick FranNet? What excited you most about the potential?

Allen: I like that I am still my own boss. That is Franchising 101 — you can pick your brand wisely and have your own team. With FranNet, you get to develop people into franchise and business owners. I really enjoy speaking on franchising and helping people make their business better. 

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Allen: I would like to have a minimum of three people in addition to me — consultants in Colorado Springs and Boulder. Another dream of mine is to become more involved in the mountains. During COVID, mountain tourism did so well. There is a lot of volume and growth in  Summit County and areas like Steamboat Springs and Winter Park. The mountain region provides great options for home service franchises to help the people living there. 

Northern Colorado is growing so much, and so are areas of Wyoming. We can help people grow and create jobs through franchising in those areas to serve the influx of growing communities there. 

1851: What value do you see your business providing to Denver?

Allen: My business will be investing in the people of Colorado. I feel like Colorado defines me in so many ways. We push for better leaders and new policies in franchising. Everything I do is for a better Colorado. 

I also want to provide better opportunities for people in trade schools. I feel like there are a lot of opportunities for anyone that wants to work hard and help people in our communities.  

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Allen: Take your time. Work with a franchise coach. Run everything by people you have full trust in before signing. Reach out to someone that owns a franchise. Franchise consultants help people because franchising can seem really one-sided. 

I always tell people that buying a franchise is buying yourself franchise friends, because of how many people you work with and communicate with regularly. Being among true peers who are facing the same challenges and wins daily is so different than working in a corporate job. 

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Allen: I have been regularly active in the charitable community of Denver. I was the booster club president for Arapahoe High School Girls Basketball. While there, I helped develop and organize a foundation game for suicide prevention that has raised $40,000 so far in two years. Brian Griese, the former quarterback for the Denver Broncos, got involved in the game as well since his wife is in a wonderful organization to support mental health causes.

I also volunteer for the Fight Back Foundation and am a big proponent for their efforts in increasing school safety. Additionally, I have started the process to volunteer for the local Small Business Administration’s SCORE offices to help coach entrepreneurship in and around franchising.