Katie Fagan-Small

After working in corporate America and later starting her own Mergers & Acquisitions (MNA) firm, Katie Fagan-Small decided to shift her career to franchise consulting. Her goal was simple: to help people find what they want in life, because the corporate grind isn’t for everybody — she knows that firsthand. Now, she helps clients become successful business owners as a franchise consultant with FranNet .

Fagan-Small tries to give her clients unconventional ideas when it comes to choosing an industry. “The biggest thing I try to do is spend a lot of time with my clients understanding what they want out of their life as opposed to what they think they want out of a business,” she said. “A lot of clients who come to me are looking for things that aren’t going to fit their lifestyle.

When they do that, they’re really blocking off things that could be an excellent fit that could get their family the life that they want. So I help them find an industry that will get them where they want to be in life.”

Her favorite part about her job is watching her clients progress, whether they want to expand their franchise portfolio or sell their franchise and move on to something new. “I love watching my clients go from the move of being a corporate executive into being a business owner and all the ups and downs that come with that,” she said. “Getting them to build an asset is really important.”

When Fagan-Small works with franchisors, she believes open communication is key. “We have to be on the same page with our clients and keep their best interests at heart,” she said. “And understand that this process is the key to helping people buy a franchise.”