Jeffrey Walker
Consultant, Small Business Owner, and Father in Marlboro, New York
There are plenty of competent Franchise Consultants out there with whom you could work. So why (you should already be asking yourself) work with me? The only way that question can be effectively answered is for me to do something very uncomfortable… to risk sounding like a braggart. So, temporarily setting aside my deeply ingrained sense of modesty, here’s who I am:
FRANCHISES: I am personally a multi-unit franchise owner in the food service industry. Over the years, I’ve met many franchise consultants, and they’ve virtually all been very nice people. They’ve virtually all been very knowledgeable people. But surprisingly few of them have ever owned a franchise business themselves. I believe my firsthand experience as a franchisee contributes significant additional value as I guide you in your search for the right franchise for you.
STARTUPS: I personally started, and for 10 years was president of, a non-franchised HVAC business. There are significant differences between the franchised and non-franchised worlds. There are pros and cons on both sides. I’ve personally lived through the ups and downs on both sides, and in two very different industries. This enables me to pass along lessons to you that can only be had through personal experience.
CORPORATIONS: I’ve had a very successful career working for several large international corporations. Being an employee (including manager) of a business is very different from being an employer/owner of a business. Neither one is for everybody. I’ve done both, and can use that experience to help you choose the specific direction that’s best for you.
BUSINESS STRUCTURES: I’ve been involved in businesses and investments in the form of Sole Proprietor, Partner, LLC, S-Corp and C-Corp. While you should never make decisions regarding business structure without the assistance of both an accountant and an attorney, I can still offer you meaningful insights from my personal experiences.
EDUCATION: I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and Administration, with concentrations in Accounting and Finance, and a Minor in Psychology, as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. I have been inducted into the Alpha Chi, Alpha Sigma Lambda, and Delta Mu Delta National Honor Societies, The National Deans List, and MENSA. I received the MacBeth Award for Academic Excellence in Business. I graduated Sumi Cum Laude. While I personally consider real-world exp