About Us
Empowering professionals to own their future.
At Broken Ladder Advisors, we believe that we are all meant for something more. Our promise is to demonstrate integrity and authenticity as we work with you to explore and identify the right franchise opportunity and business ownership fit for you.
Working with Broken Ladder Advisors is different from browsing a directory of franchises or being handed a list of brands.
We start with you.
We want to understand what has brought you to the point of considering business ownership, what you want the next chapter of your career to look like, what you want a business to provide for you and your family, and what kind of owner you actually want to become.
That includes the practical considerations such as investment level, location, time commitment and income goals. But we also go deeper.
Through our discovery process and Candidate Intrinsic Motivation Profile, we explore what is really driving your interest in ownership. Freedom. Wealth creation. Purpose. Family. Legacy. Autonomy. Impact. Challenge. Community. Or simply the desire to build something of your own.
That information becomes part of a detailed candidate profile.
From there we use our proprietary franchise intelligence and matching system, to help research opportunities from across our franchise portfolio.
The Broken Ladder proprietary franchise intelligence and matching system considers far more than industry preference. We evaluate financial requirements, business model, owner involvement, staffing, revenue characteristics, scalability, territory, transferable skills, lifestyle compatibility, personal motivations and potential risk factors.
Then we apply something equally important: human judgment.
We research the opportunities, challenge the matches, look for potential concerns and narrow the field to a small number of businesses that we believe are genuinely worth your time to investigate.
Some may feel immediately familiar.
Others may be businesses you would never have thought to consider on your own.
Our job is not to convince you to buy a franchise.
Our job is to help you understand your options, ask better questions, conduct meaningful due diligence and determine whether business ownership, and a particular opportunity, makes sense for you.
If none of the initial opportunities feel right, we keep looking.
There is no investment paid to Broken Ladder Advisors for our candidate advisory services. We are compensated by participating franchise companies when one of our candidates ultimately chooses to move forward with an opportunity.
The decision remains yours.
We simply help you make it with better information, a more disciplined process and a clearer understanding of what you are actually looking for.
Expert Network: You will have access to a comprehensive team of trusted legal and investment professionals (specializing in franchise law and ROBS/401k funding) to ensure every financial and legal angle is covered.
Broken Ladder Advisors, LLC is a proud member and affiliated with the Franchise Brokers Association (FBA), providing clients with access to a pre-vetted portfolio of over 400 established franchise brands.
Your ascent starts here - on your own terms
Michael Head, CFC | Founder | CEO | Principal Broker @ Broken Ladder Advisors
Ashlee Head, Chief Administrative Officer | Certified Franchise Consultant @ Broken Ladder Advisors
FAQs
Q: What is franchising?
A: We believe that franchising is the safest and most predictable path to business ownership. Franchising accelerates your growth with a brand, a proven system, on-going operational and marketing support, training, assistance with site selection (when applicable), and development for your business.
Q: How to start?
A: Begin with our business owner's survey, take our free franchise profile assessment, or schedule an introductory conversation.
Q: What support do you provide?
A: We offer guidance in selecting, evaluating, reviewing, and purchasing the right franchise for you.
A: Anyone who is interested in exploring another path. Our team is here to assist you.
Q: Who can benefit?
Q: Is it risky?
A: Every investment carries risk, but we minimize your risk with thoughtful evaluation and numerous resources to help you to make the right selection.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Our consultation is free for our clients. We are paid by the franchisor when you are awarded the franchise, and when you select & purchase the right franchise for you.
Q: How do you help me?
A: We help you determine whether business ownership makes sense for you and, if it does, what types of franchise opportunities may be worth exploring.
We start by learning about your background, goals, finances, lifestyle, strengths, interests, and reasons for considering ownership. Then we use our candidate-first matching framework to identify opportunities that may fit.
From there, we help you compare concepts, understand the business models, review key financial and operational information, prepare for franchisor conversations, and navigate due diligence.
Our role is to help you make a more informed decision, not to push you toward a particular franchise.
Q: How do you get paid?
A: There is no fee to you for our advisory services.
If you ultimately choose to invest in a franchise that we represent, the franchisor may compensate us for making the introduction.
That compensation does not change the price of the franchise for you.
Our goal is to help you identify opportunities that are genuinely worth investigating and support you through the decision-making process.
Q: What should I expect from the process?
A: Expect a structured, conversational process.
We will spend time getting to know you first. That includes your professional background, financial profile, lifestyle goals, desired level of involvement, and what you hope business ownership could provide.
We then research and present a small group of opportunities that we believe are worth exploring.
You will have the opportunity to learn about the businesses, speak directly with franchisors, review disclosure documents, talk with existing franchise owners, ask questions, and evaluate the numbers.
There is no expectation that you move forward unless something genuinely makes sense for you.
Q: What does a franchisor actually do?
A: The franchisor develops and supports the business system.
Depending on the brand, that may include:
Training
Operations manuals and processes
Marketing and branding
Technology and software
Vendor relationships
Site selection
Launch support
Ongoing coaching
Product or service development
Purchasing support
Recruiting assistance
National advertising
Business performance tools
The level of support varies significantly from one franchise system to another, which is one of the things we help you evaluate.
Q: What does the franchise owner actually do?
A: That depends on the business.
Some owners are highly involved in day-to-day operations. Others focus primarily on managing employees, sales, marketing, finances, and strategy.
Some models may eventually support a manager-run structure.
One of the most important parts of our process is understanding what role you want to play in the business and finding opportunities that align with that expectation.
Q: Do I need experience in the industry?
A: Usually not.
Many franchise systems are designed specifically so that owners do not need prior industry experience.
Franchisors often look more closely at leadership ability, business acumen, communication skills, financial capacity, willingness to follow a system, and the ability to manage people and execute.
Your transferable skills may matter more than your industry background.
Q: What if I don't know what type of business I want?
A: That is very common.
You do not need to know what industry you want before we begin.
Our process is designed to help uncover the business models, industries, and ownership structures that may fit you based on your goals, strengths, finances, lifestyle, and motivations.
Part of our job is to help you discover opportunities you may not have considered on your own.
Q: What if I don't know how much I can invest?
A: You do not need an exact number on day one.
We can help you understand liquid capital, net worth, startup costs, working capital, and financing considerations so you can develop a realistic investment range.
The goal is not to determine how much you can spend.
The goal is to understand what investment level is responsible and appropriate for you.
Q: Do I have to quit my job to own a franchise?
A: Not necessarily.
Some franchises require a full-time owner-operator. Others may allow an owner to remain employed while building the business, particularly if a manager or team is part of the model.
However, "semi-absentee" does not mean completely passive.
Even manager-run businesses typically require leadership, oversight, decision-making, and accountability from the owner.
Q: Is franchise ownership passive?
A: Usually not.
Some opportunities require less day-to-day involvement than others, but franchise ownership is still business ownership.
Even if employees or managers handle daily operations, the owner is typically responsible for performance, leadership, finances, strategy, hiring, and major decisions.
We prefer to talk about different levels of owner involvement rather than "passive income."
Q: How much money can I make?
A: There is no single answer.
Financial performance varies by brand, location, owner involvement, market, operating costs, staffing, financing, and many other factors.
When available, we review the financial performance information contained in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document and help you understand what the data does and does not tell you.
We also encourage candidates to speak directly with existing franchise owners during validation.
Q: What is an FDD?
A: FDD stands for Franchise Disclosure Document.
It is a legal disclosure document that provides detailed information about the franchise system.
It includes information on fees, investment requirements, franchisor history, litigation, territory, obligations, training, financial statements, franchisee turnover, and other important areas.
It is one of the most important documents you will review during due diligence.
Q: What is Item 19?
A: Item 19 is the section of the FDD where a franchisor may provide financial performance information.
It can include revenue, sales, margins, or other financial metrics for some or all franchise locations.
Not every franchisor provides an Item 19, and the information provided varies considerably.
We help candidates understand how to read the data and what additional questions they should ask.
Q: Can I finance a franchise?
A: Often, yes.
Depending on the opportunity and your financial profile, financing options may include SBA loans, conventional bank financing, retirement-fund structures, home equity, portfolio loans, or other sources.
Financing availability varies by candidate and by franchise.
We can help you understand the options and connect you with financing professionals when appropriate.
Q: How long does the process take?
A: It depends on the candidate and the opportunity.
Some people move through the process relatively quickly, while others take several months or longer.
There is no prize for moving fast.
The goal is to gather enough information to make a confident, informed decision.
Q: What happens after you show me franchise opportunities?
A: The presentation is only the beginning.
If an opportunity interests you, you will typically speak directly with the franchisor, learn more about the model, review the FDD, evaluate the territory, speak with existing franchisees, and analyze the financial requirements.
We remain involved throughout that process to help you organize what you are learning, prepare questions, compare opportunities, and identify areas that deserve further investigation.
Q: What if I don't like any of the opportunities you show me?
A: Then we learn from your feedback and keep looking.
The first group of concepts is not a final answer. It is part of the discovery process.
Understanding what you dislike can sometimes be just as valuable as understanding what you like.
Our goal is not to make one of the first opportunities fit. Our goal is to refine the search until we identify businesses that are genuinely worth investigating.
Q: Am I locked into working with you?
A: No.
Our process is designed to help you explore ownership and make an informed decision.
You are never required to invest in a franchise simply because you began the process with us.
Q: Can I talk to existing franchise owners?
A: Yes, and you should.
Speaking with current franchisees is one of the most important parts of due diligence.
They can give you firsthand perspective on training, support, staffing, economics, challenges, time commitment, and what ownership is really like.
We help you prepare for those conversations so you can ask meaningful questions.
Q: How is working with Broken Ladder different from searching online?
A: The internet can give you thousands of franchise options.
Our job is to help you determine which ones are actually relevant to you.
We do not start with a list of franchises. We start with the person.
We consider your goals, finances, experience, lifestyle, motivations, desired role, and long-term objectives, then help you evaluate a smaller group of opportunities through a structured process.
The value is not simply finding franchises.
It is knowing which ones are worth your time to investigate.
Q: How is working with you different from going directly to a franchisor?
A: A franchisor can help you determine whether you may be a good fit for their business.
We help you determine whether their business may be a good fit for you.
Because we work across many different brands and business models, we can help you compare alternatives before you become focused on one opportunity.
Q: What if I decide franchising isn't right for me?
A: That is a valid outcome.
The purpose of the process is not to convince everyone to become a franchise owner.
It is to help you determine whether ownership fits your goals and circumstances.
Sometimes the right conclusion is to move forward. Sometimes it is to wait. And sometimes it is to decide that franchising is not the right path.
Knowing that before making a major investment is still a successful outcome.
Contact
Get in touch
Phone
info@brokenladderadvisors.com
(317) 514-5656
© 2025. All rights reserved.