DOYLESTOWN, PA — SMB Franchise Advisors secured a minority investment from principals of Navigator Partners, adding capital and operating expertise as the Doylestown-based franchise consultancy seeks to expand its services for emerging and established franchisors.
SMB’s existing leadership will remain in place and retain responsibility for strategy and day-to-day operations. The companies did not specify the size or financial terms of the investment.
The transaction also creates a new four-member board consisting of SMB founder and Chief Executive Officer Steve Beagelman, Chief Growth Officer Brian Luciani and Navigator Managing Partners Bernard Markey and William Stewart.
The investment builds on a decade-long relationship between the firms. SMB first brought in Navigator in 2016 to invest in and help expand K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotels.
Navigator later co-invested with Stadium Ventures, SMB’s investment arm, in franchise businesses including Almera Tech Services, Pure Sweat Studios and Story Time Chess. Stadium Ventures takes direct equity stakes in selected SMB clients.
SMB plans to use the new capital and Navigator’s experience to broaden its franchise support services and handle a growing pipeline of brands, according to Beagelman.
“With this investment, we will continue to do what we’ve always done — providing the best possible service to help our clients grow through franchising — now with the capital and expertise to scale and broaden our offerings,” Beagelman said.
Founded in 2009, SMB has worked with more than 600 companies and employs a team of more than 20 franchise specialists. Its advisory work spans finance, operations, marketing and franchise development, including helping businesses establish franchise systems and assisting established franchisors with operations and expansion.
Navigator’s investment adds a capital partner with experience scaling franchise systems to SMB’s existing relationships with founders at earlier stages of development.
“We’ve seen firsthand what SMB’s team is capable of,” Markey said. He said joining the board will allow Navigator to apply its experience building franchise systems to SMB’s client base.
Stewart said the investment will also be directed toward franchisee support infrastructure as SMB works with franchisors pursuing system growth.
Fox Rothschild LLP represented the Navigator principals in the transaction. Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP represented SMB.
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