Find Out Where You Are on the Franchise Journey - And What Usually Comes Next
Every franchisor rides the same rollercoaster. This guide shows you where you are and what typically comes next on the journey.
Every franchisor rides the same rollercoaster. This guide shows you where you are and how to move forward.
Working with Shannon at Shine Executive Coaching has been a game-changer for both my business and my mindset as an entrepreneur. Shannon brought clarity, structure, and strategy to areas of my business that had previously felt overwhelming. She has an exceptional ability to zoom out and help craft a big-picture growth strategy, while also keeping me grounded and focused on the actionable steps required to get there. What truly sets Shannon apart is her consistent, no-nonsense accountability. She doesn’t just help you plan — she makes sure you implement.
~ Autumn Worten
Franchising isn't a straight line. It's a series of highs, lows, and hard-earned lessons that every founder faces. But once you understand the 5 predictable stages of growth, you can stop second-guessing and approach your next move with clarity. This guide will help you identify your current stage, recognize what’s normal at that phase, and gain the awareness needed to grow with purpose.
A clear breakdown of all five stages in the franchising journey
Simple questions to help pinpoint where you are now
Typical signs and symptoms founders experience at each stage
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start leading your franchise business with clarity and calm, this workbook will help you recognize your current stage and what’s normal on the path ahead.
The Five Stages
You dreamed of growing your franchise, but the reality can feel more confusing and exhausting than exciting. What you’re experiencing isn’t a failure - it’s a predictable stage. And once you name it, you gain the clarity to lead through it.
Created by Shannon Wilburn, a former franchisor and co-founder of a nationally recognized brand, this framework was born from the real-world experience of scaling a franchise system from scratch, then coaching other founders through the same journey.
These stages reflect what franchisors actually go through. They’re based on years of leading, mentoring, and walking side-by-side with founders navigating the same questions, chaos, and growth.
By identifying your stage, you’ll gain clarity around what’s normal in your journey, and validation that you’re not alone in the challenges you’re facing.
No more wondering if you’re doing it wrong. No more comparing your path to someone else’s highlight reel. Just a clear framework to help you name your current stage and lead with more intention.
Because learning the language isn’t just about words. It’s about authority.
When you walk into a meeting and understand every term, you:
I did not have clarity and accountability around personal and professional goals as a founder and CEO of a rapidly growing franchise company.
After working with her, there's a lot of clarity and traction being built in areas that I know I otherwise would not be building without her as my coach.
~ Nick Lopez
She broadened my perspective on key determinants that will help elevate my business and was refreshingly honest about the mindset shifts I needed to make as a businesswoman.
In just one hour, I walked away with clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.
~ Ranelle Bracy-Lewis
I can’t say enough about how much Shannon has meant to me and my journey in franchising.
Because of her mentorship, I feel more confident in the decisions I make and more prepared to lead my franchise team with clarity and purpose.
~ Dianna Brown
Gain the Clarity You Need to Lead with Purpose
The Franchisor’s Five™ offers clarity to spot where you are, confidence that your challenges are normal, and a framework to help you better understand the road ahead.
If you're ready to turn confusion into clarity and overwhelm into next steps, this workbook is your essential first move.
Let me help you recognize where you are, and what it means for the franchise system you’re building to last.
