Tim Smith - Founder and President

Whatever you're building, we're here to help you take the first step with confidence.

Strategic Leadership. Decades of Insight. Proven Results.

With over 30 years of experience working with or for the banking industry and 20 years dedicated exclusively to the franchise sector, Tim offers a depth of expertise that few in the industry can match. His career is defined by a rare "360-degree" perspective, having served both as a Senior Officer with the bank and as a corporate Director with the franchisor.

Before founding Franchise Financial, Tim served as Vice President of the National SBA Franchising Division for a bank in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. In this role, he was responsible for architecting the credit standards and lending strategies that fueled the growth of numerous brands. Prior to that, as the Financing Director for a prominent franchise system, he gained firsthand experience in the challenges owners face when navigating the capital search from the inside out.

Today, Tim translates this dual-sided experience into a strategic advantage for his clients. He doesn’t just understand the rules of lending; he helped write them. By bridging the gap between institutional underwriting and the entrepreneur’s vision, he provides the education, roadmap, and access to capital necessary to move projects forward with absolute confidence.

  • "This was my first time applying for an SBA loan and Tim made navigating these unchartered water easy. Communication was great throughout and he made sure we stayed on track until the loan closed."

    —Tony W. - Major Fitness Franchise Brand

  • "Tim excels at translating complex financial terms into clear, accessible language for our clients, which has significantly built the trust and credibility necessary to seal high-value deals. His proactive, solutions-oriented approach has not only boosted our sales growth, but his ability to educate and get funding in place has helped continue to grow our brand across the US."

    —Tom G. - Business Development - Major Fitness Franchise Brand

  • "Every detail was thoughtfully executed. We're thrilled with the outcome."

    Chris K. - Major Salon Studio Brand Franchisee

  • "Tim is an outstanding resource for franchise financing. His knowledge of SBA and franchise lending, combined with his hands-on, transparent approach, makes the financing process extremely smooth and more successful for franchisees versus doing it on their own or with other assistance. I would highly recommend Tim to anyone looking to fund a franchise purchase or expansion."

    Jim R. - FranChoice - Franchise Business Consultant