Franchise Business Consultant

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Successful FBCs do more than identify gaps or tell franchisees what needs to be done. They ask the right questions, listen to understand, establish the “why,” and create buy-in around the path forward.

Their conversations result in clear, agreed-upon responsibilities and commitments. They know when to coach, when to support, when to challenge, and when to hold firm. They build real partnerships while maintaining responsibility for protecting Denny’s standards, brand, and guest experience.

Ultimately, successful FBCs help franchisees become stronger operators and business owners while driving improved performance across their markets.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Build Partnership & Create Accountability

• Build trusted, productive relationships with franchisees grounded in mutual respect, transparency, and shared business goals.
• Use active listening and open-ended questions to understand challenges, uncover root causes, and create franchisee ownership of solutions.
• Establish clear agreements around actions, responsibilities, timelines, and support needed from both the franchisee and Denny’s.
• Document commitments and consistently follow through, addressing missed expectations directly and constructively.
• Maintain a solutions-oriented approach while demonstrating the courage to have difficult conversations and escalate concerns when necessary.

Influence Business Performance

• Use restaurant KPIs, financial results, guest feedback, and operational observations to facilitate meaningful business conversations.
• Help franchisees connect operational execution to traffic, profitability, guest experience, and long-term business health.
• Ask questions that challenge assumptions, identify barriers, and help franchisees develop practical solutions and action plans.
• Coach and influence through business insight, credibility, and relationships rather than positional authority.
• Proactively identify performance trends, risks, and opportunities across assigned restaurants.

Protect the Brand & Drive Execution

• Serve as a consistent steward of Denny’s brand standards and guest experience.
• Clearly articulate expectations and the business rationale the “why” behind standards, initiatives, and required actions.
• Address execution and standards gaps directly, establishing clear corrective actions, ownership, and timing.
• Partner with franchisees to execute brand initiatives including promotions, pricing strategies, CRM programs, technology rollouts, and operational changes.
• Bring franchisee feedback and field realities back to Operations and Support Center partners to strengthen decision-making and execution.

Lead the Market & Follow Through

• Own DMA performance and facilitate quarterly DMA meetings that create productive dialogue, alignment, and action.
• Identify patterns and opportunities across restaurants and franchise groups and partner with Regional Operations and Support Center teams on market-level solutions.
• Maintain clear and timely documentation of significant conversations, commitments, risks, and action plans.
• Serve as an early warning system for operational, financial, relationship, or brand risks requiring broader intervention.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Active Listening & Curiosity
Listens to understand before moving to solutions. Uses thoughtful, open-ended questions to uncover perspectives, barriers, root causes, and opportunities.

Partnership & Influence
Builds credibility and trust while recognizing that true partnership includes shared responsibility. Creates buy-in through relationships, business insight, and communication rather than authority.

Accountability & Ownership
Turns conversations into clear commitments. Establishes who owns what, by when, and what support is needed—and follows through consistently.

Courageous & Clear Communication
Communicates expectations and concerns clearly and respectfully. Willing to challenge, address missed commitments, reinforce standards, and navigate difficult conversations without avoiding conflict or damaging the relationship.

Business & Financial Acumen
Understands the operational and financial drivers of restaurant performance and uses data to ask better questions, identify opportunities, and guide productive business decisions.

Judgment & Brand Stewardship
Balances advocacy and support for the franchisee with responsibility to protect Denny’s standards, reputation, business interests, and guest experience.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Multi-unit restaurant, hospitality, franchise operations, consulting, or comparable business experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and influence business owners or operational leaders to drive action and results.
• Experience using operational and financial performance data to identify opportunities and guide business conversations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Food Safety Manager Certification required or ability to obtain as required.
• Bilingual capabilities are a plus.

REPORTING & SCOPE

Reports to: Regional Director of Operations
Primary Partners: Franchisees, Restaurant Leadership, Regional Operations, Field Learning, Marketing, and Support Center Teams
Scope: Approximately 90–100 restaurants and 10–12 franchisee relationships
Travel: Up to 90%, including overnight travel

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel extensively throughout the assigned market.
• Availability to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays as business needs require.
• Ability to work effectively within restaurant environments and meet applicable food safety requirements.
• Ability to perform the physical requirements associated with restaurant operations, including standing, walking, driving, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

The typical pay range for this role is:

Please note that this range represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade within which the position falls. This job posting is not a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee as the actual pay will take into account a range of factors, including location and experience.

Denny's Corporation is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of age, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, military or veteran's status, criminal background, or any other characteristic protected by Federal, State, or local law. 

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should contact 864-597-8000. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THIS NUMBER TO CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR APPLICATION.

Denny’s Corporation participates in E-Verify. We will provide the Social Security Administration, and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For more information on E-Verify, please contact the DHS at 888-897-7781 or dhs.gov/e-verify.  Please note that we do not use this information to pre-screen job applicants.