Franchise FastLane Cranks Up Innovation in 2025

More Tech Innovation is Coming, Says New COO/President

Tim Koch, the new president and chief operating officer of Franchise FastLane, sets ambitious, ongoing goals for the franchise sales organization. Franchisors count on FastLane’s proven marketing and sales processes to accelerate growth and connect with highly qualified buyers. “We responsibly drive extraordinary growth for our brand partners and inspire life change through franchise ownership,” Koch says.

Franchise FastLane rigorously supports its franchisor partners in three key ways, he says. “What really gets me fired up about leading Franchise FastLane in 2025 is our relentless focus on our three pillars of culture, innovation, and improving the experience for both franchisees and franchisors. From day one, Franchise FastLane was built on these pillars, and I’m thrilled to take these even further this year. FastLane will push the envelope to find fresh ways to innovate, drive operational excellence, and make a bigger impact on our franchisee and franchisor community. The fact that we’ve been in business for eight years and still bring that start-up mentality to work every day is something I absolutely love.” 

Innovations in the Works

This year, Franchise FastLane has already jump-started innovation. “We have a reputation for innovation and being an industry leader in technology. We will maintain that position and exceed our partners’ expectations going into 2025 and beyond,” he pledges. “We’re in the process of restructuring our systems and IT effort to deliver an even better experience through our Frick & FastLane portal. We’ll add new features and innovations throughout the year and beyond. We were the first to offer a platform that provides consultants with real-time updates on their candidates as well as all current information about our brands.”

Franchise FastLane’s constant efforts to better serve emerging franchisors were a key reason Koch signed on. “From the moment I started talking to the FastLane team, it was clear that the company is truly special. Everyone is laser-focused on helping our brands achieve their development goals and inspiring new franchisees to join this incredible industry and transform their lives. The team’s passion and commitment are contagious. The culture that our founders have built is unmatched, and it’s evident in everything we do. When the opportunity came to join this dynamic team and lead Franchise FastLane into its next chapter of growth, it was an easy decision.”

Power of Franchising

He is firmly convinced that U.S. franchising presents a sound opportunity for entrepreneurs to prosper. Data supports that belief: U.S. franchises are expected to grow by more than 20,000 units this year, to a total of about 851,000, according to the International Franchise Association’s 2025 Economic Outlook report. That report also states that franchising’s gross domestic product will rise by 5% this year, more than the nation’s projected 1.9% increase in GDP. And Franchise Business Review cites statistics that underscore the appeal of franchising: 

• FranNet research found that 92% of franchises stayed in business after two years and 85% made it past five years.
• Investopedia reported that 25% of independent start-ups fail within the first year, with half of the remaining 75% failing within five years. 

Franchise FastLane’s Process

Franchise FastLane’s mission is to help its franchisor partners and franchisees thrive. “We start with a rigorous vetting process before a brand joins the FastLane,” Koch says. “We use a disciplined approach with clear criteria and metrics that must be met to ensure we’re partnering with brands that are set up for success. Once on board, we closely track each brand’s growth, monitoring key metrics like close-to-open rates and conducting Quarterly Health Assessments to maintain visibility into their operational health.” 

Franchise FastLane has several innovative programs that underpin its mission. “Our Mastermind, MasterClass, Referral Partner Program and new CarPool product offering equip us to lead our partner brands and their franchisees to lasting success. Mastermind, MasterClass and the Referral Partner Program are all designed to provide the essential training, support and top-tier strategic partners to help our brands grow responsibly. Carpool is a coaching and consulting program that pairs FastLane’s best-in-class back-office support with best practices from FastLane’s proven blueprint for success that empowers franchisors to grow at their own pace.”

All 12 brands currently in CarPool give the program “extremely positive” reviews, he adds. “I see a great opportunity to enhance and relaunch the Mastermind, MasterClass, Referral Partner Program and CarPool programs, with the goal of continuously improving the support to our partner brands,” Koch says. “We view responsible franchising as an obligation, one that we take it very seriously.”

To learn more about Omaha-based Franchise FastLane, click here.