We have blogged in the past about the Professional Athletes Franchise Initiative (PAFI), an organization that connects the professional athlete community to the franchise industry through education, research and interaction.  Fox Rothschild is a Charter Member of PAFI and it is an  official affiliate of the International Franchise Association.  This week the Wall Street Journal small business section featured an article promoting the proliferation of both current and retired professional athletes in the franchising industry stating “over the past few years, pro athletes have become a rising presence in the franchise world.”   The article cites well known personalities Peyton Manning, Jamal Mashburn and Junior Bridgeman as examples of famous professional athletes who have found success with franchising.   You would be hard pressed to find someone who has not seen a Papa John’s commercial featuring Peyton Manning.  But Peyton is not just a spokesperson – he is also a Papa John’s franchisee.    To further ensure success many franchisors will match an athlete who would like to invest in a franchised business with an experienced franchise manager as Papa John’s did last year with former football great Jerome “the Bus” Bettis.  According to the article,  the mix of capital and strong marketing power is attractive to franchise systems.   

PAFI’s programs work to educate the athlete about the business of franchising and are a good place for athletes serious about their future and franchise systems wishing to attract athletes to start the process.