Franchise Business Consultant

• $115,000 - $125,000 base salary range + annual bonus potential!
• 100% remote in the United States

Do you hunger for more? Potbelly Sandwich Shop is looking for friendly and outgoing people who enjoy working in a fast-paced, friendly environment. We are where good vibes and great careers are a way of life! What started as a small antique store in 1977 has become a nationally recognized neighborhood sandwich shop with over 400 locations across the United States.

But toasty sandwiches are only as good as the people behind them. And yeah, we've got the best. Ready to join our growing Potbelly Nation?

What's In It For You**:

• Competitive pay with performance-based annual raises!
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Domestic Partnership Benefits
• Paid Parental Leave
• FSA and HSA with Employer Contribution
• Commuter Benefit Program
• Retirement Savings 401(k) WITH company match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Discount Program
• Flexible Work Schedule
• Career growth opportunities

** If hired, you must meet and maintain all eligibility requirements to qualify*
* Job Title: Franchise Business Consultant

Department/Function:
Shop Operations

Location: Field (Full Remote) - Must be near major airport

Reports to: Sr. Director of Fran Ops

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Franchise Business Consultant (FBC) is a key strategic partner and trusted advisor to our franchise operators. This role will lead, coach, and model the Potbelly Way values and behaviors. The FBC drives business performance by providing proactive coaching, strategic insights, and data-driven consultation to franchisees with the goal of maximizing sales growth through industry-leading Customer experience and operational execution which delivers strong unit-level profitability.

The FBC serves as a cross-functional liaison between franchise owners and corporate teams to support sustainable growth, brand consistency, and operational excellence.

These efforts help grow results in existing shops and help build the foundation of growth for new shop development. FBCs provide support to ensure proper planning and execution of pre-opening, opening and post-opening events.

FBCs are expected to think like owners, act like business accelerators, and lead with influence. They uphold and promote the brand's values while holding franchisees accountable to performance expectations and compliance standards. FBCs also help support and drive organization focus areas.

FOCUS

Why This Role Matters:

This role is critical to the success of our franchise community and directly contributes to scaling the brand through field leadership, strategic insight, and operational coaching. The ideal candidate is not just a consultant-they are a growth catalyst, a trusted partner, and a brand ambassador.

Responsibilities

• Provides impactful advice and assist franchisees in developing business plans to maximize customer satisfaction, drive sales, improve profits, and grow their business.
• Assists franchisees in the development of remedial action plans, as needed.
• Provides strategic coaching in areas of service standards, product quality control, staffing, training, safety, sanitation, and new shop openings.
• Partners with Potbelly corporate franchise operations leadership to identify key priorities for Franchise Operations and establish annual targets.
• Acts as a liaison between franchisees and corporate operations/support staff on key initiatives and activities.
• Ensures that the Potbelly Values and Potbelly Culture is embraced and demonstrated by the franchisees.
• Establishes and maintains positive relationships with franchisees.
• Drives the sell-in and implementation of all Company initiatives.
• Assists in the implementation of local and national marketing programs.
• Ensures that franchisees operate within company standards and comply with the franchise agreements.
• Identifies any product or procedure that is not in compliance with Company standards, ensuring corrective action is taken immediately.
• Makes recommendations to maintain safe working conditions and compliance to Potbelly procedures in the franchise shops.
• Supports and leads franchisee through pre-opening and opening activities.
• Actively shares and assists franchisees in adopting best practices.

Franchise Partnership & Strategic Support

• Serve as a business partner to franchise owners by helping them analyze financials, identify opportunities, and execute growth strategies.
• Facilitate regular business reviews and develop collaborative action plans to drive sales, increase EBITDA, and improve unit economics.
• Provide consultative support on staffing, training, retention, local marketing, and operational planning.
• Lead pre-opening coaching and ramp-up support for new shops, ensuring brand standards are fully implemented from day one.
• Build and maintain influential, trust-based relationships with franchisees through a solutions-focused, collaborative approach.

Operational Excellence & Brand Compliance

• Ensure consistent execution of brand standards across food safety, customer experience, service,…