• Strategic investment and partnership will fuel growth as franchise consultancy expands its mission to advise, launch and grow emerging franchise brands
• New Board of Directors leveraging leadership from both firms will guide SMB’s next phase of growth

DOYLESTOWN, Pa., Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SMB Franchise Advisors, a franchise consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs prepare, launch and grow their businesses through franchising, today announced a strategic partnership with principals of Navigator Partners.

This significant minority investment provides added funding to SMB Franchise Advisors in its evolution as a platform of support services for franchisors. SMB’s current leadership team will remain in place and continue to lead the company’s strategic decision-making and day-to-day operations. The partnership also marks the formation of a new Board of Directors for SMB, bringing together Steve Beagelman, Founder and CEO at SMB; Brian Luciani, Chief Growth Officer at SMB; and new investors Bernard Markey and William Stewart, Managing Partners at Navigator, to identify and support new avenues of growth for the franchise services company.

“We have worked closely with Navigator for over a decade, the better part of SMB’s existence, to support select franchise brands in the ways we each do best, and in that time we’ve built a partnership grounded in common values and genuine mutual respect,” said Steve Beagelman, Founder and CEO at SMB Franchise Advisors. “With this investment, we will continue to do what we’ve always done – providing the best possible service to help our clients grow through franchising – now with the capital and expertise to scale and broaden our offerings while serving a growing pipeline of emerging and maturing brands.”

A Decade of Building Franchise Systems Together

Founded in 2009, SMB Franchise Advisors has spent over 17 years guiding brand founders from concept to successful scaled franchisors, working with more than 600 companies across virtually every industry. Its team of more than 20 subject matter experts possess extensive franchising experience and provide advice to clients on the finance, operations, marketing and development work required to build a strong franchise system, as well as helping established franchisors refine operations and grow. Beagelman and Luciani also operate Stadium Ventures, an investment division of SMB, that takes direct equity stakes in select franchise brands that are clients of SMB.

Navigator Partners and SMB have built a working relationship over the last decade, having first partnered in 2016 when SMB brought in Navigator to invest and help scale K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotels. Navigator has since co-invested with Stadium Ventures in several other SMB client brands, including Almera Tech Services, Pure Sweat Studios and Story Time Chess. That track record gave both firms confidence for how their work complements each other – SMB’s deep relationships with founders in the earliest stages of franchising, paired with Navigator’s growth capital and operating experience scaling franchise systems nationally.

“We’ve seen firsthand what SMB’s team is capable of, and we’ve always shared values and believed in the mission behind their work,” said Bernard B. Markey, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Navigator Partners. “Bill and I are thrilled to join the board, giving us an opportunity to contribute what we’ve learned building franchise systems together and serve founders for years to come.”

“Importantly, we are all aligned on and work towards the mission that franchisors need to provide strong support to ensure their franchisees’ success,” added William Stewart, Managing Partner at Navigator Partners. “We are glad that this investment will be used to build great franchisee support infrastructure to responsibly drive franchise system growth.”

The Navigator principals were represented by Fox Rothschild LLP in this transaction, and SMB was represented by Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.

SMB Franchise Advisors is accepting new clients and works with brands that are exploring the idea of franchising as well as those who are looking for an in-depth analysis of their brand and strategies for growing and scaling the company. To learn more, visit www.smbfranchising.com.

About SMB Franchise Advisors

SMB Franchise Advisors was created in 2009 with a mission to support small and medium business owners as they prepare, launch and grow through franchising. From helping emerging companies with their launch to helping brands grow and re-invigorate established franchise brands, the firm’s trusted team takes the time to get to know each business. SMB Franchise Advisors explores, inspires and nurtures a brand’s full potential from its earliest stages to becoming a household name.

Brand founders reach out to SMB Franchise Advisors when they are ready to franchise their growing and successful business. With an average tenure of over 20 years in the franchise industry, their subject matter experts have backgrounds in all areas critical to building successful franchisors: finance, operations, marketing and development. The SMB team helps business owners navigate the landscape from concept to franchise brand, teaching the essentials of franchising. With over 17 years in operation, the firm has applied its proven process with over 600 brand founders. Active members of the International Franchise Association (franchise.org), SMB Franchise Advisors currently serves on the Membership Committee, Supplier Forum Advisory Board, Women’s Franchise Committee and the IFA Foundation as a member at large.

About Navigator Partners

Navigator Partners, LLC (“Navigator”) is a private equity investment group with offices in Summit, NJ. We are focused on investing in emerging franchisors with our own capital thereby enabling us to have a very long investment horizon. Navigator leverages its extensive professional network in the franchising industry and over 20 years of franchise investing experience. We partner with franchisor founders in the early stages to grow the system with strong franchisee support resulting in high quality enduring companies.

Markey and Stewart co-founded the FirstLight HomeCare senior care franchise system in late 2009. FirstLight has grown to over 170 franchise owners operating approximately 320 territories with system revenues of approximately $375MM. Markey and Stewart are also investors in the following franchisors: Almera Tech Services, Another Nine, K9 Resorts, Picklr, Pure Sweat Studios, Scenthound, Storytime Chess and SURV. They serve on the Board of Directors of Almera Tech Services, FirstLight HomeCare, K9 Resorts, SURV and are members of the Storytime Chess’ Advisory Board.

Media Contact: Bridget Roberts, broberts@fishmanpr.com or 847-945-1300

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SOURCE SMB Franchise Advisors