The Family-Led Franchise Funding Company Credits Relationships For its Growth
Spend a little time with Sherri and Geoff Seiber, and it is easy to see why people feel at home with FranFund. To them, family is about much more than blood relationships. It is about the people who work beside you, grow with you and become part of your life along the way. Over the past two decades, they have brought that spirit to FranFund and to the relationships they have built throughout the franchise community.
The company recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in a way that mirrored its culture: relaxed, fun and full of good spirits. Instead of stiff speeches and formal attire, the FranFund team gathered for Mexican food, margaritas and time together. “We wanted to have a more family-type celebration than an ‘Oh, look how cool we are’ celebration,” Geoff says.
A longtime franchise owner and developer, Geoff founded FranFund in 2006 to make franchise funding easier. Sherri, now the company’s president, joined him after a successful corporate career and helped build the strong relationships FranFund is known for today. Their son, Tim, later joined the business and has now been with FranFund for more than 13 years. As director of strategic relationships, he helps carry that same people-first approach into the company’s work with franchise partners.
Together, the Seibers have grown FranFund with heart, creating an extended family of employees, clients and franchise partners who have built, grown and celebrated together.
People-First Culture
FranFund was the first company in franchising to bring multiple funding solutions under one roof, giving candidates one place to explore their options rather than sending them in several directions. The idea helped FranFund grow, but Geoff and Sherri say the company’s real foundation is its people. “We’ve always had a culture that’s based on people first,” Geoff says. “Franchising is a relationship business, and if you don’t understand that, you should not be in this industry.”
The company has since grown from a small team to more than 50 employees, but Sherri and Geoff have worked hard to preserve its close-knit feeling. The team celebrates birthdays, holidays, business wins and everyday moments. Over the years, they have watched employees get married, welcome children and grow into leaders.
“We’ve celebrated all of the life events and milestones with our team. We’ve been through the laughter, through the tears, through the joy, through the sadness,” says Sherri.
Rising Leadership
Two longtime employees recently moved into key executive roles. Holly Bejar, who has been with FranFund for 17 years, was promoted to executive vice president of operations. Shay Kleinschmidt, a 12-year company veteran, was named executive vice president of business development.
Both women have grown alongside FranFund, taking on greater responsibilities as the company expanded. Sherri says Holly brings a deep sense of care to operations. “Holly treats FranFund as if it’s her own money,” she says. “Shay brings the same commitment to lending and business development, and her role now includes funding with consultants, marketing and franchisor relations.”
For Sherri and Geoff, seeing Holly and Shay grow into executive leaders has been especially meaningful. “We’ve watched them grow up,” Sherri says. “We want them to do well. We’re their biggest cheerleaders.”
The family feeling extends to FranFund’s clients, too. “Helping someone fund a franchise means being part of a major life decision. Candidates are often investing their savings, changing careers or building a future for their families. FranFund’s job is to guide them with care, clarity and trust. We aim to be their trusted partner,” Geoff says.
Funding First-Time Entrepreneurs
For many aspiring entrepreneurs, securing funding is one of the biggest challenges of starting a business. According to the International Franchise Association’s new 2026 Value of Franchising report, 64% of franchisees are first-time business owners and 30% say they would not own a business without franchising. The report, conducted by Oxford Economics, highlights how franchising opens doors to entrepreneurship through established business models, training and ongoing support.
For first-time business owners who may be unfamiliar with financing options, understanding how to access capital can be an important first step. By offering multiple funding solutions under one roof, FranFund helps simplify the process and gives aspiring franchisees a clearer path to business ownership.
Learn more about FranFund.
