FranSource - Experienced Franchise Consultants & Franchise Attorneys

At FranSource, we are committed to providing the highest levels of franchise development assistance and support with honesty and integrity. Since 1997, our experienced franchise consultants and franchise attorneys have assisted companies across the U.S. in developing and operating successful franchise companies. If you are considering franchising your business, we invite you to contact us to schedule a free consultation. In addition to sharing information about our franchise development process and services, our franchise consultants and franchise attorneys can assist you in determining if franchising is the best method of expansion for your business.

Stephen Vandegrift - Co-Founder and President 

Mr. Vandegrift has more than 35 years’ experience in franchising. Having operated businesses early in his career as both a franchisor and franchisee, the advice and guidance he provides clients comes from practical real-world experience. For startup franchisors, Mr. Vandegrift’s comprehensive understanding of the franchise relationship ensures that every aspect of the franchise operation is properly established. Working in conjunction with our senior franchise attorneys and consultants, he is personally involved in the development of every client’s franchise operation. Mr. Vandegrift also advises existing franchisors, providing advice and guidance that helps them achieve higher levels of success. In this capacity, he has been responsible for generating millions of dollars in franchise fees, royalties and product sales for our clients.

Robert Scofield - Senior Advisor, Restaurant/Retail Operations & Training

Mr. Scofield is a veteran of the restaurant industry with over 40 years of hands-on experience in all phases of restaurant development and operations. In addition to personally developing over 15 restaurant concepts, he has advised and worked with many national chains, including General Mills, Marriott Corporation, TGI Fridays and Specialty Restaurant Corp. His expertise includes an emphasis on profit building and cost controls through the use of proven technology systems, systematized processes, and robust training programs. Mr. Scofield’s extensive experience regarding every aspect of restaurant and retail operations enables him to fully analyze our clients’ existing operations and provide valuable insights and suggestions that improve operational efficiencies in preparation for expansion.

Joseph McClellan - Senior Consultant – Business Development

Mr. McClellan has played an integral role in franchising for more than 40 years. A former speaker for the IFA annual convention, Mr. McClellan is well known for his franchise sales seminars and training programs for franchisors and franchisees. His techniques in the art and science of franchise qualification and sales are used by many national franchise companies. Mr. McClellan has been instrumental in developing successful franchises in the restaurant, communication, entertainment, real estate, weight loss and residential service industries. Mr. McClellan’s extensive franchise knowledge and experience benefits all aspects of our clients’ franchise operations.

John Landolfi - Senior Consultant – Franchise Sales & Operations

Mr. Landolfi has more than 30 years of experience in consulting and management, with an extensive background in franchise sales and operations. For more than 18 years, Mr. Landolfi supported both the franchisor and franchisee sides of franchise operations through his role with Coverall Cleaning Concepts. In addition, based on his numerous awards and honors for establishing successful regional offices, Mr. Landolfi was the first Coverall employee to be awarded the opportunity to become a master franchisee. In this role, he was instrumental in creating hundreds of successful franchise owners through his innovative training programs, enhanced customer service techniques and development of new opportunities for franchisees.

Scott Vandegrift - Senior Consultant – Retail/eCommerce

Mr. Vandegrift is a veteran of the retail and e-commerce industries with over 25 years’ experience in operations, customer service, project management, training and development, quality management, knowledge management and strategic development. As Senior Product Manager for an international retail clothing franchise, his responsibilities included developing solid technology and process road maps for various domains including customer service, operations, fulfillment, order management, payment processing and gift card solutions. Mr. Vandegrift utilizes project management best practices to build business cases around technology capital investments and is fluent in Agile project methodology. Mr. Vandegrift received his Bachelors in Business Management from Cedarville University and his MBA in Business Management and Change Leadership from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Mike Drumm - Franchise Attorney

Mike Drumm is an experienced franchise attorney who currently represents more than 100 franchise companies. Mike is the founder of Drumm Law, an award winning franchise law firm. Before founding Drumm Law, Mike wore a suit and tie every day and worked at a large national law firm. He is most proud of being a father of three and of hearing “you don’t remind me of an attorney” when he meets people. Mike is continually recognized as a Franchise Times magazine Legal Eagle, an 1851 Franchise Legal Player and is a designated Certified Franchise Executive by the International Franchise Association. He has also received commendations from Super Lawyers.

Keith Kanouse - Franchise Attorney

Mr. Kanouse is an experienced franchise attorney having specialized in the areas of franchise, business opportunity and distribution law for over 40 years. Mr. Kanouse received his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Management from Bradley University, magna cum laude and his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School, magna cum laude. Mr. Kanouse is Of Counsel in the Franchise Practice Group with the law firm Malloy & Malloy P.L. and a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers, as well as founding Chair of the AAFD’s Fair Franchising Standards Committee. He is also a founding member and a Past Chair of the Franchise Law Committee of The Florida Bar. Taking his experience as one of the leading franchise attorneys in the U.S. and his many years of providing franchise legal services, Mr. Kanouse has authored three books: Understanding a Franchise Offering Circular & Negotiating a Franchise Agreement; Negotiating a Business Lease; and Selecting the Best Entity to Own and Operate Your Business; and co-authored two others: Franchise Law and Practice; and Franchising 101.

Trent Rinebarger – Intellectual Property Attorney (Drumm Law)

Mr. Rinebarger focuses his practice on intellectual property, working with clients to protect their valuable brands, including trademark registration, opposition and cancellation actions, enforcement, negotiation, licensing, and litigation. He enjoys helping his clients achieve their aims and resolve their problems so they can focus on their business. Trent is a recovering litigator, having spent his first decade in private practice advising employers and insurers and defending liability claims in state courts and administrative agencies. He also served as a briefing attorney with the Tenth Court of Appeals in Texas. Trent is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. He has both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Baylor University.

Sharon L. Toerek - Intellectual Property Attorney

Ms. Toerek, principal of Toerek Law, focuses her legal practice on intellectual property law and advises our clients regarding trademark and copyright registrations, protection of trade secrets, and other intellectual property issues. Ms. Toerek’s experience in the areas of brand protection and trademarks extends to our clients in the retail, e-commerce, advertising, marketing, creative services, manufacturing and service industries throughout the United States and abroad. Ms. Toerek has chaired the Intellectual Property Section of the Cleveland Bar Association and has conducted numerous presentations on intellectual property law topics before the Cleveland Bar Association, American Advertising Federation (AAF) Cleveland, the Independent Practitioner’s Group, the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Akron, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Cleveland, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Council of Small Enterprises (COSE).

If you believe franchising may be the right method of expansion for your business, we encourage to complete our 15 Key Questions Franchise Quiz as an initial indicator as to whether your business is ready to franchise. Your responses to the quiz will also help us mutually determine if franchising is the best method of expansion for your business.