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- The Corporate Exit Plan
How to Move From a Corporate Career to Franchise Ownership
The Corporate Exit Plan is a free readiness checklist that shows you how to prepare for franchise ownership while your paycheck is still coming in. 3 phases, 17 practical steps, and honest guidance built on 25+ years of business and franchise ownership experience.
Get instant access to the corporate exit readiness checklist developed with Todd Mayo’s 25+ years experience across business and franchise ownership.
“I wish I’d started earlier.” It’s something I hear all the time. If you’ve been thinking about making a change but keep putting it off, this checklist will help you figure out what’s holding you back and what to do next.
Todd Mayo · Founder, Franchise Made
Why an exit plan
Quitting Your Job Is the Last Step, Not the First
Most people assume the move from a corporate career to business ownership starts with a resignation letter. The strongest candidates do it the other way around.
They organize their finances, define the life they actually want, and confirm the fit while they’re still employed. By the time they hand in their notice, the decision isn’t a leap of faith. It’s the final step in a plan they’ve already built.
What's Inside the Corporate Exit Plan
17 checkbox steps across 3 distinctive phases. Every step comes with a short “How to do this” section, so you always know the practical next move.
1
Build Your Financial Foundation
Readiness starts with your numbers and the people closest to you, not with picking a brand.
- Get clear on your real monthly number, credit position and runway
- Set an investment range you can genuinely afford
- Bring your household on board before you commit
2
Define the Life, Then Study the Business
Pick the life first. Then evaluate every business by how well it supports that life.
- Put your lifestyle and financial goals in writing
- Learn the language of franchising and map your funding options
- Get expert eyes on your plan while staying solid at work
3
Prove the Franchise Fit Before You Leap
Research becomes evidence, so your resignation is a step in a plan instead of a gamble.
- Score every opportunity against your own criteria
- Stress test the numbers before you sign anything
- Leave your corporate role professionally and confidently
And if the honest answer is wait a year and strengthen a few boxes first, the checklist will show you exactly which ones.
A closer look
Three Phases of Franchise Ownership Readiness
Phase 1: Build Your Financial Foundation
Before you compare a single franchise, the checklist walks you through your true monthly number, your credit position, your investable capital, and the runway that keeps your household stable while a new business ramps up. It ends with the family conversation most people leave until it’s too late.
Phase 2: Design the Life the Business Has to Serve
This phase turns vague ambitions into written lifestyle and financial goals, an honest work style profile, and a working vocabulary for documents like the FDD. You’ll map your funding options and bring it all to a consultant, while staying solid in the job that funds the whole plan.
Phase 3: Verify Before You Resign
The final phase converts your goals into a ranked fit scorecard, stress tests the numbers against a real opportunity, and confirms your green lights. If boxes remain open, you leave with a precise to-do list instead of a vague feeling of not being ready. Then, and only then, you plan a professional exit.
Free · Instant download · PDF
Get the Corporate Exit Plan Checklist
Tell us where to send it and start working through the phases at your own pace. You’ll get:
- The full 17-step checklist as a printable PDF
- A "How to do this" guide under every single step
- No deadlines and no recommended timeframes, by design
The Corporate Exit Plan · Free PDF
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Written by someone who's done it
Advice From Todd Mayo Who Has Sat on Every Side of the Franchise Deal
Todd Mayo has spent 25 years in business ownership: five businesses, four of them in franchising, including a master franchise he built, scaled and exited. The Corporate Exit Plan is the preparation he wishes every candidate did before their first conversation.
People We've Helped Along the Way
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Corporate Exit Plan really free?
Absolutely. The checklist is a free PDF, and there is no obligation attached to downloading it. We ask for your name and email only so we can send it to you.
Do I need to be ready to buy a franchise to use it?
No, this specific checklist is designed for those who are still employed and deciding if this is the right move for themselves. Many people discover that their next step is to strengthen their savings or credit first, and our checklist treats this as progress, not failure.
Should I quit my job before starting the process?
No, the entire plan is designed to be worked through while you still have your current role. Resigning is the last step in the third phase, after your finances, goals, and fit are confirmed.
How long does it take to work through the three phases?
There are no deadlines or recommended timeframes. This is by design. Readiness is measured by the steps you’ve completed and the confidence you’ve built, not by a deadline.
What does it cost to work with a franchise consultant afterward?
There is no cost to you during this process. When you work with a franchise consultant, our process is much like what you’d expect from a real estate broker. We’re here to show you what’s available, help you understand your options, and guide you through the process.
The Best Time to Start is Now. Start Your Exit Plan Today
Download the checklist and take the first step today, or skip straight to a conversation. Either way, we’re here to support your journey to franchise ownership.