FranchiseU! Episode 85: Alicia Miller (Big Money in Franchising)

In this episode of FranchiseU!, Kathy sits down with Alicia Miller, author of Big Money in Franchising: Scaling Your Enterprise in the Era of Private Equity. The marriage of private equity and franchising may be a mystery to you, but one thing is certain. The influx of private equity capital in franchising has accelerated the growth of many franchisors and multi-unit franchisees. Make sure to listen as Miller provides valuable insights into private equity’s impact on the franchise model.

Alicia Miller is the Founder and Managing Director of Emergent Growth Advisors, a boutique strategic advisory firm at the intersection of franchising and private equity. She supports founders and franchise management teams facing growth, disruption, or transformation challenges and helps them accelerate their businesses. She advises private capital firms pre- and post-transaction on strategy and value creation initiatives and co-invests alongside her partners. As a former multi-unit franchisee, she brings a franchisee’s perspective and operating experience into every engagement.

Miller is a recognized thought leader in franchising. She is a monthly columnist for Franchise Times and has also been published in Entrepreneur Forbes. She has published more than 100 articles about franchising and private equity. Her book Big Money in Franchising: Scaling Your Enterprise in the Era of Private Equity is the first detailed examination of PE’s impact on franchise stakeholders. She is an independent director for Elevated Ventures Group, a private equity-backed multi-unit franchisee of Urban Air Adventure Parks. She also serves as an advisor to the International Franchise Association’s certification program (CFE), promoting franchising best practices and regulatory compliance.

Miller earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science (MS) from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Smith College. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Franchise Management from Georgetown University and a Graduate Certificate in Administration & Management from Harvard University. She is a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor™ (CM&AA), a Certified Franchise Executive™ (CFE), and is Directorship Certified™ by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD.CD).

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