Michael Hulmes
Franchise Development & Recruitment Consultant
“I develop and grow your business through franchising”
Michael Hulmes is a highly experienced Franchise Recruitment & Development Consultant, specialising in franchise recruitment, business development, and financial planning. With a career spanning over 15 years in franchising, Michael has successfully supported businesses in scaling their operations through strategic franchise models.
Michael’s first taste of franchising came in 2003 when he held a management role at McDonald’s Restaurants before moving to Subway in 2007, joining Subway as a Senior Field Consultant for the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. In this role, he supported up to 30 franchisees to strengthen their business, successfully launching over 20 locations, training over 20 new franchisees and their staff, while also developing comprehensive training programmes to enhance franchisee success.
Michael was then persuaded to leave Subway for an exciting project in which he developed a coffee and food brand from conception, successfully opening two locations within six months of each other. This project included site planning, equipment ordering, full brand design, team recruitment and training, and the launch of an external catering business. In this role, he applied his franchise expertise to lead business growth strategies and improve operational efficiency.
From 2019 to 2021- Michael joined Bright and Beautiful, part of the Neighbourly Group, initially supporting franchisees before progressing to the role of Senior Franchise Business Coach. In this role, he coached franchisees nationwide, providing strategic guidance on sales, marketing, financial management, and team leadership. His efforts resulted in significant revenue growth across his portfolio, including the successful launch of multiple franchise locations.
Michael joined The Franchising Centre in 2023 as a Franchise Recruitment & Development Consultant at The Franchising Centre and in 2025 was made a partner. Known for his creativity and innovative thinking, Michael brings fresh ideas to franchise development and growth strategies. In this role, he has helped businesses throughout the UK expand their franchise networks. Michael has played a key role in developing franchise recruitment strategies, optimising onboarding processes, and guiding prospective franchisees through business planning and financial forecasting. His expertise extends to developing franchisee operations manuals, overseeing territory planning, and ensuring compliance with British Franchise Association (BFA) standards.
Michael’s exceptional ability to combine strategic planning with practical guidance has resulted in successful franchise launches, improved conversion rates, and enhanced franchisee profitability. His dedication to supporting businesses in achieving scalable, ethical franchise models makes him a sought-after expert in the franchising sector.