# A validated prototype in two weeks.

Validation of a platform to digitize and standardize franchise operations, with Centro Franchising.

Language: en

URL: https://skaterelephant.com/projects/francis

Francis

## Project facts

Client: Francis

Industry: Franchising

Country: United States

What we did: Discovery, design and development

Year: 2025

![Francis](https://skaterelephant.com/assets/f3e8ce39497a.jpg)

## Overview: Digitizing and Scaling Franchise Management

Francis is a SaaS platform that helps franchisors and franchisees digitize and standardize operations. Still in progress, it has already gained strong traction with 60+ brands on the waitlist and a validated prototype built in just two weeks.

## Challenge: Bringing Order and Traceability to Franchises

Franchise networks often rely on spreadsheets, emails, or oversized enterprise software that doesn’t fit their needs. The challenge was to create a lean, accessible platform that would allow franchisors to onboard their brands, define roles, upload manuals, manage contracts, and run audits—while ensuring franchisees have clarity and consistency in operations. The MVP had to balance usability, scalability, and the diverse needs of both franchisors and franchisees.

![Working meeting to coordinate business management](https://skaterelephant.com/assets/1e16894b98e4.jpg)

![Restaurant business owner](https://skaterelephant.com/assets/0a206952fc29.jpg)

## Solution: An MVP co-created with franchisors and franchisees

In just two weeks, using AI-assisted processes, we built an interactive prototype to validate critical workflows with potential users. Alongside the platform, we also developed the branding for Francis, including its logo and brandbook, to establish a strong identity from the start. The MVP is a responsive web app where franchisors can register their brand, set up organizational roles, upload manuals, and manage locations and contracts. To accelerate data-heavy tasks, we implemented AI-powered form autocompletion—for example, in the registration of new locations, where uploading a contract automatically pre-fills the form with all relevant information. Franchisees gain access to manuals, roles, and local audit results. The platform integrates audit templates, role-based access, and reporting features—providing visibility and standardization across the network.

![Francis sign-in screen on a laptop](https://skaterelephant.com/assets/43f82e13b14f.jpeg)

![Franchise management dashboard in Francis](https://skaterelephant.com/assets/b51a4569be12.jpeg)

![Mobile view of Francis tools](https://skaterelephant.com/assets/e3350dec655d.jpg)

## Outcomes: Early traction and validation in the market

At Expo Franquicias 2025, Francis captured the interest of over 60 brands that joined the waitlist—showing strong demand for a specialized solution. The rapid prototyping approach accelerated our learning curve, confirming key needs and shaping the MVP scope. While still under development, Francis is on track to deliver a functional MVP by December 2025, with clear success metrics in adoption, activation, and early intention to pay.

[Next case: Veristra](https://skaterelephant.com/projects/veristra)

[Let’s talk](https://skaterelephant.com/contact)

Whether you want to discover where to apply AI, build a solution for a specific process or add capacity to your team, tell us what you have in mind.

[hello@skaterelephant.com](mailto:hello@skaterelephant.com)

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/skaterelephant/posts/?feedView=all)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/skater.elephant/)

© 2026 All Rights Reserved