About Us
The Vision Behind Orca
I’m George Knauf, founder of Orca Franchising—a program built for one purpose: to take qualified franchise owners beyond single-unit success and into the world of multi-brand empires, private equity partnerships, and generational wealth creation.
After more than three decades in franchising—working every role from grill cook to franchisee to consultant—I saw a massive gap in the industry. Franchisees were building great businesses, but when it came time to scale or exit, they weren’t treated like the franchisors they helped grow. Franchisors were being acquired by private equity firms for multiples of 20X+, while franchisees were often exiting at only a fraction of that value.
Orca Franchising was created to change that.
What Is Orca Franchising?
Orca isn’t just a program. It’s a new category in franchising.
- For Franchise Owners: Orca is the path to go from running a single territory to managing a diversified portfolio with national reach.
- For Franchisors: Orca introduces power-players who can take systems to new heights with capital, expertise, and multi-market scale.
- For Private Equity: Orca curates elite, scalable portfolios designed for liquidity events that rival those of franchisors themselves.
The name Orca was chosen intentionally: the apex predator of the ocean. Orcas work in pods, bigger and smarter together. That’s exactly what this program is—collaborative, strategic, and built to dominate.
Why Orca Matters for the Franchise Industry
For years, the private equity playbook was simple: acquire franchisors. But over the last decade, investors realized the enormous potential of acquiring multi-unit, multi-brand franchise operators.
The problem? Most franchisees didn’t know how to structure themselves to attract this capital. They lacked the frameworks, relationships, and strategic coaching to command enterprise-level valuations.
That’s why Orca exists. We give franchisees the playbook franchisors have been using for years—from brand selection to portfolio diversification to PE deal prep. We turn franchise operators into investor-ready empire builders.
My Background – Why I Built Orca
I’ve spent over 30 years in franchising, watching the industry evolve:
- From back kitchens and customer service counters…
- To franchise ownership and multi-unit operations…
- To consulting with candidates across industries…
- To keynoting the IFA World Franchise Show, the only franchise consultant invited to speak on the world stage.
Along the way, I developed Knauf’s Hierarchy of Franchising, a framework that maps the journey from job replacement to empire ownership. Orca is the ultimate level of that hierarchy—the apex.
I built Orca because franchisees deserve more. More opportunity. More equity. More leverage. More respect.
Who Orca Is For
Orca isn’t for everyone—it’s for the serious builders:
- Multi-unit owners who are ready to scale further.
- Corporate leaders who want to transition into ownership at a high level.
- Investors looking for structured entry into franchising.
- Legacy-minded entrepreneurs building something bigger than themselves.
If you’re content running a single unit, Orca isn’t your program. But if you’ve ever thought about building a portfolio that could sell for private equity-level multiples, Orca was built for you.
The Future of Franchising Is Here
Franchising is entering a new era. AI, technology, and capital markets are changing the rules at lightning speed. Those who move first, who align with the right systems and strategies, will define the next generation of wealth-building in this industry.
Orca Franchising is more than a program—it’s a movement. A chance to stop playing small, stop being limited by territory borders, and start thinking like the apex player you were meant to be.
Bigger. Smarter. Together.
That’s the Orca promise.
I created this program so that no franchisee would ever again have to exit small while watching franchisors and investors walk away with the lion’s share of value. Orca is how we level the playing field. Orca is how we build empires. Orca is how we change the industry forever.
If you’re ready to step into the apex position, welcome to Orca.
Orca Goals
Core Goals of Orca Franchising
1. Transform Franchisees Into Empire Builders
Most franchise owners stop at replacing their job with a business. Orca’s first goal is to shift the mindset from small business operator to portfolio builder. That means helping owners structure themselves to scale across multiple units, multiple brands, and multiple markets.
2. Bridge Franchisees to Private Equity
Historically, only franchisors commanded high exit multiples from private equity. Orca flips that script by giving franchise owners the tools, frameworks, and connections to attract investor interest and command valuations that rival franchisors.
3. Curate Elite Franchise Opportunities
Orca identifies and pre-vets franchise brands with strong growth potential, national account opportunities, and private equity interest. The goal is to eliminate the noise and give candidates a curated path toward scalable, investor-attractive businesses.
4. Provide Strategic Coaching & Frameworks
Scaling isn’t just about buying more units—it’s about systems, leadership, and structure. Orca provides the coaching and playbooks (like Knauf’s Hierarchy of Franchising) to guide franchisees from their first unit all the way to an exit-ready portfolio.
5. Build Collaborative “Pods” of Owners
Like the orca whales the program is named after, success comes from working bigger and smarter together. Orca builds networks of franchisees, franchisors, and investors who collaborate, share insights, and grow stronger as a group rather than in isolation.
Orca Franchisee goals
Core Goals for Franchisees in the Orca Program
1. Build a Scalable Portfolio, Not Just a Job
Move beyond single-unit thinking. Your goal is to create a multi-unit, multi-brand portfolio that generates both cash flow and enterprise-level value.
2. Position Yourself for Private Equity Attraction
Structure your business in a way that makes institutional investors take notice. That means professionalized operations, strong financial reporting, and leadership depth that proves you’re exit-ready.
3. Leverage Curated, PE-Backed Brands
Choose franchise opportunities that are not just profitable today, but also highly attractive to future buyers. Orca’s curation helps you avoid fads and focus on proven systems.
4. Develop Leadership Beyond Operations
Your role is no longer just “operator.” Your goal is to become a CEO of your portfolio—building teams, processes, and accountability structures so the business runs without you in the weeds.
5. Maximize Enterprise Value Creation
Think like an investor, not just an owner. Every decision—from brand selection to territory strategy—should increase your portfolio’s valuation multiple, not just short-term profits.
6. Collaborate With Fellow Orca Builders
Franchisees in Orca are part of a pod—a group of elite operators and investors. Your goal is to share knowledge, leverage group buying power, and grow smarter together.
7. Expand Your Wealth & Legacy Horizons
Ultimately, the goal is freedom and legacy: creating generational wealth, time flexibility, and the ability to scale your impact beyond your own backyard. Orca gives you the tools to make that happen.