Franchise payments network (FPN)--keeping that entrepreneur spirit alive.

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FPN is the ONLY payment processor that focuses entirely on the franchise industry. Working with more than 140 franchise systems nationwide, we bring franchisors the flexibility to customize a payments and loyalty solution that best suits the needs of their franchisees, as well as FPN's Capital on Demand program to help franchisees gain access to short-term capital to fund Epstein upgrades or add new locations.

But do you know how it all began?

Our executives worked for 10 years at the world's largest credit card processor. Tom Epstein was vice president of national sales heading up the referral partner channel prior to founding FPN in 2005. Tom Harrington was in charge of driving gift card acceptance for midlevel and small merchants in the portfolio. Epstein was introduced to franchising early as a "feet on the street" sales rep with some success in signing up a few regional chains. Then while working on major association relationships, he tripped over the International Franchise Association by exhibiting at one of its shows.

"I found the strong relationships with the members of the IFA staff and IFA members to be such a refreshing environment-everyone just seems to want to help each other succeed," said Epstein. With this new relationship model in mind, Epstein formed a franchise specific sales team at his then organization and very quickly tapped Harrington to join to add value by implementing a Franchise Gift card program for their clients. Harrington was recently instrumental in creating FPN's Loyalty All in One program that completely changes the dynamics of a traditional loyalty program of one that waits for customers to come in to reward them to one that by using outbound messaging via text messages, email, post card and social media posts (Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare) and drives those loyalty customers not only back, but to spend more when they get there.

"We were extremely successful in acquiring new franchise relationships under this team and did so for about five years. However, working for a very large bureaucratic organization was a bit difficult. Every time we had a great team in place it seemed like we were moved to another division or cost center and we would have to go out and not only teach the new leadership what franchising is all about, but reacquire internal resources for marketing dollars, internal service, program manager, customer service and so on. After doing this three times in those five years, I decided it was time to go out and build this program one time on our own and do it right."

FPN is a relationship business and service organization that we have complete control over that just happens to be in the Payments and Loyalty sector. We are business owners, just like the franchisors and franchisees we serve. We understand franchising as this is all we do. We have built every system, every service item, and every product from the ground up with the focus on how this will ultimately benefit a franchisor or a franchisee. "I am very passionate about the quality of service we give our clients. Prior to entering the payments industry, I was in retail, managing about 200 shoe stores as a regional manager. Service is king in retail and it is something that until now seemed to be lacking from payment providers. I constantly challenge our team to put themselves in your shoes (no pun intended) as a business owner and take care of our clients."

Today FPN is headquartered in Orlando, Fla. (just moved into our new larger facility), with satellite and agent offices throughout the United States. In seven short years, we have grown our client base to over 140 franchise systems with thousands of locations served.

Epstein is extremely involved in the IFA and franchising in general serving on the Supplier Forum Board, the Technology Committee, has completed his CFE, Max Donor for FRANPAC, works with VetFran (recently launching FPN's Processing for Patriots program), host of the Central Florida FBN, as well as sponsor of many industry events throughout the year.

If you need help with any of the following for your single location, multi-units or franchise system, you should call Tom Epstein or Tom Harrington now:

* Automated Royalty Transactions

* ATM Placements

* Capital on Demand

* Check Services

* Credit and Debit

* Gift and Loyalty

* Mobile Processing: Phone apps for all phones/ tablets including iPhones/iPads

* Phone apps for all operating systems

* Security Testing for PCI Compliance

* Text Marketing

Don't Just Get Card Processing ... Get FPN!

Tom Epstein @ 866-420-4613, Ext. 1103 or tomepstein@ franchisepayments.net

Tom Harrington @888-420-4813, Ext. 1106 or tomharrington@ franchisepayments.net

www.franchisepayments.net