( ENSPIRE Business ) Founders Kika Wise, Daren Hawthorne, and Jae Sims Empower Entrepreneurs
Kika Wise, Daren Hawthorne, and Jae Sims, the founders of Black Box Franchising, are on a mission to reshape the landscape of Black business ownership. These three visionaries, brought together by a shared passion at last year’s Invest Fest, tackle the systemic challenges that often lead to the closure of Black-owned businesses. They understand survival isn’t enough; true sustainability requires scaling, branding, and a strong support network. Black Box Franchising offers a solution: a platform that transforms small business owners into successful franchisors.
By equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge and resources to franchise their businesses, they’re not just creating individual success stories but building a powerful collective legacy of Black business ownership for generations to come. This article explores the journey of Black Box Franchising and how its founders are making a tangible impact on the future of Black entrepreneurship.
Wise is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Kika Stretch Studios, the first boutique stretching studio. She creates innovative strategies for small business owners and combines wellness and business in Black Box Franchising, transforming the franchising landscape. Hawthorne is the president of Black Box Franchising and a leader in franchising, corporate law, and business strategy. He previously led the Franchising Division at Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurants. An Emmy-nominated speaker, he has been featured on “Hulu” and “Amazon Prime,” earned the Chancellor’s Leadership Award, and participates in various Boards of Directors that foster community growth and development.
Sims has been the Chief Operating Officer for over six years and owns an award-winning F45 Training franchise. He has expertise as a franchise consultant who, through his insights, has played a key role in bringing sustainable growth to numerous franchises, especially during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Black Box Franchising offers Franchise Development, an end-to-end franchise development service that helps create your operations manual and legal documentation, making it more accessible for small businesses. With affordable solutions, services at a fraction of traditional costs, and personalized support, Black Box Franchising provides tools and knowledge through effective scaling and brand creation. Black Box Franchising offers a franchise course where they show insights and tools to help create a scalable business model by learning how to systematize and streamline your operations.
Founders Wise, Hawthorne, and Sims share their process in creating Black Box Franchising and the unique challenges Black entrepreneurs face in this industry. They delve into the key lessons they learned to build a successful franchise system and the hurdles small businesses face. Including speaking on how the Black Box support system and operations manual development address business challenges. Lastly, they explain the education modules, future projects, and initiatives they have at Black Box Franchising.
What was your process when you three collectively created Black Box Franchising, and what struggles and successes did you face to create the platform you have today?
Black Box Franchising was built out of necessity. We saw an overwhelming gap in the market—Black entrepreneurs were creating incredible businesses, yet very few were scaling beyond a single location. Traditional franchise development was costly, complex, and designed to exclude those who didn’t already have access to wealth. We knew there had to be a better way to democratize franchising and provide Black business owners with the tools, knowledge, and systems to scale successfully.
The struggles were real. Access to capital, awareness, and trust were major challenges. Many Black entrepreneurs either didn’t know franchising was an option or had been misled to believe it was only for billion-dollar corporations. Additionally, we had to fight against the predatory nature of traditional franchise development firms, which often overcharged small business owners and left them with incomplete systems.
However, the successes outweighed the struggles. We built a community-driven, results-oriented platform that simplifies the franchising process, making it accessible and achievable for any small business owner. Seeing brands like Wrinkle Free Delivery transition into a franchise model proves our system works. The real win is watching our clients gain the freedom and generational wealth they deserve.
What unique challenges do Black entrepreneurs face in this arena that Black Box Franchising directly addresses?
The statistics tell the story—out of 33 million small businesses in the U.S., fewer than 4,000 are franchise brands, and less than 1% are Black-owned. The odds have been intentionally stacked against us.
Black entrepreneurs often face the following:
- Lack of generational wealth and capital access—Traditional franchise development requires $50K-$100K upfront, a barrier that prevents many Black-owned businesses from even considering the opportunity.
- Limited exposure to franchising as a growth strategy—This knowledge isn’t being taught in schools, incubators, or even traditional business programs.
- Predatory consulting firms – Many developers take advantage of first-time franchisors, selling expensive, ineffective plans that leave business owners stuck.
Black Box Franchising directly tackles these barriers by offering lower-cost, high-value franchise development options, payment plans, and a community-based support system that provides real mentorship beyond the transactional process.
What key lessons did you learn about building a successful franchise system, and how are you applying those insights to ensure that Black Box Franchising provides truly effective and scalable solutions for its clients, particularly given the current economic climate?
One of the biggest lessons we learned is that franchising is NOT just about duplicating a business—it’s about duplicating a proven system. No franchise will succeed without clear processes, marketing strategies, and operational consistency.
Another key takeaway is the importance of unit economics. Many business owners assume their existing revenue model will work for franchisees, but that’s rarely true. We guide our clients through financial modeling to ensure their franchisees can operate profitably and sustainably.
Given the current economic climate, businesses need scalable, recession-proof models. We help businesses design lean, efficient franchise systems that can thrive regardless of market conditions by implementing the following:
- Cost-efficient franchise models that don’t require high overhead.
- Marketing systems that generate franchise leads without massive ad spend.
- Technology-driven solutions to improve franchisee training and operations.
Our focus is on getting businesses franchised and ensuring they thrive in any economic condition.
Beyond the legal and financial aspects, what are the most common operational hurdles you see small business owners facing when trying to scale, and how does Black Box Franchising’s comprehensive support system, including the operations manual development, address these challenges?
The most common operational hurdles include:
- Inconsistent customer experience – Many small business owners operate based on “what works for them” instead of a standardized system that anyone can follow.
- Lack of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) – Employees rely on tribal knowledge instead of documented processes.
- Failure to properly train and support franchisees—Many businesses think their model will “just work” without proper onboarding, training, and support.
- No marketing system for franchisees – Franchisees need a lead generation strategy from day one.
Black Box Franchising provides comprehensive franchise operations manuals that eliminate guesswork, standardize processes, and create seamless training programs for franchisees. We also implement marketing automation, franchisee support structures, and operational workflows that make scaling manageable and not overwhelming.
The Black Box Franchising course offers educational modules and personalized guidance. What makes this approach unique, and how does it foster a sense of community and shared learning?
Unlike traditional franchise consulting firms that offer one-size-fits-all solutions, our 10-step franchise development course is built to be hands-on, interactive, and community-driven.
What makes our approach unique:
- Step-by-step guidance – We walk business owners through every stage, from legal setup to franchise sales.
- Access to a private community of franchisors—Business owners aren’t alone—they learn from others who have gone through the process.
- Live support and coaching—This is not just a course; it’s a mentorship program with direct access to experts.
- Done-with-you model: Instead of dumping a manual on them, we help them implement their franchise system alongside them.
Our goal is to bridge the gap between education and execution so that every entrepreneur walks away with a scalable, profitable franchise model.
Are there any future projects and initiatives that Black Box Franchising is doing to broaden economic empowerment within the Black business community?
Yes, we are currently expanding several initiatives to create even more pathways to wealth for Black entrepreneurs.
The Black Franchise Accelerator – A six-month intensive for high-potential brands to fast-track their franchise growth.
Strategic partnerships with corporate sponsors – We work with financial institutions and venture groups to create better funding options for first-time franchisors.
National Franchise Tour – We plan to host educational franchise pop-ups in major cities to expose more Black entrepreneurs to the power of franchising.
Black Box Franchising is more than just a development firm—it’s a movement to change the face of wealth-building through franchise ownership. We are committed to ensuring that Black entrepreneurs are no longer left behind in the franchising world.
Our mission is simple: help more Black-owned businesses scale, create generational wealth, and build legacies that outlive them.
If you’re a business owner looking to take the next step, this is your time.
Black Box Franchising is creating a clear path to successful franchising. From crafting operations manuals and handling legal documentation to providing expert guidance and affordable solutions, they are committed to supporting entrepreneurs every step of the way. Wise, Hawthorne, and Sims are not just offering a service; they’re building a movement fostering a community where knowledge is shared, and success is just a consultation away. To learn more about how Black Box Franchising can help you build your business legacy, schedule an appointment at https://intro.blackboxfranchising.com/appointment or sign up for their franchise course at https://intro.blackboxfranchising.com/.
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