Franchise Finance

For more than 20 years, Wintrust Franchise Finance has been dedicated to serving the distinctive needs of franchise owners who face a number of unique challenges: concentrated competition, changing consumer tastes, rising costs, and continuous capital reinvestment. We know that a smooth process and certainty to close are paramount in the franchise space; that’s why, with an expert team with more than 100 years of combined industry experience and a national reach supporting more than 35 brands, we are proud to put dedicated guidance, integrated solutions, and decades of experience to work for you.

Product Offerings

Representative Transactions

Representative transaction with IHOP for $52 million

Representative transaction with Dunkin' for $28 million

Representative transaction with El Pollo Loco for $12 million

“Your constant communication relieved me and assured me, so I could focus on our business as consumers went into lockdown mode. These PPP funds gave me the confidence to invest in our people, advertising, and the things we need to move toward full operations.”

-Cook Family, People First Foods, Inc.

Meet the Team

Sandra McCraren

Senior Managing Director

Thomas Benkoske

Vice President

Evan Bossard

Executive Vice President

Paul Cantieri

Managing Director

Todd Cortell

Managing Direector

Clayton Daniels

Underwriter

Melissa Daniels

Closing Specialist

Allan Hauptli

Senior Vice President – Capital Markets, Franchise