Michael H. Seid is the founder and Managing Director of Michael H. Seid & Associates, LLC, (MSA) a domestic and international franchise advisory firm. He has over 25 years experience as a Senior Operations and Financial Executive or Consultant for companies within the franchise, retail, restaurant, hospitality and service industries as well as having been a franchisee.

Michael consults with companies on the appropriateness of franchising, both domestic and international, as a method to obtain their long-term expansion goals and in the design and development of their franchise systems. He assists established franchisors, multi-unit companies and multi-branded companies in tactical planning, headquarters and field support systems, manuals and training programs, marketing and expansion strategies, franchise relations, crisis management, expert witness, litigation support, mergers and acquisitions and the strategic restructuring of franchise systems. He serves as the back-up servicer for transactions related to royalty securitization for franchisors.

Michael was a senior officer for Supercuts, an international franchisor of hair care salons and was also a franchisee of the system. He was a Senior Vice President of Seligman and Latz and was Secretary Treasurer/Chief Operating Officer for Phillips Son & Neale (US), an international Fine Art Auction and Appraisal Company. Michael was a principal advisor to the Franchise Group of the New York investment-banking firm, Kidder, Peabody & Company. Michael is also a non practicing Certified Public Accountant.

Michael is a frequent speaker at programs for the International Franchise Association, universities, law schools, retail and professional organizations. He has written numerous articles on franchising, is a frequent speaker and is often quoted and interviewed in the print and electronic media. Together with the late Dave Thomas, Founder of Wendy’s International, Michael is the co-author of Franchising for Dummies, published by Wiley Publishing, now in its 2nd edition.

Michael H. Seid & Associates is a member of the International Franchise Association’s Supplier Forum and Michael serves on the Supplier Forum’s Board of Directors as a Past Chairman. As Supplier Forum Chairman he served on the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Association and was also the first professional service provider to serve on the International Franchise Association’s Executive Committee. He was elected and presently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Association, the first and only time a professional services provider has ever been directly elected to the IFA’s board in the association’s history.

Michael is a trustee of the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation and FranPac, the IFA’s Political Action committee. He is also a member of several additional IFA and SF committees and task forces. He has completed the requirements and has been awarded the designation of CFE (Certified Franchise Executive) by the International Franchise Association, is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs and an associate member of the American Bar Association.

Professional Affiliations

  • International Franchise Association
  • Supplier Forum of the International Franchise Association
  • International Franchise Association Educational Foundation
  • American Institute of CPAs
  • New York State Society of CPAs
  • American Bar Association
  • American Academy of Certified Consultants and Experts
  • American College of Forensic Examiners
  • Georgia Restaurant Association