Tom Lawrence
Frannet of Greater Richmond
804-514-8409
Franchise (purchase and operation) and small business consultant
After 8 years of progressive responsibility, from teaching to managing juvenile institutions in the Youth Service Division of Virginia’s Department of Corrections, Tom Lawrence began his entrepreneurial career in 1975 with the purchase of Valpak of Virginia. Initially specializing in direct sales, in 1981, he became President and the sole owner of that business. Valpak of Virginia was repeatedly ranked in the top 5% of the over 200 Valpak franchises.
In 1987, Tom was elected President of the Valpak Dealers’ Association and served three terms in this position. In this role (held concurrently with his ownership of his own franchise), Tom represented, to the franchisor, the interest of all Valpak franchisees, heading policy-making and marketing committees and was the chief adjudicator of intra-franchise disputes.
In 1991, Tom sold the Valpak of Virginia franchise and was hired by Cox Enterprises, the corporate parent of Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, Inc. His new role involved the design and implementation of Valpak’s first Field Support program and involvement in the recruiting of potential franchisees.
In 1994, he was promoted to Vice President of Franchise Operations. In this position, he retained responsibility for field support, had increased involvement in franchisee recruiting and was given management responsibility for Valpak’s five franchisor-owned operations. Additionally, he assumed responsibility for designing training programs for new franchisees as well as planning, coordination and curriculum design for Valpak’s Coupon University, the sales meeting and training for over 1,100 Valpak sales representatives.
In 2003, Tom retired from Valpak in order to move to Richmond, Virginia and establish FranNet. FranNet’s goal is to help those who are considering franchise ownership go through a process that will let them make sound professional and lifestyle choices. FranNet does not sell franchises and there is no charge or obligation to its clients.
Tom graduated from Hampden-Sydney College with a degree in History and later earned a Master’s degree in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has three children; a daughter, 35, a son 33 and a daughter, 6.
