Banking/Financing

Company Snapshot

• Year Founded: 2003
• Headquarters Location: Boise, Idaho (with significant presence in Bellevue, Washington)
• Ownership: Private
• Key Executives: Jeremy Ames (CEO and Co-Founder); Katie Burckhardt (Business Growth Officer)
• Number of Locations: Approx. 200 employees; has helped launch over 25,000 businesses
• Public Contact: Phone: 425-289-3200; Email: info@guidantfinancial.com

Company Overview

Guidant Financial specializes in small business and franchise funding, providing tailored financing solutions such as 401(k) business financing (ROBS), SBA loans, and unsecured loans to both new and established entrepreneurs. The company’s mission centers on empowering business owners with transparent, education-based guidance, having supported more than 25,000 business launches—including thousands of franchisees—across the U.S.

Services Offered

• 401(k)/IRA Business Financing (ROBS), enabling use of retirement funds without penalties or tax consequences.
• SBA 7(a) and other small business loans, providing up to \$5 million in capital.
• Unsecured and portfolio loans, including fast funding and credit lines secured by securities.
• Equipment leasing, as well as support for franchisee resales and transfers through their Seller Suite toolkit.

Value Proposition

• Industry Specialization: Focuses on franchises of all types, with strong relationships across both established and emerging franchise brands.
• Key Benefits:
  • Enables franchisees to access capital efficiently, often with debt-free retirement rollovers or rapid unsecured funding.
  • Offers end-to-end support and expertise, including dedicated account managers, weekly status updates, and co-branded collateral for franchisors.
  • Provides additional value through services such as integrated payroll, HR support, and resale support for existing franchisees.
• Franchise Expertise: Guidant is recognized as a leading franchise funding supplier, consistently ranked by Entrepreneur and other industry authorities. They have facilitated the launch and growth of thousands of franchise units and maintain a resource library of franchise-specific guides, whitepapers, and case studies for their clients and partners.