Influential Woman · Franchise Education and Consulting
Catherine Uhlinger
Founder and CEO, Right Franchise Right Time (RFRT)
Valley Springs, CA 95252
Her Story
About Catherine
Catherine Uhlinger is a franchise education and business development professional based in Valley Springs, California, with a career spanning franchise operations, franchise sales, independent business ownership, and emerging brand development. She began her professional journey in the restaurant industry, working her way from frontline service roles into general management and district leadership, where she developed a strong foundation in operations, team leadership, and customer experience. Over time, her interest expanded toward helping franchise owners and entrepreneurs build sustainable, scalable businesses.
Throughout her career, she has worked across multiple well-known franchise systems and organizations, including roles in franchise development, sales, and regional growth initiatives. Her experience includes supporting franchisees, building franchise pipelines, and contributing to brand expansion strategies for companies such as Domino’s, El Pollo Loco, IHOP, Applebee’s, Zoom Room Dog Training, Port of Subs, and Dine Brands Global. These roles strengthened her expertise in franchise matchmaking, business model evaluation, and guiding candidates through ownership decisions.
Today, Catherine is the founder of Right Franchise Right Time and other education-focused platforms dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs make informed decisions about franchise ownership. Her current work centers on building franchise education ecosystems, community networks, and tools that connect candidates with clearer pathways to business ownership. Through her projects and thought leadership, she emphasizes preparation, transparency, and long-term success for individuals exploring entrepreneurship and franchise opportunities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Catherine
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the many leaders that I had in my career that influenced me, and to my parents and my dad, who is a great leader.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received is being a steady leader who believes in people, as people are what's going to make you successful.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering my industry to be courageous, authentic, and intentional in their career choices. I encourage them to take risks, trust their instincts, and pursue work they are truly passionate about rather than focusing solely on money or external approval. It is also important to stay true to your values, ignore negative noise, and remain confident in your ability to succeed, even in male-dominated environments. Continuous learning, building expertise, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth are key, as long-term success is rooted in integrity, compassion, and purposeful leadership in serving others.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in the franchise industry is franchisors not providing adequate support to franchisees who invest millions of dollars, especially in areas like HR and business planning.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Building trust, caring about people, faith in God, and doing the right thing are most important to me.
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