Franchise Sidekick Overview

At Franchise Sidekick, we help people live life on their terms through business ownership—and we’ve helped place over 10,000 franchise locations along the way. We are a franchise advisory company on a mission to make the franchise buying process easier, smarter, and less risky. We combine decades of experience, smart technology, and a people-first approach to guide entrepreneurs toward franchise opportunities that truly fit their goals, lifestyle, and investment level. We’re a growth-stage company driven by purpose, grounded in values, and fueled by the belief that work should feel both meaningful and collaborative. Our team operates with trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to helping others succeed.

Role Overview

Job Title: Software Developer - Backend

Job Type: Full-Time W2 Employee

Reports To: VP of Technology

Location: Omaha, NE HQ (Hybrid: Office + Work From Home)

Compensation: $75,000 - $85,000 Base Salary Range + Up to a $15,300 Incentive Bonus

Your Impact On Team Sidekick

Step into the role of Software Developer and help build the technology that powers Franchise Sidekick’s mission: helping people live life on their terms through business ownership.

This is not just a ticket-taking role. This is a role for someone who wants to solve real business problems, build dependable systems, and contribute to software that directly supports our candidates, consultants, and internal teams.

You will work closely with the Software Architect and Technology team to design, build, improve, and maintain backend systems that keep Team Sidekick moving. Your work will support the tools, workflows, integrations, and data processes that help our team guide future franchise owners through a smarter and more confident buying journey.

You will be responsible for writing clean, reliable code, improving existing systems, supporting integrations, and helping turn business needs into thoughtful technical solutions. You’ll collaborate with team members across the company to understand problems, ask good questions, and build software that is practical, maintainable, and valuable.

Your mission is clear: build strong backend systems, improve the tools our team depends on, and help Franchise Sidekick scale with technology that is stable, thoughtful, and built to last.

Backend Development & Feature Delivery — 60%

Build and maintain backend features that support Franchise Sidekick’s internal tools, workflows, and user-facing systemsTranslate business needs into practical technical solutions with support from the Software Architect and Technology teamWrite clean, readable, and maintainable code that fits existing architecture and development standardsDevelop APIs, services, business logic, and backend processes that help Team Sidekick operate more efficientlyCollaborate with other team members to understand requirements, clarify edge cases, and deliver reliable softwareSupport feature development from planning through implementation, review, testing, and release

System Maintenance, Refactoring & Technical Quality — 20%

Improve existing systems by reducing complexity, cleaning up legacy code, and strengthening maintainabilityIdentify and resolve bugs, performance issues, and technical debt that affect team productivity or system reliabilityFollow established coding patterns and contribute to a consistent, organized codebaseHelp improve backend architecture over time by suggesting practical improvements and thoughtful refactorsMonitor the health of existing features and support fixes when issues arise

Integrations, Data Flow & Automation — 10%

Build and maintain integrations with third-party tools, internal systems, and external data sourcesSupport reliable movement of data between systems, including imports, exports, synchronization, and background processesHelp automate repetitive workflows to reduce manual work and improve operational efficiencyTroubleshoot integration issues and partner with the team to keep data accurate, timely, and useful

Technical Learning & Process Improvement — 10%

Continuously build knowledge of Franchise Sidekick’s systems, tools, architecture, and business modelStay curious about better ways to build, test, maintain, and support softwareContribute ideas that improve development workflows, team communication, and overall engineering qualityTake ownership of personal growth while helping create a stronger, more capable Technology team

A Day In The Life

No two days will look exactly the same—and that’s part of what makes this role meaningful.

One day, you might be building a new backend feature that helps Team Sidekick move faster or gives our internal teams better access to the information they need. The next day, you may be improving an existing workflow, cleaning up code, or troubleshooting an issue that is slowing down a process.

You’ll work closely with the Software Architect and Technology team to understand priorities, clarify requirements, and turn business needs into practical technical solutions. You may spend time designing APIs, writing backend logic, supporting data flows between systems, or improving the reliability and maintainability of existing tools.

Throughout the week, you’ll collaborate with team members across Franchise Sidekick to better understand how our technology supports the business. You’ll ask thoughtful questions, think through edge cases, and help make sure the systems we build are useful, stable, and built with care.

Whether you’re shipping a new feature, improving an integration, fixing a bug, or strengthening the foundation of our codebase, your work will directly support Team Sidekick’s ability to help more people explore business ownership with confidence.

This Role Might Be A Good Fit For You If You...

Have 2–5 years of software development experience, ideally with backendHave experience using AI coding assistants and agent-based development workflows to meaningfully increase development velocity, automate repetitive tasks, and improve software deliveryEnjoy building practical software that solves real business problems and supports internal teamsAre comfortable communicating with non-technical team members to understand needs, clarify requirements, and ask thoughtful questionsCan take business context and turn it into clean, useful technical solutionsAre adaptable and willing to learn new languages, frameworks, tools, and systems as the business evolvesAre interested in learning Ruby on Rails, even if you have not worked with it professionally beforeHave experience with Ruby on Rails, Python, Django, PostgreSQL, APIs, or backend development concepts — or are excited to grow in those areasCare about writing readable, maintainable code that fits within an existing codebaseAre comfortable working in a small team where priorities can shift and your work has visible impactEnjoy improving existing systems, not just building brand-new features from scratchThink through edge cases, ask good questions, and want to understand the “why” behind the workTake ownership of your work from clarification through implementation, review, testing, and releaseAre curious about how technology can make teams more efficient, reduce manual work, and help a growing company scale

What Success Looks Like In The First 90 Days

Build a strong understanding of Franchise Sidekick’s technology systems, codebase, development workflow, and business modelLearn how our internal tools support Team Sidekick’s day-to-day work and the franchise buying journeySuccessfully complete assigned development work with clear communication, thoughtful questions, and attention to detailContribute to backend feature development, system improvements, bug fixes, or integrations that create real value for the teamDemonstrate adaptability by learning new tools, frameworks, and processes as needed — including Ruby on Rails if it is new to youCommunicate effectively with the Software Architect, Technology team, and non-technical stakeholders to clarify needs and understand business contextEarn trust as a dependable member of a small Technology team by being curious, collaborative, and accountable

What's In It For You?

Paid Time Off- Every Sidekick starts with 16 days of PTO, two floating holidays, and a paid volunteer day annually. We also offer nine paid company holidays each year as well. Team Members earn additional PTO for each year of employment.Franchise Ownership Program- After you're established with Sidekick, we offer a Franchise Purchase Discount which allows you to own your own Franchise Business at a $30,000 to $50,000 savings. Some restrictions and minimum qualifications apply to the discount. Client Referral Commission- We encourage every member of Team Sidekick to utilize their network to find qualified candidates for franchise ownership. We pay $3,000 for every qualified lead you submit that ends up purchasing a franchise. Sidekick Benefits- Sidekick offers the following benefits:Full Medical Benefits with up to $750 monthly Employer Contribution (depending on plan type and level, subject to change based on renewals)Employer Paid Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance ($0 cost to employees with options for family coverage)Optional Health Savings Account, Supplemental Insurance, and Cybersecurity Coverage401k with 3% Employer Contribution (no match required)$1,500 Annual Best Self Stipend for professional and personal development

Working Conditions & Requirements

Franchise Sidekick utilizes a hybrid work structure with in-office and blended work Little to no travel is requiredMinimal physical requirements

Our Process & Next Steps

At Franchise Sidekick, we’re committed to building a team that reflects our values and supports our mission. We take our hiring process seriously—not just to find the most qualified candidates, but to ensure the right fit for both you and our team.

After you apply, our team will review your materials and reach out if your background aligns with the role. Our process typically includes an initial interview, followed by deeper conversations with team members. In some cases, we may ask you to complete a short exercise relevant to the role.

We’ll communicate clearly throughout the process and ensure you understand next steps at every stage.

Franchise Sidekick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, status as an individual with a disability, or any other protected status under applicable laws.