Following service in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, Francis earned a Master of Arts (MA) and doctorate (Ph.D) in economics, and lectured in the discipline from 1948 to 1951 at the University at Buffalo.
In 1956, Lloyd Francis and partner, lawyer Donald Sim, carrying on business as Lynhar Developments, acquired and laid out the Stinson Avenue area of Bells Corners in Nepean.
[2] The Lynwood Plaza at Bells Corners was built by Francis and Sim's Lynhar Developments and included what would become the landmark Robinson IGA.
[3] Moodie explains about the introduction of lot levies, now known as development charges, and how they contributed to the financial stability of Nepean Township.
It was the transfer of large sums of money in the form of lot levies, along with Francis and Teron's aggressive development activity that enabled much of Nepean's Parkwood Hills and Bells Corners neighbourhoods to be built.
In 1958, Francis became President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, a union representing civil servants in certain professions.