Global Franchise 10.3

S ince launching BooXkeeping over a decade ago, I’ve watched the franchise landscape evolve dramatically. Franchise brands are putting less on the owner’s plate than they used to, replacing the old “do- it-yourself ” mindset with outsourced, remote support that scales. The goal isn’t penny-pinching. It’s speed – getting franchisees to stable operations and profitability sooner. Franchise leaders and independent operators alike have realized that focusing on what you do best and letting experts handle the rest is the quickest way to profitability and sustainability. At BooXkeeping, our approach is actually very simple: concentrate on the 10% of activities that define your expertise and outsource the other 90%. For us, that means the core of our business is bookkeeping and franchising itself. Beyond that, marketing, public relations, sales training and operational support can be handled by professionals who are built to deliver those results. The impact there is clear: In 2025, we more than doubled our footprint. BooXkeeping expanded to 15 locations across nine states. By removing administrative friction, we empower franchise owners to focus on client growth. That fuels momentum across the network. It’s a trend being reinforced by broader industry forces. Over the past six years, small and mid- sized businesses, including franchises, have become increasingly comfortable with remote and outsourced services. COVID accelerated that transition. But it’s showing leaders that teams can be thousands of miles away and still do their jobs with efficiency and precision. Technology plays a critical role. At BooXkeeping, our proprietary system, BooXDesk, allows franchise owners to manage leads, track project progress and communicate with clients. All of this can be done from their smartphones without getting bogged down in administrative overhead. Such centralized, professional support frees franchisees up to focus on activities that actually generate revenue (rather than juggling every operational task independently). For franchise brands to stay competitive in 2026, it’s crucial to simplify operations. Overcomplicated workflows tend to create bottlenecks that limit growth. I encourage that each task be broken down so simply that anyone can understand it. I’ve learned to let others make decisions within our system. Delegating control and trusting trained teams does more than just remove friction. It also cultivates a culture of accountability and innovation.When franchise owners at the local level are freed from non-core responsibilities, they can reach positive cash flow more quickly and scale more efficiently. This allows operators to focus on delivering exceptional client services. Looking ahead, the brands that succeed will be the ones capable of embracing concepts like systemization, remote support and operational simplification. BooXkeeping’s growth in 2025 clearly demonstrates that a performance-first model, where franchisees can plug into proven systems rather than reinvent the wheel, creates momentum that’s actually sustainable. As more franchise leaders adopt such an approach, the “do-it-yourself ” mindset is going to increasingly become a thing of the past. For franchisees and franchisors alike, focusing on your core, trusting experts and leveraging technology isn’t just smarter. It’s essential for staying competitive in 2026. INSIDER HIGHLIGHTS 50 Zack Fishman on the art of the deal 54 Sam Ballas on the failings of iconic chains 56 Scott Greenburg honors frontline teams Why franchises are abandoning the do-it-yourself model in 2026 As systems scale and franchise owners demand quicker paths to profitability, franchisors are rethinking which functions truly need to remain in-house, says Max Emma , co-founder and CEO of BooXkeeping. “Over the past six years, small andmid-sized businesses, including franchises, have become increasingly comfortablewith outsourced services” 49 GLOBAL-FRANCHISE.COM Ins ight