For franchise owners, bookkeeping can often feel like a time-consuming burden — one that distracts from the core goal of running and growing the business. BeanSquad is on a mission to change that with a tech-forward service-based model built specifically for the realities of franchising.

Technology That Works With You, Not Against You

“In today’s industry, technology is either going to lap you and replace you or you’re going to embrace it and kind of go along for the ride,” said Mike Greenblatt, partner and vice president of operations and strategic growth for BeanSquad. “Being a very technologically forward-facing firm, we utilize tech in a lot of different ways — from internal usages, from our tech partners like Keeper or Automate.”

That mindset has led to partnerships and tools that allow BeanSquad to provide high-quality, efficient bookkeeping while staying accessible to users of all tech comfort levels.

Tailored for Franchise Realities

One example is the firm’s recent collaboration with Automate, which brings KPI benchmarking and financial analytics straight to franchisees. “We’re now bringing to the table benchmarking and KPI, and analytics to all of our clients’ doorsteps,” Greenblatt said, “allowing them the benefits of all of the new technologies in the area and the space without having to do that research for themselves.”

At its core, BeanSquad is about making bookkeeping simpler and more effective for franchises that operate on tighter margins than traditional businesses. “The franchise industry requires effective accounting, right? It’s not the same as your general industry bookkeeping, where your average client can be $750 to $3,000 a month,” Greenblatt said. “For the franchise industry, it needs to be within, call it sub-$500 — at times, sub-$300 — and we have to utilize technology to be able to provide value-added services beyond just a commodity product.”

Efficiency Through Client Portals and Automation

That value shows up in tools like client portals that allow franchisees to upload receipts, respond to uncategorized transactions, and access real-time reports. “By going through our client portal, we simply say, ‘Give us some context. I went to Amazon, I spent $18, and I bought some snacks for the office.’ Great. I know how to book that — that’s meals,” Greenblatt said. “It’s creating as many efficiencies in the process as possible.”

Weekly automation helps franchisees stay engaged without getting overwhelmed. “Clients aren’t sitting there being the 17th of the month and saying, ‘Hey, what’s going on with my financials?’” Greenblatt said. “Keeping someone engaged through automation typically keeps a higher level of thought process with what’s going on in your financials.”

The Right Data at the Right Time

While real-time data sounds ideal, BeanSquad emphasizes value over volume when it comes to checking financials. “That monthly financial is oftentimes far more valuable than simply the week — or in that case, sometimes the day-of-the-week — look,” Greenblatt said. “Sometimes being too micro does not allow you to see the macro picture.”

Designed for All Levels of Tech Savviness

The company’s user interface is built for accessibility. “We made our software as simple as possible. It’s not asking you to jump through any hurdles, throwing so much information at you that you get overwhelmed and scared,” Greenblatt said. “There’s a high level of sophistication variance between my highest adopters and my lowest adopters. But the software is only as good as the least sophisticated clientele.”

That simplicity is backed by personalized support. “We have two levels of support on every client’s books. We have an accountant, and then we have a secondary team member called an OTAA specialist,” Greenblatt said. “This team is designed to answer those questions: How do I use the portal? How do I upload a statement? How do I create a proper credential?”

Seamless Integration and Smart Partnerships

The firm’s smart integrations with common franchise systems — like QuickBooks, Xero, and Restaurant365 — also reduce friction and boost performance. “We probe and we vet all of our partners to ensure that they play within the same ecosystem,” Greenblatt said. “I’m not going to bring in a software partner that has no connective tissue into it.”

A Time-Saving Solution That Delivers Results

For franchisees, the payoff is clear. Greenblatt shared a recent client story where a franchisee's corporate office was thrilled with their improved financials. “They were in a much better place than they were last year before using us,” he said.

The ultimate goal, Greenblatt said, is to strike the right balance between engagement and efficiency. “If I said to you, ‘All you have to spend is an hour and 10 minutes, and you’ll have high confidence about what’s going on,’ everyone’s going to say, ‘I’d be thrilled about that.’ Five minutes is too low. Six hours is way too high. So get an understanding. Find out where you need to be.”

With the right systems and support in place, BeanSquad empowers franchisees to take control of their financials without getting lost in them — freeing up time and energy to focus on what really matters: building the business.

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/beansquad.