BooXkeeping

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-ruiz/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-tax-pro-and-her-air-force-veteran-husband-became-franchisees-with-booxkeeping-2727512" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bianca Ruiz</a> transitioned into franchising after a successful career working at an accounting firm and later running her own tax practice. Together with her husband, Chris Cruz, she decided to explore franchising as a way to expand their entrepreneurial efforts. As a retired airman, Cruz is involved in a program that helps veterans buy franchises, which is how the pair came across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.booxkeepingfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-tax-pro-and-her-air-force-veteran-husband-became-franchisees-with-booxkeeping-2727512" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">BooXkeeping</a>. It was the bookkeeping franchise’s small, transparent and family-oriented culture that attracted them and brought them face-to-face with the brand’s founder and CEO,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxemma/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-tax-pro-and-her-air-force-veteran-husband-became-franchisees-with-booxkeeping-2727512" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Max Emma</a>.&nbsp;Although they are just beginning their journey, with plans to open in January of 2025 in Contra Costa County, California, Ruiz is eager to grow the business while balancing her role as a full-time mom, driven by a desire to create a legacy for their children.Ruiz took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what she had to say.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Bianca Ruiz:&nbsp;Prior to entering the world of franchising, my career was rooted in tax services. I spent six years at Ernst &amp; Young, after which I launched my own tax practice in January 2021. My husband Chris and I had always envisioned expanding our entrepreneurial efforts, and franchising presented a natural progression that aligned with my professional background. Chris, an Air Force veteran, was introduced to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/booxkeeping/info">BooXkeeping</a> through&nbsp;<a href="https://vetrepreneur.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-tax-pro-and-her-air-force-veteran-husband-became-franchisees-with-booxkeeping-2727512" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vetreprenuer</a>, a program that helps veterans become franchisees. Together, we saw this as an exciting opportunity to combine our skill sets and entrepreneurial drive.&nbsp;1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Ruiz:&nbsp;Although we’re at the very beginning of our journey, we’ve already come to appreciate the structure franchising offers. For individuals new to an industry, a franchise provides a roadmap for success, eliminating much of the trial and error that can come with starting a business independently. Over the past few years, we explored several franchise opportunities but felt that BooXkeeping offered the best fit for us, both in terms of values and growth potential.1851: What made you choose this brand? What excites you most about this company?Ruiz:&nbsp;We were particularly drawn to the people behind the brand. Conversations with the founder, Max Emma, impressed us with their transparency and genuine passion for the business. The smaller size of BooXkeeping appealed to us as well, as it fosters a close-knit, family-oriented culture where franchisees have direct access to leadership. This level of personal attention is something we didn’t encounter with larger, more established franchises, and it was a key factor in our decision.1851: What’s your big goal for your first year?Ruiz:&nbsp;Our primary goal for the first year is to scale the business while maintaining efficiency and delivering high-quality service. We aim to build a strong client base, retain those clients and ensure their satisfaction as we immerse ourselves in the world of bookkeeping. While I have an extensive background in tax services, this represents an exciting new chapter for me and I’m eager to expand my expertise.1851: What’s the one thing about your story you want us to know?Ruiz:&nbsp;&nbsp;Family is at the core of everything we do. I’m a stay-at-home mom and that role remains a priority. Chris and I view BooXkeeping as an opportunity to build something meaningful that we can eventually pass on to our children. Our long-term vision is to not only to grow within BooXkeeping but to explore additional entrepreneurial ventures in the future, all with the goal of creating a lasting legacy for our family.1851: What advice do you have for aspiring franchisees?Ruiz:&nbsp;Thorough research is critical. We took the time to speak with existing franchisees across the various brands we were considering to gain insight into their experiences. Additionally, sometimes the best course of action is simply to start. When I launched my tax practice, I was initially hesitant due to the responsibility it entailed, but it ultimately allowed me to balance my career with my family life. For anyone considering franchising, my advice is to trust the process. Conduct your due diligence, and if something resonates with you, take the leap — the only way to truly determine if it’s the right fit is to try.ABOUT BOOXKEEPING: BooXkeeping is a bookkeeping franchise that combines professional expertise with genuine human connection to provide cutting-edge bookkeeping services for small and medium-sized businesses, franchisees, franchisors, CPA firms and more.&nbsp;Founded by Max and Elena Emma, two entrepreneurial immigrants with in-depth experience in finance and accounting, the brand’s journey spans over 20 years. Today, with nine franchise locations across the country and one corporate location, BooXkeeping has emerged as a unique player in the bookkeeping industry, emphasizing a human-driven approach and personalized service.

How This Tax Pro and Her Air Force Veteran Husband Became Franchisees with BooXkeeping

Transitioning From Tax Professional to BooXkeeping Franchisee

1851 Franchise

Bianca Ruiz and Chris Cruz have always been entrepreneurs at heart. Now, they’ve decided to pursue their dream of building a legacy for their children with BooXkeeping.

This brand page has been paid for by BOOXKEEPING. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiabongardbooxkeeping/">Sofia Bongard’s</a> decision to franchise with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.booxkeepingfranchise.com/">BooXkeeping</a>,&nbsp;a leading franchise network providing remote bookkeeping services, came after years inside the business. Long before she opened her location in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.booxkeeping.com/locations/san-diego-east/">East San Diego</a>, she met founder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxemma/">Max Emma</a> and worked for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/booxkeeping/info">BooXkeeping’s</a> corporate operation, where she got a clear view of how the company served clients and operated day to day. That early vantage point is what made her decision a practical one: go independent or franchise with the company she already knew.Ironically, when Emma first raised the idea of franchising, Bongard wasn’t eager to sign on immediately. She said no, then sat with it. A few months later, she came back ready to move forward.“It was like a seed in my mind,” Bongard said. “And then a few months later, I came to him. I said, ‘You know what? I’m ready. I’ll do this.’”<h2>Autonomy and Boundaries</h2>For Bongard, ownership was tied to control over time. She wanted the flexibility to meet client deadlines without having her life dictated by a fixed schedule. That desire also intersected with personal health concerns, which pushed her to rethink what she was willing to trade for work.“I was done with people telling me what to do with my day. With accounting, as long as you meet the due dates for clients, it doesn’t really matter if you do it at 3 a.m. or 5 p.m.,” she said. “I had some personal health issues, and that was really the break point for me. Nothing is really worth putting your health at risk.”That philosophy shows up in how she structures her weeks now. She builds her work around her family and her routines, then focuses on the windows when she needs to close out the month and review financials with clients. She describes the work as concentrated rather than constant, with heavier client touchpoints early in the month and more independent production work through the rest.<h2>Why BooXkeeping Instead of Going Solo</h2>Bongard’s choice to franchise wasn’t about needing a new skill set. It was about the parts of business ownership she didn’t want to carry alone — especially marketing and visibility.“I hate doing anything advertising and social media,” she said. “I’m not good at it.”That’s where BooXkeeping’s presence became a deciding factor. Bongard says she hadn’t realized how often prospects research service providers before reaching out, but she saw quickly how an established brand changes that dynamic.“People see you and they secretly Google you, and I didn’t know that,” Bongard said. “So it went from, ‘Hi, I’m Sofia Bongard — no one on the internet,’ to ‘This company has been there for years and they actually have some links to social media and stuff.’”She also values the brand’s tone in sales conversations. Rather than pushing prospects, she describes an approach that aligns with how she prefers to work. “It’s very straightforward: ‘Hey, I do bookkeeping. You want it? Great. You don’t want it? OK, it’s fine,’” Bongard said. “There’s no desperation.”<h2>Getting Started With Support</h2>Even with her background, Bongard says the early challenges of ownership weren’t technical accounting questions. They were business questions — pricing, setup and the administrative lift of launching. Fortunately, Emma was able to help her keep her perspective by reassuring her that the early scramble wouldn’t last and she’d soon find her footing.“At the beginning, I had no clue how to price my services,” Bongard said. “I was just drowning with all the permits and everything that you had to do, but Max reassured me it was only temporary. ‘It’s fine,’ he told me. ‘I know you feel like you’re drowning, but you are on the boat with us.’”Bongard acknowledges franchising comes with royalties, but she frames the cost as part of running any business — and one she’s willing to pay for brand presence and support. “It doesn’t bother me to pay royalties because the support they’re giving me and the presence they’re giving me — it’s the infrastructure I need,” Bongard said.&nbsp;For Bongard, franchising with BooXkeeping ultimately offered what she was looking for: a familiar system, built-in visibility and room to run the business in a way that fits her life. “Me being in control of what I do or what I don’t do has made me very happy,” she said.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/BooXkeeping">https://1851franchise.com/BooXkeeping</a>.

Why Sofia Bongard Chose a BooXkeeping Franchise Over Going Solo - 1851 Franchise

Why This San Diego Bookkeeper Chose BooXkeeping, a Bookkeeping Franchise Over Going Solo

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BooXkeeping Welcomes New Franchisees in San Diego, California

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From Ice Cream to Income Streams: How Greg Cox Found His Sweet Spot with BooXkeeping

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BooXkeeping Welcomes Ryan Schwerdtfeger as Newest Franchisee in Wichita, Kansas

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LAS VEGAS&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://www.booxkeepingfranchise.com/">BooXkeeping</a>, a leading franchise network providing remote bookkeeping services, announced it was named to Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. In the Franchise 500,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/booxkeeping/info">BooXkeeping</a> ranked No. 330 for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, operational and marketing support, and brand power.“We’ve spent years refining our systems with one goal in mind: helping our franchise owners build durable, profitable businesses,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxemma/">Max Emma</a>. “Earning recognition from Entrepreneur reflects the strength of our platform and the value we deliver across the network. We’re proud to be recognized as a standout brand in today’s franchise landscape.”In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s 47-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. Each franchise is thoroughly evaluated and given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. The 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500.&nbsp;&nbsp;"For 47 years, the Franchise 500 has been the gold standard for identifying franchise excellence. This year's ranking proves that the best brands don't just survive changing markets; they thrive in them," said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfeifer/">Jason Feifer</a>, Entrepreneur magazine's editor in chief. “These 500 companies represent some of the most reliable pathways to business ownership in America, each one vetted through our rigorous analysis of what actually drives franchisee success.”Looking ahead to 2026, BooXkeeping is introducing new strategies aimed at accelerating growth and enhancing outcomes for franchise owners. The company is also undertaking a full brand refresh that modernizes its look and technology while staying true to its core principles, with completion expected in early this year.“Starting in 2026, new franchisees will have the option to acquire existing BooXkeeping clients right away, giving them the ability to be cash-flow positive from the start,” Emma said. “That’s not something you see often in franchising, and it sets the stage for our next chapter of growth.”Throughout 2025, BooXkeeping made meaningful progress that helped reposition the brand for the future. With improved infrastructure and a clearer focus on franchisee success, the company heads into 2026 ready to sustain and expand that growth.&nbsp;To view BooXkeeping in the full ranking, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500">www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500</a>. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2026 issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands.&nbsp;ABOUT BOOXKEEPINGBooXkeeping is a bookkeeping franchise that combines professional expertise with genuine human connection to provide cutting-edge bookkeeping services for small and medium-sized businesses, franchisees, franchisors, CPA firms, and more. Founded by Max and Elena Emma, two entrepreneurial immigrants with in-depth experience in finance and accounting, the brand’s journey spans over 20 years. Today, with 15 franchise locations across the country and one corporate location, BooXkeeping has emerged as a unique player in the bookkeeping industry, emphasizing a human-driven approach and personalized service. To learn more, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.booxkeepingfranchise.com/">https://www.booxkeepingfranchise.com/</a>.

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BooXkeeping Ranked Among the Top Franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® Ranking

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LANSING, Mich.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://www.booxkeepingfranchise.com/">BooXkeeping</a>, a leading franchise network providing remote bookkeeping services, announced a year of significant growth and operational achievements, positioning the brand for continued success in 2026.In 2025, BooXkeeping expanded to 14 franchise locations in nine states, more than doubling its franchise network.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We have momentum and proof of the concept,” said BooXkeeping Co-Founder and CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxemma">Max Emma</a>. “Selling the first couple of franchises is the hardest part. But once you have successful franchisees that can share their stories, it makes a huge difference for any brand. That’s what happened with BooXkeeping. We now have seasoned franchisees who have been in the system for a while.”The franchise also further strengthened its operational infrastructure via the launch of BooxDesk 2.0, an upgraded internal support system that streamlines document signing, meeting scheduling, budgeting and prospect communication. The platform’s mobile-friendly apps have also helped deliver enhanced efficiency.BooXkeeping’s growth reflects a broader market shift, with remote bookkeeping services gaining greater acceptance among American businesses.&nbsp;“Before the lockdown in 2020, almost everybody wanted their bookkeeper in their city or office. Now, remote services are widely accepted and businesses trust the security,” Emma said. “We’ve also seen more new businesses starting in the U.S., all of which need bookkeeping. Many business advisors suggest owners focus on growing their businesses and outsource everything else. Well, BooXkeeping is a perfect example.”As BooXkeeping looks ahead to 2026, and further growth, the company is launching innovative new strategies to continue driving success for franchise owners. It is also coordinating a complete rebrand that incorporates modern technology and design while maintaining the company’s core values, with the rollout set to be complete by February 1.“Starting in 2026, we will offer options for new franchises to purchase BooXkeeping clients from day one, which will make them cash-flow positive immediately,” Emma said. “That’s a unique model. Not many franchises can do this and I believe it will take us to the next trajectory of growth.”In many ways, 2025 served as a turning point for BooXkeeping, laying the groundwork for steady, long-term growth. With new systems in place and a sharper focus on franchisee performance, the brand enters 2026 prepared to keep building on that momentum.ABOUT BOOXKEEPINGBooXkeeping is a bookkeeping franchise that combines professional expertise with genuine human connection to provide cutting-edge bookkeeping services for small and medium-sized businesses, franchisees, franchisors, CPA firms, and more. Founded by Max and Elena Emma, two entrepreneurial immigrants with in-depth experience in finance and accounting, the brand’s journey spans over 20 years. Today, with 16 franchise locations across the country and one corporate location, BooXkeeping has emerged as a unique player in the bookkeeping industry, emphasizing a human-driven approach and personalized service. To learn more, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.booxkeepingfranchise.com/">https://www.booxkeepingfranchise.com/</a>.

BooXkeeping Closes Out a Breakout Year With Major Wins and Momentum for 2026

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How This Tax Pro and Her Air Force Veteran Husband Became Franchisees with BooXkeeping

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