Running a successful bookkeeping business is no small feat – but what if you could scale beyond your local client base without taking on all the extra workload yourself? Franchising your bookkeeping business can be one of the smartest ways to grow in 2025, provided you plan strategically, understand the current regulatory environment, and structure your franchise offer to attract high-quality partners.
This in-depth guide walks you through the updated steps to franchising your bookkeeping business in Australia this year.
Understanding Franchising in 2025
The bookkeeping and accounting support sector continues to boom in Australia, especially as small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) face increasing compliance requirements under updated tax and payroll legislation. According to industry reports from IBISWorld (2025 data), the bookkeeping services market has grown by approximately 4.2% annually, with demand expected to remain strong due to the ongoing expansion of cloud accounting platforms such as Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks Online.
Franchising remains a proven way to scale service businesses, but the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has tightened compliance expectations under the updated Franchising Code of Conduct (2024 amendments). This means prospective franchisors must have robust documentation, financial viability, and clear franchisee support structures.
Step 1: Assess Your Business Model for Scalability
Before you can franchise, you need to ensure your bookkeeping business is profitable, repeatable, and easily transferable. Ask yourself:
- Do you have well-documented systems and processes (client onboarding, BAS lodgements, payroll management, reporting)?
- Is your brand recognisable and trusted in your market?
- Can you train new franchisees within 6–12 weeks and help them reach profitability within 12–18 months?
If your current business heavily relies on you personally, you’ll need to systemise and delegate first. Cloud automation tools, outsourced admin, and a strong CRM are essential foundations for a franchise model in 2025.
Step 2: Build a Franchise Structure and Offer
Your franchise offer needs to be attractive, competitive, and legally compliant. Key inclusions often are:
- Territory rights: Clearly defined geographic or industry-based territories to prevent overlap between franchisees.
- Training and onboarding: A structured program that brings franchisees up to speed on your processes, compliance obligations, and tech stack.
- Ongoing support: Marketing assistance, regular training, software discounts, and access to a helpdesk for technical issues.
- Fee structure: This may include an upfront franchise fee (often $20k–$50k for bookkeeping businesses) plus ongoing royalties or a flat monthly support fee.
💡 Tip: Benchmark against other professional service franchises like First Class Accounts or Bookwiz to ensure your offer is competitive.
Step 3: Legal and Compliance Requirements (2025 Updates)
Franchising in Australia is highly regulated. In 2025, expect stricter disclosure obligations to protect franchisees, especially around:
- Financial viability statements of your business model.
- Marketing fund transparency if you collect marketing contributions.
- Exit clauses and dispute resolution mechanisms to ensure fair treatment of franchisees.
You’ll need to prepare:
- A Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) compliant with the Franchising Code of Conduct (2024 update).
- A Franchise Agreement drafted by a commercial franchise lawyer.
- An Operations Manual detailing every aspect of running the business.
⚠️ Warning: Failure to comply with the ACCC’s latest requirements could lead to penalties of up to $10 million or 3x profits gained, whichever is higher.
Step 4: Marketing Your Franchise
With thousands of potential franchise buyers in Australia, positioning your bookkeeping franchise as a low-risk, high-reward opportunity is key.
- Advertise on major portals like Seek Business and Franchise Business.
- Offer flexible work-from-home options, appealing to parents, career changers, and professionals seeking semi-passive income.
- Highlight high recurring revenue potential thanks to bookkeeping being an essential, non-discretionary service.
In 2025, AI-driven lead qualification tools can help you filter serious prospects faster, reducing wasted time on non-genuine inquiries.
Step 5: Provide Exceptional Ongoing Support
A franchise’s reputation depends on franchisee success. Successful bookkeeping franchises in 2025 offer:
- Continuous upskilling: Especially in emerging areas like eInvoicing mandates and AI-powered financial reporting.
- Group purchasing power: Negotiated discounts on cloud accounting software, insurance, and marketing tools.
- Community and networking events: Online and offline, to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Franchises that ignore support often see high turnover rates, hurting both brand reputation and profitability.
Final Thoughts
Franchising your bookkeeping business in 2025 is achievable — but only with strong systems, legal compliance, and a genuine commitment to supporting your franchisees.
Done right, franchising can allow you to:
- Scale nationally while reducing your personal workload.
- Build a long-term, sellable asset rather than just a job for yourself.
- Contribute to raising standards in Australia’s bookkeeping industry.
For more information on your legal obligations under the Franchising Code of Conduct, visit the official Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website