Franchisees don’t just need a strong start — they need ongoing operational support to stay compliant, profitable, and focused on growth.
iWS by Deel was created by franchisees, for franchisees. Today, we support over 1,500 stores nationally with end-to-end workforce and financial management solutions tailored specifically to the franchise model. From onboarding and rostering to time and attendance, outsourced payroll, bookkeeping, and consolidated financial reporting — we help franchisees stay on top of the essentials.
With dedicated payroll officers, bookkeepers, and implementation specialists, our team becomes an extension of theirs — providing consistent, high-quality support long after the initial setup is complete.
Franchisors nail onboarding — but what happens next?
Franchisors are excellent at delivering strong onboarding: systems, brand consistency, product training, and compliance are typically well covered.
But too many franchisees are left without the financial knowledge required to run a successful business. This gap becomes clear post-launch — once daily operations are underway and financial decisions begin to impact margins, cash flow, and growth.
The reality: franchisees are trained to operate, not run a business
Many franchisees come from within the industry — often as former QSR or retail managers. They know how to run a store, manage a team, and deliver a great customer experience.
But when it comes to managing business finances, they’re often unprepared. The missing knowledge typically includes:
- How to read and act on a profit & loss statement
- Understanding assets vs. liabilities on a balance sheet
- Using cash flow forecasting to avoid shortfalls
- Interpreting labour %, food %, and overheads to manage costs
- Setting up and using a chart of accounts
- Reading performance dashboards to spot trends or issues
- Using reporting to plan for growth or secure financing
The business risk for franchisors
When franchisees don’t have this knowledge, the risk isn’t just theirs — it becomes a network-wide issue. Without financial confidence:
- Profit leaks go unnoticed and unaddressed
- Growth stalls, even in high-performing locations
- Decisions become reactive instead of strategic
- Visibility for head office disappears, making network support harder
These issues aren’t about motivation or effort — they stem from a lack of financial enablement. And over time, they erode performance, profitability, and brand consistency.
Why CFOs and operations should care
CFOs are responsible not just for the financial health of the head office, but for the sustainability of the broader network. A franchise model only scales if individual franchisees remain profitable, compliant, and growth-ready.
That means supporting franchisees beyond onboarding — particularly in areas like payroll, financial reporting, and business literacy. Not by adding more manuals, but by giving them a commercial playbook.
How iWS by Deel supports franchisees post-onboarding
At iWS by Deel, we’ve built the infrastructure to support franchisees where it matters most: in the operational and financial fundamentals.
Through the iWS Portal, franchisees access a fully integrated, cloud-based platform that includes:
- Rostering and time and attendance: Build costed rosters with full labour visibility
- Award interpretation and payroll: Automate calculations and stay compliant
- Bookkeeping and reporting: Keep books clean, reconciled, and ready for action
- Performance dashboards: Track KPIs and spot exceptions in real time
- Cash flow forecasting tools: Integrate tools like Fathom for financial planning
- Dedicated support: With named payroll officers and bookkeepers, franchisees are never left to figure it out alone.
Enable, don’t overload
Franchisees don’t need hand-holding — they need enablement. The kind that gives them confidence, visibility, and control over their business finances, so they can make smarter decisions and focus on growth.
It’s time to ask: after onboarding, what support are we offering? And is it enough?
