Can AI Be a Partner for Profitable Multi Unit Franchise Growth?

AI is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful partners for multi-unit franchise operators seeking profitable growth. Far from being a distant technology reserved for big corporations, AI is now a practical tool that helps franchisees work fewer hours, make better decisions, and scale with confidence. Early adopters in the franchise world already recognize this advantage.

As leaders from DRYmedic Restoration Services and The Junkluggers put it, “franchises embracing AI are positioning themselves for long-term success through stronger marketing, better data management, and timesaving operational tools.” The data reinforces this momentum. A report from Indiana University finds that greater AI exposure reduces the average hours people need to work indicating meaningful productivity gains. Salesforce claims 91% of SMEs using AI say it directly increases revenue. And according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 84% of small businesses using AI plan to hire more employees in the next year, signaling confidence and growth rather than replacement. In other words, AI doesn’t shrink the business, it expands it. For multi-unit franchisees focused on profitable growth, this combination of “work less, earn more, grow faster” is exactly what they seek. True market leadership comes from building a mature “shared-services” back office, a centralized engine that standardizes operations, manages data, and drives repeatable success across locations and brands. Managing the technology, people, and processes required for expansion takes capital, expertise, and time resources that many operators simply don’t have. This is where AI can fundamentally shift the equation. By deeply analyzing modern operations and understanding the real-world challenges multi-unit operators face, it becomes clear that many of the bottlenecks in scaling paperwork, communication, compliance, scheduling, reporting, data management, task allocation, training, and quality assurance are exactly the types of problems AI is designed to solve. With thoughtful implementation, AI can act as the backbone of a shared-services office, reducing administrative burden, improving decision-making, enabling specialization, and creating consistent systems without requiring a massive capital outlay.

Sources

https://www.franchise.org/2025/02/tech-trends-how-franchise-service-brands-are-embracing-ai-and-revolutionizing-operations/ https://som.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2025-04/Exploring%20the%20Shared%20Services%20Function%20When%20Scaling%20a%20Multi-unit%20Franchise%20Operation%20Final.pdf