Structural Elements

The vendor opportunity at Structural Elements

Structural Elements is a health-services franchise with a tiny footprint: 3 total units as of the 2026 FDD, split between 2 franchised locations and 1 company-owned unit. The brand operates in just two states—Virginia (1 unit) and Maryland (1 unit)—with no multi-unit operators on file. For software vendors, this means the total addressable market is 3 units, and growth is not disclosed in the most recent FDD. The royalty rate is 8.0%, and the initial franchise term runs 10 years. Average unit volume (AUV) is not reported.

Given the small unit count, a vendor’s path to revenue here is narrow. The franchisor controls purchasing decisions, so a single yes from HQ could cover all locations. But with no disclosed year-over-year unit growth and no multi-unit franchisees, the near-term expansion opportunity is limited.

Who controls software purchasing

The 2026 FDD lists only one individual in Item 1: Douglas Bertram, identified as the Registered Agent for Service of Process. No other executives—no CIO, CTO, VP of Operations, or procurement lead—are named. In a system this small, Bertram is the de facto point of contact for any vendor inquiry. When you pitch Structural Elements, you are pitching one person at a franchisor that directly oversees both franchised and company-owned units. There is no parent company on file; the brand appears independently owned.

Mandated and current tech stack

Structural Elements mandates three systems, all named in the FDD: Jane, MyEmma, and QuickBooks Online by Intuit Inc. Jane likely serves as the practice management or clinical operations platform, MyEmma handles email marketing, and QuickBooks Online covers accounting. These mandates mean the core operational stack is already locked in. Vendors selling competing practice management, email marketing, or accounting software face a closed door unless the franchisor changes its requirements. The opportunity lies in adjacent tools—scheduling, patient engagement, analytics, or compliance—that integrate with Jane and QuickBooks Online without displacing them.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

The FDD does not include an Item 8 procurement extract, so Structural Elements’ supplier model—whether designated, approved, or open—is not disclosed. This absence makes it harder to gauge how rigid the purchasing process is. However, the Item 17 renewal terms offer a timing signal: franchisees must give written notice of renewal between 6 and 12 months before their 10-year agreement expires. They must also execute a general release, pay a renewal fee, and sign the then-current franchise agreement, which may have materially different terms. With only 2 franchised units, renewal-driven software evaluations will be rare. Vendors should monitor any new unit openings or franchise sales, though none are indicated in the 2026 disclosure.

How to read the Structural Elements FDD

The 2026 FDD is embedded below. Key sections for software vendors: Item 1 names the sole contact, Douglas Bertram. Item 11 lists the mandated tech stack—Jane, MyEmma, and QuickBooks Online. Item 8, if present in future filings, would clarify procurement rules. Item 17 outlines the renewal process and the 10-year term. Because the system is so small, every detail in the FDD carries weight; there is no large operator base to dilute the franchisor’s control. For a ranked target list of franchise systems that match your software category, FranCloud can help you prioritize where to aim your next pitch.