Scale It: digital transactions for the franchising community

Scale It, a platform publicly launched in 2025, was the subject of a Forbes article published on 23 September 2026. Its founder, Maria Kizima, received a Forbes Woman Mercury Award. For those interested in Russia’s franchising market, the project is noteworthy as an attempt to bring franchise development, partner searches, negotiations and digital deal completion into one place.

Why Scale It received recognition

According to Forbes, the awards jury recognised an infrastructure solution designed to help businesses and social projects expand. The article focuses not on the opening of an individual outlet or the launch of a new franchise, but on how the process of scaling up is organised. This approach draws attention to the work that precedes the launch of a partner-run business: preparing an offer, agreeing terms and formalising the relationship.

Forbes describes Scale It as an end-to-end platform. According to the article, entrepreneurs can use it to develop a franchise, find a partner, negotiate and complete a digital transaction. Its stated capabilities therefore cover several successive stages in the relationship between a prospective franchisor and franchisee.

It is important, however, to distinguish between the dates: the platform’s public launch took place in 2025, while the article about it appeared in September 2026. It would be inaccurate to present Scale It as a service that has only just entered the Russian market. The news here is the recognition associated with the award and the account of its approach to business expansion.

Why legal documentation is central

The Forbes article notes that franchising remains a popular way to expand a business, but that many transactions involve legal risks and errors in documenting intellectual property rights. The publication links the creation of Scale It to this problem.

For the franchising community, this is an important distinction: finding an interested partner and putting the collaboration on a sound legal footing are not the same task. Even if both parties agree on the commercial model, they still need to establish which rights are being granted, the terms governing their relationship and the obligations each party will assume. These are matters to check before signing documents, rather than observations about specific transactions on the platform.

A digital format should not, in itself, be taken as evidence that a transaction is free of risk. The available description of the project does not detail its legal due diligence procedures, allocation of liability or dispute resolution arrangements. There is therefore no basis for claiming that using the service guarantees the security of every franchise transaction.

The platform’s practical appeal lies in its stated ability to connect the preparatory and contractual stages. Entrepreneurs should assess whether that process suits their business by examining the documentation and service terms, rather than relying solely on the label ‘end-to-end’.

Digital transactions are not a new September rule

Forbes states that Russia’s Civil Code has permitted digital transactions since 2019. In the context of this news, that means Scale It is making use of an existing legal provision. The article does not report any new franchising rules taking effect in September 2026.

This distinction matters when interpreting the news. The introduction or development of a digital tool is not the same as a change in legislation. Here, the subject is a platform-based solution for entrepreneurs, not a new obligation to move contracts into electronic form.

Before choosing to complete a transaction digitally, the parties would be wise to establish how their authority to act is verified, how the agreed version of the documents is recorded and how access to those documents is maintained after signing. The documentation of intellectual property rights deserves particular attention. These are recommendations for checking the process; the published description of Scale It does not provide enough information to assess the platform’s specific technical mechanisms.

What prospective users should assess

Entrepreneurs considering a service of this kind should first identify what they need it to do. An existing business owner may need help developing a franchise, while a prospective partner may be looking for an opportunity and support in agreeing terms. A stated end-to-end service does not mean that every user necessarily needs every stage.

The next step is to request a breakdown of the services provided and the limits of responsibility. It is worth clarifying which tasks the platform handles, which remain the entrepreneur’s responsibility and where separate professional advice will be needed. This will help the parties compare the proposed transaction process with their actual needs.

The Forbes Woman Mercury Award demonstrates recognition by the awards jury, but it does not replace an assessment of the terms of use. The available materials contain no figures on user numbers, the value or volume of completed transactions, or the performance of franchise outlets. They therefore do not provide a basis for assessing Scale It’s commercial effectiveness or comparing it with other ways of arranging a business partnership.

Practical takeaway: Scale It offers Russia’s franchising community a single digital route from franchise development to deal completion. Before using it, prospective users should check the scope of services, the procedures for documenting rights and each party’s responsibilities — and only then choose the arrangement that best suits their needs.