Freelancing was meant to feel like freedom.
For many marketers, it began that way. Leaving employment felt brave and energising – the opportunity to choose your clients, shape your time and build something that genuinely belonged to you.
But for a growing number of professionals in 2026, the reality feels more complicated.
The work is there, yet competition is sharper. Client expectations have evolved. AI has changed how marketing is delivered and how quickly it is expected. Brilliant, experienced marketers are working harder than ever, but often with less certainty and more pressure behind the scenes.
That shift is exactly why Activ will be exhibiting at the International Franchise Show this April.
We’re not attending to sell an overnight success story. We’re there to have a more important conversation – about what sustainable self employment in marketing actually looks like now.
The Changing Face of Freelancing
Over the past few years, something subtle but significant has changed in the freelance market. Independence is still attractive, but isolation is becoming heavier. Income can fluctuate dramatically depending on a handful of clients. Growth often stalls not because of lack of ability, but because one person can only stretch so far.
Many of the marketers we speak to aren’t struggling because they lack talent. They’re experienced, commercially aware and in demand. What they lack is structure – the systems, delivery backing and operational clarity that allow a business to grow without overwhelming the person at the centre of it.
That is the space Activ was built to serve.
As the longest running UK marketing franchise designed specifically for solo marketers, Activ provides a framework that allows consultants to remain client-facing and independent, while operating with the strength of something much larger behind them. Recognised in the Elite Franchise Top 100 and an Expanding Member of the British Franchise Association, the model has evolved to reflect how modern self employment really works.
At the heart of it is our SoloPower® philosophy – the belief that one person can build a serious marketing business when supported by clear pricing, defined service structures, shared capability and the right operational systems. Independence doesn’t disappear; it becomes more secure.
Hear From Someone Who Has Lived It
One of the highlights of this year’s show will be a keynote from our CEO, Katie Bullon.
Katie’s perspective is grounded in lived experience. She began her career in corporate marketing, chose self employment, became an Activ franchise partner and later stepped into the role of CEO and Franchisor. She understands both the ambition that drives marketers into business and the pressure that can quietly build once they are there.
Her session, The Rise of Smart Micro Franchises: How Global Trends, AI and Low Cost Models Are Redefining Self Employment in 2026, will explore why traditional freelancing is being challenged and what supported business ownership looks like in response. It’s a practical, market-aware view of where the industry is heading – and what that means for individuals considering their next move.
Introducing Kora
This year we’ll also be introducing something new on the stand: Kora, our fully trained AI employee.
There is a great deal of noise around AI in marketing. Some of it is exciting, some of it overwhelming. Our approach is simple: technology should strengthen the human business owner, not replace them.
Kora works alongside every Activ franchise partner, increasing capacity, improving clarity and bringing consistency to delivery. She reduces the friction that often slows down solo businesses, allowing partners to focus on relationships, strategy and growth. It’s a practical example of how human leadership and intelligent systems can work together.
You’ll be able to see how she operates and ask honest questions about what AI support really means in a marketing business.
Why Meeting in Person Matters
Reading about a franchise online is useful, but it can only tell you so much. When you are considering something as significant as building or reshaping your business, culture and connection matter.
At the International Franchise Show, you can speak directly to Katie and the head office team, explore how induction works, understand the commercial realities and test whether the model feels aligned with your ambitions and stage of life.
Whether you are an established freelancer who feels capped despite being busy, or a marketer planning a new chapter around family life, this is a space to have open, grounded conversations about what comes next.
Join Us at London Excel
Come and meet the team in person to explore how activ works behind the scenes. You will be able to learn first hand about our systems, services, enquiry management and back-end platforms, and see how our training and operational structure support solo marketers to grow with clarity and confidence. It is a chance to ask direct questions, understand the practical details and decide whether the model feels right for you.
The International Franchise Show
London Excel
Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April 2026
If you’re attending, we’d love you to come and find us. If you’re still deciding, this could be the right moment to explore an alternative to traditional freelancing – one built on structure, support and sustainable growth.
Because in 2026, freedom in business isn’t just about working for yourself.
It’s about building with the right foundations behind you.
