July/Aug 2015: On the road mobile franchising

VOL 09 ISSUE 05 july/august 2015

on the road

JIM CORNISH

going mobile JIM PENMAN

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY cafe2u

enjoy the daily grind

Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand 47

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d a o R e h t On franchising

Ever felt tied down by travelling day in and day out to the office, staring at the same four walls?

Then perhaps a mobile franchise is for you.

The freedom and diversity you will gain by hitting the road and visiting your clients could be the change of scenery you are looking for. The variety of mobile franchise opportunities is vast and ever-expanding.

Everything from food vans, dog washing, lawn mowing, house cleaning, car washing, selling tools, servicing cars, package delivery, fence building, business consulting…phew! The list just goes on and on. You name it, and there will probably be a mobile franchise available for you to make all your own.

The one thing they all have in common is that they do not operate from fixed premises.

TERRITORY Territory, as with most franchise business, is particularly important when operating a mobile business.

With a mobile franchise, your income will be received from the clients that you establish within your specified territory, so of course it is imperative that you know the exact parameters of your allocated territory.

It is also important that when doing your research into a mobile franchise that you investigate whether it is actually possible to

generate the income you require – or desire!

The ways in which franchise systems divide their territories may differ – whether it is by postcode or physical boundaries – you will need to investigate the area thoroughly.

Some franchise systems offer exclusive territories, in which you will be the only operator of that franchise in that area, while others offer non-exclusive territories.

In non-excusive territories you will face competition from not only other similar businesses but also from other franchisees in your network.

Always check with the franchisor as to the specifics of territory allocation for the

48 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

franchise system you are investigating.

FREEDOM As a mobile franchise operator, you are master of your own daily schedule. Need to drop the kids at school? No worries! Surf’s up? Grab the board and hit the waves!

Obviously you’re not going to make much money if you spend all your time running errands and hanging ten, but when the occasion does arise, it’s great to be able to have some flexibility in your day.

As with any business, you are only going to get out of it as much as the hard work you put into it.

FE ATURE “The freedom and diversity you will gain by hitting the road and visiting your clients could be the change of scenery you are looking for.”

With a mobile franchise you can choose to work as little or as much as you want.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Good customer service can set you apart from your competitors, and is what will keep your clients coming back. When operating a mobile franchise, this is truer than ever before. Be on time, be well presented, and ensure that you have everything you need to perform the job, or have the stock your client wants, every time.

The presentation of your vehicle is also imperative. It is representative of your business – keep it clean and well

Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand 49

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The presentation of your vehicle is also imperative. It is representative of your business – keep it clean and well maintained and it will show your clients and members of the community that you take pride in your business.

• What level of support will you receive with managing your business?

• What kinds of marketing activities are conducted by the franchisor?

maintained and it will show your clients and members of the community that you take pride in your business.

$$$ In most cases a mobile franchise will be cheaper to purchase than a franchise operating from a retail outlet, the obvious difference being that fixed premises is not required therefore eliminating the need for a lease and rent payments and the cost of a shop fit out.

Mobile businesses often operate from a home office, also keeping overhead costs at a minimum. To get started all you may need is a phone and computer.

In addition, mobile franchises often eliminate the need to employ additional staff members into the business, so the costs of doing so, and the associated paperwork, also disappear.

However, just because your investment into the business may not be as high as that of

a retail outlet, this does not mean your due diligence should be cut short.

DUE DILIGENCE Regardless of the type of franchise you choose to purchase, by conducting thorough due diligence you will increase your chances of making a good decision and of future success.

Due diligence is the process of evaluating the prospective business purchase by getting information about the financial, legal, operational and other important aspects of the business.

Some of the questions that need to be answered include: • Do you enjoy the work involved in this franchise?

• How much will you need to invest to buy and operate your business?

• What initial and ongoing training will you receive?

50 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

• How will you receive leads? Will they be provided by the franchisor or will you be responsible for generating them for yourself?

• Does the franchise have the ability to remain competitive and maintain its brand value?

Evaluating a prospective franchise business is not an easy process and professionals in franchising can help you carry out your due diligence. An accountant, lawyer and your bank are important sources of advice and knowledge.

Talking to those already involved with the franchise system is a great starting point; franchisees can share firsthand their experiences with operating within the franchise system. The franchisor should be forthcoming with the contact details of current franchisees.

It’s also recommended you read the Franchising Code of Conduct to understand your rights as a franchise and those of the franchisor. The Franchise Council of Australia has an abundance of information relating to the code as well as recent changes and reviews of these changes on their website www.franchise.org.au.

Resources at your fingertips!

CURRENT TITLES INCLUDE: Business FRANCHISE Australia and New Zealand magazine The Magazine for Franchisees, Bi-monthly publication The Australian and New Zealand Business FRANCHISOR magazine The Magazine for Franchisors, Quarterly publication Australian and New Zealand Business FRANCHISE DIRECTORY Annual publication The FRANCHISE GUIDE Annual publication CGB’s website also provides an additional advertising and information format and complements our publications.

www.businessfranchiseaustralia.com.au

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Jim’s A ntennas

australia’s

modern technology experts Established in 1999 by Andrew Parke, Jim’s Antennas has grown into Australia’s largest antenna installation company.

With over 150 franchisees across all states and territories in Australia as well as New Zealand, their success is attributed to a combination of experience, outstanding service and a great team.

After being approached by Jim’s Group CEO Jim Penman, Andrew, with 10 years’ experience already within the industry, has grown the Antenna division of Jim’s into a brand customers can trust.

Over the next 12 months, targeted areas for growth include Sydney, Queensland and Tasmania as well as regional areas of Australia due to the large amount of contract work available.

“As an approved installer, working with the NBN roll-out, we are part of an installation group which brings NBN technology to rural and regional areas. By mounting outdoor antennas to properties, this enables homeowners unable to connect by cable to have access to high-speed broadband,” says Andrew.

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fe feature at u r e More than antennas Modern technology is constantly moving forward and with the recent switching off of analogue transmissions and replacing them with digital only transmissions, now is the perfect time to join Jim’s Antennas.

The bygone days of simply plugging one cable into the back of the new television have long gone. Consumers these days have to contend with satellite and pay television, Plasma, LCD, LED alongside blu-ray, home theatre systems, phone and data points.

As a Jim’s Antennas franchisee you will specialise in a range of quality digital antenna systems and conduct a free signal test at customer’s premises, before providing them with a free quote on the best antenna for their reception levels.

Jim’s Antennas franchisees specialise in the following aspects of antenna installation: • New antenna systems; • Diagnosing reception problems; • Cabling to new houses at lock up stage; • Antennas to shared housing (units, dual occupancy); • Digital Antenna systems to commercial premises; • FM Radio Antennas; • New TV Points to existing antennas; • Supplying and installing new set top boxes;

“Being part of the Jims Group brand sets Jim’s Antennas apart from the competition; it’s a brand customers know and a brand they can trust.”

• TV Wall Mounting; and

Why become a Jim’s franchisee?

• Home Theatre Installations Jim’s Antennas will help you arrange any necessary licenses, so you are able to provide all types of telephone cabling services and in addition to extra phone points, Jim’s Antennas franchisees can also assist with computer data cabling, plus data points to connect computers to the internet, without running leads across the floor.

Trained to professionally install new flat panel screens onto walls, including cable concealment to hide all those messy cables, franchisees have access to a wide variety of specialised brackets and tools, for all types of TV’s. Alongside this, you will also be able to complete Home Theatre Installations, which includes hidden cabling, surround sound, speaker mounting and custom wall plates, projector installation, installation of projector screens , installation of Plasma, LCD and LED TV’s and supplying and programming home theatre remote controls.

A Jim’s Antennas franchise allows you to set your own hours and achieve that elusive work / life balance. As you are responsible for your own scheduling, working hours and holidays, you are in control.

A Work Availability Guarantee of $1500 per week, including GST, net of stock is available to all new Jim’s Antennas franchisees. This means that should you request and not receive work to this value, your Regional Franchisor will make up the difference in work or in exchange for you providing free promotional services designed to promote and build your business. Although there is a $1500 work availability many franchisees earn well in excess of this guarantee.

A Franchise Management System (FMS) computer program has been specially developed by Jim’s IT team and allows franchisees flexibility and control over their business. Territory rights are nonexclusive, meaning that if a franchisee is

Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand 53

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Jim’s A ntennas

not requesting work within their territory on a particular day, it will be allocated to an operator who wants the work. You are also able to provide personal referrals in any area you wish and these do not attract fees.

Franchise fees consist of a monthly base fee, plus a lead fee. The lead fee is charged once only on each new lead requested by, and sent to you. This is a ‘user pays’ system, with those taking more leads paying higher fees. This encourages all operators to contact clients as soon as the lead is received, and to log off for work when busy, leading to a higher level of customer service.

Jim’s do not charge a percentage of your income or a fee on personal referrals or walk up clients.

Jim’s Group have over 3,300 franchisees across the different divisions, therefore the strength of the Group often lends buying power for national deals. This means Jim’s Antennas franchisees are able to enjoy significant savings on work vans, mobile phone deals, insurance, stock and more.

Training and Support Initial franchisee training is completed at the Jim’s Group National Training Centre, located in Melbourne. This covers areas such as bookkeeping, customer service and sales, the Jim’s Group ethos plus the Jim’s Antennas specific training covering the technical aspects of antenna installation.

Once the classroom training is completed, franchisees are then on the road for four weeks, completing their on-the-job training with an existing franchisee who is qualified as a trainer.

“This means that our new franchisees are literally working on the tools and learning on the job, all whilst being paid a training rebate,” says Andrew.

With regular training plus meetings every six weeks which keep you up to date with industry changes and the latest Jim’s news, Jim’s Antennas also host an annual national conference, last year it was held in Bali, which all the national franchisees are invited along to. As well as the conference they have annual training camps where the franchisees will get away for two days and two nights so they can immerse themselves in training.

When it comes to administration, Jim’s Antennas supply state of the art mobility software, named ‘Jimbo’, which was designed by Andrew Parke, running on either your computer or iPad. This

“A Jim’s Antennas franchise allows you to set your own hours and achieve that elusive work / life balance. As you are responsible for your own scheduling, working hours and holidays, you are in control.” completes all the scheduling and invoicing as well as showing KPIs for the week and month. This ensures that franchisees always have up to date information at their fingertips.

Jim’s Antennas complete the majority of your marketing for you and are proven to be successful at it, by averaging more than 4,000 jobs per month. In addition to this, franchisees are encouraged to bring in their own work by liaising with real estate agents, builders, electricians and A.V. shops directly.

Being part of the Jims Group brand sets Jim’s Antennas apart from the competition; it’s a brand customers know and a brand they can trust.

Andrew says, “As part of the Jim’s Group, our customers know that our lifetime warranty means just that. While there may be other antenna installation companies out there in the market-place offering comparable warranties, who knows where they’ll be in 12 months’ time. Our customers know that if they are unhappy with our service, which is highly unlikely but if so, then they can contact Jim himself for assistance.”

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Could you be a Jim’s Antennas franchisee?

Jim’s Antennas most successful franchisees share a common drive and passion for their business.

“When we are looking for a new franchisee, we don’t necessarily look for someone with a technical background. We actively seek franchisees that have exceptional customer service and communication skills, with an interest in antennas or home theatre and TV; usually it’s that one person in the family that has a genuine interest in plasmas, home theatre and technology and is always being asked to tune the parents, aunties or grandparents’ TV. “We can teach the technical skills but require our franchisees to be self-motivated and possess a drive to succeed,” says Andrew.

If this sounds like you, contact Jim’s Antennas today to find out more.

T: 131 546 E: getstarted@jimsantennas.com.au W: www.jimsantennas.com.au

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X presso M obile Café

Setting the benchmark!

100 per cent Australian owned and operated, Xpresso Mobile Café is the ultimate mobile café franchise system! We use the best vans and the best coffee – Di Bella Coffee.

This coupled with extensive training, smartphone/app/beacon technology and our innovative mobile café fitout ensures that each and every franchisee is successful!

We ARE the benchmark in Aussie mobile cafés!

We operate in areas where businesses have limited access to quality espresso coffee and related products as well as café style snack food items such as cookies, banana bread, muffins, chocolate and protein balls etc. We also stock bottled water, energy drinks and ‘Coffee Kick’ – a ready-to-drink cold pressed coffee in a can product.

Franchisees work their own hours Monday to Friday within their own large territory and then on weekends are free to roam outside their territory to service events that are provided by the franchisor or other events that the franchisee may source. Part of the intensive training is territory-based.

A mentor accompanies the new franchisee, after their Di Bella Coffee barista training, for two weeks and assists with quality control and building a solid customer base (the daily run). The mentor also assists with

stock ordering and all areas of operation of the business. We practically hold the hand of each and every new franchisee until they are comfortable working on their own.

Xpresso Mobile Café franchisees are marketed and promoted through our dedicated Facebook page at www.facebook/ XpressoMobileCafé, Youtube and the fully interactive website www.xpresso.com.au Everything is included! We also throw in a marketing kit including branded Di Bella Coffee breeze barriers, mini tables and chairs as well as a branded Di Bella Coffee umbrella – perfect for those events where you wish to draw a crowd!

Your new Xpresso Mobile Café will include: • an INCOME GUARANTEE!! $2500 PER WEEK FOR FOUR (4) WEEKS

• a brand new Mercedes Benz Vito (auto diesel) 3-seater van fully customised to sell the full suite of Di Bella Coffee products

• NO RULES on what food you can sell! (all foods must be individually wrapped and we do not sell heated foods) • NO NOISY & SMELLY GENERATORS! We use an innovative LPG gas/battery/inverter power source

• three weeks of training which will leave you with a customer base and instant cash flow

• Smartphone and beacon technology that notifies your customers that you are outside, manages loyalty and communication to your customers!! Very cool!

56 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

• Bluetooth wireless connectivity to your smartphone to play music at the rear of van (speakers also fitted) AND mobile payment systems!!

• A dedicated huge display fridge to stock food/drink items as well as innovative Di Bella Coffee.

Awards 2013 Di Bella Coffee awarded the BRW top 50 most innovative company’s award 2014 ‘Coffee Roasters Industry Choice’ award - in the large specialty roaster category at the 2014 Golden Bean Competition - Australia’s most prestigious specialty coffee awards

Length of Agreement: 5 + 5 Years Year Business Established: 2013

Year Franchising Commenced: 2013

Number of Franchisees: 17

Cost: $119 500 + GST (includes the van!) Only exclusions are insurance and franchisor legals. Finance available to approved applicants.

Skills required None! Just your friendly personality! If you follow the comprehensive Xpresso Mobile Café training system and procedures, you will be successful. We will fully support you in every aspect of the business.

Xpresso Mobile Café is on a national hunt for happy and positive people that are as passionate about coffee as we are. If this sounds like you and you want to become self-employed in Australia’s billion dollar espresso coffee industry, contact Xpresso Mobile Café today and ask for a new franchisee pack.

T: 1300 655 559 W: www.xpresso.com.au

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E x per t Ad v ice

Going Mobile Mobile franchises offer the ultimate combination of business and lifestyle.

They have been around a long time, but it is only recently that the combination of technology and an increasingly time poor population has made them an integral part of our everyday life.

So whilst a mobile business mightn’t have been on your radar, it is an option well worth considering.

When going into your own business, particularly for the first time, it’s tempting to be attracted to the bright lights and the idea of a business sitting prominently in the main street of town. This is the traditional picture of small business and it has also become the norm for many of the big franchising brands.

But with our increasingly hectic lifestyles and our interconnectedness through technology, especially social media,

“A mobile business is as much a lifestyle choice as it is a financial one, so it is important to plan.” new opportunities have arisen – mobile businesses are coming into their own. This is being led by the customer – the ability to jump online or make a call and have someone come to you, whether it be lawn mowing, car cleaning or even a coffee, epitomises convenience and gives back the one thing you can’t buy… time.

A lifestyle choice From a business owner perspective, being mobile provides a number of unique benefits - the obvious one is the elimination of a lease and all the expenses that come with it which means that from a ROI (return on investment) perspective, mobile businesses are extremely attractive.

However, there are other benefits that only a mobile business can provide.

• The ability to choose your own hours and schedule your business around other aspects of your life; • The freedom of being outdoors and in a different location every day;

58 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

• Now, with technology, the ability to literally turn off your business when you turn off your car; and • The ability to expand (depending on the terms of your franchise agreement) and duplicate your efforts.

Probably the hardest thing initially for the first-time mobile business operator is learning to ‘switch off’ from their business and enjoy the lifestyle benefits that it offers. A mobile business is as much a lifestyle choice as it is a financial one, so it is important to plan and ensure that you realise all the rewards that this business model potentially provides.

Initiative The biggest operational difference between a fixed location business and a mobile business is that in a mobile business you go to the customer. This sounds obvious, but the implications are massive. In a fixed location, you turn the sign on the door to ‘open’ and wait (hoping that your marketing

fe feature at u r e “As a mobile business operator you have to take responsibility for getting your business in front of potential clients within your area.”

Jim Cornish | CEO Nanotek

initiatives have paid off) for customers to walk through the door.

In a mobile business, you are the main marketing initiative! Your ‘door’ is you, whether it be your website, your social media presence or your most powerful tool, actually knocking on your clients’ door.

This is the difference between a good mobile business and a great one. Waiting for the phone to ring (no matter what initiatives your franchisor may or may not have in place) is not a marketing strategy.

As a mobile business operator you have to take responsibility for getting your business in front of potential clients within your area.

Mobile-Techno evolution Today, technology is all about mobility and the ability to be ‘connected’ wherever you are… but this is a relatively recent focus.

So now that technology has caught up with mobility, mobile business is perfectly positioned – when we started our business back in 2004 mobile payment technology was brand new and mobile ‘point of sale’ (POS) systems were virtually nonexistent. There was no iPhone or iPad and if you wanted a mobile CRM (customer relationship management) or POS system, it was going to be complicated and very expensive.

Now there are a number of ‘apps’ that will do the job, and all on subscription. We introduced ‘Vend’ on iPad to our operation a few years ago and it revolutionised the administration side of our business – invoices were issued in real time and ‘after hours’ financial management was virtually eliminated.

Expansion This was often a daunting thought for the mobile operator – trusting employees with your customer (and a car!) unsupervised.

But technology has also given the mobile

operator more power than ever before to expand their business with full visibility – from full GPS tracking (even available through iPhone apps), to shared calendars, dispatch software and ‘real-time’ customer transactions.

As a business owner you can literally have a virtual ‘presence’ with every customer, even when you’re not there!

All this makes the process of expanding your business not only easier and less stressful, but more measureable, trackable and therefore profitable.

Choosing the right mobile franchisor Here the principles are similar to any franchise business model. As a business operator you want to be able to focus on your customer by providing great service and building relationships. Everything else, from your website to the design of your business card and uniform, to the sourcing of your products etc, you shouldn’t have to worry about – this is where the economies of scale of a franchising model come into play.

A franchise system should be able to provide you with the framework for your business at a much lower cost than it would be if you put it together and then managed and maintained it yourself. When assessing this, remember to take into account the expertise and time required to design, implement and manage a business model, particularly on a national or international scale. This is where a franchised business gets a big head start on an independent small business operator.

In mobile business, look for a franchisor who has the runs on the board in the industry that interests you – if possible, spend time with some of their franchisees to get a feel of what it will be like to operate your own franchise. Remember, it can sometimes take a while for the business to

build and become well established, so this is something you should plan to do for a few years – you need to like it!

What is right for you?

The answer to this is different for everyone – some are focused purely on financials and some purely on lifestyle, and then there is any combination of the two in between.

Just remember there is a balance – the more lifestyle you go for, the less financial rewards you can expect. A good strategy is to run hard with the business for the first year or two, and then assess the work/ lifestyle balance you’re looking for and work out what your business needs to look like in order for you to be able to realise it.

Mobile businesses offer a range of industries, lifestyles and financial returns, but all of them upfront offer a level of freedom that is hard to find in any other business model. With the right approach, dedication and strategy, they can be as financially rewarding (particularly in terms of return on investment) as any franchise model out there.

Jim Cornish is the CEO of Nanotek, and a Director on the Board of the Franchise Council of Australia. Jim’s business career included senior positions with multinational companies such as Mars, Merial and Nestle Purina prior to cofounding Nanotek in 2004.

Through a combination of exclusive polymer nanotechnology and a unique service delivery model, Nanotek has grown into an international multi-award winning franchise system with operations in over 15 countries – establishing itself as the number one mobile car cleaning franchise in the world.

Contact Nanotek on: P: 1800 Nanotek (626 683) E: info@nanotek.co W: www.nanotekcarcleaning.com.au

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Manch obile ise Testcou ‘N’ nci Call of aust r a l i a fr

THE OPPORTUNITY

YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR has high entry barriers to entry (into the industry). This means that the franchise you are buying is a premium and highly demanded service. On top of all this, it is a mandated and required service. Because it cannot be cut back on, the demand for testing and calibration won’t be hindered even by industry decline or recession.

With mandatory testing of electrical safety products and calibration of meters and instruments in all states, Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal provides a service that is in high demand and has high repeat business.

In the past, the delivery of this testing and calibration service left much to be desired. Electricians had no choice but to wait weeks to get their tools back, causing unnecessary and costly downtime. One mobile service did exist alone in the market, but it had all the hallmarks of a monopoly: overly expensive rates and poor customer service.

Andre Borell, having worked in the family electrical business from the age of 12, recognised that the industry was not being serviced properly. After attending The University of Queensland, Andre joined the family firm, Extreme Safety, full-time and in four years helped transform the company from a two-person operation run by his

parents into a company that employed nine staff and has a multi million dollar turnover annually.

After negotiating the sale of the business that allowed his parents to retire, Andre turned his sights to the testing and calibration industry and set about building a company he could be proud of.

Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal was first launched in Queensland and quickly grew to three vans within 18 months. The demand for the Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal service was massive and the need for quick expansion was evident, with each new van added to the fleet being booked solid within weeks.

Delivering a quality on-site testing and calibration service to electricians and electrical contractors throughout all of Australia, Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal are now actively seeking new franchisees to assist with their speedy expansion.

AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE NO OTHER The Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal franchise opportunity is unlike any other in the Electrical Industry. By its nature, testing and calibration is very technical and

60 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

With Health and Safety regulations tightening in all industries and states, testing and calibration will continue to be mandated, and will likely become more heavily policed. This will increase the profitability and value of your franchise.

The highly technical nature not only deters new entrants and competitors to the area, but makes it vital to be part of such a strong, experienced and thriving company and franchise group as Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal. With technical experts available to you year-round as part of your franchise royalty, someone will always be just a phone call away to assist you and your business, no matter where you are in the country.

The franchise and business model is designed so that you are truly buying a business, not a job. The franchise is designed so that you can employ a technician and draw a passive income from the profits. This is not a job, it’s a business.

With territories available in all states, except Queensland, each territory has been calculated to include a known number of electrical workers and electrical contractors that can sustain a profitable Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal on-site van.

If you would like to know more about how Mobile Test ‘n’ Cal can benefit you and your family contact: T: 1300 662 119 E: sales@mobiletestncal.com.au W: www.calibrationfranchise.com.au

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E x per t Ad v ice

I’ve been asked to write a short article as a guide to anyone considering a franchise. After 26 years I should know something, but bear in mind that different people have different views. The more information you can seek out, the better.

Jim Penman | Founder & CEO Jim’s Group

To buy or not to buy To buy or not to buy a franchise is one of the toughest decisions you’ll ever make, and one of the most crucial. It can be the passport to independence and comfort or even wealth, and it can be a really bad decision.

The important thing is to decide whether you have what it takes. In this respect I’m going to give you some of the same advice I give my franchisors on how to choose suitable franchisees.

An important key is emotional stamina. Do you have the determination to drive through the hard times? There will be some! A certain maturity, a mortgage and a family are good, because you have responsibilities and can’t simply chuck it in when things get tough. Advanced age is much less of a problem, even in jobs requiring physical work. We have franchisees going strong in their 60s.

A responsible job and a steady work history is good, without too much changing around.

If you’re the kind of person who gets bored and restless every six months, then your

own business is not usually a good idea.

The more responsibility you enjoyed in your previous work, and the more you were paid, the better.

Don’t even consider a business without the full support of your partner, and make sure the relationship is solid. A new business can bring considerable strains, and relationship breakdown is a notorious business wrecker.

Do you really care about doing the job well? Good business operators take pride in their work for its own sake, and not just to make money. At Jim’s we monitor this very carefully. Franchisees who give poor service are many times more likely to report poor income and to fail than those who do not.

Franchise versus independent Buying a franchise is, for most people, a good way into business. I don’t need to bore you with statistics, but it’s well known that most independent service businesses fail within their first year. With us it’s less than 10 per cent, and I’m sure many of our competitors would do as well.

However, and this is important, a franchise is not for everyone. Franchisees need to toe the line in all kinds of areas, including what may seem petty details such as the exact placement of signage. At Jim’s we’re especially rigorous about customer service issues and we get quite a bit of flack from

62 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

franchisees at times. I tell them it goes with the territory, and I also warned them about it quite emphatically at induction training (which with us usually happens before they sign).

It’s not a coincidence that people from organisations that require both discipline and initiative do well as franchisees. These include such people as Army NCO’s and bank managers.

But if you want to run your own business in exactly the way you want to, go it alone.

Mobile versus fixed I probably shouldn’t even answer this because I’m biased! Mobile franchises, for me, have huge advantages. Investment is limited but the upside can be unlimited.

Provided customer service is good it’s normally remarkably easy to build a business. Fixed businesses rely on foot traffic, or if they’re in shopping centres incur huge rents and you can be kicked out if the centre decides you’re not part of their required mix. We hear plenty of horror stories like this.

However, I’m sure there are many who would disagree with me, and certainly many people have been successful with fixed franchise businesses. The important thing is to find the right business for you.

fe feature at u r e Which franchise?

There is one piece of advice worth more than everything else put together: Do your homework.

I am utterly astonished that people can spend tens of thousands of hard earned dollars on a business without spending even a few hours properly checking it out. One thing I didn’t mention earlier when discussing our selection system is that we look for people who have completed a proper investigation. If they haven’t then they’re idiots, and a franchise system doesn’t need idiots.

The first and best way to check is to talk to existing franchisees. One major benefit of the Franchise Code is that it requires prospects to be given a list of current franchisees. Make sure you get that list at a very early stage, and if you don’t get it then walk away. I’ve actually seen such a list where the phone number given for each franchisee was the office number, so no-one could check!

With the list in hand, start phoning. Ask how much work they get, what’s the support like, the positives and negatives. Knowing what they know now, would they do the same thing again? A single bad answer need not be fatal. Sometimes even the best franchisors can make a mistake in selection.

But more than one or two, watch out. And phone as many as possible to make sure you get a reasonable sample. It’s also worth stopping franchisees in the street to ask them.

Even if you’re interested in a specific franchise system, check out the competitors and see what they have to say. Good franchisors shouldn’t bag the competition, but they will give advice on the specific advantages that they have. This helps you to understand better what you’re getting into.

Plus, of course, talk to their franchisees as well.

When talking to a prospective franchisor, prepare yourself and ask as many tough questions as you can. If they don’t like this then they’re not the place for you. I love it when people bring out a pad full of difficult quesitons. They’re often apologetic, but in fact it’s a sign of people worth having.

And here’s another test that will really sort the sheep from the goats. Are they selecting you? Are they trying to find out everything they can about you, letting you know you’ll have to pass their selection system, telling you about the negatives as well as the

positives? There’s a widespread saying in our industry that many franchise systems choose their franchisees through a ‘mirror test’. You hold a mirror up to their face and if it fogs, you sign them. Or, as one man said to me when I asked him what he looked for in choosing franchisees for his previous employer: “$50,000 and a pulse”.

If you’re not being selected then they really don’t care whether you succeed, and it’s a system with poor standards that is likely to have a poor reputation with the public. We try very hard to choose good people, but even so the great majority of our complaints come from a small minority of franchisees. As mentioned earlier, not everyone should be in business for themselves.

You might object from this that surely with a business like Jim’s which is well-known and well established, such careful checking is not necessary.

Checking is necessary.

I have around 300 regional franchisors in 40 odd divisions and most do a pretty good job, but some do not. In the past year alone we have ‘persuaded’ several franchisors to sell out because the support they gave their franchisees was not up to par. There are some really good systems out there, and some utterly appalling ones. It’s up to you to work out which is which.

Getting Started You’ve made your choice and got started.

Here is some general advice about how to succeed.

Care about your customers. As discussed earlier, the best business owners are those who love what they do, take pride in their work, and would be horrified to let customers down. Do the right thing and be sensible about your decisions, and the money will come. I’ve made many and

terrible mistakes in my business career but I have always been passionate about my clients.

Follow the system. There’s no point joining a franchise if you constantly buck against it. Some aspects you may object to, but it’s been worked out over time as an effective way to run a business.

Every day, work to improve what you do.

Never give up.

Founded in 1989, Jim’s Group is Australia’s largest franchise system, with 3420 franchisees in 40 different divisions.

It also operates in New Zealand, Canada and the UK. Dr Jim Penman is the founder and CEO of Jim’s Group Pty Ltd. He is the author of ‘Selling by not Selling’, a business autobiography which can be downloaded from Amazon, or for free as a pdf from www.jims.net. He also funds a research program into epigenetics and behaviour through RMIT University and the Florey Institute, has ten academic publications to his name and has published two books on the biology of history (details at www.biohistory.org).

W: www.jims.net

Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand 63

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Cafe2U

enjoy the daily grind

For Damien Tyler of Bayswater North in Melbourne, making the shift to Cafe2U has been a positive experience.

After 20 years in a large corporate company, he made the move to franchising.

“When it came to choosing Cafe2U, compared to other franchises, the decision was a no brainer. The franchise has a very strong brand and I’ve had nothing but good experiences with the people I dealt with, from our initial enquiry until now - two and a half years on.

“It’s a challenge going into business on your own, which is why opting for a franchise was so appealing to me. I felt I had a very clear process to follow – a process that had been tried and tested over 170 franchisees plus everyone wants you to succeed and is there to help you.”

John Stanton, General Manager for Cafe2U has nothing but praise for Damien as a franchisee, “Since launching his business in October 2012 we have seen Damien’s franchise continue to improve, to the point where he was awarded Australasian Franchisee of The Year 2014. Damien has shown that following a proven system truly works. He doesn’t stray from the system or the recommendations of the support staff.

“As his speed and barista skills improved after his first few months in the business we have seen consistent, incremental growth in a very competitive territory. That is the way to build a business.”

Following the recent acquisition by Retail Food Group (RFG), the company has been working hard to improve Cafe2U’s operating procedures and running costs.

This will see Cafe2U present an enhanced investment opportunity when unveiling 20 new Victorian territories.

“For Cafe2U, the RFG acquisition has been an exciting development. We will retain the essence of our existing business model with regards to training and operational support, but RFG will bring new benefits to the table for franchise investors,” said John.

“With RFG now behind the brand, Victoria is the key market in our plans for 2015.

The franchise has proven to be extremely successful in other areas of Australia, as well as internationally. We believe our new offering will appeal to Victorians like never before.”

John’s years at Cafe2U have taught him a thing or two about a successful franchisee.

From a one-van coffee business, a decade on Cafe2U has become a bona fide global franchise operating in seven countries including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, South Africa and the United States.

“As we say, follow the system and do it with a smile and you can’t go too far wrong in a Cafe2U franchise. Damien is a great ambassador for our brand, we are very grateful for having franchisees of this quality to represent Cafe2U.”

Cafe2U’s state of the art equipment housed in a Mercedes Benz van has been instrumental in raising the standard of mobile coffee products, along with constant staff training aiding the evolution of the ‘mobile barista’.

64 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

As the first mobile coffee franchise to launch in Australia, the company recognised two things - the demand for high quality coffee and the time poor nature of the average person. The spread of Cafe2U franchises across Australia and beyond can be attributed to the low cost and low risk investment opportunity. More than 98 per cent of all of its franchisees have achieved or exceeded the level of success they aimed for prior to starting their business.

c t

“For 90 per cent of our franchisees, it’s their first business. Many have never made an espresso before joining. They’re looking to work hard and grow their business, with the support of Cafe2U management.”

Cafe2U franchisees are from all walks of life, including recently redundant baby boomers looking for a fresh start, young families striving to achieve work/life balance and budding entrepreneurs.

If you too would like to join the world’s largest mobile coffee franchise, contact Os Castañeda on: T: 1300 223 328 E: franchises@cafe2u.com.au W: www.cafe2u.com

CAF

Cafe

coffee, tea... and me!

Put yourself in the picture.

Get out of the rat race and into your own Cafe2U Mercedes Benz. Enjoy meeting people and making money with the proven techniques of the world’s largest mobile coffee franchise.

Enjoy your work. Spend time with your family.

Be your own boss!

1300 223 328 (AU) 0508 004 388 (NZ) www.cafe2u.com CAFE2U004 Cafe2U004_BusinessFranchiseMagazine_V1.indd 1

Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand 65 24/11/2013 10:12 pm

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E x per t Ad v ice

FRANCHISEE TO FRANCHISEE:

TIPS FOR MOBILE FRANCHISES “To your customers, you’re the face of your brand.”

Kathy Smith, Regional Franchisee Perth, at Fastway Couriers offers her top tips for future mobile franchisees.

With the appeal of a flexible and dynamic work environment, many, including myself, are drawn to operating mobile franchises.

There are a few key factors to keep in mind when considering a mobile franchise.

Research your market The first step to operating any franchise

66 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

is to research the market. While you need to know your industry inside out, understanding your business environment is just as important. Many mobile franchises have the potential to cover a wide geographic area, therefore conducting research into all potential locations and customers is crucial. Keeping up to date with the latest economical, legal and technological developments, can also assist you in identifying growth opportunities, distributing resources, and ultimately, staying ahead of your competitors.

fe feature at u r e “Operating a mobile franchise can offer an avenue to explore your entrepreneurial spirit with a smaller degree of financial risk than a bricks-and-mortar franchise.”

Kathy Smith | Regional Franchisee Perth Fastway Couriers

Consider the costs

Grow your business

In some cases, operating a mobile franchise can offer an avenue to explore your entrepreneurial spirit with a smaller degree of financial risk than a bricks-and-mortar franchise. Although set up and overhead costs are lower for some mobile franchises, keep in mind that you are susceptible to changes in variable costs, in particular, oil prices. Therefore, monitoring costs, creating a flexible structure and adapting to change is essential to ensuring your lasting success.

As a franchise owner, it’s in your interest to consider ways of maximising growth opportunities in order to stay ahead. In my experience, I’ve found that the most effective way of achieving this is by expanding your network, developing your contact base and, above all, providing the best customer service. At Fastway, we’re renowned for ‘delighting our customers at the door’ and being the friendly courier experts. This is something we’re very proud of.

Seek innovation One of my most important tips is to ensure you’re aligned with a franchise that heavily invests in technology and innovation. This will secure your competitiveness in the months and years ahead, which is hugely important to the success of your franchise.

Fastway’s franchisees benefit from the continuous roll out of new technology and innovations across the network. Due to this, our customers have access to the best levels of service and products.

In the last 12 months, Fastway has invested heavily in developing innovations, for example, Fastway has developed a new delivery service called Parcel Connect, which offers customers a more convenient way to send, collect and return parcels.

As a franchisee it’s important to embrace the technology that’s available to you and seek new opportunities to improve your operations. Also, as a mobile franchise, you’ll be on the road for a large part of the day, therefore, technology becomes a crucial tool in communicating with your customers and, if appropriate, your franchise network.

Efficiency is key Logistics management is a key factor for all mobile franchisees. By developing a streamlined process you can reduce unnecessary tasks and expenses and in turn, offer your customers the most efficient and timely service. Additionally, technology plays an important role in efficiency, along with having the best staff on your team.

It’s a team effort Although you may spend most of your time in your vehicle, teamwork is an integral part of operating a mobile franchise. The Fastway network is made up of Regional Franchisees, Courier Franchisees and support staff. Each person has a part to play in bringing the brand to life and ensuring the customers’ needs are met and exceeded.

By working together to solve problems, encouraging new ideas and attracting and retaining people that approach their work with heart and enthusiasm, together you can grow your business and drive its success (literally).

At our Fastway Perth franchise, we host a fortnightly lunch at the depot to give the

team an opportunity to interact and share ideas and experiences. Something as simple as this goes a long way in creating a team culture and spirit for a team that is rarely in the same place at the same time.

Put your best foot forward A strong brand is one of the most valuable assets an organisation owns. To make it powerful, the brand needs to be applied consistently, so that anyone dealing with it knows exactly who you are and what you stand for. Keep in mind that, to your customers, you’re the face of your brand, so ensuring you always represent your brand’s identity and culture is important.

Prior to joining Fastway Couriers, Kathy gained extensive knowledge in retail sales and senior management by owning and operating a large supermarket franchise, managing over 70 staff members. Joining Fastway in March 2015, Kathy has focused her initial efforts on restructuring and streamlining the operations and logistics of the Perth franchise, in order to enhance efficiency.

Established in New Zealand in 1983, Fastway Couriers’ global network includes 63 regional depots and 1,200 Courier Franchisees across Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Northern Ireland and South Africa.

Through its industry-leading franchise system, Fastway Couriers has developed a reputation for providing a fast, friendly and cost-effective service to its customers.

To find out more contact: T: 1300 FASTWAY W: www.fastway.com.au

Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand 67

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v.i.p. H ome Ser v ices

Like father, like son It’s a midweek afternoon and Peter Ault has finished his work for the day. He grabs his bag and heads out of the door to his local football club where he coaches the under 17’s team. Peter has been a coach on and off for the last 20 years, and before that loved playing the game just as much.

Finding the time to balance a family life, work and a hobby that can take so much time isn’t all that easy for most; and that’s where Peter’s V.I.P. franchise business comes into play.

For the past 20 years Peter has owned his own lawns and gardens franchise with the

award winning V.I.P. and has no plans on changing this any time soon. Before joining V.I.P. Peter worked at a well-known bank in the area of commercial lending. Ironically it was a friend of Peter’s who asked him to do a little research into the V.I.P. business model; his friend never joined V.I.P. - but Peter did!

“I had young children at the time, the work in the bank was stressful and I really needed a change. I simply didn’t have enough time for the family or for myself, and wanted to take charge of my financial future. Having the franchise over the 20 years has given me so much more than I would have had just being a number at the bank,” explained Peter before heading out to the football club.

In fact, Peter feels so strongly that he made the right decision all those years ago that his son Michael, after advice from Peter, has now joined V.I.P. with his own lawns and gardens business. “Michael has helped me out with work over the years so understands a little about what running his own franchise might be like. If I had any

68 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

doubts whatsoever about if it was right for him or not I would of course have raised them. I would certainly recommend V.I.P. to anyone considering running their own business so didn’t hesitate to do the same for Michael. I was delighted for him when he decided to take the next step.”

Michael is set to follow in his father’s footsteps and cannot wait to get going.

“I’ve seen at first hand the lifestyle dad has had with his business. That’s something I’m looking for too. I still wanted to do my own homework as well so went out for a day with another V.I.P. lawns and gardens franchisee which just cemented my decision even further.” commented Michael.

If, like Peter and now Michael, you are interested in finding out more about running your own franchise business or would like to spend some time with an experienced franchisee to give you an impression of what life could be like as a franchisee, simply contact V.I.P. today.

P: 13 26 13 W: www.viphomeservices.com.au

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FE ATURE

Jim’s Pool Ca re

Jim’s Pool Care:

Dive straight in!

Appealing to people from all backgrounds; now is the perfect time to join the Jim’s Pool Care team.

Pool owners, Hotels and Body Corporates need to keep a close eye on their pool and equipment all year round to ensure that as soon as the swimming season returns, they can dive right in. Jim’s Pool Care are providing a genuine labour and retail opportunity to service this growing and lucrative residential and commercial market.

From cleaning, regular maintenance, heating and inspections through to lighting, pool blankets and robotic cleaners, Jim’s Pool Care is a true Mobile Pool Shop and have Australia’s pools covered.

As part of the Jim’s Group, Jim’s Pool Care opened for business 11 years ago in Western Australia. Owner and General Manager Brett Blair took on the Australian Franchisor role six years ago and has seen the franchise chain grow from around 30 to 85 franchisees. With a presence in all capital cities, except Darwin, Jim’s Pool Care has enjoyed phenomenal growth over this time.

Brett says, “The Jim’s Pool Care concept is a true mobile pool shop that not only provides pool maintenance but sells a full and complete range of pool equipment and chemicals. This means our franchisees can charge for their time and earn great margins on lucrative chemical and pool equipment products.”

Multiple streams of income are available from your own Jim’s Mobile Pool Shop

70 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

fe feature at u r e and include casual pool servicing; regular maintenance programs; the sale and installation of new equipment and a range of pool accessories.

BECOMING A FRANCHISEE The recruitment and application process starts with an initial meeting, usually over a coffee and is a discovery phase for both parties. Once further information is requested or an application received, potential franchisees are then offered a day on the road with a franchisee.

This is a great concept and the potential franchisee is free to choose any working franchisee as Jim’s Group fully believe in being transparent all the way through the process. Applicants can simply contact their local Pool Care franchisor and see what the job entails first hand. They are also encouraged to ask as many questions as they want. After they have been out on the road and experienced for themselves how the business works; the next step is to start formalising the application and selecting a territory to build the business. Usually the location is close or near to home to help reduce travel times and to help maximise chargeable hours for the franchisee. It also means that they can pop home if needed or help out with family commitments if they arise.

If you meet the Jim’s selection criteria, you will be given a contract and disclosure document for consideration and encouraged to seek legal, accounting and business advice.

“When looking for a franchisee, we are ideally looking for somebody that is personable and able to build great customer relationships, as we are not only about

“As part of the Jim’s Group – there are currently over 3300 franchisees; making it a nationally recognised brand.” one-off jobs in pool care, it’s about the ongoing regular maintenance. We are looking for people that are motivated to get into business for themselves, have a positive attitude and are able to get out on the road and build their own business with our systems.

“We have franchisees from all walks of life. Our franchisees don’t need to have existing industry skills as Jim’s Pool Care provides comprehensive training; they just need to be willing to try new things, follow the systems we have developed and provide great customer service,” Brett says.

EXCEPTIONAL TRAINING Working with the best brands in the pool industry, including Astral, Davey, Zodiac, Maytronics and Sunbather, the support that the franchisees receive from the brands with regard to ongoing training and product support is impressive.

Franchisees are encouraged to enhance their professional development each year, attend local team meetings and training sessions. Jim’s Pool Care also encourage franchisees to become specialised if they wish in certain pool areas. To help franchisees be the best they can be, all new franchisees are now required to complete the Certificate III &IV Pool Technician course, which is a national accredited qualification. This is done by a third party Registered Training Authority and is

provided in conjunction with the in-house training completed by Jim’s Pool Care.

This in-house training starts with three days at the Jim’s Group Training Centre in Melbourne. All franchisees, from around the country, fly to Melbourne to meet Jim Penman and to learn more about the Jim’s system and how to become successful in business. The franchisees then go back to their respective cities and states where they complete an on-the-road and face-to-face pool school training program which lasts approximately 15 days with their local franchisor and trainer.

“Ongoing training is provided by using a local master franchisor model. We have someone on the ground in every region that provides the ongoing training and support. Once trained, every month, as a minimum, the master franchisor will contact the franchisee to provide technical and business support. There are between 6 - 8 local regional meetings a year, which allows all the franchisees in that particular region to get together and share ideas and attend a range of supplier training. This provides our franchisees with a strong support network,” says Brett.

This strong support network is reinforced with an annual franchise convention, where franchisees fly in from all around Australia. The conventions are usually 3 - 4 days where they get to hear from other franchisees, industry experts and sales and

Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand 71

FE ATURE

Jim’s Pool Ca re

motivation coaches, which provides a great opportunity to learn and network with other franchisees. There are some really great stories shared each year of success and innovative ideas.

SUPPORT Part of the Jim’s Group – there are currently over 3300 franchisees; making it a nationally recognised brand, Jim’s Pool Care get to leverage off the other divisions who are also out every day in customers’ homes and backyards. While each Division has a dedicated marketing team and website, all Jim’s franchisees are encouraged to cross-promote the other 35 divisions, using local area marketing, which is extremely useful to a newly launched franchise.

This enables the Jim’s Pool Care franchisee to gain traction because of the existing local brand recognition. In this day and age of multiple trades and services, customers like knowing that they are guaranteed a 2 hour call back as a new customer and that they are dealing with a recognised company who offer a 100 per cent guarantee on all the work they complete.

While Jim’s is a strong brand, there are still obligations that are required when joining as a franchisee. All franchisees must make sure they are well presented, they show up on time, provide great customer service.

Jim’s is one of the few franchise systems that sends out a survey to every new Jim’s customer.

Jim’s take information from the customer surveys seriously and record that feedback against each franchisee’s record and where there is opportunity, provide feedback. This ensures that the franchisee is continuously improving and highlights if a franchisee is performing outside of the benchmarks set.

If this happens consistently, they are then invited back to do additional training.

There is help all the way along the startup process and Jim’s Pool Care makes it easy for new franchisees when they start by providing all the back office systems and step by step startup guides. Utilising online cloud software, they have a customer management system as well as a national call centre which deals with half a million calls each year from across the country for all Jim’s services.

On a day to day basis franchisees are responsible for planning their work load,

responding promptly to new customer call outs for pool cleaning and equipment, invoicing, account management, local area marketing and ongoing professional development. Brett told us “Jim’s Pool Care has worked hard to develop a strong and supportive culture. The great thing about the Jim’s system is if new franchisees ever need any help, the support team is only a phone call away as we have an amazing network of friendly and helpful franchisees, franchisors and suppliers.”

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Jim’s Pool Care franchises are now for sale in selected locations across Australia.

The price for a new site starts at $66,000 and includes a complete startup package.

Jim’s is committed to new franchisees and their success by offering a Pay for Work Guarantee of $1500 (incl. GST) per week.

This means if you follow all the systems, and do not meet the weekly guarantee at the end of the month, you can be topped up the difference.

72 Business 72 Business Franchise Franchise AustraliaAustralia and Newand Zealand New Zealand

Another exciting point of difference is a flat monthly franchise fee is charged, which is not percentage based. This means the harder you work; the more money you can make. When a franchisee first starts trading they can ask to be introduced to customers; which incurs a lead fee cost. But once they have their own customer and referral base and are happy with their income, they can remove themselves from this introductory lead system; and no longer take leads.

A Jim’s Pool Care franchise is a mobile retail business with huge opportunities.

This system provides you with the opportunity to work outside, to work your own hours, to be your own boss and to build your business without limit.

If you too would like to take control of your future, contact Jim’s Pool Care now on: T: 131 546 E: info@jimspoolcare.com.au W: www.jimspoolcare.com.au

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Clea n G reen S trata

JOIN THE STRATA PROPERTY SPECIALISTS With a determination to become the number one strata maintenance company in Australia and more than 20 years’ experience of managing, cleaning, gardening and maintaining strata properties, now is the perfect time to join Clean Green Strata in their East Coast expansion.

Offering a selection of different franchise models to choose from, Clean Green Strata appeals to a broad spectrum of franchisees.

Managing Director, Chris Earthrowl says, “Our franchisees come from very different backgrounds, including brothers, husband and wife teams as well as individuals, all with the desire to work outdoors, to keep a Monday to Friday schedule and grow their business into a valuable asset.

“Each franchisee possesses dedication, the drive to succeed, a strong work ethic and a passion for the brand and we are looking for the same qualities in our new franchisees to help us on our journey to become number one.”

Why Clean Green Strata?

Clean Green Strata gives you three different turnkey franchise models, Strata Cleaning; Strata Gardening or a full service Cleaning and Gardening franchise.

Strata Cleaning: Is the cleaning and maintenance of common areas including the internal and external areas car park areas and bin management.

Strata Gardening: Is the maintenance of common area garden beds and lawn areas on a strata block. This includes hedging, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, weeding and mowing lawns.

“Each franchisee possesses dedication, the drive to succeed, a strong work ethic and a passion for the brand.”

Full service Cleaning and Gardening: This is the preferred turnkey model because a franchisee can earn more by offering both cleaning and gardening services.

As each property is different, a unique ‘block specification’ is created which highlights the cleaning and gardening tasks and frequencies you need to follow.

With these easy to follow systems and procedures, your chosen business model is extremely simple.

Chris explains that the support given to each franchisee helps to maintain the quality control and excellence across the network. “From the very first day, Head Office supports each franchisee with sales leads, marketing, news campaigns, uniforms, branding and SEO. Alongside this we also complete all invoicing as well as provide a credit control function, using a cloud based accounting package.

“Training never stops. At the beginning, we accompany the franchisee in their territory completing on the road training and once they are up and running and feel comfortable, the Operations Manager will then complete regular on site reviews

74 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

to check their work and bring them up to speed with the ever changing industry techniques and products.”

In addition to this administration support, each franchisee also receives a vehicle fitout, with the branded and customised vans and utes designed to ensure they are easy to use, complete with racking to ensure that each item is easily accessible while on-site.

All franchisees are assigned their own strata companies with whom they work with closely; no strata property is too big or too small.

Becoming a franchisee While experience in cleaning or gardening is preferred, the right attitude and commitment to the Clean Green Strata service standard is the essential qualifying factor. So if you’re looking for a change and want to get out from behind your desk, Clean Green Strata is the franchise for you.

For more information contact: P: 1300 66 11 82 E: franchise@cleangreenstrata.com.au W: www.cleangreenstrata.com.au

HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW MANY BLOCKS OF UNITS THERE ARE? Ever wondered who looks after them and how you might be able to get a piece of the action?

LOOK NO FURTHER - CGS CLEANING AND GARDENING WHY CGS FRANCHISE? s .O PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED s %STABLISHED BRAND IN THE STRATA INDUSTRY SINCE s .O AFTER HOURS WORK s .O WEEKEND WORK s 0ROFESSIONAL HEAD OFlCE SUPPORT s 6ERY PROlTABLE s (UGE GROWTH POTENTIAL

To learn how to get your piece of the action and get the perfect work life balance Call: 0410 633 536 | Email: franchise@cleangreenstrata.com.au

www.cleangreenstrata.com.au

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Fitness Enha ncement

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE LIVES? Since starting his business at the age of 19 with just $400, Scott Hunt is a man committed to helping Australians achieve their healthy lifestyle goals.

Historically Gold Coast and Brisbane based, Fitness Enhancement have now expanded into select Melbourne and Sydney areas and with dedicated staff and franchisees they have a team of 26 Personal Trainers, all working within a niche market that the gyms neglect – helping real people achieve real results.

Passion Scott says that if you are looking for a franchise that keeps you active and is about helping others, then this is the franchise for you.

Most fitness franchises or Gyms are about selling memberships and giving absolutely no customer service to the majority of members. It’s not really a business focussed on the customer if you never even see most of them after sign up.

And many mobile service based businesses are about doing the jobs that aren’t exactly a passion, such as cleaning the house, washing the dog or mowing the lawn.

A Fitness Enhancement Personal Training franchise solves these problems, if keeping fit and active, whether it be at the Gym, running, sports or just a healthy lifestyle is your hobby, you can own a franchise that lets you make a living out of your hobby that’s both financially and personally rewarding.

As a Fitness Enhancement franchisee you get to spend your days working with clients’ one on one or in groups from their home, a local park or your own 100% private Studio. Our target market is everyday

Aussies who hate the Gym scene or simply don’t have time for it.

While Gyms are great places for the body beautiful, they’re understandably the last place many older, larger, injured or under confident would go to. And of course these are the people who need to exercise the most with our ageing population and over half of the country overweight or obese. There’s not only a huge number of people that need the likes of a Fitness Enhancement Personal Trainer, with little competition from image conscious Gyms, but it’s also extremely rewarding training people.

Scott says, “We’ve had so many amazing success stories such as Shari who lost 100kg (you can see her amazing story at www.fitnessenhancement.com), however the biggest reward is knowing that you’re changing each and every clients life for the better, whether that be dropping a few kilos, being fit enough to keep up with the kids or feeling years younger.”

Everything you need to succeed A mobile franchise territory starts from $29,000 and includes all equipment, advertising and everything you need to become a successful Personal Trainer and business owner. A 100 per cent private Studio is well under $200,000 for a full turn key business. Both options are a fraction of the price of 24/7 Gym franchises, yet the average Fitness Enhancement client spends over $5,000 and many have gone on to spend over $30,000!

“Although we are relatively new to franchising, we’ve been in business for 16 years. We practice what we preach within our own franchise and provide all

76 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand

the support a franchisee could need. If you’re not a qualified Personal Trainer you can do your Certificate III and IV qualifications through us for an extra $3,000. Our franchisee training is tailored to the franchisee’s needs and existing skill set. As long as you love practising what you’ll be preaching, you’re down to earth, passionate about helping people and have great customer service skills, we can teach the rest,” says Scott.

As a Fitness Enhancement franchisee you’ll receive your own exclusive marketing territory of over 40,000 people and all the marketing material you need to make your small business look big and professional.

Alongside this, you’ll receive extensive back-end business and marketing systems as well as a custom made CRM (Customer Relationship Management) program to help you quickly, easily and effectively run your business from your lap top or tablet. The 1800 PT for U number ensures that you never miss a new enquiry as their Trainers in head office are there to book your new clients straight into the booking system.

With over 15 years of experience, Fitness Enhancement has the strategies and resources to make you successful and take away the headaches most small business owners have!

So, if you’re passionate about building relationships, changing lives and want to be part of team invested in YOUR future, contact Fitness Enhancement on: T: 1800 PT for U (783 678) E: franchise@fitnessenhancement.com W: www.fitnessenhancement.com/ franchise