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At The Expo
Inside the Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
Brisbane 19-20 July 14’
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Franchise Buyer
contents
editor’s note
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 PUBLISHED BY Franchise Media Group Pty Ltd
Editor Glenn Walford glenn@franchisebuyer.com.au
Sub-Editor Emma Webb emma@franchisebuyer.com.au
Expo Wrap Up Bing Boy
Your Social Village Croc’s Play Centre Flip Out Indian Brothers Expo images Embroid Me
Hair Extensions Full Stop
V.I.P Home Services The Cheesecake Shop
Open2View
The Business Commandos
Island Way Sorbet
Boring Chores Bodiez 24/7 Fitness Franchise Fitouts Australia
The Coffee Guy Dream Doors
Editorial & Advertising Inquiries Tel: 1300 669 983 Email: info@franchisebuyer.com.au Opinions expressed in Franchise Buyer are not necessarily those of Franchise Buyer or the Publisher. Persons entering into a franchise agreement are strongly urged to seek their own independent advice. All material is copyright and reproduction in whole or in part is not allowable unless specific permission from the Editor is provided.
At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
Expos Are Awesome! Welcome to our nifty little wrap up of one of the recent Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo’s across the country – this one focuses on the recent Brisbane Expo on the weekend of 19 – 21 July. Maybe One Will Resonate? - Given there are so many opportunities present, with so much happening, we thought it may help if we parcel up some quick informative interviews. We hope one resonates with you, or at least helps to focus your search and understanding for the opportunity that is right for you. Video – Is a big part of what we do going forward, as it’s almost the next best thing to ‘eyeballing’ the person behind the business you are looking at. You see a bunch of video interviews and information we have put together as well with Franchise BuyerTV.com Franchisor’s Want to Feature? – One of the biggest challenges in the marketplace is to get your ‘story or opportunity’ out there in front of people. We’re here to help with that as well, as more info on opportunities ultimately means more choice for the buyer. If you would like to be seen, make sure you drop by and feature on FranchiseBuyerTV at the Melbourne Expo 22-24 August. We’re on stand A26 in Melbourne, so please do drop by and say hi! Thanks and we hope you enjoyed this neat little version of Franchise Buyer!
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Franchising Expo
draws record crowd
More than 2000 people flocked to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre recently for the second in a series of Franchising and Business Opportunities Expos.
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xhibition Manager Fiona Stacey says 80 exhibitors showcased their franchises at the exhibition, which increased 40 percent from last year, and general feedback from the two-day expo was positive.
“On the back of the Brisbane show we’ve got several exhibitors that have booked into the Melbourne show,” Fiona says. “Genuine quality of visitors, that has been the feedback that has come through from exhibitors – they have been really happy with the numbers and the genuine interest from the visitors.” Guest speakers ran seminars throughout the entire weekend, drawing crowds and enquiries. “It really indicated that people are keen to learn about franchising – they can see the relevance in the topics that are being discussed and they’re keen to chat to those people afterwards as well,” Fiona says. The expo held benefits for both potential franchisees and franchisors, according to Fiona, who says face to face meetings at the enquiry stage of a franchise partnership are important. 4
“It gives franchisors the chance to meet face to face with potential franchisees and they can very quickly realise the nature of the visitor,” she says. “It helps them to put aside the people they don’t think will fit and gives them a good feel of those that they do think will fit. “There’s also networking opportunities among the exhibitors – a lot of friendships are made amongst the exhibitors, a lot of information is shared amongst them and I think it really helps them keep their profile in the franchising space.” The final expo of the series will be held in Melbourne from August 22-24. “We have the Victorian Government on board – we’re a host of their Small Business Month and at the end of that Small Business Month is our franchising show,” Fiona says. “They have a big bus that comes in and they run a few seminars and have small business consultants on hand to share information with the public.” To find out more about the Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo, or to register, visit www. franchisingexpo.com.au or call 03 9999 5464.
Franchise Buyer
bing boy
Cultures meet to deliver tasty franchise opportunity
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rban Asian street food mixed with Australian culture at the Franchising and Business Opportunities expo in Brisbane, as Bing Boy showcased its franchise opportunity. The Bing Boy stand was packed from start to finish as staff offered free samples to guests drawn in by the smell of freshly prepared chicken and pork wrapped in thin wheat omelettes. Bing Boy was established in 2011 with the aim of bringing traditional Asian food to Australia. The concept obviously caught on, with Bing Boy now operating 30 sites throughout Australia. “We make pancakes, wrapping up different ingredients and combining Chinese and Australian cultures and tastes,” Bing Boy representative Leno Zhang says. “We had a lot of people come along and they really enjoyed our free samples.” Leno says the company’s success can be attributed to the easy operation for franchisees, as well as the ongoing training and support they receive. Bing Boy’s training includes three online modules, as well as in-store training on the day-to-day operations, and a team will be in-store throughout the first week of operations to help get set up.
At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
A monthly store evaluation is carried out to ensure franchisees are tracking well and intranet support is provided with all the information franchisees need to run their store successfully. “We are an easy operation and we only have three suppliers so it is very easy to order and we also have relatively low initial investment as well,” Len says. To find out more about becoming a Bing Boy franchisee, visit www.bingboy.com.au or call 08 8356 2248.
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your social village
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Village has the social side sorted
ocial media – it’s the buzz word surrounding business marketing, but how do you do it effectively? Your Social Village has been combining traditional and digital marketing strategies for its customer base throughout Australia for more than a year, basing its success on the KPIs of the businesses it works with. Franchisees are responsible for lead generation and managing customer accounts, while the franchisor outsources the marketing to a host of journalists, copy writers and other media professionals. “We deal with companies, typically small to medium companies, that want to be on social media but either don’t know how to do it or don’t have time to do it, so we do it on their behalf,” You Social Village CEO, Mark Veitch says. “We started the company just over 14 months ago and spent the first seven months building the model. There is no leader in the industry as we can see it so we wanted to get that market leader position. “We see social media as part of a marketing mix, fusing traditional marketing, digital marketing and social media marketing.” Mark says Your Social Village has systems in place to measure the success of its social media strategies to
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ensure the customer is getting value for money. “A lot of clients will say ‘how many likes are we going to have by the end of the first month?’, but that has no value,” he says. “We sit with the client and work out together what success would look like at the end of 12 months and identify what needs to be done and work back from there. We have six month KPI’s, three month KPI’s, tasks each month and that is what builds the strategy. “We will look at what they’re doing on other platforms and try to leverage each one so they’re working with each other and build the campaign.” Franchisees have access to a reputable brand, as well as training and processes to ensure their success. “Within that training we give ideas on how to do lead generation and once a month the franchisee will attend a Skype call with a client and one of our community managers will sit in on that call and together they will build a strategy and it then goes off to our journalists and copy writers from there. “This means the franchisee is getting that full support around them so all they need to do is get the customer and manage them, we do everything else.” For more information about becoming a Your Social Village franchisee, visit www.yoursocialvillage.com.au or call 1300 199 320.
Franchise Buyer
croc’s play centre
Opportunity to snap a Croc’s franchise at expo
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roc’s Play Centre was on the lookout for Brisbane franchisees at the recent Franchising and Business Opportunities expo as it sets its sites having 100 stores throughout Australia. Croc’s Play Centre was established six years ago and is in the process of opening its eighth store in Melbourne. The business, which is a children’s play centre combined with a café, focuses heavily on interaction with its customers through play, as well as through social media and loyalty programs. Croc’s Play Centre Director Brett Aldons says he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to exhibit and meet potential franchisees face to face. “It is so much easier to understand the brand and the product once the franchisee comes and meets us and talks to us face to face,” Brett says. “We don’t send staff to talk to them, they can talk to the franchisor directly.” Brett says he was looking for a specific type of person to take on a Croc’s franchise. “A Croc’s franchisee is someone who is prepared to At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
work hard, someone who enjoys working with kids and also has children or understands what children and parents want.” “We want people who are spotlessly clean, understanding that our brand is built on being the cleanest in the country – but aside from that we want people who are prepared to work hard and build a team around them.” There is also a sense of community surrounding Croc’s Play Centre, according to Brett. “When we are in an area we employ a lot of people from that local area to come and work and often we give young kids their first opportunity to enter the workforce,” Brett says. “It is an outlet for kids, which is safe, with healthy food and a great break for parents, with great coffee. “We have a very good presence in Melbourne and the goal for us is to expand nation-wide and Queensland is a big part of our growth strategy.” To find out more about becoming a Croc’s Play Centre franchisee visit www.crocsplaycentre.com.au or email enquiries@thefranchiseshop.com.au
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flip out
Flip Out puts fun into franchising
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hat could be more fun than literally bouncing off the walls in a room filled with trampolines and foam pits? Owning your own centre filled with trampolines and foam pits, that’s what! Flip Out was established in 2012 by Brent Grundy, and has since grown to 21 sites throughout Australia, Taiwan and Dubai, with plans in place to hit 50 sites by the end of this year. “Flip Out is for all people to jump around and to be engaged with everyone else in an area where they can all play one one,” Brent says. “There’s trampolines on the floors, walls, foam pits, we have Olynpic trampolines – basically everything that is made in trampolining, if not, we make it.” Brent says Flip Out has been a successful business venture because of its unique offering in a safe atmosphere. “We not only cater for all ages, we also progress the 8
sport – we train kids for free and the concept behind it is that it’s community based,” Brent says. The franchise model offerings a perfect lifestyle, according to Brent, who says while franchisees will have to work hard, there is a large element of fun involved. “Compared to every other business we’ve come across, they are all work, this is fun and in this business we make a lot more money – it’s much easier, relaxing, fun, it ticks all the boxes,” he says. “The good things about this business is you don’t have to find a customer base – the customers chase us down. “Someone will walk in the door with a smile, pay their money, and leave with an even bigger smile telling you they’re going to bring back more friends next week.” To find out more about becoming a Flip Out franchisee, visit www.flipout.net.au or call 03 8615 7241.
Franchise Buyer
indian brothers
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Indian Brothers spice up franchise sector
ndian Brothers has taken the concept of convenience to a whole new level, creating a franchise that makes life easier for both consumers and franchisees. Established in 2002, Indian Brothers now has 10 franchisees and five company-owned stores and has plans in place to open another five by the end of the year. Indian Brothers Managing Director Steve Potter says the business has been received well by consumers as a convenient takeaway option. “It is instant Indian takeaway with some casual dining options for the right locations,” Steve says. “All the food is pre-prepared, so they’re not waiting – they’re into the store and out of the store within five minutes. “Since November last year we have been run off our feet, with 10 new stores in just under 10 months, so things are going very well.” Steve says the number of franchises has increased rapidly due to the ease of running the business and the support given along the way. “People can pick it up and run with it, you don’t have to be a chef. We do everything for them as far as selecting the shop and getting them set up for business, so they can walk straight into an operating shop,” he says. “From then on they get their regular training and
At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
we do their national marketing, run the website for the national brand and the Facebook page for the national brand and we monitor it all for them and respond to customers on their behalf. “We’re looking for franchisees who like Indian food and someone who has a bit of initiative, good business skills and good customer service skills, but we provide most of the food training so you don’t need to be a chef or cook because you are educated in the first four weeks.” Steve was full of praise for the recent Franchising and Business Opportunities expo, saying he would be mad not to be involved. “You have to be there,” he says. “We are such a new brand in the franchising space so getting our name out into the market here makes good business sense.” “There’s nothing like meeting the people that own and run the franchise business. You can have a good web presence and good advertising, but it’s about talking to people and understanding what they’re like and seeing if you can work with them.” Steve says he is hoping to reach 20 franchises by the end of the year, then grow the business by 20 to 25 franchises each year for the next five years. To find out more about becoming an Indian Brother franchisee, visit www.indianbrothers.com.au or email franchising@indianbrothers.com.au
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Gathering for drinks on Saturday evening
Croc's Playcentre
Flip Out
EmbroidMe
Franchise Buyer
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Warren Ballantyne with Glenn Walford
MBE
V.I.P
The Business Commandos Your Social Village Indian Brothers
The Coffee Guy
The team at Bing Boy
The Cheesecake Shop
At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
P. Home Services
Mend a Bath
Dream Doors
embroid me
Another successful expo for EmbroidMe
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niform, embroidery, screen printing and promotional products company, EmbroidMe, uses the Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo every year as its main source of franchise leads, and this year was no exception. EmbroidMe founder Ian Tag says 80 per cent of EmbroidMe franchisees had their first encounter with the company at a franchising expo. “This is our best source of leads,” Ian says. “We do get a lot of online contact but we always seem to do quite well at the franchise shows, you get in front of quality people and I think that’s really important. “You’re not going to get all the information you’re looking for just out of a magazine or online, you have to come here and put a face to the person and you can go from booth to booth learning more about franchising – this is where it starts.” Ian says EmbroidMe’s success can be attributed to its point of difference in the market, combining many services under one roof. “Signarama, our parent company, is the only sign franchise operating in Australia of its magnitude and 12
we migrated that success over to EmbroidMe,” he says. “We do corporate apparel with branding and promotional products. We’re the only national group where you come to a single location and you get embroidery, garment printing and commercial products under one roof, it’s not fragmented over five or six providers.” Ian says his franchisees are supported throughout the life of the business, starting with comprehensive training before the store opens. “Our training is second to none.” he says. “It comes with two weeks training in the US, and that’s one of our strongest points. All of our franchisees come from all different backgrounds and with our training in the US, we take these people and turn them into successful entrepreneurs.” Ian says over the past 18 months, Signarama and EmbroidMe have recorded the strongest growth in their history. “We’d like to see 10 new stores minimum per year over the next five years,” he says. To find out more about becoming an EmbroidMe franchisee, visit www.embroidme.com.au or call 1800 662 663.
Franchise Buyer
hair extensions full stop
Beauty means business for Hair Extensions Full Stop
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hat woman does not want long, luscious locks? Hair Extensions Full Stop is leveraging off this demand and has created a thriving company with 10 distributors and more on the way. Hair Extensions Full Stop uses 100 per cent human hair to add volume and length to the hair of women throughout Australia. Hair Extensions Full Stop representative Phil Callard was at the recent Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo to showcase what the company has to offer. “We give people the opportunity to run their own hair extensions business, either from home, salon or mobile business,” he says. “We set you up, mentor you, give you backup support and marketing advice and we also supply you with the hair extensions, tools and everything that is necessary to become a successful business.” “Licensees get an exclusive territory and all the knowledge they need to run a successful business and the backup from people that have been in the industry for a number of years. “We are looking for someone that is a go getter, someone who is very interested in getting into the beauty industry. “I don’t think this is for anyone who doesn’t want to
At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
have a hands-on approach to the business but you can also use it as an investment model and employ people if you want to. It is for anyone between 18 and 65 that has an interest in the beauty industry.” Phil says the marketing materials and brand awareness strategies the team at Hair Extensions Full Stop use can be attributed to the success of the business so far. “The image is everything, the women are very glamorous and it’s a very slick operation,” he says. “It’s second nature these days for women to have hair extensions, it’s not necessarily a luxury these days and we focus on things like wedding expos, especially for young ladies that want to look their best.” Phil says the Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo was a successful weekend for the business. “We had a lot of interest and a lot of enquiries – not only from people who want to license, but also people that want hair extensions,” he says. “Meeting face to face gives us that credibility – they can talk to someone rather than having a brochure sent out, which is very important.” To find out more about becoming a Hair Extensions Full Stop licensee, visit www.hairextensionsfullstop. com/business-opportunity or call 1800 041 274.
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V.I.P. Home Services
V.I.P. cleans up competition with franchise system
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ard maintenance and cleaning company V.I.P. Home Services have survived the past 35 years sticking to what they know, and have grown a franchise system 1100 strong. V.I.P. Home Services Regional Support Manager Joe Bottomley says the company has become a household name. “We only do lawns and gardens, and home and commercial cleaning,” he says. “We find that we do that best so we don’t venture into other franchise areas. “We have 73 lawns and gardens franchisees in Queensland and through our national branding and awareness, people are running their own very successful franchises.” V.I.P. Home Services was the third company in Australia to franchise in 1972. “We’ve never strayed from the original plan,” Joe says. “Everyone identifies V.I.P. Home Services for those two services.” V.I.P. Home Services exhibits at the Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo every year and Joe says it is a great way to determine if a franchise 14
relationship will work. “We find that it’s the best way to talk to people on a casual basis, and then we follow them up in the next week or so to see if they would like to talk about it any further,” he says. “I think it’s much easier than talking to someone on the phone as you can draw more information from someone about what they’re looking for.” Joe says V.I.P. takes franchise recruitment very seriously and would not recruit a franchisee simply to sell a business. “We’re looking for someone is willing to work hard because if you buy any franchise, the harder you work, the more successful you will be, so you have to have a good work ethic,” he says. “I believe we will grow as the market requires. It’s all to do with selling a franchise within an area and to make it successful. We would never sell a franchise for the sake of selling a franchise. It has to be placed somewhere where that person will be successful.” For more information on becoming a V.I.P. Home Services franchisee, visit www.viphomeservices.com. au or call 13 26 13
Franchise Buyer
THe cheesecake shop
Cheesecake Shop creates sweet smell of success
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he Cheesecake Shop has become a household name throughout Australia and New Zealand, offering cakes baked on premises for a range of occasions. And it is no wonder, given the business’s quality product offering and simple franchise model. The Cheesecake Shop National Marketing Manager Peter Doble says the franchise model has been established to allow anyone with retail experience to succeed, whether they have baking experience or not. “The simple business model is the most important, as well as our strong system,” he says. “No baking or decorating experience is required – we have a small handful of franchisees that were previously bakers, but it’s not to their advantage. We do look for retail experience in our franchisees because it’s about customer interaction and delighting customers. “The customers are 90 per cent happy because they’re already buying cakes for their loved ones or family, so we need to take it that extra step and deliver good service and good quality products.” The Cheesecake Shop was established in 1991 and now has 174 franchises in Australia and 16 in New Zealand. Franchisees can benefit from the volume of established businesses, as well as the associated
At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
branding, according to Peter. “The majority of purchases are for birthdays, so it’s a very stable market,” he says. “Another one of our strengths is collective purchasing or purchasing power. Franchisees definitely benefit from the system because The Cheesecake Shop is 97 per cent about brand awareness and according to research, that’s higher than the likes of Baker’s Delight and Sara Lee in a similar space – so the brand name is very strong and very loved by customers.” Peter says the Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo was a great way to generate leads and meet potential franchisees. “We’ve seen a lot of volume and a lot of interested people and we’ve found the leads to be very interested. They’re sending time with us and asking us good questions,” he says. “At the end of the day it’s a significant purchase, so ideally we would want people to eyeball us and know that they’re buying into a good brand. I don’t think many people would spend $300,000 - $400,000 on a business and not meet the franchisor.” To find out more about joining The Cheesecake Shop as a franchisee, visit www.franchise.cheesecake. com.au.
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Open2view
Open2View looking to snap up franchisees O pen2View is taking real estate photography to a whole new level, and is looking for franchisees to share in its success. Offering a full service from photography and video to interactive floor plans, sign boards and brochure printing, Open2View sees itself as a one-stop-shop for the real estate professional. The company has more than 200 franchisees in Australia, as well as more than 70 in New Zealand and a presence in the US and Canada. “When we first came into the market, no one else real existed,” Open2View Queensland State Manager Peter Evans says. “We were basically the first photography business specialising in real estate. Now we have competitors, but we have strengthened the list of services we provide and are now the one stop shop for the real estate professional. “I believe we have one of the best IT teams and augmented reality is a new, technically savvy option that we’re now offering. We have a website, so everything we photograph goes onto our website, which generates leads for real estate agents.” Open2View has state franchisors in every state of
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Australia, as well as area franchisees who support each photographer franchisee. Each member is supported through ongoing training and is provided with the work-life balance most business owners desire. “A lot of the people that are involved in our business have a passion for photography, so first and foremost we meet that need in their life,” Peter says. “It’s a business that is run from home, and I know myself with a young family that you’re able to be there for them because half your time is on the road and the other half the time is at home, so it’s a really good balance.” Open2View has been to many Franchising and Business Opportunities expos, but it was a first for Peter, who says he was impressed. “I was quite impressed with the volume of people that came through and we got some pretty good enquiries as well,” he says. “On our stand we are being quite selective as well. If we can see they have an interest in photography we will pursue it further – everyone has different ideas on what they want to do,” To find out more about becoming an Open2View franchisee, visit www.au.open2view.com
Franchise Buyer
the business commandos
Commandos pointing businesses in the right direction
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usiness coaching company, The Business Commandos, knows what it takes to succeed – they help people do it every day. Established in 2004, The Business Commandos utilise a compass system to help businesses throughout Australia and New Zealand to enjoy freedom financially and personally. The Business Commandos founder Aaron Parsons says the company offers a range of services to suit all businesses and has 15 licensees throughout Australia. “We have a range of components from one on one coaching through to group workshops and a series of home studies, such as DVDs and training manuals,” he says. “We know our stuff and we get straight to the point. “Businesses get guidance here from somebody who knows exactly the path forward. It’s not just me, we have a group of coaches to help businesses one-on-one and there are group sessions available where they can leverage off other people in the community.” Being a business coach gives Aaron the skills needed to establish new licensees effectively and train and support them throughout the term of the business. “The licensees have a weekly call-in time, so they all know they can access me then, but if the matter is urgent they can call me and I get back to them as soon as possible – we treat them like family,” he says. “They also get a bunch of training material on what At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
to do, they get one-on-one training with me in person and over the phone and we run a three day training retreat at some pretty cool locations.” But not anyone can be a Business Commado, says Aaron. “The main thing we want is somebody with the right attitude – if they bring the right attitude to the table, we have the goods to train them. “Ideally, they will have some business experience or they will be experienced in sales or marketing, so if they haven’t had business experience they may still be accepted if they’ve worked in that field.” Coming from a country town, Aaron knows the importance of personal interaction with prospective licensees, which is why he chooses to continue to exhibit and the Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo. “You can talk all sorts of different angles from a marketing perspective, but we’re about quality, not quantity,” he says. “The best quality touch is a genuine conversation face to face. You can market it on the internet and put out an ad, and you might bring in a lot of quantity, but it takes a lot longer to build that relationship because you need that face to face element.” To find out more about joining The Business Commando as a licensee, visit www. thebusinesscommandos.com or call 1300 884 399.
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island way sorbet
Island Way Sorbet on the hunt for first franchisee
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aking an idea from Singapore and a supplier from South Africa to form a business in Australia has seen Island Way Sorbet become a hit with consumers. Island Way Sorbet Managing Director, Col Costello, was in Singapore with his daughters when they came across a sorbet product which was served in the actual fruit shell. Knowing the product would be a hit with Australian consumers, Col flew to South Africa, where the product is produced, and organised an Australian distributor to bring the product to Australia. “They’re shipping 50 million of these products to America and 10 million to Canada now and all through Asia,” Col says. “So I told them what I’d like to do with the product here and they took me on. “Since then it has been incredible – we’ve been testing our own company territory for the past six months to see whether we were going to franchise or not and we’ve had to stop taking customers because everyone that tries it says they want more. It’s one of those products that you taste and just fall in love with.” 18
Island Way Sorbet is now looking for a single franchisee in Queensland and Col says he will look at the partnership as a marriage. “Franchisees will get an exclusive territory in the Brisbane area that is big enough to earn a good income – we don’t want it to be a job, we want them earning triple figures,” he says. “Franchisees will get $25,000 of products as part of the package, 32 branded freezers, training and everything they need from uniforms to marketing material. They will spend two weeks with us doing training, then we will come out with them and spend three weeks to get them a good customer base. “We look for a sales background and someone who has a bubbly personality – we have to be able to work together, it’s like a marriage and I don’t want a divorce. “Our recruitment process is quite long and involved – we will meet you many times, even socially, so it’s signing up for a long term relationship.” For more information on becoming an Island Way Sorbet franchisee, visit www.islandwaysorbet.com.au or call 02 6674 8461.
Franchise Buyer
boring chores
Franchise takes the boring out of business
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oring Chores CEO John Tangeman says he could have sold 300 franchises in recent times if that is what he wanted to do. But his dedication to ensuring his franchisees succeed, which has seen 100 per cent of his franchises remaining strong, keeps the numbers down and the quality of work high, he says. Specialising in residential, commercial and industries cleaning services, Boring Chores was established in 2004, and is now looking to expand the company into property management and test and tag services. John says since establishing the company, he has not strayed from his motto of “quality without compromise”. “We believe in quality and if someone gets us in for a three hour service, if it takes 4 hours we won’t cut it short – our name is everything,” he says. “We are going into other areas like property management, simply because we don’t sell anything we don’t know. “I have my sales and agency license, so property, so that is something we will go into next, as well as test and tag. We are currently in the lower end of the market and we want to go into the higher end of the market.” John says Boring chores is an affordable franchise for those looking to start their first business and each franchisee is trained and supported throughout the term of their business.
At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
“You won’t pay an exorbitant amount of money for this franchise – our idea is not to make a large amount of money off one person, but a small amount off a lot of people. It’s a fair system,” he says. “We take a flat fee and we don’t charge lead fees either, so once you buy into our franchise system, the leads that come in for your area are yours. “We organise training for about a week in cleaning as well, which also includes procedural training on how to quote jobs and the day to day running of the business. “We also have ongoing support so if there is a problem they can call our call centre and they will let us know they’re looking for us and we will get straight back to them.” John says he enjoyed being a part of the Franchising and Business Opportunities expo because it helped him form relationships with other business owners and potential franchisees. “I think it’s important to speak face to face with people because I can get a feel for the person,” he says. “I could have sold 300 to 400 franchises, but I haven’t. When I talk to people it’s as much about interviewing them to see if they’re suitable. You could sell them hand over fist if that’s what you wanted to do, but they’d fall over. I would prefer to have five franchises than 50 because out of those 50, only five would survive.” To find out more about becoming a Boring Chores franchisee, visit www.boringchores.com.au or call 1300 702 353.
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bodiez 24/7 fitness
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Bodiez launches franchise model
wenty four hour gym Bodiez Fitness launched its franchise model earlier this year and is now looking to take on its first franchisee. And Bodiez fitout consultant, Stephen Southgate, says the company is so confident in its franchise model, it guarantees an income in the first twelve month for new franchisees. ‘Bodiez’ Stephen Southgate, says the company is so confident in its franchise model, it guarantees an income in the first twelve months for new franchisees.’ “When franchisees come on board with our system, they have technology at their fingertips, allowing them to run their business from anywhere in the world,” he says. “They don’t have to run the business in-store, they can go on holidays and have that lifestyle. “This technology gives the gyms a 98 per cent retention rate as it stops people falling through the cracks – instead of being a number in a gym, people are members again and they have that one on one contact. “When they don’t turn up to the gym it gives us an alert which enables us to call them and find out if they’re ok and why they’re not at the gym.” Bodiez franchisees can also take advantage of the company’s established relationships with equipment suppliers, as well as ongoing training and support. “We’ve been in the industry for 20 years, so we 20
have a lot of background in the industry and we have a great equipment supply company with big warranties, so when people become a franchisee, they have zero maintenance and upkeep for five years,” Stephen says, “At the end of the five years, most franchisees will own their equipment and they can then buy a bolton warranty for another two or three years, which gives them free parts and labour on the equipment, servicing every quarter and gives them peace of mind.” Stephen says although Bodiez is new to the franchising world, it takes selling businesses very seriously. “We have experience in the industry, we’ve got the proven results with our training facility that we can do it and we have the systems in place to make franchises successful from day one of opening,” he says. “We give franchisees a guaranteed income in the first 12 months, so if they don’t hit their target it means we’re not doing our job. We know our system works which is why we’ve given the guaranteed income in their first year. “We don’t want to go 100 gyms and saturate the market like it is now, we’d rather put a few gyms in key locations and the franchisees make good money.” To find out more about becoming a Bodiez franchisee, visit www.bodiez.com.au or call 1300 642 575.
Franchise Buyer
Franchise Fitouts Australia
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Company fits franchises fast
ranchise Fitouts Australia understands the importance of working fast, completing a job to the highest standard and maintaining client relationships. The company specialises in fitting out food franchises, saving the franchisor, and or franchisee downtime and money in the process, according to founder and CEO, Zoran Kolimackovski. “We’re a niche within a niche,” he says. “We’re shop fitters, but we’re there to save you money as we’re 30 per cent faster and add value so franchisees recapture lost earnings. “Say they’re trading $20,000 a day, multiply that over the week, plus the cost of their lease for the week, say $5000 – they can save up to $100,000 a week by us trading faster and getting them into the trade faster.” Zoran says Franchise Fitouts Australia, which was established in May, 2013, had a dedicated team of fitout specialists that all work towards the one goal. “We all work as a tight knit group and we have our
At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
systems in place to make it happen,” he says. “We are all focused on the one issue, we’re not spread thin, and we only work with franchisors in the food business, which allows our team to really know what they’re doing.” Zoran says he was impressed by his first visit to the Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo. “We’re meeting some great people and making some great friends, and we’re having a fun time with the boys from the office as well – it’s been a really good experience,” he says. “We’re all about making new relationships - we don’t just fit the shop and walk away, we have our own marketing as well so we build their brand Australiawide and as they grow, we grow at the same time. “We can also help them with leasing agents that we know well, so we can help them find sites, help them with design and walk them through the whole process – it’s a relationship type of business.” To find out more about Franchise Fitouts Australia services, visit www.franchisefitoutsaustralia.com.au or call 1300 348 688.
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the coffee guy
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Mobile franchise gains momentum
ustralians can expect to see a lot more The Coffee Guy vans on the roads in the near future, with franchisor Jo Mansfield planning to sign on 200 franchisees over the next five years. Jo showcased his franchise offering, which includes a mobile coffee business inside a custom-built van, at the recent Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo in Brisbane. “The concept is simple – quality coffee delivered Monday to Friday,” he says. “Everyone believes that a coffee van is designed for weekend work but what we give you is a Monday to Friday round and system so you go out and visit people at the same time every day, turn up, smile, make a great cup of coffee and you’ve got a good business.” Franchisees have the opportunity to work at events or on weekend rounds, but Jo says The Coffee Guy appeals to a wide range of potential franchisees because of its flexibility. “The whole lifestyle thing that everyone talks about in franchising – this gives it to you,” he says. “Franchisees start at around 7am and are able to finish at around 1pm, then they can put the van away and look after other things that need to be done. “They can work five days a week with the Monday to Friday round, and they can then add weekend event 22
work, but they don’t have to add weekends. “It offers people the opportunity to come in and earn a small amount of income to add to their household, but I also know other people who support an entire family off the coffee van.” Jo says exhibiting the franchise offering allows potential franchisees to not only gain an understanding of the business, but also demonstrates that the franchisor will support them throughout the term of their business. “I’m running The Coffee Guy and I’ve been in the coffee van business for 10 years so I’ve been a customer, I run my own van and I know what it’s like to stand at the back of that van and take money home to pay my bills with,” he says. “When I tell them I’ve designed the van to run the best for them, I am talking from a person who knows exactly what it’s like. I’m not sitting behind a desk and I will look people in the eye and tell them if they have the passion and the desire, I can give them everything else.” The Coffee Guy now has five vans on the road. To find out more about becoming a The Coffee Guy franchisee, visit www.thecoffeeguy.net.au or call 07 5509 2304.
Franchise Buyer
dream doors
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Dream Doors gives franchising a facelift
ream Doors is looking to replicate the success it has had in New Zealand and the UK with its Australian franchise system. The company launched its franchise model at the Sydney Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo and exhibited again at the recent Brisbane expo. Dream Doors franchisor Derek Lily said the company had a distinct point of difference from other joinery companies in that it replaces kitchen drawer and door front panels and bench tops to create modern kitchens at an average of half the cost of a brand new kitchen. “Dream Doors is very eco friendly as well, because there’s not a lot of wastage as we’re recycling and reusing a lot of the cabinetry,” Derek says. “It is received the same way in every country that we’ve operated in. People don’t know that they can actually do this – it saves the customer on average about 50 per cent compared to a new kitchen and when we finish it actually looks like a new kitchen.” Four Dream Doors franchises have been sold in Australia so far, with another four at disclosure stage, adding to more than 50 operating in the UK and 10 in New Zealand. Derek says he plans to open 10 franchises in Australia by the end of the year and to have 25 by the end of 2015 and says Dream Doors does not utilise the
At The Expo Edition | Brisbane 2014
“chequebook and pulse theory.” “Some franchises see it as if you have a chequebook and pulse, you can own a franchise – we don’t operate like that,” Derek says. “For the protection of your brand, for everybody concerned, you have to recruit quality franchisees and the only way to do that is to go through a system of checks. You need to talk to people and establish if this meets their expectations and needs and certainly if they meet ours.” And meeting face to face is the best way to determine if a franchise relationship will work, according to Derek. “Anyone can find us on the internet or see us on the TV, but meeting people face to face gives you a real feel for the person and the business, you can ask more questions, you have time to sit and enquire about the business and operationally what is expected from both the franchisee and the franchisor,” he says. “We have identified about 15 locations in Queensland alone that would make suitable Dream Doors franchise sites and for us, it is a case of first come, first served. “Get in quick, because if you don’t, someone else will.” To find out more about becoming a Dream Doors franchisee, visit www.dream-doors-kitchens.com.au or call 1800 373 263.
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LOREM IPSUM
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Franchise Buyer