On Your Side

From Waikato to the world, Botherway helps franchisors and franchisees build business

In business, getting legal advice isn’t just about looking for potential problems – it’s about building relationships. That’s especially true in franchising. ‘When you have a franchisee and a franchisor coming together, you have two parties that want to work together. The legal side is about making business deals possible while minimising the risk,’ says Damian Botherway.

‘That’s why I like to talk to everyone involved, to get an outcome where everyone has the right foundation for success. Franchising is a long-term relationship, so having the right approach from the start is critical.’

Damian is principal of Botherway, a Waikato-based boutique commercial law firm that has worked with all sorts of franchises over the years: retail, cafés, gyms, fast food, supermarkets, cabins, business-to-business and home services.

‘That experience is important, because it means that we understand what is normal in a franchise agreement and what isn’t, and what all those clauses and fees actually mean in practice. Helping people understand that makes a big difference to the eventual outcome.’

Damian Botherway: ‘We love franchising and we love making deals possible’

Passionate about business

‘I’m passionate about business, especially in Waikato,’ Damian says. ‘I love to get alongside people setting up businesses, learn what makes them tick and what makes the business model work.

‘We’ve worked with franchisors with a national presence, new business buyers, existing franchisees looking to take on additional units, and long-term franchisees selling and moving on. As a lawyer, it’s very satisfying – you help people when they first get started, work with them as they grow, and then become a part of their success.

‘Having been in business for over 20 years as a small business owner myself, I understand the challenges involved and the help people need. A lot of that comes down to direct, personal contact, and to understanding what people are really looking for. I had someone just this week who had been recommended to me by another client of ours. He said, “You’ve listened to me and got to the bottom of what I want to achieve – thank you.” That’s exactly what we try to do, and what makes Botherway different.’

Local knowledge

Damian says being a local law firm makes a big difference to clients.

‘Waikato is an interesting area, and a fast-growing one, too. It has a great mix of industry and business, meaning plenty of opportunities, but it still has a local feel – and that’s where using a local legal advisor really pays off.

‘You might say we know “Who’s who in the zoo” – we know a lot of the local brokers, agents, financiers and landlords. We know who is good to do business with and who to be wary of. We also know a lot about the background to many situations, the pitfalls of certain locations or the impact of future planning changes, as well as the sort of support that might be available.

‘And we can use that knowledge to advise on more aspects than franchising, including: property and leasing; company, business and supply agreements; employment law; and trust law, which enables new franchisees to manage their business risk and protect their family and assets.

‘All these things add up to create a significant advantage for our clients.’

Kinder on the wallet

Not being Auckland- or Wellington-based has other advantages too, says Damian. ‘We don’t have those big-city overheads to cope with, so I like to think we are a bit kinder on the wallet.

‘We can provide a fixed-fee quote so there are no surprises, and that’s important if you are buying or setting up a new business. At a time when you will be facing all sorts of costs, it’s one less thing to worry about.

‘So if you are Waikato-based or looking at buying or doing business in the Waikato, come and talk to me,’ Damian invites. ‘We know the area, we know franchising and we love making deals possible. Get in touch to find out how we can help you.’

Advertiser Info

Botherway

www.blegal.co.nz

Contact Damian Botherway

P 0-7-839 1122 M 021 721 547

damian@blegal.co.nz