BE THE LOCAL GUY The Local Guys is a new-to-NZ commercial services franchise with a compelling offer
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ometimes, Kiwis go to Australia for opportunities – sometimes, opportunities come to Kiwis.
Daniel Jackson went to Australia in 2012, ‘With a view to making something of myself’. Now the franchise he joined there has crossed the Tasman in the other direction. The Local Guys has come to New Zealand with franchise and regional master opportunities in three different but essential services: Electrical Test & Tag, Pest Control, and Cleaning. And, to launch the Test & Tag brand here, they’re offering new franchisees the security of a $1,100 per week guarantee for your first year. Daniel recalls, ‘I started in the construction industry building portable camps at the mines. There were a lot of electricians around with far too much work on their hands and I started helping them out by checking equipment for them. ‘Mum has a courier franchise in New Zealand, so when I came across The Local Guys Test & Tag, I was interested. They were into the kind of work I’d been doing – basically testing and tagging of electrical equipment in the workplace to make sure it’s safe. I thought I could make a living out of it, so I contacted them and I’ve never looked back.’
Franchisees first The Local Guys was founded by Jarrad and Stacey Goulding, who have established a successful formula for service franchises over the last ten years from their South Australia base. The couple know franchising inside out, having previously been franchisees themselves in the hospitality sector. ‘Those experiences taught us a lot,’ says Jarrad. ‘One was an example of what a really strong franchise does well, and the other demonstrated what a franchise can do wrong. As a result, when we were building The Local Guys, our motto became “Franchise Partner First”. We look on every franchisee – we call them franchise partners – as a member of our family, and we are committed to help them achieve success.’ Daniel got that feeling right from the start. ‘Jarrad and Stacey called me back the same day and we started talking. It still took me a long time to
Daniel Jackson: ‘I’ve been flying – my accountant is happy and I’m ecstatic’ franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
come on board because I was only young and it seemed a lot of money for me at the time, including borrowing from the bank. I’m so glad I did it, though – we had two full weeks of training, and the franchise feels like a small family company. Jarrad and Stacey are awesome, really down-to-earth people, and they are always more than happy to help out. Four years on, I’ve got a great business and no regrets.’
Repeat business Health and Safety regulations require the testing and tagging of most electrical equipment in the commercial sector every year, six months or even three months. ‘This ensures regular demand and repeat business,’ says Daniel. He admits he didn’t really know what to expect when he started. ‘I was really green, but the franchise supported me and looked after me and, now I realise how good it is, it’s blown me away. Once you’ve built up your customer base – and it’s always growing in this industry – you just need a bit of kindness and courtesy and you’ll keep them happy. My motto is, “Be good to your clients,” and it’s resulted in a profitable business. ‘I’ve got a big territory about an hour out of Adelaide with a large chunk of the Barossa Valley in it. Even if you didn’t like wine, it’s still a great area. As you’d expect with any new business, it took a while for me to get things rolling – years one and two were hard work – but with the many leads from The Local Guys team I could always see light at the end of the tunnel. Since then I’ve been flying – my accountant is happy and I’m ecstatic. ‘If I had any advice for a potential franchisee looking at the opportunities back home in New Zealand, I’d say, “Just do it!” Take that first leap and, once you get into it, you’ll not be disappointed.’
Guaranteed work The Local Guys is now launching its Test & Tag service in New Zealand, with opportunities for franchisees to get in early all over the country and enjoy the same system and support that Daniel has experienced in Australia. ‘As a mobile-based business, you’ll benefit from high profit margins and low overheads. No prior expertise is required, as we provide comprehensive training for all parts of the business, from administration and marketing to in-field technical skills,’ Jarrad says. ‘Additionally, you’ll have access to our seasoned industry experts, who are readily available to assist you. ‘We’ve made starting and growing your own business simple, and have combined all of the core performance metrics you need into one easy-touse dashboard to help you make sure you’re pulling the right levers to amplify your income and expand your business. ‘And, best of all, we are so confident that we can help you succeed, we offer a $1,100 per week work guarantee for your first 12 months. ‘As Daniel has found out, we support our franchisees every inch of the way and the system rewards hard work. Don’t hesitate – contact us now!’
Advertiser Info
The Local Guys www.thelocalguys.co.nz Contact Franchise Team P 0800 733 858 franchise@thelocalguys.co.nz
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