From kebabs to coffee, brake pads to Brazilian bikini waxes, there are franchises for just about every product and service imaginable Down Under. With a population of 21 million and a geographic area so huge it ranks as the world’s sixth largest country,Australiaseems capable of absorbing new businesses much like rain falling in theGreat Victoria Desert. Already the country boasts a staggering 3,268 franchises, covering a veritable A-Z of suppliers – in every region of the continent.
Australian franchise industries include the usual suspects: accounting, automotive, building and construction, children’s products, cleaning, coffee (75 different franchises!), education and training, fast food (of course – 145 of them!), financial, food and beverage, furniture, pet care, real estate and property, health and beauty, and the eternal income earner, women’s products and services. But, in a world where the average attention span is all of five minutes, innovative concepts are quickly clocked and snapped up. The green and eco-friendly segment of the franchise industry alone has 32 franchises up for grabs, with products ranging from residential sustainable energy technology to custom-made candles in the shape of dolphins. When you have a whole continent as your potential market, the sky is the limit.
Franchises in Australia cover the gamut of 21st century demands, tastes and quirks: salons that offer one-stop weight loss solutions; casual restaurants offering healthy flame-grilled and Portugese-style chicken; a chocolateria; a mobile dog wash; a mobile bear-stuffing machine for parties; Chinese medicine and massages… you name it, there’s a franchise for it.
For single parents, graduates or retirees who want to work from home, there are many home-based sales type franchises, including software products for schools, day care centres, community groups and selected retail outlets.
Franchises inAustraliaare so popular and profitable that you can easily source funding, legal advice, training and marketing services. And you don’t need a lot of start-up capital to get in on the game. There are at least 294 franchises available that require Aus$20,000 (or less) to start up. The franchise field is so established you can easily find book-keepers, accountants, legal expertise, recruitment consultants, IT and communications specialists – everything and everyone you might need to start your own franchise inAustralia. All you need is the gumption to get the ball rolling. For example, the Commonwealth Bank ofAustralia, the only dedicated franchise banking team, offers advice, cash-flow lending, financing for vehicles and equipment, insurance and long-term solutions for all aspects of your business.
Understanding the legalese of franchises inAustraliacan be a headache. But there are many willing lawyers with experience in franchising law to do that.
Some companies have built their own portfolio around the franchise industry, and offer funding for equipment in particular fields, like fast food outlets, restaurants, caterers and bakeries. Silver Chef Ltd, for example, has tailored its packages for clients and even trademarked it: the unique Rent. Try. Buy.® solution is available to both company owned and franchisee-owned stores. Its previous clients include both big-name franchises like Domino’s Pizza, Donut King, Nando’s, Pizza Hut, Red Rooster, Subway and Wendy’s, and up-and-coming wonders like Wok In A Box, Night Owl, Outback Jack’s, Souvlakihut, Sumo Salad and The Coffee Club.
Technology has evolved by such leaps and bounds that the franchise industry in Australia now boasts franchise auditing services for franchisors that cover sales/royalty and verification of rebates; risk management; data analytics; operational and financial control training for franchisees; fraud investigations; as well as web-based performance management solutions for both franchisors and franchisees. It’s now possible to identify business variances across a franchise group, which allows managers to make more informative decisions to save money and ensure that franchisees stay on track and make higher profits. Franchisors and franchisees can also assess their business relationships amongst staff and customers using state-of-the-art technology.
And withAustralia, there’s always room for more franchises. So pull out a map and spin a bottle – you may just decide to sell devil dogs inTasmania. Okay, scrap that. How about organic gelato, coffee and donuts?