Franchise Everything

Glenn Walford

Let's talk about everything and anything in franchising!

Inspiring with experiences and information from the coal face of the people behind the day-to-day of franchises in action.

We unpack personal journeys in founding and leading franchises, but just as important, are the journeys of people who own and run one or multiple franchise locations.

From fitness, to coffee, to lawns and everything in between, franchising is a buffet of business niches.

And with that comes an even wider range of people and stories to talk to about what they do, and how they did it.

And from the people who support franchises in every kind of way.

Everyone has a story to tell, and you'll often be amazed when they tell it in this way!

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#174
September 11 · 19 min· Video
Ep173 How Kat Kammas Built Her Kip McGrath Franchise from One Centre to Two
KEY TAKEAWAYS: Kat's journey from being a Kip McGrath student to becoming the owner of the same centre How Kip McGrath helped Kat build confidence and influenced her decision to become a teacher Why Kat decided to buy the centre when her former teacher and boss announced his retirement What it was like becoming a franchise owner at 22 and the youngest Kip McGrath franchisee at the time How social media, incentives and word of mouth helped Kat grow her centre How building the right team has allowed Kat to expand to her second centre, with a long-term goal of owning three TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction to Kat Kammas and her Kip McGrath franchise journey 1:29 How Kip McGrath influenced Kat's education and career 3:15 Studying psychology and her original interest in child psychology 5:30 The unexpected opportunity to buy her former teacher's centre 6:09 Becoming the owner of the same centre where she had been a student and tutor 7:18 How incentives contributed to increased enrolments 8:53 What it was like becoming a business owner at 22 9:29 Using her previous experience with the centre to make the transition easier 10:14 The support she receives across marketing, communications and finance 10:47 The challenges Kat faced as a young franchise owner 11:25 Bringing social media and local marketing into a traditionally run centre 11:57 Preparing to take over her second Kip McGrath centre in San Suzy 12:31 Training staff and communicating changes before expanding 13:36 Taking over an existing Kip McGrath centre through resale 15:49 Kat's current day-to-day responsibilities 16:38 Using the Kip McGrath system to make the transition easier 17:35 Recovering from the drop in student numbers during COVID 17:54 Her long-term goal of owning three Kip McGrath centres 18:43 How Kat manages up to 250 lessons across the week 19:41 Kat's goal of reaching three centres Kat Kammas is the franchise owner of Kip McGrath Miranda, where she recently celebrated five years of ownership. Her connection with the brand began much earlier, when she joined Kip McGrath as a shy student in Year 3, later becoming a tutor and eventually working for the teacher who would become her former boss. Kat's journey came full circle when her former boss announced he was retiring and she immediately offered to buy the centre. She shares what it was like becoming a business owner at just 22, being the youngest Kip McGrath franchisee at the time, and learning how to lead a team while developing her business skills. Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3f9ck329 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/yushx9cw Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2v7bujbs YouTube: https://youtu.be/5SUGhis5f10 Build Consistent Video Content for Your Franchise https://www.franchisebuyermarketing.com.au/video-subscriptions
#173
August 24 · 20 min· Video
Ep172 | Property Lawyers to Lawn Care High Rollers: Coochie HydroGreen | Matt & Dani Jamieson
Key Takeaways: How Matt and Dani Jamieson moved from long corporate careers into franchise ownership Why they chose to leave Canberra and build a new lifestyle on the Sunshine Coast How a connection to Coochie HydroGreen from 20 years earlier eventually led them back to the brand How they reached High Rollers status just three and a half years after starting the business Why the support of the Coochie HydroGreen network and other franchisees has been important to their growth The challenge of hiring their first employee and making the transition from working in the business to working on it How their previous corporate leadership and management experience helped them as business owners TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Welcome and introduction to Matt and Dani Jamieson, Coochie HydroGreen 1:10 Matt and Dani's career backgrounds in property law and public service 3:05 Their Sunshine Coast and Glasshouse Mountains Coochie HydroGreen territory 6:15 Choosing a business that would give them a more outdoor lifestyle 7:04 Their first connection with Coochie HydroGreen more than 20 years ago 8:22 Why they originally walked away from buying a Coochie HydroGreen franchise 9:28 Assessing the Sunshine Coast territory and its potential for growth 10:12 Transitioning from corporate careers into franchise ownership 11:29 Reaching Coochie HydroGreen High Rollers status after three and a half years 12:45 How training and support from other franchisees helped them grow 14:35 How the franchise structure protects their investment and creates collaboration 15:22 Learning the technical side of the lawn care business 17:05 Hiring their first employee and making the transition from working in the business 18:50 Adding another truck and planning for another team member 19:08 Dani's role in managing the backend of the growing business 19:56 How their previous leadership and management experience helped them build their team 20:16 Future plans for more trucks and potentially expanding into additional territories Matt and Dani Jamieson are Coochie HydroGreen franchise owners who made the move from long corporate careers in property law and public service to building a business on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. After years of wanting to leave Canberra, they finally made the decision to prioritise lifestyle and began searching for a business that would allow them to work outdoors rather than remain in an office. Their connection with Coochie HydroGreen began more than 20 years earlier, and after exploring other franchise opportunities, they returned to the brand and launched their own business in 2022. Their business reached High Rollers status after just three and a half years, which they credit to hard work, commitment and the support of the wider franchise network. Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/ytzue2eh Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/bdexrbxc Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/4ewvcwxa YouTube: https://youtu.be/kCQgVkrp2us
#172
August 10 · 27 min· Video
Ep171 How Multi-Centre Kip McGrath Owners Aiden & Tamika Stender Scaled Their Business
Key Takeaways: How Tamika transitioned from teaching in schools to running her own tutoring business How Aiden moved from big-box retail management into the family business The six-month financial plan that gave them confidence to leave employment and commit to the business How they grew from one centre to five through a combination of new locations and acquisitions The advantages and challenges of buying an established centre versus starting a new one How they maintain a small-business feel while managing multiple centres and teams Why demonstrating student progress is more important than simply focusing on school results TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Welcome and introduction to Tamika and Aiden Stender who have become the number one Kip McGrath store owners globally with their fifth WA centre about to open 1:34 Tamika's background in teaching and why the realities of working in schools left her wanting to make a bigger impact 3:07 Aiden's background in big-box retail management and initially supporting Tamika's tutoring business as a side venture 5:10 How rapid growth and purchasing their second centre turned the business into something they knew they could not walk away from 7:07 Expanding from one to two centres after a nearby long-term owner approached them about selling his business 8:58 The advantages of opening a new centre including choosing the location versus inheriting an existing centre and its client base 10:04 How existing teams and client relationships can make acquisitions easier while still requiring careful change management 11:02 Why their different personalities and perspectives are actually one of the biggest strengths of their partnership 13:41 What a typical day looks like for the couple and how owning the business gives them more flexibility with their two young children 16:26 Building children's confidence and creating a positive learning experience beyond simply improving academic results 20:32 Creating systems that can be replicated across five centres and making scalability achievable without adding unnecessary complexity 21:23 How AI is being used in the business for communication, ideas and productivity as the couple continues to scale 22:17 Why AI cannot replace the human relationships and confidence-building that are at the heart of tutoring 23:26 Preparing the fifth centre for opening and how their marketing strategy has evolved as the business has grown 25:11 Using real student results and positive progress to communicate the value of the business to parents 26:10 Why maintaining a small-business feel and helping every child feel valued matters more than simply becoming bigger Tamika and Aiden Stender are WA-based Kip McGrath multi-centre owners who have grown their business from one centre to five and have become the brand's number one store owners globally. Tamika shares her journey from teaching into business ownership, while Aidan explains his transition from big-box retail management to joining the business full time. Together, they discuss their growth through new centres and acquisitions, the importance of word-of-mouth and strong relationships with parents, how they divide responsibilities as a husband-and-wife team, and their approach to developing their people and using AI. Despite their continued expansion, Tamika and Aiden remain focused on maintaining quality, supporting their teams and ensuring every child feels valued and sees genuine progress. Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3menkn5v Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/52dy6fsv Amazon Music: YouTube: https://youtu.be/P7J_nXoyF_0
#171
August 7 · 12 min· Video
Ep170 How Battery Zone Is Reinventing Battery Franchising in Australia with Charlie Carter
Key Takeaways: How Battery Zone evolved from a single battery store into a growing franchise brand Why specialist battery retailers continue to thrive despite increasing competition The advantages of Battery Zone's hybrid franchise model for automotive businesses Why mobile roadside battery services represent the future of the business How Battery Zone trains and supports franchisees from day one Why centralised marketing and Google Ads are critical for franchise success Charlie Carter's vision for expanding Battery Zone across Melbourne before scaling nationally TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Welcome and introduction to Charlie Carter founder of Battery Zone from the Melbourne Franchising Expo 0:26 What Battery Zone does and why specialist battery expertise is still in high demand 1:30 Building Battery Zone after identifying a gap in the battery retail industry 2:08 Why batteries are a growing industry driven by increasing demand and technology 3:20 Growing Battery Zone carefully while remaining a hands-on franchisor 4:30 Why Battery Zone is moving from retail stores to a hybrid franchise model 5:39 How automotive businesses can increase revenue by adding Battery Zone to unused floor space 6:07 The phone call that inspired the hybrid Battery Zone franchise model 7:32 Launching Battery Zone's new roadside battery franchise opportunity 8:22 Why Battery Zone is focusing on Melbourne before expanding across Australia 8:51 Franchise training support marketing and Google Ads managed by head office 10:29 Why ongoing customer follow-up and centralised marketing help franchisees succeed 11:09 Charlie Carter's vision for growing Battery Zone across Melbourne before national expansion Battery Zone has built a reputation as a specialist battery retailer and roadside battery service, providing solutions for everything from cars and trucks to caravans, boats and smoke alarm batteries. In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, Glenn Walford speaks with Charlie Carter, Founder of Battery Zone, about how years of industry experience helped him identify an opportunity to create a customer-focused battery business that has now evolved into a franchise model. Charlie shares why Battery Zone is shifting from traditional retail stores to hybrid and mobile roadside franchises, allowing franchisees to reduce overheads while expanding their services. He also explains how comprehensive training, centralised Google marketing, and ongoing franchise support help franchisees build successful businesses, while outlining his strategy of perfecting the Melbourne market before expanding nationally. Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/44rxc242 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/ms38yny3 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/5duzrknb YouTube: https://youtu.be/xf4Q0sngzpY Appear on our Podcasts HERE https://www.franchiseeverythingpodcast.com.au/
#170
August 6 · 12 min· Video
Ep169 How Transaction Insurance Reduces Risk for Franchise Buyers & Sellers with Paul Benjamin
Key Takeaways: Why transaction insurance is becoming a game changer for Australian business sales How buyers and sellers can both benefit from additional protection during a business acquisition Why this insurance has traditionally only been available for large corporate mergers and why that's changing How the product can reduce financial risk and improve buyer confidence Why franchise businesses are particularly well suited to this type of protection How lenders, accountants, lawyers and business brokers can benefit from understanding this new solution TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Welcome from the Melbourne Franchising Expo and introduction to Paul Benjamin founder of Benjamin & Benjamin Insurance 0:40 Introducing a new transaction insurance product for buying and selling businesses in Australia 1:06 Why transaction insurance has traditionally only been available for business sales above $100 million 2:12 How warranty and indemnity insurance protects both buyers and sellers during a business sale 3:42 Why transaction insurance is particularly valuable for franchise businesses and resale transactions 4:13 How lawyers, brokers and insurers work together throughout the transaction process 5:35 Reducing transaction risk improving buyer confidence and supporting business finance approvals 6:02 Why this insurance product has only recently become available for Australian small and medium businesses 7:03 Making due diligence simpler while still protecting buyers from hidden risks 8:28 How claims are handled and why the policy provides confidence after settlement 9:56 Helping buyers protect significant investments and retirement savings when purchasing a business 11:18 Working with accountants lawyers brokers and the Franchise Council to bring the product to market 11:56 Final thoughts on how transaction insurance can improve business sales across the franchise industry Buying or selling a business is a major financial decision, and in this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, Glenn Walford speaks with Paul Benjamin, Founder of Benjamin & Benjamin Insurance, about a new transaction insurance product now available for Australian small and medium-sized business sales. Previously only used in large corporate mergers and acquisitions, this solution is designed to reduce risk and provide greater confidence for both buyers and sellers throughout the transaction process. Paul explains how transaction insurance can benefit franchise businesses by protecting investments, supporting finance approvals, and providing greater certainty after settlement. The discussion also highlights the important role of accountants, lawyers, brokers, and franchise advisers in bringing this innovative solution to market, making it a valuable episode for anyone involved in buying, selling, or advising franchise businesses. Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/y48b9bw7 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/4cb5fkht Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/48mpjk2u YouTube: https://youtu.be/spCHggS7P9M Appear on our Podcasts HERE https://www.franchiseeverythingpodcast.com.au/
#169
August 3 · 18 min· Video
Ep168 | Town & Country Pizza and Pasta: From Delivery Driver to Franchise Owner ft. Himanshu Gandhi
Key Takeaways: How Himanshu went from delivery driver to franchise owner without ever working for anyone else Why choosing the business over buying a house paid off in two and a half years How he built community trust in a conservative Australian suburb through local sponsorship Why the four to nine evening model makes Town and Country a genuine lifestyle business What staying consistent for ten years with one brand can lead to TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome and guest introduction Himanshu Gandhi franchise owner Town and Country Pizza and Pasta Lara Victoria 00:37 Arriving in Australia in 2016 as a Masters engineering student and starting as a delivery driver at Town and Country Geelong Waterfront 01:21 Rising through every role from delivery driver to kitchen hand pizza maker kitchen supervisor and store manager in just three years 06:14 Asking Joe Rossi if he was ready to own his own store after 10 years with the same employer 07:31 Buying an existing 13 year old store in 2023 and how visa conditions and timing aligned perfectly 07:55 Choosing to put savings into the business rather than a house and paying off the loan within two and a half years 09:47 Navigating years of visa uncertainty through COVID and the path to permanent residency 10:16 How Himanshu blended into the conservative Lara community by sponsoring local footy netball soccer and the RSL 11:54 Managing a team of 30 people and how rising through every role shaped his management style 12:20 Work culture in India versus Australia and why the lifestyle model here changed everything 13:20 Operating just four to nine in the evenings six days a week and why the lifestyle model suits his family 14:38 How central marketing is handled by Town and Country while Himanshu focuses on local community support 16:01 Plans for a second store in regional Victoria within 45 to 60 minutes drive and what consistency means for the next step 17:01 Stay consistent put your focus on hard work and the opportunity will come towards you Himanshu Gandhi arrived in Australia in 2016 as a Masters engineering student with no plans to stay in hospitality. He took a delivery driving job at Town and Country Pizza and Pasta as a side hustle, and a decade later he owns one of the brand's stores in Lara Victoria. He has never worked for anyone else. His entire Australian career from delivery driver to kitchen hand, pizza maker, kitchen supervisor, store manager and now franchise owner has been with the same brand under the same managing director Joe Rossi. He opens up about choosing to put his savings into the business instead of buying a house, paying off the loan in two and a half years, navigating years of visa uncertainty through COVID, winning over a conservative Australian community by sponsoring every local footy netball and soccer club he could find, and running a lifestyle friendly four to nine evening model with a team of 30. With permanent residency around the corner and a second store in his sights, his advice is simple: stay consistent, keep showing up and the opportunity will come to you. Listen or watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/eht7545n Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/4azymket Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/3b9weanr YouTube: https://youtu.be/DncB5M3V1VU Appear on our Podcasts HERE https://www.franchiseeverythingpodcast.com.au/
#168
July 21 · 20 min· Video
Ep167 | From Accountant to Kip McGrath Franchise Owner: A 10 Year Journey ft. Magdel Barnard
Magdel Barnard did not plan to run a tutoring franchise. She was a chartered accountant with her own practice in South Africa, moved to New Zealand and went straight back into accounting. Then a mum in the school playground told her something was wrong with her son's reading. The school reports said otherwise. The educational assessment did not. What followed was a tutoring course, a kitchen table classroom, a friend asking if her son could join in, and a phone call to Kip McGrath. That was ten years ago. She has never looked back. In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast recorded at the Kip McGrath conference, Magdel shares what that decade actually looked like. Why switching from accounting to tutoring means giving up control of the outcome. Why she tells every student to choose their hard now or face it later. Why she makes sure every child in her centre understands the financial sacrifice their parents are making to be there. And why no AI tool on the planet can replace a tutor who looks a struggling student in the eye and says I know you can do this. 0:00 Welcome and guest introduction Magdel Barnard franchise owner Kip McGrath Auckland New Zealand 0:50 Background as a chartered accountant in South Africa and the move to New Zealand 2:00 Taking a tutoring course specialising in dyslexia dyspraxia and dysgraphia to help her son 2:52 How helping her son led to contacting Kip McGrath and becoming a franchise owner 3:04 The emotional moment of finding out her son was struggling and the guilt that followed 5:00 How New Zealand's curriculum changes in 2025 are creating a new wave of students falling behind 7:05 Why the curriculum change is both an opportunity and a challenge for the business 8:17 How an accountant convinced Kip McGrath she was the right person to run a tutoring centre 10:28 The key difference between accounting and tutoring: success is no longer fully in her hands 11:23 Why AI can assist tutoring but can never replace human motivation and belief in a student 13:52 Choose your hard: the philosophy she uses with every student and parent 16:18 What a typical week looks like running Monday to Thursday afternoon sessions 17:24 The flexibility of franchise ownership compared to a corporate accounting career 18:12 The acceleration strategy: identifying the highest impact gaps rather than filling every one 19:24 Plans for multi-centre expansion and the challenge of finding passionate afternoon tutors Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/75bewsvt Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/muzbxjrk Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/y2tzp6pp YouTube: https://youtu.be/b5UfvIw8uOM
#167
July 13 · 16 min· Video
Ep166 | How To Win Business Defining Tenders Ft. Joe Papiccio, Plumbing Bros Co-Founder
Joe Papiccio is the co-founder of Plumbing Bros, a fast growing national trades franchise headquartered in Perth. While his co-founder James Riddle leads the day to day franchise operations, Joe has carved out a specialised and highly valuable role within the business as the person responsible for winning the major tenders and contracts that provide Plumbing Bros franchise partners with guaranteed long term revenue streams. In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, recorded at the FCA Franchise Forum on the Gold Coast, Joe breaks down exactly how Plumbing Bros wins the major tenders that set their franchise partners up with guaranteed work for years. 0:00 Welcome and guest introduction Joe Papiccio co-founder of Plumbing Bros at the FCA Franchise Forum 1:00 What a tender is and how contractual work builds long term revenue for franchise partners 2:30 The difference between reactive maintenance and preventative maintenance in a tender contract 3:44 How the tender process works from subscription notifications to information sessions and submissions 5:35 What goes into a tender submission: methodology storytelling resources and pricing 7:19 Why some tenders are worth walking away from and the criteria for saying no 9:12 How AI tools like ChatGPT and NotebookLM have halved the time it takes to complete a tender 11:30 The full tender timeline from brief to evaluation to finalist interviews: six to eight weeks 12:30 What it feels like to win a business defining tender and why Joe calls himself a rainmaker 14:00 What happens when an incumbent fails to deliver and the tender comes back around 14:50 The key advice for winning tenders: competitive pricing honest storytelling and backing your systems Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4xvrhcua Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/t4v2ve4k Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/46cu58zw YouTube: https://youtu.be/zO8IGelXpOM
#166
July 6 · 11 min· Video
Ep165 How AI is transforming hospitality franchising ft. Joe Rossi, Town and Country Pizza and Pasta
Joe Rossi is the managing director of Town and Country Pizza and Pasta, a 36 year old Victorian founded franchise brand with 14 high volume locations across Victoria and Western Australia. A finalist at the FCA Awards for franchise innovation, Joe leads a business that blends traditional hospitality values with a genuinely tech forward approach to operations, training and customer experience. In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, recorded at the FCA Franchise Forum on the Gold Coast, Joe breaks down how Town and Country Pizza and Pasta is using AI not to replace hospitality but to strengthen it. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Welcome and guest introduction Joe Rossi managing director of Town and Country Pizza and Pasta 0:43 Town and Country Pizza and Pasta: a 36 year old brand with 14 locations across Victoria and Western Australia 1:23 The national growth strategy and what it means to be a traditional brand with a tech forward mindset 2:04 How technology evolved in the business before and through COVID and why the fundamentals of hospitality must not be lost 3:37 Why Town and Country focuses on high volume per location over simply chasing store count 4:24 How AI is being used for site selection training franchisees ordering forecasting and customer data analysis 5:38 How AI is reducing friction in the ordering process and improving the customer experience 6:09 How AI is being used in back of house to break down kitchen timeframes and improve efficiency 6:38 The AI powered hardware training product that delivers staff training with minimal human intervention 8:00 Why Town and Country has not changed its position on third party food delivery aggregators 9:16 Why growing deliberately and focusing on consistency is more important than rapid expansion 10:07 Why AI is being used to feed timeless hospitality values rather than replace them 10:46 Why human interaction will become more valuable not less in an AI driven world 11:18 Wrap up Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3vbwvpef Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/bdhbfsu6 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/yksjr4mh YouTube: https://youtu.be/sxnjRx3qX1Q
#165
July 2 · 12 min· Video
Ep164 How Trades Businesses Avoid Cashflow Traps Through Disciplined Accounts, with Nathan Hornby
Nathan Hornby has spent 15 years in franchising and is now head of franchising at Plumbing Bros, one of Australia's fastest growing trades franchises. And they do something most people don't expect. They don't recruit plumbers. They recruit white collar franchise partners. People who can read a balance sheet, lead a team and actively grow a business in their community. In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, recorded at the Franchise Industry Awards Forum Day in Brisbane, Nathan breaks down the weekly reporting system implemented by CEO and co-founder James from day one, the three word framework of prioritisation, organisation and delegation, and why a record revenue month can still leave you cash flow negative. If you run a trades business, manage a franchise network or just want to understand what disciplined cash flow management actually looks like in practice, this one is for you. 0:00 Welcome and guest introduction Nathan Hornby 0:27 What Plumbing Bros does and why it looks for white collar franchise partners 1:00 Why significant top line revenue does not always mean healthy cash flow 2:00 Working with franchise partners weekly to understand when money is actually coming in 2:44 How different payment terms across multiple daily jobs creates cash flow complexity 3:41 Training franchise partners in cash flow from entry level and ongoing weekly reporting 4:48 Weekly cash flow meetings and when Plumbing Bros insists on them 5:31 How to handle bad payers without damaging valuable client relationships 6:10 Weekly cash flow forecasting: non-negotiables, income expected and supplier bills 7:15 How invoicing delays can blow out payment terms from 30 to 90 days 8:09 The three words that drive the Plumbing Bros approach: prioritisation, organisation and delegation 9:06 Building an offshore admin and bookkeeping team to support franchise partners 10:24 The biggest cash flow challenge: is it sales volume or management of existing work? 11:07 Why a diverse payment portfolio is the real solution to cash flow stability 11:39 How Plumbing Bros differentiates itself through proactive cash flow management 12:17 Wrap up Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wwt5hs98 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2e9h4h65 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/3rmus5ew YouTube: https://youtu.be/6HkuhmiJxjw
#163
May 15 · 53 min· Video
Ep163 From Hairdresser to Stellarossa Founder | Darren Schultz’s Coffee Franchise Journey
In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, host Glen speaks with Darren Schultz, co-founder of Stellarossa, at Stellarossa Coffee Headquarters in Brisbane. Darren shares his journey from leaving school in Bundaberg and unexpectedly starting a hairdressing apprenticeship, to working in hospitality overseas, running his own salon, and eventually discovering the coffee industry through Brisbane’s Park Road cafe scene. His early career shaped his customer service skills, resilience, and ability to connect with people, which later became essential in building franchise businesses. The episode also explores how Darren launched Expresso Mobile Coffee, one of Australia’s early mobile coffee van franchise concepts, before going on to co-found Stellarossa in 2009. Darren explains the lessons learned from franchising, the importance of proving a business model before expanding, and how Stellarossa has grown into a recognised cafe franchise brand with around 25 locations, drive-through concepts, and international expansion plans including India and Sri Lanka. 0:00 - Welcome and guest introduction 0:56 - Why understanding the leaders behind franchise brands matters 2:40 - Trying a pre-vocational course and discovering what was out there 5:11 - The interview with the ex-Stefan salon team and the telephone role play 8:01 - Finding his groove and earning $51 a week as an apprentice 9:00 - Working in a men's fashion store and being rescued back into hairdressing 10:28 - Working in a bar cafe in Covent Garden and falling into hospitality 11:55 - Teaching water skiing and getting a job by chance in Greece 14:51 - Heading back to London a second time and landing a management role 17:48 - Coming home to Australia and a stint back in Bundaberg 19:42 - Reconnecting with Sam Canino and moving to Brisbane for hairdressing 22:08 - What hairdressing taught him about understanding franchise buyers today 23:06 - Running his own salon for 12 to 13 years and doing very well 27:27 - Park Road Milton as the epicentre of Brisbane coffee in the late 90s 30:43 - Pitching the concept to a head chef and launching Expresso Mobile Coffee 31:40 - Why mobile coffee had never been done in Australia before 34:32 - The challenge of getting coffee right in all climates from a mobile van 37:31 - Meeting lawyer Derek Sutherland and making the franchise agreements 39:26 - Buying out his business partner in 2007 and running Expresso with his wife 40:25 - Jonathan Payne coming on board as Expresso business partner 42:16 - The deal Darren made with Jonathan before taking him on as a partner 44:41 - Phil DiBella stepping back from the cafe concept due to wholesale client pressure 45:40 - Finding the name Stellarossa in an architectural magazine at the dentist 46:38 - Phil Cronin coming on as co-founder and how a 45 year friendship became a business 49:00 - Where Stellarossa is today with 25 stores and international expansion 51:26 - Drive-through Stellarossa stores and what is next for the brand 52:18 - Wrapping up and why knowing the leaders behind franchise brands matters Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/23v877cp Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/39fnuwaz Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/yhx6m3kx YouTube: https://youtu.be/6HkuhmiJxjw
#162
May 8 · 22 min· Video
Ep162 The Science Behind the Perfect Shot | Coffee Roasting, Training & Extraction with Stellarossa
In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, we go inside the coffee roasting room with Cam from Stellarossa and Steve from Bancroft Roasters to explore the science behind the perfect coffee shot The conversation covers how roasting, green bean sourcing, barista training and espresso extraction all work together to create consistent coffee quality across the Stellarossa franchise network. Cam also breaks down the key variables behind a great espresso, including dose, grind size, water quality, machine temperature and brew ratio. Steve shares how Bancroft Roasters manages roast profiles, seasonal coffee sourcing and flavour consistency, while explaining why vertical integration matters for franchise coffee businesses. This episode is ideal for coffee lovers, cafe owners, franchise operators and aspiring baristas who want to understand what really goes into a great cup of coffee. 0:00 - Welcome and guest introductions 0:40 - Understanding the relationship between Stellarossa and Bancroft Roasters 1:41 - The perfect shot of coffee starts with a recipe and a system 3:17 - Steve's role as the roaster in creating the perfect shot 4:13 - Collaborating on a crowd pleasing flavor profile for Stellarossa 5:29 - Daily flavor profile testing and pre-shipment green bean sampling 6:51 - The collaborative cupping process between Steve and Cam 7:17 - How the Stellarossa and Bancroft Roasters relationship improved consistency 8:41 - The importance of passion and self directed learning beyond the workday 9:36 - The yin and yang dynamic between Steve and Cam 10:35 - The risk of quality drift when using a third party roaster 11:34 - How Stellarossa maintains full oversight of coffee quality and cost 12:26 - Live extraction demonstration with Cam 14:33 - Understanding yield and brew ratio in espresso 15:49 - The degassing process and finding the peak flavor zone after roasting 16:46 - The 48 hour degassing window before packaging and distribution 17:46 - Why locking down the dose is the golden rule in coffee 19:19 - The full quality assurance chain from farmer to consumer 20:43 - Managing the doubling of green bean prices with long term farmer relationships 21:40 - Why vertical integration helps control cost and quality simultaneously 22:01 - Wrap up and final thanks Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yhm8n9rt Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/y47xmdcp Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/w38zwsh5 YouTube: https://youtu.be/R-IC1exanBU
#161
April 10 · 26 min· Video
Ep161 From Employees to Franchise Owners: The Six Year Journey to Pack and Send Caboolture
In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, host Glenn Walford sits down with Vikas and Neetika Sharma, proud owners of Pack & Send Caboolture in Brisbane. Just six months into their franchise journey, this husband and wife team share a story that is equal parts honest, inspiring and practical. From careers in freight forwarding and banking across India, New Zealand, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, to a six year research journey before finally signing on the dotted line, Vikas and Neetika prove that the best business decisions are the ones made with patience, preparation and purpose. With 80 five star Google reviews already under their belt and multi-store ownership firmly in their sights, this is a franchise owner story that will resonate with anyone thinking about making the leap. 0:00 - Welcome & guest introduction: Vikas & Neetika Sharma 1:47 - The training experience: Head office to store days 3:57 - Background in India, New Zealand and the move to Australia 4:34 - Freight forwarding careers and settling across Australia 7:24 - Niteeka's leap from banking into Freight Forwarding 10:10 - From Sydney to Melbourne to Brisbane: Following 0pportunity 12:28 - Why a franchise model made sense for their family 13:55 - How they found Pack & Send on SEEK Business 15:20 - A six year journey from first inquiry to opening day 17:39 - The moment they said: We are doing this 18:08 - Why Caboolture Was the Perfect Location 19:04 - Why Brisbane always felt like home 19:30 - Growing the business: Cold calls, knock on doors, show up 21:24 - How Vikas and Neetika split their roles as a husband and wife team 23:13 - The five year vision: Multi-store ownership on the horizon 24:35 - Six months in: Doing things they never thought they could 25:33 - Work life balance: The real reward of business ownership 26:02 - Wrap up and thanks Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yc8n8a4s Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/267k5sum Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/kuzc45cm YouTube: https://youtu.be/wEcIegTu4zo
#160
February 24 · 26 min· Video
Ep160 From Corporate Executive to Multi-Territory Plumbing Franchise Leader
Paul O’Neill, Director and multi-territory franchise owner with Plumbing Bros, shares his journey from a corporate telco career into the trades sector, building a rapidly expanding plumbing franchise operation across multiple Australian territories. From scaling teams quickly to strengthening operational systems, Paul highlights how leadership, culture, and strong processes have supported growth while maintaining service standards. He also discusses the realities of managing multiple regions, recruitment challenges in the trades sector, and why transparency and team alignment are critical when leading a business without coming from a technical background. Paul wraps up with insights on future expansion, operational optimisation, and the evolving opportunities within service-based franchise industries. 0:00 Introduction 0:16 What Plumbing Bros does and Paul’s role 1:40 Moving from the UK to Australia and corporate telco background 4:08 Discovering Plumbing Bros through relationships 7:16 Brand representation, authenticity, and opportunities 09:01 First impressions of Plumbing Bros growth vision 10:28 Franchise partnership model with real estate integration 13:10 Acquiring multiple territories and rapid expansion 13:28 Operational efficiency and leadership focus today 15:46 Leading trades teams without a plumbing background 19:01 Market differences between Perth and Melbourne 20:38 Recruiting talent and trade industry challenges 22:42 Future outlook for trades and AI disruption 24:27 Growth plans, optimisation, and next phase strategy 26:05 Wrap up Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5t33a9xy Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/evsbkpbv Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/ypt6kxt3 YouTube: https://youtu.be/MjxSytBGU44
#159
February 17 · 42 min· Video
Ep159 The Journey from Foster Care to Franchise Leader | Joel Kleber
Joel Kleber, Chief Marketing Officer of Jim’s Group, shares his journey from law student and paralegal to one of the key voices behind one of Australia’s most recognised franchise brands. With more than a decade inside the organisation, Joel offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the business has grown and evolved through content, transparency, and strong franchise support. Jim’s Group is widely known for its home services network, covering hundreds of service categories across multiple divisions. The discussion explores how the brand continues to expand, the systems behind franchise recruitment, and the role content marketing has played in building trust and attracting new franchise partners. Joel also reflects on leadership, resilience, and personal experiences that shaped his mindset, including his advocacy for mental health awareness within franchising. His perspective highlights how culture, mentorship, and openness can influence both business success and individual growth. 0:00 Introduction 0:53 Joel’s early career journey from law and commerce student to joining Jim’s as a paralegal 3:16 Explanation of the “560 service codes” system and how it expands what franchisees can offer 4:41 Why the old division model changed due to cost barriers and slow growth 7:07 Jim’s “radical transparency” philosophy, putting the full reality online to filter the right candidates in 8:31 The Ask Jim live Q&A concept and its direct impact on franchise enquiries 10:27 Hiring videographers and building a consistent publishing engine 13:34 How the content strategy evolved 15:03 Why many franchisors still hesitate to invest heavily in content creation 17:17 How Joel gets shy franchise partners on camera: switching formats 19:45 Joel’s upbringing including foster care and family mental health challenge 22:55 Relocating to Victoria and the stabilising influence of extended family 30:20 Mentorship from Jim and how trust enabled career growth 34:41 Challenges accessing mental health care during crises 37:50 Mental health initiatives within Jim’s including accessible counselling support 42:27 Wrap up Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yandyrvb Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/bdefs92v Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/3a6ctmjj YouTube: https://youtu.be/6DiWVrz9BWE
#158
February 10 · 15 min· Video
Ep158 The 5 Key Things Behind Poolwerx Franchise Success | COO Steve Halls
Steve Halls, COO of Poolwerx, shares practical insights on what has helped build one of Australia’s most recognisable pool service franchise brands. From strong market positioning and steady long-term growth to the importance of structured support systems, he breaks down the operational foundations that keep franchise partners sustainable and competitive. There’s also a closer look at how marketing, peer-to-peer collaboration, and community-driven customer acquisition contribute to ongoing expansion. The conversation highlights how balancing national brand strength with local engagement continues to shape growth across the network while supporting franchise owners at different stages of their business journey. 0:00 Introduction 0:42 Key Thing #1: Market leader & brand recognition 3:39 Key Thing #2: Consistent growth & resilience through economic cycles 7:35 Key Thing #3: Structured franchise support & ongoing business development 9:15 Key Thing #4: Supporting multi-territory franchise owners as their business scales 13:01 Key Thing #4: A scalable “marketing machine on tap” 15:42 Wrap up Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/fh4dnpwb Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/9y55z6wn Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2bkj3ve3 YouTube: https://youtu.be/CmOMOGO7GKw
#157
January 30 · 25 min· Video
Ep157 From Tech Executive to Multi-Territory Plumbing Business | Mitch Gross
Mitch Gross didn’t come from a plumbing background. He came from Silicon Valley, startups, and senior roles at eBay and still ended up building a multi-territory plumbing business in Sydney with Plumbing Bros. e walks through the real transition from corporate life into business ownership, why he chose a franchise model, and what it actually took to survive starting a business during COVID. He also shares how winning a major government contract helped accelerate growth, what happens when you rely too heavily on one big client, and why diversification across customer segments became critical to the next phase of the business. You’ll also hear about leadership, delegation, building the right team, and what changes when you move from “doing everything yourself” to running a growing operation across multiple territories. 0:00 Introduction 0:49 What Plumbing Bros does 1:29 Mitch’s background before Plumbing 6:10 The decision to leave corporate and buy a business 8:22 Discovering Plumbing Bros as a Franchise Opportunity 10:40 Running a plumbing business without having a plumbing background 12:32 Starting the business during COVID and survival mode 13:31 Post-COVID growth and expanding into new territories 16:08 The risk of relying on one big client 17:30 Diversifying into new segments (strata, real estate, commercial) 19:06 What Mitch actually does day-to-day as an owner 22:01 Maximising contract value vs chasing new customers 23:03 The next 2–3 year plan and growth strategy 25:23 Wrap up Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/56uvua63 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/eczfbnbh Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/4pjesfku YouTube: https://youtu.be/hE-URdcbKYg
#156
January 29 · 16 min· Video
Ep156 Three Proven Ways to Build Your Customer Database with John Dwyer
John Dwyer is the founder of the Institute of Wow and one of Australia’s most well-known marketing strategists, helping businesses build customer databases and generate consistent sales through smart, practical marketing systems. In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, JD breaks down three sure ways to build a customer database including irresistible offers, Facebook contest strategies that generate red-hot leads, and how to build a community or “club” that turns audiences into long-term customers. They also discuss why most businesses fail to collect customer data, why databases are more valuable than ads, and how simple systems like contests, clubs, and follow-ups can turn a business from constantly chasing customers into one that builds long-term demand. 0:00 Introduction 1:06 Method #1: Irresistible offers in exchange for data 01:20 Method #2: Facebook contest strategy for red-hot leads 02:18 991 leads in one week from $210 ad spend 3:31 Why most businesses are afraid to try bold marketing ideas 05:02 How landing pages and pre-qualification improve lead quality 5:23 Method #3: Building a community or “club” model 7:45 How the club monetisation and email strategy works 9:32 Why owning your database matters more than social media 10:45 Why most business owners don’t implement these strategies 14:28 Real-world example: The restaurant with 92,000 customers on file 15:51 Why your database is your most valuable business asset 16:23 Wrap up Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/45emumtd Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2e37a966 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/4vve3229 YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pai-EgXd8w8
#155
January 28 · 19 min· Video
Ep155 From Sushi Sushi Staff to Multi-Site, Multi-State Franchise Owner | Dor Li
Dor Li is a multi-site, multi-state Sushi Sushi franchise owner who has spent years building his career inside the brand starting as a team member, rising through management, and eventually becoming a franchise owner across multiple states. In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, Dor shares his full journey from arriving in Australia as an international student, studying commercial cookery, managing company-owned stores, becoming an area manager across WA and Queensland, and finally stepping into franchise ownership in regional Victoria and Western Australia. We talk about how he transitioned from head office to owning stores, how he builds strong store teams, why staff training is the real key to scaling multiple locations, and what it takes to grow from one store to six — with a seventh on the way. 0:00 Introduction 0:41 Moving from China to Australia as a student 02:20 Learning to cook out of necessity and living independently 03:47 First job at Sushi Sushi and early impressions 5:54 Becoming a store manager in a company-owned store 07:04 Moving to Western Australia as Area Manager 08:25 Rapid expansion and opening multiple stores per month 10:18 Overseeing WA and Queensland operations 11:51 Moving back to Melbourne to lead training and projects 12:44 The decision to become a franchise owner 15:06 COVID, leaving head office, and buying regional stores 16:58 How Dor adds new stores and builds management teams 18:39 What Dor looks for in future store opportunities 19:35 Wrap up Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/y4j4va6a Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/3zm3aj6h Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/3spsbv4x YouTube: https://youtu.be/YfxcbKOO4RE
#154
January 27 · 12 min· Video
Ep154 What Businesses Must Know About Payday Super with Jay Westbury, CEO of FCA
From 1 July 2026, every Australian business will be required to pay superannuation on the same day as wages a change known as Payday Super. While it sounds simple on paper, the real impact on cashflow, payroll systems, and compliance could be significant, especially for small businesses and franchisees. In this episode, Glenn sits down with Jay Westbury, CEO of the Franchise Council of Australia, to unpack what Payday Super actually means, why it’s being introduced, and what business owners should be thinking about right now to avoid being caught out. They also cover enforcement, the closure of the ATO clearing house, and why both franchisors and franchisees need to start preparing now rather than waiting until mid-2026. 0:00 Introduction 0:49 What is Payday Super and what exactly changes from 1 July 2026 01:55 How Payday Super changes cashflow and payroll mechanics 02:56 Will businesses change pay cycles to cope with the new rules 4:16 Why the government introduced Payday Super and why now 5:54 Will the ATO enforce this aggressively and what penalties could look like 7:23 Why franchisors must start warning and preparing their franchisees now 8:41 Why Payday Super is being overlooked compared to the Franchise Code changes 9:42 What practical steps businesses should start taking right now 10:38 The ATO shutting down its clearing house and what businesses must replace it with 11:34 Why franchisees and franchisors both carry legal risk after the Bakers Delight case 12:32 Wrap up Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/mr3sbp64 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/vbn5mcp7 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2ueapbdh YouTube: https://youtu.be/AvuOA9yVAvU

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