whichfranchise.au - whichfranchise guide to franchising in Australia

Australian Franchise Experts

Consultant Experts

Phil Blain - Business Development Company

Phil Blain began his career in the banking industry, before joining Cadbury Schweppes in a sales role. It was a desire to own his own business that saw Phil and his wife Lynne become a franchisee of the Pets Paradise retail group. Phil took on the role of General Manager taking the group from 15 to over 100 outlets. In 1994, Phil and his business partner Bill Borowski opened the Melbourne office of Franchise Alliance. After nearly two decades of association with the brand, Phil and his team made a strategic decision to join Business Development Company Pty. Ltd. (BDC). Phil’s team will make up the national franchise specialist division of this company within Australia.

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Nickolas James - Franchise Central

As Franchise Central’s senior franchise consultant with over 20 years experience in the franchising sector, Nickolas James is a highly skilled professional and has cultivated a wealth of franchising/business acumen on national and international levels. Franchise Central is an Australian group of experienced franchise consultants. The management team has assisted many Franchisors in the development and expansion of their businesses from conception, to becoming national/international franchise systems/businesses. Similarly, hundreds of people have been assisted in becoming owner/operators of successful franchises.

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Graeme McCormack - Faction

Graeme is a highly successful and experienced franchise operations expert, and is the Founder & CEO of Faction, a specialist franchise operations and due diligence consultancy. As Australian & International Franchisee of the Year for Gloria Jean’s Coffees and a pioneering franchisee advocate within that group, Graeme has had extensive exposure to all key aspects of franchise operations, from both the franchisee and franchisor perspectives. Prior to launching Faction, Graeme was co-founded and CEO of Coco Cubano, an exciting new Cuban themed licensed chocolate cafe concept.

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Dean Salomone - Franchise Careers

Dean Salomone is the Managing Director of Franchise Careers, a specialised Consulting Company focused on exclusively providing its people development services within the franchised and licensed sector throughout Australasia. Dean has been a regular contributor on the Victorian State Chapter for over 5 years holding a variety positions within the committee. He is now the current State President of Victoria. Dean has assisted numerous franchise networks with their People Management needs and is acutely aware of utilizing franchising as a way of increasing small business management skills for all franchisees – irrespective of their backgrounds.

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Franchise Accountants

Tim Kilham - McLean Delmo Hall Chadwick

Tim Kilham is head of franchising for Mclean Delmo Hall Chadwick. The company provides tax, business, accounting and structuring advice to franchisees and franchisors. Tim is a regular speaker at seminars for prospective franchisees and franchisors and the author of numerous articles

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Franchise Legal Experts

Robert Toth - Wisewould Mahony

Robert Toth is a Franchise Partner at Wisewould Mahony Lawyers and an accredited Business Law Specialist with over 25 years experience as a business lawyer and consultant acting for Australian Franchisors looking to expand overseas and International Franchisors establishing business in Australia & New Zealand. The franchise group advises Franchisees and Master Franchisees and has specialist experience in the area of dispute resolution, solutions and strategies. Robert writes regularly in Franchise & industry journals and is a recognised leader in franchise law in Australia.

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Greg Hipwell - Deacons

Greg has extensive experience advising companies that distribute goods and services through a network or who exploit brands, technology or intellectual property. He has specific experience in trade practices law, particularly in relation to pricing, supply and market conduct issues and the Franchising Code of Conduct. Greg represents numerous leading Australian manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers as well as a growing number of international companies who export to Australia and the Asia Pacific region either directly or via joint ventures, master franchises or other forms of licence arrangements with locally based companies.

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Alan Branch - Donaldson Walsh Lawyers

Alan Branch leads the franchise division of Donaldson Walsh Lawyers, Australia winners of the 2009 Franchise Council of Australia Excellence in Franchising Supplier of the Year. Alan is recognised as one of Australia’s leading franchise lawyers and provides advise to businesses interested in bringing a franchise system to Australia. Alan has been a director of the FCA from 2006 to 2009 . Alan represents many of the leading franchise systems in Australia and assists their expansion overseas

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Erin Walford - Herbert Geer

Erin Walford is a Franchising solicitor within Herbert Geer, a national law firm in Australia. Erin specialises franchise law and is also experienced in commercial, litigation, corporate, intellectual property and leasing areas of law. Erin represents large, medium and small-sized franchise systems, individual and multi-unit franchisees, national and international franchisors and master franchisees. Erin is a Queensland representative on the Franchise Council of Australia Women In Franchising Committee and enjoys participating in franchise-related activities to educate, improve and develop the franchise sector.

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Fiona Gilbert - DLA Phillips Fox

Fiona is recognised as one of Australia’s leading franchise lawyers and was awarded the 2009 Franchise Council of Australia SA Franchise Woman of the Year. Fiona provides advice to both Australian and overseas franchise systems, holds a Masters in Intellectual Property and is also qualified as a registered Trade Marks Attorney. She has extensive experience in assisting franchise systems expand internationally. Fiona has been a committee member of the Franchise Council of Australia and the Women in Franchising Committee for a number of years. DLA Phillips Fox was recognised as a finalist in the 2009 Franchise Council of Australia Excellence in Franchising Supplier of the Year awards and is part of the DLA Piper international network providing global franchise services.

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Franchise General Experts

Johnny Sellyn - whichfranchise.com

Johnny Sellyn has been actively involved in franchising for over 20 years and is the Managing Director of whichfranchise. Johnnys expertise lies in helping prospective franchisees. He is the Deputy Chairman of the British Franchise Association (bfa) Franchise Group for Scotland and is asked to regularly speak at franchise and business events throughout the UK. whichfranchise websites include whichfranchise US, whichfranchise Ireland, whichfranchise South Africa and whichfranchise Australia

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Franchise Financial Experts

Greg Lawton - Commonwealth Bank

Greg Lawton has spent almost 10 years specialising in franchise finance. In that time he has developed a real passion for the industry, as well as strong relationships with franchisors and franchisees alike. Greg builds these relationships by providing high levels of customer service and support at every point – from the beginning of the loan application process through all the ‘life stages’ of the relationship. Once he understands the specific needs of his clients, Greg works closely with them to provide the appropriate solutions. Greg’s qualifications include a certificate in financial markets from FINSIA and a certificate of Franchising from Griffith University.

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