Australian Franchise News – 29-03-10
EACH year on average almost 10 per cent of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel leave*, many of whom seek to build a civilian career or start their own business.
PoolWerx CEO John O’Brien said the franchise industry stood to benefit from this and PoolWerx was offering $30,000 off the current franchise fee to encourage more people to join the $130 billion franchising industry in Australia. “Research from the United States shows the rate of business ownership among veterans is double that of non-veterans (one in seven veterans own a business compared to one in 14 non-veterans),” he said. “I believe we are starting to see a similar pattern emerging in Australia. We receive a lot of enquiry from ex-defence personnel and we already have several former defence people as successful franchisees. We’ve seen that their backgrounds and training provide a solid skill base which enables them to run their own businesses successfully and they thrive in the structured support a franchise business model provides.”
The ex-defence initiative will provide a 30 percent reduction off franchise fees for vacant territories in Sydney and Newcastle until June 30 2010.
“This is the first time we have offered such an opportunity but we see it as a way to help ex-defence people make a fresh start more easily and with the banks still slow on business lending it makes business ownership a step closer for those motivated enough to go for it.”
The established structures and support systems were what attracted Warren Williams to a PoolWerx franchise. Being an Army ammunition technician for 25 years was a specialised occupation but he discovered he had many transferrable skills.
“I found my organisational skills and people management helped, plus you bring with you integrity and loyalty,” he said. “I looked into standalone business options but it was too daunting. With a franchise you get a lot of back up. Coming from the defence force you learn some amazing skills which can be adapted perfectly to business ownership. You know how to be a leader, you know how to listen and you certainly understand the importance of structure. If you are prepared for hard work you’ll reap the rewards.”
Kevin Scott worked in engineering in the Navy for 20 years and upon his retirement his first priority was to build his own business. “I started off reading franchise magazines and PoolWerx caught my eye because I already had the technical background of pumps and water systems,” he said.
He has run his business for six years now and said people considering a franchise were making a smart decision. “In many instances, like mine, you come out with a lump sum pension and it pays to do something smart with it and investing in my own business was the best option.”
PoolWerx is a mobile pool and spa services company with 263 active franchise territories and retail stores across Australia. PoolWerx has experienced consistent double-figure revenue growth, securing the franchise its 7th consecutive listing as one of the country’s fastest growing businesses in the 2010 BRW “Fast Franchises” ranking.