This article appeared in Issue 3#2 (January/February 2009) of Business Franchise Australia & New Zealand
GET MOVING WITH A MOBILE FRANCHISE
Are you continually frustrated travelling to a meaningless job, working long hours and not being financially rewarded? Does your family forget what you look like? Perhaps a mobile franchise is for you!
Offering flexibility and variety, most mobile franchises visit assorted destinations, continually collecting new customers. Heavily signed vehicles, whether stationary or in transit, are readily visible by potential clients.
Generally substantially cheaper to buy and run than their fixed counterparts, mobile businesses are unaffected by landlords, premises and rental challenges. Ongoing costs are reduced with limited overheads.
Mobile franchisees can incorporate a healthy lifestyle, as they largely choose their own hours and customers, often scheduling work around family and other commitments. Here is just a selection of the various mobile franchises on offer.
All Stripped was founded in 1995 and is Australia’s largest and only franchised tile removal and floor stripping company, removing ceramic, marble, slate, terracotta and vinyl tiles, carpets, timber and cork flooring, and walls.
The All Stripped franchise takes on domestic jobs, as well as commercial and industrial strip-outs. Their initial fee is $65,000+GST for a 5 year licence.
Aussie Pooch Mobile operators do more than simply hydro bathing; they interact with customers, and provide additional services such as grooming and trimming, retail products and friendly helpful advice.
For a flexible lifestyle and rewarding career, Aussie Pooch offers low entry costs, minimum overheads and immediate recognition. Strong teamwork, leadership, proven systems, a great product and committed support help ensure a business success.
B & S Sharpening was started in 1994 by Bill Wendt and Sue Scott. It is a mobile business that services suburban households and a range of commercial businesses that use scissors, knives, office equipment, garden tools – in fact anything that requires a sharp edge.
Limited competition and high returns on investment make B & S very desirable, as well as a guaranteed income of $1,000 a week for the first 12 weeks.
Cafe2U is one of the fastest growing business concepts in Australia, launching its first mobile coffee van in Sydney in March 2000. Recently celebrating 120 franchises, it is also the largest mobile coffee franchise in the world.
Currently operating in Australia, the UK and Ireland, Cafe2U is about to enter the American and South African markets. New franchisees enjoy a guaranteed daily income of $500 during their first fortnight.
Chem-Dry prides itself on deep cleaning carpets and upholstery without leaving them soaking wet for hours. With 200 franchisees throughout Australia, each are provided with the necessary equipment, solutions and supplies for carpet cleaning.
Franchisees can expand into drapery, leather and vinyl cleaning, water damage and even carpet repairs. Start-up costs are low, with a flat monthly royalty fee, and franchisees come from diverse backgrounds.
Concrete Taxi units act as mini-batch plants, mixing concrete on site. The trucks can access small areas, taking advantage of the business large concrete companies decline.
Through company operations, territories are first developed and then sold as franchises once the customer base has been established. State-of-the-art equipment includes Navman GPS trackers and communications equipment.
ecowash mobile was founded in Australia in 2004, quickly becoming the world’s number one mobile waterless car washing franchise. With over 100 mobile units in Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the USA, a master franchise agreement has been secured for New Zealand.
Franchisees are set up in a ‘turn key’ business and fully trained in all aspects. A complete start-up packaging includes a fully prepared vehicle, complete product range, all equipment and marketing material.
Electrodry has 100 franchises around Australia, servicing over 100,000 clients every year. Mobile units visit homes and provide carpet dry cleaning, upholstery and leather cleaning, healthy mattress solutions, tile and grout cleaning, and 24-hour emergency serviced.
Prospective franchisees enjoy exclusive territories and are part of a committed team that strives to provide the best possible service.
ENZED supplies industrial markets with a mobile, total hose and fitting replacement service. Operating in Australia since 1981, new franchisees receive a two week TAFE accredited training course plus onsite training and more.
Priding itself on its ‘On Time, Any Time’ guarantee of being on-site within 15 minutes of the agreed time, there are over 234 mobile HOSE DOCTORS across the country.
Fastway Couriers is Australia’s largest independent courier company. Established in 1983, Fastway is a global organisation, operating in 10 countries, including New Zealand. Both new and existing Regional and Courier franchises are currently available.
The Franchise Support Office in Sydney manages the Fastway system throughout Australia. Franchisees benefit from a perpetual franchise agreement, full training and ongoing support, and a 5 day working week (no weekends!).
The Flea-Stoppers Doggy Wash success is largely based on the friendly, professional image it portrays. Established in WA in 1993, this mobile dog wash and pet shop facility services all of Australia. Most operators work between Tuesdays and Saturdays.
New and existing franchises are now available, as well as some exciting master franchise opportunities. Flea-Stoppers has 50 franchisees, 3 full time support staff and performs over 170,000 dog washes a year, turning over in excess of $2 million.
Hire A Box is a unique franchised serviced, based on the delivery and collection of reasonably priced returnable moving boxes for hire. It is the first and only box hire franchise in the world, and seven franchisees have joined up in only 5 months.
Franchisees enjoy being out on the road and having personal customer contact, with the flexibility of a home-based business. The franchisor takes care of all bookings via a central Hub, as well as advertising and marketing. At an affordable cost, franchises are $65,000 + GST, plus van and sign-writing.
Hosemasters specialise in providing mobile on-site services and maintenance of all areas of hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial hose applications. Offering country, regional and local franchises, there are three levels of entry available.
Operators should be mechanically minded, but do not require any formal training. Prospective franchisees should enjoy meeting new people and learning new skills.
Hydro Dog is a rapidly growing Australian business with 150 franchisees, but is desperate for more to keep up with customer demands. Training managers take prospective franchisees out on the field, to help determine if the business suits them.
The intensive training program covers equipment operation of the mobile salon, ongoing maintenance and grooming procedures. Hydro Dog offers a centralised customer answering service, exclusive territories and national advertising.
Jim’s Group is more than just Jim’s Mowing, with 25+ divisions offering a range of mobile franchises. Services include bookkeeping and financial professionals, building and garden maintenance, cleaning, computers, dog washing, fencing, flooring, painting, paving, and test and tag.
The group is constantly looking to increase its current number of 2,733+ Jim’s franchisees throughout Australia, NZ, Canada and the UK. Divisional and franchisor rights may also be available.
Jumping JJ’s is a part-time business in the children’s entertainment market in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, offering backyard bouncy castles and slides for hire. Franchise owners work in an exclusive territory, generally setting up their inflatable castles in the morning and returning afterwards for collection.
As the business grows, franchisees increase their stock of castles, allowing them to step back from installations and work the business as a manager. Those purchasing an existing territory for <$50,000 will be guaranteed $60,000 worth of bookings by 2009’s end or receive a cheque for the difference.
Kwik Kerb operators provide continuous concrete edging to enhance gardens, driveways and landscaped areas. The finished product looks great and is a cost-effective method to create mower strips, driveway curbs and very functional and stylish garden edges for home-owners or any type of property.
Operators receive three days of comprehensive training, covering technical details of producing superior curbing, maintaining the machinery, and sales and marketing techniques. An affordable business opportunity, many Kwik Kerb operators recover their initial investment in less than a year.
Lifetime Distributors operators deliver the convenience of shopping direct to workplaces, offering a range of impressive discounts on products that include books and other consumables.
With a number of franchisee and sub-contractor positions available in Australia and New Zealand, interested individuals should be enthusiastic, determined and have good customer service skills.
Mini-Tankers is Australia’s leading on-site refuelling specialist, providing tailored fuel management solutions. It operates in partnership with major participants within the transport, construction, earth moving, marine, mining, and civil contracting industries. Franchisees benefit from a national operation that supplies sales and marketing, technical support, customer service and after hours back up.
Currently seeking qualified candidates to expand its franchise network in both existing and new markets, Mini-Tankers also offers technical training and advice, operations and compliance manuals, active marketing, research and development, and regular communications.
Mobile Filtration Services provides an on-site cooking oil filtration and purification service to commercial kitchens and food outlets that use deep fryers. All suspended solids or fine impurities, which would normally be left in oils to burn, are removed in the process. The Australian company is committed to motivating franchisees to become highly trained professionals in fryer management.
A franchise can be a single operator mobile business, or be built up to operate multiple vans and equipment with family or employees. Mobile Filtration Services are looking for self-disciplined and dependable franchisees for QLD, NSW, VIC, WA and SA.
Mobile HoseFixers is a 24/7 emergency hydraulic repair and maintenance organisation, with 15 years’ experience in the delivery of efficient, effective and expert hydraulic hose fixing. Hundreds of businesses depend on their hydraulic equipment, so opportunities across Australia are abundant.
Expanding all across the country, there are current operations in QLD, NSW and VIC. Franchisees do not require paper qualifications, but should be practical, hands-on and self-motivated individuals with a strong service ethic, who enjoy helping people.
Mobile Laser Skirmish is an entertainment and leisure package for both children and adults, for birthday parties, schools, groups and other functions. Based around inflatable walls and objects set up in parks, ovals or other locations, groups play various games of laser tags.
Offering Australian franchisees a 12 month ‘rent before you buy’ alternative, Mobile Laser Skirmish also provide finance options for suitable candidates. Franchises are available in Australia, NZ, US and Great Britain.
Old Macdonald’s Travelling Farms is an RSPCA approved mobile farm franchise. Baby farm animals are transported to parties, schools, fetes, shopping centres, playgroups, aged care facilities and other locations, bringing the country to the city. It provides an entertaining and educational encounter without compromising the welfare of animals.
Prospective franchisees should exhibit honesty, integrity, drive, initiative, flexibility and good communication skills. Established since 1989 and covering QLD, NSW, SA and WA, Old Macdonald’s is currently focusing on franchise opportunities in VIC, NSW, WA and Northern QLD.
Ovenu is a professional domestic oven cleaning and detailing service, using only biodegradable, non-caustic, odour-free products. Established in 1994 in the United Kingdom, there are now 100+ franchises.
Now offering generous territories across Australia in prime locations, Ovenu’s franchise fee is a low $35,000+GST. The franchisor supplies franchisees with full training, including back-up and support.
PoolWerx mobile franchisees service, clean and repair pools and pool equipment, and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any pool related emergencies. There are over 280 PoolWerx franchises across Australia and New Zealand.
Operating an in-house ‘Pool School’, PoolWerx franchisees need not have prior experience in pool and spa management. A mobile franchisee can either run a pool service van or manage a fleet of vans in designated territories.
Snap-on Tools franchisees visit customers direct at their places of business from brilliantly kitted, air-conditioned mobile showrooms. There are around 5,000 mobile vans worldwide with a range of over 19,000 different products.
Potential franchisees need not be familiar with tools, but should enjoy sales and meeting people. Good customer service skills are imperative. Snap-on is aggressively looking for franchisees to take advantage of VIC and NSW territories, as well as New Zealand opportunities.
Spray Pave Australia apply new concrete 1-3mm thick over existing concrete, in a range of colours and designs, making it ideal for driveways, patios, verandahs, ramps, carports, pool surrounds, decks and paths.
Operators are trained in spray paving, epoxy flooring, polishing, staining, waterproofing, imitation slate, sandstone, timber floor boards and non-slip tile treatments. Securing domestic, commercial and government work, Spray Pave offers individuals a range of business package models to start their own business.
Superfinish Express (formerly Kwik Fix International) offers a fully mobile service that repairs paintwork, plastics, alloy wheels, bumper bars and interiors on cars. Clients include motor vehicle dealerships and other auto-industry based businesses.
Franchisees come from all backgrounds and are attracted to Superfinish’s lifestyle balance, income rewards and job satisfaction. Technical back up and support is available 7 days a week even though franchisees only work 5 days a week (no weekends or late nights!).
Tile Rescue® has developed superior tile restoration procedures that are taught to franchisees of all types of backgrounds. The franchisor provides hands on training and complete support, including the comprehensive Tile Rescue® Franchisee Kit and various Manuals.
Franchisees enjoy the benefits of being their own boss without the risk of being on their own. Interested individuals should be motivated and enthusiastic, and enjoy meeting people while earning a lucrative income.
The Touch Up Guys create undetectable repairs to paintwork, bumpers and plastic parts on motor vehicles. Costing far less to repair a stone chip, a scratch or mend a bumper than replacing or respraying a damaged panel, the Touch Up Guys are in high demand.
Established in QLD in 1991, there are 145+ vans across Australia and New Zealand, and 90% of franchisees had no previous industry experience. Franchisees should be great communicators, passionate about cars, self-confident, motivated and business savvy. A 3 week induction includes the technicals, business sense, administration and marketing. Further training is tailored for either an existing or new franchise territory.
VIP Home Services has various tailored purchase options for potential franchisees, offering new business opportunities from less than $25,000. VIP’s services include lawn-mowing and gardening, residential cleaning, carpet cleaning, commercial cleaning, window cleaning and handyman services.
Servicing more than 150,000 households per year, 1000+ franchises across Australia and New Zealand turn over in excess of $80 million per year.
Watch 24 Security Services is one of the top Australian security alarm providers of quality, affordable, leading technology wireless security systems for homes and businesses. Watch 24 is currently seeking sales professionals, with or without prior security experience, who want to own their own business.
Franchisees should have ambition and high ethnical standards. Watch 24 offers low start-up costs, full-time or part-time hours, and full company training. There are more than 100 licensed security advisers in all capital cities, plus many State and Territory regional centres.
Wet-seal encompasses all facets of waterproofing and sealing of internal and external wet areas for residential, commercial and industrial applications. It also supplies and installs under-tile and in-slab heating systems. With over 25 years of experience and award winning systems, Wet-seal are the industry leaders in Australia and New Zealand.
Franchisees receive the highest level of support, starting with six weeks of intensive training, plus ongoing training for technical, sales, IT and administrative support. Franchisees benefit from group buying power, a low entry cost, exclusive territories and two franchises for the price of one (waterproofing and under-floor heating).
The Xpresso Delight coffee&go system uses a mobile van specially designed with a unique hybrid machine and ‘pod’ style coffee infusion that enables fast, accurate production of coffees. Businesses book their local coffee&go van to visit during certain times of the day and franchisees then build up a successful daily coffee run.
A franchisee spends around 25 hours per week servicing their territory, which is large enough to be split into two and on-sold. The franchisor guarantees a minimum 50% revenue return on investment within the first six months of operation – or the full franchise fee will be refunded.