Purpose. Culture. Brand. Why this home care franchise is experiencing such rapid growth.

As a relative newcomer to the Australian market, Nurse Next Door Home Care Services continues to exceed all expectations.

Amber Biesse and Matt Fitton, who established Nurse Next Door Australia in October 2018, are not surprised by the level of interest they are receiving from potential franchise partners - a bold pink brand, with an award winning culture, and a purpose that resonates with so many people, has underpinned the successful launch of this Canadian brand into Australia.

They took some time out to talk to Business Franchise Australia New Zealand and reflect on the success of Nurse Next Door and discuss why they believe it is experiencing such rapid growth in what has otherwise been considered a difficult year for many business owners.

A core purpose

“Nurse Next Door’s core purpose of Making Lives Better really appeals to people who are  searching for something more than just making money, we call it wanting to build a business with heart!” Amber says. “In what has been a year where people are reconsidering their options, many of our partners, or potential partners, are keen to be a part of something bigger than themselves and recognise that running a Nurse Next Door Home Care business is an opportunity to make a real difference in their community.”

This sense of purpose, says Amber, is exactly what drew her and Matt to Nurse Next Door initially. “We knew as soon as we walked through the doors at Nurse Next Door in Vancouver that we’d found the right business for us,” Amber said.

Long time entrepreneurs, Amber and Matt have run many successful businesses over the past 25 years, but it was on a two year family sabbatical in Vancouver they decided that their next business venture would be one that had a broader purpose. “And scalable,” adds Amber. “We wanted to take all the business knowledge and experience we’d had over the years, and build something at a national level, so acquiring the Master Licence for Nurse Next Door in Australia was perfect for us.”

Leap forward two years and that’s exactly what they’ve done. With twelve locations awarded, four more optioned and a corporate location in Melbourne where the turnover has grown more than 500% since March 2020, Nurse Next Door - one of North America’s fastest growing home care companies, is quickly assuming the same mantle in Australia.

World Class Systems

The success of the brand to date speaks for itself. Throughout the COVID pandemic the business has continued to flourish. Amber believes a focus on operational excellence, backed by systems developed over years of research, practice and refinement is what lies behind the rapid growth.

“Nurse Next Door’s systems, our One Best Way, support every franchise partner to deliver a home care model that goes above and beyond the expectations of the industry.

This is why the franchise model, Matt believes, is a great fit for home care - a local entrepreneur with a desire to do something meaningful in their community. “It's about being in business for yourself - but with the training and support of a Franchisor, and a network of other franchise partners to collaborate with - not by yourself.”

He points to Nurse Next Door partner Lauren Macdonald - the franchise’s first partner - awarded the Gold Coast Territory in February 2020. With a background in the airline industry, Lauren has shifted seamlessly into the role of Managing Director of Nurse Next Door Gold Coast, building a team of caregivers and nurses who work tirelessly to ensure every request for care, whether a one off visit or ongoing 24/7 care, is met with the same enthusiasm - what Nurse Next Door calls a WOW customer experience.

An Essential Service

Home care is a 24/7 business and one that most of us will need at some point in our lives.

Although there has been exponential growth in the aged care and disability support sectors over the past 5 years, this is a sector that still has untapped potential. The NDIS, coupled with an ageing population whose desire is to age at home, and the government’s determination to support this choice, means more and more people are seeking home care options.

However Amber and Matt recognised early that having a strong market doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. So whilst Nurse Next Door franchise partners don’t need a medical background, they must be prepared for hard work, and a business plan that is equal parts profit and passion.

Matt notes that Nurse Next Door franchise partners come from all sorts of backgrounds but the one thing they have in common is a desire to make a difference in their own community. The franchise partners are tenacious, they have what Matt likes to call “grit - passion and perseverance” and they know how to hustle.

“We’re excited about the future, not only for Nurse Next Door nationally, but for each of our franchise partners and the opportunity they have to not only build a profitable business, but to be part of a franchise system where we all share the same passion and drive for truly wanting to a make a difference in someone else's life.”