KEEP ON TRUCKING

Strong systems and great lead generation led ex-serviceman James Bailey to become the Western Australian master franchisor for The Handy Truck.

Ex-serviceman gets on the road.

TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY WITH THE HANDY TRUCK. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE BRAND?

I was in the navy for 15 years prior and at the time, I felt like it was time to move on. I was looking at different franchises, across all systems and categories, from kids swim schools to home handyman, but I settled on The Handy Truck. I became the master franchise owner in September last year, taking control of our four existing franchises in WA.

I broke even within the first eight months and I was absolutely stoked with that. It’s an easy system, with very low overheads. Fuel and an offsider, if you choose to have one, will be the biggest expenses.

WHAT DREW YOU TO THE BUSINESS?

It was the systems processes that really got me interested. The lead-generation process that provides jobs to franchisees was a big boost at the time and it’s come a long way since then. As a franchisee, it was something that helped me a lot, and now as a master franchise owner, I can see the value from both sides.

Initially, when a job would come in we just had a text message system that went to the franchisee that explained what the job was and had some extra details. But since I’ve come on as the master franchise owner we’ve added online capabilities as well. Franchisees still receive the text, but the online system has a lot more detail, all the information is there and it’s easier to use.

WHAT SETS THE HANDY TRUCK APART FROM OTHER PICK-UP, DELIVERY AND REMOVAL BUSINESSES?

It’s the ability to work with the customer rather than just for them. We provide the opportunity to operate as a one-man truck, as opposed to a two-worker situation. We can obviously provide that if the client wants, but our model is designed for smaller moves. It’s also a benefit for the customer, particularly younger people between the ages of 18 and 25 who can’t hire a truck but are willing to do the lifting.

Our franchisees are moving things all day every day, whereas the customer is only moving their house. By working together, we can get the job done quickly and look after our bodies better.

DO FRANCHISEES PURCHASE THEIR OWN VEHICLE?

At the moment, franchisees purchase their own vehicles, that’s why we provide that variety; it’s totally up to the franchisee which jobs they take. Some guys don’t want to do full house moves. Our model is there so that when the work comes in, franchisees can accept or decline, in which case it will be passed to the appropriate partner.

WHAT KIND OF FRANCHISEES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

We’re looking for people who are keen to get out and do their own thing. Being an ex-navy person myself, I’ve found that this kind of business is perfect for those with a military background. People who have been in the military know how to follow systems, they’ve got that drive to do something already and they are generally self-starters. That’s where I’ve seen the value in buying a franchise, rather than going out on my own.

We’ve got plenty of work; most of our franchisees can’t keep up. I’m knocking back jobs at the moment because I’m getting my truck serviced or I just need a day off. I drop my kids off three days a week, but I might work until 6 or 7 pm. Franchisees book their own jobs and that will allow them the flexibility to schedule things if they have family or medical commitments.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR WA?

My main target is to become more recognised in WA. We have a big presence online, but a lot of our customers tell us they’ve never heard of something like this. To be honest, before I came on-board, I hadn’t either. Now that I know, I would never move myself again.

HOW MUCH DOES THE OPPORTUNITY COST?

The franchise in WA at the moment is worth $30,000, however we’ve dropped that to $20,000 to build some extra interest. It’s a limited time offer and that will go up, but we really want to ramp things up. The big focus for this year is getting more recognition, but in the future, we’re looking at bringing on different models, whether it be cold trucks or cranes.