Physio all smiles at Finish Line
Mediation saves lots of hassles
A GOLD Coast lawyer has launched a same-day family mediation service – designed to save clients time, money and stress.
Burleigh Heads-based Marie Fedorov, who has worked as a family lawyer for the past 12 years, developed Family Mediation Station to offer an alternative to protracted divorce settlements.
“I see children stuck in the middle of the bitterness and that’s one of the many reasons why I came up with this business model,” she said.
“We provide same-day mediation and the documents necessary to formalise an agreement. This is done on the spot so clients can move on with their lives.”
Ms Fedorov said clients have a strong motivation to achieve a speedy resolution.
“It is ... in everyone’s best interests to reach an agreement to avoid future costs and the stress as litigation can end up costing upwards of $40,000,” she said.
She said divorce proceedings also proved costly to taxpayers.
“I’ve done my research and the impact on communities from divorce costs the nation up to $14 billion in 2014, up from $12 billion in 2012, in government assistance payments, court costs and so on,” she said. GOLD Coast physiotherapist Brad Beer has struck on a novel business model for his industry.
The 11-year industry veteran has introduced fixed-fee options for his clients to address consumer frustration borne out of rising costs and treatment plans with no end date.
Brad hopes the model, called Finish Line programs, will grow his Pogo Physio business to $5 million in revenue by 2022, three practices, 30 employees, and 10 businesses licensed to use his products.
Brad, a Griffith University graduate, established his first practice in 2006 and three years later became the Qld franchisor for physio business Back in Motion.
He has treated numerous high-profile athletes including ironman Shannon Eckstein and former NRL player Mat Rogers.
In 2014, after growing to three practices in Bundall, Mermaid Waters and Mount Gravatt, he turned his back on the franchise model.
Brad said he wanted to forge his own path in the industry and launched Pogo Physio. FOUNDED: BASE: BUSINESS: STAFF: WEBSITE:
“For 10 years I banged my head against the wall trying to solve consumer frustration until I came up with the Finish Line model,” he said.
Brad said people have three preconceptions about physiotherapists: They do not work; physiotherapists want clients to keep coming back rather than treat them properly; it is an expensive service.
“From a physiotherapy point of view my frustrations over the years prior to launching Finish Line was we would get 50 per cent of our patients getting the results they wanted,” he said.
Brad said he was running in the Arundel Hills when the idea popped into his head.
“I thought what clients need is a finish line. I though about a monthly subscription model but it still does not solve the frustration of consumers which is: when will this end?”
The Finish Line concept comprises two-week, six-week and 12-week programs costing between $895 and $2995 and designed to deal with a scale of conditions from acute lower back pain to chronic joint problems.
All programs include unlimited physiotherapy treatment for the duration and the six-week and 12-week courses provide a guarantee the client achieves their goals provided they adhere to their plan.
The program is preceded by a 60-minute consultation.
“These aren’t for people who want to drip-feed their treatment,” he said.
“It is for people who want to prioritise treating their condition.”
Brad said since the program was launched in July last year he has seen revenue rise $200,000 from $1.5 million in FY16 to $1.7 million in FY17.
“People get results because they have paid their money and they are going to get their money’s worth,” he sid. “And in physiotherapy we have never capitalised on that because all the physio industry has done is go session-to-session.”
Brad said his goal is a national footprint for his Pogo Physio brand.