Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand
BUSINESS SUPPORTING BUSINESS:
FRANCHISES YOU WON’T FIND IN THE FOOD COURT
If you were asked to name a franchise off the top of your head, what would come to mind – a fast food chain? Perhaps a bakery? Something starting with Jim’s?
The fact is, there are hundreds of franchise brands across Australia. Franchises are everywhere, from restaurants to pharmacies, gyms to hotels, retail stores to coffee shops. If you are thinking of buying a franchise, there are many different types to choose from. But one type that you may not have considered is business services.
Business services franchises are those that offer a service to help and support other business owners – services like marketing and promotion, human resources, financial advice, courier services, technical support, and even office supplies. While these may not be the franchises that you will find at your local shopping centre, business services make up a significant proportion of Australia’s franchise economy.
According to the latest Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) report, Franchising Australia 2016, retail, food, and accommodation make up 45 per cent of Australian franchise brands, and the remaining 55 per cent is a combination of personal, support and business services. The precise definition of what is considered a business service can vary, which makes it difficult to pigeonhole. However, for the purposes of this feature we will consider it to include any franchise that supports and assists other businesses, and we will explore some key examples of these companies.
Postal services – couriers, mail and shipping
These companies help small, medium and large businesses with all their distribution needs, from regular post and courier delivery to warehousing, shipping, freight and logistics. A small but important percentage of Australian franchisors, postal services are essential for any business that relies on timely and efficient transportation of its products or documents. Well known brands include InXpress, Couriers Please, Fastway, Pack & Send, Mail Boxes Etc., Mail Plus and Australia Post.
Financial services
Often considered a separate category to business services, financial and insurance services make up three per cent of the industry in Australia, according to the FCA. It could be argued that financial assistance counts as a business service, as it involves helping business owners with anything from bookkeeping and tax accounting to financial consulting and investment strategy. Franchises in this area include IFG 50/50, First Class Accounts, Resolve Finance and H&R Block.
Marketing
Franchises in the marketing industry help other businesses to promote their brand and achieve commercial success. A key example of this is Signarama, an established franchise that offers businesses a range of branding solutions using signs, banners and vehicle wraps. Likewise, Fully Promoted (the franchisor previously known as EmbroidMe) can add a corporate logo or message to anything from uniforms and apparel to drinkware, hats and other custom products, providing many opportunities for brand visibility.
Office supplies and waste management
In contrast to the bigger picture of marketing and promotion, these franchises support businesses with their day-to-day operations. Consider all the things that you need for an office to run smoothly – ink and toner for the printer; shredding for confidential documents, or other waste removal; a vending machine in the break room; batteries for everything from forklifts to security alarms. Franchises in this area include Battery World, Cartridge World, Provender (vending machines) and Mil-tek (waste solutions).
Printing services
Technology has changed the way that many people do business – it’s not uncommon to work on the go, which means we are no longer tethered to a physical office. Unfortunately, this means giving up one of the most useful office perks: access to a commercial printer, scanner and photocopier. This is where printing franchises can help. In addition to professional printing and copying, they also offer graphic design, website and digital services, and custom promotional items. Examples of these franchises include Snap, Kwik Kopy and Minuteman Press.
IT and tech support
Small and medium businesses may not have their own IT department or qualified technicians on hand to test electrical appliances for safety. These jobs can be outsourced to other companies, including franchises like Experimac (Apple repairs and upgrades), Geeks on Call (IT) and Jim’s Test and Tag (electrical).
Commercial cleaning
Every office building needs a cleaner, and Australia has a number of commercial cleaning franchises that provide this service. There are also franchises offering additional services such as commercial carpet cleaning, painting, and property maintenance. Examples of cleaning franchises in Australia are ACE Cleaning Services, AMC Commercial Cleaning, Keen to Clean and Cleancorp.
This is by no means an exhaustive list; these are just a few examples of franchisors that exist in the business services sector. The key thing to remember is that becoming a franchisee doesn’t necessarily mean entering the world of retail or hospitality. If you are interested in being part of an organisation that helps other business owners and their staff, then running a business services franchise may be for you. As you do your research and seek professional advice, consider which franchises are available in your area and what you can afford. You may find that when you take some time to look beyond the food court, beyond the shopping centre, to the franchises operating behind the scenes to support local businesses, you will find the one that is perfect for you.