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Healthcare franchise opens in WA

Sarah Stowe

The healthcare franchise chain Back in Motion has recently opened its first outlet in Western Australia. Founder Jason Smith told Franchising “We’ve broken the seal and we’re off and trading and there are probably seven or eight other opportunities in WA in the pipeline.”

Smith said the focus is on the suburbs of Perth, or within one hour away.

“Now we can call ourselves national. We’ve granted a licence for every state or territory, though we might not yet be trading,” he said.

In some instances the new businesses will not be the full flagship model but specialised services in the areas of community practice, aged care or occupational and workplace health.

Following the WA expansion, Smith is turning his attention to growing the Back in Motion brand overseas with New Zealand and the UK the prime targets right now. If the current negotiations and due diligence phase are successful, Smith is predicting the acquisition of six existing businesses in New Zealand with a launch of the brand in early 2015.

There’s an expectation of 15 to 20 outlets opening across the North and South Islands within three years.

The UK offers potential too, Smith believes, as the country is going through “enormous change” in how healthcare is managed and delivered, he said.

“Governments are less able to afford healthcare so the cost is shifting to the private sector. The healthcare consumer is more demanding too, looking for qualitative care not just transactional, and is happy to pay. It’s very, very positive and aspirational for health providers with a good model,” he said.