Ever feel like you’re slaving away for someone else’s gain? As a career corporate, it can often feel like the opportunities for entrepreneurship are limited, but a growing number of new white collar franchises are opening the door for workers to become their boss without changing industries.

In Australia, franchising has presented a streamlined entry into business-ownership for over 40 years, but for the most part, fitness, fast-food and service-based offerings have dominated the sector.

The domestic business landscape is evolving however. With companies becoming far more reliant on cloud-based technologies and systems, a range of new models have sprung up to accommodate.

A growing demand for white collar franchises has seen more skilled workers leave mid-senior positions to enter the franchising sector as business-owners.

The increased reliance on agile operations is also providing an additional boost to prospective franchisees, with minimal overheads and staffing costs making the opportunity all the more affordable.

Here, we take a look at three white collar franchises with an investment cost of under $100,000.

InXpress Australia

Earlier this year, global shipping and logistic franchise InXpress celebrated 20 years of operation worldwide, coinciding with the company’s tenth anniversary in Australia.

The company’s proactive approach to technological advancements and sector evolution has not only made the business an industry-leader, but a valuable proposition for former career corporates.

Dave Wilkinson, InXpress APAC franchise development director believes the current economic and working environment has contributed heavily to the rising white-collar franchisee movement.

“The last 10 years in Australia have seen an increase in redundancies and layoffs with many industries becoming less relevant with the advent of new technology,” Wilkinson said.

“We’re seeing lots of interest from the corporate world, people are becoming better educated and moving their mindset from a nine to five daily grind to that of a business owner, who wants to control his or her financial destiny.”

Wilkinson believes former corporate workers make ideal franchisees due to their ability to address the specific needs of the familiar clientele.

“The InXpress model is B2B focused, this appeals to many corporate workers because it retains some of the comfort corporate workers enjoy”

An InXpress Australia franchise will set prospective franchisees back an intial investment cost of $64,950 plus GST, making it one of the most affordable white collar franchises on the market.

Valenta BPO

Outsourcing and professional services franchise, Valenta BPO has created an entire model based on remote team operation.

“This is a model where the franchisee works on the business rather than in the business,” Valenta BPO managing director Jayesh Kasim said.

“People from the corporate world will find themselves working in a familiar environment but in a different structure, wherein they have the ability to reach their goals & spend more time with family.”

Jayesh explains that franchisees are encouraged to operate the business from a remote location, such as a joint work-space or home office, significantly reducing start-up costs.

The model allows corporate workers to leverage their previous work experience and contact list, rather than engage in a complete career overhaul.

“Previous corporate experience will be a great asset for success at Valenta,” Jayesh said.

“Firstly, having industry contacts will fast track their business development activities. Secondly, they would know the gaps in the industry and thus, they will be well equipped to provide an industry wide solution. Lastly, their corporate experience will give them the confidence to approach businesses across any industry to provide solutions.”

The low-overhead business costs between $66,850 and $97,700 and requires a $50,000 liquid capital.

Snap Print & Design

One of the most well-known white collar franchises on the market, Snap Print & Design is a heritage business with a modern outlook.

Former advertising and marketing professionals, Sue and Ian Mackie took control of the existing Snap Printing South Dandenong outlet, making use of their previous corporate experience.

“It was just a great opportunity,” Ian said. “We researched a fair bit and had a look at the type of franchise that we wanted to run, and Snap was just a good fit for us.”

Like all Snap Printing franchisees, Ian and Sue are required to meet client briefs, work on effective marketing solutions and develop a core clientele, which has come easily to the experienced corporates.

The franchise model allows new business owners, like the Mackies to draw from their previous professional skills to develop their business and has a capital investment starting at $50,000.

White collar franchises

As Australians increasingly turn to franchising in order to satisfy their entrepreneurial goals, skilled workers have become a major market.

If you want to own your own business, but don’t want to change careers or industries, white collar franchises offer the opportunity to leverage work experience to kickstart operations.

Does entrepreneurship excite you? Take a look at these fantastic business services franchise opportunities.