The fast-growing Pearl Home Care is focused on reducing costs and adding value for franchisees, and it is attracting high-calibre franchisees to the Aussie-owned and operated business.
Recruitment advisor Bob Ozdemir tells Inside Franchise Business “We know first hand the competitive advantages of being Australian-owned.”
Bob explains the business, owned by the Western-Australian Shahade family and headed up by Paul Shahade, transitioned from a large American player in the marketplace.
“The benefits we have experienced are outstanding,” reveals Bob. “The speed of decision making, a lower fee base because we don’t have another partner involved, that we can customise each business to the needs of its local community – these have been measurable benefits for brands and franchisees,” he says.
“Being Australian-owned has been a major drawcard.”
5 reasons to buy a Pearl Home Care franchise
- Australian owned and operated
- Large sized territories
- Reduced cost based
- Ten year franchise term
- Flexibility in services
In a competitive market it’s important to differentiate a brand, and Pearl Home Care has a distinct offer based around a larger-sized territory for each franchise, a reduced cost base and an extended franchise term.
“We made a decision to operate differently: we doubled the territory sizes so there is bigger market capacity to grow into.
“We also reduced the cost base, charging 5 per cent royalty but zero marketing levy because the franchisee has to market locally so we don’t need to double dip. It’s more efficient to customise locally for their demographics but franchisees still get the advertising material and collateral for free,” says Bob.
A five year franchise term is common – the doubled franchise term at Pearl Home Care gives franchisees a 10 year agreement plus one option to renew for a further 10 years.
Bob says “We want franchisees to have the ability to build up an asset with their hard work and onsell at a future date to capitalise on that.”
The other benefit franchisees see is an inclusive approach to business, with franchisees enjoying a real involvement, he says.
The flexibility of the model allows for franchisees to choose, if they wish to do so, one particular sector of the community or care package to specialise in.
“Our core costumer is in-home care privately funded. But some franchisees will focus more on Government-funded care, some will go into NDIS. The franchisor allows you to have a vision for your business.”
Fast-growing aged-care business
By the end of financial year 2021 Pearl Home Care will have established 20 territories across Australia.
That’s swift growth for a business that has only been operating in its current format for 18 months.
And while franchisees don’t need to be healthcare professionals, Bob says it is a sign of confidence in the operations that high calibre ex-health sector individuals such as registered nurses are signing up as franchisees.
“Our most recent recruits include middle to senior aged-care executives, qualified registered nurses, physiotherapists and carers. These people walk into the job with 80 per cent knowledge, we nurture for the balance,” he says.
A franchise costs about $75,000 + GST and that package includes training.
Pearl Home Care aims to offer a franchise in every major population hub, regional and metropolitan, across Australia. It’s now half way to good national coverage of 40 large territories.
“Our biggest focus is metro Melbourne and Victoria, north and south Adelaide, and Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania and other major population hubs such as Darwin, Toowoomba, Newcastle,” says Bob.
Territories in Nowra and Wollongong, Sydney, Brisbane Perth Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are all sold out.