InXpress Brisbane franchisee Darren Smith is a happy father. He has achieved a comfortable work life balance while growing a successful business.
“It’s all about balance,” Darren says.
He stays at home and cares for his son every Friday. When he is home with his son, he takes calls and responds to his e-mails if required. He then works on Saturday to do any administration that is needed for the week.
“There are not many fathers out there who can have one day during their week with their kid, and this business allows me to do that. I can work at night to make up for the hours. My wife works and I just work it so that Friday is Dad day. And that’s one of the best things about this business that I can do that,” Darren told Franchising.
Darren became an InXpress franchisee in November 2010 and started working with the master franchisor the same year. He has worked with many master franchisors in varying industries from food to fitness, from tiles to construction.
The head office of InXpress is in the UK, the US was the first international franchise, Australia was the second. There are now 15 franchisees spread across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Ballarat and Perth.
“So we were very much piloting the system here in Australia. And it’s grown and evolved in the last three years it’s been around,” Darren says.
Darren loves the advantages of having a home based business that one person can own and operate; it is passive income without the costs of many bricks-and-mortar businesses.
He also works on commission. “So if you find a business that’s sending 10 parcels a week and if you can find 100 businesses that are sending 10 parcels a week, that’s a lot of freight that you’re getting a commission on.”
Along with domestic air and road express, the company provides international import and export services with good margins; “that’s where we make the most money,” Darren says.
A franchise consultant by trade Darren was new to the freight industry when he joined InXpress. He met the previous owner at Griffith University while doing a graduate diploma in management. After completing the course in 2010 Darren started working with the company’s master franchisor and was so impressed with the business model he bought a franchise himself.
Once he signed an agreement, he was equipped to start his business with a one-week intensive training course.
Business without borders
When floods hit Brisbane in January 2011, business was tough for the city and the state. Darren had to think on his feet.
“Brisbane just became dead in terms of freight. It was just a no-go area. Business was tough. So I jumped on a plane and went to Sydney.
“I got half a dozen clients in Sydney. So this is the sort of business where if you want to go to Roma, if you want to go to Cairns, if you want to go to Broome, you can. You’re mobile.”
Darren was in New Zealand a couple of weeks ago and he was running his business from there. The back office IT system takes care of the shipping, all Darren has to do as a franchisee is customer management and sales.
“The franchise has no borders so you can move anywhere in Australia and still run your business,” he explains.