Ella Bach_ has been operating in Australia for over 60 years, and its franchise model is approaching its 15 year anniversary.  

Debbie Parry, franchise development executive, says that the brand’s niche is to educate and provide non-invasive skin treatments.

“As a company there is a large focus on brand and local area marketing to drive clients through the doors of the franchise salons,” she says.

“As a company we don’t follow trends as they can be transient.”

“(However), it’s important to keep up with the changing needs of customers as we continue to offer a complete skincare solution.”

Parry says franchisee profits are sustained through the support of Ella Bach_’s business managers, as well as assistance with lease negotiations to ensure rent costs are kept to a minimum. She believes that the right site is key to driving growth, and ideal locations include a strip in a local community or a large shopping centre with guaranteed foot traffic.

The initial investment for a brand new site is $300,000-$350,000 inclusive of site selection, design, fit out, equipment, opening stock and franchise fees. Benefits include business manager training, product and treatment training, marketing launch, site selection, salon design, and build project management.

“Ella Bach_ is a third generation family company and we treat franchisees as extensions of the family, (and) provide as much support as possible to gain success,” explains Parry.

However, she identifies the main challenges of running a franchise as the balancing between entrepreneurial spirit and the requirement to work within the parameters of a franchise network. Franchise buyers need to realise that it is hard work, and the first few years involve a lot of groundwork.

“An ideal franchisee is someone with passion for the industry,” she says.

“We do look for people that have a solid work or business background that can bring the right skills a business needs, though no beauty background is required.”

She advises potential franchisees to do their research and understand that franchising is a long partnership between the franchisee and franchisor, so buyers should ask questions to find the right network.

Like the sound of a beauty franchise? Find out more about the marketplace.