Back to Previous

Nurse Next Door signs first Australian franchisees

Sarah Stowe

Nurse Next Door has signed its first franchisees. Gold Coast couple Lauren Macdonald and Glen Parsons discovered the home-care opportunity on Inside Franchise Business.

Franchisor Matt Fitton said “They saw the article about the launch, and that piqued their interest.”

The pair will turn the key to their brand new business in April.

Fitton, who brought the overseas brand to Australia with fellow franchisor Amber Biesse, (pictured above) told Inside Franchise Business “Lauren and Glen are super enthusiastic, they have embraced the culture from the outset; they are super proactive, getting involved in their local community already.”

The community approach is just what the brand requires in its franchisees said Biesse. 

“We’re looking for people who connect with our core value of making people’s lives better.”

Franchise marketing began in November last year and the pair report strong initial interest.

Nurse Next Door potential

Fitton and Biesse are working on steady expansion, planning to sign up five franchisees in the first 12 months.

The seniors demographics in an area form the basis for the franchise territories.

Metro and regional Victoria are a particular focus with potential spotted in Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong. However there are no geographical limits for franchisees. 

Nurse Next Door recently delivered a presentation on happier ageing which piqued the interest of 22 Victorian councils, said Fitton. 

“We’ve been in business 18 months and know that franchising is not about opening satellite offices, it’s about local community. Franchisees build a level of trust within the community.”

Nurse Next Door began its days in Vancouver, and now operates through more than 150 franchise locations across Canada and the US.

While the brand has established its reputation working within the burgeoning aged care industry, it’s the disability support that offers even greater potential, suggested Biesse.

“In Australia we have NDIS, this could be a larger sector to tap into, there is a whole other layer of support required. It’s not a capped funding model, it’s based on needs.”

Biesse highlighted the value of the two sectors, disability services a $22bn sector, with aged care a $2bn industry.