Working in the safety field is paying off for Appliance Tagging Services, an exhibitor at the March Sydney Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo. Here ATS showcases its franchise model in our Q&A.

APPLIANCE TAGGING SERVICES BUSINESS BASICS

Number of years franchised: eight
Franchisees: 39 active across Australia
Investment costs: $47,500 + GST + vehicle
Franchise term: five years with one option to renew

POINTS OF DIFFERENCE

Q: Why is your business different from the competition?

A: Founders Ainslie and Sarah Allen provide a total administration service for their franchisees.

“We know how difficult it can be managing conflicting priorities when you are a sole operator. On one hand, you can get so bogged down with invoicing and admin that your business and customer service can start to suffer.   And on the other, as your customer service comes first, invoicing and debt collection gets overlooked and cash flow screams to a halt.

“We didn’t want that to happen to our franchisees or our valued customers. We wanted our franchisees to focus on their core business – servicing their clients’ test and tag requirements, and growing their local businesses.”

ATS has a team of dedicated operational and administrative staff to ensure the franchisees businesses run smoothly.

Another benefit of the central support office is the ability to secure and manage large national contracts, with the support office staff managing the entire sales, scheduling and reporting process for national clients.

Q: What is the biggest challenge right now to your particular business and the sector you trade in?
A: The focus on safety in the workplace is increasing every day, and as such many of our franchisees are experiencing double digit growth. A challenge facing many of our franchisees is how to manage their time more effectively in order to maximise revenues.

Q: What are your plans for growth this year?

A: There are a number of territories that incorporate contracts with existing clients currently for sale, along with a number of “greenfield” sites, and the company plans sustainable growth across Australia.

Q: What is your vision for the business?

A: For ATS to be regarded as experts and leaders in innovative and professional electrical and fire compliance and inspection services.

Q: What can franchisees expect when they join your business network?
A: New franchisees complete two weeks of induction training at our Melbourne support office. This encompasses technical and operational training, and gives all franchisees the opportunity to develop strong relationships with ATS’s support office team.

Visiting the Sydney Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo, 28-30 March? Get a free ticket.