HAPPY WORLD FRANCHISE DAY

The early morning New Zealand event, hosted by FANZ member Columbus Coffee, was the first in the world on the designated day (June 10) that is now celebrated by millions of people involved in franchise sectors like ours, right across the globe.

With coffees, muffins and hot sausage rolls in hand, the gathered group were treated to a panel discussion with three franchisees and the award-winning 2025 Field Manager of the Year, Bailee Mills of Harrisons Curtains & Blinds. Joining Bailee were Avesh Vather, now operating his second Kitchen Studio business, Paul Bolton, who operates a large Green Acres territory in Auckland, and Rowan Webb, who has been with Hire A Hubby for close on a year after seven years spent running a master franchise overseas.

These experienced franchisees and one franchise support manager came from a wide range of backgrounds, so it was interesting to hear the similarities as well as the differences in their franchise experiences.

Led by FANZ CEO Katrina King, the panel were asked the following:

• What drew them to franchising?
• What have been the biggest surprises or challenges they have faced?
• What they loved most about being a franchisee or franchise support manager.
• What words of advice they have for prospective franchisees.

Avesh and Paul had both appreciated the opportunity that a franchise business would give them to extend their own strengths and interests, while being supported to learn about being a business owner for the first time and to grow their businesses. For Rowan, on the other hand, who had been in business for many years already, a franchise had offered the opportunity to learn about working within the guidelines of an existing organisation – and the main advantage of a well-known brand that would enable him to build a new business more quickly than as an independent start up.

As for surprises, Paul felt that he had been well prepared for the reality of running his new franchise - appreciating the strength of his brand, along with its operating systems and all the back-end support that he could never have afforded as a solo operator outside a franchise network. Bailee considered the toughest challenge she had faced in her role was the finite nature of the available resources, and balancing the needs of more experienced franchisees with those of the newer entrants to the network. She pointed out that the support required by an established franchise operator was far more complex and individual, and that it takes time and patience to establish trust and get to know both the people involved and their individual support requirements. Bailee also said that in building those levels of trust she had learned always to assume that people start with good intent.

What Bailee has loved most about working in franchising is what she termed the little wins – a project completed, KPIs moving however slightly in the right direction, wonderful Google reviews for franchisees and their staff. Paul agreed that it is important to savour each and every success, however small – new clients won (he still remembers the sense of pride when his first quote turned into a new job), or a glowing piece of feedback received for one of his team members. 

Rowan has loved the daily challenges of his new franchise, feeling like he starts a new apprenticeship every day. He relishes the diversity of the role and seeing clients become repeat customers as trust and loyalty builds across the business. For Avesh, the best part of being a franchisee is being able to insert himself at any stage of the business, building teams and helping develop other people’s skills and abilities in a variety of roles. He also relishes the considerable support his franchise offers to shore up individual weaknesses and play to inherent strengths.

One piece of advice that Avesh offers to new franchisees is to do your homework – be clear about your expectations of the business and be honest with yourself about what you want and what sort of business is right for you. Rowan agrees that doing your homework is crucial – different franchise systems can have vastly different cultures, and not all will necessarily suit you. He suggests that you be very analytical and know your own limitations, and that it is most important to be self-driven. 

Paul also emphasises how critical it is to look hard at the organisation you are considering and at your own needs and wants. He says that, depending on the franchise, as little as 50% of your time can be spent doing money-earning activities (working in the business) and as much as 50% working on the business, with admin, marketing, quotes, employment matters etc. taking up a considerable amount of time and effort. Paul suggested it is important to learn how to pick your battles, understanding that too much energy expended on less important issues can be detrimental to the success of the business and that sometimes the path of least resistance leads to greater success.

Bailee concluded that her advice to potential franchise buyers is to be prepared to have to chase success, be naturally curious and not afraid to ask for support when you need it. She said that the main challenge some franchisees face is to learn to understand the system, not fight it!

And all four panellists were unanimous in their response to a surprise question at the end, “what would you like to tell your franchisor?” All asked their franchisors to keep working hard on building the brand and bringing people in the network together. And all were grateful for the opportunities they had been given to grow within their franchises.

It was a positive end to a morning spent celebrating and recognising the importance of franchising and the very real differences it makes in so many people’s lives across New Zealand and around the world. Happy World Franchise Day!