Franchise Everything

Glenn Walford
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Let's talk about everything and anything in franchising! Inspiring with experiences and information from the coal face of the people behind the day-to-day of franchises in action. We unpack personal journeys in founding and leading franchises, but just as important, are the journeys of people who own and run one or multiple franchise locations. From fitness, to coffee, to lawns and everything in between, franchising is a buffet of business niches. And with that comes an even wider range of people and stories to talk to about what they do, and how they did it. And from the people who support franchises in every kind of way. Everyone has a story to tell, and you'll often be amazed when they tell it in this way!

  1. 1D AGO · VIDEO

    Ep159 The Journey from Foster Care to Franchise Leader | Joel Kleber

    Joel Kleber, Chief Marketing Officer of Jim’s Group, shares his journey from law student and paralegal to one of the key voices behind one of Australia’s most recognised franchise brands.    With more than a decade inside the organisation, Joel offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the business has grown and evolved through content, transparency, and strong franchise support.   Jim’s Group is widely known for its home services network, covering hundreds of service categories across multiple divisions. The discussion explores how the brand continues to expand, the systems behind franchise recruitment, and the role content marketing has played in building trust and attracting new franchise partners.   Joel also reflects on leadership, resilience, and personal experiences that shaped his mindset, including his advocacy for mental health awareness within franchising. His perspective highlights how culture, mentorship, and openness can influence both business success and individual growth.   0:00 Introduction 0:53 Joel’s early career journey from law and commerce student to joining Jim’s as a paralegal 3:16 Explanation of the “560 service codes” system and how it expands what franchisees can offer 4:41 Why the old division model changed due to cost barriers and slow growth 7:07 Jim’s “radical transparency” philosophy, putting the full reality online to filter the right candidates in 8:31 The Ask Jim live Q&A concept and its direct impact on franchise enquiries 10:27 Hiring videographers and building a consistent publishing engine 13:34 How the content strategy evolved 15:03 Why many franchisors still hesitate to invest heavily in content creation 17:17 How Joel gets shy franchise partners on camera: switching formats 19:45 Joel’s upbringing including foster care and family mental health challenge 22:55 Relocating to Victoria and the stabilising influence of extended family 30:20 Mentorship from Jim and how trust enabled career growth 34:41 Challenges accessing mental health care during crises 37:50 Mental health initiatives within Jim’s including accessible counselling support 42:27 Wrap up   Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE   Listen or Watch on;   Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yandyrvb Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/bdefs92v Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/3a6ctmjj YouTube: https://youtu.be/6DiWVrz9BWE

    43 min

  2. FEB 10 · VIDEO

    Ep158 The 5 Key Things Behind Poolwerx Franchise Success | COO Steve Halls

    Steve Halls, COO of Poolwerx, shares practical insights on what has helped build one of Australia’s most recognisable pool service franchise brands. From strong market positioning and steady long-term growth to the importance of structured support systems, he breaks down the operational foundations that keep franchise partners sustainable and competitive.   There’s also a closer look at how marketing, peer-to-peer collaboration, and community-driven customer acquisition contribute to ongoing expansion.   The conversation highlights how balancing national brand strength with local engagement continues to shape growth across the network while supporting franchise owners at different stages of their business journey.   0:00 Introduction 0:42 Key Thing #1: Market leader & brand recognition 3:39 Key Thing #2: Consistent growth & resilience through economic cycles 7:35 Key Thing #3: Structured franchise support & ongoing business development 9:15 Key Thing #4: Supporting multi-territory franchise owners as their business scales 13:01 Key Thing #4: A scalable “marketing machine on tap” 15:42 Wrap up   Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE   Listen or Watch on;   Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/fh4dnpwb Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/9y55z6wn Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2bkj3ve3 YouTube: https://youtu.be/CmOMOGO7GKw

    16 min

  3. JAN 30 · VIDEO

    Ep157 From Tech Executive to Multi-Territory Plumbing Business | Mitch Gross

    Mitch Gross didn’t come from a plumbing background. He came from Silicon Valley, startups, and senior roles at eBay and still ended up building a multi-territory plumbing business in Sydney with Plumbing Bros.   e walks through the real transition from corporate life into business ownership, why he chose a franchise model, and what it actually took to survive starting a business during COVID.    He also shares how winning a major government contract helped accelerate growth, what happens when you rely too heavily on one big client, and why diversification across customer segments became critical to the next phase of the business.   You’ll also hear about leadership, delegation, building the right team, and what changes when you move from “doing everything yourself” to running a growing operation across multiple territories.   0:00  Introduction 0:49 What Plumbing Bros does 1:29 Mitch’s background before Plumbing 6:10 The decision to leave corporate and buy a business 8:22 Discovering Plumbing Bros as a Franchise Opportunity 10:40 Running a plumbing business without having a plumbing background 12:32 Starting the business during COVID and survival mode  13:31 Post-COVID growth and expanding into new territories 16:08 The risk of relying on one big client 17:30 Diversifying into new segments (strata, real estate, commercial) 19:06 What Mitch actually does day-to-day as an owner  22:01 Maximising contract value vs chasing new customers 23:03 The next 2–3 year plan and growth strategy 25:23 Wrap up   Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE   Listen or Watch on;   Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/56uvua63 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/eczfbnbh Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/4pjesfku YouTube: https://youtu.be/hE-URdcbKYg

    26 min

  4. JAN 29 · VIDEO

    Ep156 Three Proven Ways to Build Your Customer Database with John Dwyer

    John Dwyer is the founder of the Institute of Wow and one of Australia’s most well-known marketing strategists, helping businesses build customer databases and generate consistent sales through smart, practical marketing systems.   In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, JD breaks down three sure ways to build a customer database including irresistible offers, Facebook contest strategies that generate red-hot leads, and how to build a community or “club” that turns audiences into long-term customers.   They also discuss why most businesses fail to collect customer data, why databases are more valuable than ads, and how simple systems like contests, clubs, and follow-ups can turn a business from constantly chasing customers into one that builds long-term demand.   0:00 Introduction 1:06 Method #1: Irresistible offers in exchange for data 01:20 Method #2: Facebook contest strategy for red-hot leads 02:18 991 leads in one week from $210 ad spend 3:31 Why most businesses are afraid to try bold marketing ideas 05:02 How landing pages and pre-qualification improve lead quality 5:23 Method #3: Building a community or “club” model 7:45 How the club monetisation and email strategy works 9:32 Why owning your database matters more than social media  10:45 Why most business owners don’t implement these strategies 14:28 Real-world example: The restaurant with 92,000 customers on file 15:51 Why your database is your most valuable business asset 16:23 Wrap up   Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE   Listen or Watch on;   Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/45emumtd Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2e37a966 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/4vve3229 YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pai-EgXd8w8

    17 min

  5. JAN 28 · VIDEO

    Ep155 From Sushi Sushi Staff to Multi-Site, Multi-State Franchise Owner | Dor Li

    Dor Li is a multi-site, multi-state Sushi Sushi franchise owner who has spent years building his career inside the brand starting as a team member, rising through management, and eventually becoming a franchise owner across multiple states.   In this episode of the Franchise Everything Podcast, Dor shares his full journey from arriving in Australia as an international student, studying commercial cookery, managing company-owned stores, becoming an area manager across WA and Queensland, and finally stepping into franchise ownership in regional Victoria and Western Australia.   We talk about how he transitioned from head office to owning stores, how he builds strong store teams, why staff training is the real key to scaling multiple locations, and what it takes to grow from one store to six — with a seventh on the way.   0:00 Introduction 0:41 Moving from China to Australia as a student 02:20 Learning to cook out of necessity and living independently 03:47 First job at Sushi Sushi and early impressions 5:54 Becoming a store manager in a company-owned store 07:04 Moving to Western Australia as Area Manager 08:25 Rapid expansion and opening multiple stores per month 10:18 Overseeing WA and Queensland operations 11:51 Moving back to Melbourne to lead training and projects 12:44 The decision to become a franchise owner 15:06 COVID, leaving head office, and buying regional stores 16:58 How Dor adds new stores and builds management teams 18:39 What Dor looks for in future store opportunities 19:35 Wrap up   Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE   Listen or Watch on;   Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/y4j4va6a Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/3zm3aj6h Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/3spsbv4x YouTube: https://youtu.be/YfxcbKOO4RE

    20 min

  6. JAN 27 · VIDEO

    Ep154 What Businesses Must Know About Payday Super with Jay Westbury, CEO of FCA

    From 1 July 2026, every Australian business will be required to pay superannuation on the same day as wages  a change known as Payday Super. While it sounds simple on paper, the real impact on cashflow, payroll systems, and compliance could be significant, especially for small businesses and franchisees.   In this episode, Glenn sits down with Jay Westbury, CEO of the Franchise Council of Australia, to unpack what Payday Super actually means, why it’s being introduced, and what business owners should be thinking about right now to avoid being caught out.   They also cover enforcement, the closure of the ATO clearing house, and why both franchisors and franchisees need to start preparing now rather than waiting until mid-2026.   0:00 Introduction 0:49 What is Payday Super and what exactly changes from 1 July 2026 01:55 How Payday Super changes cashflow and payroll mechanics 02:56 Will businesses change pay cycles to cope with the new rules 4:16 Why the government introduced Payday Super and why now 5:54 Will the ATO enforce this aggressively and what penalties could look like 7:23 Why franchisors must start warning and preparing their franchisees now 8:41 Why Payday Super is being overlooked compared to the Franchise Code changes 9:42 What practical steps businesses should start taking right now 10:38 The ATO shutting down its clearing house and what businesses must replace it with 11:34 Why franchisees and franchisors both carry legal risk after the Bakers Delight case 12:32 Wrap up   Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE   Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/mr3sbp64 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/vbn5mcp7 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2ueapbdh YouTube: https://youtu.be/AvuOA9yVAvU

    13 min

  7. JAN 23 · VIDEO

    Ep153 From Hospitality and Operations to Running a Franchise Region | Urban Clean Gold Coast

    Shannon and Jed Stewart are the Regional Master Franchise Owners for Urban Clean on the Gold Coast, but like every franchise partner, their journey started with a single decision to step into business ownership.   Coming from very different backgrounds — Jed from mechanical and operations management, and Shannon from hospitality and venue management — they share how their previous careers shaped the way they now think about systems, people, service quality, and customer experience.   The conversation covers what it’s really like to run a business as a couple, how they moved from considering property investment into buying a business instead, and why they ultimately chose a commercial cleaning franchise over cafes, gyms, and other options they explored.   They also explain how Urban Clean works as a business model, why systems and processes matter more than most new business owners realise, and how franchising can shortcut years of trial-and-error when building a company properly.   0:00 Introduction 0:33 What is Urban Clean 1:53 Buying the business and the first two years in operation 3:52 Jed’s career before commercial cleaning 6:47 Returning to Australia and Jed’s career transition 7:46 Shannon’s background in hospitality and management 10:43 What hospitality taught them about cleaning standards 13:44 How Jed and Shannon met 15:34 Balancing family life and business ownership 18:03 The moment they chose business over property 19:32 How they evaluated business opportunities 23:39 Discovering the commercial cleaning opportunity 26:55 The final decision to commit to Urban Clean 29:14 The 10-Year head start you get from franchising 31:07 The growth plan for the Gold Coast Region 31:58 Wrap up   Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE   Listen or Watch on;   Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/j6vpndbs Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2mdaatf8 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/3jzpftfz YouTube: https://youtu.be/DfQ5M6vnBBs

    32 min

  8. JAN 21 · VIDEO

    Ep152 Balancing a General Counsel Legal Career with Community Passion Projects | Erin Walford

    Erin Walford is a commercial lawyer who walked away from the corporate path and built something completely different.   After nearly 20 years in franchising, commercial law, IP and retail including senior roles inside large organisations, Erin hit a career pivot that forced her to ask a bigger question: Am I the CEO of my own life? That moment led to the creation of The Station HQ a commercial law firm, business consultancy, and community space designed around people, not just profit.   The Station HQ now operates out of a converted fire station in Brisbane and has become a hub for founders, operators, advisors and fractional professionals who want flexibility, impact, and meaningful work.   0:00 Introduction 0:49 Erin’s background in franchising, legal, and ASX-level businesses 1:49 What is The Station HQ 03:43 Why marketing fundamentals still matter more than shiny AI tools 4:59 The rise of flexible legal work and “portfolio careers” 6:56 Fractional legal roles vs traditional law firm models 8:51 The Station HQ: creating a community-driven workspace inside a fire station 10:55 “Uncommon care”: building community, training & collaboration 12:10 Little Stationers: supporting parents in the legal profession 13:42 Isolation, mental health & pressure in high-performance professions 15:03 Why community, belonging and support matter more than ever 16:26 The 1% rule, personal responsibility & how Erin measures impact 17:01 Wrap up   Franchise Recruitment Marketing - Appear on our Podcasts HERE   Listen or Watch on;   Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/9huuffsb Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/yn67s33x Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/bdhy28jp YouTube: https://youtu.be/7sFxkq2covs

    17 min
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About

Let's talk about everything and anything in franchising! Inspiring with experiences and information from the coal face of the people behind the day-to-day of franchises in action. We unpack personal journeys in founding and leading franchises, but just as important, are the journeys of people who own and run one or multiple franchise locations. From fitness, to coffee, to lawns and everything in between, franchising is a buffet of business niches. And with that comes an even wider range of people and stories to talk to about what they do, and how they did it. And from the people who support franchises in every kind of way. Everyone has a story to tell, and you'll often be amazed when they tell it in this way!

Information

  • Creator
    Glenn Walford
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Franchise Everything