Franchise Simply Podcasts

Scott Challen is the founder of QHI National Home Improvements and Smartkits Australia, Part of the QHI Group. Leading the charge in tech-driven, automated franchise systems for the home improvement industry. With a background in construction and e-commerce, Scott has built scalable, automation-powered models that help franchisees thrive. Passionate about technology, efficiency, and cutting through industry red tape, Scott has designed systems that streamline sales, project management, and compliance. His expertise in business automation and franchise operations through technology has positioned QHI National as a true disruptor in the building sector. Beyond franchising, Scott is a content creator and industry spokesperson, sharing insights on politics, business growth, tech innovation, and regulatory challenges. He does this through radio, podcasts and online news. To learn more or contact Scott go to QHIGroup.com.au

Jarrad Goulding is the CEO & Founder of The Local Guys group. Previously he had been a franchisee in Boost Juice and a restaurant franchise. Jarrad and his partner Stacey were lucky enough to be part of a great franchise network in Boost Juice & a not-so-great franchise in their restaurant franchise. With these experiences, they saw the best and worst of franchising, which gave them the knowledge to mould a successful franchise model with The Lucky Guys. They used provisions such as flat fees and easy-to-exit agreements all in non-corporate culture. They have grown to 78 franchise partners in a little over five years including Covid in the first year. Jarrad's passion is assisting new franchise partners to take the leap of business ownership (maybe for the first time) and help nurture their growth to have happy successful businesses. The Local Guys have expanded from Electrical Test and Tagging to three, soon to be four divisions and have franchise partners in every state & territory in Australia as well as franchise partners on both the North & South island of New Zealand.

Tiffany English is the founder and driving force behind Access Offshoring, an offshore recruitment company, specialising in bridging the gap between local businesses and exceptional talent in the Philippines. With an extensive background in business improvement and change management, her career has led her to develop a deep understanding of what it takes to create sustainable growth – which predominantly comes back to the right systems and of course, the right people. Tiffany also has a profound philanthropic mission that drives her purpose, with an aim to dedicate a substantial part of her time to giving back and making a positive impact on society. To learn more or contact Tiffany go to https://accessoffshoring.com.au or message Tiffany English at LinkedIn or contact me [email protected] or 1300 960 136.

Luke Hart is a seasoned sales professional with IWS by Deel, where he has focused on serving the franchise sector for over a year. Luke specializes in providing a unique SWAS (Software WITH a Service) solution, offering a comprehensive suite of onboarding, rostering, payroll, bookkeeping, and financial reporting services—all seamlessly delivered through a single portal. His approach ensures both franchisors and franchisees receive hands-on support every step of the way. Before joining IWS, Luke co-founded and operated Hunter Jacobs, a boutique recruitment business specializing in building senior-level sales teams for mid-sized to large technology firms. With over a decade of experience in software sales recruitment, Luke was deeply involved in the business, helping clients recruit top-tier talent. While Luke transitioned to a new career path, Hunter Jacobs remains under the leadership of his wife. Prior to Hunter Jacobs, Luke founded and led Harlow Group, a boutique sales recruitment firm that later evolved into LudTec following the sale of his shares. Earlier in his career, Luke honed his expertise at Michael Page in London, where he managed the technology sales recruitment desk for Thames Valley and the Southern Home Counties—the Silicon Valley of Great Britain. He also led teams at a generalist sales recruitment firm, completing a successful 20-year career in recruitment before transitioning to the franchise sector. Luke is passionate about the franchise industry and enjoys applying his wealth of experience to empower franchise businesses with innovative workforce solutions. To learn more or contact Luke go to IWSAustralia.com.au or message Luke Hart at LinkedIn or contact me [email protected] or 1300 960 136.

Blendi Muriqi is the Founder & CEO of Delegate.co, where he uses AI to revolutionise remote staffing solutions across various industries. A serial entrepreneur with a knack for innovation, Blendi's journey began in high school when he co-founded his first business to improve processes. This early experience sparked his passion for efficiency and technology. At Delegate.co, Blendi's mission is to empower businesses to scale and succeed globally with tailored virtual assistant solutions. By leveraging AI, Delegate.co automates tasks, enhances client experience, and boosts bottom lines, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities. Blendi is also dedicated to creating opportunities for remote professionals, helping them grow both personally and professionally. His leadership is transforming the remote staffing landscape and making a real impact on businesses and virtual assistants around the world. To learn more or contact Blendi go to delegate.co or contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

Let’s Talk About Franchising I didn’t hesitate to accept Brooke Robey's invitation on the Connect Podcast to discuss a topic I’m incredibly passionate about: Franchising… I’m delighted to share it with you now—I hope you like it. Please share it with anyone you think might be interested. “What is Franchising? Over the past 30 years, I’ve seen how franchising can transform businesses, enabling owners to scale, build systems, and regain the freedom to focus on what truly matters. I’ve had the privilege of helping businesses expand by over $9 billion through franchising, and now, I’d like to help you understand how this model can work for you. My own journey began when I opened seven Bedshed stores in just five years. That experience opened my eyes to the potential of franchising, leading me to establish six franchise groups. Since then, through my consultancy, Franchise Simply, I’ve guided dozens of business owners through every step of franchising—whether they’re just starting out or looking to improve their existing setup. Franchising is more than just growth; it’s about building a system that gives you control, enhances the value of your business, and frees up your time. My team and I have developed a simple process, the Franchise Success Path, to make franchising straightforward and accessible. On this podcast, Brooke and I will break down what franchising really is and how it can unlock new possibilities for your business. My goal is to give you the clarity and confidence to explore franchising as a potential next step. So, let’s dive in and discover how franchising can work for you.”

Jeremy Harris has over 25 years’ experience as an accountant and business advisor. He is a director of Grow Group Global which includes Grow CFO, Direct Management and My Plan Plus. Jeremy’s burning desire in business is to support business owners to achieve their impact and aspirations, through education and information. He was Chief Financial Officer for an international company to support its listing on New York Stock Exchange in 2022. Jeremy holds a degree in accounting from Queensland University of Technology and is a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. To learn more or contact Jeremy go to growgroup.global or contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

Danessa Itaya is president of Bio-One®, the most trusted crime and trauma scene cleaning franchise in the United States and part of the Five Star Franchising platform of brands. Danessa has been a nationally recognised pioneer in the franchise industry for nearly 30 years and has more than 10 years of leadership experience with noteworthy franchisors such as Service Brands International, Maid Right, Molly Maid and Property Management Inc. In addition to her own professional accomplishments, Danessa is a passionate advocate for the franchise industry and women’s leadership, serving on the Women in Franchising Committee of the International Franchise Association. In 2022, Danessa’s achievements in the industry earned her a place on Entrepreneur’s list of Top Influential Women in Franchising. Danessa is a graduate of San Jose University and the proud parent of an Eagle Scout. To listen to this episode “It’s a Crime!”- Crime & Trauma Scene Cleaning Franchise with Danessa Itaya To learn more or contact Danessa go to biooneinc.com or contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

Alan Borges is a leading authority in relational leadership development within the franchising industry, with over two decades of experience across Australia and New Zealand. Alan has become a trusted advisor and mentor to many franchisors and franchisees, transforming operations through a focus on relationship management, emotional intelligence, and executive functions. Alan's extensive career in franchising spans every level of the industry, from making burgers and opening franchises across Australia to leading national roles. His hands-on experience has provided him with a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges that franchises face, allowing him to develop innovative strategies that are practical and fast to implement that help them thrive, even in difficult times. As the author of the forthcoming book, “High Performing Networks: Strong Relationships = Strong Results”, Alan offers invaluable insights and practical guidance for franchise professionals at every stage of their careers. To learn more or contact Alan go to alanborges.com or contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

David McLean has over 45 years’ experience as a business owner and over 35+ years as a consultant, working with a broad range of clients from larger multi-nationals to small family-owned businesses. Assignments included performance development and business coaching, training in the area of sales, leadership and communications. He is accredited in the use of the DISC Profile (1989 the first time) and has developed and presented innovative training and development solutions to a broad range of participants, from long term unemployed to board level of some of Australia’s largest companies including The Shell Company of Australia, Spotless, BOC Gases and many more. David is an inspiring consultant and trainer, business and community leader and proud Father.

Andrej Petkovski is a renowned cyber security expert and the founder of Osmicro Networks, a leading Sydney-based cyber security provider. With a wealth of experience in securing networks and responding to active intrusions, Andrej has been instrumental in protecting enterprises and SMEs from cyber threats. His expertise spans across various sectors, where he has successfully implemented robust security measures and led critical response teams during cyber incidents. Under his leadership, Osmicro Networks has grown to become a trusted name in cyber security, known for its innovative solutions and commitment to safeguarding clients' digital assets. To learn more or contact Andrej go to osmicro.com.au or contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

Bobby Semple is the Founder of Simplified Recruitment Solutions who are changing the way Australia and the world recruit staff with their low-fee recruitment and membership services. They have saved their clients over $500,000 in the last 3 years whilst finding them amazing candidates. Bobby started Simplified Recruitment Solutions with over 15 years of experience in the industry and after growing his first business from 2 to 70 staff in 2 years. He saw that businesses had limited options in recruitment support after he hired staff via traditional recruitment agency models. Either pay a premium with traditional agency models or do it yourself. Simplified Recruitment Solutions fills the gap between these options for a low cost. They have now serviced over 120 clients Australia-wide and have recruited in most industries. To learn more or contact Bobby find him on Linked In or visit simplifiedrecruitment.com.au

Bill McGowan is the author of the newly released book multi-award winning "Be Your Own Boss", and leads the WA McGowan Advisory team, solving business challenges that improve growth and efficiency. Bill McGowan was born and grew up in New Zealand and currently resides in Sydney with his family. Bill has been self-employed in various businesses since the early 70s and is now retired. He started and sold many businesses over the past 50 years. In early 1983, he established the franchised business known as Fastway Couriers. Fastway became a household name in Australia and New Zealand in the transport and franchising sectors. The business was also developed internationally. When he started Fastway, he was shocked at how many potential franchises had no idea about running their own business, so he developed many franchises, training programmes and manuals to assist them in understanding how to operate their own business. When he retired, he decided to put the knowledge he had learnt over the years into this book. Bill has extensive business experience and has been a guest speaker for many years at conferences & corporate events in over 30 Countries around the World, focusing on topics such as franchising, goal setting, growing sales, managing sales teams, team building, corporate change, motivation, marketing, recruitment, logistics, business & market place change, research and business planning. To learn more or to speak to Bill go to wamcgowan.com or contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

Kylie Denton is a highly experienced leadership consultant, professionally certified coach, bestselling author, and speaker specialising in leadership and sales in financial services and government industries (including education, childcare, universities, and hospitals). Kylie Denton is a highly experienced leadership consultant, professionally certified coach, bestselling author, and speaker specialising in leadership and sales in financial services and government industries (including education, childcare, universities, and hospitals). Kylie works with established companies to improve the productivity and performance of leaders and their teams. To learn more or to speak to Kylie go to https://performanceadvisorygroup.com.au/ or you can contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366. or can contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366. To watch this “How to empower employees through delegation”, go to https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kyliedenton5_how-do-you-empower-employees-keeping-employees-activity-7188386250330988544-rvH4

Ben Wright is a builder of incredible sales teams, a strategist, coach and an avid believer that the best sales leaders are constantly sharpening their tools to achieve an ‘edge’. He's built from the ground up sales teams in the corporate world, fast-growth start-ups and mature businesses. His last venture was an Australian Growth Company award winner 2 years running and scale from $0 - $40M annual recurring revenue in just over 7 years. Grit is in his blood and he loves stepping up to a challenge. He's a published Hubspot and LinkedIn contributor, an energetic father, a happy husband and a loyal friend… that guy you rely on to be there. Most of all, it is a living testament to how thriving personal health and successful professional careers are within every sales leader’s reach. To access Ben’s amazing FREE resources go to strongersalesteams.com and for his regular LinkedIn Sales Nuggets click here https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbenwright/ or you can contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

Peter Buckingham has been the Managing Director of Spectrum Analysis since 1999. He is a Certified Franchise Executive with the FCA, a Certified Management Consultant and a Fellow and past Director with the Institute of Management Consultants Prior to Spectrum he had 20 years Oil Industry experience in a multitude of roles, following completion of a Science degree at Melbourne University. Spectrum and Peter have worked with many of Australia’s largest organisations in various industry segments and have also undertaken a number of international projects. To support their professional consulting services, Spectrum Analysis has built up significant geo-demographic data bases, technology and processes that add significant value to our extensive real-world experience. Spectrum specialises in territory planning projects, including work for 2 major banks, 3 major mortgage broking chains, and a multitude of other local and international clients, both large and small (including many start-ups). The latest census data and web-based mapping are also part of the Spectrum offer, which makes for a lower cost decision-making process on where to build new stores or to set up territories. To learn more or to speak to Peter go to spectrumanalysis.com.au or you can contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

Franchise Radio Show 94 How To Build a Business That Makes a Dent... with Mike Clark by Brian Keen

Karen Hall is the Founder and Director of Reputation by Design, a Marketing agency specialising in trust and reputation as an asset to drive business growth. Trusted brands are seven times more likely to command a premium price and benefit from six times the consumer loyalty, so proactively amplifying trust in your business pays big dividends. Being nominated, a finalist, and winning a business award, or two or three, is a way to fast-track trust in your brand. Karen and her team are award-winning experts and will find the right award for you to enter, prepare your submission, and help you leverage it for maximum profile and social proof. To learn more or to speak to Karen go to reputationbydesign.com or you can contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

Andrew Carter is an entrepreneur, an ex-airline captain, an international author, a business mentor, a philanthropist, a highly engaging public speaker, and the CEO of the award-winning Global Publishing Group. He has run three highly successful businesses and founded two Not For Profit organisations. He is a business leader acknowledged for his strategic and marketing intellect and is a recognised authority on aviation, leadership, decision making and business turnaround. In his spare time, he created the most unique aviation museum in the country which attracted visitors from around the world. His unique strategies, systems, publishing and marketing tools for wealth creation are empowering thousands around the globe to improve their lives. He is using seminars and workshops to educate and inspire others. Andrew as lived and worked all around Australia, in Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Ireland and now resides in Brisbane. To learn more or to speak to Andrew go to globalpublishinggroup.com.au/ or you can contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.

Helen Alfa - National Membership Manager - Franchise Council of Australia Helen Alfa is a highly motivated business leader with a successful track record in small business development and franchise operations. Helen started her career in health, fitness, and wellness over 35 years ago in the weight loss industry and the fitness industry as sales manager and group fitness instructor and successfully owned a gym franchise for 6 years and sold the club to a large fitness chain. More recently, Helen was the National Franchise Manager with Fernwood Women’s Health Clubs and was responsible for franchise development and growth. As National Membership Manager - Franchise Council of Australia, Helen spends her days working closely with franchisors, franchisees and service providers across some of Australia’s biggest and new emerging franchise brands. To learn more or to speak to Helen go to franchise.org.au/ account or you can contact me at [email protected] or 61 417 211 366.