INSPIRATIONAL
WINNERS
GET THE RIGHT ADVICE | WHAT HAPPENS NEXT | A BUSINESS FOR LIFE
Summer 2026 | Year 34 issue 04 | $8.95
BUY YOUR OWN BUSINESS | FRANCHISE.CO.NZ
Westpac Directory of Franchising
Over 275 different franchises
Endorsed by
CrestClean is proud to celebrate a
triple win at the Westpac New Zealand
Franchise Awards 2025
Being recognised among our franchise industry peers is a
proud moment for everyone at CrestClean. This accolade
celebrates the quality and consistency of service we
deliver to our customers every day, and the dedication of
our corporate team who provide ‘best in class’ support to
our franchisees.
Call today or visit our website to request a Franchise Information Booklet
0800 273 780 | crest.co.nz
Build a better future with your
own CrestClean business.
Tim’s hands-on approach,
focus on quality, and
commitment to franchisee
success makes CrestClean
Hawke’s Bay a standout.”
“
JUDGES COMMENTS
It’s a hat-trick for
Navjot’s careful planning
and goal setting has led
to outstanding business
development and success being
achieved in a short time.”
“
JUDGES COMMENTS
CrestClean’s focus on quality,
training, and long-term
customer relationships stands
out; they are using technology
to their advantage.”
“
JUDGES COMMENTS
CrestClean is NZ’s largest franchise system, with over
720 teams nationwide. Demand is growing, and we
currently need more franchisees in selected regions.
A CrestClean franchise is the key to achieving financial
and lifestyle goals – 69% of our franchisees own
their own homes. We offer full time and family sized
businesses, with no selling required, plus full training
and support with the scope to grow.
Scan the QR code to view franchise
opportunities in our high demand
regions today!
Congratulations
Tim O’Leary
Franchisee of the Year
Regional Master
Congratulations
Navjot Kaur
Franchisee of the Year
Business to Business
Westpac New Zealand
Franchise Awards 2025
RELAX,
UNWIND,
RESET.
The summer break is a great opportunity to think
about new franchising opportunities, and your
legal requirements.
Our award-winning team is ready to offer industry
knowledge and experience, saving you considerable
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We will guide you through the process, giving you
the confidence to get on with the business of
doing business.
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mindset, ensuring that all advice provided is realistic
and practical.
For sound legal advice
you can rely on –
call us today.
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Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
Endorsed by
Welcome to the Summer edition of Franchise New Zealand – these next few
months always bring a sense of renewal and opportunity. As the year draws
to a close, we’ve seen a wave of confidence returning to the New Zealand
economy and the franchising sector.
We showcase the winners of the 2025 Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards
– systems and individuals who exemplify excellence in leadership, operations,
innovation, and customer service. Their success stories remind us that great
franchising isn’t about luck – it’s about commitment, consistency, and culture.
A recurring theme amongst the winning franchisees was the care they have
taken in planning for their future and their families’ wellbeing. This care extends
well beyond financial gain and building wealth. Successful franchisees are also
focused on enriching the communities they live and work in.
The Awards evening is always a highlight for us here at Franchise New Zealand
media. Stepping on stage to hand the awards we sponsor directly to such
deserving winners is always a meaningful moment for us and one that truly
underscores why we do what we do.
This issue of the magazine also emphasises the importance of getting the right
advice (page 48), with experts sharing how smart guidance can make all the
difference in choosing, buying and growing a franchise business. For aspiring
franchisees, we explore what happens on the journey from first contact to
ownership (page 28), while highlighting why franchising is truly a business for
life (page 20). Packed with success stories, practical funding insights, legal and
compliance guidance, and future-focused thoughts, this issue is designed to
inform, inspire, and support – and provide some enjoyable reading for
your summer.
Whether you’re considering your first franchise, expanding your business
portfolio, or preparing your system for growth, there is real opportunity
building toward 2026 – and now is the time to dream and plan for it.
Enjoy the summer read, stay safe, and here’s to a positive and prosperous
year ahead.
P.S. If you want a free print or digital copy of this magazine for yourself or a
friend, call 0800 FRANCHISE or visit www.franchise.co.nz
Sally Knight, Caitlin Chatterley, Anna-Marie Staples
Franchise New Zealand media
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Westpac Directory of Franchising
Over 275 different franchises
Franchise and Business Opportunities
Specialist Advisors
72
Other Services
74
13 Satisfying and rewarding
Kitchen Studio franchisees
recognised for outstanding results
15 Building a solid future
Urban Homes franchise
offers strong prospects
in New Zealand’s home
construction industry
16 Franchise News
Latest news from the
world of franchising…
18 Sharp act
Continuous improvements
have been key to Anchor
franchisee’s success
19 A business that lasts
Cleantastic celebrates franchisees
building businesses for life
23 Grime pays
Jan-Pro Aotearoa master
licensee follows in legendary
grandfather’s footsteps
24 Next level
Young Christchurch couple
building success as
Fowler Homes licensees
25 Prime site
Black and White Coffee Cartel
opens in Auckland’s busy Westgate
27 A great kiwi innovation
Woolgro still guaranteed to create
the best lawn on the street
32 Winning team
Ex-customer turned franchisee
takes Pack & Send Riccarton
to new heights of success
33 Rewarding resilience
The Coffee Club franchisee
brushes off challenges to
build high performing team
34 Making franchise
funding simple
Westpac’s Sujam Ratnayake
shares funding insights
for franchisees
37 People and planet
Jani-King’s bold, ecofriendly
initiatives win customers
and franchisees
38 Being the best
Pukeko Rental Managers
franchisees take pride in a
business with the perfect balance
39 From manual to digital
How the Induction App helped
Driving Miss Daisy transform
franchise onboarding
40 Respect
Three quiet heroes honoured for
their contributions to franchising
41 Going the extra mile
Long service and reliability
go hand in hand for
Paramount’s franchisees
44 Navigating competition
law compliance
Anna Ryan offers practical
guidance on applying
the Commerce Act in
a franchise setting
47 Living the life
First time business owner
finds new niche with Mizin
51 Exceptional service
Franchisees see V.I.P. Home
Services as a proven long-
term career and business
52 We salute you
Franchise Accountants celebrate
business excellence in franchising
53 Property people
Quinovic franchisee grows
fast with clear vision, big
goals, and solid backing
54 Reflections of a year
2025 has been another
great year for FANZ
57 Clean and bright
Speed Queen-equipped
laundromat proves ideal
diversification strategy
58 Franchising in Australia today
For NZ franchisors,
Australia is the logical next
stepping stone. Or is it?
61 Be cyber safe
Wynn Williams on navigating
AI, security and cyber
washing in business
62 Westpac Directory of
Franchising
Comprehensive details and
investment levels for over
275 franchise and master
franchise opportunities.
Also includes advisors and
index to advertisers.
Summer 2026
Upcoming issues
19 June 2026
Winter
18 September 2026
Spring
11 December 2026
Summer
27 March 2026
Autumn
Inspirational winners
The stars came out to shine in
the 30th annual Westpac New
Zealand Franchise Awards – find
out who the winners were and
how they inspired the judges
A business for life
At the Awards this year we celebrated
franchisees who have owned their
businesses 15 years or more. What
makes a franchise such a good
choice as a long-term investment?
What happens next?
Meredith Taylor and Nathan
Bonney outline what to expect
from the moment you first
contact a franchise and say, ‘I’m
interested in your opportunity’
The right advice
Buying a franchise can be a great
way to get into your own business
but there’s still an element of
risk involved. That’s why using
the right advisors is essential
62
20
28
48
Cover image: Grant Southam Photographer
Welcome to New Zealand's BUY YOUR OWN BUSINESS magazine
The 30th Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards highlighted three decades
of celebrating excellence in the country’s $47 billion business franchise sector
- and it was truly a night to remember. Two new Life Members and one new
Hall of Fame member were inducted by the Franchise Association of New
Zealand (see page 40) and the numbers in attendance were swelled by 68
franchisees who received public acknowledgement of their long tenure in a
range of franchise systems (page 20).
There were category winners by industry, awards for excellence in topics
from marketing to innovation, and recognition for the service providers
and field managers who lie behind every great franchise and franchisee.
Harrisons Flooring was named the Westpac Supreme Franchise System of
the Year, with Kelly and Jess Bain of The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa crowned
Westpac Supreme Franchisee of the Year.
The stars of New Zealand’s franchise community
came out to shine in the 30th annual
Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards
The judging panel, headed again by Gillian Taylor, certainly had their work
cut out for them in sorting through the many quality entries and selecting
the winners. MC Wendy Petrie has been increasingly impressed with
franchising over the years she has fronted the annual Gala Dinner. This year,
she delighted the 440-strong audience at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland, by
announcing that she and her husband Ross Peebles are the proud new
owners of their own Speedy Signs franchise on the North Shore of Auckland.
And despite 2025 being a challenging year for the country’s overall business
community, the clear message that came out of the Awards night is that New
Zealand’s franchise sector is still performing strongly, with the outlook for
2026 already looking even more positive.
NZ FRANCHISE AWARDS 2025
Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
INSPIRATIONAL
WINNERS
Image: www.stock.adobe.com/Peppygraphics
Westpac Supreme Franchise System of the Year
Winner: Harrisons Flooring
Harrisons Group continues to go from strength to strength in New Zealand.
The origins of the brand date back to 1962, when Des Harrison first began
selling carpet and furniture from his store in Whangārei and the franchise
system is still a family business today.
Fast forward to 2025 and Harrisons Flooring, one of the three divisions of the
Harrisons Group, is now recognised with the Supreme title of the highest-
performing franchise business in the country.
The judges agreed that the submission from Harrisons Flooring demonstrates
outstanding results and long-term stability – fuelled by the continued
development and launching of their own product brand, growing their hard
flooring sales and taking the bold step of entering the highly-competitive
Australian market.
Westpac Supreme Franchisee of the Year
Winner: Jess & Kelly Bain, The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa
‘Outstanding’ was how the judges described The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa’s
entry submission, adding that, “it provided strong evidence of a dynamic
successful business, driven by robust systems and good relationships.”
Kelly and Jess Bain were also praised for demonstrating a deep
understanding of their business, with ambitious plans for future
development of The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa, in order to continue its
extraordinary run of success.
“For us, paradise is Ōmokoroa,” says Kelly. She remembers the day
they were first introduced to the café. “It was the perfect place we
had pictured in our minds; the café and where it is in The Village
development is perfect.”
Jess and Kelly have become very actively involved in their community since
moving their family to the region two years ago and the business has played
a big part in that, also collecting the Franchisee Excellence in Community
Contribution award.
Weeks after the Awards night the couple were still in shock. Kelly said, “I
still don’t know if it has sunk in yet – it has been pretty overwhelming to be
honest. We are such a new business, but we thought we would throw our
hat in the ring and try to measure our performance against the rest of the
franchising world. We never expected to win one award, let alone three – it
was a genuine shock.”
The perfect place and now the perfect recognition. 2025 has been a
rewarding year for The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa and Jess and Kelly’s Supreme
Franchisee of the Year title is well deserved.
franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
“Harrisons Flooring’s strategic and thoughtful approach, strong franchisee
support, excellent customer ratings and strong growth make them a
standout,” commented the judging panel.
Harrisons’ commitment also extends beyond flooring. The franchise invests
in people, fosters community engagement, and actively supports the Breast
Cancer Foundation NZ. Their collaborative approach with franchisees, suppliers,
and customers, combined with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and growth,
ensures the brand continues to prosper while making a positive impact.
“Winning the Supreme Franchise System of the Year is an incredible honour,
but what makes me really proud is that it reflects our people – local business
owners, hardworking teams, and loyal customers who trust us in their homes
every day,” said Patrick Harrison, CEO of Harrisons Group.
“For over 60 years we’ve been a family business, and today we’re still
driven by the same belief – if we look after our people and do right by our
customers, success will follow.”
The ecstatic team from Harrisons Flooring celebrate
becoming Supreme Franchise System of the Year 2025
Brad Jacobs, FANZ Chair and Daniel Cloete of Westpac,
with Jess and Kelly Bain of The Coffee Club Omokoroa,
2025 Westpac Supreme Franchisee of the Year
Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
Business to Business Franchisee of the Year
Winner: Navjot Kaur –
CrestClean Christchurch
and South Canterbury
CrestClean Christchurch
and South Canterbury
franchisee Navjot “Navi” Kaur
has successfully grown her
CrestClean franchise into one
of the largest in the country.
With a team of ten employees
trained through the Master
Cleaners Training Institute and
strong customer relationships,
she consistently delivers
the highest-quality
cleaning services.
“We are so proud of our
journey,” said Navi. “It is
overwhelming and exciting to
be part of the awards.”
The judges said that CrestClean Christchurch and South Canterbury
demonstrated excellence in their approach to applying the franchise system,
showing “A commendable commitment to staff, performance and business
growth. The success of this approach is evidenced in their financial success.”
Business to Business Franchise System of the Year
Winner: CrestClean
CrestClean’s franchise
network undertakes
around three million hours
of customer service each
year. Co-founded by Grant
McLauchlan and Rene
Mangnus in Dunedin in
1996, CrestClean’s blue
and green livery is a
familiar sight throughout
New Zealand, and it’s a
franchise that has become
a familiar sight on the stage
at the annual Westpac New
Zealand Franchise Awards.
This year CrestClean and its
franchisees were named finalists in five categories and won three awards. In
the special long tenure awards, the company also proudly recognised five of
their inspirational franchisees who have been with the franchise system for
between 19 and 23 years.
The judges commented that CrestClean presented a strong and robust
franchise system. “Their focus on quality, training and long-term customer
relationships stood out. They provide excellent franchisee support, and have
shown impressive growth, especially in healthcare.”
Finalist
Jani-King
Category sponsored by Bunnings Trade
HOME & LIFESTYLE
BUSINESS to BUSINESS
Harrisons Flooring took the
Home & Lifestyle Franchise System of the Year title
Navi Kaur, left - Business to Business
Franchisee of the Year 2025
CrestClean won three awards in 2025
including Business to Business
Franchise System of the Year
CATEGORY AWARDS AND FINALISTS
Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
Awards were presented for Franchisee of the Year and Franchise
System of the Year in each of three categories:
• Business to Business
• Home & Lifestyle
• Retail & Hospitality
The Supreme Awards winners were selected from these
categories, plus the Small Business Franchisee of the Year category.
Home & Lifestyle Franchisee of the Year
Winner: Karen & Paul
Collins, Kitchen Studio
North Shore
Kitchen Studio North Shore is
a magnificent success story
thanks to Paul and Karen
Collins’ focus on excellence.
They take pride in the fact that
everyone on their team, from
the award-winning kitchen
designers to the craftsmen
responsible for installing new
kitchens, is also passionate
about achieving excellence in
everything they do.
It’s an approach to franchising that has also gone down well with the judges
of this year’s awards. “Kitchen Studio North Shore has demonstrated very
impressive flexibility and resilience throughout the year,” they say. “Karen and
Paul show outstanding attention to detail in every aspect of their business,
and their approach is clearly delivering excellent results.”
And the couple are very appreciative of the chance that entering the Franchise
Awards has given them to focus even more on the detail: “That whole process
of investing in the health of your business and looking at it from different
angles to see what’s working well and what’s not – that is so rewarding,” Karen
says, “and the feedback from the judges has been invaluable.”
Finalists
Steven Painter, Tony Lafferty, Gerry Schumacher, Landmark Homes, Hawkes Bay
Ron & Sandy Dawson, Hire A Hubby, Merivale & St. Albans
Avesh & Susan Vather, Kitchen Studio, Nelson & West Auckland
Ben Squire & Michael Tuttiett, Kitchen Studio, Tauranga
Dan Haslam & Immanuela Pfeiffenberger, Harrisons Flooring, Waikato North
Tracy & Conrad Kirk, Exceed, Hawkes Bay
Home & Lifestyle Franchise System of the Year
Winner:
Harrisons Flooring
Harrisons were the
pioneers of a mobile
in-home carpet service
in New Zealand,
launching nationwide
in 1992. With innovation
and growth, to match
customers’ needs and
expectations, at the
heart of the business,
they have recently
launched the Harrisons
Flooring brand
into Australia.
As well as taking
out the overall Supreme award, Harrisons Flooring were awarded Home &
Lifestyle Franchise System of the Year for 2025, unusually competing against
two other divisions of the Harrisons Group amongst other finalists in the
category.
The judges said Harrisons Flooring provided an impressive submission with
evidence that they do the simple things well. “They start with people, support
and strategy, engaged suppliers and customers, and work collaboratively.
“They also showed us that this approach has delivered exceptional service
performance and business success.”
Finalists
Harrisons Solar
Harrisons Curtains & Blinds
Kitchen Studio
Red LBP
Category sponsored by Ecomist
Ian Robertson of Ecomist (left) with
Karen and Paul Collins, Kitchen Studio
North Shore - 2025 Home & Lifestyle
Franchisee of the Year
franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
Small Business Franchisee of the Year
Winner: Quin Wang, Aramex Mount
Wellington and Panmure
When Quin Wang and his wife Michelle
got behind the wheel of their Aramex
courier business (formerly known as
Fastway) back in 2012 they did it to build a
better future for their two children.
What they’ve managed to achieve from
their efforts and the support of the
franchise behind them has more than lived
up to their expectations. Quin says the
key is to work on relationships with all the
business owners that he meets through his
deliveries. “You have to be patient, polite
and friendly, and then one day they might
become your customer.”
The judges agreed that Quin is a franchisee who demonstrates a clear
understanding of the business, and particularly the value of the relationships.
“Quin’s impressive approach to building relationships and winning new
clients is reflected in his success,” they said.
Taking out the 2025 Small Business Franchisee of the Year award is the latest
in a series of recognitions over the years for the couple, having been named
Auckland Courier Franchise of the Year in 2015 and overall Aramex Franchisee
of the Year in 2017.
Quin’s warmly received acceptance speech at the Westpac New Zealand
Franchise Awards included a heartfelt recognition of how much his Aramex
business has contributed to the wellbeing of his family, and how much they in
turn have inspired him to succeed in the business.
Award sponsored by Geotech Information Services
Regional Master Franchisee
of the Year
Winner: Tim O’Leary –
CrestClean Hawke’s Bay
Tim has built a high-performing
regional business through strong
leadership, smart growth and a
genuine care for his team. He has
evidenced this in his hands-on
approach, a focus on quality, and a
commitment to franchisee success
– all of which has helped make
CrestClean Hawke’s Bay a
standout performer.
Tim recalls that joining CrestClean as
its Hawke’s Bay Regional Manager
in 2020 was a complete change of
direction for him and his wife Kelly,
saying how he thoroughly enjoys helping people to help themselves.
This attitude applies more than ever today. “Not only from a professional
point of view but from a personal point of view as well. I enjoy seeing people
succeed, that’s what really spins my wheels,” says Tim.
Finalist
Pam Castillo & Emmel Yap, Clean Planet North Shore, Auckland CBD &
South Auckland
Award sponsored by Franchise New Zealand media
Caitlin Chatterley of Franchise
New Zealand and Tim O’Leary,
Regional Master Franchisee
of the Year 2025
RETAIL & HOSPITALITY
SPECIAL AWARDS
FRANCHISEE AWARDS
The Coffee Club won
Retail & Hospitality Franchise System
of the Year for the third time in five years
franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
Further awards were made in a number of specialist categories for
Franchisees, Franchise Systems, Field Managers and Service Providers.
SMALL BUSINESS
Retail & Hospitality Franchisee of the Year
Winner: Kelly & Jess
Bain, The Coffee Club
Ōmokoroa
New Zealand has one of
the most competitive retail
and hospitality sectors in
the world, but it’s a winning
outcome when one of the
country’s most recognised
café brands is coupled with
a franchisee that totally
understands the power
of customer and local
community connection.
The judges agreed that Kelly
& Jess Bain have grown
The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa
to include strong staff and
customer engagement,
establishing a highly successful business with clear strategic plans for
future development.
“Here is a business that gains insight from key metrics and uses this to
continue improving their business,” the judges said.
The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa was recognised as the 2024 Store of the Year at
The Coffee Club NZ awards. Kelly has high praise for New Zealand franchisor
co-directors Brad Jacobs and Andy Lucas, saying they recognise and respect
the diverse range of backgrounds prospective franchisees come from; whether
they bring knowledge as an existing customer in their own area or are taking a
leap into new territory.
Finalists
Nilupa Weerakon, Bakers Delight, Hamilton East
Michael Faulkner, Bakers Delight, Pukekohe
Rakesh Ishwarlal, LJ’s Fish & Chips, Waitākere
Tere & Avelien Strickland, Quest Apartment Hotel, Mount Maunganui
Dave & Marcia Bragg, Flooring Design, Whakatāne
Richard & Tatiana Sharp, Robert Harris, Whakatāne
Retail & Hospitality Franchise System of the Year
Winner: The Coffee
Club
Kelly and Jess Bain, winners
of the Supreme and Retail
& Hospitality Franchisee of
the Year awards, can testify
that New Zealand’s most
recognised and awarded
café franchise offers a
supportive, proven pathway
to success.
In a repeat of its tandem
awards two years ago, The
Coffee Club franchise system
showed evidence of strong
performance over the past 12
months, coming out on top in the Retail & Hospitality Franchise System
of the Year award again in 2025.
Founded in Australia, The Coffee Club was brought to New Zealand in
2003 by master franchisees Brad Jacobs and Andy Lucas, who still lead the
dedicated and highly professional New Zealand support team.
The judges noted that The Coffee Club is building on its impressive 20-year
history to keep refining their systems and processes, “All while ensuring that
they continue to provide outstanding franchisee support and service delivery.”
Finalists
Bakers Delight
Flooring Design
Category sponsored by Franchise Accountants
Jeff Vassall of Geotech
Information Services and
Quin Wang, Aramex Mt
Wellington & Panmure,
Small Business Franchisee
of the Year
Jess and Kelly Bain at home
at The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa,
2025 Retail & Hospitality
Franchisee of the Year
Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
10
Excellence in Community Contribution –
Franchisee
Winner: Kelly & Jess Bain,
The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa
This Awards night really was
a night to remember for The
Coffee Club Ōmokoroa and
their crew. The judges said the
business takes a measured,
thoughtful and well-considered
approach to contributing to the
local community. “Their multi-
pronged and innovative approach
has led to the business providing
clear measurable value to
the community.”
Kelly was thrilled to be recognised
for her business’s contribution to
the community they fell in love
with the minute they arrived, telling Franchise New Zealand, “We look upon
our business as not just a financial concern, but as a community project. Our
ethos is that we are not just running a café, it’s a community hub with its own
distinct culture and a huge variety of customer experiences that take place
within it. So, being at the hub, we also feed back to our community in as many
different ways as we can.
“Our children are growing up here and we want to be a part of how well this
community fares in the future. And luckily for us, although that is definitely
not our primary aim, community engagement at the level we practice also
turns out to be a very powerful marketing strategy.”
Finalists
Laura Parke, Freedom Drivers, Northern Bays
Michael Faulkner, Bakers Delight, Pukekohe
Award sponsored by Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre
Excellence in Customer Service - Franchisee
Winner: Tere &
Avelien Strickland,
Quest Apartment
Hotel, Mount
Maunganui
This award is as much
about consistency of
service as it is about
excellence of service –
together, these are
the cornerstone of
every highly
successful business.
The judges agreed
that the Quest Mount
Maunganui franchise
owners, Tere (Tez) and
Avelien Strickland, presented a very robust submission.
“The evidence showed that their success and high performance is founded
on their commitment to sound processes and team training – both of which
ensure a consistent delivery of an excellent customer service experience.”
Avelien was no stranger to Quest having previously worked in the franchise’s
corporate office for a number of years before re-locating to the Bay of Plenty
to take up this franchise opportunity. The couple were excited to continue
providing exceptional service to guests while also utilising Avelien’s business
skills to ensure the success of the property.
On the night, Tez was profuse in his gratitude for all those who had helped
the couple to achieve this award, especially the incredible team of staff who
work in their business. And he promised that we hadn’t seen the last of the
powerhouse team behind the Quest Apartment Hotel Mount Maunganui.
Finalists
Laura Parke, Freedom Drivers, Northern Bays
Amber & Malcolm Carr, Simon’s Flooring Design, Tauranga
Manpreet Singh and Jas Kaur, The Coffee Club, Fitzroy New Plymouth
Award sponsored by Tranxactor
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Winner: Laser Plumbing & Electrical
Laser Plumbing & Electrical
started life in 1983 when
entrepreneurial electricians
Peter Bassett and David
Clemmett decided to set up
their own electrical contracting
company, and the franchised
business opportunity has grown
in leaps and bounds ever since.
For this year’s awards the
judges agreed that Laser
Plumbing & Electrical delivered
“an aspirational marketing
campaign which was well
planned and executed,
with very strong franchisee
involvement”.
They also saw evidence that the
campaign was highly successful
in achieving all its objectives for
the franchise owners.
Finalists
CrestClean
Harrisons Solar
MTF Finance
Red LBP
Rodney Wayne
Award sponsored by Mighty
Excellence in Community Contribution –
Franchise System
Winner: Aramex
This was a highly contested
award category, and one
that cuts to the heart
of the relationship that
exists between franchise
businesses and their
local communities.
The judges say Aramex
demonstrated exceptional
commitment to the charities
their franchise owners’
support. They also believe
the company demonstrated
value for the business
owners as well as for the
charities they serve.
One thing that stood out
in the submission was the
depth and longevity of the
relationships, they say, “and
how they leverage these
relationships and collaborate
to benefit multiple groups.”
Finalists
Bakers Delight
CrestClean
Harrisons
Jani-King
Laser Plumbing & Electrical
Red LBP
The Coffee Club
Award sponsored by Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre
The award-winning Marketing
Campaign of the Year for Laser
Plumbing & Electrical
Shelley Trutsch of Waipuna Hotel &
Conference Centre and Sanjay Joshi,
Operations Director of Aramex NZ
John Norrie and Kiki Qi of Tranxactor
presented Franchisee Excellence in Customer
Service to Avelien and Tez Strickland,
Quest Apartment Hotel Mount Maunganui
FRANCHISE SYSTEM AWARDS
Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
10
CATEGORY AWARDS AND FINALISTS
Jess and Kelly Bain, The Coffee Club
Ōmokoroa with their first award of
the night, Franchisee Excellence in
Community Contribution
franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
11
Excellence in Franchise System Innovation
Winner: Red LBP
This important award
recognises innovation and
forward-thinking ideas,
products, services or
processes that enhance
franchise operations,
customer experience, or
business performance.
Red LBP is New Zealand’s
largest network of licensed
building inspectors and
professes to be one of
the country’s fastest
growing franchise business
opportunities. Its team of
qualified builders-turned-
inspectors is a tight-knit group who believe in continuous training and
supporting each other.
The judges said Red LBP presented a compelling innovation story,
evidencing a pragmatic, scalable solution which is delivering high impact.
“They demonstrated innovation at the heart of their business, supporting
all aspects of their business success, and setting a new standard in
their industry.”
Finalists
Aramex
Clean Planet
Columbus Coffee
Harrisons
Jani-King
Landmark Homes
Laser Plumbing & Electrical
Award sponsored by CDM Limited
Field Manager of the Year
Winner: Bailee Mills -
Harrisons Curtains
& Blinds
Field Managers can be
described as the unsung
heroes of the franchise sector,
maintaining that vital first point
of contact for franchisees,
helping them to set goals
and grow their businesses, all
while remaining faithful to the
franchise’s brand standards. It’s a
major responsibility.
“Bailee’s exceptional and
thorough submission provided
evidence of an impressive Field
Manager,” said the judging panel.
“Her strong franchisee
relationships, built on trust,
combined with her open approach to seeking improvements, are the
foundation of her success.”
Finalists
Tina Bolton, Green Acres
Tracy Stafford, Hire A Hubby
Kyle Hargreaves, LJ’s Fish & Chips
Damian Kaukau, MTF Finance
Award sponsored by Franchise New Zealand media
The Red LBP team: innovation at the heart of
their business – and now the Excellence in
Franchise System Innovation award to prove it
Sally Knight of Franchise New Zealand
media presents Bailee Mills of
Harrisons Curtains & Blinds with her
Field Manager of the Year award
Galvin and Suzanne Bartlett of
Paramount Services with Philip
Morrison of Franchise Accountants -
seven times Service Provider of the Year
ABOUT THE AWARDS
FIELD MANAGER OF THE
YEAR AWARD
SERVICE PROVIDER OF
THE YEAR
The 2025 Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards were organised by the
Franchise Association of New Zealand. This was the 30th edition of the
Awards, which have been held annually since 1995 (except for 2020). The
2025 Gala Dinner was held on 1 November at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland.
Awards entrants go through a rigorous assessment by a panel of independent
judges, including a detailed submission and video interviews. Entry is open to
all members of the Franchise Association of New Zealand.
The event’s principal sponsor for the past 30 years, Westpac New Zealand,
was represented on stage by Reuben Tucker, Managing Director, Institutional
and Business Banking, and Daniel Cloete, National Franchise Manager.
franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
11
The Tamashii Taiko Drummers
entertained a 440-strong crowd
Service Provider of the Year
Winner:
Franchise Accountants
The fact that Franchise
Accountants were up on stage
again, this time to receive the
Service Provider of the Year
award for 2025 came as no
surprise to many of
those assembled.
This is the seventh time
Franchise Accountants has
won this award – which now
makes them the most awarded
service provider across the
history of the event. The
judges acknowledged that this
exceptional service provider
demonstrates a significant
and strong commitment
to franchising.
Indeed, Franchise Accountants, as their name suggests, is the only chartered
accounting practice in New Zealand focused almost exclusively on serving
the franchise industry. The judges described this company’s significant
investment in franchise-specific software, and the value it provides, as
truly impressive.
Finalists
BDO New Zealand
Stewart Germann Law Office
Wynn Williams
Award sponsored by Paramount Services
TURN IDEAS
INTO INCOME
WE GET CLOSER TO HELP
Eligibility and lending criteria, T&Cs and fees apply. Business lending products are only available for business
and/or investment purposes and not for personal, domestic or household purposes. Westpac New Zealand Limited.
Talk to us about lending options for start-ups.
westpac.co.nz/startup
franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
13
Opportunity: Home & Building
Kitchen Studio franchisees recognised for
outstanding results and constantly evolving
their business
SATISFYING &
REWARDING
It was almost 20 years ago when Paul Collins came home and announced
to wife Karen that he’d been chatting to the CEO of Kitchen Studio, who had
convinced him that the franchise model was the way to go. She’d advised him
that with Karen’s interest in home interiors they would make perfect owners
of a Kitchen Studio franchise on Auckland’s fast-growing North Shore.
Paul admits that he initially thought the franchise would make the ideal little
business for Karen. However, it turns out that the two of them had the perfect
blend of skills for the franchise.
Paul and Karen celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary by signing up to
the franchise and have never looked back.
Today, Kitchen Studio North Shore is a great example of a highly successful
franchise business. Karen and Paul were the delighted winners of the 2025
Home & Lifestyle Franchisee of the Year title at this year’s Westpac New
Zealand Franchise Awards.
Moving with the times
With two decades of experience in the franchise, which now includes their
second Kitchen Studio showroom based in Christchurch, Karen and Paul
have seen the exciting evolution of kitchen CAD software technology which
Kitchen Studio franchisees were among the first to apply in New Zealand.
“CAD is such a valuable tool that lets people preview their kitchens in 3D,”
Karen explains, “and in more recent times Kitchen Studio has introduced
video technology to assist with kitchen design and delivery.”
The couple enjoy catching up with the other Kitchen Studio franchisees
around the country at meetings arranged at least three times a year. “It’s a
great chance to share ideas and lessons,” says Karen. “And I believe that’s one
of Kitchen Studio’s biggest strengths.
“Kitchens are a very competitive market segment. Building one to fit into
a designated space, taking into account things like plumbing, power and
flooring, is quite a complex thing to do when you think about it,” she adds,
“and it’s really great to have all our professional supplier networks and
franchisor team’s support to assist in achieving our common goal.”
Satisfying and rewarding
Karen and Paul were thrilled to take to the stage again at the recent
Franchise Awards to receive a special long tenure recognition award –
together with the owners of the Wellington, Hamilton and Hastings stores,
who had also been Kitchen Studio franchisees for 15 years or more.
“Satisfying and rewarding” is how Karen describes their relationship with
clients of Kitchen Studio, and that’s also how she sums up the total experience
of winning this year’s Home & Lifestyle Franchisee of the Year accolade.
“That whole process of investing in the health of your business and looking at
it from different angles to see what’s working well and what’s not – that is so
rewarding,” she says, “and the feedback from the judges has been invaluable.”
“Kitchen Studio North Shore demonstrated very impressive flexibility and
resilience throughout the year, with outstanding attention to detail in every
aspect of their business. Their approach is clearly delivering excellent results,”
said the judges.
“On the night it was very special to be up on stage with all those other
winning franchisors and franchisees,” adds Karen. “It really was so thrilling!”
Karen admits that she has now recognised that your business doesn’t have to
be perfect all the time. “There’ll always be aspects you’re having to work on,
and the business is constantly evolving,” she says.
Paul agrees and says he’s extremely proud of what they’ve achieved on the
Shore. “Our clients demand excellence and that’s what our team lives for.”
Kitchen Studio CEO Dawn Engelbrecht says the winning duo were most
deserving recipients. She invites anyone with a similar passion for excellence,
who would like to become part of the forward-thinking Kitchen Studio brand,
to call her today.
Kitchen Studio
www.kitchenstudio.co.nz
Contact
Dawn Engelbrecht
027 291 0094
dawn@kitchenstudio.co.nz
Advertiser Info
CONTACT DAWN TO LEARN MORE
027 291 9904
www.kitchenstudio.co.nz/
franchise-opportunities
INVESTMENT FROM $150,000 PLUS SET UP COST
We don’t just design stunning kitchens – we empower driven
individuals like you to turn their ambition into a profitable,
fulfilling business.
Territories available in Blenheim, Coromandel Peninsula,
Masterton, Napier, Rotorua, Taupō, Upper Hutt, Whanganui.
Are you ready to build your future with a brand in serious
growth mode? The timing couldn’t be better to join the
Kitchen Studio network. We’re making major upgrades
across the network that honor our 40-year legacy while
positioning our franchisees for the next era of growth.
WE’RE ABOUT
TO LEVEL UP
Would you like to join us?
Award sponsor Ian Robertson
with Karen and Paul Collins
We're looking for curtain, flooring and solar
franchisees throughout the country. Secure
your future by owning your own business.
Join the #1
franchise system
"The best thing for us is the
support you get, the team are
really great and helped us get
started and established"
Dan Haslam & Immanuela Pfeiffenberger
Harrisons Carpet & Flooring – Waikato North
Contact
Dan Harrison
danh@hah.co.nz
021 242 4131
harrisons.nz/join-us
Scan the code to
hear more from
our franchisees
Winner: Supreme Award. Franchise System of the Year 2025
franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
15
From humble beginnings in 2004 with the proverbial ‘van, dog and tools’,
Master Builder Daniel Klinkenberg and his wife Bronwyn have created a
business responsible for hundreds of quality new homes across greater
Waikato, Rotorua, Coromandel and South Auckland.
“We saw a gap in the market for a building company with strong design-and-
build processes delivered alongside excellent customer service,” explains
Daniel, “It was out of that industry need and our core values of ‘humble,
hungry and smart’ that Urban Homes was born. Since then, the company
has grown significantly, and we now have a committed support team behind
franchisees growing their own Urban Homes businesses.”
Daniel, Bronwyn and their growing team developed the necessary systems,
software and processes to give others the same opportunity for success that
they have enjoyed. They then engaged the expertise of Franchize Consultants
to develop the final materials to launch the Urban Homes franchise system.
The end result is a franchise offering that delivers total design-and-build
solutions from a huge range of house plans, along with rapid-pricing software
enabling each franchisee to provide quick and very accurate costings.
“The strength of our proven process and systems is a big drawcard of the
Urban Homes group,” Daniel says. “Another real strength of the group is that
we can share learnings and what we’re seeing across different regions. While
we have consistency in ‘how’ we do ‘what’ we do, every person in the group
offers different strengths, skillsets and talents, and that knowledge sharing is
massively beneficial for each new franchisee who comes on board.
“From the outset, our franchisees are in a much stronger position to manage
the ebbs and flows of the industry better.”
Excellent timing, outstanding offer
Emerging from a challenging three years for New Zealand’s building industry,
and with many regions now beginning an industry upcycle, Daniel believes
it’s excellent timing to look at building your own future with an Urban Homes
business.
“There’s a level of support that I could only dream about when Bronwyn
and I first started out,” he says. “Urban Homes has a very extensive
training and onboarding programme and it’s a great time to grow and
learn with the market.
“In construction you learn something almost every day, and when you have
a franchise group that’s consistently striving together to work smarter, the
inherent knowledge-sharing ability is a major strength.”
Choosing new house plans for clients is never an issue either. Urban Homes
have a fully accessible ‘Plan Vault’ containing more than 700 house plans,
right at the franchisee’s fingertips.
“Our pricing software is second-to-none,” says Daniel, “and we’ve developed
some incredibly helpful professional business tools for our Urban Homes
franchisees. There’s a strong front-end sales process, supported by a
powerful CRM system to help with lead generation, along with robust costing
and all the other front-end detail that sets a project up for success.”
Fast-track your path to success
Daniel knows they have a solid offer for new franchisees. “There are a lot of
challenges when you’re trying to manage a build alone,” he explains. “Design,
pricing, selections, scheduling and client expectations, to name just a few. But
we know our offering is super supportive.”
“By joining Urban Homes, you’ll combine your local knowledge and industry
expertise with our established reputation, industry-leading systems and
technology, comprehensive training, proven processes, and marketing
plans tailored to your local market, positioning your business for
long-term success.”
“Our ideal franchisees may already be operating in the industry within
their territory, which would mitigate the need for complete set-up costs,”
explains Daniel. “But we see our ideal franchisees coming from all over the
construction industry. Your experience is less important than your ability
to learn and your hunger to build a quality business of your own, with our
systems, training and ongoing support all there to help you succeed.”
The initial franchise investment ranges from $105,000 to $150,000, depending
on the area, which covers the franchise fee, training, marketing and
establishment costs. Working capital also needs to be factored in, along with
other additional costs such as vehicles, legal fees and technology.
Daniel says that while franchisees will need to make the financial
commitment towards building a showhome soon after launching their
business, the Urban Homes team will support that initiative. “Having a
showhome built in a new region is critical to generating ongoing business
and establishing the brand.”
Right time and place, for the right people
With over 21 years of experience behind them, Daniel and Bronwyn have
put a strong focus on leveraging technology to ensure Urban Homes keeps
moving with the times.
“Construction will always continue to innovate and develop,” explains Daniel,
“and unless you’re willing to improve how you do things, you’ll get left behind.
“We’re always open to new ideas,” he
smiles. “As we expand the business
further, we’ll seek input and feedback
from our franchisees to continually
improve the whole network.
“One of our proven skills is putting the
right people in the right territories, so
call me today to find out if this is the
right time and place for you to become
an Urban Homes franchisee and to build
your own solid future.”
Urban Homes franchise offers strong
prospects in New Zealand’s home
construction industry
Opportunity: Home & Building
Urban Homes
www.urban.co.nz/
franchise
Contact
Daniel Klinkenberg
027 539 7005
franchise@urban.co.nz
Advertiser Info
BUILDING A
SOLID FUTURE
16
Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
Franchise news updates
Our pick of the top news stories from franchise.co.nz and our newsletter
Franchise New Zealand is much more than a quarterly print magazine. To keep up to date with all the latest franchise-related
news in between print issues, visit our website www.franchise.co.nz and subscribe to our free monthly newsletter.
In the October 2025 Economic
Overview, Westpac’s senior
economists commented that
New Zealand’s business environment
has remained challenging throughout
2025, defying expecations of a
steady improvement in economic
growth. They have now revised
predictions of GDP growth down to
1.2% for the full year (about half of
what was previously anticipated).
However, confidence in a stronger
recovery in the coming year is
building. Further cuts to the OCR in
the second half of 2025 are helping
increasing numbers of borrowers roll
onto lower interest rates for home
and business loans in the coming
months. Westpac’s economists say
that GDP growth is forecast to rise
from 1.2% this year to 3.0% in 2026.
Falling interest rates, firm
commodity export earnings and a
weaker NZ dollar are expected to
support the recovery. Even so, the
Westpac team warns that growth is
likely to remain moderate in the near
term. Continued financial pressures, a
soft labour market
and lingering uncertainty are
weighing on household and
business spending.
Urban centres have been
particularly hard hit with higher
levels of unemployment and weaker
spending. The Economic Overview
reports that regions with a large
agricultural backbone continue to
outshine urban centres, with strength
in commodity export earnings
boosting incomes and spending.
Unemployment is forecast to peak
at 5.4% later this year, before easing
below 5% in 2026. With domestic
demand still subdued, inflation,
which has been sitting at around 3%,
is expected to return towards the
middle of the RBNZ’s target band.
Net migration has slowed to around
10,000 people over the last year.
Departures of New Zealanders
remain high, reflecting stronger job
prospects elsewhere, but Westpac
say they expect the balance to
shift as the local economy
regains momentum.
The Overview reports business
surveys showing that firms remain
optimistic about a pickup in activity
in the months ahead. However, stated
investment intentions have softened,
and are lower now than they were
before the announcement of the
Government’s Investment Boost
policy in the May Budget.
The full report can be read at https://
www.westpac.co.nz/business/
business-base/economics/economic-
reports/
Highly-respected franchise banker Dean Madsen is facing a
new challenge – swimming across Lake Taupō to raise funds for
Parkinson’s New Zealand
Dean, who was made a Life Member of the Franchise Association at
the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards in November (see page 40),
was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological
condition that affects movement and coordination. “Rather than dwell on
what I can’t control, I’ve chosen to focus on what I can, he says. “And one of
those things is swimming.
“Before my diagnosis, I’d already committed to a huge personal challenge
– swimming the full 40 kilometres of Lake Taupō. Now, I’ve turned this into
something with even greater purpose: a fundraising swim for Parkinson’s
New Zealand, who provide vital support, education, and advocacy for
thousands of Kiwis living with the condition.
“The cause is now deeply personal. Every stroke I take in training reminds
me of the power of perseverance – of moving forward, no matter what. It also
reminds me of the lessons franchising taught me: that resilience comes from
community, and that we go further when we go together.
“I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some exceptional people – franchisees,
franchisors, mentors and colleagues – all driven by a shared belief in
partnership, trust, and helping others succeed.
“If you’d like to support my swim for Parkinson’s New Zealand, you can
visit my Givealittle page at https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/swimming-for-
parkinsons-my-journey-my-mission. Every dollar helps, and every
message of encouragement motivates me to keep training, swimming,
and moving forward.
“Because, just like in franchising, success isn’t about going it alone – it’s
about backing each other, through every challenge and every stroke along
the way.”
DRIVERS OF
RECOVERY
IN PLACE
FRANCHISE
HERO’S NEW
CHALLENGE
franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
17
Call the Coach
Stewart Germann
+64 21 276 9898
www.franchisecoach.co.nz
The Franchise Coach,
Stewart Germann will
walk you through the
process of becoming
a franchisor from initial
enquiry through to
opening the doors,
including for overseas
brands setting up shop
in New Zealand.
stewart@thefranchisecoach.co.nz
Khushbu
Sundarji
Partner
khushbu@
germann.co.nz
Stewart
Germann
Partner and
Notary Pubic
stewart@
germann.co.nz
Are you ready
to turn your
business into
a franchise?
Recognised in
Celebrating
30 Years
www.germann.co.nz
09 308 9925
We are widely acknowledged as
New Zealand’s leading franchise law firm
and can provide you with expert legal advice
in all areas of commercial and business law
including franchising and licensing.
We are passionate
about business and
franchise law
Younger, more diverse buyers are increasingly entering the market as older
owners step aside
New research in The ABC Business September 2025 Quarterly Market
Intelligence Report shows a shift in who is buying and selling businesses in
New Zealand.
The report reveals that 65% of business sellers are now over 46, while more
than half of buyers are younger than that. Many sellers are leaving their
businesses for retirement or lifestyle changes, creating opportunities for a
new generation of entrepreneurs to take the reins.
Diversity among buyers is also on the rise. While more than 70% of sellers
identify as NZ European, over 40% of buyers come from Indian, Chinese, or
other non-European backgrounds. Migration trends are playing a role, with
many newcomers seeing small business ownership as a pathway to stability
and financial growth.
Retirement remains the main reason owners sell, accounting for 32% of sales
in the past year. Others move on to new ventures (26%). Buyers, meanwhile,
are primarily motivated by wealth creation (36%) and expanding existing
operations (34%), showing strong interest from seasoned business operators.
The report also notes that younger buyers are taking a more strategic
approach. Many are looking to build business portfolios or merge
complementary operations rather than simply stepping into a pre-existing role.
The Body Shop, the ethical cosmetics brand founded in 1976 by Anita
Roddick, is staging a comeback in New Zealand under new franchise
ownership
The first Body Shop store opened in New Zealand in 1989 on Lambton Quay
in Wellington and in its heyday grew to a 28-store chain.
In September 2024 the UK assets of the Body Shop International were sold on
following a period of financial hardship, but this excluded the New Zealand
business which was told it would receive no further financial support from
the UK administrator. Earlier this year, The Body Shop’s ailing New Zealand
operation, by that time operating under management of one owner, went into
voluntary administration, followed by full liquidation and closure of all its 16
remaining stores.
Online sales were relaunched some months ago and now the first of The
Body Shop’s new-look ‘workshop-style’ interactive stores has opened in
the Nelson region, with the new owners indicating a goal to have multiple
franchised locations up and running as quickly as possible.
NEW TRENDS
IN BUSINESS SALES MARKET
THE BODY
SHOP IS BACK
You can also follow Franchise New Zealand media
on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.
Image: www.stock.adobe.com/ Inna
Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
18
Anchor Franchise
Recruitment Team
www.anchordairy.com/nz
Contact
Shannon Davidson
anchorfranchise@fonterra.com
Advertiser Info
ANCHORANCHORFRANCHISE@FONTERRA.COMLORE
Anchorfranchise@fonterra.com
“I love being a franchisee, and I love being a part of this brand,” says Hamilton
based Anchor Franchisee of the Year Olly Te Ua. “If you open most fridges
in New Zealand, you’ll find our products there. We have been trusted by the
nation since 1886 as our products are of the highest quality – my only regret
is I wish I’d started ten years earlier,” he laughs.
Olly used to be a general manager within Hamilton District Council. “I’d
reached a senior level, but I gradually realised it wasn’t what I wanted to do
long term. Then my position was disestablished so all the decisions became
much easier.”
Olly had a head start on his future career as he explains. “I had a very good
friend who had been with Anchor for a long time. Then my sister-in-law and
husband also bought into the franchise. I’d been really curious about their
progress and increase in wealth ever since and became very familiar with
the brand and its operations. With redundancy looming I got approval from
Anchor to purchase a small round in advance – which made the transition
from salaried staff into full time business ownership much easier.”
Simple and transparent
Olly has found the Anchor Milk franchise model to be as simple and
transparent as it is advertised. From a Fonterra-owned depot, franchisees
generate income by selling and distributing Anchor products. “As franchisees
we buy the refrigerated trucks,” Olly explains, “and we are responsible for
paying drivers and other staff. Income comes not only from Anchor products,”
he explains. “The franchise is quite flexible enough to allow us to distribute
other product lines that we have found a market for, with company approval
of course.”
Olly started modestly in September 2016, by buying a single truck territory
from a franchisee who was retiring. “Training with the company was
comprehensive, and I spent a great deal of time with the business vendor
getting to grips with best practice and learning all I could. Anchor have
mentors in the business who are wonderfully supportive and remain in touch
ten years on. The original owner spent extra time with me until he was quite
sure I was off my training wheels – something we much appreciated.”
Community importance
In Hamilton, where Olly’s family has strong connections, he is hot on
community and likes the fact that Anchor also encourages their franchisees
to give back. “The local Westpac chopper does an outstanding job for the
area and keeping the crew’s fridge topped up with free milk is the least
we can do for them. Every Thursday we supply free milk to all the hospice
shops for the volunteers to enjoy with their tea and coffee. We supply free
milk to Te Whakaruruhau – Waikato Women’s Refuge, the local RSA, and we
also support a range of local schools and sporting clubs, either financially or
with chocolate milk – the best recovery drink.”
Olly expanded his business by buying a neighbouring franchise area in 2021,
and now has a small team of delivery specialists, trucks, and administrative staff.
“The business has been everything I wanted for my family,” he says. “We
wanted a life with the benefits and advantages that a business entailed, and
that would give as a decent work/life balance over time. It has more than met
those hopes and expectations. If I were to offer advice to a new franchisee, I’d
say do your due diligence, and be prepared to get your head down and work
extremely hard for at least the first 12 months while focusing on giving a great
level of service to all your customers.
“You don’t need a degree to run this business, but you do need an element
of commercial acumen, and to keep
your eye on the strategic horizon.
We’ve been successful because we’ve
made continuous improvements – in
short, we challenge the status quo and
‘sharpen the axe’ every day and it’s
paid off. If you think you have what it
takes to be an Anchor Milk franchisee,
call our franchise recruitment
team today.”
Continuous improvements have been key
to Anchor franchisee’s success
ACT
Opportunity: Food & Beverage
SHARP
Olly Te Ua (left) celebrates his
Anchor Franchisee of the Year award
with David Breckenridge, Managing
Director - Fonterra Oceania
franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
19
Freedom to grow at your own pace
Cleantastic’s franchise model is built around flexibility. It allows new owners
to start small and expand when the time is right, creating a pathway that suits
their goals and circumstances. Some begin part-time, while others grow into
full-scale commercial teams employing multiple staff.
This flexibility has proven to be one of Cleantastic’s greatest strengths.
Franchisees can take on additional contracts and increase their business
at their own pace, supported by a team with nearly three decades of
experience. The model’s adaptability has kept the network resilient through
economic change, ensuring Cleantastic businesses continue to thrive in all
market conditions.
At its core, the Cleantastic system is about building sustainable businesses.
The commercial cleaning sector offers steady demand and repeat business,
giving franchisees confidence that their investment is secure and scalable.
Support that lasts a lifetime
Behind every Cleantastic franchise business is a dedicated support structure
designed to guide owners through every stage of their journey. From initial
training to ongoing business development, franchisees benefit from a system
refined through years of hands-on experience.
A defining feature of the Cleantastic model is the direct relationship
franchisees maintain with their clients. Each franchisee manages their own
communications and invoicing, providing autonomy and a true sense of
business ownership. This approach encourages accountability and builds
authentic, long-term partnerships.
The result is a network of franchisees who deliver exceptional service while
building meaningful, profitable businesses. Many, like Emmanuel, have found
that this sense of ownership transforms their work into a lasting career built
on pride, reliability, and trust.
Looking ahead – and looking back with pride
As Cleantastic continues to grow, its focus remains firmly on people and
performance. With demand for professional commercial cleaning increasing
nationwide, the brand is well positioned to expand its footprint and welcome
new franchisees into its proven system.
At the same time, Cleantastic stays true to the principles that have guided
it from the start – providing opportunity, delivering consistent support, and
celebrating the individuals who make its success possible.
A partnership that endures
As Cleantastic celebrates Emmanuel’s 20-year milestone, it also recognises
every franchisee who has built their own story within the network. Their
commitment, professionalism, and resilience continue to shape the brand’s
future and uphold its reputation as one of New Zealand’s most trusted
franchise systems.
Cleantastic’s philosophy remains simple:
when people are supported, businesses
thrive. For those looking to take control
of their future with a system that has
stood the test of time, Cleantastic offers
a pathway to build a business that truly
lasts. Join our award-winning franchise
group from just $23,200 + GST. Contact
us today!
In a world where many businesses come and go, longevity speaks volumes.
For Cleantastic, one of New Zealand’s most established and awarded
commercial cleaning franchises, long-term success is reflected in the loyalty
and dedication of the people behind the brand.
Among them is franchisee Emmanuel Masih, who recently celebrated 20
years with Cleantastic. His journey exemplifies what makes this franchise
system so enduring: opportunity, support, and the chance to build a
business for life.
Building stability and success
“Working for 20 years with Cleantastic is a milestone for me,” says Emmanuel.
“It has given me stability, and the opportunity to learn and grow personally
and professionally. It’s also helped me build relationships with my clients like
family. I’ve learned to be dedicated, reliable and skilful.”
Emmanuel joined Cleantastic in the early 2000s, seeking a pathway that
offered independence and security. What he found was a cleaning business
with structure designed to empower people.
“I chose Cleantastic because it provided me with training, support, and a
clear pathway to grow my business,” he says. “I’m proud to be part of this
journey and to contribute to Cleantastic’s success.”
A proven system putting people first
Cleantastic’s success story spans 30 years and close to 300 franchisees
across New Zealand. Since its foundation in 1995, the company has built
a reputation for strong systems, reliable support, and award-winning
performance – including recognition at the Westpac New Zealand Franchise
Awards, most recently winning the 2022 Business to Business Franchise
System of the Year.
The company’s growth has always been driven by a people-first philosophy.
Cleantastic’s system equips franchisees with everything they need to
succeed from comprehensive training and mentoring to proven operational
frameworks and business guidance. New franchisees are trained in all
aspects of running their business, from cleaning standards – known internally
as ‘The Cleantastic Way’ – through to client communication and invoicing.
Importantly, Cleantastic welcomes people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Many successful franchisees had no prior cleaning experience when
they started. What unites them is a shared commitment to reliability,
professionalism, and customer care, qualities that define the Cleantastic
brand and contribute to its longevity.
Longevity that defines the culture
While industry awards are valuable, Cleantastic measures its success by the
loyalty of its franchisees. Many have been part of the business for more than
a decade, operating sustainable enterprises that service major corporate and
commercial clients across the country.
Longevity reflects enduring relationships between Cleantastic and its
franchisees, and between franchisees and their clients. Long-term operators
become part of their clients’ daily environments, offering consistency,
reliability, and a standard of service that only experience can deliver.
For franchisees like Emmanuel Masih, those relationships are the cornerstone
of success. Over two decades, he has developed partnerships built on mutual
respect and trust showcasing the Cleantastic approach that values both
people and performance.
A BUSINESS
THAT LASTS
Opportunity: Business & Commercial
Cleantastic celebrates franchisees
building businesses for life
Cleantastic
www.cleantastic.co.nz
Contact
Tom Lowe
021 425 853
tom@cleantastic.co.nz
Advertiser Info
Tom Lowe (left)
congratulates Emmanuel
Masih on his 20 years as
a Cleantastic franchisee
Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
20
Let’s be honest, 10 years is a long time to stay in the same job, even if you have
a good employer and you love the work. But what about if you own your own
business? Sure, you might be your own boss, but there are a lot of additional
pressures that come with that. However, if you find the perfect business that
suits your abilities and your lifestyle, why would you ever change? And if your
perfect business is a franchise, what difference does that make?
One of the highlights of this year’s 30th Westpac New Zealand Franchise
Awards was a celebration of franchisees who have owned their businesses
for over 15 years. A selection of almost 70 franchisees took to the stage – and
some of them had been in business even before the Awards started in 1995.
They came from all sorts of different industries, too. Paul and Lee Brumby,
of window maintenance company Exceed, have owned their North Shore
franchise for 25 years. Auckland’s Stephen Howe has been a Green Acres
franchisee for 26 years. Six Harrisons Flooring franchisees have been with the
company for over 20 years, while five of New Zealand’s oldest-established
franchises – Rodney Wayne – have clocked up over 20 years each. Adele
Flett holds the record for Rodney Wayne with an incredible 35 years, making
her possibly the country’s longest-serving franchisee.
You can see a full list of all 68 of the nominees on our website at www.
franchise.co.nz/articles/4018 and read more about long-serving franchisees
from Cleantastic, Kitchen Studio, Paramount and V.I.P. Home Services in the
pages of this magazine.
With so many years’ experience, you might wonder why these people need
to be part of a franchise anymore? Why don’t they just strike out on their own
when their franchise term ends, instead of renewing time after time? The
answer is that owning a franchise offers many advantages over starting or
buying an independent business – and that those advantages often increase
the longer you stay with the franchise. That’s why, if you’re investing in a
business, you should think long-term. Over 10 years or so, there will inevitably
be ups and downs in the economy, in the market conditions, and in your
personal life, but a good franchise will help you make the most of the good
times – and support you through the tricky ones.
Let’s have a look at some of the reasons to buy a franchise in the first place –
and how the benefits you receive can increase over time.
Why start with a franchise?
There are lots of good reasons for buying a franchise rather than an
independent business. These include:
Reduced risk
Starting your own business is risky. You need a good idea, the skills to make it
happen, the cash to finance it, and a whole lot of help to get it right. You need
to tell your customers you exist and give them a reason to choose you rather
than your competitors. Buying a franchise means that someone else has
already worked all this out for you, so the risk is much reduced.
Training
When you buy a franchise, a good franchisor will ensure that you are fully
trained in every aspect of running your specific business – not only using
the equipment but managing people and cashflow, creating your customer
database, purchasing, promoting the business, and lots of other things.
Support
As you start to operate your own business, you’ll be given systems to help
you monitor your progress, feedback on how you are doing, and ideas for
doing even better. At its best, franchising is like having a dedicated mentor
and business coach rolled into one.
Buying power
Whatever business you go into, controlling your costs is as important as
maximising sales. Being part of a franchise can give you better deals on
everything from products and ingredients to equipment – as well as services
such as fuel or insurance. Combining your buying power with 50 or 100 other
franchisees can make a big difference to your bottom-line profit.
Promotion
Having a known name on your van or above your shop will bring in business
from day one. With a professional marketing team handling much of your
advertising for you, you can concentrate on serving your customers and
building your reputation locally.
All this means that your new business can get up and running faster and with
less risk than if you try to go it alone. These five benefits alone should justify
the fee you pay to be part of the franchise in the first place – and there are
plenty of other advantages that you’ll experience over time.
But why stay once you’ve learned the business?
As the examples at the start of this article show, many franchisees stay
in their businesses for a long time, and love what they do and what their
business gives them. But it’s not just about sticking with a winning formula
– here are some of the reasons why viewing a franchise as a long-term
investment pays off.
Increasing confidence
Starting a new business is hard work, whether it’s a franchise or not. In the
early days, you’ll find yourself working harder than you ever have in your life.
But it gets easier as you get used to the systems, are able to do everyday
tasks without thinking about them, train up your staff, and so on. Talk to any
lawnmowing or cleaning franchisee and they’ll tell you that the first couple of
months are incredibly hard work as they become ‘match fit’, but after that they
are able to tackle more work faster. The same applies to any business, even if
the challenge is mental rather than physical.
Better time management
As you work more efficiently, you’ll find you have more time to work on the
business rather than just in the business. In turn, that will give you more
flexibility in choosing when you work to fit in your family and the other things
you want to do.
Increasing returns
As sales build and efficiencies increase, your profitability will increase, too.
Yes, you can treat yourself now and then – and if you concentrate first on
reducing debt by paying down any business loan or reducing the mortgage,
you’ll have more money to spend on the things you love. By budgeting wisely,
you can build an asset that returns more profit and is worth more when you
do eventually sell it.
A BUSINESS
FOR LIFE
Buying & Running a Franchise
What makes a
franchise such
a good choice
as a long-term
investment?