“The Aussie brand is over 30 years old. We started as a challenger brand, and we still see ourselves that way,” says Matthew Whyte, the general manager for distribution growth at Aussie Home Loans.

“It works well because our franchisees are small business owners who are committed to their community.  This ensures customers have an instant connection with the people working there.”

The Aussie Home Loans story started in 1992 when founder John Symond kickstarted a business that has helped more than one million customers buy a home.

Aussie – the first disruptor, now a booming franchise success

His simple but gamechanging idea challenged the dominance of the big banks in the mortgage arena. And the catchphrase “We’ll save you”, summed up the business approach. It offered Aussie home buyers competitive interest rates and free appointments with mortgage brokers.

Just three years later the disruptive Aussie Home Loans brand had a national footprint and more than 500 brokers. In 2005 it began the journey to scale the business through franchising. 

Since then, the firm has been dedicated to building out the brand, systems and support that are vital to a successful franchise, says Matthew. 

Along the way it has sustained its appetite for constant innovation and progress. 

This is a brand that has shifted from being family-owned to a family-style business, through Commonwealth Bank ownership to a merger with online challenger, Lendi in 2021.

The merger has allowed Aussie to leverage trailblazing technology and harness efficiencies that streamline the home loan process. 

“Lendi has developed a superior platform which enables franchisee success,” says Matthew. “It was one of the drawcards for the merger.”

New business model to optimise profit potential

The platform is a unique interface which allows a broker and customer to work together online, to capture and upload information. It has simplified the whole process of searching for options and progressing to a loan application.

Giving Aussies a fair go has always been at the heart of the business, and the emphasis on change as a catalyst for better business remains.

Aussie Home Loans is introducing an exciting new business structure. It will allow franchisees to focus purely on sales and customers to optimise their earnings potential in the $920 billion broker market.

The brand is now an ecosystem that captures brokers internally, and externally. They can elect to scale up, or down, depending on their life goals.

“The brand objective is to enable a franchisee to be CEO of their own business, and have  multiple brokers working for them,” says Matthew.

He points out the Aussie structure with in-store brokers creates a flexible work environment for the franchisee. A business owner can meet clients when and where it suits, and take time out when needed.

Aussie franchise delivers profits and success

And the store, while remaining a relatively low-cost fitout when compared to traditional retail franchise systems, will take on a whole new look later this year. The Aussie Store of the Future is going to revolutionise the retail mortgage broking experience, promises Matthew.

What started as a challenger brand continues to innovate. And it has fulfilled its mission to deliver more opportunity to Australian homeowners. In 2022 Aussie settled $26.6 billion in home loans and held a portfolio of more than $70 billion. 

Today the business boasts more than 1080 brokers across Australia. It has more than 225 stores in its portfolio, making it the largest retail broking firm in the country. As the number one broking brand, Aussie now serves at least 170,000 customers every year.

“Our strategy is not to grow just for the sake of it, so we are doubling down on building sustainable stores. We are strategic when locating new stores and are rigorous about the franchisees who will lead these businesses,” says Matthew.

Aussie success starts with training

While all franchisees need Certificate IV Mortgage Broking, they can gain this qualification in an eight-week course, with the support of the franchisor.

Every Aussie franchisee starts with a structured training program. New business owners spend time with other franchisees and receive guidance from a dedicated retail business consultant. The consultant will work closely with them for the first six to 12 months and remain an ongoing resource.

This low investment and high gross profit model is an appealing business that works for franchisees, and customers.

“An Aussie Home Loans franchise has a fantastic value proposition, both for customers and prospective franchisees. It has all the right ingredients for a person in sales, or someone who is self-employed. This is a people business, so if you are working in retail or sales, or have a knack for networking, we can mould you into a high-performing franchisee,” says Matthew.