D32 Business Network is all about connecting people in a setting that enables business-building. 

Founder Lorraine Garvis reveals she had a clear purpose in establishing the unique networking business model.

“I am so passionate that people should have the freedom to live how they want, and business is a vehicle for this. Time, financial freedom – these are real reasons for someone to buy and build a business,” Lorraine says.

“That was my ‘why’. I wanted to be able to do school pick-up and work when I wanted. That resonates with all business owners. All have a personal why, and a mission, a value proposition.

“D32 brings all that together in community. Our members want to serve, and enjoy the lifestyle that business can give them.

“This model resonates with people because there isn’t anything else like it,” she says. “People can join referral groups, gain a Masters at university, but there isn’t another opportunity to combine learning with referrals and business-building.”

Knowledge-sharing helps build business

The majority of small business owners are doing it on their own, running a trades or skills-based business. Well armed with technical know-how and competency, these small business owners may nonetheless lack experience in some elements of business essential to growth – hiring staff, for instance.

D32 provides a knowledge-sharing platform, hosting expert webinars and weekly training webinars, mastermind forums and group mentoring.

But the real power of the connections come from likeminded people with different skillsets being together in one room, Lorraine says.

“Attending a D32 group meeting is like accessing your own business growth team. You might be in the room with a digital marketer, a lawyer, an IT specialist, an HR expert. There is always an educational component to what we do; every touch point is learn, connect, grow,” she adds.

The D32 Business Network group can help fill knowledge gaps while connecting like-minded business people. The focus is teaching how to build a business; referrals are a subset. 

Lorraine is reluctant to describe the D32 group as a business club because it has social connotations – “we’re not there for a social event, we’re there for outcomes,” she says – the group does however maximise the opportunities to connect and build relationships.

The three-tiered model is based on group circles, and members all meet each other when the circle groups connect at bigger events.

Members join to build relationships and boost business

“It’s worthwhile and enjoyable to be in a community that offers more opportunity because of this interconnected model,“ she says.

Accountability is important. All members have to contribute on a ‘1-2-3’ system to help build success: giving one referral, bringing two guests to a session, participating in three one-on-one meetings. The message is about giving to receive.

“Our members need to be ready to take action and do business. Power comes from the community, the people grow with each other,” Lorraine says.

New members enjoy a free month in their 12-month membership and after trying out what D32 has to offer, those for whom it is not a good fit choose not to renew.

In any territory, more than half are likely to stay the course after the trial period. About 20 per cent of the overall group has maintained membership for between four and eight years, Lorraine points out. 

“We do get a turnover of people, but the people who stay all have the same mindset and that makes for a rich community.”

D32 enables time and financial freedom

It is the D32 franchisee’s role to build relationships, to bring in new members, and ensure the right people are in the room. 

“Our franchise partners are ambitious, keen to gain more financial freedom and time in their lives. They are also passionate about learning, and people, and growth,” Lorraine says.

Running a D32 Business Network is an amazing opportunity not just to create a desirable lifestyle but enable other business people to embrace personal or business development.

And Lorraine sees unlimited potential, which she plans to harness to achieve her bold ambition.

“We want to have the biggest growth network in the world,” she says.

Lorraine is already fielding enquiries from all across Australia from business people looking for something different.

“The desire for freedom and independence is paramount; on top of that it’s the desire to work with people and to build better businesses.”

“The D32 Network Business model is proven,” Lorraine says. “And apart from sales, it runs itself.”