Dream Doors Kitchens franchisee Justin Phillpot is just where he wants to be – directing and leading a robust business with a team of loyal, hardworking employees. Nine years into his 10-year-term and Justin is already looking ahead at the next 10-year agreement, planning to leverage his success and take early retirement.

From 15 years in the Navy to later roles in project management and infrastructure, what all his roles share is a commitment to structure and order. They have also tapped into his capacity to follow rules – and to remain brand loyal.

Loyalty is something Justin values – from the franchise, and from his employees. And he credits part of his success to his employee retention rate.

Starting with the basics

Justin bought into the Dream Doors Kitchen business in 2016, drawn to the service as a consumer – he needed doors for his own kitchen renovation. He loved the concept.

At the time the New Zealand brand was just entering the Australian market, and he admits the first few years were challenging as a brand new business owner.

He had been the sole employee in the business, quoting, ordering and installing. He then began contracting out the installation work but knew he wasn’t maximising business opportunities.

It was a crisis meeting with his accountant and the franchisor that led to a business restructure. 

“In 2021 I realised I needed to change what I was doing. I took advice on focusing on margins and markup, borrowed more money and started again,” Justin explains.

He changed the model and put on staff, growing the team as the demand increased.

“It became more profitable to employ my own installer. I started with a trade assistant and then a project coordinator so I could focus on selling. 

“Now I have four installers, two trades assistants, a project coordinator, an admin manager and part time salesperson.”

Not only has the business grown with team members, it has shifted location and upgraded from a rental shed to a warehouse, double showroom, office and workshop.

The transition wasn’t easy. “I had too many leads coming in and I had to let a little of me go, to delegate,” he says.

Setting up to scale the business

The help of a business coach to structure the business to scale was invaluable.

“The key to my success is having advisers for everything, from insurance to accounting, from HR to marketing. You need people who can give you honest advice,” Justin says. “Leaning on expert advice is 100 per cent the way forward,” he adds.

“I ring head office a lot, I’m married to the brand,” he says. “We’ve got a great team now at Dream Doors, and we have 45 territories across Australia, the whole business has grown.”

Justin has been keen to give back to the franchise, so is on the steering committee, and is a regular mentor to fellow franchisees, sharing advice gained from his own experience.

And with a well-scaled business and a reliable team of employees, Justin is able to step back and focus his energies on business building. 

Business building leads to wealth creation

“I’m heading into a CEO role, where I can mentor, support and reward my team,” he says. “Over the next few years the business is building personal wealth. I got off to a slow start, but loyalty from the team has allowed me to move forward.”

The benefit is a more efficient business generating more 5 star reviews and reducing the stress on staff. 

“That’s a great result for our clients: we have happy, professional staff, all the job sites are clean, everything is finished before our clients get home. Seeing the professional photos afterwards, to see the job finished, that’s reward for me,” he says.

His goal is to turn the business into one that operates entirely without him.

“I’ll still mentor and sell, but I want it to be a saleable asset,” he says.

Justin is enjoying the trappings of a successful Dream Doors Kitchens business – giving back. He invests in a charity truck run, sponsors a football league, and is active in the local RSL club.

The hard work and determination has paid off. “Now I see real money in the bank, and that’s very satisfying,” he says.