When Michael Drinkwater and Zimron Aslam bought an Aussie home loans business, they had no idea quite how successful they would be in just eight months.

Michael and Zimron had each worked for more than five years at Aussie, first as brokers, then in management roles.

So they knew the brand, they understand the processes and systems, and were confident in their abilities to shift to an ownership role.

What surprised them was just how quickly they built up their business from an empty pipeline to a business writing mortgages worth about $15 million – a month.

Zimron says “We’ve had an unbelievable eight months; it’s a reflection of our mindset, our eagerness to get things done.

“We were very determined. Whenever we had a task, we knocked it out as quick as we could. Our application from first negotiation to moving in, was done in four months.”

From corporates to franchisees

They purchased the Aussie Carina store in Queensland in July 2025, buying from long-term franchisees who were transitioning into retirement.  

Michael says a customer focus has been crucial for the business.

“It’s been important from the beginning to deliver a strong customer experience, it’s the best way to grow your business. We encourage our clients to leave reviews, and we use the feedback to improve what we do.”

He points to the advantages of maintaining an excellent reputation in the local community, and continuing to run the business with enthusiasm.

Zimron says going back to basics has been fundamental to the business.

“We spent three years teaching brokers how to do their job so I think we do the basics really well at a high level. It’s about picking up the phone, calling clients, following up with an email, reviewing documents swiftly. We keep it really simple. It’s not pioneering, we just know the process works and we stick to that,” he says.

At the heart of the business is an appreciation for what the customer actually wants, Michael points out. 

“With needs-based selling, when you look at what our customers want, they don’t want a loan, they want the property. The loan is what they need to transition to what they want.”

Aussie understands that the loan is just part of the property-buying journey. It has leaned into the opportunity and broadened its service offering beyond traditional mortgage broking into a full service property hub. 

Leveraging the Aussie value proposition

And Zimron and Michael have fully leveraged the value proposition.

“We can help clients with their property purchase as an all-in-one service, helping them with a buyer’s agent, conveyancing, help them find a loan, and see them through what can be a tricky transaction,” Michael says.

They use the Aussie mobile app to acquire referrals and new customers, and are strong advocates for the complementary services the business offers.

Zimron believes the pair’s open mindset and willingness to embrace fresh ideas has given them an edge in their business.

“If something can help our customers, why would we not use it? Michael and I are always open to learning, to trying new products and features,” he says.

Despite their differences, they each have a positive, enthusiastic perspective, he adds, which enables them to manage the daily running of the business.

“We’ve got a great relationship where we agree on nothing but respect each other, and that’s key to our success. We disagree but our values and goals are the same: work hard, earn money and scale our business,” he explains.

Success built on action

Focusing on what works for the business, and appreciating each other’s strengths, has been crucial to their success so far.

As Michael says, “There’s no right or wrong way; we lean on each other when we can. Our offices are side by side, we love to have a laugh, and we are creating a culture where you enjoy coming into work.”

The ambitious pair have bold plans to scale their business and add team members as they grow; for now it’s the two of them proving the success of transitioning from a corporate role to be first-time franchisees. 

As Michael says, the shift into business ownership with Aussie was an obvious move. 

“The proposition from Aussie is second to none; it’s the number one brokerage on The Adviser Awards, it has 34 years of branding. So to be in the forefront of the market with the best technology and value proposition was a no brainer for us.”

Buying an Aussie franchise has been a game-changer, Zimron says. 

“Financially it’s changed my life. The vision and the numbers we are producing today, while being able to be your own boss, the worklife balance, it’s very privileged.

“I enjoyed the corporate life, but the opportunity it’s given me is amazing. I have nothing but praise for the opportunity,” Zimron adds.