Sam Bitar is a passionate and driven multi-territory franchise owner with quite a simple mission – to be the best.

Sam joined ANZ Mobile Lending 11 years ago after working at NAB in their home lending business.

“I loved what I was doing, but always had an insatiable dream to create something for myself,” he says.

He found that perfect opportunity with ANZ Mobile Lending, the only franchising opportunity offered by a major bank in Australia under its main brand. It allowed him to finally utilise his innate entrepreneurial mindset to build a successful business in the industry he had a passion for – home lending.

Start small, with great opportunities to scale

ANZ Mobile Lending franchisees can operate from home, without any of the associated fixed costs of commercial premises, so they have the ability to develop their business over time to a size that suits them. Sam commence his journey with that exact setup, working from home, however he soon realised that to fulfil his ambitions to scale he would need to build a team.

Today, Sam has opened an office in both of his territories, and through investing in and developing a highly engaged team that contributes to an enviable culture, he has developed a successful business, fulfilling his dream.

ANZ Mobile Lending as a stepping stone to success

Sam joined ANZ Mobile Lending as the franchisee for the Dandenong area, but this was a stepping stone towards his long-term goal. After four years building a viable business, he sold this territory and bought the Chadstone franchise, which took him closer to Melbourne’s inner suburbs and his ideal customer base.

“I’ve always resonated with and connected easily with high-net-worth individuals, that’s been my original target market,” he says.

“I purchased the Chadstone franchise in 2016. It was a new location in a premium business centre, a state-of-the-art office.”

Sam’s hard work and commitment to success took this business to the top; it was number one in the brand’s national sales rankings in 2020 and has continued with a series of accolades along the way.

His infectious positivity and relentless determination to succeed have proved powerful tools even in the face of negative economic conditions.

Positive mindset, entrepreneurial spirit

“Regardless of what’s going on, I’ve never let market factors affect my long term strategy. Even during the pandemic, it was business as usual,” he says.

This thirst for success combined with a healthy dose of courage saw Sam tackle further expansion in 2021 when he decided to take on another franchise and made a successful bid for the Brighton franchise.

He began operating this new business in early 2022 and at that time was diligently assembling plans to open a lending suite in Brighton. It was then that Sam discovered his dream business had come on the market.

“The brand’s flagship franchise – Melbourne CBD became available late last year and though we weren’t quite ready, I couldn’t ignore the fact that Melbourne CBD was always the ultimate aspiration for my team. The best things can come along when you least expect them!” he says.

Not one to let timing stand in the way of his long-term ambition, Sam acquired the Melbourne CBD franchise and relinquished the Chadstone business in January 2023.

Today, Sam leads a sizeable team that prides itself on providing world class service in both the Melbourne CBD and Brighton areas. Sam has seven lenders and four administrative staff working across both territories.

“This complements my vision of a high-performing and engaged team, I love to develop people,” he says.

Investing in team values and culture

Sam’s demonstrable coaching abilities have proved invaluable in developing his staff, with his entire team on their own journey towards becoming high achievers in the home loans industry.

“We are a deeply connected group that’s strong on team values, everyone is responsible for the development of others. This is very much a team-learning culture,” he points out. “It’s team first, team together.”

Sam’s franchise continuously attracts ambitious employees that are searching for longevity and stability in a business, backed by experienced leadership, and a clear vision, he says.

Sam now devotes almost all of his time to nurturing and developing his employees.

“My role at one point was squarely on business development, it fell to me to bring in the business, now my staff are the real revenue drivers. My job is to navigate the ship, find talent, develop, motivate, and lead.

“This fulfils all my business aspirations to create a long-lasting legacy.”

Sam says the company mission – to be the best – is what keeps he and his team connected and engaged. “We want to grow, year on year, there is no ceiling,” he says. “We want to keep finding and securing the best talent to help us grow together. Growth in our customers, growth in our people, and growth in our contribution to ANZ Mobile Lending.”

Sam Bitar is the Principal of ANZ Mobile Lending, Melbourne CBD & Brighton.

Pictured: Kath Bray – Managing Director, Retail Distribution (left), Sam Bitar – ANZ Mobile Lending Franchise Owner, Melbourne CBD and Brighton (right)