Shaune Isgro couldn’t be happier. The Appliance Tagging Services (ATS) franchisee is just two months into running his new business and knows he made the right decision.
“I did my homework on the business, I made a few fake customer calls to test them out, and I just felt this is the right business to invest my money in,” Shaune says.
The ATS Hurstville franchisee felt confident in the business from the start.
“Everything they’ve promised, they’ve delivered, even more. The team is true to their word and I can’t fault anything at the moment,” he says.
Now he wishes he’d made the leap from office job to franchisee years ago.
Shaune’s shift from office job to franchisee was overdue!
In his career Shaune has been an admin officer, then he spent 14 years as a customer service officer.
“I was working for a German company selling tyre repair materials for tyre retailers, and mining sites where some machinery has $30,000 tyres. I worked at head office and I loved it, but I grew tired of the routine and seeing the same faces.”
He changed jobs but after four weeks in a call centre he had had enough.
Shaune knew it was time to do something for himself, and began considering all kinds of business opportunities, from coffee shops to test and tag.
ATS operates a good business model
“I did test and tag for my own company so I was comfortable with this. I saw one brand’s test and tag van and started to look into it as a business opportunity.”
When he discovered ATS he knew he’d found a premium business with a professional approach.
He says the business structure outweighed the competitors’ business models.
ATS provides a full support service, from sourcing clients for new franchisees to managing the admin and invoicing. Instead of charging royalties ATS takes a percentage from the jobs each franchisee fulfils.
“They take a percentage of my earnings, that’s how they make their money. But they are taking out the stresses of the admin work – and I knew from previous jobs how stressful that is!
“I don’t feel the pressure of royalties, and the percentage I pay, it’s worth every cent. You need to know what you’re doing to do admin well and that’s not my strength. Talking to people is what I’m good at,” Shaune says.
Starting from scratch servicing ATS leads
His natural ability to chat has led him to make friends in Hurstville, an area he’s visited frequently over the years is now servicing for test and tag.
“I started this business from scratch. I know a lot of real estate agents and other business owners, and I’m working on getting them on as clients!” he says.
At the moment Shaune’s work is generated by ATS, he is servicing their managed clients, and is booked out for two months.
“ATS is good at passing on leads, they seem to have all the right connections,” he says.
In addition to standard test and tagging Shaune offers fire extinguisher and emergency exit lighting testing services.
As a new franchisee Shaune undertook a series of inductions with major clients, enabling him to gain relevant certifications so he can attend all types of work sites.
Excellent support, systems and standards
“The ATS team is fantastic – they look after more than 50 franchisees. When you’re new you forget things you’ve learned in training, and the team is just a phone call away. It’s brilliant to have that support,” he says.
“It’s important to follow all the standards, however, learning the processes and the ATS systems was easy.”
Shaping a future with freedom and flexibility
A naturally early-riser, Shaune relishes the freedom and flexibility to shape his own work day.
“When I get up at 4am I can either go to the gym, or a job site. This is the beauty of this business. I start when I like, and I leave when the job is done,” he explains.
“I’m working at Liverpool Hospital this week, and I can miss the traffic, get there at 5am and the hospital is empty so I’m free to do my job. I leave at lunchtime, and I’ve made a good day’s living,” he says.
It’s a far cry from his routine 9-5 job, stuck at the same desk with the same colleagues.
“It’s heaven. When I get home I can go for a workout mid-afternoon. I wish I could have done this 30 years ago.
“My wife Teresa is a business partner in this, it was a family decision to invest our life savings, and she’s very happy.
“Financially we are doing way better than I expected, I’m quite surprised. I could be happy with this level of income, but that’s not what we’re in business for.
“Down the track I would love to employ my son, he’s doing his psychology masters now, or my nephews, and keep this business in the family.
“I’d like to give someone else an opportunity. I feel great – of course it helps that I’ve got plenty of work, and that’s due to ATS – and I see myself doing this until I retire.”