There is a big difference between being good at what you do and knowing how to run a business doing it.
Melissa is a Registered Nurse working in the aesthetic industry with a strong passion for her work. She had worked across several locations for both Wesfarmers and independently owned clinics, building relationships with clients who valued her care and expertise.
At some point, the ambition became clear: Melissa wanted her own clinic.
The question was how to make that happen.
When Melissa and I started exploring the possibilities, we looked at a number of locations and business opportunities. Some made sense on paper; others didn't quite stack up. We worked through the options and eventually came across Clear Skincare Balgowlah.
It was an interesting proposition. There were challenges to consider, of course, but it was an established business, and Wesfarmers was keen to retain Melissa within its network.
There was also something else worth considering: Melissa had already built trust with clients in nearby suburbs. In an industry like aesthetics, where relationships matter enormously, that existing trust was valuable. We believed many of her clients would want to continue seeing her, even if that meant visiting a new location.
That was an important part of the opportunity.
Buying or taking over a business isn't simply about looking at what's there today. It's also about understanding what you can build on tomorrow.
Melissa engaged me to help work through the proposed franchise arrangement. We spent considerable time examining the options, discussing the commercial implications and working out what would be required to give the business the best chance of success.
We worked closely with Wesfarmers on the deal book, looking carefully at what Melissa would be committing to. I supported her through the negotiations, and ultimately, she became a franchisee.
There was plenty to organise beyond the deal itself.
I drew on my professional network to connect Melissa with the appropriate tax and legal advice, and we established the business structures she needed. werk:out then put a small accounting and payroll team in place to support the compliance and administration side of the business.
The idea was straightforward: Melissa should spend her time doing what she does best, caring for her clients as an aesthetics nurse, rather than getting buried in the administration of running a business.
Being good at your profession doesn't automatically make you good at running a business. And you don't have to do everything yourself to be a successful business owner.
One of the more enjoyable aspects of this engagement has been the amount we've learned from each other. I've coached Melissa through the business and administrative side, while she's given me a much better understanding of the aesthetics industry.
It's been a two-way education, and that's one of the things I enjoy most about working with business owners.
We're now 18 months into the journey and looking at new opportunities together. We're hoping for a little "rinse and repeat" – although, as anyone who has bought or established a business knows, there's always more to it than that!
At werk:out, we enjoy being part of that process. Not just dealing with the numbers, but helping business owners think through the decisions, putting the right foundation in place and giving their ambitions a practical chance of becoming reality.
At werk:out, we enjoy being part of that process. Not just dealing with the numbers, but helping business owners think through the decisions, put the right foundation in place and give their ambitions a practical chance of becoming reality.
Whether you have been burnt by a big outsourcing firm before, or you are exploring offshoring for the first time, werk:out is built for exactly where you are right now. Head to werkout.com.au to learn more, or fill in our client intake form at werkout.com.au/contact and we will be in touch.
Your growth. Your decisions. Your business. We just make sure the engine is always running.
