When Robyn Cheal decided to buy a franchise, being in charge of her own destiny was a big part of the attraction.
“I wanted the opportunity of working with clients on the coalface after being in management roles at ANZ and Westpac for a long time,” says Robyn, who is the Penrith franchisee in the Rams network.
“I also wanted to try being self-employed as I knew that the harder I worked, the more successful I could be; this is very hard in a corporate role working behind the scenes. It’s a bit of a clich_, but I wanted to take control of my own destiny.”
Robyn signed up to the Rams franchise with her husband eight years ago, and for the last two years has been running the business solo after he moved on to start up another unrelated franchise. “I am the sole franchisee and director; in saying that my husband is my greatest mentor and a great inspiration.”
What made the couple choose the Rams brand? It was all thanks to an advertisement for RAMS franchisees. “We both knew that RAMS had a great name as a non-bank lender and at the time it was a family owned business which appealed. So, we made a phone call and the rest is history,” she says.
The buck stops here
Business ownership has thrown up one surprise after another with many day to day challenges that didn’t even occur to Robyn when she worked in the corporate world. “For example; cash flow, knowing exactly what income and outgo is required on a daily basis as well as mid and long term. How real goal setting is when you have a team of people working for you and the buck stops with you!
Robyn and her Penrith franchise team
“I am everything from the janitor, counsellor, bookkeeper, problem solver to loan writer – you name it. My day is incredibly diverse and no two days are the same.”
The level of support provided by the franchisor in the early days proved very important for the business. Now it is established, supporting other franchisees has become a role for Robyn herself.
“These days, we are very self-reliant and in fact we help the younger franchisees with systems and procedures. We have a quality approach to our potential clients and existing clients that we developed very early on. It has proven very successful over the years. We even won the AMA “New office on the block” industry award in 2006 and attribute that early success to our dedication to consistently applying procedures that ensure a great customer experience with each and every contact.”
Like many franchisees Robyn plays an active role in the community, building the Rams brand awareness along the way. “We are very active in the community as all of the team are locals and we truly believe in social responsibility, getting involved in local charities and sporting teams, etc. RAMS is committed to supporting us with any local area marketing and also advertises nationally to support us here in Penrith.”
Still going strong
Eight years down the track, and Robyn hasn’t taken a step back. Goal setting continues to be an important part of the business. And she’s keen that her role helps make a difference in people’s lives.
“We continually raise the bar as a team, as we have very specific procedures and systems to help our clients achieve their goals in a no-fuss way. We try to take the stress out of borrowing money.”
There’s no doubt for Robyn that investing in a franchise has proved a successful move. “Being self-employed and having a franchise has changed my life for the better. I love what I do, and, what we do as a team. Having other franchisees to talk to and discuss issues with only makes the journey more enjoyable.”