What makes real estate brokerage so successful is that it’s a scalable business and it’s always in demand. That means you can grow it as big as you want, depending on how much work you’re willing to put in. And because it’s a service-based industry, you generally don’t need a lot of start-up capital to get started.

So if you’re looking for an exciting and rewarding franchise business, then real estate brokerage is definitely worth considering. With hard work and dedication, you can make this venture into a huge success!

And one such real estate brokerage firm is Big Block Realty. Big Block Realty was founded in 2012 by Sam Khorramian (CEO) and Oliver Graf (President), who shared the same passion for entrepreneurship and loved the idea of starting a business together. The co-founders met while pursuing business degrees in college, and they both shared an interest in entrepreneurship and quickly became friends. Soon, the dynamic duo founded their first company—a clothing store—while they were both still in school. Since then, they have worked on projects ranging from online couch selling to event planning to print companies to online casino gaming websites—you name it, and Oliver and Sam have probably tried to start a business around it.

After a few years, the co-founders discovered their true calling and entered the real estate market, where they developed a novel model that offered agents 100% commission plans and the highest level of service. That venture was a big success, and they began to receive inquiries to franchise their concept. And that’s how Oliver and Sam started franchising Big Block Realty.

A Forward-Thinking Company 

Big Block founders Sam and Oliver were sick of the traditional real estate brokerage model. They both felt like it was outdated and didn’t reflect the needs of real estate agents, and way people buy and sell homes today. So, they decided to start their own brokerage- one that was based on forward thinking principles.

The new brokerage would focus on giving agents, buyers and sellers a great experience, rather than just making money off of them. They believed that this would be the key to success in the long run.

They made the decision to launch a real estate agency, but not your typical brokerage; they sought to design something unique. Together, they established a brokerage that was 100% focused on service, maximum value, and customer experience (for their agents and clients). This business concept and method of dealing with an increasingly outdated real estate market were unique. And the co-founders were fortunate that it developed tremendously quickly, placing their company in the top 50 of the Inc. 500 three years in a row.

Following the initial business’s success, Oliver and Sam began receiving requests to open franchise stores from all over the nation. They kept hearing this, so they made the decision to use franchising to expand Big Block Realty. And their goal is to get to 100 franchise locations in the next 24 months.

Prime Focus On Agent-First Philosophy And Culture

Every business has its own set of challenges. For Oliver, choosing the right partners was a challenging task. He made the decision to partner with franchisees who shared their values and aspired to create a similar culture. As a result, he had to decline a lot of prospects because they didn’t feel they would be a good fit.

Not to mention, the most important thing for the co-founders is to introduce their culture to other markets. They genuinely believe in an agent-first philosophy, and finding people with the same energy and passion for creating an incredible culture is absolutely crucial.

A Special Playbook For Franchisees

Since launching Big Block Realty, Oliver and Sam have wanted to create a playbook for their franchisees. They wanted to ensure that franchisees had all of the tools they needed to succeed and that they were adhering to their philosophy of how and why the duo does things the way they do.  The co-founders devoted a lot of time and worked hard to create this playbook, which was well worth it. Their franchisees are currently among the most successful in the industry. These franchisees adhere to their concept, carry out their culture, and have a thorough understanding of their processes. As a result, they have been able to create successful businesses that are in line with the company’s values.

Big Block Realty Enviable Achievements 

Under the guidance and exemplary leadership of Oliver and Sam, Big Block Realty has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades.

• Named to the Inc 5000 7 years in a row
• Named top 50 in the Inc 500 3 times
• Named #53 top Independent Real Estate Brokerage in the U.S. on the Real Trends 500. The list outlines the Top 500 Real Estate Companies in the United States.
• Named #126 on the Entrepreneur 360 list. The list outlines the best entrepreneural companies in the United States.
• Named #96 in the Real Trends Billionaires Club. The list outlines the 301firms that closed at least one billion dollars worth of residential real estate.
• Nominated Inman’s Most Innovative Real Estate Brokerage in the US

The Current Industry Scenario Of The Real Estate Industry 

After being in the real estate business for several years, Oliver and Sam noticed that the real estate market is softening with interest rates rising. However, they believe now is a perfect time to increase market share. They are committed to providing their franchisees, agents, and clients with the most satisfactory service possible, and they believe this is the ideal chance to demonstrate their abilities to them. As the competition fades, Oliver and Sam believe that with their proven approach and commitment to excellence, they can continue to thrive regardless of market conditions. Their model enables their realtors to operate more profitably, which is why this sector is still expanding.

A Piece of Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs

Being a seasoned entrepreneur, Oliver advises the budding entrepreneurs. They say, “There’s no market that’s too tough for a determined business owner. If you’re willing to put in the hard work, you can make your business thrive in any environment. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! There are countless examples of businesses that have made it big in markets that were once thought to be impossible. Just think about all of the big names in tech: Apple, Google, and Microsoft all started out in highly competitive markets. With the right team, the right attitude, and they right business model you will thrive!!”

Since accountants and bookkeepers were working nonstop to support their clients during a difficult time, many industry discussions centred on boosting productivity and saving time—basically anything that could lessen the weight practitioners were carrying. Offering remote solutions has become the norm; thus, more and more businesses are outsourcing their bookkeeping and accounting tasks.

This is where BooXkeeping Franchise comes into the picture. BooXkeeping Corporation was co-founded by Max Emma (CEO and Chief Bookkeeping Officer) in 2011 with a single goal to provide an affordable way for growing businesses to simplify the process of keeping accurate, up-to-date financial records so they can make better business decisions.

Since its inception, the company has been putting a lot of effort into ensuring that its customers can access and understand every detail of their financial records with no additional work or time required. Now, more than ten years later, it continues to be dedicated to its fundamental purpose and principles while serving thousands of customers across the nation as a leader in its industry.

Meet the Multitalented Leader  

Max is a successful serial entrepreneur leveraging his business acumen to expand the company and its franchise network. He always wanted to be an entrepreneur while growing up in the Soviet Union. However, that wasn’t allowed during the communist regime. And when the country collapsed in 1991, many opportunities opened up.

Max recalls, “However, I was still in school and couldn’t do much. A few years later, my parents decided to immigrate to the US (I still cannot thank them enough for this decision). I had to work to support myself through school and then was getting experience in the accounting field, so I had to put my “entrepreneur journey” on hold for about nine years.”

After that, the multitalented leader realized that working for a company wasn’t for him, so he surprised everyone by giving my boss a 2-week notice. Max says, “July 3rd, 2002, almost 20 years ago to a day, was the last day I ever worked for someone, so Independence Day, on July 4th, will always have a double meaning for me.”

Since then, the successful entrepreneur has owned a variety of businesses, including ones in maintenance, consulting, construction, and now services. “At different times, I had as low as one employee to as many as 96. The past 20 years of being an entrepreneur, all the failures and successes, made me learn more than in all my college years (however, graduating with Honors from a College of Business at San Diego State was instrumental in getting my first after-college corporate job),” states Max.

Fulfilling The Demand

In the past ten years, a significant portion of BooXkeeping’s growth has come from offering its services remotely or through “virtual bookkeeping.” During that time, Max and his team discovered that as the number of small businesses grew to play a significant role in our society, so did the size of our industry and the demand for dependable bookkeepers. However, the industry has splintered, with an unbalanced mix of service providers, from expensive accountants to dubious freelancers or family members who aren’t accountable for accuracy.

At BooXkeeping Franchise, our mission is to supply bookkeeping professionals with a productive business environment for outsourced bookkeeping tasks by providing extensive training, policies, procedures, as well as marketing, technology, and brand support.

The decision to franchise the concept resulted from a demand among small businesses for a reasonable, local bookkeeper and a “reputable brand/household name” they can rely on. In order to address this demand and provide hardworking people with a better option to secure their future, Max developed the BooXkeeping Franchise Opportunity.

Qualities of A Franchisee Partner

According to Max, certain qualities must be fulfilled by franchise partners. “We are looking for PARTNERS in all aspects of this world, as we want to grow the BooXkeeping Brand and make it even better together with them,” says Max. Furthermore, he firmly believes that BooXkeeping Franchise is a fantastic opportunity for stay-at-home parents, underemployed people, spouses of active-duty military, veterans, and first responders, as well as existing bookkeeping and CPA firms.

Maintaining Quality By Leveraging Services and Software

As every business knows, quality is an essential factor for customer satisfaction that ultimately results in customer loyalty. To maintain the quality of its services, Max and his team will always be available to BooXkeeping franchisees. The initial training will be done 50% in person, and after graduating from BooXkeeping University, the ongoing training will be offered.

Additionally, the BooXkeeping team will provide weekly Zoom meetings with the sales trainer, with the operations team, and with fellow franchisees. In order to preserve the consistent quality of services given by BooXkeeping, its proprietary software, BooXDesk, which is provided to franchisees at no cost, will be a crucial component.

The fact that a franchise can be fully-staffed with professional accountants who are trained and housed by BooXkeeping corporate office, will assist BooXkeeping franchisees in scaling their businesses fast.

Facing Challenges Head-On

Challenges and Success are an integral part of an entrepreneurial journey, and every aspiring entrepreneur has to go through them to become a successful individual. Max states, “You don’t know what you don’t know!”

Max had very little knowledge of franchising a business and the work (and resources) that go into it, despite the fact that BooXkeeping has been a preferred accounting solution for many prominent and rising franchise systems.

Being a novice in the franchising space, the multitalented leader had to investigate extensively, read books, and ask questions in order to learn. He believed he needed to know more to be successful in franchising, even though he had learned a lot over the previous four years. Max proudly asserts, “Thus, this year, I’ve completed all the requirements, took multiple classes, attended University of Louisville Franchise Bootcamp, and passed the exam to become a Certified Franchise Executive.”

Expanding the Footprint  

Under the leadership of Max, BooXkeeping is ready to expand its footprint in the near future continually. He has observed a considerable increase in the demand for bookkeeping outsourcing from small- and medium-sized enterprises as more and more organizations outsource their overhead tasks, such as accounting and IT. Therefore, in 2022, 5 additional franchises are planned to open, and in 2023, 10 new markets will be added.

Words of Wisdom by BooXkeeping CEO

Being a seasoned entrepreneur, the leader advises the budding entrepreneurs. He states, “When thinking about work-life balance always remember to place life in front of work. Also, though it’s very hard, try to work on the business and not in the business to see it going to the next level and beyond.”

The Cornerstone of BooXkeeping’s Success and Fame

The below-mentioned points are very important, and contribute to the success and fame of BooXkeeping:

Here, at BooXkeeping, we are redefining the bookkeeping industry.

We believe in being cool.

We believe in acceptance and support.

We believe in constant growth.

We believe in personal and professional lives fully integrating into The Life.

Our BooXkeepers are cool!

Our franchisees are cooler!

Our clients are the coolest!

Are you ready to be cool?

#coolbeancounters

Furthermore, in order to give customers and employees peace of mind, companies must commit long-term to their cleaning programs, which requires investing in well-trained cleaning staff and efficient cleaning products and solutions.

This is where Australian company Jaymak comes into the picture. The B2B commercial cleaning business — led by Mark Mackenzie (CEO) — has been providing hygiene and energy-saving solutions for the hospitality, healthcare, and food industries since 1998. The company’s mission is to develop and implement the highest quality preventative maintenance programs and ensure clients’ needs are met to the highest standards.

One-of-its-kind Hygiene Business

Presently, Jaymak is the only hygiene business in Australia with an internationally recognized certification ISO 9001 Quality Management System and ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System. The company distributes its customized products and services through a franchise model with trained, territory-based franchisees servicing its steadily expanding client base.

I believe that you’re not just buying a Jaymak franchisee within your defined territory, you’re actually buying into the Jaymak family, and each and every franchisee needs to be willing to support each other and work as a team. This mentality is becoming increasingly more important as we sign up more and more National corporate customers.

Mark proudly asserts, “Infection control, HVAC&R cleaning, and food safety management are specialized fields, and in the current COVID environment, the hygiene and cleaning industry is experiencing exponential growth. All of our work complies with ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 9001:2015, covering a risk management system based on the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) for the provision of specialized cleaning services to the hospitality, healthcare, and food sectors”.

Furthermore, the industrious leader and his team have developed their own Business Management Software, which involves a Service App, customized online quoting, scheduling, and reporting system, as well as an online training and resource system for their franchisees and master franchise licensees. This guarantees continuing adherence to and coherence with service delivery requirements.

The Beginning Of Mark’s Entrepreneurial Journey 

When an aspiring entrepreneur takes the plunge into starting their own business, whether going solo or becoming a franchisee, there are often a million and one things to think about or set up. And income may become one of them. The same thing happened to Mark.

After earning his university degree, heading off on a 2-year backpacking hiatus, and then returning to Australia, his entrepreneurial journey officially began. While traveling, Mark realized that he didn’t want a “9-to-5” job and wanted the liberty to make his own decisions. However, he had to make some money first.

Following this, the industrious leader began working as a chemical salesperson in the hospitality sector and rapidly formed strong relationships with several of his key Sydney customers. “During one of my monthly sales calls, a customer said to me, “Mark, if you could find a way to stop mould from growing inside cold rooms…. you’d make a fortune!” recalls Mark.

The seed was sown, and his journey in R&D began. During this period of change, his wife provided income, and Mark used his father to bounce business plans off. As a result, Jaymak was founded following several years of product research, experimentation, and business model creation.

Fast forward 24 years, Jaymak is now counted amongst Australia’s largest commercial HVAC&R hygiene companies. Under his leadership, the company has carved a niche in the market and gained trust from its various clients. Today as an experienced entrepreneur, Mark says, “The quote I love and sums up my entrepreneurial spirit is the quote by the American Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.””

Overcoming Challenges

Starting a new business from scratch as an entrepreneur is challenging for everyone. Jaymak CEO Mark also faced similar challenges when starting out. However, the biggest challenge was separating himself from the core day-to-day operations of the business.

During the first ten years, the versatile leader spent far too much time working in the business rather than on it. Over time, he discovered how to assign tasks to staff members with various skill sets to grow the brand. “It’s essential to have the right management team around you. I believe we’re in the most exciting phase of the business to date with an excellent head office team who are all extremely driven, knowledgeable, and have great vision,” says Mark.

When Mark first started franchising, he was very naive and believed every franchisee who invested in his brand would share his passion for entrepreneurship and success. But now, things have changed. Their selection criteria have evolved over time in an effort to locate the right personalities that fit the Jaymak business.

“I believe that you’re not just buying a Jaymak franchisee within your defined territory, you’re actually buying into the Jaymak family, and each and every franchisee needs to be willing to support each other and work as a team. This mentality is becoming increasingly more important as we sign up more and more National corporate customers,” states Mark.

Qualities of A Franchise Partner

As the CEO of the leading B2B commercial cleaning business, Mark states, “To try and ensure all our business partners and franchisees are successful, we like to offer licenses and franchises to people that share our values and beliefs.” These include:

• A passion for life and people
• Willingness to try new things
• Entrepreneurship
• Positive and Optimistic
• A team player
• Treating adversity as a challenge
• Service and quality orientated
• Sincerity in their approach
• Willingness to comply with systems and procedures
• Being passionate about Food Safety and Customer Service

Here, the key is to ensure that every business partner and franchisee has an opportunity to work with Jaymak.

CEO’s Outlook On Current Industry Scenario

According to Mark, Jaymak offers various services to the healthcare, hospitality, food manufacturing, and distribution industries. He, along with his team, was fortunate that their work in the healthcare and food distribution sectors continued—even intensified—during the pandemic while the majority of the hotel industry was put on lockdown.

Like everyone, they experienced some mobility restrictions with access to sites and movement across state borders. However, they could still serve a sizeable section of their client base since they were recognized as a provider of “essential services.”

Since most businesses have resumed full operations during the previous six to nine months, there has been a significant increase in demand for professional hygiene services. Mark asserts, “We are currently seeing unparalleled growth. The biggest issue we are faced with now is the recruitment of enough franchisees and employing enough staff to manage the steadily growing workload!”

Sustaining and Maintaining Quality Services

To ensure quality services are delivered to their clients, Mark and his team have been working hard over the past two decades. However, a considerable amount of work was completed in 2006, when they initially received ISO22000 accreditation. The ISO framework has been the key compliance structure to maintaining operational consistency with their products and services throughout the franchise network.

Additionally, Mark made a large investment in the continued development of their business management software, which has been essential in systemizing their franchisees’ adherence to their operational procedures.

Future Plans

Jaymak is a far superior service provider to any of its rivals in the hygiene and infection control industry due to its ISO accreditation and cleaning procedures. “The 24 years of experience and expertise in the hygiene industry provides Jaymak with the ideal platform in this post-pandemic period to grow our brand throughout Australia and the world. We have commenced discussions already with potential franchisees in New Zealand and have also engaged franchise consultants to assist us in offering Master Franchises in the UAE, Singapore, and Malaysia,” says Mark.

Over the next 12 months, Mark anticipates continued double-digit growth in Australia, while in New Zealand, he anticipates 1-2 new franchisees and at least 2 Master Franchise licenses in other countries. In the current market, Jaymak’s franchisees have the potential to grow extremely quickly.

As an illustration, a new franchisee took over an existing Jaymak business and grew it by 400 percent in just a year. In the last 18 months, another franchisee took on various territories within the Sydney market and has doubled the size of that business. Mark believes that the franchisee’s commitment and determination are essential for this kind of growth.

A Piece Of Advice From CEO

Being an experienced entrepreneur, Mark advised budding entrepreneurs, “Running a business is not easy, and success is seldom built overnight. It is often a rollercoaster ride with some amazing highs but also some lows. As the business owner and entrepreneur, the best part about it for me was that I controlled the ride. It’s important to enjoy the journey and celebrate the wins along the way. Surround yourself with good people who share your dreams and keep you balanced throughout the journey.”

Franchisee Testimonials

Testimonials build a strong credibility for any business. And here are some positive testimonials given to Jaymak by its valuable Franchisees.

“Working as part of the Jaymak network has brought me the independence to grow my business with assistance from the team at head office, great operational advice, usage of the trusted Jaymak brand and access to their tailored service system. This makes my life easier so I can focus on growing my business across the state. The progress of the business across all sectors has been spectacular including hospitality, health care, industrial and food processing. In only a few short years, I have been able to grow my business tenfold. In an environment where hygiene is top of mind, this is the business to be in!”

Tony – Jaymak Franchisee, Geelong

“I have owned my own Jaymak franchise for a few years now and the assistance I have received from our parent company has been extremely helpful in developing my business goals and drive business growth. When help is required, I just have to ask and there is a whole Jaymak network of franchisees to assist along with head office. I find it particularly rewarding when we receive good testimonials and referrals from our happy customers which helps drive business growth as well.”

Washington – Jaymak Franchisee, Sydney