According to the Commerce Department, only 62% of independent businesses make it through their first year, versus the 96% success rate of franchised businesses. Surprisingly, a recent poll found that after 5 years, only 23% of independent businesses are still operating, compared with an astounding 84% of franchise businesses. There are many such examples of surveys conducted in countries around the world that have similar statistics, and on average it seems that over three quarters of franchisees succeed in their first three years compared to less than a third of independent businesses. While opinions on the actual figures in survey findings about what the definitions of ‘success’ and ‘failure’ should be, it’s certainly true that franchisees enjoy a much higher rate of survival and a much better chance of growing their business into true income earners, than going it alone in an independent small business.

Who are we?
The owners of The ProGroup are an Auckland based Kiwi couple with children and grandchildren. They purchased The ProGroup in 2017 from the founders with a goal of helping their franchisees to improve their skills in operating a successful business. 

“Our franchisees, are ordinary Kiwis who have decided that a flexible lifestyle balancing work and family is a most important aspect of their life. They come from all walks of life; multi-cultural, with career backgrounds ranging from teaching, sales, engineering, trades, accounting, air traffic control, IT, to other franchise businesses. Many have come from high stress corporate careers and simply wanted a switch to a simpler lifestyle with time for the family and the ability to work close to home in their local community. For others it’s more simple in taking the opportunity to build a business for themselves rather than working for someone else for the same weekly wage.”