Rachel Macedo lives in Shellharbour with her husband and three children, and owns two local franchises within two very different brands.

Pizza Hut Shellharbour (since 2010) and Vision Personal Training (since 2016).

Rachel also owned Pizza Hut in Dapto for 8 years (from 2012), selling it during the first year of COVID-19 when her time was torn between the two Pizza Hut stores.

How a business baby was born

Rachel is both financially and emotionally invested in her business and team. 

She says of her Pizza Hut Shellharbour business, “I’ve had it for nearly 12 years. My husband and I literally call it our baby. The process of buying it and getting ‘in’ was 9 months. Like a baby!”

Rachel has worked with the Pizza Hut brand since she was 18 years old.

“I grew very quickly when I first started with Pizza Hut. I became a sponge and just loved learning. Pizza Hut became a franchise and the store I was working in was bought as a franchise store. I decided to try KFC for a few days and it wasn’t for me. I was around 28 at this point, and went back to Pizza Hut working for a franchisee.”

This was a learning point for Rachel, watching the first franchisees handle their stores. She saw them grow very quickly and she took note.

Rachel recalls the moment she made the decision to start her own business. “I was pregnant and went back to work for the franchisees. We were absolutely broke. We had $12.10 in the bank account. Interest rates were high. I had a brain snap and said, ‘enough!’. My mum helped us by lending us her house. That $12.10 will always stay in my brain as the moment I had to make change.”

The ‘business baby’ was born in 2010 when Rachel and her husband bought Pizza Hut Shellharbour.

A lifestyle and career evolution leading to further success

Some years later, Rachel had become a member of Vision PT when she was embarking on a personal health and fitness journey with them, which led her to lose 30kg and gain a fitness franchise at the same time!

Rachel remembered the journey into buying the franchise.

“I was on a spiritual wellness journey. 

I was loving my training and became close friends with the owner (at the time) of Vision PT Shellharbour. He was a mentor and coach who pushed me with my own business (Pizza Hut).

Something happens when you start training and eating better. You discover all this time and things that you can do so much better. So working on myself improved my performance in my Pizza Hut business.”

Rachel decided to train to become a personal trainer and at 40, she was hired to work in the local Vision PT. Not long after she went into a partnership with the current owner.

All in the family at Pizza Hut Shellharbour

Rachel was at a stage in life where she was motivated to be her best self.

Her husband Carlos and her three children, Carlos Jr (21), Charlize (15) and Caitlyn (14) all work in her Pizza Hut store.

Rachel says, “I’ve got a wonderful, solid, core team around me. My husband works in the store 3 to 4 days a week. I’ve got very loyal staff. One manager has been working with me for 9 years. My son has been working for me for 5 years now and my two daughters have been working with me for 12 months.”

Rachel’s children seem to share her dedication and work ethic.

“At one point through COVID my daughters were working 30 hours a week and still worked really well together and had fun. We all did.”

Mentoring the next generation is the new motivation for Rachel

Rachel’s husband Carlos has always been one of her main influencers.

“My husband was always hungry to grow. Coming from South America he had to transition, learn English and start again.”

Owning her own franchise, Rachel knew the influence she could have on her staff.

“I love that I can help kids get their first job. I can teach them life skills and help them progress to the next level, no matter if that’s within my business or elsewhere. That is rewarding. My work ethic and motto for them or anyone else wanting to start a business is just to go for it. Get it done and go with your gut.”

Rachel has certainly led by example, judging by her success with business and her healthy, happy family and team.