Evan Foster, Global Director, United Franchise Group (UFG), joined us for a brief chat at the Sydney Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo, August 2022.

A multi-brand franchisor owner and manager, we covered some of the key aspects of the entire United Franchise Group (UFG) business including the type of people that are best suited, any common misconceptions about the brand or industry, as well as what he loves about what he does and more..

What is your business?

So we are United Franchise Group, where we call ourselves the global leader for entrepreneurs. Underneath that umbrella we have nine different franchise opportunities. 

Our first was Signarama, which we started back in 1986, but we've now evolved out of just the business to business concept, into a few other divisions, including co-working, where we have two brands within that division, Venture X and Office Evolution. 

We also have a food division now with the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill and our newest brand, The Graze Craze. 

So we've got things for people who have interests in different areas and also for people with different investment levels as well. 

Where are you located?

So we have brands all around the world and a number of those brands are already represented in Australia. 

We have a Sydney headquarters with Signarama and Fully Promoted. 

We have extensive coverage right across the country and some of the other brands we're looking at massive franchise opportunities in Australia right now. 

What do you love about the business and what you do?

Yeah, I'm lucky in my role I work in an international role, so I get to work with our Master Franchisees in countries all around the world. 

But the best thing about the company is we never stay still very entrepreneurial, focused, privately held company. So we get to make decisions really quickly and there's always brands coming and brands going from within our portfolio. 

So, you know, we don't know what the future looks like, but we know it's going to be dynamic and positive. 

What do you look for in the right-fit person to be a franchise owner, can you describe them?

Yeah, I mean, the traits we're really looking for are people that have a growth mentality. 

Regardless of whether you're buying a single Signarama store in Wollongong or whether you're investing in a Venture X Master Franchise for the whole of New South Wales, we need someone that has a growth mindset and wants to grow the business because, that's one of our core values is is being all about growth. 

So you need to have that to again stay ahead of the competition and to grow your own business. 

What’s a common misconception you believe people have about your brand or niche?

Probably a misconception that we spread ourselves too thin, but we do have divisions that that work within the company and they're kind of all siloed off.

But at the same time we have the benefit of the UFG ecosystem, which is what we call the collaboration amongst all of the brands where a Signarama will buy all of the uniforms from Fully Promoted, and Fully Promoted as we use Transworld when they're looking to sell their business and they'll also take their people to eat at The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. 

So that's really been a big hallmark of our system, is to design that ecosystem where our brands will do a lot of work with one another. 

What would your advice or guidance be to people looking to get into their own business?

Yeah, I think again, you just got to work hard. You know, that first four months is going to be very difficult. 

Follow the system. You know, that's always a big thing. There's a reason why franchisees always have been successful and putting a system in place. 

If you think you can do it better on your own, then you essentially make yourself a franchisee of one when you lose the benefit and harnessing the strength and the power of collaboration within that franchise system. 

So follow the system and work really hard. 

What is your key focus for the next 12-18 months?

You know it's going to be incredible. 

You know, we're super excited with a couple of acquisitions we've made in the last couple of years.

And really being able to refocus with a couple of brands that we've sold at the same time. So it's always dynamic, it's always changing, but, you know, we’re in a super healthy spot right now. 

And we're really looking forward to to growing not just through our US and Australian markets but internationally as well.”