Reality Bites? Franchising Podcast

In this episode of Reality Bites, host Kat Hargraves sits down with Paul McNally, owner of ⁠⁠ Seal-A-Fridge ⁠⁠ in Tasmania, for a refreshingly honest and entertaining look at what it really takes to run a solo mobile franchise business.   After 20 years in the Victorian Government working in emergency management and education, Paul made the leap to franchise ownership in late 2018 and has never lo...

Sonny Nguyen, multi-site Sushi Sushi franchise owner in Canberra, shares his journey from studying IT to building a growing food franchise business across multiple locations.    From his early days working in-store to eventually taking ownership, Sonny talks about the realities of stepping into franchise business ownership and the lessons learned along the way.   Sushi Sushi is a well-known quick-...

Mark Crapper is the owner and franchisor of Lounge Repair Guys , bringing more than 30 years of experience in franchising and business broking into the role.   In this episode, Mark shares how he came to acquire the business, why the model stood out in a service-based industry, and what changed when he stepped from advising franchise systems to running one himself.   He breaks down the practical r...

Christina Le Lievre is a Franchise Recruitment Expert at Bedshed , playing a key role in connecting the right people to the brand across Australia. Her journey into franchising began while she was still at university, where her early exposure to the industry, combined with a background in sales and customer service, naturally led her into franchise recruitment through a personal connection at Beds...

Melissa Fowler is a long-time franchise partner at Stellarossa Café in Queensland and a mother of four who balances family life with business ownership.   Starting her day at 4:30 a.m., Melissa oversees every aspect of her café’s operations, from opening the store and managing staff to handling rostering, orders, and community events. Over 14 years, she’s learned to master the art of multitasking,...

Craig has been a Seal-A-Fridge franchisee for nearly two decades, carving out a career that combines independence, flexibility, and customer care.   With a background as a butcher and small business owner, Craig was looking for a change from long retail hours when he discovered Seal-A-Fridge. The fit was immediate, offering the chance to work on the road, manage his own time, and build strong clie...

Shannon and Jed are Regional Franchise Owners of Urban Clean on the Gold Coast, bringing their strong operational and people-focused backgrounds into a new industry. With careers in hospitality and operations behind them, they made the leap into business ownership after weighing up property investment versus franchising and found the right fit in Urban Clean.   In the very first podcast appearance...