CorePlus Preston
For anyone who has walked down a city street on their way to the office and felt their heart sink at the thought of being stuck behind a desk for eternity, the professional success of couple Arthur and Louise is proof that life can be very different.
Leaving the safety of corporate
The owners of CorePlus Preston had successful careers in the corporate world before making the switch to owning and running their own business. Louise was a HR director and Arthur was in a sales and marketing role that required a lot of local and international travel. Both were searching for something more: more time with family; more personal satisfaction from their work; and more opportunities to make a difference.
Arthur knew he wanted to start his own business; Louise was considering turning a decade-long passion for Pilates into a side hustle as a certified instructor. And then a chance catch-up between old business friends set them on their path to business ownership.
CorePlus is a successful franchise established by Melburnian Amy King. Arthur worked with Amy’s husband and happened to mention Louise’s passion for Pilates. It seemed as though the stars had aligned: Amy was on the hunt for someone to open the first CorePlus studio on the northside. For Louise and Arthur, it was as though their future business had suddenly “dropped into their laps”.
A franchise solution
A franchise is by no means an easy route into business ownership; and a new fitness studio on the northside faces stiff competition. Around Northcote and Preston, you’ll run into a Pilates, yoga or fitness studio on just about every corner. Louise and Arthur’s hard-graft and dedication to their local community have been key to the overwhelming success of CorePlus Preston since it opened in May 2018.
From finding the space and working with head office’s architect and builder to bring it to life, to hiring the right staff and establishing an open and accepting culture, the pair have worked hard to achieve fully-booked classes with people of all ages, from all walks of life.
When they started their journey to business ownership, there were doubters – including a long-standing accountant who was sceptical of franchises and told them it was a crazy idea. Others offered misguided advice – such as setting up as sole traders and not registering for GST. They stumbled through on their own and tried out three or four accountants as they searched for someone who could help them maximise the growth of their business and learn new ways to make it even better.
Discovering Propeller
Sitting down with Katie from Propeller was a revelation. She listened while they listed everything they thought they’d done wrong. Instead of judging them, she set out a clear roadmap with a strategy to correct mistakes of the past and set them on an upward trajectory for growth.
As their business has continued to grow, Arthur and Louise have realised it’s crucial to have accountants you who are supportive, encourage opportunities, and are modern in their thinking and the way they do business. In the past, they dreaded going to the accountant. Today, they’re excited about the future, and happy to have Propeller on their side to guide them through.