Episode Details

Today's guest is Matt Hope, former master franchisee of GJ Gardner in NSW, ACT, and WA, and now co-founder of Wattle Court, a residential building franchise built for the second, third, and fourth home buyer market.

Matt spent 20 years working inside franchise building businesses. He grew his GJ Gardner group to 34 franchisees doing $800 million and became the largest in the national network. He's now applying everything he learned to build a different kind of franchise — one that's selective, values-driven, and built for the long term.

In this conversation, Matt and Az cover:

Why knowing your market matters more than knowing your product
How to read a balance sheet, not just a P&L, and why the difference nearly kills builders
The work in progress problem most builders and their accountants ignore
Why Wattle Court says no to franchisees more than it says yes
Margin protection during cost escalation — what worked during COVID and what builders need to do right now
Why Matt hosted a mental health and mindset retreat in Bali instead of a sales conference
Business should be enjoyed, not endured — what that actually means

If you're a builder carrying too much, knowing too little about your numbers, or wondering whether franchising is the right structure for your growth...this one is worth your full attention.

Check out Wattle Court at wattlecourt.com.au

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