Ever feel like you’re running on a treadmill? Working harder and harder, but not really getting anywhere? You’re not alone. That frustrating cycle of effort without reward is exactly what drove Alan and Andrew to make one of the best decisions of their careers – joining FIX ‘N’ CHIPS as mobile chip repair franchisees.
The Breaking Point We All Know Too Well
Alan put it perfectly: “I was working really hard. I kind of made enough money to support myself, but I wasn’t sure where I was going next.” Sound familiar? After four years of doing skilled, physical work that was wearing down his body – Alan hit that wall we’ve all faced. The realisation that working harder wasn’t the answer; working smarter was.
Andrew’s story hits even closer to home for many tradies. With over 30 years as a carpenter, his body was sending him clear signals: “I was getting nerve pain in my arms from lifting things over the years. I kept pinching this nerve in my shoulder and my neck… I was really starting to wonder how long I could actually do it.”
The harsh reality? Your body has an expiry date, but your bills don’t.
The “Aha” Moment: When Opportunity Meets Preparation
Sometimes the best opportunities come disguised as casual conversations. For Alan, it was a client mentioning their chipped stone benchtop while he was working. “I realised that I was pretty much doing the same thing,” he reflects. That mental note bounced around in his head until the right opportunity presented itself.
Andrew’s moment came when FIX ‘N’ CHIPS founder Chris simply asked if he knew anyone interested in the Geelong territory. “I’ll never forget what he said to me. He said you’re buying an income because it was already established. I didn’t have to go hunting down any leads. It was already all there.”
What struck both men wasn’t just the business opportunity – it was the shift from being the person who creates problems to being the person who solves them.
The Reality Check: Better Reward for Less Physical Effort
Here’s where it gets interesting. Andrew discovered something that surprised him: “It was just paying so much better than what I was doing in cabinet making. Especially when you put the amount of effort versus reward. It was just so much more profitable.”
Think about that for a moment. Less physical strain, better pay, and you’re the hero walking into someone’s day to fix their problem rather than potentially causing one.
Alan set himself a simple goal when he took on an established territory: earn $1,000 a day. “After about four weeks we hit our goal. Then we really hit our straps two to four months in.” That’s not pie-in-the-sky dreaming – that’s a real person achieving real results.
Beyond the Money: The Freedom Factor
But here’s what really sold these guys – and what might just change your mind about what work can look like. Andrew talks about taking two months overseas in the previous year and a half. “I’ll work hard but then make sure I take the breaks to enjoy time in the surf or going up the mountain skiing.”
For Alan, it’s about family impact: “All four children need new laptops. Normally I’d just start weeping. But I haven’t had to worry too much… Which is something I’ve never been able to do before.”
That’s not just about money – that’s about dignity, choice, and peace of mind.
The Support Network That Changes Everything
One concern many people have about running their own business is the isolation. Alan addressed this head-on when researching FIX ‘N’ CHIPS: “One thing that came out from pretty much everyone I spoke was that it’s a tight group, and it’s a bit of a family. Everyone tries to help each other out and support each other.”
As Andrew puts it: “If it was just me, I wouldn’t know a lot of the things that I know now. You’ve got the experience of everybody else to call up on… You really do feel as if you’re not in it by yourself.”
Making the Leap
If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds too good to be true,” you’re being smart. Both Alan and Andrew did their due diligence. Alan even had a friend stress-test the business plan at the pub – “He really upset me at one point… but he was right to do what he did.”
The difference between dreaming and doing often comes down to one thing: taking that first step to find out if it’s real.
As Alan says: “I’m actually really happy I made the decision, and I think that’s really quite important. You can get down the track, and be like ‘is it worth it?’, and for me it’s totally worth it.”
Ready to stop working hard and start working smart? The stories of Alan and Andrew prove it’s not just possible – it’s happening right now.
