When timing matters: how preparation and partnership enabled a fast-moving franchise acquisition

When Amanda and Travis Austen decided to acquire a Snooze franchise store in Port Macquarie, they knew they were working against the clock on a rare opportunity to step into an established regional business.

With support from their broker, Peter Nest, Managing Director of Affinity Finance Broking, and NAB business banker Mat Durda, they were able to act quickly while ensuring the right structure and funding were put in place.

For the couple, the decision was backed by years of familiarity with the brand. Through a separate logistics business, Travis had worked closely with Snooze franchisees, building a strong understanding of sales trends and store performance.

“We weren’t coming in completely cold,” Travis says. “We’d seen how the stores operated over time and had a good sense of what worked. It gave us confidence that the opportunity stacked up”

The opportunity itself had been on their radar before. Having previously explored buying into the franchise, they were conscious that chances to acquire established regional stores are rare.

“Franchise businesses like this don’t come up often, especially in regional areas,” Amanda says. “So when the opportunity came back around, we knew we had to move quickly, without compromising on getting the structure right.”

With lease agreements, franchise approvals and settlement timelines, the process required careful coordination.

Speed comes from preparation

That urgency made having the right support critical. Amanda and Travis were introduced to Peter through a trusted accountant, and from the outset, his experience in business acquisitions stood out.

“Peter worked through the numbers and business plan with us and gave us confidence the opportunity stacked up,” Travis says. “That reassurance was huge.”

“With any acquisition, timing only works if the fundamentals are right from the outset,” Peter says. “That includes working through the numbers, aligning expectations and making sure the client is in a position to move.”

Peter worked closely with the couple to refine their business plan, develop cash flow projections and guide them through the financing process.

“Even though we didn’t feel prepared, Peter clearly was,” Amanda says. “He understood the process better than we did and kept everything moving, especially when timeframes started to tighten.”

Peter engaged NAB early in the process to confirm the opportunity aligned with credit requirements, ensuring a clear pathway forward before progressing the application.

“Pete and I connected early to make sure the deal fit and to outline what was needed to move forward,” Mat says. “Once that was clear, it was about keeping the process efficient and making sure we had the right information to support the application.”

Because the projections and supporting information were clearly structured, the credit process was straightforward.

“The biggest thing from our perspective is having everything upfront,” Mat says. “In this case, we had a well-prepared application with strong supporting information, which meant we could move through credit efficiently.”

While the overall process took around six months due to franchise approvals and lease requirements, the strength of the upfront preparation meant delays were driven by external factors rather than financing complexity.

A ‘well‑oiled machine’ from start to finish

For Amanda and Travis, the way the broker and banker worked together was just as important as the funding itself.

“There was never a time when one of them didn’t know what the other was doing,” Travis says. “They were completely across each other. There was no back and forth or confusion, everything just worked.”

That coordination proved its value when a last‑minute issue arose on settlement day.

“We realised we’d missed something from our previous bank on a form and rang Mat in a panic,” Amanda recalls. “He reassured us straight away and worked quickly to resolve it and within an hour it was sorted.”

Beyond settlement, the ongoing relationship stands out. NAB supported the business with account and merchant facility set-up ahead of opening, and maintained a strong local presence.

“The branch knows us by name,” Amanda says. “It doesn’t feel transactional, it feels like genuine support. And knowing we can pick up the phone at any time makes a real difference.”

“Having a local banker involved is a big part of that,” Peter adds. “Clients value having someone who understands their business and is accessible when they need support.”

Now settled into life as franchise owners, the business is performing well, with sales increasing as the couple builds confidence in a new retail environment.

“We’re learning every day, but we’re really enjoying it,” Travis says. “Having the right people around us from the beginning meant we could move quickly without second-guessing the decision and that’s made all the difference.”