I’m so proud of creating something from nothing

Stratton Finance Southwest founder Jessica Desmond talks about her franchise and why Stratton was the right solution for her.

Tell us a bit about yourself, who you are and your background before Stratton.

My name is Jessica Desmond from Stratton Southwest Sydney.  In the past, I had worked for finance companies and in dealerships as a finance and insurance business manager. I started working for Stratton in 2012 as a consultant and moved into the Training Manager of NSW before opening my franchise in 2014.

How long have you been running your Stratton Franchise?

Almost 4 years

What initially made you think about starting a franchise?

I had worked for Stratton for two years prior to starting my franchise. Because I was in the management team I saw how the company was run and I wanted to be part of it. I saw it growing at a fast pace and exceeding every target that was set for the company.

What initially appealed about a Stratton franchise?

Stratton had always been a company I wanted to be apart of. Being in the industry for years prior I had come up against Stratton on many occasions and I was always impressed with the staff attitudes and great deals they got for their clients.

What factors led to a commitment?

I discussed a franchise with one of the directors and quickly realised this was something that would fit into my life well. The flexibility and support were the main contributors to my decision. It was important for me to have the support especially because I have access to the compliance team who implement all the required information which frees me up to focus on what I enjoy the most, finance and my customers.

How has Stratton supported your franchise journey so far?

The directors of Stratton are always accessible. Any time I have needed to discuss something with them, they have been happy to assist. There is a great franchise management team that do everything in their power to ensure my franchise succeeds.

What do you love about having a Stratton franchise?

Always great deals for the clients, the flexibility for my family is great and the systems/IT support/compliance is all taken care of which frees me up to speak with clients and generate referral sources.  

What’s been the biggest achievement to date?

My biggest achievement in my work life is creating this amazing business from nothing.

You’ve run your own franchise for almost 4 years now, what’s different between when you first started and now?

The industry has changed quite significantly in the past few years and will continue to do so in the future. Stratton have always been on the forefront for being ingenious in the market.

What do you wish you could have told first year Jess?

Be consistent, follow your goals and you will see results. Push hard now for what you want to succeed in the future.

If you think a Stratton franchise could be the right move for you, fill in our enquiry form and one of our team will be in touch within the next business day to chat about open opportunities.