Frequently asked questions

Starting a residential renovations/remodeling business independently can be difficult, time consuming, and expensive. Most independent operators spend years building systems, processes, supplier relationships, marketing capability, and brand credibility.

Refresh Renovations provides franchise owners with an established business model, structured operating systems, marketing support, training, and a globally developed technology platform designed specifically for residential renovations/remodeling businesses.

Rather than building everything from scratch, franchise owners can focus on growing their business using proven systems and processes.

The Refresh model is designed for business owners who want to build scalable renovation/remodeling companies focused on project management, customer experience, and structured delivery rather than simply operating as individual tradespeople.

You also benefit from:

• An established and recognised brand
• Structured systems and operational processes
• Marketing support and lead generation systems
• Ongoing training and business support
• Access to supplier and trade relationships
• A collaborative franchise network
• A dedicated technology platform designed for this business model

The residential renovations/remodeling sector remains highly fragmented, with many operators still relying on manual systems and inconsistent processes. Refresh was built to provide a more structured and scalable approach.

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Refresh Renovations is an international residential renovations/remodeling franchise business focused on delivering professionally managed design and build projects.

The business was developed to improve the renovation experience for homeowners by combining structured project management, design coordination, technology systems, and customer communication into one integrated process.

Rather than operating as a traditional building company, Refresh franchise owners focus on managing the customer journey, coordinating teams, and delivering projects through structured systems and processes.

Refresh supports a wide range of residential renovations/remodeling projects, including:

• Kitchen renovations
• Bathroom renovations
• Home extensions
• Whole home renovations
• Outdoor living projects
• Interior upgrades
• Architectural renovations/remodeling

The business operates using a structured end to end process supported by Refresh Control, a cloud based business management platform developed specifically for residential renovations/remodeling businesses.

Refresh currently operates internationally across multiple markets and continues to invest heavily in systems, technology, training, and operational support.

No. Refresh Renovations is specifically designed for business owners and project leaders rather than tradespeople.

The business model focuses on:

• Lead generation
• Customer management
• Project coordination
• Team leadership
• Business growth
• Structured process management

You are not expected to personally undertake building work.

Instead, franchise owners build and manage teams of:

• Project managers
• Licensed builders
• Designers
• Estimators
• Trade contractors
• Administrative support staff

Many successful franchise owners come from:

• Business management
• Sales
• Corporate leadership
• Project management
• Property related industries
• Customer service industries

What is most important is your ability to:

• Lead people
• Follow systems
• Deliver a strong customer experience
• Build relationships
• Grow a business

Where state licensing requirements apply, franchise owners may work with licensed builders or nominated supervisors as required.

Our competitors are generally small builders, trade based operators, and independent renovation/remodeling companies that typically rely on manual systems and less structured project management processes.

Many operators within the sector focus primarily on construction delivery rather than providing a professionally managed design and build customer experience.

There are also franchise systems operating within the broader home services sector, however many specialise in only one area such as kitchens, bathrooms, or wardrobes.

Refresh Renovations is positioned differently.

We focus on delivering professionally managed residential renovations/remodeling projects across a wide range of project types and sizes. Our systems are designed to support a premium customer experience through structured planning, communication, project management, and technology.

In many cases, local trades and suppliers prefer working with Refresh franchise owners because they provide:

• A pipeline of ongoing work
• Structured project coordination
• Professional communication
• Well managed customer expectations
• Consistent workflows and systems

This makes Refresh franchise owners valuable business partners to local trade networks.

Refresh franchise owners use a cloud based business management platform called Refresh Control to manage leads, customers, projects, and business performance.

The platform provides visibility across the full project pipeline, helping franchise owners manage:

• Lead generation
• Sales activity
• Project planning
• Costing and pricing
• Project delivery
• Customer communication
• Financial reporting
• Pipeline forecasting

This structured approach helps franchise owners improve operational visibility and business performance.

Our project scoping, costing, and pricing modules are unique within the residential renovations/remodeling sector and are designed to support clear scopes, managed margins, and structured project delivery.

The project pipeline is also a powerful tool for building relationships with local trade partners because they can clearly see the ongoing workflow opportunities available through your business.

Trades are generally looking for consistent workflow rather than isolated one off projects, and the Refresh model is designed to support that type of long term working relationship.

Under the Franchise Agreement, there are generally two territory structure options available.

Refresh may grant:

A protected territory covering a defined number of households
Or
A shared operating territory where multiple franchise owners collaborate within a larger metropolitan market

Most Refresh territories internationally operate using the shared territory model because collaboration between franchise owners has generally produced stronger results.

Shared territories allow franchise owners to benefit from:

• Increased brand visibility
• Shared marketing activity
• Collaboration and support
• Operational efficiencies
• Stronger supplier and trade relationships

Territories are typically structured using postcode based market analysis and population data.

Territory structures may vary depending on:

• Population density
• Market opportunity
• Metropolitan layout
• Regional growth patterns

There may also be opportunities to acquire multiple territories over time.

Different parts of the residential renovations/remodeling market are driven by different customer motivations.

Refresh primarily focuses on homeowners seeking professionally managed renovation/remodeling solutions rather than low cost or purely price driven work.

Common drivers include:

• Lifestyle improvements
• Growing families
• Ageing homes
• Changing household needs
• Property upgrades
• Working from home requirements
• Outdoor living improvements
• Increasing property functionality and value

The business focuses heavily on homeowners looking for a high quality design and build experience with strong communication and project management.

Refresh also uses market segmentation and demographic analysis tools to help identify homeowner demand trends and support targeted local marketing campaigns.

Our marketing and digital content strategies are continually refined based on:

• Customer enquiry trends
• Search behaviour
• Project demand patterns
• Market feedback

This helps ensure franchise owners are positioned to target the types of projects and customer groups most aligned with the Refresh model.

Historically, the residential renovations/remodeling sector has generally proven more resilient than new home construction during economic downturns.

Homeowners often continue investing in improving existing homes because:

• Moving house may become more expensive or less desirable
• Replacement housing costs increase
• Lifestyle needs continue changing
• Banks are often more comfortable lending against existing residential property assets

Australia’s ageing housing stock, rising replacement costs, and strong lifestyle driven renovation demand continue to support long term activity within the sector.

The Refresh model is also designed to support a wide range of project sizes and types, helping franchise owners remain flexible across changing market conditions.

Because franchise owners operate across broad residential renovations/remodeling categories rather than relying on a single niche, they are generally better positioned to adapt to market changes.

Yes. New home construction can contribute to future renovation/remodeling activity over time.

As housing stock ages, homeowners often invest in:

• Kitchen upgrades
• Bathroom renovations
• Extensions
• Outdoor living improvements
• Interior modernisation

In many cases, homeowners begin undertaking significant renovation/remodeling projects within several years of purchasing or building a property.

The market opportunity calculations used for Refresh territories focus primarily on:

• Owner occupied households
• Existing residential housing stock
• Estimated renovation/remodeling activity
• Local market demand

This means the renovation/remodeling market is not solely dependent on new home construction activity.

There are some seasonal trends within the residential renovations/remodeling sector, however projects and customer enquiries occur throughout the year.

The types of projects may vary by season.

For example:

Outdoor living and deck projects may increase during spring and summer
Insulation, heating, and interior projects may increase during cooler months

Because Refresh franchise owners typically deliver a broad range of project types, the business is not dependent on a single seasonal category.

The structured marketing and lead generation approach also helps maintain a more consistent pipeline throughout the year.

The Refresh business model is designed to be relatively capital efficient compared with many traditional construction businesses.

Typical startup costs may include:

• Working capital
• Marketing investment
• Vehicle branding
• Technology and equipment
• Insurance
• Travel and training related expenses
• General business setup costs

The business is generally operated from a home office initially, which can significantly reduce overhead costs during the early stages.

Working capital requirements will vary depending on:

• Your growth plans
• Marketing investment levels
• Staffing structure
• Local market conditions
• Personal income requirements

Further detail is provided during the due diligence process.

Some startup costs are paid upfront, while others are incurred progressively as your business grows.

For example:

• Franchise fees are generally paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement
• Marketing investment occurs progressively as campaigns are implemented
• Working capital is typically used as required during business ramp up
• Staffing costs increase as the business grows

The business model is designed to scale progressively rather than requiring major upfront infrastructure investment.

This allows franchise owners to align expenditure with business growth and revenue development.

Initial training includes structured induction and onboarding support designed to help franchise owners build capability across all aspects of the business.

Training may be delivered through:

• Australia or New Zealand support locations
• Online delivery
• Approved regional training locations

Training covers:

• Business management
• Lead management
• Sales processes
• Project management systems
• Refresh Control
• Operational workflows
• Marketing systems
• Customer management

Following initial training, franchise owners move into a structured onboarding process where support continues as they begin working with live leads and projects.

Yes. Ongoing training forms an important part of the Refresh support model.

Training is delivered through a combination of:

• Online learning systems
• Webinars
• Operational workshops
• Business reviews
• Conferences
• One on one support
• System training updates

As systems and processes evolve, additional training resources are provided to help franchise owners and their teams continue building capability.

The goal is to support continuous improvement across all areas of the business.

Refresh supports franchise owners through a range of local and national marketing initiatives designed to help generate leads, build brand visibility, and support business growth.

These initiatives generally fall into four key areas:

• Digital and online marketing
• Customer relationship marketing
• Trade relationship marketing
• General marketing communications

Support may include:

• Digital marketing campaigns
• Website and search visibility
• Social media support
• Customer follow up systems
• Referral marketing strategies
• Trade and supplier relationship development
• Marketing collateral and branded material

Marketing initiatives are adapted to suit the local characteristics of each Australian market and metropolitan region.

Franchise owners also receive guidance, training, benchmarking, and planning support to help improve marketing performance over time.

Yes. Refresh has a structured Local Marketing Support Program designed to help franchise owners establish their business and begin generating leads within their territory.

This includes:

• Launch planning
• Local market positioning
• Digital setup
• Lead generation support
• Marketing guidance
• Campaign implementation support

The launch process forms part of the broader onboarding and business establishment program.

Marketing activity is then reviewed and refined over time based on:

• Lead flow
• Conversion performance
• Business growth targets
• Local market conditions

This structured approach helps franchise owners build momentum during the early stages of the business.

You can expect comprehensive support across all aspects of your business, including operational guidance, technical assistance, and ongoing development of the systems you use every day.

Support begins during your initial training and continues throughout your ownership journey.

Structured training and onboarding support

You will receive full training on the use of the Refresh® Control system during your initial induction training. This training continues through your structured onboarding process once you begin operating your business in your local territory.

During this stage, you will be supported step by step as you apply the system to real projects and build confidence in using the platform.

Access to operating manuals and training resources

Comprehensive operating manuals and system documentation are available to help you refresh your knowledge or learn new features as your business grows.

These materials provide ongoing reference support whenever needed.

Helpdesk and technical support

If you require assistance, support is available through a dedicated Helpdesk system.

This includes:

• An AI powered chatbot designed to answer common questions quickly
• A ticketing system for submitting support requests
• Access to experienced system specialists when additional help is required
• Support from designated Control SuperUsers who can provide operational guidance

This layered support structure ensures help is available when you need it.

Ongoing research and development

Refresh Control is continuously enhanced to improve usability, efficiency, and functionality.

Development is supported by a dedicated IT subsidiary based in Delhi, India, focused exclusively on building and improving the platform.

The development team works closely with leadership to prioritise improvements and ensure the system continues to evolve alongside the needs of franchise owners.

A purpose built business platform

Refresh Control was developed as a cloud based business management platform because existing systems did not support the structured design and build model used in residential renovations/remodeling businesses.

The platform supports key areas of your business, including:

• Lead and pipeline management
• Project planning and delivery
• Team coordination
• Financial tracking and reporting
• Customer communication

What this means for you

You are supported from day one
Training and onboarding ensure you build confidence using the system before and during operations.

Help is available when you need it
Multiple support channels provide quick access to technical and operational assistance.

Your system continues to improve over time
Ongoing development ensures your technology remains current and competitive.

You operate with tools designed specifically for this business model
The platform supports structured workflows that help reduce risk and improve efficiency.