The number of mobile franchises in both New Zealand and Australia has increased considerably over the years and usually when we talk about mobile franchises, a franchisee would use a vehicle like a van or truck and go out to customers.
Looking through a recent franchise magazine in New Zealand, the following can be classed as mobile franchises: Aramex (couriers); At Your Request Franchise Group; Cleancorp; Clean Planet; Cleantastic Commercial Cleaning; Crewcut; Driving Miss Daisy; Exceed; Green Acres; Hire A Hubby; Jim’s Mowing; Jim’s Test & Tag; Mr Green; Mr Whippy; MY Guy; Novus; Peak Clean; Poolwerx; Red LBP (property inspections); ShowerFix; Snap-on-Tools; Streetwise Coffee; The Coffee Guy; The Local Guys; The Wheel Magician; VIP Home Services.
The above are franchises that are mobile because they have to be. The services include lawnmowing, pool valet, electrical and plumbing, couriers and cleaning. A mobile franchise is often called “a man with a van”. Whatever franchise you are looking at, you must do your due diligence. Apart from talking to the relevant franchisor, you must ask a lot of questions and it is essential to talk to franchisees who are already running their own businesses to see if they like it, what pitfalls they have discovered and, most importantly, the costs which will be incurred, and the profitability.
The franchise agreement between the franchisor or owner of the intellectual property for the business system and the franchisee will contain some unique clauses including the use of the trade marks and colour schemes, specifications of the type of motor vehicle and territorial restrictions. Can the mobile van drive anywhere? If the answer is no then the franchisor must think carefully about the division of territories, the population base, and how to distribute a territory fairly among franchisees. A courier van is an interesting case study. We all see couriers driving everywhere but even the courier/franchisee should have a specified area or territory. For example, Auckland is such a large city in land area so it would be hopeless to allow a courier to drive from West Auckland to East Auckland delivering parcels. The same would apply to Sydney or Melbourne so careful thought and research must be undertaken in relation to territories.
It is also important for mobile franchisees to comply with all relevant legislation and regulations. In New Zealand, if you drive a diesel or another type of non-petrol fuelled vehicle, you need to pay Road User Charges (RUC). These charges go towards maintaining and improving the roading network. Petrol vehicles contribute towards these costs through an excise tax on petrol. There is no tax on diesel which is why these vehicles need to pay RUC instead. RUC is charged according to how many kilometres a vehicle travels, and its type and weight. Vehicles pay a set amount for every 1,000 kilometres travelled. For example, a powered vehicle with two axles and under 3.5 tonne will pay NZ$76 per 1,000 km and heavier vehicles pay a higher rate of RUC; and a plug-in hybrid vehicle up to 3,500 kg will pay NZ$38 per 1,000 km.
Whichever mobile franchise you choose, please complete proper due diligence, take independent legal and accounting advice from competent professionals and make the right decision.
Stewart Germann who is acknowledged as New Zealand’s leading franchising lawyer with over 40 years’ experience in this area, is a recognised national and international guest speaker at franchise conferences in New Zealand, Australia and USA.
Stewart Germann Law Office (SGL) is New Zealand’s longest established specialist franchising law firm and Stewart is recognised in the Lexology Index Thought Leaders 2025: Global Elite in the Franchising Category. SGL's clients include many of New Zealand’s best known national and international franchise brands and Stewart has extensive franchising contacts worldwide and locally. Stewart Germann is actively involved in international franchising, has published articles in the International Journal of Franchising Law and has attended and participated in many FCA conferences.
Stewart was awarded the ONZM in the New Year Honours List 2026 for services to franchise law.
