TWO BITES

If something works, especially after rigorous testing, it is worth replicating. “Franchisees of Dream Doors and Kitchens were always being asked if we did bathrooms too,” says Dream Bathrooms franchisor Adrian Kay. “Obviously we were missing a trick – if we renovated bathrooms then we’d likely have two bites at the cherry. How many homes only have one bathroom these days?”

Adrian set up Dream Bathroom Solutions four years ago with a pilot operation in Christchurch. Since then, he has been slowly growing and fine-tuning the franchise, which has also had the advantage of being able to leverage off the experience and proprietary management systems used by the other franchises in the well-established New Zealand-founded Dream Group.

Adrian has an insider’s knowledge of the power of franchising, as he has been a franchisee himself. “In 2012 I gave up a six-figure salary with a global electronics company to join the Dream Doors franchise. I have been in constant growth mode ever since, driven initially by the rebuilding of Christchurch.

“I’m not the kind of guy to stand still, and it became obvious that the opportunities were even greater than we imagined. Today, renovations are booming because more people are realising they don’t need to move house – they can refurbish the home they have loved and end up with something much better. Kitchens and bathrooms are the most used parts of any home and Dream Bathrooms franchisees have the expertise to give our customers fresh, new bathroom spaces without the drama and hassle of a DIY experiment.”

No competition

Dream Bathrooms is the only franchised renovation company specialising in bathrooms in New Zealand, which was a big draw for new North Shore franchisee, Wayne Cogle. “Just what I was looking for,” he says with enthusiasm, “A grassroots company! 

“I had a background as a project manager with a company specialising in wet rooms and custom-made showers,” he explains. “I had been seeking my own business and considering the possibilities and advantages of franchises.

“It was Dream Bathroom’s franchise management system that clicked for me,” he says. “Everything was in place and I could just start running – which was what I needed at my stage in life. After putting the figures in front of an accountant I couldn’t find anything to give me sleepless nights – it was a no-brainer. I started on 1 July 2025 - within three weeks I had completed my first installation, and a year later I have completed far more projects than I anticipated. With the boom in renovations, and an expanding economy it can only get better from here.” 

“As a franchisee I have multiple roles,” Wayne continues. “Leads pour in from the franchise, I go out to quote, and then I organise the tradies and my full-time builder on site. There is a lot to cover, and there is a lot of fun too – customers always ask what you think about their plans, and it’s usually quite easy to help guide them to what they really want.”

Perfect time, good returns

As Adrian Kay points out, bathrooms are one of the most important spaces in the home. “It’s a very technical room with a lot of moving parts and for a client to have the entire project managed by an expert makes it much easier. As a franchisee, you’ll have a thriving local business with all the advantages of an increasingly visible, national brand dealing to a strong and growing part of the nation’s home improvement market. You’ll be backed by a clear operating model, effective marketing tools, strong support and trusted supplier partnerships.”

There are five Dream Bathrooms areas operating across the country and Adrian says the time is definitely right for expansion. “Initial investment costs vary depending on area and size, with franchisee fees ranging between $30,000 and $100,000. You can work from a home office or set up somewhere central to your area, and you’ll be given full training and practical support as you begin taking enquiries, quoting jobs and managing your first projects. The goal is to give you a clear system to follow, while still allowing you to build and grow your own local business.

“Due to the demand for our services, Auckland Central, South, East and West areas are all immediately available to the right people. Whatever your background – a customer services role, a tradie wanting to drop the tools and expand, or someone from a corporate background wanting to do their own thing – the biggest aspect is doing what Wayne has done so well, building rapport with customers.”

We leave Wayne the final words, “My advice to anyone seeking to join this franchise is simple. Do your homework, read lots of magazines and books and get as much background knowledge as you can. The excellent franchise management systems remind you to do all the essentials and help keep you up to date. If you have common-sense and motivation, and are good at building rapport with your clients, there is money to be made here!”    

See this advertorial on page 9 of Franchise New Zealand magazine Year 35 Issue 03

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