Twelve physiotherapy clinics have not renewed their franchise agreements with LifeCare Physiotherapy, opting instead to start their own consolidated structure, Active Physiotherapy.
In addition, two new clinics have become part of the Active Group whose clinics are located around the Perth metropolitan area.
Active spokeswoman and Galleria Morley Physiotherapy practice principal Suzanne Blunt said the new five-year franchise agreements offered by national group LifeCare were less than ideal, so clinic owners decided to start their own group.
“The decision to introduce Active was based on members wanting more autonomy in their clinics and not being able to justify large franchise fees,” she told WA Business News.
“Active is not a franchise structure – members of the allied group operate individually but have a coordinated group which does marketing, education, human resources, computer networking and advertising. The Active structure gives each physiotherapist the opportunity to personalise their clinics but is supported by resources previously only available to large organisations.
“Members pay for what they use, and financially, this has been a fantastic move.
“Franchise fees are very high and the clinics have far more autonomy under the new structure.”
Ms Blunt said the group would be looking to attract more clinics next year but had no intentions of expanding nationally.
“We have already been approached by several clinics but don’t have the capacity to take them on yet.”