The Aussie beauty brand is finding a natural fit in Canada’s franchise landscape
by Jordan Whitehouse
If there were any doubts about Laser Clinics’ plan to quickly establish a serious footprint in Canada, they’ve definitely been put to rest. The Australia-founded cosmetic clinic opened its first Canadian location in Richmond Hill, Ontario in February 2022. Just over a year later, the franchise has added four more locations in Ontario—three others in the Greater Toronto Area and one in Ottawa. Now the brand plans to expand across the country, and the company is on the lookout for franchise co-owners with a passion for the beauty industry and a flair for business.
It’s been a whirlwind arrival, but this rapid flag-planting shouldn’t be surprising. Laser Clinics is the world’s largest cosmetic clinic, with 140 locations in Australia, 49 in the United Kingdom, 22 in New Zealand, and two in Singapore. When taken together, the company has more than 1,600 staff performing over 2.5 million treatments every year. That’s more laser hair removals, skin treatments, and cosmetic injectables performed than any other advanced beauty clinic on the planet.
Yet as successful as Laser Clinics has been in delivering its business worldwide, the company knows that beauty isn’t one size fits all, according to Jenna Caira, head of franchise recruitment for Laser Clinics Canada. “Our mission is to offer greater access to more affordable medical-grade, top-quality aesthetics treatments that are tailored to the individual’s needs and desired results.”
Caira adds that most Canadian consumers haven’t been exposed to the types of advanced and cost-effective treatments that Laser Clinics offers, especially within the convenience of shopping centre locations where its clinics are typically found. In Canada, each of its first five locations are in malls, and as the brand continues to expand across the country, Caira says it will continue to focus on these types of sites.
As for why Laser Clinics chose Canada as a franchising destination, Caira says one big reason was the market similarities between Canada and Australia. “Our research also showed that the Canadian market was looking for the services and treatments we offer at affordable prices. We felt there was a need and opportunity for growth, making the Canadian market entry very attractive.”
A history of growth
Laser Clinics got its start back in 2008 with a first clinic in Drummoyne, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Co-founders Alistair Champion and Babak Moini saw that laser technology had been advancing rapidly and they thought that the thirst for accessible and affordable advanced beauty services and treatments would be huge. They were right. By 2016, their company had 60 clinics across Australia, had performed over two million treatments, and had won multiple awards for being one of the country’s fastest-growing franchises.
In 2017, Laser Clinics was sold to KKR, a New York-based private equity firm, and continued its growth. By the time the franchise set up shop in Canada at the end of 2021, it had over 180 clinics globally and had performed over 3.5 million treatments that year alone.
The first Canadian location was at Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill, soon followed by others at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga (the 200th location to open globally), Sherway Gardens in Etobioke, the Scarborough Town Centre in Scarborough, and the Rideau Centre in Ottawa. A flagship store is opening in Toronto’s Union Station this spring, perhaps by the time you read this.
One reason the concept has been so attractive to franchisees worldwide is Laser Clinics’ unique 50/50 business model, says Caira. This means that the franchisor and the franchisee equally share in the investment, expenses, and profits of the business. Franchisees also draw a salary from their first month in operation. Caira says Laser Clinics does this because they understand that both the franchise and franchisee have to be mutually committed to the preparation and ongoing performance of the clinic.
Another reason franchisees are attracted to the concept is the reputation of Laser Clinics’ experienced and certified medical aestheticians, nurses, and doctors, says Caira. Behind those professionals is the company’s medical advisory committee, which includes leading dermatologists and a global medical director. Together, the committee advises on the latest treatment techniques and application, ensuring that safety remains a top priority and that high training standards are consistently met.
Dr. Waqqas Jalil is Laser Clinics Canada’s medical director. “He plays an important role in keeping safety and innovation at the forefront of medical aesthetics treatments by working closely with the global medical director and the medical advisory committee,” says Caira.
Finding the right franchisee
So far, things are looking good for Laser Clinics Canada, and the brand expects to have its sixth location operating in Canada very soon. Caira says that as with any new market entry, the company has had to be adaptable, but Laser Clinics’ transferrable business model is one of its many strong assets. “As a result, we have been able to stay true to the original business model and concept, and our global team is very pleased with how our Canadian consumers are responding.”
Of course, a big part of that success is due to the franchisees they’ve selected, says Caira. The company is all about maintaining long-term relationships with franchisees, so it looks for co-owners who are passionate about the beauty industry. While it’s a bonus if franchisees are certified in administering cosmetic injectables, they don’t need to have a medical aesthetics background. Instead, Laser Clinics looks for people with strong business management skills, a history of building and leading teams, and an excitement for running and operating a business in this growing industry.
Once Laser Clinics finds the right franchisee, the company puts them through a comprehensive training program so they have all the necessary tools to understand the company’s systems. But like Laser Clinics treatment plans, it’s not one size fits all. “We tailor the training plans to target individual areas of development and surround our co-owners with the proper support to help them succeed,” says Caira. “Our goal is to have our co-owners feel comfortable and confident after training. That means we also have a corporate support team in place as an ongoing resource to coach and guide franchise owners.”
Another company goal is to continue growing, says Caira. “While we’ve done a great job at establishing ourselves in Ontario, we are excited to continue our long-term expansion plan nationally.”
Finding the right franchisees will always be key to that plan, adds Caira. Her advice for any aspiring franchisee: make sure that the business you’re investing in is aligned with your values and passions. “Franchise co-owners who are most successful with Laser Clinics are committed to being involved in the day-to-day operations of the business and truly enjoy leading a team of dedicated employees.”
