Brad Cox is an all-star Dental Fix Rx franchisee in Canada. Cox had a variety of careers throughout his life, but says this is easily the best career choice he has made. He and his son own and operate multiple vans throughout British Columbia and are looking to expand within the next couple years.
Franchise Chatter (FC): Tell us about your professional background.
Brad Cox (BC): I’ve had a wide variety of careers. Everything from hospitality, fast food concepts and automotive sales for Mercedes.
FC: Why did you decide to become a Dental Fix Rx franchisee?
BC: I was seeking something new. I started researching franchises that use Mercedes and Dental Fix Rx came up. I knew these guys had to be smart if they were using Mercedes for their mobile service vans.
After speaking with corporate and seeing that these individuals have really thought about every business aspect that goes into this industry, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I’ve owned other franchise companies and this is by far my favorite career.
FC: What is Dental Fix Rx?
BC: Dental Fix Rx is a fast-growing mobile dental equipment repair service franchise. We are revolutionizing the dental service industry by delivering immediate, on-demand equipment service, hand-piece repairs and cost-effective consumable products through a network of highly-trained franchise professionals.
Every franchise owner serves dental practices within their market, and completes repairs on-site from mobile repair centers that are equipped to fix a wide range of equipment found in any practice – everything from compressors, chair upholstery, x-ray machines, etc.
FC: What habits do you attribute your success as a Dental Fix Rx franchisee to?
BC: Besides my daily To Do list, I’ve always valued doing the right thing and it pays off. I’m always fair when it comes to billing my dentists.
In the dental industry, brand new equipment is constantly being made and there are times I get a call to fix a piece of equipment that I’ve never seen or heard of before. With Dental Fix Rx they give you all of the resources and training to know what to do and who to call when you run into the unfamiliar—but say the job took me four hours to complete, when it should’ve only taken two, I only bill for two hours.
Of course it’s the right thing to do, but it also builds trust and open communication between me and the clients.
Another habit is always asking what else you can do for dentists. At times a job can be a quick fix within 10-15 minutes. Since I’m already there, I ask if there is anything else they want me to take a look at. More often than not, there are a few items that have been causing them trouble or are starting to act up.
FC: Why is Dental Fix Rx better for dentists rather than just going through the vendors they purchased from?
BC: The average dental practice chair can bring in as much as $1,500 an hour. When that chair goes empty for a couple hours due to malfunctioning equipment, it damages the business and upsets the clientele in the waiting room.
Unlike typical dental equipment repair companies that can take up to 48 hours, Dental Fix Rx is the faster fix and equipped to handle any eventuality. We’re always on-call and typically resolve issues that same day. There are also no hidden costs and we don’t charge for gas, estimates or travel.
The vendors that sold them the equipment offer repair services because they have to—they don’t want to be in the repair business, they’d much rather sell new products.
FC: Tell us about the level of training and support your franchisor provides.
BC: Dental Fix Rx adequately trains all franchise owners during an intensive, eight-week training course, therefore no previous dental experience is required. It combines classroom sessions and hands-on experience. The program also provides customer-service training as well as manufacturer training.
On top of this extensive training that ultimately is learning a trade, there is ongoing training and support from corporate as well as many valuable resources. For instance, there is a social media site called Yammer for all Dental Fix Rx franchisees where we can post pictures of equipment we haven’t run into and ask for help. There is always someone available to help you find a solution.
Also, Dental Fix Rx is one of the only franchises to offer a franchise guarantee. If a franchisee does not service 40 clients within his or her first year of business, the franchise fee will be refunded.
FC: What advice do you have for individuals who want to own their own franchise?
BC: It’s important to consider everything when purchasing a franchise, but I’d say the best advice is to never underestimate the work. With Dental Fix Rx, it’s great that corporate does all the marketing and phone calls for you but I’ve always been a go-getter.
I know a lot of other franchisees that let the leads come to them through corporate, but I never wait around for someone else to do my job. If Dental Fix Rx has already told dentists about me, great but, if not, I’m still going to knock on the door and introduce my services.
I’m the type of person that loves being in charge of my own income. Every morning, I wake up and make those connections and repairs—that can be a tough pill to swallow for those used to the salary lifestyle. It’s different but it’s empowering that you’re in charge of how much you want to take home.
FC: What is your favorite part about being a Dental Fix Rx franchisee?
BC: I like the freedom to make my own schedule. I’m comfortable with the income of only working 30 hours a week, but I know other franchisees that work 60 because they want the extra money. I like the support you get from corporate and the network of franchisees.
Yet one of my favorite aspects, is seeing my clients happy for saving them time and money from having to shut down shop for the rest of the day by offering them a rental or fixing the equipment.
FC: How do you plan to further grow your business?
BC: I operate the business with my son. While he has had the same thorough training as I have, I’m teaching him the business ropes and helping him establish relationships with dental professionals in our area. I share all of my past business mistakes with my son so he can learn from them and do differently.
Ultimately, I can’t call this a job because I love the work I’m doing. It’s safe, clean work and Dental Fix Rx provides all the needed resources to succeed. You get out of it what you put into it.
My son and I hope to expand to another 10-plus territories in Canada.
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