Brian Keen
Born and raised in London, Brian Keen attended Hammersmith College of Arts & Building. He earnt qualifications as a quantity surveyor before opening his own construction business in Malawi, Central Africa.
In 1975, Brian and his wife Prue immigrated to Perth and launched Brian Keen Homes. After the recession of the early eighties, Brian switched his focus to retail, buying his first Bedshed franchise outlet. He went on to open and operate seven Bedshed stores in just five years.
His detailed retail expansion knowledge led Brian to become a franchising consultant and set up The Franchise Alliance. This consultancy helped household names like Brumby’s, UltraTune, Jim’s Mowing and Donut King develop successful sales strategies and franchise systems. During his time with The Franchise Alliance, Brian also used those same strategies and systems to build up six of his own franchise groups, with over 120 outlets between them.
Brian now brings all his knowledge in business and franchising together in his latest venture, Franchise Simply. This progressive business aims to show business owners how to transform a concept or family-sized firm into a multi-million dollar asset through a unique four-step system which clarifies and simplifies the franchising process.
Brian is passionate about helping people become financially secure and independently wealthy by setting up their own business wherever they are and whatever their background. For this reason, he also founded and became Chairman of MicroLoan Foundation Australia, a charity which gives small loans to women in Africa to help them start their own business. To date, the foundation has provided over 31,000 loans (a total of $2.4 million) and has enabled close to 100,000 dependents to lift themselves from poverty.