Tell us about your business?
Australia PEO is one of the leading providers of Employer of Record (EOR) services in Australia and New Zealand. When we were founded back in 2018, the concept of EOR was still quite new in this part of the world. Our goal has always been to make it easier for global businesses to hire and operate in Australia and New Zealand without the complexity of setting up local entities or navigating unfamiliar compliance rules.
The business was founded by Fran Davies, a mum of four with deep experience in the employment and recruitment industry. Fran saw a gap in the market through her own professional network. International companies needed reliable, local support to employ workers legally and efficiently across the region. What started as a desire to offer solutions quickly grew into a trusted partner for global businesses, especially those needing hands-on guidance and visa sponsorship.
What sets us apart is our local knowledge and the fact that our support is truly on the ground. While many global providers operate remotely, our team is based here in Australia and NZ and understand the local landscape, and that makes all the difference to our clients.
What has been your greatest success?
We've had many milestones, but two stand out as real markers of what Australia PEO represents.
One of our proudest achievements has been the growth of Australia PEO itself. What began with managing just one employee on behalf of a client has evolved into supporting 95 clients and over 200 employees across Australia and New Zealand. We've built this growth steadily and sustainably, expanding our internal team, strengthening our systems, and staying deeply committed to compliance at every step.
A key factor in that success is our ability to offer visa sponsorship through our government-approved On-Hire Labour Agreement, which allows us to sponsor employees on behalf of our clients under multiple skilled visa programs. We're also proud to maintain a 100% visa approval rate, reflecting the rigour and care we bring to every process.
For us, success is not just about the numbers, it's about becoming a trusted partner that makes hiring in Australia and New Zealand simple, compliant and efficient.
What do you value about FBA?
Myself and my daughters, Millie and Grace, recently joined FBA and are excited to be part of a community that understands both the challenges and the strengths of running a family business.
What drew us in was the opportunity to connect with like-minded business owners, hear their stories, and learn from their experiences.
As we get to know the network, we’re looking forward to understanding the needs of other family-run companies across different industries and finding meaningful ways to support and grow alongside them.
What advice would you give to other family businesses?
Focus on building a lean and efficient operation. Hire only where there’s a clear need, and be conservative with your forecasting, especially in the early stages. It’s easy to get excited about growth, but sustainability matters more.
Encourage a culture of efficiency from day one, and regularly review your processes to make sure they’re still working for the business you’re becoming. Sometimes small adjustments can make a big difference in the long run.
And most importantly, trust your instincts but always back them up with data.
Learn more about Australia PEO
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