What Franchise Issue-16.3
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ISSN 1744-6988
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9 771744 698037
What
Franchise
£3.99 | VOLUME 16 ISSUE 3 what-franchise.com
EXPERT
ADVICE
WHAT A LAWYER
CAN DO FOR YOU
Plus 10 top UK legal
professionals
WORKING WITH
YOUR PARTNER
Secrets of success revealed
JACKIE GILLEN
Franchisee in the front line
NIGEL DAWSON
easyStorage:
“You can bring our brand
to a wider audience”
POWERBRANDS
MOBILE AND
VAN-BASED
FRANCHISES
21-page special
EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEW
Emma Jones, founder
of Enterprise Nation
PAGE
11 GROWING
PLACES
8 emerging sectors with
proven profit potential
PAGE
53 FRANCHISEE
RECRUITMENT
4 ways to stand out from
the competition
PAGE
60 ESSENTIAL
SUPPORT
How a franchisor helps
you to prosper
JOIN ONE OF THE MOST
EXPERIENCED AND DEDICATED
MANAGEMENT TEAMS
IN THE FITNESS
& FRANCHISE WORLDS
easyGym is looking for the world’s most ambitious entrepreneurs to
take its technology-driven franchise gym model across the UK and global.
The fitness industry is in the midst of major disruption. Although COVID-19 has created the
perfect storm for legacy gym owners, the pandemic is offering a huge opportunity for those
looking to enter this fast-growing space.
The demand for fitness and wellbeing has skyrocketed during the pandemic.
Fitness equipment is virtually sold out everywhere
Paul Lorimer-Wing, CEO of easyGym, explains: "Opening an easyGym is an exciting
opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors, who are looking for the potential of strong
returns and are ready to take full advantage of the post COVID-19 world the industry has
woken up to.”
Not only that, but the UK government has recently modified
planning regulations so that empty properties in great locations
with major footfall can be converted to gyms.You can now
open and operate a gym very quickly. There has never been
a better time to join the fitness industry as the world emerges
from lockdowns with a newfound focus on health and wellbeing
IF YOU HAVE
A PASSION
FOR FITNESS,
FRANCHISING AN
easyGym
COULD BE THE RIGHT
SOLUTION
FOR YOU.
Furthermore, easyGym comes with a high energy, but fun, studio concept called PACK45
that customers love. PACK45 studios provide functional kit to strengthen the entire body
through real-life movements in just 45 minutes, and are especially popular with busy
professionals and those looking for a little guidance in a workout.
www.easyGym.co.uk /franchise
CONTENts
HIGHLIGHTS
Mobile & Van
Franchises
Want to invest in a
brand that provides its customers
with the ultimate in convenience?
Take a look at this in-depth
opportunity overview
Front Line
Franchisee
17 44 60
Read how Radfield
Home Care franchisee Jackie Gillen
has been helping the elderly and
vulnerable during the UK’s battle
with coronavirus
Franchisor
Support
Knowing you have
the backing of a proven brand is
one of the major benefits of
investing in a franchise. Find out
what you get for your money
COVER STORIES
11 GROWING PLACES
8 emerging sectors with proven
profit potential
22 NIGEL DAWSON OF
EASYSTORAGE
You can bring our brand to a
wider audience
40 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Emma Jones, founder of
Enterprise Nation
53 FRANCHISEE RECRUITMENT
4 ways to stand out from the
competition
56 WORKING WITH YOUR PARTNER
Secrets of success revealed
82 WHAT A LAWYER CAN DO
FOR YOU
Plus 10 top UK legal professionals
OPINION
13 LIFE AFTER LOCKDOWN
How to ensure your business
prospers in the long term
14 A MEETING OF MINDS
Why franchisee councils are
becoming increasingly popular
98 BREXIT, COVID-19 &
NEW NORMS
Franchising has demonstrated its
resilience this year
FRANCHISE
OPPORTUNITIES
38 TRUSTED TO PERFORM AN
ESSENTIAL ROLE
An X-Press Legal Services franchise is a
low risk proposition
42 AMBITIOUS EXPANSION
PLANS
Miss Millie’s has multi-unit franchise
opportunities available
50 ACTIVELY RECRUITING
Ableworld seeks new franchisees to
satisfy demand
52 DO GOOD AND MAKE MONEY
No previous care experience is required
to join Seniors Helping Seniors
54 PROUD TO HELP LOCAL
BUSINESS OWNERS
ActionCOACH’s Billy Smith is
putting his expertise to good use
66 RAZZAMATAZ RETURNS
The theatre school brand reacted
swiftly to the coronavirus crisis
68 ACCOUNTING FOR SUCCESS
TaxAssist Accountants’ Charlie Walker
is positive about the future
74 GOING PLACES
Wok&Go is the UK’s fastest growing
healthy fast food franchise
78 MAKE MONEY FROM
PROPERTY
You can build a profitable HMO
portfolio with Sourced Partner
80 FIT FOR PURPOSE
easyGym franchisees enjoy
strong returns
92 MOTIVATED
COMMUNICATORS WANTED
There are two ways to join
Maplebrook Wills’ expanding
UK network
95 FORWARD LOOKING
FRANCHISE
Schmidt franchisees have a
bright future
INSIGHT
70 THE TRUTH ABOUT FRANCHISING
Industry insider dispels six common myths
72 WHY RUNNING A MANAGEMENT
FRANCHISE IS DIFFERENT
How to choose the right type of franchise for you
96 A JOURNEY WITH MANY TWISTS
& TURNS
Most franchisees achieve a certain degree
of success
72
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 5
FROM
THE EDITOR
here’s been acres
of coverage given
to the brave key
workers who
battled coronavirus as it swept
the UK this year.
Many of these selfless
individuals put themselves in
harm’s way as they cared for
those infected with the disease.
Radfield Home Care franchisee
Jackie Gillen was one of them
on the front line and is our main
interview feature this month.
Demand from the elderly and
vulnerable in her Wakefield
and Dewsbury territory for
the services provided by Jackie and her team of carers rose almost
50 per cent at the height of the pandemic, but determined to provide
the safest possible service, their hard work has paid off. Despite the
emergency, all her clients remained safe and happy.
Before COVID-19, home care was already one of the fastest growing
parts of the UK franchise industry. Since the outbreak, mobile and
van-based franchises have also seen a surge in popularity. Find out
why in our 21-page Powerbrands report in this issue, which includes
editorial profiles of companies in such diverse sectors as vehicle
repairs, pet care services and estate agency.
Elsewhere, Andy Knights of Stagecoach Performing Arts goes
in-depth on what assistance franchisees should get from their
franchisor before, during and after launching their businesses.
This support is one of the main advantages of buying a franchise
instead of going it alone and goes a long way to explaining why over
90 per cent of franchisees in the UK run profitable businesses.
It can also prove crucial in a crisis, as Gareth Southard explains in
this issue. He was set to launch his My Window Cleaner franchise in
South Wales before lockdown was declared. Gareth reveals how his
what-franchise.com
T
17
franchisor helped him not only successfully launch his
business, but achieve record sales for a new franchisee
as well.
What can a franchise lawyer do for you? Help to
avoid any nasty surprises before committing what can
sometimes be a substantial amount of time and money to
a franchise, according to a leading lawyer who takes part
in a Q&A session this month.
As well as interviewing Andy Fraser, founder of Albany
Fraser Solicitors, we’ve profiled 10 franchise lawyers
actively involved in UK franchising.
It’s vital every aspiring franchisee consults with
a solicitor who’s familiar with franchising. We can’t
emphasise this enough before you go into business.
Jeff James
Editor, What Franchise
editor@what-franchise.com
NEXT ISSUE
ON SALE:
November 26
@whatfranchise
linkedin.com/company
/what-franchise
facebook.com/whatfranchise
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Richard Davies Tel: 01323 471291
Email: richard.davies@aceville.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Millie Hall. 01323 471291
millie.hall@aceville.co.uk
CREDIT CONTROL
Sue Carr Tel: 01206 505903
FROM THE
PUBLISHER OF
SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Rachael Wenham. 01323 471291
rachael.wenham@aceville.co.uk
Luke Elliott. 01323 471291
luke.elliott@aceville.co.uk
Matthew Gilley. 01323 471291
matt.gilley@aceville.com
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Joseph Gibbons Tel: 01206 505912
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Tel: 01795 414667
PUBLISHER
Matthew Tudor
HEAD OF CONTENT (FRANCHISING)
James Fell
EDITOR
Jeff James
DESIGNERS
Adam Barford, Luke Rogers
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INDUSTRY
CONTRIBUTION
WINNER
British Franchise
Association
Professional
Affiliate and Supplier
Awards 2019
Published by Aceville Publications Ltd
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Park, Eastbourne BN23 6FA. Printed
in England © Aceville Publications Ltd
ABC certified circulation:
12,580 January-
December 2019
© Aceville Publications Ltd
No part of this publication may be copied, broadcast, interpreted, or stored, in any form, for any purpose, without the written permission of the publisher.
Every effort is made to ensure the veracity and integrity of the companies, persons, products and services mentioned in this publication, and details given are believed accurate at the
time of going to press. However, no responsibility or liability whatsoever can be accepted for any consequence or repercussion of responding to any information or advice given or inferred.
GLOBALFRANCHISEMAGAZINE.COM 7
In the know
Facts and figures from the world of franchising
Number crunching
£400-£750 (plus VAT)
What you should expect to pay to have
a franchise agreement reviewed by
a lawyer. Find out why it’s money
well spent on pages 82-83.
QUOTE ME ON THAT
“If one of us has had a
tough day, the other one
is there to support,
which is so nice.”
Petpals franchisee Sally Ann Gray describes
one of the benefits of working with her
husband. Read the full
interview on pages 56-57.
TRENDING ONLINE: DELIVERY
AND COURIER BUSINESSES
If there was one sector that boomed during lockdown, it
was delivery and courier businesses.
Whether consumers
had Amazon Prime
accounts or were online
grocery shopping
addicts before March,
one thing’s for sure:
there were a lot more
courier vans on
the roads than ever
before and the online
shopping lifestyle
switch appears to
have stayed.
Naturally, this
uptick in reliance on
online delivery and
courier services has
prompted many ambitious
self-starters to jump into
action and start their own
logistical businesses.
Our data underlines this
growing interest, too: over the last
two months we’ve received nearly
1,000 enquiries requesting information about just
Amazon and DPD alone.
Interested in starting your own delivery
business? We have over 800 exciting franchise
opportunities to discover at what-franchise.com.
8 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
NEWS IN BRIEF
HSBC WINS
BANKING AWARD
HSBC UK has been named the Best
Franchisee Banking Provider 2020
by finance data specialist Business
Moneyfacts for the second time in
two years.
All the finalists at the awards
“continued to offer value,
choice and innovation across
the commercial finance sector”,
according to Business Moneyfacts.
Andrew Brattesani, HSBC’s
UK head of franchising, says:
“Winning Moneyfacts two years
in succession is a real honour
and a reflection of the hard work
and dedication from all areas of
the business that support our
franchise offering.
“We are acutely aware of our
responsibility in the current crisis
and will do our utmost to maintain
this dedication to service and
support our clients.”
Lloyds Bank was highly
commended in the category, while
Allied Irish Bank was commended
for its work in the franchise sector.
GYMGUYZ
appoints first
UK franchisees
The American mobile personal
training business will open its
first two franchisee locations in
Brighton on the south coast and
Kingston, Surrey.
Established in 2008,
GYMGUYZ has 250-plus
franchises worldwide, around
230 of which are in the US.
UK managing director Laike
Mantori says: “We take pride in
providing convenient, customised
and creative workouts.
“GYMGUYZ takes away
the need to be in a gym
environment and brings
the equipment and provides
the flexibility of training
whenever and wherever
clients want.”
A recent study by Anglia
Ruskin University found that
the UK has seen a 10 per cent
increase in adults meeting the
recommended levels of
physical activity since
lockdown in March.
Around 75 per cent are
now doing at least 150
minutes of physical activity
per week, providing further
evidence that, more than ever,
people are recognising the
importance of improving
their fitness levels.
REVEALED: BEST UK CITY TO START A BUSINESS
Dream Doors
breaks sales
record
Kitchen makeover company
Dream Doors turned over a
record £7 million in July, despite
the ongoing coronavirus crisis
in the UK.
It saw a large increase in
online enquiries and sales, as
customers were forced to spend
more time in their homes.
Dream Doors’ previous
monthly turnover record was
£5.5 million, which was achieved
in January of this year.
Managing director Ed Brewer
says: “Achieving this record £7
million monthly turnover during
such a challenging period is
mainly due to our sustained,
strong investment in digital
marketing throughout the
COVID-19 lockdown.
“Several showroom owners
have told me that their
customers have had holidays
cancelled and refunded, so
they’ve decided to makeover
their kitchens this year instead.”
Canterbury is the number
one location in the UK to start
your own business, a study
by StartupsGeek.com has
revealed.
The website for
entrepreneurs placed Kent’s
cathedral city in the top spot
based on an analysis of the
cost over five years of starting
a business, broken down into
cost of salaries and office
space.
Other factors were also
taken into account, including
graduation retention rate,
five-year start-up survival rate
and average internet speed,
among others.
The top 10 cities for starting a
new business are:
1. Canterbury
2. Sunderland
3. Liverpool
4. Swansea
5. Belfast
6. Salford
7. Norwich
8. Leicester
9. Plymouth
10. Edinburgh
Keep up to date with the latest
news at what-franchise.com
Follow us on Twitter
@whatfranchise
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 9
OPINION
An abundance of opportunities
Franchisors have a wide variety of proven businesses for sale in a
multitude of industries
WORDS BY PIP WILKINS
THE AUTHOR
Pip Wilkins is CEO of
the British Franchise
Association
T
hink of franchising and
the first businesses that
typically spring to mind
are fast food chains and
coffee shops.
But other sectors are ripe for
growth using the franchise model,
including:
Domiciliary care
There has been significant growth in
the number of franchises providing
home care for the elderly and
vulnerable in recent years.
It works as a business model, as
the franchisor can oversee, train
and support you with the complex
compliance structures needed in
this heavily regulated arena.
This gives franchisees the chance
to shape their business to the needs
of their local communities. If you
have a caring spirit, this sector
could be for you.
Pet-related businesses
Opportunities range from dog walking
and boarding to pet food delivery.
Whether you’re a groomer, walker
or boarder, trusted customer
relationships will need to be
developed, while a passion
for pets is key.
“Providing a great customer
experience is essential if you want
to prosper in health and beauty”
Property sector
There will always be a need to buy
and sell houses or to rent them,
which means there are many
franchised businesses in the sales
and/or letting market.
You need to be good at employing
and managing people to be a
success in this industry.
Children’s services
There are a large number of
children’s services franchises,
ranging from swimming schools,
dance classes and theatre arts to
football and rugby coaching.
Some can be run flexibly around
family commitments, while others
are full-time, so it’s about finding
the right balance for you.
Food and drink
From burgers and pizza to coffee
and organic vegetables.
While many of these businesses
can be found on the high street,
some can be mobile.
Health and beauty
More brands with a focus on our
well-being are entering this market.
Whether someone wants a
haircut, a massage or to have
their nails done, providing a great
customer experience is essential
if you want to prosper in health
and beauty.
Commercial and
residential cleaning
Demand for cleaning services
remains strong.
As a cleaning franchisee, you
can choose whether you want
to have a hands-on role in the
business or employ teams to clean
on your behalf.
Health and fitness
There’s an eclectic mix of brands
expanding in the UK market and
franchising is allowing them to
open far more quickly than if they
invested in company owned outlets.
If fitness is your thing, there’s a
choice of opportunities to pick from.
More than 710,000 people are
employed in franchising, which
demonstrates its importance to the
UK economy.
Because franchising
encompasses a variety of
industries, it’s not dependent on
any one sector, which perhaps
goes some way to explaining why it
has been so resilient to economic
pressures over the years.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 11
Behind the Brand - The Creation Station
BEHIND THE BRAND
Inspiring
the nation’s
imagination
There has never been a better time to become a
Creation Station franchise owner
E
stablished by Sarah
Cressall in 2002 to
provide her three
children with creative
opportunities to explore, discover
and develop, The Creation
Station’s purpose is to make
positive differences through
creative experiences.
Over a million children and
adults have been inspired by the
company’s family of more than
120 franchise owners and more
than 5,000 customers have rated
the activities as five star. The
Creation Station was one of three
finalists out of 5,000 entrants in
Richard Branson’s prestigious
Impact Award, which promotes
and rewards companies for the
difference they make.
GROW AT YOUR PACE
The Creation Station’s wide range
of award winning classes, clubs,
parties and events allows you to
maximise the opportunities in
your exclusive territory. Activities
“I’m proud
to run and be
part of this
amazing ethical
and successful
business”
include creative afterschool
clubs and workshops, birthday
parties, adult well-being and
crafting events, preschool, family
fun classes, senior citizens
‘crafternoons’ plus
event entertainment.
The company’s franchise
owners come from a wide range
of backgrounds - from banking
and management to stay at
home mums and health care
professionals. They are friendly
and proactive and share The
Creation Station’s ambition to
make positive differences.
Before joining the company,
few of its franchise
owners had run their
own businesses or had
experience in delivering
creative experiences.
The Creation Station
provides comprehensive
ongoing training, a
regional support manger
for one to one support
and regional meet ups,
as well as detailed, tried
and tested activity plans,
cutting edge mobile
technology systems,
sales, marketing and
technical support. Your
AT A GLANCE
THE CREATION
STATION
Established: 2002
Number of outlets: 120
Location of outlets: nationwide
Investment range: £10,000-£20,000
Minimum capital required: £2,000
Contact: franchise team.
franchise@thecreationstation.co.uk
thecreationstation.co.uk
support plan is tailored to achieve
the success you want at a pace
that suits you.
ETHICAL MARKET LEADER
The Creation Station has been
ranked number 15 in the top UK
franchises and its commitment
to making positive differences
has been recognised by numerous
recent awards.
Emma McCallum John, a
franchise owner for over four
years, says: “Running my own
Creation Station has given me the
opportunity to be my own boss
with all the support and help I’ve
needed. Bringing creativity into
children’s lives and inspiring
adults is hugely rewarding. It’s
hard work, but also great fun.”
Another happy franchise owner,
Mark Hugh-Jones, who runs The
Creation Station Braintree &
Dunmow, explains: “I researched
many franchises before finding
the right one. The reason why
The Creation Station stood out is
because of the huge potential in
an emerging market.
“The people at Creation
Station are driven to help all
franchise owners to achieve
the success they want. They are
very responsive, proactive and
innovative. I’m proud to run and
be part of this amazing ethical
and successful business.”
12 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
ADVICE OPINION
Life after lockdown
Making astute financial decisions can ensure your business prospers
in the long term
WORDS BY PHIL ARCHER
THE AUTHOR
Phil Archer is asset
finance manager
at d&t, an award
winning chartered
accountancy and
business advisory
specialist
T
o bounce back from
lockdown successfully,
franchise businesses
must take full advantage
of all the support that’s on offer.
Franchisees and franchisors will
need to ensure they have enough
funds in the bank to weather any
further storms, plus be well positioned
to develop new promotions, ramp up
marketing, increase communication
and drive sales.
Payment holidays
and deferments
Have you taken advantage of all
the support you qualify for?
Check if you’re entitled to
payment holidays or deferments on
any existing loans or finance. This
is usually a quick process, which
can buy you time and free up cash
flow to focus on positive, proactive
marketing activities until business
is back on track.
New and established
solutions
Secondly, find out if you would
benefit from any of the new
schemes that have been introduced,
as well as the more established
funding solutions.
This may be in the form of a
bounce back loan, the coronavirus
business interruption loan scheme
(CBILS), asset finance or maximising
bank and other facilities.
The special deals currently
available won’t be around forever,
so make that decision now on
whether you’ll need new equipment
or vehicles in the near future.
Taking advantage of a bounce
back loan’s preferable rates to
purchase equipment, for example,
doesn’t mean you won’t be able to
leverage additional funding later
by perhaps refinancing on asset
finance, therefore releasing the
bounce back funds back to you as
additional working capital.
Here it’s important to take
professional advice. A trusted
adviser will consider all your needs
and provide information about the
best options for your franchise.
Restructuring
existing finance
Thirdly, look into restructuring
any existing finance, as with the
current interest rates and special
deals available this could result in
significant savings.
For example, in some circumstances
it’s advantageous to pay off a CBILS
loan or any other type of loan or asset
finance facility through the bounce
back scheme because the rates and
terms are very attractive.
Plan for the future
Fourthly, consider where your
franchise is going. How much
has your business needed to
change and what further changes
will be required in the short
and long term?
Will you need to invest in more
technology to future proof
your proposition?
Funding an acquisition could
increase efficiencies, improve
economies of scale and build a
stronger, leaner more resilient
business. There are also research
and development tax relief benefits
offered to organisations that
deliver new solutions that meet
predefined criteria.
An independent adviser can
tell you about any other options
out there. Having an adviser
with a long-term view can
help you move your business
onwards and upwards.
At d&t, our friendly, experienced
team are always happy to
advise and help franchisees and
franchisors navigate the best way
forward. Our team add value not
just numbers and are trusted to
provide the most appropriate
advice dependent on individual
circumstances.
“Find out if you would
benefit from any of the
new schemes that have
been introduced”
13 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 15.5
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 13
OPINION
A meeting of minds
Franchisee councils are becoming increasingly popular among franchisors
wanting to encourage positive relationships
WORDS BY SUZIE MCCAFFERTY
THE AUTHOR
Suzie McCafferty
is CEO of franchise
consultancy
Platinum Wave
T
he franchisorfranchisee
relationship
is different in every
brand. At one end of
the scale, franchisees may be left
almost entirely to their own devices,
while at the other some might feel
stifled by an overbearing franchisor.
If 2020 has taught us anything,
it’s that the brands with the most
open communication and positive
relationships between franchisees
and the support team are the
ones who are best placed to deal
with adversity.
It’s no surprise then that we
have recently taken more calls
from franchisors asking for advice
on setting up or reinstating
franchisee councils than
ever before.
“In an ideal world, a council
would have members who
are entirely representative
of the network”
Valuable role
For anyone thinking of joining a
franchise, you will be aware that part
of what you pay a franchisee fee and
ongoing royalties for is the training
and support you get throughout
the life of your business. Effective
franchisee councils can play a
valuable role in this ongoing support.
So what are they?
They exist to represent the views
of the franchisees in a network, but
there’s nothing that dictates how a
council is set up.
It’s easy to assume the most
democratic process is always the
best way to go, but if a network is
either small and new or large and
established many of the franchisees
won’t know each other very well, if
at all - certainly not well enough to
vote on each other’s suitability to
represent the group.
Who should join?
It’s good to rotate members
annually, but some franchisees will
undoubtedly shine in the role and
both the franchisor and network will
want to see them reinstated.
In most cases, the franchisor will
invite franchisees to join the council.
Often, these are the best performing
and most positive members of the
network. They will probably be
the most engaged members of the
group - happy to work for everyone
positively, rather than use the time
to air personal grievances and
resist progress.
In an ideal world, a council would
have members who are entirely
representative of the network. In
reality, however, this isn’t always
feasible, but an attempt to secure
a reasonable cross-section should
be welcomed.
Topics for discussion can include
new products, pricing, reporting,
marketing strategy and branding.
A franchisor might think that
by filling the council with their
strongest advocates they will have
a much easier time introducing new
initiatives. However, franchisors
have a duty to all their franchisees
and deliberately cutting out
challenging voices can be a recipe
for disaster.
Creating cohesion
The existence of a franchise
council should tell you that a
franchisor wants to create a
harmonious, cohesive network that
will strive together to achieve great
things. Even if you aren’t in it, it
represents a chance to get closer
to the business, shape decisions
and affect change.
A franchise council
should therefore be a
wonderful place for cooperation
to grow between both parties.
The franchisor may well have
the ultimate say, but the
benefits of fostering open
communication and positive
relationships between franchisees,
franchisor and support team
become abundantly clear when
everyone has to pull together.
14 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
+
MANAGING DIRECTOR SAM
LANGRICK GIVES US THE
LOWDOWN ON LAWNKEEPER
AT A GLANCE
LAWNKEEPER
Established: 1994 (franchised 2007)
Number of franchised outlets: 14
Location of units: Airedale, Aylesbury,
Barnsley, Cheshire, Clayhall, East Leeds,
East Yorkshire, Hull, North Leeds,
Nottingham, Peterborough, South
Glamorgan, Stafford, Wakefield,
Worcester, York
Investment range: £25,000
Minimum required capital: £10,000
Contact: Sam Langrick. 0800 073 5252.
franchise@lawnkeeper.co.uk
lawnkeeper.co.uk
Behind the Brand - Lawnkeeper
WHY SHOULD SOMEONE
INVEST IN A LAWN
CARE FRANCHISE?
Lawn care is a relatively new service
in the UK. so there’s lots of untapped
potential. There’s a good stream of
domestic and commercial customers
all year round and our franchisees
are seeing continued growth in
their customer bases.
The service is inexpensive - it’s
cheaper than doing it yourself - so
anybody who enjoys spending time in
their garden is a potential customer.
You might think the economic
downturn would have affected the
industry’s growth, but Lawnkeeper
hasn’t experienced this at all. In
fact, there’s an argument that says if
people cut down on foreign holidays
they will spend more time in their
garden and so want to make it look
as healthy and attractive as possible.
That’s where we come in.
WHY CHOOSE
LAWNKEEPER?
We believe we have a number of
unique features. With a Lawnkeeper
franchise, you’ll get a territory of at
least 110,000 households - and with
some considerably more.
Each territory has been
designed to have a good
proportion of high income
households, so it’s possible to be
generating a turnover of £250,000
per annum within five years.
In addition, we believe in
working less and earning more.
Our philosophy is based on
providing a high quality service
that delivers the best results, rather
than being the cheapest. As a
result, we concentrate on making a
greater return on each customer, so
that our franchisees need to service
fewer customers to generate a
good level of profitability.
“What is
essential is a
liking for people
and a desire
to succeed”
Also, customer service is vitally
important in the lawn care sector
and it’s an area in which we excel.
It’s one of the main reasons
why we enjoy such high levels of
customer retention and why sales
are booming, with a 40 per cent
increase last year.
WHAT DOES A
FRANCHISEE GET FOR
THEIR INVESTMENT?
As well as a large protected
territory and a full, industry
leading equipment package,
the Lawnkeeper franchise
includes a proven sales and
marketing package, which allows
franchisees to win business time
after time; a bespoke franchise
management system, which means
franchisees can spend more time
earning money instead of doing
paperwork; and a comprehensive
two-week training course, which
covers all aspects of the business.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR
LAWNKEEPER?
We have taken on three new
franchisees in the past year and
are on target to do at least that in
the next 12 months.
Prospective franchisees don’t
need a background in lawn care, as
we provide all the training. What is
essential is a liking for people and
a desire to succeed.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 15
POWERBRANDS
MOBILE & VAN-
BASED FRANCHISES
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS
IF YOU’RE DRIVEN TO SUCCEED, CONSIDER THESE
OPPORTUNITIES ON WHEELS
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 17
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS
FRANCHISING’S
DRIVING
FORCE
Providing the ultimate in convenience for customers, there’s been a
surge in interest for mobile and van-based franchises of late
WORDS BY LINDA WHITNEY
THE AUTHOR
Linda Whitney writes
about franchising for
the Daily Mail, What
Franchise and many
other publications
C
ould you ride to the
rescue as a mobile
franchisee? The idea
of being a knight in
shining armour, delivering goods or
services to delighted customers, is
not just a fairy tale.
Mobile franchisees commonly say
that they love being on the road,
speaking to new customers and
leaving them happy.
Mobile franchises are not limited
to working from a van, though.
There are management franchises,
where franchisees run teams
of drivers who deliver goods or
services. This can be rewarding,
because happy customers may
contact head office to say thanks.
WHY ARE MOBILE
FRANCHISES WORTH
CONSIDERING NOW?
Internet ordering of goods and
services has been growing for years,
but the pandemic has got people
ordering online like never before. It
means a huge surge in business for
mobile franchises.
At DPD, volumes have surged
to levels normally seen during the
Christmas peak season.
Dan Turner, associate director
of DPD’s Owner Driver Franchise
scheme, says: “Figures for deliveries
from February to July 2020 are
almost twice as much as for the same
period last year.
“On Easter Bank
Holiday Monday
alone the
number of deliveries we handled
was double that of 2019.”
FOOD DELIVERY
For many people, especially the
shielding group advised to stay at
home for 12 weeks, food delivery was
essential.
Franchisees with Wiltshire Farm
Foods, which has been delivering
frozen ready meals to customers’
doors since 1991, were suddenly
inundated with new orders and a
corresponding increase in interest
from prospective franchisees. It’s a
management franchise that means
running a team of delivery drivers.
Wiltshire Farm Foods managing
director Ian Stone says: “We’ve
experienced a significant uplift
in requests from prospective
franchisees who want to capitalise
on the growing trend for home
delivery services.
“They also appreciate our business
proposition and the commercial
value of investing with a company
that yields high returns combined
with the social value of making a
difference to people’s lives.”
WILL THE DELIVERY
BOOM CONTINUE?
“We expect so,” Dan says. “Many of our
customers say that consumers who
tried home delivery for the first time
during lockdown will continue, having
experienced the convenience.
“Coupled with ongoing concerns
surrounding shopping in person,
18 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
every indication is that the current
levels of deliveries are likely to
remain.”
As a result, DPD is recruiting more
Owner Driver Franchisees (ODFs).
“We have recruited around 3,500
new ODFs since the beginning of 2020
and are on track to recruit 3,000 more
this year,” Dan says.
The franchise fee is £400, plus a
£1,000-£2,000 refundable deposit.
You can supply your own vehicle
or lease from DPD. Previous delivery
experience is not essential, though
franchisees must focus equally on
providing an exemplary delivery
service alongside running a
successful business.
OTHER MOBILE
FRANCHISES ARE
BOOMING TOO
John Graham, managing director
of oven cleaning franchise Oven
Wizards, says: “Demand for oven
cleaning post-lockdown has been
like the run-up to Christmas, our
busiest period.
“More home cooking has meant
dirtier ovens and people have realised
the value of oven cleaning services.
The increase in demand shows every
sign of continuing.
“We have seen an increase in
interest from prospective franchisees.
Some suspect they may be made
redundant and want to get into
business for themselves. We are
expecting about six new franchisees
to join us.”
NEW MOBILE FRANCHISES
ARE APPEARING
Claire Harris, founder of the pet taxi
franchise Pets 2 Places, is seeking
her first franchisees.
She says: “Demand soared by 30
per cent over lockdown from people
looking for animal transport to vets
and holidays and from the RSPCA.
We’ve even had the children’s TV
programme Blue Peter looking
for transport for their pet
beagle.”
According to the
company, to become a
Pets 2 Places franchisee
you must have good
driving and customer
service skills, but need
not have worked with
animals before. However,
you will need to take manual
handling and animal first
aid courses and be willing
to generate business through
networking.
IT’S MORE THAN
JUST DRIVING
You need more than driving skills to become
a successful mobile/van-based franchisee,
although franchisors provide training in
the necessary practical skills, plus business
training and support such as route
scheduling and customer relationship
management software.
You will need people skills too. Successfully
interacting with customers generates
repeat business and increased customer
recommendations.
MOBILE FRANCHISES
CAN BE INEXPENSIVE
Hands-on mobile franchises are usually
relatively inexpensive - often under £15,000.
On top of that, you may have to supply
your own van, but you may
be able to access lease
finance for that.
POWERBRANDS
“Hands-on mobile
franchises are
usually relatively
inexpensive”
MANAGEMENT FRANCHISES
IN THE MOBILE SECTOR
You don’t have to be a driver. Many franchises
in this sector are management franchises,
where you run teams of drivers.
These franchises cost more than
hands-on mobile franchises and you
typically need people and business
management skills, making them
attractive to people changing careers.
Many mobile franchises encourage
hands-on franchisees to build teams of
drivers and move into management.
ONLINE ORDERING BOOM EQUALS MORE BUSINESS
FOR MOBILE FRANCHISEES
Since lockdown, online ordering has soared. Every order needs
someone to deliver it.
The survey COVID-19 and the Consumer by digital commerce
agency Astound Commerce found that online shopping
surged by 129 per cent week on week during lockdown and
that 31 per cent of global consumers are increasing their
online expenditure.
In the grocery sector alone, consultancy company Kantar
found that online ordering now accounts for 11.5 per cent
of all grocery sales and that the channel has attracted
more new shoppers in 2020 than in the previous five years
put together.
Market research specialist Nielsen puts the online share of
the grocery market in the four weeks to May 16 even higher at 13
per cent - nearly double its share for the same time last year.
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 19
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS
Mobile franchise
services that may
surprise you
ALL THESE SERVICES - AND
MANY MORE - ARE DELIVERED
BY MOBILE FRANCHISEES:
• Pet food deliveries
• Foot health services
• Tree stump removal
• Gutter clearing
• Pet care
• Vehicle paintwork repair
• Window cleaning
• Shutter installation
• Property cleaning and restoration
• Coffee and snack supply
• Loft ladder installation
• Oven cleaning
• Dog washing
• Estate agent signboard erection
• Pest control
• Greetings cards to shops
• Window repairs
• Automotive tool sales
• Hygiene products sales and services
Before buying a
mobile franchise
1Choose your area carefully. How many potential
customers are there and how scattered are they?
Scattered customers mean more time driving, but the
value of each order may mean it’s worth it.
Check the franchise offers good route scheduling
2 software to maximise your time earning and minimise
fuel costs.
Go out on rounds with existing franchisees. It’s a big
3 change from an office job.
Understand that you need to be on time every time or
4 risk disappointing customers.
Check safety measures to minimise the risk of
5 COVID-19.
“We’ve even had the children’s TV
programme Blue Peter looking for
transport for their pet beagle”
Anita Amesbury-Page: Wiltshire
Farm Foods
Delivering business growth with the
feel-good factor
“My client numbers grew 48 per cent
during lockdown and we’ve retained about
two thirds of them,” says Anita Amesbury-
Page, who owns the Blandford, Dorset
franchise for Wiltshire Farm Foods, the
home meal delivery service.
She bought the franchise as a resale
in September 2019 and uses her past
experience as a team manager in banking
to run her current team of 18 staff.
Her drivers deliver food to over 1,500
customers a week across a large territory
that stretches from
Wimborne, Dorset to Axminster, Devon.
“We had four drivers when I bought
the franchise and I plan to expand that to
eight by the end of this year,” Anita says.
“Currently, we run five to seven rounds a
day, but I plan to increase that to eight, so
I’m buying an extra van and remapping the
rounds to make them more efficient.
“Expansion was always my plan, but then
lockdown made it essential.”
However, Wiltshire Farm Foods is about
more than business growth.
“The biggest reward comes from making
our clients feel good,” Anita says. “Most
of our customers are elderly, vulnerable
or disabled and have been in the shielding
group expected to remain in their homes
for three months. Now that is over, but
many are going outdoors less often than
in the past, so meal
deliveries are a lifeline for them.
“A visit from one of our drivers means
they see a friendly face and I schedule the
drivers’ rounds so they have time for a
quick chat, even if it’s only from a distance.”
Anita manages the team and the overall
business rather than doing deliveries
herself, but says she would happily do
so if necessary.
“This is a management franchise, but
going out with the delivery drivers is part
of the franchisee training, so I know what
value our drivers bring to our customers’
lives,” she says.
“It’s great to be growing the business,
but the biggest reward is customer
feedback. We get cards and calls in the
office all the time from customers who
are grateful for our service. It gives me a
nice warm feeling.”
20 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
POWERBRANDS
Dani Hickman:
Dog First Aid
The franchisee
that helps save pets’ lives
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS
Every time Dani Hickman takes to the road, dogs’ lives get safer.
Dani is the owner-operator of the Derbyshire and East
Staffordshire Dog First Aid franchise, delivering dog first aid
training courses to dog owners and canine professionals.
She says: “I took a Dog First Aid training course in 2018 and
was so impressed that I decided to invest in the franchise.
“After 20 years in the corporate world, I can now indulge my
love of dogs and the flexible hours mean I have time to be ‘mum’
to my rescue dogs Ian and Mally, three cats and three hens and to
support my local dog shelter.”
After training with members of the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons and work experience in a veterinary practice, Dani
started travelling to venues to deliver courses that provide
the skills and confidence to help dogs in emergencies. During
lockdown, the courses have been delivered online from
Dani’s home office.
Clare Adrian, one of Dani’s course attendees, says: “My
nine-month-old puppy started choking on a training treat
while we were out on a walk, so in the middle of a field I put my
training into practice. It took a while, but it came out. I’m so glad I
knew what to do.”
Jo Middleton, managing director and founder of Dog First
Aid, says: “You don’t need a background in the veterinary world
to become a Dog First Aid franchisee, but you must be a dog
lover with ambition to grow a business.
“Our franchisees get training with registered members of the
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and unlimited ongoing
support from our in-house veterinary team.”
Ray White:
Oven Wizards
Mobile oven cleaning
drives a secure future
“About a year before I joined Oven
Wizards, I began to realise the company
I was working for could not guarantee
me a secure future,” Ray White says.
He decided to look for a business
of his own and since 2012 has been
the Oven Wizards franchisee covering
Watford and the surrounding areas.
“I’d been a production manager
in a factory and decided on a mobile
franchise because it meant going to
different places and meeting new
people each day - and I still love that,”
Ray says.
“Since lockdown lifted, we have been
exceptionally busy. Partly it’s regular
bookings held off over the lockdown,
but we’re also seeing many new
customers because people have
been cooking at home more so
their ovens are dirtier.
“I expect many of these new
customers to become regulars
because we know from customer
feedback that we do a good job.
Customers are delighted with the
results, which always puts a smile
on your face.”
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 21
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Great service
at low cost
Popular in the south, easyStorage says there’s pent-up
demand for its offering in the Midlands and North. Could
you help bring the business to a wider audience?
e
asyStorage is the only
mobile storage franchise
in the UK.
By the clever use
of technology and a streamlined
operation, easyStorage brings a
reliable, secure storage system
to a wider public. The price to the
customer makes it hugely
appealing when compared to
traditional self-storage and the
support offered to customers is
invaluable for them. Moreover,
they are guaranteed no price rises
during their storage period.
The easyStorage franchise idea
was pitched to Sir Stelios in 2017.
The first pilot was run in 2018 and
in 2019 the first franchisees joined.
Since then the business has evolved.
The essence of any easyGroup
operation is great service at
low cost. There’s been a huge
investment in technology to achieve
this and customers can now book
completely online at their
convenience and a customer service
team is there to support customers
and franchisees alike.
Today, easyStorage believes that
it is the only storage operation to
allow the customer to book end to
end online, which means the user
knows that they are getting the
same, fair deal. (Many past users
of self-storage feel that they don’t
get the same, fair pricing when
they have to call a sales person
to negotiate.)
With the backing of the easy
brand, customers know what to
expect. People in the easyStorage
‘family’ try to understand the
customer, to empathise with them.
There is an open culture and the
public trusts the easy brand to be
honest with them. In the event of
any issues, we work together to
find a resolution.
HOW THE EASYSTORAGE
FRANCHISE MODEL
WORKS
easyStorage franchisees are
awarded specific territories, with a
minimum of 600,000 dwellings.
They manage their own
businesses with easyStorage’s
technology, support and procedures,
AT A GLANCE
easyStorage
Established:
2017
Number of franchised outlets:
17
Location of units:
London, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex,
Berkshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire,
Worcester, South Birmingham, Liverpool
and Manchester
Investment range:
£100,000-£130,000
Minimum required capital:
£50,000
Contact:
Louise Harris, Head of Strategic
Partnerships. louise.harris@easystorage.
com
easystorage.com/franchise
ensuring a consistent experience
for the customer. The key is
business management - although it
would be easy to assume that this
is a ‘man with van’ type franchise,
it’s far from it. While some
franchisees enjoy getting hands
on, the franchise is based on good
management skills and a focus on
business development.
To organise themselves well,
franchisees need to manage
staff and manage the ‘back office’
functions like accounts and
ultimately property management.
And although some franchisees
prefer to, they don’t need a property
for storage to start out.
This is one of the many things
that easyStorage helps with.
THE IDEAL FRANCHISEE
easyStorage has taken out a lot
of the risk for storage operations
with the support and processes it
offers, so for someone ambitious this
represents a fabulous opportunity.
It is looking for business savvy
franchisees: commercially aware, but
who recognise the added value of the
easy brand and way of working.
This is a youngish franchise,
but with the easy group expertise,
brand and people behind them -
successful, ‘easy’, well established
ways of working. People joining the
franchise now will help shape the
easyStorage of the future. There
will always be constant innovation
and investment in technology that
helps all franchisees and the ideal
franchisee is someone who would
love to be part of that.
The franchise has already proved
very popular in the south, with
only Herts and Cambridge, South
22 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS - easyStorage
“The self-storage sector is proving
more resilient than many other
industries in dealing with the fallout
of the COVID-19 pandemic”
Nigel Dawson, Franchise
Director at easyStorage
Wales and Cornwall territories
still available. However, franchise
applicants from the Midlands
and the North are very welcome,
especially Birmingham, Sheffield and
Leeds where the company believes
there is a pent-up demand.
easyStorage franchisees vary
hugely in their background.
easyStorage Manchester, for
example, was started by Graham
Howard. Committed, experienced
and professional, Graham has vast
experience of the self-storage market
and saw the lower cost entry into
the market as appealing, as well as
seeing the advantages to customers
of mobile storage. He believes
that once people wake up to the
advantages of mobile storage rather
than self-storage, there will be no
looking back.
By contrast, Gavin Duke recently
started up easyStorage Croydon.
His background is marketing. The
appeal of easyStorage to him was
the variety of work involved in
the franchise and being out of the
office a lot. The appeal of Gavin
to easyStorage is his creativity in
marketing and understanding of
the brand.
Both franchisees have a good
understanding of business. They
understand the need to follow
the easyStorage processes and
guidelines in order to succeed,
while having freedom within those
parameters to build the businesses
they want.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 23
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
It’s easy, therefore, to see (if you’ll
pardon the pun!) that there is more
than one way to join easyStorage.
The company is evolving and
adaptable and the essence is that
franchise and franchisee add value
to each other.
The start point for this is a
one to one. From there, financial
disclosures are made and a solid
business plan developed by the
franchisee in conjunction with a
specialist franchise partner. This
is then presented to the
easyStorage team.
Tim Slesinger, easyStorage
CEO, with Sir Stelios
TRAINING AND SUPPORT
To see whether the ‘marriage’ of
franchise and franchisee is a good
one, potential franchisees are
invited to a Discovery Day, where the
inner workings of the franchise and
investments are discussed, along
with both sides’ expectations.
Once franchisees are on board,
training is free and can be repeated.
It’s open to both the franchisee
principle and their team members.
Top up training is organised as
required and telephone support
is available.
The training covers everything
from set up and resourcing, through
to customer service, sales and
marketing. Operations and accounts
are an essential part of the business
and vehicle management and
practical skills are also offered.
A FRANCHISE IN DEMAND
Statista estimates that by 2024
the global self-storage market is
forecast to be worth $49.24 billion,
up from $37.33 billion in 2018.
However, the US dominated the
market, accounting for 90 per
cent of self-storage inventory
worldwide. This simply shows
how underexploited the markets
are elsewhere.
With a looming recession and
people downsizing or combining
households for numerous reasons,
there is every reason to believe that
the UK self-storage market will
continue to grow.
According to a Cushman &
Wakefield report in May 2020, the
self-storage sector is proving more
resilient than many other industries
in dealing with the fallout of the
COVID-19 pandemic. The reasons
for this vary, but notably include
movements in the housing market as
people downsize or undertake home
improvement projects rather than
“The franchise is based on good
management skills and a focus on
business development”
move. Around 45 per cent of people
use self-storage simply because
they lack space.
Annual turnover for the UK
industry increased to £766 million
in 2019. Add to that ‘removals’
storage, which accounts for around
£350 million, the UK market is
worth in excess of £1,116 million.
With the saturated US self-storage
market remaining buoyant, it is
clear that the UK, which accounts
for around 41 per cent of European
self-storage income, still has traction
- the concept of self-storage is an
established one.
Mobile storage like easyStorage is
an exciting market development, a
relatively new concept. Its simplicity
and pricing will take self-storage
to a new market looking for more
affordable options.
Previous economic downturns
have presented opportunities for
the sector. There is every reason to
believe that this will continue. As the
concepts of both mobile storage and
end to end online booking gather
popularity with consumers, along
with the additional price benefit
attraction, and topped off with a
brand that they trust, there is every
reason to believe that easyStorage
will make a huge dent in the
traditional storage market and
help bring it to a wider audience.
24 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS - Cafe2U
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Showing its
true colours
CEO Martyn Ward reflects on how Cafe2U has
navigated its way through unprecedented times
CAFE2U
Established: 2004
Number of franchised outlets: 90-plus
Location of units: nationwide
Investment range: as low as £15,000
(subject to status)
Minimum required capital: £10,000
(subject to status)
Contact: Teresa Fowler
cafe2u.co.uk
“I’ve been
humbled by
the grit and
determination of
our franchisees”
I
remember having a
conversation with the event
planner managing our 2018
conference: “You need to
start planning your 2020 conference
soon, as dates are already selling out,”
he said.
He was eluding to the fact that
2020 would be the year when many
companies were planning to make a big
splash about their plans for the next
decade. ‘2020 vision’ was surely going
to become an early contender for most
overused phrase of the decade.
We took heed of his advice and in
February this year held our annual
conference, where we did exactly that.
Our conference was indeed focused
around our 2020 vision, as well as
unveiling our refreshed branding,
electric technology in our mobile coffee
shops and a new mobile app.
THE WORLD CHANGED
Nobody could have predicted what would
transpire shortly after. An entirely new
way of life was set to unfold and previously
unheard of phrases were about to
become the norm.
People would clap for the NHS
every Thursday evening. Joe Wicks
would inspire millions to exercise
every morning. The list could go on.
However, it’s safe to say that the
happenings over the last five months
were not in anyone’s plans - business
or otherwise.
On March 23, when Boris Johnson
announced an initial three-week
lockdown, it was clear the world was
about to change, potentially forever.
This was going to be the time when
people and organisations showed their
true colours and where a sense of
community had not been so important
since the Second World War. The
irony of the 75th VE Day anniversary
celebrations taking place during
lockdown was not lost on me.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
The franchise community,
specifically, has been nothing short
of brilliant. Franchisors shared
best practice on regular Zoom calls,
the British Franchise Association
hosted weekly web meetings with
industry experts and the team at
Coconut Creatives held Franchise
Fest online. Simply amazing.
‘Focus and Clarity have never
been more important’ was the
leading line in our group newsletter
on March 24. This sentiment has
played a tremendous part in our
ability to navigate our way through
these unprecedented times and
has enabled us to get through the
pandemic.
There has been a strong focus
on the well-being of our franchise
partners as we formulated our plan
to relaunch the business as well as
exploring - and piloting - a major
new profit centre for our existing
franchisees.
There will be more on this in the
coming months, but never has the
benefit of a mobile business been
more prevalent.
The nature of our business
presented us with unique
opportunities throughout lockdown
- my personal highlight being the
fact we were able to deliver more
than 15,000 free cups of coffee to
NHS front-line workers.
I’ve been humbled by the grit and
determination of our franchisees
- always looking for ways to pivot
their businesses and help in their
communities. We’re so lucky to
have a franchise network full of
truly amazing people and are
delighted to see a number of
them breaking records for sales
since starting back.
26 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Employees
to business
owners
Irmina and Michal Kowalska postponed
buying a house, instead putting their money
into a Revive! franchise
T
he world of cars and mobilebased
car repairs has
traditionally been almost
exclusively male, with few
women making it their career of choice.
However, franchisee Irmina Kowalska
of Revive! Basingstoke is not phased at
all by being one of a handful of women
operating in the sector.
NEW WORLD
In 2013, she and her partner Michal
decided to postpone buying a house
“One of the best moments
was winning an award for
business growth at the last
Revive! conference”
and instead put their savings into
starting their own Revive! franchise.
It was a new world for Irmina, but
she threw herself into it, taking
up the training opportunities
with Revive!
Irmina deals with a wide range of
customers, from local and national
car dealerships to the general public,
and has been instrumental in driving
sales growth for Revive! Basingstoke,
gaining the Developer Gold award at
last year’s annual Revive! conference.
She says: “Like many people
starting a business, we wanted to be
in more control of our future. Being
part of a network really helps. We
have other franchisees around us
who will help if we need it, as well as
support from head office.
“One of the best moments was
AT A GLANCE
REVIVE! AUTO
INNOVATIONS (UK)
Established:
2004
Number of franchised outlets: 55
Location of outlets: nationwide
Investment range: £32,000
Minimum capital required: £20,000
Contact: franchising@revive-uk.com
revivefranchise.com
winning an award for business
growth at the last Revive! conference,
something I’m very proud of.
“The money we saved over the
years we could have invested in a
house, but we decided that investing
in a business would be a better idea.
“Head office have been there for
us since day one - they help us with
everything. It’s not just a phone call,
it’s all the training and other support
they offer to help build the business
with you.”
DEDICATED TO SUCCESS
Irmina and Michal say they
wondered how they were going
to get customers, how to answer
phone calls, how to talk to
customers and get more jobs.
“It was all new territory for us,”
she admits. “But everybody at head
office was so dedicated to us, from
helping us call and win customers
to guiding us in our first week. Most
of our customers are regulars and
many we gained in that first week
are still with us, so obviously the
support we got from Revive!
meant a lot.
“We won the Developer Gold
award and it meant we felt that
all the work and effort we’ve put
into our business was recognised
by head office. It made us proud
and want to go further with the
business. It’s really rewarding.”
EXPERIENCED TEAM
Over the years, Revive! has invested
in building an experienced team to
support franchisees, as well as a
leading edge IT platform, which has
transformed the business.
This success has been
recognised again this year in the
British Franchise Association
HSBC awards, where Revive! is one
of only six companies shortlisted
for the prestigious Franchisor of
the Year Award, after previously
winning the 2018 bfa/HSBC award
for Franchisee Support.
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS - Revive! Auto Innovations (UK)
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 27
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Live the life
you want
The Just Shutters franchise offers a sense of personal
satisfaction combined with flexibility and future security
W
hen was the last time
you woke up before
the alarm clock and
couldn’t wait to get
started with your business day?
It’s not often a business
opportunity offers a sense of
personal satisfaction combined
with flexibility and future security,
but a Just Shutters franchise does
exactly that.
The company is looking for
hands-on potential franchisees
who are passionate about
building their own business and
dedicated to providing excellent
customer service. But what
are you looking for?
BE YOUR OWN BOSS
AND HAVE THE LIFESTYLE
YOU DESERVE?
Many people would love to run their
own business, but it can be hard
work and although you reap all the
rewards you also take all the risks.
But when you buy a franchise
with a successful company like
Just Shutters, you can minimise
the most significant and
common threats.
Just Shutters is a well
established brand with an
outstanding reputation for
installing beautiful bespoke
plantation shutters - and this is
your opportunity to share in its
success. The company will help you
to build a business that will deliver
the lifestyle you’ve always wanted.
training on its products and the
systems you’ll need to succeed. The
company has successful franchises
across the UK, so knows they work.
Shutters are a growing market -
their timeless elegance, which
marries to any interior design style,
means their appeal is growing year
on year. Just Shutters focuses on
building long-lasting customer
relationships and has exceptionally
high - over 50 per cent - repeat and
customer referral business.
DO YOU WANT TO
EARN WELL?
Your £27,000 investment will
provide you with an attractive
cash flow and by following Just
Shutters’ plan you can realistically
expect to be earning £90,000
per annum by year three. You
will also benefit from a fantastic
marketing launch package, worth
£9,000, which means you’ll hit the
ground running.
Franchisees immediately begin
operating like an established
business. Just Shutters’ training
AT A GLANCE
JUST SHUTTERS
FRANCHISE
Established: 2006
Number of franchised outlets: 20
Location of units: across England
and Wales
Investment range: £27,000 (plus VAT)
Contact: 01202 233744
shutter-franchise.co.uk
“Franchisees
immediately
begin operating
like an
established
business”
provides all the guidance you
need to run a slick operation,
while avoiding having to learn
through mistakes.
The company’s team of
professionals are always available
to help you achieve your full
earning potential.
Support includes national
marketing campaigns across
print, digital and social, ideas
and suggestions for proven ways
to market your business locally,
sales and administration support,
bespoke web pages on the Just
Shutters’ site and access to high
quality printed collateral.
Just Shutters has a family
business ethos, while providing big
company benefits.
Behind MOBILE the & VAN-BASED Brand - Xxxxxxxxxxx POWERBRANDS - Just Shutters Franchise
START A BUSINESS
WITH LESS RISK?
Just Shutters will use its more
than 14 years’ experience
to help you set up and run
your home-based business.
It provides comprehensive
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 29
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS - Shuttercraft
Scale rapidly
- diversify
locally
Charlie Scott has gone from franchise
marketeer to shutter pioneer
AT A GLANCE
SHUTTERCRAFT
Established:
2012
Number of franchised outlets: 29
Location of units: nationwide
Investment range: £25,000-£60,000
Minimum required capital: £25,000
Contact: Lisa Stead
shuttercraft-franchise.co.uk/contact-us
“Word of mouth
is certainly
the best lead
generator”
C
harlie Scott graduated
in 1998 with a degree
in business studies
and spent the following
19 years in a variety of sales and
marketing roles.
In 2005 he began his career in
franchising, working in senior roles
at HomeServe plc and Rainbow
International. He was also part
of the turnaround team for Home
Energy Services, a management
buyout from E.ON in
2013, which was
subsequently sold
to HomeServe
in 2015.
BEST CHOICE
So why did he choose franchising
over an employed career? Having
held board level positions at two
large franchise organisations,
Charlie knew how a franchise
model enabled the franchisee
to scale the business rapidly
and diversify locally to create a
balanced business model.
Charlie explains why
Shuttercraft was the best
franchise choice in his eyes:
“The growth figures in the
shutter industry and the quality
of the S:CRAFT product initially
gained my interest.
“The follow-up meetings with
Shuttercraft head office gave
me confidence that the market
was there to build a successful
business and the support
network would ensure I could
deliver market leading levels of
service and value in my area.
“I would also be part of
Shuttercraft’s pioneering
management franchise model,
which is a first in this sector. This
appealed greatly as it offered me
the ability to scale the business
quickly and efficiently.”
Charlie joined Shuttercraft in
2017 and the first year was slow
and steady by design.
Shuttercraft advocates
learning the business from
the ground up and supporting
new franchisees in taking
their time, learning the best
way to help. Surveying and
fitting were new to Charlie,
so he had some new skills to
learn and perfect.
EARLY EXPERIENCE
Charlie shared with us his early
experience: “I ran the business
single-handed for the first nine
months, before taking on a parttime
fitter to help out. Building
the business from the ground up
paid dividends.
“My strategy has always been
to offer the very best service
and I’m very proud to be the
UK’s highest rated shutter
retailer on Trustpilot.
“Shutters are the premium
window covering choice and
their popularity is driving
continuous growth. With the
support of Shuttercraft head
office, I have a multichannel
marketing programme, but word
of mouth is certainly the best
lead generator.
“When you do a great job
for someone, they tell their
friends and family, it’s as
simple as that.”
STEP CHANGE
In the last year, Charlie has
seen a step change in the
business from a lead volume and
conversion rate perspective.
He now has three surveyors
and four fitters on the books and
business performance is beyond
his original stretch targets,
let alone franchise minimum
projections.
“I knew franchising worked
and now I know the Shuttercraft
model delivers results and that
I made the right decision to join
them,” Charlie says.
30 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS - OSCAR Pet Foods
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Ready to roll
OSCAR Pet Foods’ resale opportunities provide
you with an immediate income
OSCAR PET
FOODS
Established: 1994
Number of franchised outlets: 100-plus
Location of units: nationwide
Investment range: from £8,995 (plus VAT)
Minimum required capital: £8,995 (plus
VAT)
Contact: Janet Walmsley. 0800 068 1106
oscar.co.uk
“OSCAR Pet
Foods provides
a safe platform
from which to
generate sales”
that’s a full member of the British
Franchise Association and the Pet
Food Manufacturers’ Association.
S
tarting a new business
involves careful research,
but with over 12 million
households in the UK
owning pets and needing support,
OSCAR Pet Foods knows there’s
never been a better time to enter
the pet industry.
Due to coronavirus, the pet
sector’s ready-made customer base
is more in need of reliable, safe home
delivery than ever before - and being
declared an essential business means
the industry has been fortunate to
sustain market growth.
SILVER LINING
We all want certainty. It’s a valuable
commodity in our newly uncertain
world as we navigate our way through
COVID-19. And as anyone looking
to invest in the franchise industry
will realise, a silver lining to the
pandemic may well be a resale
opportunity.
Choosing a strong brand, such as
OSCAR Pet Foods, within a sector is
key. The reasons for sale can vary -
from retirement to relocating. Some
of OSCAR Pet Foods’ resales have
been franchisees for over 20 years.
Unlike a new franchise, a resale
provides you with income from
day one. And with existing trading
figures at your fingertips, together
with seamless customer transfer
and valuable vendor insights, your
future success is easier to predict.
With over 25 years of successful
trading and franchising experience,
OSCAR Pet Foods provides a safe
platform from which to generate
sales and the benefits of being
associated with a strong brand
PASSION FOR PETS
When Allison Wright became aware
that her local OSCAR Pet Foods
franchisee was advertising his
business for sale, she immediately
made contact.
“I could see that it offered
me flexibility to work around
my current commitments, but
ultimately the opportunity added to
my passion for pets,” Allison, from
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, says.
“I had confidence in the product
and service and that made the
process of purchasing my OSCAR
business easy.
“I was also very grateful to
have an introduction to existing
customers - it was a valuable
experience as it gave me a direct
opportunity to understand the
function of the business and
appreciate their needs.”
PROFITABLE
PARTNERSHIP
OSCAR Pet Foods knows that
its success depends on the
investment the company makes
in its franchisees.
Individuals purchasing one of
its franchise resales are given
detailed training and exemplary
support, plus a guarantee of a
smooth business handover, so
they can enjoy delivering a
fantastic local service.
32 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS - Driving Miss Daisy
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Happy
birthday to us
Driving Miss Daisy franchisees Zororo
Mubaya and Terence Kavuru are celebrating
a successful first year in business
H
usband and wife team
Zororo Mubaya and
Terence Kavuru are
celebrating their first
business birthday after securing
their Driving Miss Daisy franchise
in August 2019.
The couple, who once ran a
recruitment service on Oxford
Business Park North, have lived in
Didcot since 2005 and wanted to
provide a service giving peace of mind
to those with older family members.
They are fully equipped to assist
anyone of any age who needs a
hand when their family isn’t
available to help.
“I can’t believe the
difference Driving Miss
Daisy has made to my life -
E Jeffries”
RANGE OF SERVICES
Driving Miss Daisy companion drivers
provide a range of services, from
helping with shopping trips to support
at family events or even just spending
a couple of hours chatting or playing
board games with someone who might
spend a lot of time alone.
They can collect children from
school and take them to afterschool
activities if working parents are unable
to make it in time for school pick-up
and can also help clients with everyday
appointments, waiting and returning
them to the comfort of their own home.
Longer distance journeys enable
people to access holiday destinations
in the knowledge their journey will be
safe, comfortable and tailored to
their needs.
All Driving Miss Daisy
companion drivers adhere to
strict COVID-19 health and
hygiene protocols to maintain
everyone’s safety and welfare.
EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT
Zororo says: “Driving Miss Daisy
is often described as ‘family when
family can’t be there’.
“When times are busy and people
sometimes live a long way from
their elderly relatives, we want to be
able to provide peace of mind.
AT A GLANCE
DRIVING MISS
DAISY
Established: early 2015 in the UK
Number of franchised outlets: 35
Location of units: UK-wide
Investment range: franchise licenses start
at £5,000 (plus VAT), with total start-up
costs starting in the region of £12,000
(licensing and vehicle deposit). Start-up
costs vary depending on where you live
Contact: 0333 014 6211.
Info@drivingmissdaisy.co.uk
drivingmissdaisy.co.uk
“We really enjoy our business -
every day is different and we have
the pleasure of helping and chatting
to people from all walks of life.”
OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE
Driving Miss Daisy has operational
teams across the UK offering
exceptional services during these
difficult times and there are still
franchise opportunities available
and a menu of investment options.
If you’re a compassionate
person, want to make a difference
to people’s lives and enhance your
local community and have an
entrepreneurial spirit, the company
would love to hear from you.
34 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Turning
redundancy
on its head
These Agency Express franchisees have
bounced back by starting their own
businesses
B
eing made redundant is
a daunting prospect and
those all-important next
steps can be unclear.
However, for Agency Express’
van-based franchisees redundancy
opened up previously unobtainable
opportunities. They turned
redundancy on its head by
investing in their future. Investing
payouts into a franchise business
has for many felt the most secure
option and has also enabled
ambitions to become tangible
opportunities.
“Investing my redundancy
money into a franchise has
been a great choice”
ALWAYS SUPPORTED
Martin Shuker of Agency Express
(Lancaster) says: “After being made
redundant for the third time in one
year, I needed control of my own
destiny. Building a business from
scratch is terrifying and rewarding
in equal measures, but the benefit of
being part of a franchise is that you’re
always supported.
“For anyone who has been made
redundant and has had the same fears
and frustration as me, I would say,
consider franchising.
“Investing my redundancy money
into a franchise has been a great
choice. I’ve now owned my Agency
Express franchise for seven years. It’s
taken hard work and commitment to
get where I am, but I’m in control of
AT A GLANCE
AGENCY EXPRESS
Established:
1998
Number of franchised outlets: 117
Location of outlets: UK-wide
Investment range: £21,500
Minimum capital required: £12,500
Contact: Ben Brookes
agencyexpress.co.uk
my future and not having the fear of
redundancy is a great feeling.”
Multi-award winning Agency
Express is the UK’s largest provider
of professional estate agency board
services and has remained a market
leader in the industry since 1998.
With 117 franchisees successfully
operating across the country, the
company services and maintains
over 60 per cent of all UK estate
agency boards.
The owner operated opportunity
benefits from low start-up costs,
low overheads and generates high
returns, which makes it an attractive
opportunity for redundancy investors.
Ben Brookes, Agency Express
managing director, says: “Our business
is simple, effective and accessible to
people from all walks of life.
“The franchise model is easy to
follow and offers tangible, profitable
results. The key to our success is a
well supported franchise network,
who in turn deliver a market leading
service. It is that simple.”
Agency Express believes
redundancy is an opportunity to
refocus and reassess. An opportunity
to take control and start building a
successful future of your own.
AFFORDABLE
OPPORTUNITY
Alex Sunjich of Agency Express
(Falkirk), says: “After being made
redundant from the petrochemical
industry, I was looking for an
affordable business opportunity
when I came across Agency Express.
“A big factor was the relatively low
start-up cost. However, the clincher
for me was when I met the team I’d
be working with. I felt confident I’d
have the support I needed.
“Starting your own business is
hard work. How much effort you put
in will determine what you get out,
but I’ve learnt that the key is to ask
for help when you need it. The part I
enjoy most about owning a franchise
is I work for myself. There is no limit
to how far I can take the business.”
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS - Agency Express
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 35
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
One to watch
Chris Goodchild, founder of The Best Magic Mirrors,
shares how this super fun, fully loaded business
with high earning potential is set to take the
franchise world by storm
AT A GLANCE
THE BEST MAGIC
MIRRORS
Established:
2020
Investment range:
£18,000
Minimum required capital:
£18,000
Contact:
Chris Goodchild.
info@thebestmagicmirrors.co.uk
thebestmagicmirrorsfranchise.co.uk
I
originally launched
our photobooth
business in 2015, prior
to launching our British
Franchise Association accredited
franchise in 2020.
What we have developed is a low
cost, high reward mobile business
that delivers a great lifestyle and is
built on strong family and lifestyle
values; we’ll show you how easy it
is to achieve high earnings, while
loving what you do every day and
being fully supported at all times.
Our combination of low
management fees, taking a
partnership approach with our
franchisees and our business
coaching, account management,
technical support and creative
design services ensures we stand
out in the wedding and events
franchise market.
We have a fun and focused
approach when selecting our
franchise partners, ensuring they
share our high customer experience
values. This makes things much
easier when we’re working
together to help them build their
businesses. Their success is our
success and we do everything we
can to support them.
From working with celebrities
to high profile brands, including
Pepsico, Walkers and the NHS, to
name a few, we also love a good
wedding, party and prom too.
We are very excited to build the
brand with like-minded individuals
looking for a new life experience;
this is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle.
THE BEST SUPPORT
When starting a franchise,
business support is one of the most
important elements to help you get
underway successfully.
It gives you the reassurance and
confidence to get out there and
succeed with the knowledge that
you are never alone. So if you have
any questions or concerns at any
time or you have a new idea that
you are not quite sure about, then
run it past us.
We’ll embrace new thinking and
opportunities and help to shape
and develop them. In our book,
there’s no such thing as a ‘stupid
question’ - just ask, otherwise you
won’t learn!
Our support package covers
everything you might need,
including business planning,
financial guidance, marketing
and design for both online and
print, not to mention hiring the
best people and IT support. And if
there’s anything else that’s not on
the list, then just ask us, as we’re
here to help and support every
step of the way.
THE DEMAND KEEPS
GROWING
In total, the UK events
sector is worth £41.2 billion and
the UK wedding industry alone is
worth a whopping £10 billion.
2021 and 2022 are set to be the
busiest years for the wedding
market, due to the high demand for
dates because of postponements
due to the pandemic. In addition,
there’s the £31.2 billion events
sector that also needs servicing.
This is great news for
franchisees, as we can ensure you
hit the deck running in order to
make the most of these massive
opportunities.
GAME CHANGING
VIRTUAL EVENTS
With the addition of our virtual
photobooths and memory mosaics,
we are now welcoming clients
from all over the world, which our
36 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
“Commission fees are
waived for the first three
months to help new
franchisees become
properly established”
MOBILE & VAN-BASED POWERBRANDS - The Best Magic Mirrors
franchisees will also benefit from.
Born from the COVID-19 pandemic,
this has proved to be a game changer
for the brand as we launch new and
exciting virtual tech to service the
demand and this hybrid event sector
continues to grow.
THE IDEAL FRANCHISEE
Fundamentally, we’re looking to
partner with individuals who
share our vision and passion
for offering the best customer
experience, while enjoying high
earnings and lifestyle benefits.
While experience in the
wedding and events industry
is not mandatory, we’re looking
for operators with good business
acumen and an ability to see
the potential in commercial
opportunities across online and
face-to-face experiences.
A FUN WAY TO BE YOUR
OWN BOSS
What can a new partner expect
from their Magic Mirror photobooth
business? A fun way to be your own
boss and make money along the way,
while enjoying more time for yourself
and your loved ones.
Our franchise model is geared to
return initial investments quickly
and with our guidance and business
development advice, there are many
ways to showcase our products,
including our newly launched
virtual photobooths.
Our team is always on hand
to offer assistance, training and
marketing support, ensuring your
team is constantly delivering the
very best customer experience.
And to give you a head start,
commission fees are waived for the first
three months to help new franchisees
become properly established.
Request a free brochure today at
thebestmagicmirrorsfranchise.co.uk
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 37
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - X-Press Legal Services
Trusted to
perform an
essential role
Whatever the state of the property market, an X-Press
Legal Services franchise is a low risk proposition
AT A GLANCE
X-PRESS LEGAL
SERVICES
Established:
2005
Number of franchised outlets:
27
Location of units:
England and Wales
Investment range:
all new franchise offices are a straight
franchise fee of £29,750, with a working
capital requirement of £15,000
Minimum required capital:
£29,750
Contact:
Dave or Julie. 01925 393333
xpresslegal.co.uk/become-afranchise-owner
D
elivering over 400,000
property searches and reports
every year, which identify any
local authority, property and
environmental issues to solicitors and other
professionals within the conveyancing
sector, X-Press Legal Services is trusted by
more than 500 legal practices nationwide
to perform an essential role in the property
buying process in the UK.
“You don’t need any
previous legal experience,
as your clients will be the
legal professionals”
Searches are fundamental to every
property sale, development, remortgage
and repossession. In brief, they’re required
as part of every residential and commercial
property transaction.
So whatever the
state of the property
market, an X-Press Legal
Services franchise is low
risk, with franchisees
benefiting from regular,
repeat business.
CONFIDENCE
RETURNING
Indeed, based on
recent search report
orders received across
the X-Press franchise
network, franchisees
have seen an increase
of at least 50 per cent
month on month, which
shows that home buyers
have definitely bounced
back with confidence
post COVID-19. Many have also seen
their best trading month ever.
Since forming X-Press Legal
Services in 1998, Dave and Lynne
Lister have built a successful business
consisting of a head office operation
based in Warrington and a national
network of 27 franchise offices.
Over 50 per cent of current
franchisees have been part of the
X-Press Legal Services family since
the company became a franchise
in 2005.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
Lynne Lister, managing director,
explains what the company looks
for in a franchise owner: “Becoming
an X-Press Legal Services franchise
owner is easier than you might think.
Importantly, you don’t need any
previous legal experience, as
your clients will be the legal
professionals. It’s a low risk
business which can be run from
home with minimal overheads.
“Our franchise owners come
from all walks of life and a diverse
range of backgrounds and former
careers. But as the reports we prepare
for clients are legal documents, it
helps if you have good attention to
detail, excellent communication skills
and are computer savvy.
“We are a friendly, supportive
franchise and we make sure we all
work together to ensure current
franchisees are successful and
new franchisees get off to the best
possible start.”
FRANCHISE PACKAGE
X-Press Legal Services franchisees
receive exclusive rights to a
territory in either England or Wales.
Territories correspond to local
authority areas and are always
locations where potential has
been identified.
Almost exclusively, X-Press
Legal Services clients are legal
professionals, so franchisees
are able to develop lasting
relationships with long-term
clients who come to rely on them.
A healthy business needs around
10-20 clients, made up of solicitors
and conveyancers.
Ongoing sales support, mentoring
and the X-Press Academy training
programme create a nurturing
environment, where franchisees
are able to maintain their
independence while also feeling
part of a larger network.
There are currently territories
available in the following areas:
North East, Lincolnshire, West
and East London, Kent, Surrey,
Sussex, Dorset and Wales.
38 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Bring your
brand to life
Public relations plays a key role in franchise recruitment,
Mel Betts, director of Grapevine PR, says
I
’ve worked in
franchising for the
past 20 years. During
that time, I’ve often
asked franchise businesses
to identify their number one
challenge. More often than
not, their answer is the same:
attracting the best franchisees.
The good news is that PR
can help. Public relations is,
in fact, around 90 per cent
press relations. This means the
development of press or news
releases, articles and case studies
about a franchise. The proactive
placement and resulting media
coverage in relevant magazines or
online portals offers the chance
to tell the story of the franchise
using real-life examples.
IN DETAIL
Everyone’s mad about social
media these days - and rightly
so. It’s a cheap, largely free way
to promote a franchise and a
tool that can’t be overlooked
within the marketing mix.
However, press articles that
offer a more detailed, in-depth
look at a franchisee’s journey to
success are also valuable ways
to impress potential franchisees
considering your franchise.
Someone looking to invest a
significant sum in a franchise
territory will need to do plenty
of research. They will want to
read about other successful
franchisees and find out lessons
learned or top tips, plus more
about the industry through an
online search. If this content
is missing in relation to your
franchise, you may miss out on
the best franchisees.
Publication of content in the
media or online gives a certain
credibility. Once the content is
created, it’s something to show
off about on social media. Or
more correctly put, it can be
repurposed (subject to copyright)
as a link on social media, in
marketing collateral or on the
franchise’s website.
A short video intro on social
media can breathe new life into
an old case study or article
and in this way it’s possible
to maximise investment in
professional content creation.
It’s important the content
produced fits in with the strategy
and vision of the franchise.
COHERENT STRATEGY
Organisations usually compete
in one or two of four spaces:
AT A GLANCE
GRAPEVINE PR
Contact: Mel Betts.
enquiries@grapevinepr.com
grapevinepr.com
“Publication of
content in the
media or online
gives a certain
credibility”
innovation, quality, customer
relationships or cost. For PR to
be authentic, a coherent strategy
emphasising key messages that
support the relevant positioning
is important. A professional
PR firm can help identify and
emphasise USPs and generate
relevant messaging to weave
into content.
GUARANTEED
DELIVERABLES
PR can be a great way to
showcase your franchise.
However, some firms are put off
from hiring a PR firm, as they
don’t know what they will receive
in return for their investment.
At Grapevine, I try to solve this
challenge by offering guaranteed
deliverables. For example, an
agreed number of articles,
case studies or press releases
generated and placed with a
suitable media outlet within a
specified time frame.
I also encourage clients to go
for a trial project, particularly
if they’ve never undertaken PR
before, to see how it works.
Following the many challenges
faced this year, people will be
considering different career
options. If you’re looking at
expanding your franchise, now
is a great time to develop case
studies and articles to promote
your business.
Professionally produced
content can offer credibility,
depth and help you stand
out from the crowd and, as a
result, play an important role
in helping attract the best
franchise candidates.
Behind the Brand - Xxxxxxxxxxx
Grapevine PR
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 39
INTERVIEW
“WE’VE ALL
GOT TO GET ON
WITH IT NOW”
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, talks to What Franchise
about the current business environment and what the future holds
T
HE COVID-19 CRISIS
HAS CONSUMED
THE NATION SINCE
THE OUTBREAK OF
THE VIRUS EARLIER THIS
YEAR. HOW HAVE UK SMALL
BUSINESSES FARED DURING
THIS TIME?
To say it’s been a challenge would be an
understatement. I can’t think of a single
business that has not been affected in
some way.
Now we are getting back to trading,
we’re going to begin to get a clearer view of
the real impact of the pandemic. But there
have been some really upbeat stories and
many businesses have upped their game,
changed their model and will probably
never be the same again - in a good way.
The uptake in digital skills and tools
is something we’ve been gently trying
to support businesses through for
many years. It’s taken a pandemic to
demonstrate exactly how important digital
tools can be and for many the uptake will
lead to efficiencies and longer-term gains
such as productivity.
HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE
GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE
AND ITS SUPPORT FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES DURING
THE CRISIS?
This has been a new experience for
us all - including the government.
At Enterprise Nation, we’ve spent a
lot of time helping small firms to
decipher the changing advice and
guidelines and we’ve all got used to
quickly adapting as new science or
regulations are introduced.
Helping people to navigate furloughs,
grants and the support on offer for the
self-employed has been a full-time job.
We’re working with the Department for
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
on a new initiative called Recovery
Advice for Business, which has seen
thousands of advisers offer an hour a
month of free one-to-one support to
small businesses. It’s easy to access and
will be available until the new year.
“What we need
to maintain is a
healthy respect for
small firms and the
work that they do”
WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE
TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE?
To coin a phrase, we’ve all got to get on
with it now. The government does not
have endless coffers and to a certain
extent we’re all nervous about the
consequences of overburdening
the taxpayer.
What we need to maintain is a
healthy respect for small firms and
the work that they do. Seeing the
government demonstrate that it
understands as well as supports the hard
work entrepreneurs play in
our communities is vital.
HOW HAS ENTERPRISE
NATION HELPED ITS
MEMBERS WHO WERE IN
NEED OF EXPERT ADVICE
AND SUPPORT?
We’ve been regularly publishing and
analysing updated regulations and
materials as they have come out.
We’ve held daily Lunch & Learn
events on a range of topics, from
diversifying to how to introduce
ecommerce and deliver inspiration.
We’ve also developed a detailed
ecommerce offering in conjunction
with Amazon called the Amazon
Small Business Accelerator. It’s free
to use and full of practical tips, from
finance to building a website.
HOW SIGNIFICANTLY HAS
THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE
CHANGED BECAUSE OF
COVID-19?
Only time will tell. Come back and ask
me in two years’ time.
It’s going to be tough for some and we
must all do what we can to support small
firms, whether it’s Eat Out to Help Out,
buying local or taking a staycation.
We’ve all got to do our bit.
One thing we’re all now crystal
clear on is the health of the hospitality
sector is intrinsic to our economy.
Going out for dinner cannot be seen
as just propping up your local
eatery, it’s supporting our local
economic ecosystem.
40 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
ARE THERE ANY LESSONS BUSINESS CAN
LEARN AS A RESULT OF THE CRISIS?
We’ve all learned something, even if it feels like we’re getting back
to normal.
The most obvious trend is that businesses now understand they
must be ready with digital tools to be able to continue to reach
their customers safely.
The other thing we will see more of is people starting a business
as a side hustle in order to have something more to fall back
on. With the jobs market looking uncertain, having a money making
enterprise that’s flexible will be the new normal.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE
CONSIDERING STARTING THEIR OWN
BUSINESS?
Do it. There are many examples of businesses started during a
recession that have become strong and successful because
they learned important
lessons, like bootstrapping
and growing organically
at an early stage.
They learned to
hustle, beg and
borrow. These
are important
skills for self
starters in this
environment.
WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS FOR
SUCCESS AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER?
Resilience - don’t take it personally and learn to embrace the knocks.
Energy - bouncing back and working hard is vital.
Confidence - if you’re confident, you’re 99 per cent there.
WHY DO YOU THINK A GROWING NUMBER
OF WOMEN ARE STARTING THEIR OWN
BUSINESSES AND DO YOU HAVE ANY
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR WOMEN
CONSIDERING BECOMING THEIR OWN BOSS?
Women have been running their own businesses for
decades. You’ve only got to look at Dame Stephanie Shirley, who
set up a female-only tech firm in the 1960s, making many of them
millionaires as a result.
Women are brilliant at starting up. They also value and
understand the importance of a work-life balance. For many
women, I’d say take a step back and consider how you can grow
and build on all that hard work. Don’t be afraid to take advice and
bring on board finance.
PREDICTIONS ARE ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO
MAKE, BUT WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR UK
SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?
Good. Small firms are busy adapting. There will be some winners
and losers, but those that have continued to access support and
adapt will be the winners.
GET TO KNOW
EMMA JONES
Which one business person do you admire
most and why? There isn’t just one. I
admire every person who steps out to
start and grow their own business. That’s
a lot of people.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
That growing a strong and sustainable business
takes time.
Greatest sacrifice you’ve made to get where
you are? I don’t see it as making a sacrifice.
It’s more following your vision and putting in
the commitment that this involves. For me,
that’s been quite a bit of commitment, which
has not left space for much else, but I don’t see
it as a sacrifice. Others might.
Proudest achievement? It will be
when we have a perfectly functioning
business support marketplace.
We’re not quite there yet.
What advice would you give a
younger you? You can’t build it
all on your own.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 41
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Miss Millie’s
Ambitious
expansion plans
Miss Millie’s has multi-unit franchise opportunities
available across the UK
M
iss Millie’s has been
in the quick service
chicken restaurant
business for decades.
Serving affordable, premium
takeaway food to customers across
the south west and Wales since
1988, the company was set up by
Harry Latham, who introduced KFC
to the UK, and his business partner
Ray Allen.
As Harry and his family were
good friends with KFC founder
Colonel Sanders, he decided to
name the new venture after the
Colonel’s daughter, Mildred.
“There’s a real affinity for
Miss Millie’s amongst the
customer base”
NEW CHAPTER
Miss Millie’s saw new owners in
2019 and the company is now
headed up by Carl Traill, ex-Burger
King Director of Operations UK.
Carl is now embarking on an
ambitious expansion plan by
offering franchises to suitable
candidates interested in investing
in a multi-site opportunity.
Stores can be set up in city centre
or suburban locations, shopping
centres, food courts, airports and
holiday parks. Ideal site size is
between 1,000 and 2,500 square
feet. Assistance with site selection
and fit-out is provided by the
franchisor. Multi-unit franchisees
benefit from economies and enjoy
improved incentives.
Franchisees get five weeks’
training in all aspects of the
business, including effective
supply chain management, HR and
business development.
They also receive ongoing
support, quarterly business
reviews, access to Miss Millie’s IP
Food safety and health and safety
courses and benefit from the regular
advertising and promotional activity
organised by the franchisor, plus its
extensive new product development
programme, ensuring the brand’s
food offering remains in demand in
a competitive marketplace.
It costs in the region of £175,000-
£450,000 to set up a full-sized Miss
AT A GLANCE
MISS MILLIE’S
Established:
1988
Number of franchised outlets:
9
Location of units:
south west and Wales
Investment range:
£175,000-£450,000
Minimum required capital:
£150,000
Contact:
franchise@missmillies.co.uk
missmillies.co.uk
Millie’s store (the franchise fee is
£25,000). Ongoing charges include
a management fee of 7.5 per cent
of turnover and a 2.5 per cent of
turnover contribution to the Miss
Millie’s marketing fund.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Miss Millie’s uses only Grade A
farm assured chickens from
suppliers that meet the highest
welfare standards.
Customers can order their food
via the company’s ordering app,
which not only cuts queues and
simplifies ordering, but offers a
significant upselling opportunity,
helping to maximise franchisees’
return on investment.
Miss Millie’s outlets also feature
fully integrated digital self service
kiosks, further enhancing the
customer experience.
STEADY INCOME STREAM
Franchisee Sarah Wilson says: “As
a second generation franchisee, my
family have worked alongside Miss
Millie’s for over 30 years.
“The business model is a great
opportunity for individuals and
businesses alike, providing a
steady income stream from a
well recognised and long
established brand.
“There’s a real affinity for Miss
Millie’s amongst the customer
base and the involvement in
local community causes and
sustainability is especially
important to me.
“When I purchased the business,
Miss Millie’s provided a great deal
of support - someone would always
be there if I needed some advice.
“I’m very much looking forward
to seeing the exciting new
reimagining of the brand over
the coming months.”
42 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
Pick Bluebird Care for your next adventure
Bluebird Care offers a comprehensive support package to support franchise owners in
getting started quickly.
Franchise owners manage and develop their businesses, recruiting a team of brand
advocates who deliver a continuum of high quality, person-centred, non-medical care
in the community.
Why choose Bluebird Care?
• Largest provider of Private Home Care in the UK
• Proven Business Model
• Award Winning Training
• Elite Franchise ‘Top 20 franchise for 2020’
“The best thing about
Bluebird Care is that we get
to follow a model that
simply works!”
Julie McLellan, Bluebird Care
North Tyneside
Get in touch with Vicky Brown today to start your franchising journey.
07912 771149 | vickybrown@bluebirdcare.co.uk | www.bluebirdcarefranchise.co.uk
INTERVIEW
“NO ONE CAN
PRETEND IT
HASN’T BEEN A
CHALLENGING TIME”
Radfield Home Care franchisee Jackie Gillen has been in the
front line of the battle against coronavirus
WORDS BY TONY JAMES
THE AUTHOR
An award winning
journalist and
author, Tony James
specialises in business
and sport
N
o one would have thought in a million years
that something like this would happen,”
Jackie Gillen says.
“Luckily, I’ve always been very risk
averse, so I worked out some worst case scenarios and
we’ve managed really well. Our priority has been to
protect our clients and staff, but no one can pretend it
hasn’t been a challenging time.”
LOOKING AFTER THE ELDERLY AND
VULNERABLE
Radfield Home Care’s Wakefield & Dewsbury franchisee
has been in the front line since the coronavirus crisis
began, delivering almost double the usual amount of
home care services to the locked down elderly and
vulnerable in her West Yorkshire community.
Joining the award winning franchise two years ago after
many years’ experience in the social care sector, Jackie
and husband Mark have kept their 50-plus clients safe by
bringing in every possible precaution regardless of cost.
“We had to deal with a lot of regulation changes and
paid £10,000 for PPE equipment, which is four times our
usual annual budget,” Jackie says.
“But we were absolutely determined to offer the
safest possible service and up to now it has paid off.
Our sector is doing really well. We have not had the
issues suffered by care homes.
“We were meticulous about following the guidance
and acted quickly to get things in place. We brought in
extra staff to support the increased service and went
above and beyond to keep morale high and the clients
safe and happy.
“For example, one of our care professionals even
cooked a home-made lasagne and spent the evening with
one of our clients who had to place her busy social life on
hold during the pandemic. It’s outcomes such as these
that make delivering care really rewarding in these times.”
HOME CARE: A FAST GROWING SECTOR
Despite the continuing trauma of COVID-19, home care
is still a fast growing franchise sector and it’s easy to
see why.
The UK population of over-65s is set to account for
a quarter of the population, with almost half spending
their remaining life expectancy in poor health.
But despite the rise in demand, local authority
funding has decreased, leading to a 20 per cent drop
in local authority care and resulting in more people
turning to private providers. Proof, Radfield Home
Care says, of the value of the private care sector when
times are hard.
Jackie and Mark didn’t need convincing of that when
they began to look around for a business of their own
in 2018.
Between them, they had over 40 years’ experience
in the social care and supported housing and living
sectors, dealing with a wide range of client groups,
particularly the elderly, and felt that running their own
care business would give them the chance to make
even more of a difference to people’s lives.
“We previously worked for employers where we
had limited decision making power over the quality
of the service we provided and by being in complete
control we could be sure that what we offered was
outstanding,” Jackie says.
“We both enjoy working with people and have a
commitment to treating them as we would want to
be treated ourselves. We understand the importance
of maintaining independence and choice and being
empowered to live your life as you would wish in your
own home and community.
“We had lived in the Wakefield and Dewsbury
area for 15 years and our sons Tom and Sam are at
local schools. We wanted to give something back to
our local community and be an employer of choice,
offering great career opportunities as we grew the
new business.”
RADFIELD SEEMED LIKE A FAMILY
So two years ago Jackie and Mark decided to explore
the home care franchise sector.
“We knew nothing about franchising,” Jackie admits.
“We went to a franchise exhibition and talked to
franchisors, looking for one that had the family values
44 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
“Home care has the
potential to transform
clients’ lives and to
encourage them to
develop relationships,
meet friends and
remain part of
their community”
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 45
INTERVIEW
that have always been our drive and inspiration and are at the
heart of everything we do. We were taking a big step and we knew
we had to get it right.
“Radfield Home Care was one of the last we visited - and we
knew instinctively that we had found what we were looking
for. It was a smaller company, which attracted us because we
didn’t want to be a cog in a huge machine. Radfield seemed like
a family.”
Which in fact is exactly what it is. Brother and sister Alex
Green and Dr Hannah MacKechnie had been brought up in the
Shrewsbury residential home for the elderly run by their parents
and knew all about caring for the vulnerable and giving them the
best possible quality of life.
As a GP, Hannah met many elderly patients who she felt were
not getting the care they deserved and she realised there was a
gap in the market for a care service that provided clients with
kindness, dignity and respect.
In 2008 Hannah and Alex, a financial adviser and active
community ambassador, returned to Shrewsbury and founded
Radfield Home Care, named after their parents’ care home.
A year later they began to develop a branch network that in
2016 became the Radfield Home Care franchise, which now has
15 locations, ambitious plans for future growth and won the 2019
British Franchise Association HSBC Emerging Franchisor of the
Year Award.
PART OF A WINNING TEAM
From the beginning, Jackie and Mark felt they were in safe hands.
“I’m a great believer in gut instinct and I just knew that
it would work,” Jackie says. “Although we had both been in
the welfare sector for many years, we had never run our own
business and there was a lot to learn and the Radfield support
system was fabulous. You’re not treated as just another number -
they make you feel part of the team.
“Working in the care industry for so long, we understood the
importance of high quality care services and it was clear Radfield
was the franchise for us. We both share family values and putting
the client at the centre of any decision. Radfield’s experience and
support was also a big attraction.
“We had direct access to Hannah and Alex and whenever there
was a problem we got advice on what to do and were guided
through situations that were new to us.
“One of the best pieces of advice we were given was to get
top people on board who know about the home care sector.
For instance, doing rotas and working out care coordinating is
specialist work and it’s sensible to have top class staff to take on
these responsibilities.”
NO HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE NEEDED
That’s advice echoed by Radfield Home Care, which emphasises
that franchisees don’t need previous health care experience.
Their role is to grow the business through marketing,
networking and brand awareness activity and franchisees
have come from a variety of backgrounds, from finance and
marketing to sales and IT.
“They don’t want just anybody to come in as a franchisee,
even if they’ve got all the money in the world,” Jackie says,
“Because if they don’t have the right mindset and the right
values they’re not going to care so much and that could affect
the company’s reputation.
“Their core values are very much based on family values,
treating people the way you’d want to be treated yourself. That’s
what is driving us and is something we are passionate about - to
provide a really good care service, the kind of service you’d be
happy for your family to use.”
The company tells potential franchisees: “You will have indepth
training and support to develop your knowledge of the
sector, plus a registered care manager who will be responsible for
managing the health care side of the business.
“Operating in the private marketplace, franchisees benefit
from a secure business model that enables them to deliver a high
quality care service and generate healthy financial returns.”
46 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
JACKIE
GILLEN’S
6 TIPS FOR
BECOMING A
SUCCESSFUL
FRANCHISEE
Do your homework. Research and
1 speak to as many companies as
possible in the sector you have chosen.
Work out how they operate and exactly
what they’re offering. Check their
accounts and finances and get the views
of existing franchisees.
Follow your gut instinct. Companies
2 often look comparable in terms of
what they’re offering, but try to get a
feel of how they treat their franchisees.
Will you be valued and will you fit in? A
franchise is very much a partnership and
there’s always a risk it might not work out.
Overestimate how much cash you’ll
3 need. Don’t rely on the bare minimum,
as you never know what might happen in
the early days of a business. For instance,
people may owe you money, but you
have to have enough cash in the bank
to pay your staff. Having that back up of
extra cash avoids putting yourself under
unnecessary pressure.
Work out your worst case scenario
4 and plan how you would cope. I’m
very risk averse and don’t presume that
things will always work out as hoped. For
instance, the current pandemic has had
a massive effect on many businesses,
which never thought that something
like this would happen in a million years.
That’s why it’s so important to maintain
a good cash flow and keep money in the
bank to tide you over any unforeseen
circumstances.
Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in.
5 Although the majority of franchises
succeed in comparison with other startup
businesses, there’s no guarantee it’s
going to work. It’s not handed to you on
a plate and there’s still a lot of work you
have to do as the business owner. Lead
by example and show this to your staff,
your clients and the stakeholders you’re
dealing with. That’s very important in
building the brand.
Don’t deviate from the model. Follow
6 the advice you’ve been given by the
franchisor. When buying a franchise,
you’re buying something based on
experience. Sometimes you might
think you could do things better, but a
franchisor has got more knowledge than
you in the particular sector. They’re giving
advice for a reason, so listen to it.
“We were meticulous about following
the guidance and acted quickly to
get things in place”
A Radfield Home Care franchise
costs approximately £30,000. Working
capital of around £40,000-£50,000 is
also required to support the business
through to break-even, usually within
about 12 months of operation.
For this investment, franchisees get
a 20-day training programme, tried and
tested business model and professional
support team. Radfield has also
pioneered home care technology that
utilises remotely accessible cloud-based
care management software, which
provides a transparent, safe and cost
saving service.
The company stresses that home care
has the potential to transform clients’
lives and to encourage them to develop
relationships, meet friends and remain
part of their community. Carers must be
friendly and sociable, as well as being
top class professionals.
GOING THE EXTRA MILE
Jackie and Mark’s team of 30 carers
are DBS checked, selected after
a vigorous vetting process and
chosen for their compassion and
professional experience.
“We all go that extra mile whenever
it’s needed,” Jackie says. “We haven’t
needed to do a lot of marketing. Existing
customers recommend us and we also
get referrals from the professional
sector - social workers, hospital
discharge teams, etc.
“We have a variety of clients. The
most common work we do is helping
people in the morning - helping them
get up, sorting out their medication,
preparing meals, etc. Some need visits
four times a day, especially those with
mobility issues. Others may still be
independent, but feel socially isolated.”
Two years on, the Wakefield &
Dewsbury franchise is a thriving business
that has been consistently operating at
least 50 per cent above target.
“Our secret? We build care packages
around individual clients depending on
their wants and needs,” Jackie says. “We
are regarded as one of the top providers
in the area.”
As the franchise grew, Mark took on
an overseeing role while Jackie runs
the day-to-day operation and finances,
meeting regularly with care manager
Gemma Bristow to review business
plans and future strategies.
“But one thing will never change,”
Jackie says. “Our clients come first.
To them we are family, we are proud
to care and we will always be on
their side.”
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 47
Interested?
To find out
more call
01483 332220
or visit
www.franchise.getaheadva.com
If we have learnt one
thing from the pandemic,
it is that flexible working
is here to stay and that is
fundamental to
Get Ahead VA.
I would recommend this
franchise opportunity to
anyone who’s thinking of
taking the plunge.
Fiona Ibbetson,
Regional Director
Get Ahead VA Leeds
Run your own Get Ahead Virtual Agency with executive
mentoring, integrated marketing campaigns, and full team
support within your own dedicated region.
We can help you go into business for yourself, not by yourself.
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
6 steps to
selling your
franchise
AT A GLANCE
FRANCHISE
RESALES
Contact: Clare Fordyce, listing and
relationship manager
Tel: 01522 246811
Email: info@franchiseresales.co.uk
franchiseresales.co.uk
Behind the Brand - Franchise Resales
Forward planning will ensure the process runs as
smoothly as possible, Franchise Resales advises
W
hen you’re ready to sell your
franchise, there are several
steps you need to take before
advertising your business for sale.
1. GET YOUR DUCKS
IN A ROW
Before you start to advertise it for sale,
ensure your business is neat and tidy.
Are your accounts in order, contracts
in place, leases and agreements
organised, etc? When a prospective buyer
looks into the nitty-gritty of your business,
they want to see that it’s well run and
profitable.
Having a neat and tidy business will make
it more appealing to a potential buyer.
2. CREATE A PROSPECTUS
OF SALE
In order to sell your business, you’ll need
to create a prospectus of sale. This is a
document that details everything about it
and sells it to a potential buyer.
From here, anyone interested can
make a list of any further questions
they have that might help them
carry out their due diligence. Your
prospectus should include:
• An overview of the franchise.
• An overview of your business.
• The asking price.
• Details of any property.
• Details of any staff.
• Information about equipment
included in the sale, whether
leased or owned.
• Accounts and up-to-date
management accounts.
3. APPOINT A SOLICITOR
It’s necessary to appoint a solicitor
to complete the legal transfer of
the business.
Although it’s not always
necessary for smaller resales,
it’s still advisable to consult a
“Before you agree a sale with a potential buyer,
they will need to be approved by your franchisor”
solicitor before completing.
It’s of the utmost importance that
you use a solicitor who is familiar
with or specialises in franchising.
The sale of a franchise is much more
complicated than a regular business
sale and not using a solicitor with
franchise experience could slow
down the sale.
4. FRANCHISOR
APPROVAL
Before you agree a sale with a potential
buyer, they will need to be approved by
your franchisor.
It’s crucial to seek this approval
before you go too far into the process,
as it’s no good progressing the sale for
your franchisor to reject the buyer at
the last minute.
Involving the franchisor from the
beginning is the best way to find a
candidate who will fit well within
the network and who the franchisor
approves of.
5. ADVERTISE YOUR
BUSINESS
To generate leads for your business,
you will need to advertise it.
Getting it out there is easier than
ever, thanks to online and digital
platforms. However, these are not
free and you’ll need to spend time
writing a relevant advert to entice
potential buyers.
Once your business begins to
generate leads, you’ll need to vet the
candidates and eliminate anyone
who is not suitable.
6. NON-DISCLOSURE
AGREEMENT
Before you give any candidate
the prospectus or disclose
sensitive information about your
business, you’ll need to ask your
potential buyers to sign a
non-disclosure agreement.
This is to ensure they will not
discuss any information about
your business with others outside
of the sale.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 49
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Ableworld
Actively
recruiting
AT A GLANCE
ABLEWORLD
Established:
2001
Number of outlets: 35
Location of outlets: nationwide
Investment range: £75,000-£80,000
Minimum capital required: £30,000
Contact: franchise@ableworld.co.uk.
01270 613599
ableworld.co.uk
Market leader Ableworld seeks new
franchisees to help keep up with demand
A
bleworld is the UK’s
largest mobility
retailer in a sector
valued at around £1.5
billion each year.
Already booming, the mobility
retail sector is set to expand
dramatically as the UK’s population
is living longer and demanding a
greater quality of life.
With approximately 750,000
people reaching retirement age
each year, there is a stable and
increasing demand for Ableworld’s
products and services, including
mobility scooters, stairlifts,
adjustable beds, wheelchairs and a
whole host of other life enhancing
home aids.
THRIVING RETAILER
While other retailers have
struggled, Ableworld is not only
thriving, but actively recruiting
for new franchisees to join its
network and meet the needs
of its ever growing nationwide
customer base.
It has also been opening new
stores, such as its newest in Hyde,
Tameside, Greater Manchester.
The spacious mobility
showroom offers Ableworld’s
whole range of mobility equipment
and a friendly team to support
customers with free advice and
guidance with selecting equipment
that could help them live more
active and independent lives.
The store has been opened
by Barry Pearson, who runs five
other Ableworld showrooms in
the north west.
SUPPORTING MORE
PEOPLE
He says: “I’m really pleased
that we have opened our sixth
Ableworld store. It allows us to
support more people, offering a
great range of products that can
help our customers live more
independently.
“The team have been fantastic
getting the new store ready in
such difficult circumstances.”
The Hyde mobility superstore
has a friendly team who have all
undertaken Ableworld’s vigorous
training programme and are DBS
checked to ensure they can assess
customers correctly and advise
on products suitable for their
individual needs.
As with other Ableworld
stores, customers can visit the
mobility showroom or arrange
for a free home demonstration
under no obligation.
“You can own and
manage a fantastic
business with
great returns”
There is also a fully trained and
experienced stairlift engineering
team covering a 30-mile radius
of the store for anyone requiring
quotes, installations, servicing
and repairs of stairlifts in and
around Manchester and the
Tameside area.
INCOME STREAMS
An Ableworld franchise gives
you two complementary income
streams:
• The retail outlet. A mobility
superstore that sells a
comprehensive range of quality
products to help the elderly
and disabled in their homes
and outdoors.
• The stairlift business, which
using only high quality
branded equipment provides
homeowners with a variety of
life changing options.
As an Ableworld franchisee,
you can own and manage a
fantastic business with great
returns, while providing a
much needed and appreciated
service for your local
community.
This multi-award winning
business has a 20-year
trading history and is a British
Franchise Association member.
Comprehensive training and
ongoing support is provided
from an established head office
team and personal investment
is from as little as £25,000
(total investment is around
£75,000). Funding is available.
50 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
Start a lucrative and rewarding business offering
business coaching and consulting services to the many millions
of prospective clients across the UK and beyond.
Chrysalis Partners has many benefits, including:
■ Be cash positive in year 1 and earn in excess of £150K per year thereafter;
■ Excellent cash flow from an early stage – clients pay you in advance;
■ Fully inclusive 5-day residential training course at a high-quality facility;
■ Enhanced support program for at least 3 months to help you win your first
clients with weekly calls from one of our Directors to guide and mentor you
onto success;
■ Full access to the Chrysalis Partners Coaching and Consulting, Operations,
Projects and Workshop systems;
■ At least 15 appointments with potential clients from Head Office, work fulltime
or part-time on your Coaching business;
■ Unlimited support from Head Office and monthly calls;
■ Chrysalis Partners operating license for 5 years initially, renewable for
another 5 years at no cost;
■ Attendance at regular Head Office events;
■ Ongoing training to include new materials developed;
■ Your own Chrysalis Partners website including landing pages, pre-built and
personalised to you;
■ Your own pre-configured, fully automated lead generation system to assist
with finding new clients;
■ Partner advancement program for those who want to progress and grow
their Coaching business;
■ Use of Chrysalis Partners branding for your practice;
■ Money back guarantee on your license fee.
Low start up costs:
Not only is the fee payable very reasonable but you have very little that you
need to buy to get started. If you are mobile and have a telephone and a
laptop, you are ready to go – everything else you need is provided within the
franchise system.
01403 888339
www.chrysaliscoach.co.uk
Email: info@chrysalispartners.co.uk
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Seniors Helping Seniors
Do good and
make money
No previous care experience is required to become a
Seniors Helping Seniors management franchisee,
while overheads are the lowest in the sector
A
s the only in-home
elderly care provider that
for over 20 years has
focused on hiring ‘experts
by experience’ to care for seniors,
Seniors Helping Seniors says it offers
a one-of-a-kind franchise.
Trusted in over 200 territories, the
company is looking for people with
big hearts and big ambitions. If you’ve
got a drive to help others as well as a
drive to succeed in business and you
want to open a franchise in the south
east or east of UK (excluding London),
Seniors Helping Seniors would like to
hear from you.
No previous care experience is
“Every community needs a
Seniors Helping Seniors -
now more than ever”
necessary with this management
franchise and overheads are the
lowest in the sector.
In addition, you can look forward to
sustainable, recession proof earnings
and the pride of hiring older people
in well paid jobs they love and elderly
care your clients will rave about.
HIGHLY REGARDED
Providing award winning elderly care
people deserve and can budget for
safely, Seniors Helping Seniors is a UK
top 20 most recommended care group.
Its processes served all the
company’s offices well during the
pandemic. All carers and clients were
kept safe and well and demand for its
services grows every day.
Seniors Helping Seniors is a
member of the British Franchise
Association and has a five-star
training and support record. The
company is independently owned
AT A GLANCE
SENIORS
HELPING
SENIORS
Established:
1998
Number of franchised outlets:
5 in UK
Location of units:
East and West Kent; Surrey; Sussex
Investment range:
£20,000-£50,000
Minimum required capital:
£20,000
Contact:
Christian Wilse.
contactme@seniorshelpingseniors.co.uk.
01227 454 900
franchises.seniorshelpingseniors.co.uk
and every element of the business is
straightforward and honourable. Its
improved franchise offer helps new
franchisees out of uncertain times.
UNPRECEDENTED
DEMAND
Christian Wilse of Seniors Helping
Seniors (UK) explains: “We tackle the
two most important issues with an
ageing population: elderly care and
jobs for people as they age.
“We conscientiously tackle
both issues, which means every
community needs a Seniors Helping
Seniors - now more than ever.
“More families are choosing inhome
care as their safest and most
cost-effective choice. Our terms of
business are unique, fit for purpose
for the care people want today and
our processes appeal to customers.
Demand is through the roof.”
HANDS-ON HELP
According to Christian, Seniors
Helping Seniors takes every
opportunity to be different and
reducing its franchise fee was the right
thing to do to help people recover
from the pandemic.
“The new offer provides even more
hands-on help for our new franchisees
to start their businesses, if they want
it,” he says. “Our mission is to help
people who are worried about jobs and
long-term security.
“We know how terrifying job
insecurity is. What we offer is a
sustainable, profitable business that
does good. Three of our UK partners
were new to franchising. Two came
to us having worked with other
franchises. Each describes their
experience with us as a breath of
fresh air.”
52 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
OPINION
How to impress a franchisor
Follow these simple steps if you want to stand out during the
recruitment process
WORDS BY CATHRYN HAYES
THE AUTHOR
Cathryn Hayes is
franchise director
at Revive! Auto
Innovations
B
uying a franchise is a
journey, starting at the
point when you first find
out about franchising.
What some prospective
franchisees don’t realise, however,
is that a good franchisor will be
doing their research and assessing
you as well. As a result, you’ll need
to impress a franchisor if you want
to join their network.
If a franchisor tries to sign you
up too quickly without getting to
know you or taking you through the
various stages of the recruitment
process, it should ring warning bells.
But you should also consider
the questions a franchisor is likely
to ask you and how you can give
yourself the best chance of being
able to join the network of your
choice. Here are my top tips:
Money talk
Prepare to be asked questions
about how much money you have
available to invest.
Although you should be able to
borrow up to 70 per cent of the total
start-up costs, good franchisors want
to ensure that a new franchisee has
sufficient funding at the outset, as
being short of cash can make the
difference between success and failure.
The cost of a franchise will vary
depending on whether you’re
looking at a premises-based or
home-based business. You should
establish your own personal
financial needs to understand how
much you’ll have to take out of the
business in the early stages.
Sell yourself
Even though it’s not a job you’re
going for, get your CV updated and
think about your personal skill set.
“Get your CV
updated and
think about
your personal
skill set”
Although you’re not normally
required to have industry
experience to become a franchisee,
a franchisor will be looking
for evidence that you have the
transferable skills and ambition to
build a business using their brand.
It might be sales experience
that’s needed or perhaps a
background in building strong
relationships with different
customer groups will be an asset.
Customer service will normally
be key in any industry sector,
so think about how you can
demonstrate your commitment to
this important aspect.
Be inquisitive
Ask questions, demonstrating
that you have done some research
and have a good understanding of
the franchise.
Use the opportunity to explore
the support and training available,
not just at the beginning of your
franchise journey, but as your
business grows.
Be yourself
Don’t try and hide your true
ambitions or change your
personality. Buying a franchise
is the start of a long relationship
and similar to a marriage, so both
sides should be clear about their
priorities and goals.
Investing in a franchise is a
big decision and there’s plenty
of advice available about the
research you should do and
the questions you should ask
a franchisor.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 53
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Proud to help
local business
owners
As an ActionCOACH franchise partner, Billy Smith is
putting his expertise to good use
J
ust
eight
months
since
launching his
ActionCOACH
business, Billy
Smith is relishing
the opportunity to
be a community
hero during a time
of extreme need
in the business world. Along with
his wife, Fiona, and Kaley Hood as
business support, he can reap the
rewards of choosing to be his
own boss.
“My franchise has had an
overwhelming impact on my sense
of satisfaction,” Billy says. “The
work we do to improve businesses
makes a huge difference to people
on a personal level, which then
impacts staff, their families
and the community at large - to
experience the fulfilment from
that is like nothing I’ve felt before.”
Billy has eclipsed his
corporate income level, but far
more meaningfully, he’s already
working with 12 business owners
in Cheltenham on a one-to-one
basis to help them navigate
their way safely through this
COVID-19 crisis.
Billy plans to add easily
affordable ActionCOACH
programmes such as BookCLUB
and GrowthCLUB to extend the
reach of his business and life
changing work.
FINDING THE RIGHT
FRANCHISE
Before ActionCOACH, Billy
always had a passion for helping
people - whether it was working
individually with employees or in
management teams. For over 20
years, he worked extensively with
various members within the teams
of large corporates, proving pivotal
in their development.
“Over time, I witnessed the extent
that larger companies command
power and influence, giving them
many more opportunities than
smaller businesses,” Billy says.
“I began to wonder how I could
AT A GLANCE
ACTIONCOACH
Established:
1993 in Australia. 2001 in UK
Number of franchised outlets:
200-plus in the UK
Location of units: UK-wide
Investment range: £69,000
Minimum required capital: £20,000
Contact:
If you want to build a business that
allows you to give back to your local
business community and you’re the kind
of person who:
A. Loves learning and developing yourself;
B. Has enjoyed success in your career or
sport; and
C. Is willing to invest if they see
substantial returns can be made…
Then find out more by watching the
overview video at actioncoach.co.uk/
overview
help small and medium-sized
enterprises harness that same
power and influence - I actually look
back on that as a sort of epiphany.”
In December 2018, Billy
discovered ActionCOACH on a
franchise website and realised,
much to his surprise, it was
the solution to helping smaller
businesses benefit from big
business thinking. He booked onto
the next discovery day to meet UK
co-founder, Ian Christelow, and
find out more.
“I’d never really had the chance
to work with and develop SMEs
Billy (bottom right) training at his local
football ground with his team-mates
54 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
“My franchise
has had an
overwhelming
impact on
my sense of
satisfaction”
Billy coaching business owners to success
Behind the Brand - Xxxxxxxxxxx
ActionCOACH
before and ActionCOACH opened
up that opportunity for me,” Billy
says. “What’s more, after living in
Cheltenham for over 20 years, by
becoming an Action Coach I could put
my expertise to good use and support
my local business community.
“After that, I did my due diligence
as I knew how important it was to
help me make my decision. I met with
various franchise partners who were
at different stages of their journeys
and, I’ve got to admit, the more I
looked the more it seemed perfect for
me. Very soon it became clear that
it was a no-brainer to invest in an
ActionCOACH franchise.”
READY FOR ACTION
“Despite the fact I’ve got over 20
years’ experience of corporate
life, the level of detail included
in ActionCOACH’s initial training
was amazing. I already had an
established skill set, including
sales, marketing and business
development, but the training
equipped me with additional skills
to cover other disciplines needed for
running the business day-to-day.
“Once I arrived home, I was ready
to put everything into action. I felt
so inspired by the whole support
team and fellow franchise partners
- I was raring to go.”
Billy set targets for year one,
aiming to get 21 clients. With the
support of Fiona as Operations
Director, and Kaley, the firm started
to gain traction and see results
quite quickly. When the COVID-19
pandemic sent the world into panic
mode, Billy took it as an opportunity
for him rather than a threat.
SUPPORTING THE
COMMUNITY
“I felt extremely lucky to be in a
position where I could help local
businesses survive and, potentially,
thrive,” he says. “Everyone was
panicking, not sure of how to move
forward, and that’s when I stepped in.
“All my coaching moved online
and I supported my clients virtually.
Some of them required help to
deal with the acceleration of their
business, others needed support
with how to best utilise their
downtime - I was confident I could
help them all.
“The UK support team was
incredible during this time too,
constantly updating me on best
practice, ways to approach new
clients and how to retain existing
ones. It’s funny because Ian had
mentioned how ActionCOACH grew
in the 2008 recession and, although
it was great to be proven true with
this latest crisis, I didn’t expect
to be challenged so soon into my
ActionCOACH business.
“Speaking with other franchise
partners, they all expressed the
same gratitude towards the team
as I had. They were instrumental in
keeping our businesses going and,
in turn, helping our clients to keep
going too. In fact, during lockdown
I had my best month so far, signing
five clients.
“In the short term, I’ve got plans to
recruit an employee coach in October,
with another two in 2021. With Kaley’s
hard work converting enquiries and
Fiona’s ability to keep things on track,
we’ve established a great team, which
I’m looking forward to welcoming new
members into.
“In the next five years, I want to
bring a general manager in to run
the business. I wouldn’t be able to
step away from the business entirely
though, I love what I do too much!”
BUILDING A BETTER
LIFESTYLE
Billy has established an enviable
work-life balance, which is a far cry
from his previous career.
Gone are the days when he would
spend his time commuting, flying
abroad and staying away from home
for long periods of time, as he can
now declare his weekends a strictly
work-free zone.
“In my spare time, I play football for
the over-35s and tennis in the over-
50s team,” Billy says. “I used to play
competitively, but now it’s purely to
keep me occupied during my downtime.
“And that’s only been made
possible by ActionCOACH and their
support in getting my business up
and running quickly and efficiently.
The freedom that comes with
being my own boss and being able
to reap the benefits of my work
entirely exceeds any sense of career
satisfaction I’ve had before.”
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 55
INTERVIEW
“WE’RE LIKE
TWO PIECES
OF A JIGSAW”
Petpals’ husband and wife franchisees David and Sally Ann Gray reveal
how they’ve become such a successful double act
56 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
D
avid and Sally Ann Gray own
one of the largest Petpals
franchises in the UK.
Sally Ann left her job in
education in 2006 to buy her first territory,
Petpals Darlington & Yarm, and was
followed a few years later by former police
officer husband David, who left his job as
head of security for a high street chain
when he bought the territory adjacent to
hers, Petpals Tees Valley.
Since 2012, they have run their
businesses together. Today they employ
over 20 members of staff and service
approximately 3,000 clients a year. David
and Sally Ann are just about to buy their
fourth territory, Petpals Stockton.
Petpals is the biggest multi-service pet
care franchise in the UK. Its franchisees
walk and board dogs, plus visit puppies
and elderly dogs. They also visit cats and
board or visit all small pets.
David and Sally Ann know a thing or
two about working successfully together.
We spoke to them to find out their top
tips for a successful and profitable
working relationship.
“If one of us has
had a tough day, the
other one is there
to support, which is
so nice”
OPEN COMMUNICATION
David says: “The most important
thing, above anything else, is that you
communicate openly with your partner
about the business.
“If you can’t discuss all aspects of
the business together, resentment can
build until the issue, whatever it is,
becomes too big to deal with, ultimately
causing the partnership to fail.
“Alongside talking about things on a
day-to-day basis, we also take ourselves
off to the beach for a long walk if we have
something big to tackle. It has become
our go-to problem solving, walking
and talking release and we can highly
recommend it.
“Equally, we try not to talk about work
all the time, especially when the children
were younger. Many was the time we’d be
out for a meal and they’d ask us to stop
talking about Petpals.
“On the plus side, they had a house full
of wonderful pets to play with for many
years and our daughter Natalie now works
in the business, so we don’t think they did
too badly.”
DIVIDE UP THE ROLES AND
PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS
Sally Ann advises: “David is very good on
the admin side of our business. He sorts out
the book keeping, vans, trackers and office
administration, whereas I’m happier in a
customer facing role.
“I deal with our staff on a daily basis, the
customers and of course the animals. Our
staff know that ultimately they can come to
either of us with a problem, but equally they
know where our strengths lie.
“Employing as many staff as we do, HR
is important and a role we divide between
us. David looks after contracts and
standards, whereas I deal with training
and pastoral care.
“I always said I aimed to be the employer I
wanted to be employed by, so we work hard
to make sure our staff are happy. It seems
to be working as three more members of
our staff recently celebrated their 10-year
anniversaries with us, making seven in total,
something we’re really proud of.
“I would never ask a member of staff to do
something I wouldn’t be willing to do myself
and they know that. If you put a lot of energy
into recruiting staff, you want to put the
same amount into retaining them too.”
EMPLOY STAFF
Just four months after buying her first
territory, Sally Ann employed her first dog
walker, adding an additional one or two
members of staff just about every year.
She says: “When you’re running a
franchise as a husband and wife team, it’s
easy for it to become all consuming. With
staff on board, it gives you the freedom to
still have a semblance of normal life, which
was important to me.
“My children were 11 and 13 when I bought
my business, so they still needed me to drop
them off at the stables, take them to clubs,
etc. While David was cooking and I was being
taxi mum, having a reliable member of staff
made it easier to manage.”
GET AN OFFICE
David recalls: “We used to run the business
entirely from home.
“For 10 years we had up to 14 walkers
arriving at our home every morning to collect
keys before going out on the walks. Inevitably,
they would end up having a cup of tea in
the kitchen, until the point that our street
couldn’t cope with any more vehicles and our
kitchen ran out of chairs.
“Getting the office was one of the best
things we’ve done and possibly something we
should have done a lot sooner. It allows us to
truly separate our work and home
lives. If it isn’t done by 6pm, it can wait
until the morning.
“Previously, one or the other of us would
have been on our laptop in the sitting room
every evening working when we should have
been having family time.
“You do need space to run a business and
although the end of the dining room table will
do for a while, if you don’t want it to swallow
up your family time, get an office or at least
use a spare room if you have one.”
THE BEST BITS
Sally Ann says: “When you work together
as a couple, you have a unique insight into
your partner’s day. In many jobs, maybe
for security reasons the husband or wife
can’t come home and offload about their
day. We don’t have that problem.
“If one of us has had a tough day, the
other one is there to support, which is so
nice. We never feel alone in the business,
as we are very much in it together.
“We also get to know where our
partner’s strengths lie, which gives our
personal relationship even greater depth.
David knows I hate change, be it becoming
VAT registered or introducing new
software, and I know he needs reining in
when he’s had a new idea that maybe he
hasn’t thought through from all angles.
“We’re like two pieces of a jigsaw and
our skills complement each other well. Not
perfectly, as no partnership is perfect, but
as long as we can talk openly about things,
which we do, we’ll be fine.”
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 57
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Chrysalis Partners
Achieving a
better balance
AT A GLANCE
CHRYSALIS
PARTNERS
Established:
2017
Number of franchised outlets: 10
Location of units: UK
Investment range: £34,950
Minimum required capital: £20,000
Contact: info@chrysalispartners.co.uk
chrysaliscoach.co.uk
Graham Garman is using Chrysalis Partners’
world class training and support to become a
successful business coach
F
ollowing a successful
career in the corporate
world and being made
redundant in 2019,
Graham Garman decided to look
into franchising to help business
owners drive more success within
their organisation.
With over 25 years of coaching
experience in sales and marketing,
business growth and profitability,
Graham is passionate about helping
businesses achieve their goals.
He explains: “Throughout my
career I’ve helped businesses to
overachieve their targets. However,
after being made redundant I wanted
to find something that gave me more
flexibility and the ability to balance
my lifestyle around my work.
“Becoming part of Chrysalis
Partners has allowed me to be
both a successful business coach,
as well as being able to enjoy time
to myself.”
FAST GROWING
Chrysalis Partners is the
fastest growing coaching and
consultancy franchise in the UK,
offering business coaching and
consultancy to the small and
medium-sized enterprise market.
Starting your own business can
be daunting, therefore Chrysalis
Partners offers an inclusive
marketing campaign (including 15
appointments with prospects) to
get franchisees started, as well as
an Enhanced Support Programme,
enabling franchisees to work
alongside a highly experienced
Coach’s Coach, with an intensive
programme of activities over three
months to help them win their
first clients.
Chrysalis’ model comes with
a money-back guarantee on
your licence fee, such is the
company’s confidence in the
systems it offers.
“They’re totally committed
to ensuring success for the
partners and the value from
the training is second to none,”
Graham says. “With additional
group meetings, Chrysalis
encourages you to work together
and share successes to broaden
your knowledge and leverage one
another’s strengths.”
BIG DEMAND
With more than five million small
to medium-sized businesses in
the UK, demand for Chrysalis
Partners’ services is huge.
Furthermore, with most new
“I wanted to find
something that
gave me more
flexibility”
businesses failing in the first few
years, the requirement for a coach
to help steer businesses to success
is greater than ever, particularly
during the unprecedented recent
challenges faced by the global
economy.
“I was extremely worried about
what lockdown might mean for
business coaching,” Graham says.
‘However, Chrysalis have been so
supportive to all the coaches.
“They reduced our monthly fees
and scheduled regular Zoom calls,
which made me feel valued, and
allowed all the coaches to share tips
with each other to help us still gain
clients throughout lockdown.
“We have all had to learn from
this new way of working, but from
day one Chrysalis was committed to
making sure everyone wouldn’t be
impacted negatively.
“I have been really lucky and
secured three recent deals, but
without the extra support from
Chrysalis this wouldn’t have been
possible.”
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
New franchisees join a growing
community of business
professionals, who share their
experiences and thoughts on
how they are using the Chrysalis
Partners models and strategies to
best effect with their clients.
“The incredible support and
training provided are world class,”
Graham says. “I’m privileged to be
a part of the Chrysalis Partners
franchise and I would recommend
anyone thinking of a career in
consulting to use Chrysalis.”
58 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
Ableworld is the UK’s largest mobility retailer in a sector valued at around £1.5bn each year.
Highly trained Ableworld franchise owners are meeting this demand all over the country –
you could join them in 2020!
An Ableworld franchise gives you two complimentary
income streams:
• The retail outlet - a mobility superstore which sells a
comprehensive range of quality products to help the
elderly and disabled in their homes and outdoors
• The stairlift business which, using only high-quality
branded equipment provides homeowners with a variety
of life-changing options
With approximately 750,000 people reaching retirement age each
year there is a stable and increasing demand for Ableworld’s
products and services.
Ableworld Franchisees receive:
✓ A generous exclusive territory ✓ Excellent earnings potential
✓ A first class training programme ✓ A chance to make a difference
in your community ✓ Up to 70% finance is available from the banks*
For more information please email: franchise@ableworld.co.uk or telephone: 01270 613599
for a free information pack or visit our website: www.ableworldfranchise.co.uk
Ableworld -
at the Heart of
the Community,
helping others
lead more active
and comfortable
lives
A GAP IN THE
MARKET!
Miss Millie’s specialise in
affordable premium
products at a time when
consumer tastes are
evolving towards greater
quality, differentiation
and trust. There is scope
for a quality national
Quick Service Restaurant
(QSR) brand to emerge
across the UK and
become a ‘disrupter’
against the large PLC
brands – Miss Millies
TRAINING & SUPPORT
SETTING YOU UP FOR
SUCCESS...
Your Miss Milles journey
starts with our robust
training programme. This
supports new partners and
franchisees from their start
up to the maintenance of
their store.
FLEXIBLE ON
ANY SCALE
We will help you realise your
ambition with our dedicated
franchise team. Our model
enables you to create
multiple Miss Millie’s sites in
an expanding territory.
FRANCHISE COSTS
BREAKING
IT DOWN...
We have made the
franchise package as
affordable as
possible. Judge the
value we offer versus
competitors, many of
whom charge up to
three times as much!
CONTACT US
TODAY WE LOOK
FORWARD TO
HEARING
FROM YOU...
Email:
franchise@missmillies.co.uk
www.missmillies.co.uk
INSIGHT
Backed by a big-name brand
A major draw of investing in a franchise is the support you receive from a
franchisor. Here’s what you should get for your money
WORDS BY ANDY KNIGHTS
THE AUTHOR
Andy Knights is
chief operating
officer of Stagecoach
Performing Arts
I
n the UK, 93 per
cent of franchisees
claimed profitability
in 2018, according
to the latest British Franchise
Association NatWest industry
survey.
When comparing that with the
success rates of independent
businesses - 80 per cent of the
UK’s independently owned small
and medium-sized enterprises
fail within their first year - it’s
not hard to work out why budding
entrepreneurs are opting to
invest in a franchise.
For many people, the thought
of launching an independent
enterprise has certainly crossed
their mind. But for those with a
lack of experience in running a
business - and the host of critical
responsibilities that come with
the role of business owner -
attempting to go it alone can be
particularly daunting.
This is where franchising
comes in. As well as the backing
of a credible brand name,
franchisors insulate franchisees’
businesses by offering essential
support resources on a relatively
unlimited basis.
In the majority of cases, if
a franchisee needs guidance
a franchisor will reach out a
helping hand or at least put the
franchisee in touch with someone
who can help.
But what support should
you expect from a franchisor?
When researching potential
investments, ask a franchisor
for an overview of the assistance
you can expect to receive, as this
will help you make an informed
decision about your investment
right from the get go.
You should see the following
processes and support
programmes outlined:
Pre-launch
• Territory mapping and site/
location selection
As part of their commitment
to your investment, most
franchisors will allocate you an
exclusive territory to protect the
customer base you will go on to
create and grow.
If you decide to invest in
an existing franchise where
a franchisee is vacating, the
parameters of that territory should
already be established and you’ll
have the chance to maximise the
return from a good client base.
For new locations or territories,
brands often work with a
territory mapping expert to
determine the most profitable
and marketable area for your
business. But bear in mind that
this isn’t necessarily the case
across the board - some franchise
brands don’t warrant the need for
exclusive territories at all.
• Legal support with
obtaining premises
Once the perfect site has been
found, many brands will support
you in securing rental agreements
or finalising sale procedures.
Securing the various insurances
and making sure the necessary and
often complex paperwork has been
signed and filed is a long-winded
process, so advice from a legal
expert is worth its weight in gold.
• Comprehensive training
This might go without saying, but
a quality franchisor wouldn’t dream
of sending you on your merry way
without first exposing you to a full
programme of franchise training.
Whether in person or delivered
digitally, this period of training is
crucial to your success. It would
usually cover everything from
business operations, finance and IT
to marketing and PR activity - and
much more in between.
At Stagecoach, our franchisees
spend a week with us at our
head office in Woking, where the
various specialists within our
support team deliver interactive
sessions linked with their
respective disciplines.
• Support with digital tools
For the less digitally capable,
support with online marketing and
operational software is key.
For instance, many franchisors
will set up a territory specific
website and social media pages
on a franchisee’s behalf prior to
launch. Once operational, it’s often
the franchisee’s responsibility to
maintain the content on the pages,
but additional support is usually
available if social media isn’t
necessarily your thing.
• Ways for the whole franchise
network to communicate
Before you sign your franchise
agreement, I would recommend
reaching out to existing
franchisees to ask questions
about their experiences.
Once you’ve joined the network,
reach out again and build yourself
a community of like-minded peers
to sound out ideas and share best
practice. Make sure your franchisor
promotes this community feel
within its network. It’s even
better if it provides tools to make
communication happen between
you easily.
Launch
• Brand representative at the
launch event
Once you’re ready for grand
opening day, it’s not uncommon
for your franchisor to send a
representative from the brand to
support you during the event.
60 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
Whether
they’re there
merely as a friendly
face and an extra pair of
hands or in a more professional
capacity, it can be extremely
reassuring to know you’re not on
your own.
• Assistance with a marketing
and PR campaign
Simply put, there should be a
whole host of brand profile raising
marketing materials at your
disposal before, during and long
after the launch of your business.
Whether in physical or digital
form, these resources exist so
you can get on with the job of
establishing your new business.
Some franchisors may
guarantee you initial business
leads, while others may have a
defined set of activities you must
ensure are completed.
Ongoing
• Social media, marketing
and PR
If you’ve never owned a business
before, marketing and PR may not
come naturally.
Customers aren’t just going
to fall into your lap, so you’ll
need to make a proactive effort
to establish your brand in your
territory. This can be achieved
by implementing a strategy of
consistent and quality social
media, marketing and PR activity.
Your franchisor will have
likely employed someone, or
a team of people, to help you
manage this in house or it might
work with a specialist agency.
However, the brand manages
its profile raising activity, make
sure you take full advantage of
the available resources.
• Regular refresher training
Training doesn’t stop the
second you walk out of head
office at the end of your initial
training programme.
Franchisors should offer a
lifetime of unlimited training,
whether you attend sessions in
person or keep yourself educated
through digital refresher training.
• Innovation and measures to
retain market leading status
What made you
research and shortlist
a particular franchise
in the first place? Was
it the brand name
that appealed to you?
If you’re inclined to
invest in a franchise
because of its market
leading status,
you would expect
the franchisor
to maintain this
standing once you’ve
joined the network.
This should include
profile raising activity
like national marketing
campaigns and exclusive
partnerships, all at the
cost and responsibility of
the franchisor.
“Ask a franchisor for an overview of the
assistance you can expect to receive”
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 61
ADVICE INSIGHT
“Don’t feel bad about grilling a
franchisor - we expect it”
• Legal advice
For brands like Stagecoach, legal
formalities like child safeguarding
and DBS certifications are
significant components of our
standard operations.
We’re well rehearsed in securing
the required accreditation to
safely operate a children’s services
franchise, which is why our
franchisees rely on our support to
obtain the necessary training
and certification.
Attempting that process without
the guidance of an expert can
be complicated, drawn out and
frustrating, so I would advise opting
for a franchise that has someone
dedicated to compliance of these
important facets of the business.
Other components of the
ongoing support strategy should
also include finance and business
growth advice; communication
and networking opportunities;
and, where relevant, franchisee
handbook and/or physical
support documentation.
Succession planning
Ongoing support should be
available throughout the lifecycle
of your franchise, including the
time at which you choose to retire
or move on.
A good franchisor will ask you
what your ultimate aim is from
becoming a franchisee before
you invest. Common motivations
are a better work-life balance,
taking control of your career and
the potential to build a business
to pass on to your children or to
retire earlier than a job would
have allowed.
At Stagecoach, we have open
discussions with our franchisees
about their options should they
choose to move on to pastures new.
More often than not, our
franchisees have already found
someone to take over the
business from them - many of our
franchisees are former Stagecoach
teachers who have taken on an
existing territory from the previous
principal - so we support them
both with this transition.
Alternatively, in cases where the
franchisee hasn’t found a suitable
replacement, we have a tried and
tested marketing process for
finding someone suitable to step
into your shoes.
Think of this as your franchisee
support checklist. Add your own
questions and take it with you to
discovery days or keep it handy for
initial calls. Don’t feel bad about
grilling a franchisor - we expect it.
62 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
INTERVIEW
Help from day one
Despite launching his franchise during lockdown, the start-up support provided
by My Window Cleaner saw Gareth Southard achieve record results
G
areth Southard was
excited about opening
his My Window Cleaner
franchise. For years
he’d worked for major corporations
in customer-based roles.
He says: “I’d worked long hours
for moderate pay and very little
reward. I decided that running
my own business would provide
better returns for the hours I
could commit.
“I chose My Window Cleaner
because it felt more personal than
any other franchise I had researched.
“The fact the conversation
was not being led by how much
money could be made, but more
about growing a multi-van
business and looking to the
future of what could be achieved
really felt genuine.”
UK lockdown
Following initial training, Gareth
was preparing to launch his
franchise in his hometown of
Newport, Wales. And then the
COVID-19 pandemic struck and the
UK went into lockdown. It seemed as
if Gareth’s dream of being his own
boss was over before it had begun.
If he had been a one-man
band without the support of an
established franchisor, it might
have been.
Instead, Gareth opened for
business in March and broke My
Window Cleaner’s record for the
highest revenue for a franchisee in
their first month of trading, thanks
to the expert assistance provided by
his franchisor.
Rethink required
My Window Cleaner uses a prestart
marketing plan that has
historically given franchisees over
50 customers in the four-week
period following launch. It includes
local leafleting organised by a third
party distribution company. But
with the health crisis worsening by
the day, this approach was deemed
inappropriate in Gareth’s case and a
rethink was required.
So with the help of his franchisor,
Gareth started marketing his
business online. His activities
attracted 58 customers and nearly
£3,500 in revenue. Success, but he
wanted more.
A new leaflet was produced,
highlighting to potential customers
the precautions Gareth was taking
in order to provide a safe window
cleaning service.
He held his breath and
the Royal Mail leaflet drop
commenced. Another win: the
direct mail campaign resulted in
a further 51 customers.
My Window Cleaner says it
always scrutinises the first month’s
data in a new franchise “as an initial
comparison of success”.
According to the company, Gareth
had broken all previous records
for a new franchisee. In fact, one
of his week’s revenues was £1,400,
more than My Window Cleaner’s
pilot franchisee in Canterbury had
achieved in their entire first month.
Help from the top
“It was unprecedented times for
all involved,” Gareth says. “None of
us had been through anything like
this, let alone trying to launch a
new business. From day one, there
was help from the directors Karen,
Ian and Dave.
“It felt My Window Cleaner knew
what they were doing. Even after
such a challenging start, you could
feel their excitement at the launch
of my business.
“They did more for me in those
first few months than I expected.
Still to this day, the support is as
strong as those first few weeks.”
Gareth is planning to have
another van on the road within the
next 12 months.
“From there on, the sky’s the
limit,” he says. “I would like multiple
vans and to be able to share this
fantastic business with employees.
I know it’s what My Window Cleaner
will help me achieve.”
“They did more for me
in those first few months
than I expected”
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 63
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Encouraging Women into Franchising
Experts at your side
Encouraging Women into Franchising’s partners provide
support for your franchise journey
A
s an organisation
committed to
encouraging women
into franchising,
EWiF partners with other
businesses in the franchise
industry that share its vision of
seeing more women realise their
entrepreneurial potential.
Here’s what each partner can
offer you, as you think about how
to take control of your future:
WHAT FRANCHISE
This media business provides
reports, interviews, editorials and
focus pieces on various parts of the
franchise industry.
At what-franchise.com you can
read and download free articles
for insight into exciting franchise
opportunities that would suit you.
BUSINESS WOMAN
MAGAZINE
Content covers everything you
need to know about owning
a business, from fitness and
coaching to logistics and running a
restaurant.
Read real-life stories of women
who successfully turned their
passions into their dream business.
DARWIN GRAY
Provides a full range of legal
services to the franchise industry.
Your franchisor may use Darwin
Gray within its franchise support
team, so you benefit from a wealth
of experience and expertise specific
to life as a franchise owner.
D&T
A multi-award winning
chartered accountancy practice,
with many years’ experience.
The company supports
thousands of franchisees with
funding, accounts and tax
advice. d&t can also be called
upon for guidance on how to
grow your business.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS EXPO
The Women in Business Expo is a
two-day event designed to support
your business journey.
Whether you’re considering a
franchise opportunity, have an existing
business you want to expand or want to
make a career change, WIB Expo offers
you guidance and inspiration.
WORKINGMUMS.CO.UK
The largest job and community site in
the UK for women looking for flexible
jobs and franchise opportunities.
The site features a range of
opportunities alongside events,
reports and articles to help you find
the answer to your career needs.
CARTER LEGRAND WEALTH
STRATEGIES
Carter Legrand Wealth Strategies - a
Partner Practice of St James’s Place
Wealth Management
- provides specialist
financial advice.
If you want to
know how to build,
grow, protect or
preserve your
wealth as you build
your new franchise
business, it will
work with you to
help you achieve
your goals.
CLASSBIZ
When you
start your new
business, one of
the important
aspects of your
investment is
the systems
and processes
used by your
franchise
to make
life easier.
ClassBiz is a
management
tool used
by thousands of class-based
franchisees worldwide, as it takes
the pressure off the business admin
side, allowing you more time to
focus on teaching.
THE INTERNATIONAL
FRANCHISE SHOW
The International Franchise
Show is the UK’s biggest
franchise exhibition, held at
ExCeL London.
Franchise shows are a great way
for you to find out more about the
franchises you’re interested in in
a less formal way, allowing you to
take away valuable advice from
existing franchisors and franchise
professionals without the pressure
of commitment.
Visit ewif.org/ewif-partners to
find out more about Encouraging
Women into Franchising’s partners
and how they can help you.
64 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
An ability to
adapt
FASTSIGNS offers the perfect franchise for
uncertain times
T
he steady growth of
international franchise
FASTSIGNS over the last 35
years, even during periods
of economic crisis, is the perfect
example of just how resilient a strong
franchise can be.
Deciding to strike out on your own
and take control of your career is never
an easy step to take. However, as the
UK continues to navigate the current
coronavirus pandemic and the after
effects of lockdown, this step could
become a viable career option for many.
Since FASTSIGNS launched its first
franchise in 1985, the devastating
recessions of the early 1990s and
late-2000s have marred the economic
landscape. FASTSIGNS has been
resistant to these challenges and over
the last 35 years has grown to more
than 700 outlets, operating in nine
FASTSIGNS franchisee
Richard Wedgwood
countries, and is confident about its
ability to adapt when required.
CONSISTENT
OPPORTUNITY
A perfect example of how the
model works is Richard Wedgwood,
the franchisee of FASTSIGNS
Manchester, who launched his
centre in 2009 after opting for
voluntary redundancy during
the recession.
“I was ready to do something
which would allow me to establish
my own future,” Richard says.
“I saw a consistent opportunity
in signage - there’s always a
demand for it. Whether it’s led by
seasonality, helping businesses
brand or communicate with their
customers, product launches,
events or directions, signage is a
constant requirement.
“The technology and equipment
specified to open the centre was
also a huge draw for me.”
The years following the
recession were hard for everyone,
but Richard’s franchise not only
survived it thrived and went on
to become one of the top five UK
centres for sales turnover.
“Recessions are a challenge for
any business - new or established,”
Richard says. “However, they
also present a great opportunity,
provided you are and remain
vigilant, proactive and willing to
adapt to change.”
UNIQUE SELLING POINT
Adaptability is at the heart of
FASTSIGNS’ success over the
years.
“FASTSIGNS’ product offering
has helped my business to remain
relevant and helpful to customers
in times of need,” Richard says.
“The franchise’s unique
selling point is delivered by its
comprehensive solution offering.
AT A GLANCE
FASTSIGNS
Established: 1985
Number of franchised outlets: 23
Location of units: Birmingham, Bolton,
Brighton, Chelmsford, Crawley, Enfield,
Gloucester, Guildford, Hammersmith,
Huddersfield, Hull, Islington, Kingston
upon Thames, Leeds, Leicester,
Maidstone, Manchester, Milton Keynes,
Peterborough, Portsmouth, Sheffield,
Southampton, York
Investment range: £125,000-£150,000
Minimum required capital: £36,000
Contact: 01785 253140.
enquiries@fastsigns.com
fsfastsigns.co.uk
“Each customer’s
project is bespoke
and designed
to fit their
unique set of
circumstances”
Customers are not provided with
a one-size-fits-all signage service,
each customer’s project is
bespoke and designed to fit their
unique set of circumstances.”
WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY
A great deal of FASTSIGNS’
strength comes from not only what
the company offers franchisees,
but from what the network offers
its members.
“One of the greatest positives
of FASTSIGNS is the power of the
network in sharing best practice
and working collaboratively,”
Richard says. “In particular,
learning what others have
successfully introduced to their
markets, either driven by specific
customer requests or by proactive
product development.
“A lot of success comes from
mindset and outlook. We are
fortunate to have, in FASTSIGNS, a
franchisor who actively promotes,
educates and encourages the
network to spend time ‘sharpening
the saw’ as business owners.
“Running a business can be
lonely, but with the benefit of a
supportive franchisor there is
always an opportunity to share
the load.”
Behind the Brand - FASTSIGNS
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 65
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Razzamataz Theatre Schools
Razzamataz
returns
The theatre school brand reacted swiftly to the
coronavirus crisis and is now welcoming new franchisees
W
hen schools closed
in March, much was
said about children
missing out on
education and the problems that
might arise as a result.
As the weeks turned into months,
what became apparent was that
the lack of social interaction was
causing significant issues in terms
of self confidence.
Razzamataz Theatre Schools
quickly responded with not only
small interactive online classes,
but also many opportunities for
students to share how they were
feeling with their teachers and
classmates, as well as dedicated
sessions with coaches skilled in
working to improve young people’s
mental health.
BACK IN BUSINESS
The Razzamataz franchise
network has now been given the
go ahead to open for face-to-face
contact and once again support
students to not only improve their
performing arts skills, but to also
help rebuild their confidence and
hopes for their future.
To ensure a safe, enjoyable and
relaxed return, head office has been
adhering to government guidelines
and working with the Children’s
Activities Association and other
franchisors to ensure best practice.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
When the pandemic hit the UK,
Razzamataz was just starting its
20-year birthday celebrations,
having treated all its franchisees to
a conference in London and awards
ceremony on a Thames luxury liner.
There were also many exciting
events for the students planned,
including a performance trip to
Disneyland Paris.
Denise Hutton-Gosney,
founder and managing director
of Razzamataz, says: “During the
pandemic, we were delighted we
could continue to offer scholarships
with The Stage and also our own
Future Fund charity to help even
more young people experience the
joys of performing arts.
“We’re a school where children
come to follow their passion in
dance, drama and singing, but we
are also so much more than that.
AT A GLANCE
RAZZAMATAZ
THEATRE
SCHOOLS
Established:
2000
Number of franchised outlets: 45
Location of units: UK
Investment range: £0 for performing
arts, education and airline sector workers
(usually £7,995 plus VAT)
Minimum required capital: £4,000
marketing launch budget and £5,000
working capital
Contact: franchise@razzamataz.co.uk.
07821 122242
razzamataz.co.uk/franchise-opps/
contact-us
“We have so many
parents tell us
that Razzamataz
is the place where
their child feels
most accepted”
“We have so many parents tell us
that Razzamataz is the place where
their child feels most accepted,
it is where they have grown in
confidence and where they have
found lifelong friends.”
CAREERS IN THE ARTS
Throughout the pandemic,
Razzamataz has continued to grow
as a business.
In fact, five new franchisees have
come on board, taking advantage
of virtual training and full support
from a dedicated mentor.
With many industries facing a
tough time, Razzamataz is reaching
out to individuals who find themselves
looking to reassess their future.
“This has been particularly tough
for the arts/entertainment and
travel industries, with many people
set to lose their jobs,” Denise adds.
“There are also going to be plenty
of redundancies in other sectors, so
for the first time ever we’re giving
the right candidates the chance to
join our award winning network
without having to pay a franchise
joining fee.”
Razzamataz is also hosting
free virtual events to help people
understand more about running
a theatre school and franchising
in general.
66 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - TaxAssist Accountants
Accounting for
success
Despite turbulent times, TaxAssist Accountants
franchisee Charlie Walker is positive about the future
I
n the most
turbulent times the
UK economy has
seen for decades,
independent business specialist
TaxAssist Accountants has
been an essential hub for local
business communities, thanks
to unsurpassed levels of support
and communication.
With over 230 franchises
based in visible shops and offices
across the UK supporting over
76,000 clients, the company has
seen its services in demand like
never before.
several measures to support its
franchisees during the COVID-19
pandemic, which Charlie is quick
to praise alongside the staff
members themselves.
“The daily updates and regular
webinars organised by the
support centre have been useful,
but the key thing I’ve had
from TaxAssist in Norwich is
continuity,” he says.
“The team has remained
the same friendly, helpful and
knowledgeable group that they
have been since I joined the
network in 2018.”
AT A GLANCE
TAXASSIST
ACCOUNTANTS
Established:
1995
Number of franchised outlets: 239
franchise areas; 386 shops and offices
Location of units: UK
Investment range: £100,000-£150,000
Minimum required capital: £40,000
Contact:
franchiseenquiries@taxassist.co.uk
taxassistfranchise.co.uk
“Our aim is to
be as flexible
and helpful
as possible”
CLIENT CONTACT
Bedford, Huntingdon and St Neotsbased
franchisee Charlie Walker has
maintained regular contact with his
clients where he can during these
difficult times and has been praised
for doing so.
Charlie say: “Feedback from
clients ranges from simple emails
saying things like ‘that’s great,
thanks for the update’ to online
reviews from businesses we don’t
yet act for, but who were pleased to
be able to get some advice.
“I’ve also been asked to take a
non-executive director role on the
board of a key service provider we
act for based on work we’ve done
with them over the last year and
on that I was able to negotiate a
revised fee structure and interim
grant for them.
“The same client has also agreed
to hand over almost their entire
financial support and bookkeeping
to TaxAssist, so the owners and
directors can focus on building
their unique business.”
FRANCHISEE SUPPORT
The TaxAssist Accountants
support centre has rolled out
SECOND SHOP
Charlie is positive about
the future and has plans in
place to grow his practice:
“The pandemic has caused a
huge global shock, but with
my services very much in
demand I believe now is a
great opportunity to think
about expanding my practice,
so in addition to my shop in
Bedford I’ve recently opened
a second shop in a prime
location in Huntingdon.
“I know the economy will
contract for a while, but
a recent Office for Budget
Responsibility forecast
indicates that by early next
year there should be a period
of rapid growth once again.
“Both my shops are open
for clients to walk in and we
provide hand sanitiser, wear
masks and have installed
perspex screens for face-to-face
client meetings, although we
also offer telephone and online
meetings for those clients who
would prefer this method at this
time. Our aim is to be as flexible
and helpful as possible.
“I know that amongst my small
business client base there is a
desperate need for guidance and
support right now, so when I was
asked to host my own monthly,
one-hour radio show on Radio
Huntingdon I jumped at the
chance, as it will give me the
opportunity to offer the benefits
of my business and accountancy
experience to help businesses in
my local area.”
If you share a passion to
support local small businesses
and have an accountancy or
financial background, a TaxAssist
franchise can provide the
systems and support you need to
be successful.
68 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
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INSIGHT
The truth about franchising
Dispelling these common myths will mean you start your search with
your eyes wide open
WORDS BY NIGEL TOPLIS
THE AUTHOR
Nigel Toplis is
managing director of
multi-brand franchisor
The Bardon Group
M
any years ago I attended
an event at a rather
swish location where the
headline guest speaker
was explaining how because one
of his companies was not doing so
well he was going to turn it into a
franchise business.
At the time, I was surprised how
such a successful businessperson
could be so ignorant about
franchising that they saw the whole
concept as simply a way to solve the
problem in one fell swoop.
I’m a huge believer in and advocate
of franchising. In my opinion, it’s
one of the best means to distribute
products and services efficiently.
However, it doesn’t have the
ability to turn a sow’s ear into
a silk purse. If a business is
underperforming, turning it into
a franchise simply makes it an
underperforming franchise.
This isn’t the only common myth
about franchising. Here are a few
more I’ve come across during my
time in the industry:
“The franchisee must
contribute a high work
ethic, ambition and a
willingness to work with
the franchisor”
Anyone can be a good
franchisee
All franchisors make errors when
it comes to recruitment. Not
intentionally, but occasionally
we’ve allowed people who are
patently not suitable for selfemployment
to enter our domain.
In a franchise scenario, the
franchisor provides experience,
business know-how, operational
methods, marketing tools, sales
training, procurement advice and
ongoing support. These elements
are combined with a proven
business system, trademarks and
permission to use the brand.
In return, the franchisee must
contribute a high work ethic,
ambition and a willingness to
work with the franchisor.
Good franchising is a marriage
between two parties with different
skill sets, but with a common goal.
If a franchisee doesn’t want to be
a spouse, then success for both
parties will be difficult.
You can be a
successful franchisee
by operating outside
of the system
A few years ago I was considering
taking over a struggling company.
It was in an associated business
to mine, I had some experience of
the marketplace through previous
associations and while the
company had performed poorly
over two-three years, I felt with
strong leadership and hard
work I could help to turn the
business around.
To cut a long story short,
we reached an agreement to
purchase it from the existing
shareholders, who simply wanted
out. But then we had to deal
with the incumbent managing
director, who had been in
charge throughout the demise
of the business.
We made several suggestions
about how we might improve the
company, what was required from
him and how I would support him
through my existing contacts.
His response is one I’ll never
forget: “Nigel,” he said. “I haven’t
worked hard for five years and
I’m not going to start now.”
Needless to say, we didn’t buy the
business and the managing director
was fired a short while later.
Hard work isn’t
necessary if you have a
good business concept
I’ve had the pleasure of working
with 600-plus franchisees over
some 25 years.
Those who are most successful,
who remain in the business
for longest and who have a
consistently high financial return
are those who work hard, follow
the franchisor’s system, have drive,
ambition and work with but also
challenge the franchisor.
I recall having a meeting
with a franchisee to
discuss why his business
wasn’t performing at the
level we all expected. He
was in a good geographical
area, demographics were
positive and competition
lacking. All the portents
were positive.
The franchisee said he
had analysed the issues
and, according to him, they
were all the fault of the franchisor.
They included:
• The phone never rang.
• Footfall was negligible.
• He rarely received an email
requesting a quote.
I remember talking about
all the things he should be
doing, including:
• Local marketing to find potential
customers in his area.
• Acquiring a list of companies
in the territory and organising
an email campaign to build
awareness.
• Joining business networking
groups to build relationships
with other companies.
70 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
• Calling existing customers,
lapsed customers and
even prospects in order to
understand their business
and add value.
Essentially, we discussed his lack
of activity. His response was stark:
“When I became a franchisee, I
didn’t expect to have to go out and
get customers.”
Buying a franchise is
like buying a job
This isn’t the case. There is huge
latent desire in the UK to be the
boss, despite evidence that setting
up a business from scratch can be
high risk, with the British Franchise
Association NatWest industry
survey regularly reporting that four
in five new start-ups fail in their
first two years of trading.
This is in stark contrast to new
franchises, where more than 90 per
cent are still in business after the
same time frame.
However, that’s not to say
franchising is an easy road to
riches. To be a successful franchisee
you need to:
• Choose the right franchise,
matching your funds with your
skills and interests.
• Select the right franchisor by
meeting with them, examining
their history and challenging
their support.
• Meet with franchisees and ask
them about the franchisor’s
support and understand the
financial returns.
• Produce a business plan
that examines the business
proposition, pitfalls and rewards.
• Take expert advice from a franchise
lawyer about the franchise agreement and
an accountant about the business plan.
• Secure funding. Banks will typically
provide 70 per cent of the start-up
costs, but don’t make the mistake of
underfunding the business.
Franchising is a successful business
model that offers numerous advantages to
franchisees in terms of being their own boss,
determining a work-life balance, creating
financial security and being beholden to no
one but yourself and rewarded directly in
line with your own efforts.
Becoming a franchisee
guarantees success
Rewards can be significant, but building
your own business requires determination,
hard work, ambition and dedication.
It’s no different when you invest in
a franchise.
38%
The number of franchisors that
didn’t award a franchise because
the candidate believed they were
‘just buying a job’
Source: British Franchise Association
NatWest franchise survey 2018
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 71
ADVICE INSIGHT
Why running a management
franchise is different
How to choose the right type of franchise for you
WORDS BY LISA STEAD
THE AUTHOR
Lisa Stead is
franchise manager
at Shuttercraft
T
he defining question in
choosing your franchise
opportunity is about
how you want to run
your business and not necessarily
what type of product or service
you provide. So let me ask you
a question:
Do you want a franchise business
that is a job replacement - you
work in your franchise in return
for an income - or one that gives
you scope to grow, expand your
earnings and the ability to focus on
what you’re best at?
Any budding entrepreneur has
a tendency, at the start
of their business
journey, to try and do
everything themselves.
The problem with this
approach is that your scope
for growth is limited to how
many hours there are in the
day and how much you can
physically do.
Successful business owners will
tell you that their defining moment
of growth is when they realised
they couldn’t do it all themselves
and that by focusing on what they
“By following tried and
tested systems, you’ll
have a greater chance
of success than going
it alone”
were good at they had many more
opportunities to increase their
income and grow their business.
So I revert to my question above:
do you want a business you can
work on or a business you work in?
In the franchise market, you
have options as to the type of
structure you prefer. Here’s an
overview of the different franchise
types there are, depending on the
kind of business you want to run:
The business format
franchise
This is perhaps the most typical
franchise model.
You purchase the rights to the
franchise trademark, trade names
and all the business systems and
processes you’ll need to operate
your business. It’s a prescribed
model and you’ll pay the
franchisor for the right to sell the
product or service. You may also
have to buy your materials, stock
and, potentially, uniforms directly
from them.
This model tends to work best
for those who want to work on
their own and generate a steady
income from their own efforts.
• Pro: you’re not responsible for
anybody else.
• Con: you can only increase your
income by working longer hours
yourself.
The product
distribution franchise
This franchise concept is similar
to a supplier-distributor set
up in that you pay a fee for
the right to sell and market
the goods you buy directly
from the franchisor. The
franchisor is responsible
for providing the product
and you’re then able to sell it.
Your franchisor will provide
all the products, but there is less
training, support and business
set-up advice than there is with
other types of franchise. Essentially,
you’re buying the right to sell a
product.
With this type of franchise, you
can be much more independent in
terms of not having the restrictions
a business format franchise might
place on you.
• Pro: you’re guided by a structure
and a brand.
• Con: you can only grow at the pace
the franchisor can provide the
products.
The management
franchise
A management franchise is entirely
different to both a business format
and product distribution franchise.
While you’re still a franchisee
of your chosen business, it’s
a business that you run, but
with other people carrying out the
business activities.
72 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 15.5 16.3
The franchisor will provide
you with everything you need
to run your business, including
all equipment, full professional
support in setting up, full training
throughout your franchise
agreement and a marketing launch.
You manage your own operation,
but under the umbrella of the
franchise name, while following
the franchise business model from
there on is up to you, as is
how much or how little you
develop the franchise.
• Pro: there’s no limit to
how much you grow your
business and your income.
• Con: you’ll need to rely on others
to deliver your product/service.
Which option should
you choose?
Now you know the difference between
the various types of franchise, which
one is best suited to you?
This depends
on what
type of business you want to run,
how comfortable you are in managing
others and whether you want a
business you can grow or are happy
generating an income that meets your
standard of living requirements.
If you have experience of
management or are looking to have a
hands-off approach to how you run
your business, the management model
is probably the best option for you.
It gives you the opportunity to
develop both systems and resources
all within the safety net of a franchise
structure, enables you to think
strategically about how far you want to
take your business and be the master
of your own destiny.
Buying a franchise is an excellent
way to set up and run your own
business. By following tried and tested
systems and processes, you’ll have a
greater chance of success than going
it alone.
Knowing that you have further
options as to the type of model you
invest in, makes franchising the
best choice for setting up your
own business.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 73
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Wok&Go
Going places
Wok&Go is the UK’s fastest growing healthy
fast food franchise
S
ince 2008, Wok&Go has
established itself as a fresh,
Asian fusion food chain,
blending the best in Thai,
Malaysian, Indonesian, Chinese and
Japanese cuisine.
The company has already opened
franchises in Bangor, Birmingham, Chester,
Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, London,
Southampton, Dubai and Portugal and is
continuing to expand in these regions and
internationally.
Zero retail experience is required to
become a Wok&Go franchisee due to the
company’s extensive support system, which
aids you in finding premises, securing
funding, recruiting your team and running
the restaurant to its full potential.
Alternatively, you can invest in a franchise
and have it established and run on a daily
basis by Wok&Go’s experienced team.
“The company uses its own
recipes, with all noodles
cooked to order from fresh
ingredients”
WHY INVEST IN WOK&GO?
• The company uses its own recipes,
with all noodles cooked to order from
fresh ingredients in an
open kitchen. The range is
complemented by delicious
rice dishes, salads, soups and
Asian ice creams.
• The concept fits within all
main UK and international
food service consumer
trends: health, convenience,
the quest for variety, speed,
theatricality and the popularity
of Asian food.
• Wok&Go has an eat in, takeaway
and delivery business model,
meaning multiple revenue
streams are available. It’s also a
de-seasonalised business.
• The brand attracts many
different target groups, including
students, shoppers, office
workers and families.
• The Wok&Go franchise is
the fastest growing noodle bar
in the UK, with 24-plus sites
and counting. It has a nationwide
presence and has tested its
model in malls, high streets, retail
parks and residential locations.
• Wok&Go says it’s the only
franchisor to offer a ‘managed’
option, where the franchisor
operates the store on behalf of
the franchisee, offering a
guaranteed return.
AT A GLANCE
WOK&GO
Established:
2008
Number of franchised outlets:
24
Location of units:
UK and overseas
Investment range:
£100,000-£200,000
Minimum required capital:
£60,000
Contact:
richard@limelicensinggroup.co.uk
franchiselife.co.uk/listing/wokgo-franchise
COMPREHENSIVE
TRAINING AND SUPPORT
Over and above standard franchise
support and training, Wok&Go offers
a comprehensive training programme
and initial/ongoing operational and
business management support,
including:
• A turnkey store solution including
design, build and project
management. Wok&Go is one
of the few chains that doesn’t
outsource this service, providing
quality shop-fits at competitive
rates.
• Assistance with the recruitment
and training of chefs and back-ofhouse
staff.
• An area manager assigned to the
franchisee’s store who visits every
two weeks.
• A national marketing programme
comprising a specially designed
customer app with 18,000-plus
users.
WHAT WOK&GO
FRANCHISEES SAYS
Ron Laker explains: “I was looking
for a franchise that offered me
something different.
“Wok&Go hit the right spot,
offering a great deal of flexibility in
the managed franchise option. It
allows me to get the best of both
worlds, as I’m based in the USA and I
have other business commitments. In
fact, it’s worked out so well I now own
three sites.”
Pedro Martins says: “I’m a big
noodle fan. A few months ago I had
a conversation with João Lucas from
BrandPlus and he suggested Wok&Go.
“I’m so glad I looked into it, as I
received good training and support
and I’m incredibly happy with the final
result. Wok&Go has a big future and
I’m proud to be part of it.”
74 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
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BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Time to thrive
The home care services provided by Visiting Angels
have never been more essential
T
here are few franchise
opportunities that have
grown substantially
during lockdown.
Care franchising does offer a
significant opportunity for the
right franchisee. Since the start of
the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus
on the efforts of those in the care
sector has never been clearer.
Established in the US in 1998,
Visiting Angels is a global care giant
with community-based values.
Today, the franchise is one of the
largest care franchises in the world
and proudly supports 600-plus
franchisees in five countries. The
business was launched in the
UK in 2017 and has experienced
phenomenal growth.
FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE
UK managing director Dan Archer
explains: “Before launching the
franchise, I wanted to launch and
run a pilot business in the UK. I felt
it was important that I was able
to support our franchisees from a
position of first-hand knowledge.
My business in Sheffield is now
turning over more than £1.7 million
per year and supports 100 families,
employing over 100 staff.”
The solid foundations of the
pilot business have also led to
the expansion of a network
of franchisees.
“We have nine offices across the
UK and we had a socially distanced
training course in May 2020, with
eight new franchisees attending.
I’m delighted that our model is one
of the franchise success stories of
the past 12 months.”
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Many business opportunities claim
to be recession proof. The reality
of the past six months has been
that some businesses making that
claim have been forced to close
their doors. Home care franchising,
however, has never been more
essential and thanks to initiatives
such as the clap for carers
movement, the wider population is
now recognising this.
For many businesses, the struggle
has been to survive, but Dan says
for his business it has been a time
to thrive: “We have faced a huge
challenge as a nation and the health
AT A GLANCE
VISITING ANGELS
Established:
2017
Number of franchised units: 9
Location of units: UK
Investment range: £90,000-£110,000
Minimum required capital:
£30,000-£50,000
Contact: Dan Archer. 07584 178458
visitingangelsfranchise.co.uk
service and society at large has
looked to social care companies like
ours for additional support.
“Our operational business has
never been busier and our franchise
network has doubled in the last six
months. As lockdown eases, we’re
seeing yet more demand for our
service and the terrible situation
with COVID-19 in residential care
homes means more families than
ever are choosing care at home as
a safer alternative.”
TREATING CARERS
BETTER
Dan feels that treating carers better
has been at the heart of Visiting
Angels’ success: “Our business
was built on valuing carers more
than other care companies. What
has happened with the COVID-19
outbreak is that society has also
started to realise that carers need
to be valued better.”
Visiting Angels calls this
approach being carer centric. The
focus is clear from the mission
statement of the UK business to
‘Become the UK Care Sector’s
Employer of Choice by 2022.’
“I want our caregivers to want to
work in care and choose to work for
a Visiting Angels office,” Dan says.
Many care workers are underpaid
and poorly rewarded, but the
approach taken by Visiting Angels is
different.
Dan says: “We want to ensure
our caregivers are among the best
paid in the care sector. We pay
more, we incentivise training and
development, we reward loyalty and
we offer excellent benefits.”
By focusing on its caregivers,
Visiting Angels has found it’s able
to ensure the company has a ready
supply of them.
“We have found that the culture
of caregiver support we have built
in our offices has protected us
from high staff turnover, meaning
that the clients who we support
76 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
Behind the Brand - Visiting Xxxxxxxxxxx Angels
“Our franchise
network has
doubled in the
last six months”
get the same caregiver each week,”
Dan says. “Happy caregivers are
best placed to ensure that clients
are delighted.”
DRIVING DEMAND
Dan feels that society is also
changing its view on the type of
care provided:
“Research conducted by Hanbury
Strategy, with support from the
charity Independent Age, during
April-May 2020 showed that around
a third of people polled said they
were now less likely to want to put
their relative in a care home.
“Residential care has been at
the epicentre of the COVID-19
outbreak. In our pilot business in
Sheffield, we’re receiving calls from
relatives who are deciding that
they would rather keep their loved
ones at home to avoid the risks
within care homes.
“A backlash against residential
care was already driving demand
for care in the home. If COVID-19 is
increasing the feeling that people
are safer at home, the demand for
the Visiting Angels service is set to
keep rising.”
LEADING FROM
THE FRONT
At times of crisis, the global
Visiting Angels business has
pulled together.
“We’ve led from the front in our
local markets, with world class
training for our carers to keep
them safe and ensure clients are
protected,” Dan says.
“Shared best practice and
group buying power for things like
personal protective equipment
have been huge benefits of being
part of one of the world’s biggest
care providers.”
Franchising provides the
benefit of not having to go it
alone. UK franchisees receive
comprehensive training and
support from both the UK and
US management team.
The management team are
hugely knowledgeable, but many
of the best practice initiatives in
the business have been proven
over many years and come from
the experience of hundreds
of franchisees.
The franchise fee is £24,995
and franchisees interested in this
opportunity will need £25,000-
£30,000 in liquid capital in order to
secure bank funding for the total
investment, including working
capital of up to £100,000.
A substantial, premisesbased
management franchise,
the potential exists for a sixfigure
turnover in year one and
a projected million pound-plus
turnover by the end of year three.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 77
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Sourced Franchise: Partner
Make money
from property
You can build a profitable HMO portfolio with
Sourced Partner
AT A GLANCE
SOURCED
FRANCHISE:
PARTNER
Established:
2017
Number of franchised outlets:
100-plus
Location of units:
UK
Investment range:
£17,500 (plus VAT)
Minimum required capital:
£120,000
Contact:
franchise@sourced.co
sourcedfranchise.co/partner
D
espite being aware that
property creates more
millionaires than any other
industry in the world,
many people don’t have the right
knowledge, experience or time to enter
this exciting industry.
Sourced boasts over seven decades
of combined property experience and
believes anyone with the right skill
set and attitude can be successful
in this industry.
“The company can also
fund up to 100 per cent of
your HMO conversions and
refurbs”
That’s why it’s created Sourced
Partner, which enables property
enthusiasts to earn a hands-off
income from property by utilising
the most effective HMO strategies.
NO EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED
When you join the franchise, you’ll get
access to Sourced’s comprehensive
training programme, which covers
everything you need to know about
finding, setting up and running a
successful HMO property.
The company can also fund up to
100 per cent of your HMO conversions
and refurbs, thanks to its in-house
lending facility.
To maximise your chances of
success, Sourced has developed a
unique support structure, where its
in-house HMO experts will guide you
step-by-step as you source and set
up your portfolio. Other resources
available to partners are a bespoke
customer relationship management
system, exclusive HMO leads and
development resources, to name a few.
SIX-FIGURE INCOMES
A number of Sourced franchisees
have joined the business with no
experience in property, yet they
managed to successfully build
portfolios that generate incomes of
over £100,000 per year.
Even if you only purchase one
property a year, it will still result in a
substantial annual passive income,
which applied over the franchise term
equates to a six-figure income.
HOW IT WORKS
You can learn all you need to know
about HMO by attending an exclusive
Sourced training event. Following
that, the company will develop a
bespoke plan, based on your financial
goals. You can then set up your
portfolio with the help of Sourced
experts and start making money
from property.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
With the franchise, you will get access
to a range of resources, including:
• 18 training days per year.
• Dedicated national mentor.
• Step-by-step support programme.
• 100 per cent funding facility.
• Exclusive HMO opportunities.
EXCELLENT
CONVERSION
OPPORTUNITY
Here’s an example of a HMO
project undertaken by a
Sourced franchisee:
• HMO type: high-end,
seven-bed.
• Location of deal:
Stoke-on-Trent.
• Type of deal: commercial
to residential conversion.
Michael discovered an
excellent HMO conversion
opportunity, which was
hidden among commercial
property listings. An office
building in Fenton, Stoke, it
had a planning permission
to convert it into a sevenbed
HMO.
Located close to a
business park popular
with seasonal workers, the
high-end HMO will provide
a competitive offering on
the market of short-term
accommodation in the area.
Upon successful
completion, the franchisee
will refinance the property
to release equity, based on a
new valuation, and keep the
HMO in his portfolio. The
gross yield for the
HMO is estimated to reach
8 per cent, generating a net
yield of 6.5 per cent-7
per cent.
78 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
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believes in doing good first. Unlimited earning and unique
opportunities to make a positive change in society.
Receive substantial financial and emotional rewards
• Helps elderly people live independently in their own homes
• Management franchise providing non-medical services such as light
housekeeping, shopping, gardening, cooking, companion care and more
• Low costs to join a successful global brand with 20 years outstanding results
• Winning national awards as well as hearts and minds in UK
• Unique working practices with unparalleled outcomes for elderly people
and older workers. All carers and clients kept safe and well during COVID-19
• Backed by marketing expertise and expert management support
Join our unique franchise partnership. Be part of our strong community of like-minded
social entrepreneurs who make money because they do the right thing.
Start the rest of your life today!
Tel: 01227 454 900 Email: contactme@seniorshelpingseniors.co.uk
www.franchises.seniorshelpingseniors.co.uk
©Seniors Helping Seniors. Each office is independently owned and operated. All trademarks are
registered trademarks of Corporate Mutual Resources Inc.
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - easyGym
easyGym is fit
for purpose
Franchisees can take advantage of strong returns
and the post-COVID-19 world the industry has
woken up to
AT A GLANCE
easyGym
Established:
2009 (corporate) 2018 (franchise)
Number of franchised outlets:
17
Location of units:
2 UK, 14 France, 1 Kenya
Investment range:
£600,000-£1.2 million
Minimum required capital:
£300,000 (based on an 8,000 sq ft unit)
Contact:
george@easygym.co.uk
easygym.co.uk
“The demand
for fitness and
well-being has
skyrocketed
during the
pandemic”
looking for a little guidance in a
workout.
When PACK45 was introduced in
Kenya, the studios were fully booked
from early morning until the night.
T
he fitness industry is in the
midst of major disruption.
Although COVID-19 has
created the perfect storm
for legacy gym owners, the pandemic is
offering a huge opportunity for those
looking to enter this fast growing
space.
The demand for fitness and
well-being has skyrocketed during
the pandemic. Fitness equipment
is virtually sold out everywhere,
online exercise trainers saw their
subscriptions explode and in some
places underground gyms were
formed.
With rapidly declining real estate
prices, increasing demand for fitness
and a more price discerning customer,
now is the perfect time to enter the
fitness industry. easyGym offers a high
quality, but affordable, gym solution
with state-of-the-art technology and a
worry-free operating experience.
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY
Paul Lorimer-Wing, CEO of easyGym,
explains: “Opening an easyGym
is an exciting opportunity for
entrepreneurs and investors who are
looking for the potential of strong
returns and are ready to take full
advantage of the post-COVID-19
world the industry has woken up to.”
Not only that, but the UK
government has recently modified
planning regulations so that empty
properties in great locations with
major footfall can be converted to
gyms. You can now open and operate
a gym very quickly.
Furthermore, easyGym comes with
a high energy, but fun studio concept
called PACK45 that customers love.
PACK45 studios provide functional
kit to strengthen the entire body
through real-life movements in just
45 minutes and are especially popular
with busy professionals and those
PERFECT TIMING
There has never been a better time to
join the fitness industry, as the world
emerges from lockdowns with a newfound
focus on health and well-being.
If you have a passion for fitness, are
committed to building a community
and want to take advantage of
this exciting space, franchising an
easyGym could be the right solution
for you.
It’s also an opportunity to join the
easyGroup family - one of Europe’s
most iconic and recognisable brands.
JOIN UP WITH SIR STELIOS
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is proud to
back the easyGym expansion.
He says: “One of my favourite
businesses in the easy family of
brands is easyGym and I am delighted
that their expert team has created a
fantastic franchise opportunity.
“It has huge potential worldwide
and I am excited for the future
of easyGym, just as I was when I
founded easyJet 25 years ago.
“I fully expect easyGym to take off
just like easyJet did and become an
integral part of my easy brands.
“It offers franchisees a fantastic
business opportunity - backed by
our experienced support staff that
are trusted by easyGym owners
everywhere.”
80 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
INTERVIEW
What a franchise lawyer
can do for you
Paying for an experienced legal professional’s advice is money well spent
if you want to avoid any nasty surprises at a later date, Andy Fraser,
founder of Albany Fraser Solicitors, says
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
THAT A PROSPECTIVE
FRANCHISEE CONSULTS
A LAWYER BEFORE
INVESTING IN A
FRANCHISE?
A steadily increasing number of
countries, including most recently
the Netherlands, have taken steps
to regulate the sale of franchises.
However, in the UK there is no such
regulation and the latin phrase
caveat emptor applies. Or less
pretentiously, buyer beware.
Importantly, there is not even
a legal definition of a franchise
in the UK. This means that all
sorts of business opportunities,
some better than others, can be
advertised as a franchise. Not
all business opportunities sold
as a franchise are full business
format franchises and a lawyer
with experience in franchising
can usually spot the difference
very quickly.
Franchise agreements are
complex legal documents,
often 40-50 pages long and
usually designed to protect the
franchisor’s business interests.
Consulting a lawyer before
investing in a franchise is
essential, as the lawyer can point
out the key terms and obligations
on the franchisee and ensure
there are no nasty surprises at a
later date.
WHY IS IT CRUCIAL TO
INSTRUCT A LAWYER
WHO’S FAMILIAR WITH
THE CONCEPT OF
FRANCHISING?
Lawyers, like doctors, are
becoming increasingly specialised.
You wouldn’t want your GP
doing your heart bypass surgery;
similarly, you wouldn’t want a
lawyer with limited experience of
franchising getting their hands on
a franchise agreement.
For a start, chances are they will
not be able to tell the difference
between a good franchise
agreement that complies with
the European code of ethics for
franchising and one that doesn’t.
Also, they may look at the
document and think: “This is far
too one-sided” before proceeding
to make wholesale changes to
“Lawyers with
experience in
franchising will
know the market
and potentially
the business
model in which
the franchisee is
looking to invest”
the contract, which are never
going to be acceptable to the
franchisor.
When this is presented to the
franchisor, they will probably
reject all the changes, meaning
the franchisee will have wasted
money paying their solicitor for
making the amendments without
actually getting anywhere.
In contrast, lawyers with
experience in franchising will
know the market and potentially
the business model in which the
franchisee is looking to invest. They
have a greater understanding of
what is fair in franchising, where a
franchisor may be willing to amend
a provision and where they will not.
WHAT SHOULD YOU
LOOK FOR IN A LAWYER
BEFORE ENLISTING THEIR
SERVICES?
A franchise agreement should
always be reviewed by a lawyer
who is an affiliate of the
British Franchise Association.
Affiliates are all accredited by
the bfa as having significant
experience in franchising.
Instead of seeking to make
wholesale revisions to the
agreement, a bfa affiliate will
usually focus on preparing a
report on it for the franchisee,
which explains all the key terms
and perhaps suggests some areas
where the franchisee
needs to seek more
information or
clarification from
the franchisor.
82 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
The franchisee can send this
report to the franchisor, discuss it
with them and allow the franchisor
to respond to any queries.
IS IT IMPORTANT THAT
A LAWYER IS LOCAL
TO ME OR CAN THEY
PROVIDE THEIR SERVICE
NO MATTER WHERE
THEY’RE BASED?
In my view, it doesn’t matter
where the lawyer is based.
The recent national lockdown
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
showed how easy it is for legal
work to be carried out remotely,
with face-to-face consultations
over Zoom if necessary.
This suits us, as we happen
to be a virtual law firm anyway,
meaning we have no fixed
office premises,
allowing us to operate on a much
more cost effective basis for
franchisees.
HOW DOES A LAWYER
CHARGE FOR THEIR
SERVICES AND HOW
MUCH SHOULD I
EXPECT TO PAY?
If your lawyer is still charging by
the hour for anything other than
litigation, you need to switch firm.
Most lawyers should be able
to provide a fixed fee service
for reviewing the franchise
agreement, preparing a report
on it and having a follow-up
consultation with you. You should
expect to pay in the region of
£400-£750 (plus VAT) for this
service. Albany Fraser offers a
fixed fee of £450 (plus VAT).
£400
to
£750
(plus VAT)
WHAT A LAWYER WILL
CHARGE TO PROVIDE
A COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT OF
A FRANCHISE
AGREEMENT
ONCE THE BUSINESS
IS UP AND RUNNING,
WHAT OTHER SERVICES
CAN A LAWYER OFFER
A FRANCHISEE?
There is likely to be a whole
host of services a lawyer
can provide to a franchisee
once their business is up and
running.
Some of the
more common
services
would be
employment
law,
advice on
employing and
maintaining
staff; commercial law,
advice on terms and
conditions of business
or commercial
contracts with
suppliers, if these
are not subject
to the franchisor’s
standard terms; data
protection, advice on
how you can use personal data
received from customers; property
law, advice on a lease of any
premises or issues arising under
it; and corporate law,
advice on shareholders’
agreements or the operation
of the franchisee company.
The franchisee is unlikely to
need much further franchising
law advice unless or until an
issue arises with the franchisor
or the franchisee wishes to
renew or sell their franchise.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 83
INSIGHT
10 leading franchise lawyers
What Franchise’s pick of the most distinguished members of the
UK legal profession
Roz Goldstein
FOUNDER, GOLDSTEIN LEGAL
Stephen
Thompson
MANAGING PARTNER AND
HEAD OF FRANCHISING,
DARWIN GRAY
An affiliate member of the British Franchise Association, Stephen
has over 20 years’ experience in the franchising industry.
In addition to day-to-day legal assistance, he assists with
strategic goals and resales. A trained litigator, Stephen also deals
with franchise disputes.
He is one of only two qualified franchise professionals in
Wales. Stephen is also regional chair for the South West & Wales
Encouraging Women into Franchising branch.
John Pratt
SENIOR PARTNER, HAMILTON PRATT
Who’s Who Legal has twice rated John as Europe’s
leading franchise lawyer in the last three years.
He’s been the legal adviser to the British
Franchise Association, chair of the International Bar
Association’s Franchising Committee, chair of the
American Bar Association’s International Franchising
Division and chair of Euro Franchise Lawyers, the
grouping of Europe’s leading franchise lawyers.
John is also the author of the UK’s text book on the
legal aspects of franchising.
Hamilton Pratt has a team of eight lawyers
exclusively undertaking franchise related matters and
represents nearly 40 per cent of bfa full members.
Roz founded Goldstein Legal in 2006, after
almost 20 years’ experience working as
an in-house lawyer for companies such
as Burger King and O2. Today the firm
provides legal advice to domestic clients,
as well as those overseas.
In 2017 she published The Essential
Guide to Franchising Your Business: A
Business Owner’s Roadmap to Franchise
Success to help aspiring franchisors
achieve their business goals.
Roz also sits on the British Franchise
Association board of directors and is a
qualified franchise professional.
Shelley Nadler
LEGAL DIRECTOR, BIRD & BIRD
Recognised as an expert in
franchising in the Legal Business
Guide to Legal Experts, during her
25-plus years in franchising Shelley
has been retained as counsel for a
number of household names in the
retail and food and beverage sectors
and advises services and educational
businesses, including British Franchise
Association members, start-ups and
established brands.
With particular expertise in
structuring and developing domestic
and international franchise networks,
she also advises franchisors on
multichannel expansion strategies,
franchise business sales, managing
franchisee networks and using online
portals and automation to manage
the production and storage of
franchise documentation.
84 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
Nicola
Broadhurst
PARTNER,
STEVENS & BOLTON
Andy
Fraser
FOUNDER, ALBANY
FRASER SOLICITORS
Top ranked by legal directories Who’s
Who Global Franchising, the World
Trademark Review, The Legal 500 and
Chambers UK, Nicola joined Stevens
& Bolton in 2011 as a partner and
head of franchising.
She specialises in helping
businesses expand primarily through
franchising and has a particular focus
on international expansion.
Nicola currently serves
on the British Franchise
Association’s quality standards
committee, advising on compliance
issues and best practice in franchising.
She’s also a member of the
American Bar Association Franchise
Forum, the International Bar
Association’s International Franchising
Committee and is a council member
and liaison officer for the IBA European
Regional Forum.
Albany Fraser Solicitors is a commercial law firm
with franchising at its heart.
Andy set it up in 2019 with a view to helping
franchisors and franchisees of all shapes and sizes
make smarter decisions.
Accredited by the British Franchise Association as
a qualified franchise professional, he originally trained
as a franchise consultant with one of the UK’s leading
franchise consultancy practices, where he worked on
projects for brands such as Ralph Lauren, American
Eagle Outfitters, Esprit and Whittard of Chelsea.
Vicki Mitman
SOLICITOR, NMW
As a franchise specialist solicitor and former
director of an international franchisor, having
first-hand experience of life as a franchisor
means Vicki’s advice is commercial and realistic.
She’s also an executive coach and mentor
and advises on the creation and updating of
operations manuals.
Vicki has been a qualified franchise
professional for many years. She’s served as
chair of the British Franchise Association’s
affiliate forum and membership committee
and chaired regional meetings of
Encouraging Women into Franchising for
more than five years.
Over the years, Vicki has won the Service
Provider in Franchising and Young Woman in
Franchising awards.
Eric
Galbraith
PARTNER, BRODIES
With 35 years’ experience of
transactional and corporate
advisory work, Eric has
established his reputation as
a trusted adviser with a deep
understanding of clients’
businesses and goals, both
corporate and personal.
He leads the Brodies top
ranked franchising group and
has established a reputation
for handling complex
deals and international
franchising projects.
Eric is also a Band 1 Ranked
Individual in the Chambers
UK 2020 franchising category
and his expertise is grounded
in his experience of working
with owner-managers, with
a particular focus on the food
and drink industry.
Jane Masih
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
OWEN WHITE SOLICITORS
As well as being MD, Jane also leads Owen White’s
franchising team. She’s been advising on all aspects
of franchising for over 25 years, plus she’s an
experienced commercial and corporate lawyer.
A regular speaker at franchise events and writer on
franchising, Jane received Encouraging Women into Franchising’s Outstanding
Contribution to Women in Franchising Award in 2014. She’s also served on the British
Franchise Association’s board of directors as the affiliate legal representative and is
currently a non-executive director of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Emma
Lusty
PRINCIPAL
ASSOCIATE,
SHOOSMITHS
Emma has an interest in commercial contracts specialising
in franchising and works with franchisor and franchisee
clients on drafting franchise agreements and other
franchise documents; advising franchisors in relation
to their resale process and franchisees in relation to the
buying and selling of both franchise businesses and
competitor businesses; and guiding franchisors in relation
to breach/termination issues and disputes.
She’s been recognised as an up and coming lawyer by
Chambers and Partners in relation to franchising, appears
in The Legal 500 for franchising and is acknowledged by
Legal Who’s Who as an expert in franchising.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 85
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Growth market
What’s On In is the website for people wishing to find
out what’s on in their town, city and holiday location
AT A GLANCE
WHAT’S ON IN
Minimum required capital:
franchise costs £798. Interest free
loan available
Contact: Dani Smith
enquiries@woifranchise.com
07860 833822
woifranchise.com
Behind the Brand - What’s On In
O
f the What’s On In
franchise, managing
director Dani Smith
says: “It was simple,
we know the UK online advertising
market is worth £189 million and we
saw the market was wide open.
“We also wanted to make our
franchise available to anyone and
that’s why we priced it at £798. The
return on investment is amazing.
We also offer an interest free
finance package and payment over
three-six months.”
USER FRIENDLY
She goes on to explain: “I needed
to make sure our web platform was
user friendly for the advertisers and
that we could offer any business a
free sales web page. 82 per cent of
UK businesses have no website, so
we needed to address this with a
free web page for every advertiser.”
THREE FRANCHISE
PACKAGES
What’s On In offers three types
of franchise:
• Single franchise postcode.
• Master franchise, UK or globally.
• Corporate franchise, Europe
and globally.
FLEXIBLE OPPORTUNITY
A typical What’s On In website not
only offers a franchisee an excellent
income from advertisers, but also
allows them to place affiliates on
their website, which pay franchisees
up to 70 per cent commission. There
are three income streams:
• Income for main businesses.
• Income from tradesmen.
• Income from affiliates.
A franchisee needs no technical
knowledge, as all loading of adverts
is carried out by the What’s On In
support team. Bookings are made
online via the website and payment
is made within three minutes
direct to the franchisee’s PayPal
account, which means excellent
cash flow.
OPTIONAL 50-50 SYSTEM
What’s On In has an optional
50-50 system, whereby you have
a commission only sales person
building your postcode area for
you, offering complete freedom,
and is perfect for someone with
an existing business or job who
wants a ‘hands off franchise’.
This option obviously requires
less commitment from the
franchisee.
Potential monthly incomes are
£5,000-£20,000, depending on
commitment. Franchisees receive
a fully exclusive postcode area.
The exclusive online franchise
members’ area provides in-depth
and comprehensive franchisee
support and access to tips,
advice and training tools.
LOW COST ENTRY
Dani believes What’s On In offers
the perfect low cost entry into
the profitable franchise arena.
New franchise opportunities
are continually added throughout
the UK. With its self service
platform, high visibility, full
tracking and low advertising
cost, the What’s On In franchise
offers the ultimate in online
advertising.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 87
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Molly Maid UK
High demand
and thrilled
customers
Molly Maid franchise owners have bounced
back to rebuild their businesses
T
he last few months have
confirmed why Molly
Maid leads the way in
the domestic cleaning
market, attracting more and more
customers and providing franchise
owners with an exciting and
prosperous business opportunity.
When challenges arise, the
strongest rise to the surface and
you’ve only got to look at the way
the company’s franchise owners
have navigated a turbulent few
months and bounced back to
rebuild their businesses to see
this, while showing genuine care
and reassuring their teams and
customers every step of the way.
YOU ARE NEVER ALONE
Molly Maid says it would never have
developed such a strong brand
without a close partnership with its
franchise owners, understanding
their needs and their efforts to
deliver a reliable and consistent
service. Recent months have shown
how much this relationship has
been appreciated.
Janine Symondson, Thame,
says: “I have really appreciated
the daily memos - fantastic
leadership and guidance
through this challenging time.”
Louise Bain, Chester, explains:
“I wouldn’t have known where
to start without the regular
updates from the support office
and I’m very grateful for all the
help and advice.
“This is a very scary time for all
of us. This unprecedented time
has been made much easier due
to the tireless work of the support
office. Thank you all so much.”
Denise Walker, Berwick, says:
“How do I put into words how
much the Molly Maid family
means to me?
“The concern and support
from all have made me realise
the special place we all hold
within this circle and would
be envied by many other
businesses at this time.”
For more examples of positive
feedback from Molly Maid
franchise owners, click the link
under the support section on the
‘Owning a Franchise’ page of the
company’s website.
AT A GLANCE
MOLLY MAID UK
Established:
1984
Number of franchised outlets: 68
Location of units: across the UK, from
Scotland to the south coast
Investment range: £18,975 (plus VAT) and
£7,000 working capital (£10,000 of the
£18,975 is allocated to marketing for the
first 12-18 months)
Minimum required capital: at least 30
per cent of the total investment (£7,975).
The remainder can be funded through a
business loan
Contact: Aaron Watson, director of
business development. 01628 583765.
awatson@mollymaid.co.uk
mollymaid.co.uk/franchise
“The company
is now seeing
enquiries from
new customers
surpass pre-
COVID levels”
IN SAFE HANDS
In collaboration with its SEO and
paid search partners and the
investment by Molly Maid support
office and franchise owners, the
company is now seeing enquiries
from new customers surpass pre-
COVID levels, nearing 5,000 new
leads every month.
The Molly Maid website and
comprehensive marketing tools
share its trademarked Homesafe
procedures, including the company’s
specialist sanitizing products, giving
new customers the reassurance they
need to be sure the cleaning of their
home is in safe hands.
ENDURING AND TRUSTING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
CUSTOMERS
When you combine a care for the
cleaning service Molly Maid provides
with its constant communication
throughout this crisis, it is no surprise
the company has such a strong bond
with its customers.
Molly Maid never takes for granted
the trust its customers place in the
company, which is why so many have
trusted it to return to their home.
Take a look at the Trustpilot
feedback on the Molly Maid website
to see the delight of its customers.
88 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
+
ANOOP SEKHON LEFT HER
9-5 TO BECOME A BLUEBIRD
CARE FRANCHISEE
WHAT FIRST GOT
YOU INTERESTED IN
FRANCHISING?
My interest was sparked by a few
friends who were in the same
position as me - bored at work
in a 9-5 that felt like a dead end,
wondering if this is what life was
about and being in a position
of not being able to change
an organisation that was in
desperate need of change.
The concept of franchising
was something I fell into. I didn’t
really have any idea what it was
about or what support would be
offered at the initial stage.
The reason why the Bluebird
Care franchise model worked for
me was because it was clear I
would not always need to know
all the answers because the
network appeared to work so
closely with each other.
With their quality managers,
marketing support managers and
business development managers
supporting us from the franchise
support centre, how can your
business not work?
HOW DID YOU GET
STARTED AND WHAT
HELP AND SUPPORT
DID YOU GET?
Getting started was an
interesting step, as it was almost
like your hand was being held.
The franchisor invited me
along for an interview to see if
I could uphold the values of the
brand and after that the support
was ongoing.
I received support to raise
capital, speaking to banks,
constructing a business plan,
registering with our regulator
and even when interviewing
people for the team.
WHAT IS YOUR
WORKING LIFE
LIKE NOW?
The Bluebird Care model is set
so you’re not working in your
business, but on your business,
which is key for the business to
thrive and prosper.
I would not say I have a
working life on my journey with
Bluebird Care, I would say I
have a life that I live. I have a
good social, exercising, working
and family balance that I have
created with the support of my
Bluebird Care team.
I have a great team who I
trust to uphold the values of
the business and I’m on hand
to ensure any guidance can be
provided as and when the team
need it.
The only thing I struggle
to do is stay away from my
AT A GLANCE
BLUEBIRD CARE
Established:
2004
Number of franchised outlets: 206
Location of units: UK and Ireland
Investment range: £100,000-£115,000
Minimum required capital: £34,500
Contact: Victoria Brown, Franchise
Development Manager. 07912 771149
bluebirdcarefranchise.co.uk
“I have a great
team who I trust to
uphold the values
of the business”
work phone for long periods of
time. The weirdest thing about
that is the team is so great it
hardly rings!
WHAT DO YOU
LOVE MOST ABOUT
YOUR JOB?
I can make each day fun and be as
creative as I want to be. The biggest
thing I love about my job is working
with a team who are inspired and
love being at work.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
To continue to grow and expand
with the Bluebird Care network, to
build on businesses that I already
have and hopefully continue to
expand to other territories.
I’m looking forward to more
staff joining my team and making
a positive difference in their
life, so they can make a positive
difference to the lives of people
we look after.
BE A PART OF THE STORY
With more people than ever
seeking an alternative to
traditional care homes, there has
never been a better time to start a
home care franchise.
With a network of over 200
franchisees across the UK and
Northern Ireland, many achieving
six-figure turnovers and expanding
through purchasing multiple
territories, Bluebird Care’s multirevenue
management model
enables franchisees to diversify
their service offerings through
a brand that is recognised for
outstanding care.
Behind the Brand - Bluebird Care
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 89
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Get Ahead VA
Family friendly
franchising
Get Ahead VA franchisee Marie Peters says
flexible franchising provides a solution to that
elusive work-life balance
M
arie Peters joined Get
Ahead VA at the start
of 2020 to run the West
Surrey franchise.
After many years of commuting
to London, she was looking forward
to working closer to her hometown
of Farnborough to support
businesses in the local area.
With over 15 years’ experience
in digital media planning,
business operations and project
management roles, Marie was well
placed to run her own virtual team,
delivering marketing and business
services to small and mediumsized
enterprises in Surrey. Little
did she know a global pandemic
was about to hit.
RIGHT DECISION
Marie says: “The ironic thing is, I
quit my job at the start of the year
so that I would have more time at
home with my kids. If you’d told me
then that I’d be spending 24/7 at
home with them for six months, I’d
have laughed.
“But actually I feel so lucky
to have decided to move into
franchising when I did. Both in the
short term of this crisis and the
longer term as things get back to
normal, I know I have made the
right decision.”
“Having her and the other
franchisees there as a support
has been vital - from casual
chats and supportive WhatsApp
messages to bouncing around
ideas about how we can best
support our clients.
“Rebecca even helped me
deliver my first virtual expo.
Everyone bringing their own
perspective to the group has
meant we have been able to stay
positive and help each other.
“At times it’s been tough having
the kids at home and I’ve had to get
creative with our schedule, working
in the mornings and evenings and
scheduling some movie afternoons
so I get a bit of headspace.
“But I don’t know how I
managed the commute to London
AT A GLANCE
GET AHEAD VA
Established:
2017
Number of franchised outlets: 6
Location of units: Leeds, South Yorkshire,
East Midlands, Berkshire & North
Hampshire, West Surrey, Suffolk & Essex
Investment range: £8,000
Minimum required capital: £0
Contact: 01483 332220 or
rebecca@getaheadva.com
franchise.getaheadva.com
“Being part
of a franchise
means I’m
never alone”
to sit in the same office for nine
hours every day for so long now.”
MAKING THE LEAP
Marie says she’s still glad she
made the leap to work for herself:
“The reasons I went for it and
invested in the business are more
important now than ever.
“I have long been an advocate
for flexible working and believe
the 9-5 is outdated. By moving
into franchising with Get Ahead
VA, I have finally found the family
friendly, flexible work solution I
was looking for.”
TAKING CONTROL
According to Marie, working for
herself allows her to take control of
work commitments and work when
and how it suits her.
“But being part of a franchise
means I have so much support and
I’m never alone,” she adds. “Ever
since lockdown, our founder and
director, Rebecca Newenham, has
been fantastic.
90 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
The
sparkle way
With a vision of a cleaner future, Gareth Sanders
of Sparkle Cleaning explains how his values have
helped him build his business
AT A GLANCE
SPARKLE
CLEANING
Established: 2016
Number of franchised outlets: 6
Location of units: Bristol, Bath,
Newport, Swindon, Birmingham central,
Birmingham north
Investment range: £10,000
Minimum required capital: £5,000
Contact: 01172 591456
sparklecleanup.com
Behind the Brand - Sparkle Cleaning
W
hen I started my
business, I didn’t
really have a plan, but
I had £800 in my
pocket, a lot of management and
business experience as an
employee to draw on and an idea
of what sort of company is great
to be part of.
I’ve worked in companies
before where I’ve not been valued.
I know how that feels and I never
wanted that for our business.
Historically, cleaners have not
always been treated well by their
employers or by clients they
work for and we believe cleaning
is a valuable career - not just a
minimum wage job.
MIXING FUN WITH
PROFESSIONALISM
I’ve thought hard about the
culture and values I personally
live by and those I want my
company to live by.
We, at Sparkle Cleaning, are
unique because our business
is more than just a group of
people who are cleaning - it’s
a family of people who mix fun
with professionalism and always
support each other to offer the
best possible service to our
customers.
Our staff love being part of a
team and in an industry known
for high staff turnover we have a
great retention rate, with people
who joined us when we started
still being with us today.
We strive to keep our staff
happy by paying fairly and offering
support and training when
required, as we believe that great
team members help us to add
value to our business and provide
a better service for our clients.
FAMILY FIRST
I wanted to create an environment
at Sparkle Cleaning where ‘family
first’ is a guiding value.
When people work for us, they
are part of our family - they can
take ownership of their work and
they have a part to play in a team.
We reward excellent behaviour
“In an industry
known for high
staff turnover,
we have a great
retention rate”
and work. If we get great feedback
from one of our clients, the staff
that work on that project are
rewarded. We want people to
grow with us, have enjoyment in
their work and become confident
team members and team leaders.
We deliver high quality,
dependable cleaning services
because our people are committed
to doing the best job possible.
PEOPLE ARE KEY
After the value and culture
are established, the rest of the
business comes together more
easily. People are key - the right
people. Having clear values and
culture makes recruitment a lot
easier as a business owner.
For example, we know we’re
looking for people who put their
family first and believe in keeping
things simple, adding value and
having fun. We know by recruiting
well into a great environment that
you will also retain those staff.
This reinforces the great company
culture, helps the business
continue to produce excellent
work and reduces the running
costs of your business.
Running my business is part
of my life. We all get tough days
in business and this alignment
of personal and business values
makes the hard days easier and
decision making simpler. I wish
you well on your journey.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 91
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Maplebrook Wills
Motivated
communicators
wanted
There are two ways to join Maplebrook Wills’
expanding UK network
A
n established company
with a rapidly growing
client base, Maplebrook
Wills helps people
distribute their assets according to
their wishes by writing the perfect
will for their circumstances and
preparing other legal documents,
such as lasting powers of attorney,
prepaid funeral plans and trusts.
In 2019, the company had 700 per
cent growth.
Maplebrook Wills was founded
as a franchise business by Mike
Pugh, the Top Will Writer UK (New
Leaf) 2016 and 2017 and he runs the
company today - as well as his own
hugely successful territory.
AT A GLANCE
MAPLEBROOK
WILLS
Established:
2012
Number of franchised outlets: 40-plus
Location of units: UK-wide
Investment range: From £2,995-£7.750
(plus VAT)
Minimum required capital:
£2,995 (plus VAT)
Contact: Alex Chewins. 0117 440 1555.
alex.chewins@maplebrook.co.uk
maplebrook.co.uk
“26 per cent of
franchisees’
business is from
previous clients”
VIRTUOUS CIRCLE
This was achieved through
establishing and implementing
systems and methods for generating
leads, selling and writing wills,
harnessing supplementary
income streams from services
that complement will writing and
generating more leads - all in a
stunningly successful virtuous circle.
At the heart of the business
is The EDGE Software platform,
which has been developed to
run franchisees’ and network
members practices.
Mike says the tool will manage
your leads, appointments, emails,
invoicing and legal document
production all on one platform.
Your leads are also delivered
direct to your desktop. The speed,
control and ease of use means
people from all walks of life can
now become successful estate
planning owners.
INVESTMENT OPTIONS
EXPLAINED
Mike adds: “We now offer two
ways to market, dependent on
your background and financial
circumstances.
“Firstly, our fully branded
Maplebrook Wills franchise, which
provides an exclusive area with the
flexibility to trade wherever your
leads take you.
“Second, if you want to plug into
all our training, support and software
tools while using your own brand and
company name you can and entry
level investment is reduced.”
Whichever option you take,
Maplebrook Wills is able to
supply you with leads directly
to your software platform and
mobile device.
REFERRAL MODEL
The availability of quality monitored
leads is a game changer for all
estate planners and will provide a
level of security and the opportunity
to develop referrals and more leads.
26 per cent of franchisees’
business is from previous clients.
This is driven by Maplebrook’s
successful income generating
referral model. That’s one out of
every four clients.
Maplebrook Wills now has over 40
franchisees and network members
across the UK and is expanding
rapidly and looking for motivated
communicators.
Success can be different for every
business owner, so whether you’re
looking for a six-figure income
or a part-time additional income
Maplebrook Wills can offer you a
perfect business model.
92 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Fulfil your
ambitions
There’s still time to make 2020 what you want it
to be with a Subway franchise
AT A GLANCE
SUBWAY
Established: 1965
Number of franchised outlets: 42,500
globally
Location of units: worldwide in more than
113 countries
Investment range: £85,570-£221,240
Contact: 0800 0855 058 (UK)
or 1800 413 076 (Eire)
franchiseopportunities@subway.co.uk
subwayfranchising.com
Behind the Brand - Subway
S
ubway is the world’s
largest franchise network,
made up of thousands of
entrepreneurs. Each store
is individually owned and operated by
franchise owners, who are members of
the local community and committed to
contributing to their local economy.
Subway’s franchise model has helped
many entrepreneurial individuals
become franchise owners and take
control of their destinies. Could you
be next?
I LOVED THE BRAND
Will Bray became a Subway franchise
owner at just 22 and is now the proud
owner of four Subway stores in Bath.
He studied agriculture and business
studies at Newcastle University and
“The best part of being a
Subway franchise owner is
the flexibility it offers”
within months of graduating,
became the franchise owner of a
Subway store in Bath.
Will explains: “During my school
years, I was a regular visitor to
my local Subway store. In fact, the
sandwich artists began to recognise
me and would start making my
sub to my exact specifications long
before I had even had to ask for it.
“I loved the brand and its future
potential. My family is in farming,
but I didn’t feel this was the right
career path for me. With the
business studies knowledge I had
gained at university and my passion
for the brand, a Subway franchise
felt like the perfect career.”
MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE
Will met with his local business
development team, who were
able to provide all the advice and
guidance he needed. With a little
financial support from his dad,
Will became the franchise owner
of an existing Subway store in Bath
in August 2016. A second store in
the city followed in May 2018 and
two further stores in late 2019.
Like all new franchise owners,
Will attended a two-week
training course at the Subway
support centre in Cambridge.
This provided all the necessary
classroom and in-store experience
he needed to run his franchise.
“The training was good fun,”
Will says. “I had a great group,
many of whom were from different
countries in Europe and we have
stayed in touch.
“The support Subway provides
for franchise owners is ongoing
and consistent. My business
consultant is always at the end
of the phone to help with
anything from deliveries to
financials and advertising.
“The best part of being a Subway
franchise owner is the flexibility it
offers. I enjoy being my own boss,
in charge of my work-life balance
and longer-term future.”
TYPICAL DAY
A typical day sees Will spreading
his time across his four Subway
stores in Bath. He regularly works
on the front line, serving guests
alongside his 35 members of staff.
“I enjoy building a rapport with
my guests and getting to know
them and the local community,”
Will says. “It’s important my guests
realise that behind the big Subway
brand is a small business owner,
who wants to be a valuable member
of the local community.”
With new and existing store
opportunities available throughout
the UK and Ireland, Subway is
keen to hear from hard-working,
entrepreneurial individuals who
want to join one of the most
popular franchise brands.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 93
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Behind the Brand - Franchise Finance
Forecast the
future
Hitachi Capital Franchise Finance explains the
importance of creating an effective cash flow
forecast for your business
A
good cash flow forecast
is a valuable tool. But
how do you plan ahead
if you’re just starting
out or a new business owner? And
how do you create a cash flow
forecast that’s useful?
Here, we’ll explain how to create
a cash flow forecast that could
help take the pressure off your
small business in the short term
and make it easier to grow in the
long term.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO
CREATE A CASH FLOW
FORECAST?
Understanding your future cash
position helps you to make better
decisions about funding and how
to grow your business responsibly.
It’s essential information if you’re
hoping to expand your franchise
operation to multiple sites, buy
more stock or take on extra staff.
A good cash flow forecast helps
you to understand if you’ve got
enough money coming in to cover
all your overheads and pay staff and
suppliers. If you don’t have enough
cash coming in, you can’t pay your
bills on time. This affects your
credit ratings and, ultimately, could
lead to the end of your business.
WHY IS A CASH FLOW
FORECAST SO CRITICAL?
Everyone’s in a different situation.
However, every business is
dependent on the activity of its
creditors and debtors and it’s
important to maintain a healthy
balance between the two.
If you get paid late by a customer,
you have to settle an invoice earlier
than you expected or the business
owner doesn’t plan properly and
takes too much money out of
AT A GLANCE
FRANCHISE
FINANCE
For more information call
01844 355575 or email
fundingteam@franchisefinance.co.uk
hitachicapital.co.uk/franchise-finance
“You’ll need
to reconcile
what’s coming
in and going
out regularly”
it, your business may become
financially vulnerable.
Low cash levels means extra
pressure for you to deal with. It
takes away some of your freedom
to make choices about how the
business grows or runs.
The answer to this problem is to
project your cash flow and try to
predict any action that’s needed to
prevent that from happening. This
is called cash flow forecasting and
this is the simplest way to set up a
13-week cash flow forecast:
HOW TO SET UP THE
SIMPLEST CASH FLOW
FORECAST
You’ll need to reconcile what’s
coming in and going out regularly.
Generally, if you’re seeking funding,
cash flow forecasts are produced
over 12 months.
However, many small business
owners find it’s beneficial to update
their cash flow on a weekly basis
over a 13-week period. 13 weeks is
just over a quarter of a season in
calendar terms. It’s also the usual
length of time used by accountants,
investors and lenders to assess if a
business has a positive outlook for
its cash flow.
You may be surprised by how
far forward you can project your
income, particularly if you’ve
already started issuing invoices.
But you’ll also see very quickly how
useful a cash flow forecast is for
monitoring who you’re expecting
to make payments and what the
impact might be if those payments
are delayed.
Try it for yourself - manage your
business the right way.
94 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3
BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT
Forward looking
franchise
Homeworking revolution and tax breaks mean a
bright future for Schmidt franchisees
AT A GLANCE
SCHMIDT
Established: 1959
Number of franchised outlets: 26
Location of units: retail parks and high
streets
Investment range: £350,000
Minimum required capital: £80,000
Contact: expansion.uk@Groupe.Schmidt
schmidtfranchise.co.uk
stools and tables, all of which
can be personalised.
“They can design a home office
that they can be proud to be seen
in, either online or in person.”
Behind the Brand - Schmidt
T
he most desirable feature
of a home is now an office
- and Schmidt franchisees
are set to benefit from the
rush to install them.
Better still, many homebuyers will
be able to fund their office with money
saved by stamp duty cuts.
Rosalyn Hastings, Schmidt’s UK
expansion manager, says: “A home
office now tops the list of homebuyers’
demands, according to estate agent
surveys - and Schmidt franchisees are
perfectly placed to supply them.”
“A home office now tops
the list of homebuyers’
demands, according to estate
agent surveys”
FULL RANGE OF INTERIORS
Schmidt’s 20-plus UK franchisees
supply a full range of interiors -
including offices - as well as
kitchens and bathrooms.
Surveys show that many people
now prefer working from home,
so for sellers a home office makes
a property more attractive.
Homebuyers will be adding new
offices and people staying put will
be installing or revamping offices
to make homeworking easier. It all
means extra business for Schmidt
franchisees.
Franchisees are seeing extra
customer interest in the brand’s
range of fitted designer furniture,
such as desks, cupboards and
bookcases. Customers can
design their own home offices in
consultation with the franchisee
in one of Schmidt’s showrooms or
on the Schmidt website, using its
Creativ’Box online design tool.
Alice Pasteau, Schmidt Groupe
product trainer, says: “They
can also select from a wide
choice of lighting and furniture,
such as office desks, chairs,
HOME OFFICE FUNDING
Property buyers can even fund the
installation of their office using
the savings made on stamp duty.
Stamp duty reductions, which
apply until March 31, 2021, can
save buyers thousands of pounds,
which can be used to invest in a
home office, designed with the
help of a Schmidt franchisee.
This new trend provides future
revenue for Schmidt franchisees
to look forward to and as
customers pay for projects before
franchisees order the materials,
the Schmidt franchise is a positive
cash flow business.
Rosalyn says: “We are
continuing our expansion plans
and welcome applications from
ambitious prospective franchise
partners. We’re looking to the
future and we’re seeking forward
looking people to come with us.”
CUTTING EDGE
TECHNOLOGY
As well as offering complete
interior solutions - why limit your
profits to just one room of the
house? - franchisees benefit from
cutting edge technology that has a
big impact on sales.
Customers can use online
design tools to ‘try before they
buy’ from you and showrooms
offer VR designs, so customers
can experience their new interiors
before work begins; that’s a
powerful sales tool.
You can start with just £80,000
in upfront capital, since Schmidt
offers an interest free loan to
cover showroom fit-out and has
arrangements with two UK banks to
finance the remainder of the total
investment of around £350,000.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 95
ADVICE INSIGHT
A journey with many twists
and turns
Most franchisees achieve a certain degree of success. However, there are
always outliers who outperform the average and those who struggle to
achieve results
WORDS BY DAN ROWE AND CRAIG BASS
THE AUTHORS
Dan Rowe is CEO and
founder of franchise
development
company Fransmart
Craig Bass is president
and owner of Golden
Heart Senior Care
W
hen it comes to
franchising, an outside
force may affect the
level of success, but
usually it can be tracked to the
most predictable of subjects - the
franchisee.
High flying franchisees
share similar qualities
The franchisees with the highest
grossing franchises share similar
qualities. Committed franchisees
focus on getting everything they do
right 100 per cent of the time. When
they make mistakes, they own up to
them and make course corrections.
They don’t give up easily, as
persistence and resilience drive
them to keep going despite
setbacks. Curiosity and self
discipline are the motivation to
improve their skill set. They are
coachable and know that training is
like bathing - you have to do it daily.
Successful franchisees stay
focused on starting and building
a business for the future. The end
goal is a constant in their mind, as
they work towards the business
they want to have four to five years
in the future and beyond.
A focus on the future changes
a franchisee’s approach to
quality, execution and keeps them
concentrated on building a business
they could sell in 10 years.
They work diligently to apply the
proven business model. They apply
the systems, tools and coaching
that’s on offer to them. Successful
franchisees know that building a
business is hard work, but the
fruits of their efforts will
result in a sustainable
business that
provides cash flow, while building
a company they can sell for a
significant sum.
Dynamic and
learnable skills
The good news is that anyone
who is willing to be trained and
coached can be a successful
franchisee. The qualities aren’t
static, they are dynamic and
learnable. If a franchisee is open
to feedback and coaching, they
can build new skills.
You get what you focus on.
For franchisors, their focus
should be on building successful
franchisees. It would be a mistake
to expect franchisees to know
everything they need from day
one. They need training and
measurement. Franchisors have
to manage their own expectations
and hold franchisees to standards,
retraining and recoaching for the
life of the relationship.
While a prospect’s
background and
experience is important,
it’s critical for a franchisor
to determine if a potential
franchisee can be a
successful one.
You want your
franchisees to be happy
and successful, as
those are the
franchisees
who will achieve their goals. There
are moments before signing a deal
when speaking with a prospect
to get answers to your biggest
questions about the franchisee.
The first answers they give will
always be superficial. The prospect
may give answers they think you
want to hear. It’s imperative to
keep that conversation going
until you find out the true
nature of the prospect.
I look for people who are
motivated, coachable
and personally
96 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 15.5 16.3
accountable. I also look for people
who are curious and eager to
learn new skills. It’s the job of
franchisors to share their best
practices and business operations,
to show new franchisees how
to model the most successful
franchisees in their system.
Assisting
underperforming
franchisees
Even after a franchisee is
in the system and begins
to struggle, there are
ways to bring them
back on the path to success.
Some franchisees decide to do
what they think is best and ignore
the tools and guidance from their
franchisors and other successful
franchisees. They choose to ignore
the wisdom available to them from
those who have come before.
Franchising is a system. You
follow the system to achieve
results. It’s illogical that there
are franchisees, regardless
of what they have
promised or the success
they see others achieving,
who willfully do things
their own way or, sadly, cut
corners. Some even expect results
without applying the energy it takes
to achieve them.
A franchise isn’t an ATM
machine that spits out results -
the franchisee has to focus on
their success and follow the system
every hour of every day.
Every franchisee in the system
is supposed to be doing exactly the
same thing every day. Even so, there
are some who require handholding,
to recognise their errors,
learn from
their
mistakes
and recommit
to following the
best practices set
forth in the system and operations
manuals. When a franchisee can do
that, they become successful.
Work directly with struggling
franchisees to assess their
challenges. From there, you will be
able to provide focused and specific
guidance to get them back on track.
It really is simple to be successful
in franchising. Success leaves
clues, so always model the most
successful franchisees in the
system by looking at their metrics
and do what they do. A franchisor
“Anyone who is willing
to be trained and
coached can be a
successful franchisee”
should measure everything and
then share the data.
Generally, franchisees struggle
because of a lack of focus,
dedication and passion for building
a business. If they’re willing to put
in the energy and work and apply
the coaching on offer, they can
achieve their goals. Franchising
is not a business for anyone who
suffers doubt, self sabotage,
insecurity or struggles with
anger issues.
You buy a franchise because it’s a
system. The business comes with a
proven model and operations plan.
It’s a road map to success. Starting
a business is a journey. High
performing franchisee embrace the
journey and franchisors give them
the map.
The big question is
whether a prospect is
willing to adapt to
the needs of the
business and
challenge
themselves
to succeed.
That is the real
determining factor
in success.
WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 97
OPINION
Brexit, COVID-19 and
emerging new norms
Franchising has demonstrated its resilience during what has
been an eventful year for the sector
WORDS BY EMILY PRICE
THE AUTHOR
Emily Price is chief
operating officer at
the British Franchise
Association
A
fter a long period of
uncertainty in the UK
because of ongoing Brexit
legislation, The British
& International Franchise Exhibition
kicked off 2020 in a big way.
Visitor levels were healthy,
the industry appeared to be full
of positivity and aspirations of
network growth were widespread.
Then COVID-19 landed and created
huge disruption all over the world.
Impact of the virus
Some franchises had to close their
doors completely, meaning income
generation was virtually impossible,
while others were inundated with
work, but struggled to pay the
increased cost to trade safely.
The British Franchise Association
kept close to its members,
boosting the support offered by the
organisation beyond balance sheets
and business plans to include wellbeing
schedules too.
Importantly, franchisors were
able to invest in research and
development in order to quickly
pivot and facilitate trading activity.
The government responded by
providing small and medium-sized
enterprises with a number of cash
injection mechanisms, which many
franchisees were able to benefit
from. It’s fair to say that in the main
the UK government has served
franchising well.
long period of being at home during
lockdown has made people question
whether they want to return to the
traditional 9-5.
Meanwhile, franchisees are
connecting with their local
communities to assist with their
regeneration and franchising had its
chance to shout about its ‘nationally
known, locally owned’ origins.
The bfa’s focus
To help with the above, the bfa has
run several campaigns to raise
franchising’s profile.
These include the ‘nationally
known, locally owned’ initiative,
‘buy local from franchisees’ activity
and a post-redundancy drive
showcasing success in franchising.
In addition, virtual educational
workshops have been created
to support those considering
franchising. We’ve also given free
membership to franchisees of bfa
accredited businesses.
This move is to support
networking, education and
intertrading, as well as strengthen
the industry’s ability to influence
government where needed at pace.
STEPS TO TAKE IF
YOU’RE CONSIDERING
INVESTING IN A
FRANCHISE
• Visit the thebfa.org for
resources and support.
• Complete the British
Franchise Association’s online
franchisee certificate or
attend the Buy A Franchise
online course.
• Check out bfa accredited
brands.
• Know your investment budget
and income requirements.
• Compare the market.
• Ask lots of questions,
including what the franchisor
did during the coronavirus
crisis.
• Make sure you’re comfortable
with the franchisor team, as
they will be your partners.
Uplift in interest
Today, most franchises are
back trading, albeit with social
distancing measures in place, and
the community has come alive with
positivity once more.
We’re seeing a huge uplift in
interest in franchising across
all lead generation portals.
Redundancies mean people are
searching for new options and a
98 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.3