Elite Franchise November 2018

elitefranchisemagazine.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2018 £4.50

Can’t stop the beat The Arthur Murray franchise has been dancing on air since 1946

Fresh faces

Just brew it

Keep your eye out for these franchises who can’t wait to expand

easyCoffee is the franchise where the name says it all

For your troubles

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ISSN 2054-9741

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Tipping isn’t what it used to be and food franchises would agree

Martial matters From a victim of bullying to martial arts master, Matt Fiddes has achieved a lot but he attributes his franchise success to friend and mentor Michael Jackson

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In business for yourself, but not by yourself...

As a McDonald’s Franchisee you’ll have the opportunity to build your own business, with the support of a global company currently celebrating 49 consecutive quarters of growth in the UK. You’ll have access to a wide range of resources including the support of an experienced Franchisee Consultant to advise you as your business develops.

There’s no telling what the future will hold, but you’ll have the training and the support to make sure you make the most of our award winning system.

Reema, Franchisee – North London

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Come and talk to us at one of our Insight Days in 2018 9th November, York 23rd November, Belfast 7th December, London Register your attendance at www.mcdonalds.co.uk/franchising

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Franchise with us Shops, kiosks, drive thru and vending Proven success in busy high street locations Great arabica blend coffee at great prices Quality food options and great service Innovative equipment and smart technology Support and training from committed team Join the orange coffee revolution Visit www.easy.coffee/franchise or call us on 0333

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06/11/2018 12:24

Franchise with us

Franchise with us

A new storage service that costs less

Nationwide fitness gyms that cost less

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Pack | Collect | Store | Access | Return

Industry-leading classes for top results

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A competitive new business model

Membership includes free group training

A growing market with great potential

Premium fitness equipment

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Successfully launched in London

No long-term customer contracts

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Exciting opportunities throughout the UK

Friendly professional staff

Excellent support and expertise

Top reviews from happy customers

Visit our website or call us on

Visit the website and apply at

0800 061 4091

www.easygym.co.uk/franchise

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COVER STAR

King of chop

From fighting against everyone’s expectations to being mentored by Michael Jackson, Matt Fiddes’ martial arts franchise journey has been one for the ages

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contents 11.18

REGULARS 9 Welcome & contributors 11 News & events 81 Franchise diaries

COLUMNS 13 Pip Wilkins 15 Sussanne Chambers 28 Frank Milner 33 Nigel Toplis 37 Tony Bowman 59 Chris Roberts

FEATURES 40 easy does it

Nathan Lowry is brewing success with easyCoffee with the backing of easyJet's founder

46 Tipping point

Should franchisors control how restaurant staff are being tipped?

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50 Hot to foxtrot

Dance franchise Arthur Murray's UK expansion is in full swing

64 Monitoring for success

Key performance indicators can ensure franchisees perform well

86 Network nightmares Are these the worst franchisees ever?

92 Big splash

Ravneet Bermi dove in at the deep end by becoming a Puddle Ducks franchisee

73 Yours for the teching

100 New beginnings

80 Top notch ownership

108 Getting territorial

Be inspired by how other franchises have used tech to boost their offerings Becoming a franchisee makes owning a business much easier

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The new franchises on the block set to take the UK by storm Learn how exclusive territories really work before signing the dotted line November 2018 | elitefranchise

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Volume 07 Issue 11 / 2018

welcome

EDITORIAL Zen Terrelonge Editor Eric Johansson Acting Web Editor Varsha Saraogi Junior Feature Writer Angus Shaw Editorial Assistant Anne Struijcken Editorial Intern Abbie Jukes Editorial Intern editorial@cemedia.co.uk

Stand your ground

DESIGN/PRODUCTION Darren Marriott Head Designer Vrinda Sejpal Designer Lizzie Thurgood Junior Designer Alex Harrington Design Intern Dan Lecount Web Development Manager dan@cemedia.co.uk production@cemedia.co.uk

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very entrepreneur needs resilience to get their business off the ground and that’s especially true in the franchising sector where everyday enterprise hardships meet network logistics. But as the saying goes, nothing worth having comes easy.

This issue we heard from two franchisors who revealed the nightmare franchisees they’ve dealt with. Angela De Souza, founder of Women’s Business Club, actually quit franchising entirely for a couple of years after being met with severe problems but she eventually returned to the ring.

Elsewhere, Ravneet Bermi, franchisee of Puddle Ducks, admitted joining the baby swimming franchise wasn’t simple because she’s not a natural swimmer. In fact, she failed her assessment and believes she’s the only franchisee that’s happened to. However, she dived back in and the tenacity paid off as she’s now an award-winning member of the network.

Finally, one man who knows truly how important it is to stand your ground is our cover star – Matt Fiddes. Having been picked on as a child, he studied martial arts to learn self-defence and face his bullies.

This resulted in him becoming the founder of Matt Fiddes Martial Arts, a franchise he took global with the help of friend and mentor Michael Jackson.

SALES & MARKETING Lewis Horgan Head of Sales & Marketing lewis.horgan@cemedia.co.uk Jemma Tonge Acting Sales Manager jemma.tonge@cemedia.co.uk Loretta Smith Sales Account Manager loretta.smith@cemedia.co.uk Samuel Sarpong Sales Account Manager sam.sarpong@cemedia.co.uk Sam Deane Sales Account Manager sam.deane@cemedia.co.uk Alanna Green Marketing Assistant alanna.green@cemedia.co.uk Zane Zvirbule Marketing Administrator zane@cemedia.co.uk ACCOUNTS Sally Stoker Finance Manager sally.stoker@cemedia.co.uk DIRECTOR Scott English Director scott.english@cemedia.co.uk Circulation enquiries: Channel Edge Media Call: 0124 567 3700 Elite Franchise is published by Channel Edge Media, 1st Floor, Regency House, 16 Victoria Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1NZ Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.

No part of Elite Franchise may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the editor. Elite Franchise will make every effort to return picture material, but this is at the owner’s risk. Due to the nature of the printing process, images can be subject to a variation of up to 15%, therefore Channel Edge Media Limited cannot be held responsible for such variation. cemedia.co.uk

■ ZEN TERRELONGE - EDitor

Contributors

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Pip Wilkins

Eric Johansson

Lizzie Thurgood

Jane Maudsley

In her monthly column, CEO of the bfa, talks about why business leaders should consider franchising as a way to scale their business.

Our acting web editor spills the beans on how Nathan Lowry and easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou brewed success with easyCoffee.

Our junior designer proves her visual art chops by beautifying the articles and makes the magazine look appealing and awesome.

The founder of Little Voices is back with her monthly column about how the first impression is indeed the last impression when forming your reputation.

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october 2018 | elitefranchise

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06/11/2018 21:59

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BECOMING A KUMON FRANCHISEE Open a Kumon Maths and English Study Centre and work with children in your local community. Kumon are expanding their network of study centres across the UK and Ireland and are looking for individuals who are passionate about education and excited about helping children reach their full potential.

As a Kumon Instructor you’ll be running your own business, but you won’t be on your own as you’ll receive full training and ongoing support. Your study centre could be up and running in as little as three to six months with an initial franchise fee of just £3,000.

Call now to find out more on 0800 854 714 or text Kumon followed by your email address to 60777 to request a brochure. www.kumon.co.uk

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news

F45 training network hits 100 site milestone in Europe With Brits becoming increasingly health-conscious, it’s unsurprising the UK fitness industry is booming and estimated to be worth £22.8bn by 2020, according to Statista, the statistics tracking firm. One such industry player is F45, the boutique gym chain, which is going from strength to strength faster than ever with its global expansion.

The Australian-born fitness franchise recently bulked up with the launch of its 100th site in Europe. With new sites across England, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Israel and Finland, F45’s UK and European expansion is pumping operations further, as the company looks to sell 185 studios in 2019 and 350 in 2020.

With yet another overseas fitness franchise expanding into Blighty, we can be sure the fitness industry will keep growing without breaking a sweat.

Events

By Varsha Saraogi and Angus Shaw

bfa Empowering Women in Business November 15

Nottingham Belfrey Hotel, Mellors Way, Nottingham, NG8 6PY

The Global Franchise Market December 5-6 Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre

Franchise Expo South January 18-20

Broward County Convention Centre, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, USA

The Life Expo January 26

Concorde Conference Centre, Wilmslow Old Road, Altrincham, WA15 8XQ

British & International Franchise Exhibition 2019 February 1-2

Olympia, Hammersmith Road, London, W14 8UX

The National Franchise Exhibition February 15-16

NEC, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1NT

Wagamama sold to Frankie & Benny’s owner Whether it’s fast food, salad bars, dessert joints or multi-cuisine eateries, dining franchises are increasingly becoming more lucrative. So The Restaurant Group (TRG) certainly had good reason to snap up British chain Wagamama.

The deal was sealed for a whopping £559m. Of that sum, £357m was paid in cash and the rest with debt by issuing new shares.

As the parent brand to high street chains such as Garfunkel’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito and Joe’s Kitchen, TRG plans to expand Wagamama further throughout the UK and said it will convert “selected TRG sites” into branches of the Asian chain.

Looking at this new acquisition, we're sure the company will continue to attract foodies in the future.

Right at Home UK gets fivestar franchisee approval for the sixth year in a row A franchise isn’t much without franchisees so keeping them happy is paramount. And Right at Home UK, the home-care provider, is a great example in this respect after achieving a five-star franchisee satisfaction rating for six continuous years.

Taking anonymous scores from Right at Home UK franchisees, Work Buzz, the employee engagement company, found 98% were satisfied with the franchise and

97% were happy with the culture and training.

The franchise also shines when it comes to newbies, given 100% of franchisees are buzzing about the quality of new owner training they received. Satisfaction also extends to the wider network, with 98% of respondents citing strong peer-to-peer support.

Going by these numbers, it’s safe to say Right at Home UK’s seventh five-star year is on the cards.

November 2018 | elitefranchise

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1 NEW SHOWROOM EVERY WEEK WORLDWIDE

SUCCESS FOR OVER 50 YEARS Schmidt Kitchens are the leading kitchen retail brand in Europe with a turnover of over â‚Ź472 Million and employ more than 1500 people. Since 1989 we have been developing an exclusive showroom concept and now have more than 700 showrooms spread around 25 countries.

Having been successful in France, Germany and Spain where we have exclusive showrooms, our strategy is now to further develop in the UK. Our aim is to distribute our products through a network of dealers who manage their own showroom in line with our concept while getting ongoing help, assistance and support from us: n

No franchise fee and no royalties.

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No stock: Kitchens are delivered directly to the consumer.

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No cash flow issues: Monies received before you pay for goods.

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Exclusivity in your catchment area. We help with the search of premises, the staff recruitment and support to set up your business plan to finance your project with our bank partners.

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8 weeks of theoretical and practical training to contribute to your success.

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Monthly regional meetings to share experiences and best practices to improve your showroom performance.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Request more information and start your very own lucrative career within the kitchen industry.

For more information please contact: Rosalyn.hastings@groupe.schmidt Schmidt FP.indd 1

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Pip Wilkins chief executive bfa

Why franchising your business is a sensible option Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchise Association, explains the benefits of franchising to scale your business

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t’s only natural for entrepreneurs and business owners to think about the next stage of their company. They want to know how to move it forward and develop it further. Your business is your life and you want it to continue flourishing. Of course, franchising is a business concept that should be taken into consideration by anyone who feels like pushing their business to the next level. It can be applied to so many types of companies – on the road or working from home, looking after pets or running a cleaning service – as long as you have a proven business model, it can be franchised.

But if you remain unconvinced, these three perks to franchising a business could be the push you need to make franchising your future.

Low-risk expansion Taking on franchisees is an ideal way to expand your business without having to invest heavily. Why? Because the franchisee will provide their own capital towards the business investment for various aspects that would otherwise be your responsibility.

This could be anything from staff to location, depending what has been set out in the business agreement. Once set up, the franchisee will be paying you a share of the profits. This creates a reciprocal relationship whereby you can impart all your expertise and best practices, explain where you went wrong in the past and work together to make the franchise a success. You all have a vested interest to make it work.

The franchisee will also be running the business as their own, leaving you to take care of other areas of the business and looking after the overall brand. This doesn’t mean they’re left on their own once they’ve invested: you must devote time and money to launch of the business and implement continuous support to ensure the franchisee isn’t overwhelmed. Still, if you want to expand quickly and minimise risk for everyone, franchising is a great option.

Local market infiltration Franchisees get to have their own territory – usually an area they’re familiar with. This allows the business to have a face in the community rather

than being another corporate site.

They may also have local knowhow that you don’t. Franchisees are able to build their business around the local area and become more involved in the community. Having someone who has their own loyal customer base will be vital to a successful business.

Motivation When looking for someone to become a franchisee of your business you have to be very careful, selective and rigorous.

Having a franchisee is completely different from having a manager at another location. Franchisees have a stake in your business and will always have to work hard in order to make it a success. Having a franchisee means they've invested heavily and intend to make this their own business, so when considering omeone to recruit, look for drive and ambition. Someone who is willing to invest a significant amount of money into a business will be willing to learn and adapt.

The future is franchising. Small, successful and independent businesses should seriously consider it to scale up brand awareness, size and reputation.

November 2018 | elitefranchise

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The mark of excellent care

“…it’s an opportunity to run a successful operation whilst to a high standard.”

You can become the next Caremark homecare franchise success story. for more information speak to our recruitment team on 01903 266392

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Sussanne Chambers founder and managing director HomeXperts

Why it pays to

be socially smart A great social media presence can lead to a better job, an improved personal profile or great coverage for your new business hether you’re working for yourself or currently employed, building a personal brand through social media can create new opportunities. This takes effort and planning but there are strong reasons why you should take the time to do this.

Employers are increasingly searching online prior to employing new team members. Having a strong social media profile can increase your chances of getting that new job. Conversely, having a poor brand image online can reduce your chances of being hired.

Indeed, social media has become an almost universally-adopted method of recruitment research tool, with 92% of recruiters using it as part of their process, according to the study from employment service CareerBuilder, which surveyed more than 1,000 recruiters. Moreover, it revealed 87% use LinkedIn, 55% favour Facebook and 47% turn to Twitter. And among those doing social media digging to investigate candidates, 57% have at least once found content which caused them not to hire someone.

It makes sense to do a bit of online digging. At HomeXperts, I always Google a prospective franchise candidate. This has helped me avoid recruiting a convicted sex offender and a convicted murderer as neither candidate had revealed these fairly important details to me during the early stages of the interview process. Sure, once we got further

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through the recruitment procedure I would have found out but I could’ve wasted a significant amount of time and resource on totally unsuitable prospective franchisees.

What is it that candidates are posting which are a recruitment turn-off?

Provocative or inappropriate pictures rate as the highest likely content to scupper your job prospects. In the survey, 40% of recruiters stopped the recruitment process after finding inappropriate content online, such as comments that discriminate based on race, religion and sexuality. Recruiters also take note of inappropriate screen names and email addresses.

If you’re applying for a job or setting up your own business, it’s time to tidy up your social media. It's certainly

time to change the privacy settings on Facebook and Instagram to keep them private with public profiles on LinkedIn or Twitter instead.

Concentrate on LinkedIn, make sure your profile is up to date and accurately reflects what’s on your CV. Another important step is to Google yourself. You may be surprised what you find. Reviews of restaurants, comments on websites – your online history could be there for all to see.

It’s time to clean up your act online by removing anything which could be considered controversial.

While you don’t want to be too bland online, smartening up your online act could have long-term benefits, leading to new employment, new clients or a new business.

NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

A growing organic market for Riverford Trading now for over 30 years, award winning vegbox scheme Riverford, continues to benefit from the growth in the organic market

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hen veg boxes first entered the market they were much more than just a box full of muddy vegetables. They enabled many small-scale farmers to earn a living and bridge the gap between the field and the table, cutting out the middle man – mainly supermarkets – and reducing food miles. While today the competition amongst box schemes may be on the increase, those founding principles remain.

Now in its sixth continuous year of growth, the latest Soil Association report states that the organic market continues to look healthy and is currently worth nearly £2.2bn. Outperforming the non-organic grocery market which has seen a decrease. In the same period organic sales saw a growth of 6% whilst non-organic saw a growth of just 2%.

This continued growth has been reflected in Riverford’s sales, which has shown a 9% increase on the prior year.

The last year has seen a 22% increase in farmers converting to organic growing but Riverford still remains one of the largest and leading home delivery schemes, delivering to 50,000 homes each week.

To remain competitive, companies must stay relevant and original.

Riverford have achieved that by regularly introducing new product lines, constantly listening to what our customers want and introducing new ways to pack and deliver our produce.

Vegbox consumers who were once happy to receive the same vegetables week in and week out are now more discerning, wanting greater variety and the option to substitute items

they don’t like. They also want to be able to make an interesting meal and perhaps learn new techniques along the way. So Riverford introduced tailor made recipe cards, cooking hints and tips and our ever increasingly popular recipe box range.

Social media is playing a big part in increasing awareness, with more and more people interacting, sharing news, recipes and experiences online and taking more responsibility for their carbon footprint. Riverford has encouraged online interaction with our brand by launching a dedicated recipe channel on YouTube – a marketing tool that has proven to be effective at engaging with and educating our customers. We’ll soon have a new app for phone users, making the whole online shopping experience easier.

The overall growth in the organic market can also be attributed to the great work bodies like the Soil Association have been doing.

Promotion of organic products is high and consumers are becoming increasingly aware of what they eat and where their food comes from.

This is evident amongst 18-29 year olds, showing that they are most likely to purchase organic food to fit their personal health and wellbeing lifestyle.

Research shows there are five main reasons why consumers switch to organic products: no pesticides, better flavour, higher animal welfare, higher quality of food and better for the environment. Fruit and vegetables being cited as the first products consumers switch to when choosing to adopt a more organic lifestyle.

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Matt FIDDES

King of 18 elitefranchise | November 2018

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Matt FIDDES

BY Zen Terrelonge / photography by emilie sandy

Not many can say they were mentored by Michael Jackson. But it’s a different story for Matt Fiddes, owner of the Matt Fiddes Martial Arts franchise, who can boast work experience with the King of Pop on his CV. And leveraging the superstar’s guidance has resulted in franchisees opening 1,000 locations globally

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t’s difficult deciding the most staggering thing there is to know about Matt Fiddes. That he became such an entrepreneurial success after leaving school with only the remarks of naysayers ringing in his ears rather than qualifications, that being picked on as a child made him the man he is today or that Michael Jackson lit his path into the world of franchising. “I’ve led a bizarre life,” Fiddes laughs. Today, he can smile and appreciate where he’s gotten as he looks back on his early years, which saw him take up taekwondo at the age of seven, but it wasn’t the easiest childhood.

“I was being bullied really badly at school,” Fiddes says on what drew him to the Korean martial art. However, it was this very problem that changed his life.

With his self-defence lessons underway, rather than looking for revenge like the ultimate Hollywood underdog movie from the eighties, Fiddes turned the other cheek. “The first thing my instructor taught me was to recognise danger and stay away from bullies.”

That was his approach for years but his peers eventually realised he wasn’t to be messed with. “It was only when I [was] 13 and started bodybuilding and really training hard that I would go into PE and everyone [saw] I could lift more weights than [them]. And when it came to stretching, I could sit in the splits with ease and all the other lads were like ‘Jeez, I ain't getting near him’,” he recalls.

Winning British championships gave

Fiddes even more freedom as he found himself in the local press, confirming he was no longer easy prey.

Nevertheless, his rise in popularity didn’t make study any more enjoyable as he simply had no interest in what he was being taught. Fiddes believed then, and now, that teaching needs to be updated. “Even with maths and looking at equations, they’ve got flipping calculators now,” he claims. “I learnt that at a young age and I felt [I wasn't going to use anything I was] being taught – I’m just wasting my life away’.” Fittingly, the only subject he cared for was PE, which led him to believe English, maths, history and so on were all unnecessary. “All I wanted to do was be a martial arts or fitness instructor,” he adds. “My careers day was the most soul-destroying day of my life. A careers adviser came around and I said ‘Nothing here is for me, I want to be a martial arts instructor’ and she said ‘Don’t be so stupid Matthew, you can’t do that, there’s no such career – you can never make any money out of that’.”

But that snub only lit a fire in his belly to prove her wrong.

Despite little appetite for the school curriculum, Fiddes set about educating himself as a teenager by reading a series of self-help books from the likes of entrepreneurial authors Tony Robbins and Jim Roman in a bid to chart his roadmap to success. At 16 he moved from his childhood home of Swindon to Croyde in North Devon with his parents

and it was in the seaside village that the young martial artist would start shaping his business. “It’s a back of beyond place really,” says Fiddes of Croyde. Deciding to start his own class, he found that this was easier said than done. “Initially it didn’t work,” he admits. “I just couldn’t get people through the door, they would quit quickly.”

While his careers adviser was only too eager to burst his bubble at school, Fiddes’ family was also disappointed by the career choice he’d made. “My mum is one of 14 children and they’re all university graduates and done really well for themselves in an academic way, whereas I failed everything at school without a GCSE to my name,” he explains. On the other side of the coin, his dad’s family all learnt a trade, which meant Fiddes was getting pressured to perform with both barrels. “When I went to be a full-time martial arts instructor they didn’t want to know me and I didn’t hear from my parents at all,” he says.

“While I was setting up schools, they had no faith in it. They just thought I ‘couldn’t make any money kicking my legs about in the air' – that’s what my grandad used to say to me.” That’s when a guardian angel tipped him off about a US martial arts operation that offered what felt like a glimpse into the future. “One of my friends who had just come back from San Francisco was raving down the phone to me saying ‘There are guys in America light years ahead of us. [They’re] November 2018 | elitefranchise

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MATT FIDDES

multimillionaires with martial arts schools where the standards are high and they’ve got 5,000 students with big studios all over the States.’” That call led Fiddes to chart his route across the pond.

Working as a lifeguard in tandem with attempts to get his class going, Fiddes saved up enough cash and jetted off to the US to clap his eyes on the business his friend had sung the praises of and got up close with the owner of one of the country’s biggest martial arts schools. “He was so impressed I was only 17 and had this ambition,” recalls Fiddes. “He said ‘Matt, anything you want, just follow me around, write notes, model me, take it back to England and see if it works.’ We became close friends [and still are] to this day.” Armed with new information, the first thing he did was end the age-old pay-per-class model and introduced direct debit – something he claims made Matt Fiddes Martial Arts the first of its kind in England to offer such a payment model.

In addition to a more convenient way for consumers to pay and a resultant sustainable income for the business, rather than just teach children how to punch and kick, it was more about helping them build life skills. “Kids would get homework at the end of each lesson, so that would be brushing teeth, to be well-mannered at school and home,” he says. “And if they weren’t they wouldn’t be able to progress to their next martial arts grade.” This was enforceable with a form that needed signatures from parents and teachers, which proved to be a big hit. Drawing upon his own experiences as a student to shape the approach to his classes, Fiddes explains: “You can’t keep kids interested when they’re doing the same kick for half an hour and a punch for another half hour then they’re told to go home. [In my day] it was very hardcore, breaking bricks and all this type of stuff, so I wanted to develop family martial arts.”

Winning over parents was half the battle and once that happened the classes picked up steam. “They saw me as a respectful young adult and wanted kids to become like me – respectful, ambitious and so on,” Fiddes details. “And it grew and grew.” With the class running out of a nearby town called Braunton in a school hall, which cost him just £15 a night to rent, he was making up to £5,000 a month for teaching just twice a week. The rest of his time was spent training and sunbathing – when the British weather would allow for the latter. But with all of his friends working more conventional hours, the freedom became a lonely experience so Fiddes visited a doctor and the outcome shocked him. “It got so bad with boredom he prescribed

Mike taught me how important goalsetting was and how you have to write them down and hit those targets me antidepressants,” he reveals. “I was thinking ‘what on earth am I on antidepressants for? I’m on this kind of money teaching three hours twice a week on a Wednesday night and Sunday night’.” Although a cushy gig from an outsider’s perspective, it clearly wasn't the case for Fiddes. But that sense of loneliness is what gave him the drive to expand.

Fiddes wanted to make a permanent home for his brand, drawing further on lessons from his time in the US. “I tried to think about having this full-time centre like they do in the States,” he says. The location for this was in Barnstaple and although the landlord was sceptical, he knew Fiddes’ mother from her local work as a lawyer and that was good enough for him. “We had six months rent-free and just about enough money to decorate the place – six months later it was the biggest martial arts school in the UK with 700 members,” says Fiddes. This resulted in his face being plastered across magazines and newspapers nationally with headlines such as “Wonder Boy” and “Broke schoolboy becomes millionaire”, while he also appeared on TV alongside the likes of Trisha, Kilroy and Chris Evans.

With his formula working and a wave of publicity, Fiddes set about further growth. “I had to keep myself occupied and wondered was it a lucky fluke or will it work again?” he says.

“I’ve got to be honest, even when I got to school number 100, I was still thinking it was all going to end some day like a fairytale. I just followed the same system and had the same results every time.” By 19, Fiddes had expanded across North Devon and notes he “didn’t really have to work again.” “That’s when I got my first Ferrari [and] my first house was paid off,” he says. Uri Geller, the famed spoon-bending TV personality, was among the many people who had been captivated by Fiddes’ story and the two forged a business partnership that became a friendship. “We made a series of fitness videos together

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MATT FIDDES

They don’t want to be millionaires, they don’t want 1,000 students – they’re quite happy with 150 where he did motivational talks focusing on mind power and I did kick-boxer aerobics,” recalls Fiddes. “They became bestsellers in Asia – it was huge.”

Securing an A-list collaboration with Geller made way for an even bigger star to moonwalk into Fiddes life. “He introduced me to Michael Jackson,” he reveals. “Me and Michael became very close friends and then I ended up being his bodyguard for ten years – the last ten years of his life.” Fiddes says that while Jackson didn’t interfere with his business, he was always happy to offer guidance when needed.

“He saw my workload and negativity I was feeling about my business and how hard it was,” says Fiddes, having reached 118 schools at this point. “And he said ‘It doesn’t have to be like this, I can show you an easier way’. He gave me advice and pushed me in the right direction.” And that direction led straight towards franchising.

With time spent working across the globe, Jackson had contacts in every port. “He had connections and could

get to whoever he wanted to – he was a powerful man,” says Fiddes.

“He was a very clever guy. You don’t get to be the biggest superstar in the world and be a clown like people think he was.” One such connection that Jackson opened the door to was a franchise lawyer in Bristol, which helped Fiddes move to the next level. “Mike taught me how important goal-setting was and how you have to write them down and hit those targets,” says Fiddes.

Jackson showcased his approach to make Thriller the best-selling album of all time, which was a vision in the making for four years as opposed to an overnight success or coincidence.

Offering further insight to his relationship with the King of Pop, Fiddes reflects: “I looked up to Mike, he was like an older brother [and] a mentor to me and he would check in on me like ‘How you doing, how many members you signed this month?’ It’d be quite funny because I’d say ‘I signed up 40 members’ and Mike would say ‘Well done.’ I’d ask ‘How you doing Mike?’ And he’d reply ‘I

just signed an $80m tour’ and I’d sound like a prat when I came off the phone.”

And like Fiddes’ instructor, Jackson also taught him to rise above the noise of bad press. “I’d ring him up at Neverland screaming and he’d say ‘Hey Matt, look what I have to put up with all over the world. You’ve got to worry about it when they’re not writing about you. Ring me back when you’ve got a real problem’ and he put the phone down on me,” Fiddes laughs. “Really he was just a cool guy, just a very loving, intelligent man who just wanted the best for me and my family.”

Harnessing the support of Jackson, the franchise lawyer and his own expertise, Fiddes realised how his business model could be combined with his experience in a manual and tied up with branding and PR. “When I turned it into a franchise, we did 600 franchises in a year,” says Fiddes of the stratospheric 2001 franchising launch. “Fitness centres snapped them up and put them in their studios.”

However, he quickly discovered that the transition from business owner to franchisor came with a price. “I don’t November 2018 | elitefranchise

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07/11/2018 10:36

mATT FIDDES

think I realised, until things started happening, just how much control you lose,” Fiddes details. “That was one thing I was blind to because it grew so fast that I had to quickly put quality control in once it became a franchise.” One of the steps implemented was sending an external examiner in to franchisees to report back on their performance. “Then we’d get in situations with a bit of bad press and it reflects on my name when I don’t even know the person who’s done anything,” he adds. “It’d be silly things like one of the instructors would get caught fighting or whatever and my name would appear in the article and I’d get dragged into it.”

Finding himself facing limited control because the businesses in the network weren’t technically his, he had to accept that his role had changed for good.

“I get the odd thing come up where a franchisee would love me to step in and sort issues out for them but I can’t,” Fiddes says. “I do what I’ve got to do but unless it’s really serious I can’t get involved because it’s their business. And that was a mind-shift, definitely.”

Interestingly, Fiddes admits his biggest battle is franchisees who don’t seek their true potential. “You have some franchises I could never understand, who don’t want to be a millionaire – they’re quite comfortable earning £30,000 a year and it’d frustrate me because they’re holding onto this incredible territory but they weren’t breaking any contracts, so there was nothing I could do about it,” he says.

“That’s probably the most frustrating thing – I’ve got some people in some areas who aren’t doing as well as they could do or should do but they’re quite happy and content with their lives. They don’t want to be millionaires, they don’t want 1,000 students – they’re quite happy with 150.”

Although Fiddes is obviously very passionate about his franchisees and desires the best for them both operationally and financially, he looks

After 21 years now, it’s a monster of a machine and keeps growing whether I like it or not for more than a strong bank balance in prospective partners at home and abroad.

For him, “as long as they’re ambitious, have an open mind, they’re willing to learn and play everything by the book” then they’re viable. “Even if they haven’t got a lot of

money behind them, if I can see those qualities in them I’ll let them go for it and give them a chance,” he says, seemingly remembering the chance his landlord gave him early on.

With a presence in Australia, Germany, Dubai and 1,000 schools set to open in the US – the place that served as a real inspiration for Fiddes – the brand’s position seems cemented. “The business runs itself, we’re expanding internationally all the time,” he says. “My career has turned around a little bit so I don’t have to be absolutely involved in the business apart from PR, celebrity clients and international expansion. It’s seen as a the only martial arts brand really, there’s no-one else out there. After 21 years now, it’s a monster of a machine and keeps growing whether I like it or not. Franchising is definitely an interesting business, there’s no doubt about it.”

22 elitefranchise | NOVEMBER 2018

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07/11/2018 10:38

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05/11/2018 16:39

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Family first This father of two found business success and a better work-life balance as an ActionCOACH franchisee

A

sari St Hill took his last job to fit around his young family so when it came time to start his own business, family was a key consideration for him. “I worked for the Audit Commission for over a decade, inspecting the performance of local councils,” St Hill says. “It was always a home-working contract which appealed to me when my kids were young. It meant my partner Michelle and I could easily cover the school runs and enjoy plenty of family time.

“In 2011, the public sector was struggling and so a move into the private sector made sense. So I contacted ActionCOACH, a business growth franchise, to get things rolling.”

Asari with James Vincent, UK Performance Director, at a Coaching Master Class

Joining a new family St Hill and his partner live in Chingford, London, with their two sons Kimani and Jameel. Family is important to him and it was also a reason why he became an ActionCOACH franchisee. “Starting my business meant I could indulge my passion for working with ambitious family-owned businesses,” he explains. “ActionCOACH’s initial training helped me create a powerful, winning mindset and raised the bar on my expectations. I initially thought I’d just earn enough to pay the bills but the training got me thinking about growing to a six-figure turnover business.

“I joined a local business networking group in November 2011 before I completed the initial training and then launched the business in January 2012,

relying quite heavily on networking to win my first clients. My big concern was whether I would struggle with marketing but I only have praise for ActionCOACH – their support is like joining a global family. The systems and tools to work with clients are fantastic and I could have set up group coaching and business planning sessions much earlier if I’d wanted to, but I decided to concentrate on one-to-one coaching.

“I love working with family-owned businesses because people are prepared to take a leap of faith. They’ve normally experienced tough times having either inherited the business or started from scratch but, ultimately, their business has the potential to give them a great lifestyle.”

A rich experience of family businesses In the past six years, St Hill has worked with business owners running cafes and restaurants, florists, funeral directors, retailers, independent financial advisors, the trades, events management agencies and landscaping contractors to name just a few.

“My business earns a good living for me but, my real reward is seeing clients succeed – especially when you get those emails telling you how they and their family are now experiencing a better life too,” he reveals. “My very first client was turning over less than £500,000 and that has grown to over £5m in the last five years, fulfilling his personal goals including buying a second house, a family holiday,

24 elitefranchise | NOVEMBER 2018

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

sleeping better, working fewer hours and being able to do voluntary work back home in Bangladesh with his family. How did he do that? By embracing the ActionCOACH systems and investing in an EPOS system, so he knew what was happening in each of his shops, accessing figures instantly online and developing his business to franchise, should he wish to take that step. He started with two shops and seven staff and now has a team of 46 over ten shops. So I’ve helped to create 39 new jobs with just that client, which feels amazing.”

Creating a better life “When I joined ActionCOACH, I always intended to protect the time I spent with my family. My boys are now 19 and 14 years old, I still want to enjoy time with them, although my day-to-day father role is rather different to when I used to do the school run. As well as enjoying family time, I also watch sport, take part in Aikido and yoga, and talk to young people in my local community about understanding their history, culture and how to make a better life for themselves.

“My focus is now set on growing the business to well over £100,000 a year – hitting that six-figure income in the next 12 months at the latest. I’ve recently hired a part-time business development manager and have committed to more marketing strategies to keep them busy. I’ve arranged more speaking opportunities including guest radio appearances and I intend to write regularly for an African-Caribbean newspaper.

Enjoying some time on the golf course with his clients

“Michelle and I are working towards our last big business dream – a leisure resort in Africa or the Caribbean, keeping just one home free for ourselves, friends and family. We have grown our businesses so they can keep running wherever we are in the world.”

If you want to spend more time with your family and you’re the kind of person who loves learning and developing yourself, has enjoyed success in your career or sport and is willing to invest if you see substantial returns can be made, then find out more by watching the six-minute overview video at actioncoach.co.uk/overview

Asari and his partner Michelle Fanus enjoying some quality time

NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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06/11/2018 14:20

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MORTGAGES 07/11/2018 10:14

Frank Milner CEO Tutor Doctor

Is there such a thing as too much support?

Yes, franchisors should support their new franchisees. However, too much handholding can be bad for the entire network s franchisors, we regularly proclaim one of the many beauties of franchising is a person doesn’t always need previous industry experience to be a success.

Why? Because we’ll train and support you every step of the way. But how much support is too much? And when should a franchisor draw the line with the level of training and support offered to a franchisee? Is there such a thing as too much handholding? I think so. And I believe if you become the ultimate crutch for your franchisees, neither of you will ever achieve your full potential.

Prospective franchisees may think this sounds a little incongruous. But let me pose a question – you want to be your own boss, right? And you understand through franchising you’ll have the reassurance of a proven model and a sense of security you can fall back on with the knowledge and experience of industry experts should you need it. What you’re not looking for is a business in which you only turn up. One where you never have the confidence to make a decision for yourself or have no autonomy because, in reality, someone else is calling the shots. That, my friends, is not a franchise.

As a franchisor, our job is to develop franchisees into successful, profitable and fulfilled business owners.

I’m incredibly proud to say that’s representative of our 70-strong UK

A

network. Realising this goal starts by setting expectations from day one. Offer quality, in-depth training and ongoing support that has been proven to help your franchisees excel.

But don’t promise the earth because people will expect it. Both parties need to be clear about where the responsibility will lie for essential business disciplines like networking, lead generation, sales, HR and finance after the all-important training and launch period.

It’s completely normal for franchisors to want to hand-hold in the early stages of a franchisee’s journey. I’d encourage it at first. But there comes a time when excessive support might hinder growth and progress. Equally, if you attempt to micromanage your franchisees, the effect can be debilitating for them.

Rather than helping your network develop into confident, capable business owners, you’ll create a collection of timid workers who, through no fault of their own, will be a drain on your resources.

The real skill for franchisors is empowering franchisees to succeed by themselves in the long-run.

Obviously, you’re there if times get tough but they should have the tools to succeed on their own.

Empower them to be autonomous but within brand guidelines, naturally.

This doesn’t mean releasing them to the wind and never being there. It

means creating a support structure around them that allows them to find their own answers and use their own initiative to problem solve. Think: resource libraries, live operations manuals, regular regional and national meetings where they can network and share ideas with fellow franchisees.

Fostering a collaborative environment in which your franchisees turn to each other for support and advice is immensely valuable.

Making knowledge, advice and resources easily accessible significantly reduces the likelihood that a franchisee will come straight to you instead of thinking for themselves. Inform them what’s available, remind them of their training materials and encourage them to source answers and information themselves. Incorporating these processes and establishing this status quo in your initial training programme will make all the difference a year down the line when a franchisee should be relatively self-sufficient.

As the ultimate litmus test, imagine a franchisee has a basic question about operations after 12 months. If their initial reaction is to pick up the phone to you or to drop you an email – something has gone wrong. If you still get these types of questions at this stage, rather than serve up the answer, nudge the enquirer in the direction of the solution. I call this tough love and, believe me, it’s in everyone’s best interests.

28 NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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06/11/2018 20:49

Own a gym with the UK’s top fitness franchisor Ranked #14 in the Elite Franchise Top 100 UK Franchises 2018

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To get a full information pack and book your place on our next Franchise Discovery Day, visit: www.energiefranchise.com or call: 0845 363 1020

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05/11/2018 16:47

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The Ovenu franchise is practical, professional and personable I

t’s widely anticipated in the oven cleaning sector that the run up to Christmas is an exceptionally busy time of year with a glut of enquiries from those looking to get their cooking appliances in top-notch condition before the family arrive for dinner. And it’s also expected to be extremely busy just after the holidays.

However, unlike the the certainties in life – birth, tax and death – what happens if this isn’t the case? What’s the back-up plan? Is there a plan B? Who has the answers?

Simply put; a reputable franchisor with a wealth of experience will have the vast majority of the answers. Not just to seasonal Yuletide woes but practical and sensible solutions to many of the hiccups that franchisees encounter on their business journey over the years and at different times of the year.

Let’s face it, nobody really predicted the exceptional weather that this summer served up, did they?

Naturally, franchisors like us at Ovenu who have been operating in the oven cleaning and valeting sector for almost 25 years now will have more answers than anybody else.

A lot of answers and solutions to niggling problems, especially technical ones, will have been provided by our franchisees over the years. This is a significant benefit for anybody looking to work with us in the future – the combined wealth of knowledge within our network is immense and can’t be found anywhere else.

Of course having the knowledge is one thing but sharing it is another.

As you’d expect of a market leading brand, we’ve got that aspect covered and we’ll happily show you how at the appropriate time.

You’ll be familiar with the old adage about two heads being better than one but imagine pooling knowledge and seasonal information from over 100. That’s like having a plan A right the way through to a plan Z and beyond.

What’s also worth considering if things don’t quite work out is if you’ve got what it takes to be able to change course quickly enough to avoid a glitch and are you adequately funded if needs be? A couple of tricky questions for sure and a franchisor with an outstanding pedigree will be able to stump up a definitive yes to both.

At Ovenu we’re always on hand to offer whatever help is needed when it’s needed.

All very reassuring for those who are looking to jump into a franchise and not end up on their backside.

Why not come and have a chat with us in a relaxed atmosphere over a cup of coffee?

Contact us today Call 01189 743911 and we’ll pop a meeting into the calendar. or register your interest at ovenufranchise.co.uk

30 elitefranchise | nOVEMBER 2018

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06/11/2018 22:12

Nigel Toplis managing director The Bardon Group

It takes two Working out when you’re likely to recoup your initial investment in a franchise isn’t straightforward but there are ways to calculate a ballpark figure

I

n a franchisee-franchisor relationship, the franchisor must take responsibility for the morale of its franchisees. Why? Well it comes back to the core tenet of franchising: a franchisee is in business for themselves but not by themselves.

If you start your own business, you’re responsible for every aspect of it. In a franchise, the franchisor provides experience, knowhow, proven operational methods, marketing tools, collateral and processes, sales training, technical guidelines, procurement support as well as a corporate identity, trademarks and the brand.

For the franchisor, low morale inevitably leads from discontent deviating from the system and breeding a feeling of 'I know better than the franchisor' to general disharmony.

Comparatively, high morale means higher energy, greater compliance, added drive and a general feeling of 'things are going well, let’s carry on.'

When a franchisee follows the system and uses the tools at their disposal, they’re likely to see their business grow and flourish. And there’s no greater morale booster than success.

When things aren’t going well, some franchisors are tempted to try short-term fixes to get morale up again, which I don’t believe in. Franchisees need leadership, strength of conviction from the franchisor,

best practise guidance, the occasional injection of discipline and a strong and consistent set of core values from the franchisor. Knowing the franchisor has its finger on the pulse of the market gives franchisees confidence and a franchisor’s certainty in its strategy is critical to the morale of the network.

Franchising is a crazy mixture of business systems and individuality, merging the best of both big business practise and smaller flexible operations. It’s the convergence of two bodies with different skill sets but with one common purpose – to build a long-lasting, robust and successful business.

As franchisors, we expect franchisees to work hard and implement our proven business system, using whatever core skills they already have to build and drive their business and to work within the network to assist other franchisees. To achieve this, we look for people with the ambition, drive and desire to run their own business. We seek personable people with good communication skills and the ability to build relationships. And we ultimately select passionate people who share our values of honesty, ethics and integrity.

If a franchisor chooses its franchisees wisely, maintaining morale is not a chore but a pleasure. Our franchisees look to us for guidance, discipline and vision. By delivering these key elements, we ensure the morale of all parties remain high.

November 2018 | elitefranchise

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06/11/2018 18:10

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Changing work life for the better Working in today’s world often feels like being a caught in a time-loop where you constantly fail to get your work-life balance together. That was certainly the case for Mitch Howey. But now she has escaped the rat race by successfully launching MyWaggyTails in Chinnor. Find out how she did it MyWaggyTails I set up MyWaggyTails as a franchise that provides professional services to pets and their two-legged guardians in four main areas: dog boarding in our home from home doggy hotel, doggy day-care, dog walking and home visits for various other pets. With help from my brother who conveniently had a career in business and marketing, the business took off like a train. And 18 months after I first launched my business I was making £30,000 a year. And it’s built steadily from there.

Working from home Operating a MyWaggyTails franchise from home is ideal for those who want the freedom of their own business, a sustainable income, to escape the confines of the office, someone with part-time family commitments, keen to escape the rat race and the soulless hours lost, to supplement the family income or who have time on their hands and want to keep both active and mentally alert. It’s perfect for animal lovers and for those who love the outdoors and exercise.

Simply, MyWaggyTails provides you with the brand, training, marketing, systems and the business knowhow. And that leaves you to work your magic and share the love with the pets in your charge.

Our big difference?

The main point of difference is the personal touch – dogs visit and stay in your family home and you visit them. There are no kennels. It’s very much about providing a ‘home from home’ service for four-legged friends when their guardians are away, whether for part of the working week, business trips abroad, weekend breaks or annual holidays.

Only the diamonds in the rough Yes, you vet every dog in advance. And you say “no, sorry” to any you don’t like or trust because the wellbeing of the other pets, happy owners and your wellbeing are all of paramount importance. It’s amazing how many small and medium sized dogs are out there. You quickly fill up with your regulars, so the dogs become an extended part of your family. Daycare and walks are the most popular.

To find out more, visit MyWaggyTails.co.uk/franchise.

Call 0203 393 2093, or email Randle@mywaggytails. co.uk

34 elitefranchise | november 2018

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06/11/2018 16:05

Secured success!

Secured success!

With Europe’s leading

With Europe’s leading EMS fitness studio concept!

EMS fitness studio concept!

EMS is the buzzword in the fitness scene - being one of the most dynamic segments of the industry across Europe. Take this opportunity, as a franchisee of the system that has been the clear market EMS is the buzzword in the fitness scene - being one of the most dynamic segments of the industry leader across the continent for over 10 years. No other EMS franchise system can offer you so much across Europe. Take this opportunity, as a franchisee of the system that has been the clear market experience and support from the outset: location search, leasing and financing, employee training, leader across the continent for over 10 years. No other EMS franchise system can offer you so much business administration and marketing - plus loads more. experience and support from the outset: location search, leasing and financing, employee training, administration and marketing - plus loads more. members and delivering over business With Bodystreet having nearly 300 studios, some 37,000 150,000 training sessions per month; it is easy to see what is coming our way.

With Bodystreet having nearly 300 studios, some 37,000 members and delivering over 150,000 sessions per month; it isis easy tohave see what is coming our way.

Be at the training start — with the business that set to the fitness industry in the UK buzzing.

Be at the information start — withvisit the our business that is set to have the fitness or industry the UK buzzing.

For more website: www.bodystreetuk.co.uk email in franchise@bodystreet.co.uk For more information visit our website: www.bodystreetuk.co.uk or email franchise@bodystreet.co.uk

Untitled-2 3

24/09/2018 18:06

Be

the

boss

Long to wake up and do something you believe in?

We grow the veg, you grow your business!

Partner with an innovative, established brand.

Run an ethical home delivery business to be proud of Share your passion for outstanding organic veg

Want to find out more?

Call 01803 227 380 or email franchise@riverford.co.uk or visit www.riverford.co.uk/franchise

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05/11/2018 16:58

Tony Bowman managing director etyres

Everyone wants something for nothing Franchising may be a safe way to launch a business but you still have to work hard to succeed. Unfortunately, this fact escapes both budding franchisees and franchisors

F

ranchising is a two-way collaboration between a franchisee and franchisor but all too often either or both have distorted expectations of what that really means.

Let’s start with the franchisor. On many occasions over the years I have been asked to offer an opinion on how to go about franchising a business model. Sometimes this has been an actual business and sometimes just a concept. Almost always the person concerned has a dream of selling franchises all over the country and sitting back while the money from the franchisees pours in.

I also know from my personal experience of recruiting franchisees over the last couple of decades the majority have a very similar false impression of what to expect. All too often the expectation is that for a modest investment they’ll own a business that provides them with a healthy profit for little or no major effort except executing the task in hand – be it walking dogs, looking after old people or selling burgers. The reality for both parties is very different.

A franchisor will have to keep adapting the business model to changing trading conditions, increasing levels of competition, new technology and different legislation. Also, sometimes a franchisee under-declares their franchise royalties or fails to follow the business model. When that adversely affects the end-user it can damage the brand, which has a knock-on effect on the other franchisees. Either way, it's the franchisor's fault for not controlling the situation.

A franchisee on the other hand will have to work just as hard in a franchised business as they would if they started from scratch on their own. The only difference being that self-started businesses face a 90% chance of failing within their first five years. With a franchised business the odds are reversed and the possibility of failure is as low as 10%. Both will require massive effort, long hours and total commitment.

So, regardless of whether you're a prospective franchisee or a budding franchisor, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that franchising will provide you with something for nothing.

NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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06/11/2018 17:18

The Entrepreneurial Franchise Opportunity 10 REASONS TO INVEST IN A CASH GENERATOR FRANCHISE Excellent Return on Investment * Proven business model Established since 1994 58 Franchisees operating 121 stores across the UK High growth opportunity, recession proof business model Single store and Multi-site opportunities available Multiple revenue streams including online and in store Exclusive franchise territories awarded for 10 years Ongoing training and support packages tailored to your needs Bespoke EPOS and website ecommerce platforms * More information is available in our franchise prospectus, download from our website now

www.cgfranchising.co.uk

Could you help fix the ‘Catch up Crisis’?

Mathnasium Learning Centres use a unique method of assessment and teaching designed to help children catch up, keep up and get ahead in maths.

It’s a huge opportunity in a rapidly growing market, and this could be your chance to get involved.

Owning your own Mathnasium Learning Centre Franchise could be the most rewarding move you ever make.

Contact us now on 0161 791 0686 email ukfranchise@mathnasium.com or search Mathnasium UK Franchise to find out more

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06/11/2018 14:02

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05/11/2018 17:06

EASYCOFFEE

easy

does it

40 elitefranchise | November 2018

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06/11/2018 20:08

Easycoffee

By Eric Johansson

Having secured the support of easyJet founder Stelios HajiIoannou, Nathan Lowry is brewing success with easyCoffee

O

n a January morning in 2016, the commuters at Earl’s Court Underground Station suddenly stopped dead in their tracks. “They saw this bright orange logo and we could see people going ‘my god is easy doing coffee now’ and ‘does it have anything to do with easyJet?’” Nathan Lowry remembers. As a matter of fact, the answer to both those questions was yes. Having hatched the idea just months earlier together with Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of the easyGroup family of brands, Lowry had unveiled a new budget coffee chain to disrupt the already crowded and often costly industry – easyCoffee. And it was the first shop in what is quickly becoming a national franchise that pleasantly surprised the commuters. “They were literally queuing out the door,” Lowry, the company’s CEO, says.

However, the story began almost a decade earlier when Lowry first met Haji-Ioannou in 2006. At the time Lowry was working in the property sector and was asked to help the world-renowned entrepreneur with a deal for an easyCinema outlet. While the venture proved to be one of Haji-Ioannou’s less successful ideas, it helped set the two on the path towards launching easyCoffee together. “I got to know him quite well through that deal,” he says. As their friendship grew over the next decade, the two entrepreneurs’ conversations often touched upon the subject of new business opportunities, what would work and what wouldn’t. That was the case two years ago when they went out for a hot brew after completing a

property deal in New York. “That’s how we got chatting about the cost of coffee, how you could be quite disruptive in the market and we both kind of looked at each other and felt that coffee is just too expensive but that it doesn’t need to be,” Lowry recalls. Given Haji-Ioannou excels at cutting prices, they both recognised the untapped potential in the sector.

Not resting on their laurels, they set out to realise the vision.

“We went full steam ahead,” Lowry says. During the next three months he secured funding from an angel investor and recruited a highly skilled team from his days in the hospitality sector. But the most vital part of the preparation was undoubtedly to ensure easyCoffee encapsulated the spirit of easyGroup. “[We thought about] what our USP should be [and] how we could work within the easy brand,” he reveals. “[We needed to] create great value, take on the big players, be for the many not the few, [do] relentless innovation, keep it simple, be entrepreneurial and make a difference in people’s lives.” They

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only introduced the new brand to the world when those elements were in place in January 2016.

And Lowry is making no secret of how much the first store’s success relied on ensuring the ethos of the easy brand. “It’s absolutely huge,” he says. Indeed, being associated with easyJet, easyStorage and easyCruise meant easyCoffee had the massive advantage of people already having a relationship with the brand. This meant they knew what to expect from the new coffee chain and were willing to venture into that first store for a hot brew. “I don’t see any other similar brand that could be as successful in the high street,” he adds.

While Lowry was eager to grow the company, he decided to scale the business through franchising almost by chance. “It’s quite funny,” he says. “We attended a franchising show, not really sure what to expect at all, and our stand was completely mobbed by people. People had never seen easyCoffee and it was absolutely packed.

We never sat down during the whole day.” Amazed by the franchising community’s enthusiasm, Lowry recognised the huge potential franchising easyCoffee could have. And it didn’t stop once they left the event. “Over the first couple of years we had well over a thousand formal expressions of interest,” he explains.

But eager as the budding franchisor was to get started with franchising, he was careful to ensure they got it right off the bat. “Obviously we had to test it, trial it and build the model carefully,” Lowry states. The key to doing just that was recruiting easyCoffee’s first two franchisees in Burnley. Setting up the first franchise-owned shop also meant the franchisor could draw vital insights from the experience. Following the trial, the franchisor introduced a strong support team at the corporate HQ in London and established a powerful mobile team that could respond to any franchisee query. And it seems as if the franchisees are also happy with the arrangement. “It’s been a great success for them and obviously for us [too] because we built that model in three separate locations where we could show [how our model shops made] very strong profit,” he says.

We attended a franchising show, not really sure what to expect at all, and our stand was completely mobbed by people Moreover, the trial highlighted the importance of sourcing the best talent for the business. “We like them to have practical business experience,” Lowry says. Ideal candidates should also be motivated self-starters. “And we want them to have a passion for the easy brand,” Lowry says.

While great franchisees are paramount for maintaining easyCoffee’s momentum, finding the right location is equally important. “We’ve never opened a shop with a franchisee that we wouldn’t open as a corporate store,” Lowry says. In other words, before signing off on opening a new branch, the franchisor ensures the new location could be successful in its own right. “We look at it from that angle and then whether it will work well or not with a franchisee,” he explains. It’s only when those two things align – skilled franchisees and great locations – that the CEO gives prospective franchisees his thumbs up.

This approach has to date ensured the successful launch of three franchise-owned stores and seven corporate ones.

But Lowry is hardly stopping anytime soon. “I hope to have another two stores open by the end of the year,” he says.

Having attended the National Franchise Exhibition in October 2018, the franchise is now actively working with prospective franchisees to open new shops with the goal to launch 200 stores across the UK. “It will take at least three years to get there,” he continues.

And it’s not the only goal for the franchisor. With Stellar Asset Management, the estate and succession planning experts, injecting £10m into the company in July 2018, the franchisor also plans to roll out between 800 and 1,000 easyCoffee vending machines in Britain during the next two years. Interested franchisees can purchase their own machines in what Lowry refers to as a “passive franchise” opportunity. He explains that the franchisee can buy the machines and then either pick their own locations or they “can just put in the money and we will site and locate the machine on his or her behalf.”

Having secured funding and initiatives like these, it’s clear why Lowry seems confident about the franchise’s future.

“Really it’s all about the growth and the expansion of the business now,” he concludes.

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Join the most recognised brand within the home cleaning industry.

At MOLLY MAID you’ll always have the support you need from people who are not only experts within the sector, but genuinely care for you and your business.

Find out more today 01628 583765 aaron.watson@mollymaid.co.uk www.mollymaid.co.uk/franchise

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06/11/2018 22:08

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Build your empire Step into the ring with 9Round

T

he fitness industry is booming around the world, increasing the demand for innovative and diverse workout options both for members to have a chance to step up their game, and for gym owners to stay competitive. What makes a brand capable of being successful in the demanding fitness industry and as a franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs?

Staying on top of the latest fitness trends is pivotal to the survival of any fitness concept With the endless amount of workout options available, offering a fitness experience that provides tangible results from experts is key to staying ahead in one of the most competitive industries in the world. Among the top ten trends in fitness this year are high intensity interval training, group fitness classes, wearable technology and nutritional guidance from the pros. Cue the latest in workout options-boxing. Boxing offers a diverse, full body workout that is not only effective but extremely convenient. Your workout can be done in 30 minutes or less, you’re likely to have the experts training you every step of the way, and it’s a great way to change things up while builking up some extreme muscle.

But what about the franchise aspect?

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to open a gym experience, you want to know the concept you’re buying into not only provides results for members, but from an investment perspective as well.

That means you want to know the system you’re considering provides support from all sides – from marketing, to real estate, financing and operations.

One of the benefits of opening a franchise as opposed to starting a gym from scratch is the breadth of support available and the chance to buy into an already established brand.

The answer to finding success in this competitive industry is to combine a fitness concept and a franchise system that offer the same three things: results, support and convenience.

The 9Round boxing concept excels in all three areas, one of the main reasons why the brand has been giving the fitness world the uppercut. One of the biggest challenges for consumers is finding a workout that they both enjoy and allows them to see tangible results. Entrepreneurs want a business

that offers all those opportunities to members but also provides advantages for owners to push forward in the market. 9Round has managed to combine all three elements needed to build a successful worldwide brand: a competitive fitness concept, a supportive franchise system and is one of the top workout styles in the world.

9Round also prides itself on being one of the most affordable fitness franchises in the industry as well as providing every owner with a full suite of business support ensuring owners have all the tools they need to find success. 9Round has a low cost of entry, low overhead, and straightforward maintenance. Aside from the timer to indicate the length of each station, all equipment is non-electronic with no expensive cardio machines or equipment.

9Round was founded in 2008 by owners Heather “The Hero” and Shannon “The Cannon” Hudson with a strong passion for fitness and a desire to change people’s lives.

They wanted to create a place where busy people could get an intense workout without spending hours at the gym or having to adhere to an inconvenient class schedule. Both Heather and Shannon have a background in karate and kickboxing, and realised quickly that there was not a fitness option where members could get this kind of training- enter the concept for 9Round. Both owners knew that they wanted to take their grueling workouts and training concepts learned in the ring and create a non-intimidating, convenient circuit workout format that anyone could enjoy. When

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the company started, both owners personally implemented, tested and revised both their fitness concept and their business processes and after only one year in their initial location, the first 9Round franchise was sold to a member.

By 2012, the company had grown to 100 locations, and currently there are over 700 9Round clubs open operating in 13 countries. Additionally, over 500 more sites are in various stages of development. As 9Round continues to grow, they continue

delivering on their promise to make members stronger both mentally and physically in just 30 minutes.

9Round believes that every person deserves worldchampionship, quality training on their own schedule.

The concept involves circuit training stations in which each circuit starts every three minutesmembers show up and start at the first station at any time throughout the day. The circuit consists of 9 challenging stations lasting 3 minutes each, with personalised guidance and motivation from a certified trainer along the way. Every member can jump in at any station, any time of day.

Ultimately 9Round has managed to find the perfect storm when it comes to fitness franchise opportunities.

Their workouts are designed for all fitness levels, engage every muscle group, and only take 30 minutes total.

The workouts change every day, and members work with a trainer the whole time. Another bonus feature that has propelled the brands growth is the novelty of no set class times.

You’ll also find that the corporate team that manages 9Round is no stranger to finding success in the fitness industry, especially in regard to providing equal opportunity for male and female ownership. The corporate team has managed to develop a franchise system that is recognised around the world as a fitness experience that changes lives and puts franchisees first.

If you haven’t checked out the latest in the fitness world – head to 9Round and see what is changing the face of fitness.

Visit our website at: www.9round.co.uk/own-a-franchise

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Service charges

Tipping

point

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By angus shaw

The tipping culture in Britain is well-established. But given it can spark protests if restaurants get it wrong, how should franchisors treat it in their businesses?

T

ipping used to be as casual as tossing an arbitrary amount to your server without much thought. In fact, according to the scholar John Schein the term may have originally stood for ‘to insure promptitude’ – just a way to get a quick drink. And these days it may seem like a second wage both servers and kitchen staff expect. However, if you fail to get how tipping works right in your franchise, you may face some serious backlash.

While the average Brit splashes out roughly 9% of the bill in tipping, according to OpenTable, the restaurant reservation service, who’s to say it won’t spiral out of control like in the States, where the income tips generate workers just can’t be ignored? “It does seem that lots of these trends you see in America tend to make their way over here at some point,” speculates James Ebbage, franchisee of Café Rouge, the French bistro franchise. “It wouldn’t surprise me if one day that would happen with their high tips.” With the average US tip comprising 16.4% of the bill, according to Square, the pointof-sale platform, it’s a daunting prospect Britain may need to live up to one day. “I don’t know what

you really could do to stop that from happening,” Ebbage admits.

For franchises, it’s difficult to stop the tipping culture from migrating to Britain. “In a very structured, nonfranchised business it’s easy to have a policy that says we do this and the staff adhere to it,” says Patrick Duffy, founder of Beatons Tearooms, the tearoom franchise. “With a franchise business you have staff speaking to a franchisee and the decision on that is something we would expect the franchisee to be more involved in.” Indeed, while taking on numerous franchisees can see franchises reach impressive heights, nitty gritty details like gratuities are difficult for franchisors to micromanage. “We would hope [franchisees] would follow the approach that we recommend but we’re aware that’s not always the way it’s done,” Duffy adds.

But that’s not to say it’s impossible.

This is something Yousif Aslam, cofounder of Heavenly Desserts, the luxury desserts franchise, knows a thing or two about. “If we look at it in the context of our own franchise, franchisees coming into our network are basically buying into the whole franchise system,” he explains.

When you see there’s a 12.5% optional service charge added to the bill, I quite like that. Because I don’t really carry any cash, I do my best to avoid cash altogether and pay everything on a card James Ebbage, Café Rouge Bury St Edmunds

“They’re obligated to adopt all of our policies, procedures and processes no matter how big or small they are and that includes issues of tips.” Indeed franchising works both ways. So being upfront about what each side of the table expects is a must – even over seemingly trivial details like tipping.

For starters, franchisors must realise most job hunters in the restaurant sector expect gratuities as an unwritten extra when taking up a service gig.

“The whole package does include tips and staff know that,” Duffy says. “Some of them know it very consciously and some just look at it as a little bit extra at the end of the week or day.” Indeed, considering 87% of Brits always place a tip, according to OpenTable, even customers know the score. And with employment rates seeing all-time highs, it’s more important now than ever for bosses to ensure all is fair and not lose talent to competitors. “These days it’s increasingly important to be attracting staff so you do need to look at the whole package,” Duffy continues.

Keeping staff happy also applies to those manning the kitchen. “Certainly for us, when we look at what’s fair we’ve got to weigh up the trigger points for the customer to actually make the decision of leaving a tip, so [our] back-of-house team get a fair distribution,” Aslam says. Implementing tip redistributions – otherwise known as a tronc – is a great way to reward every cog in the restaurant machine. “We believe the food [customers] eat, which is produced by our kitchen staff, has equal weight when it comes to a good customer experience,” Aslam continues. But enforcing equality is sometimes easier said than done.

For example, TGI Fridays faced staff protests after taking the plunge and

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sending 40% of card tips to kitchen employees to remedy high chef turnover.

Although back-of-house members enjoyed a bigger share of tips, it’s said they were dismayed when told they wouldn’t receive wage increases in line with the new national living wage. These kind of dealings could be quite normal. “I think certain chains or operators will try [and] do that for as long as they can get away with doing it,” Aslam says.

Moreover, franchisors should also be weary about allowing gratuities to be used as a disciplinary tool. “We had a confidential conversation with one particular franchisee who believed they should deduct tips from [staff] for broken crockery, which is something I absolutely disagree with it,” Duffy recalls. “It’s a lazy way of managing performance and it’s too easy for a franchisee or manager to abuse tips in that way.” It turns out only 56% of consumers refused to tip because of a rude server, according to Simon Jersey, the uniform provider. So even if you think you know what deserves a reward, remember the customer is always right. “Tips are intended to go to the staff. If you said to customers ‘tips will go to staff if they do the right thing,’ customers would not give tips,” Duffy says.

Indeed, giving the consumer a final say on the matter may be the most fair way to deal with things. And printing automatic service charges for cards ensures workers will more likely enjoy a tip. “I see it as a good thing, really,” Ebbage argues. “Especially when you see there’s a 12.5% optional service charge added to the bill, I quite like that.

When we look at what’s fair we’ve got to weigh up the trigger points for the customer to actually make the decision of leaving a tip, so [our] back-of-house team get a fair distribution Yousif Aslam, Heavenly Desserts

Because I don’t really carry any cash, I do my best to avoid cash altogether and pay everything on a card.” Considering Britain will see just 21% of transactions use notes and coins by 2026 according to UK Finance, the trade association, letting customers avoid the embarrassment of fumbling around for non-existent change is a win-win for them and the employee. “It just means you then don't have to worry about finding some loose change or something that you might not have on you,” Ebbage says.

Whatever tricks franchises use to deal with gratuity fairness, it may just be inevitable Britain’s heading towards tough times with its tipping culture. “We’ve got Brexit coming up so there's going to be a clamour of fear when it’s executed next year,” Aslam says. “I think that will have a significant impact on the way consumers decide to tip and how restaurants will deal with it.”

However, as long as employees are paid fairly and in lieu with ever-increasing inflation, there’s far less risk gratuities will become as integral as wages. “My personal opinion is that for some time I can't see it getting to a $20 or £20 tip per meal to be honest,” Aslam concludes. “So I don’t think we have that problem.”

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Change your life. Work from home with An Annual income that will quickly build from £20 - £50,000 MyWaggyTails is a successful ‘home business’ providing professional pet services to dogs and their two-legged guardians with 3 key services: • Doggy day-care • Home dog boarding • Dog walking and pet home visits Now we’re offering passionate dog lovers the opportunity to copy our success and work from home.

Franchising

Franchising is a business opportunity that allows the franchisee (possibly you) to start your own business by legally using someone else’s (the franchisor’s) brand, expertise, marketing ideas, and processes.

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We help you establish your own business quickly based on a proven business model, with reduced risks, working from home, and all at a very sensible price.

Every MyWaggyTails business is licensed, fully insured and built around high standards and best practice but we still leave room for flexibility and your personal touch.

MyWaggyTails supports you

MyWaggyTails provides you with the brand, training and development, and we walk you through the legal obligations and licensing labyrinth. MyWaggyTails provides you with your web presence and promotional literature, business systems and the know-how. And that leaves you free to work your magic and share the love with the pets in your charge.

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An annual income that will quickly build from £20£50,000 – all with the flexibility of working from home and no time wasted travelling to and from work.

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06/11/2018 11:20

ARthur Murray

Hot to

foxtrot

BY Varsha Saraogi

The Arthur Murray franchise has been making people dance across the world for decades and after returning to the UK, it plans to scale further

A

t 17, when he was teaching his first dance class, little did Moses Teichman, the man who would be reborn as Arthur Murray to avoid links to Germany at the time of World War I, know that his new name would become synonymous with ballroom dancing.

Indeed, his Florida-based dance company Arthur Murray spread not just in the Sunshine State or the US but throughout the world.

With students like Marilyn Monroe, Eleanor Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller and the Duke of Windsor, the legacy of Arthur Murray as an international franchise started back in 1946 and continues to dance on air today. This is what made Wayne Smith, the current executive vice president

of the franchise, leave his teaching career. “It changed my life forever,” he says.

While dance was a passion Murray pursued for years, this wasn’t the case for Smith. His childhood dream was to become an oceanographer which was washed away due to the Vietnam War and led him to teach biology to high-schoolers. But when he found out his neighbours were running an Arthur Murray dance studio without any prior business experience, he couldn’t resist considering a career change. And that’s when his journey with the franchise commenced.

“What drew me in was it’s a people’s business more than anything,” he says.

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Having started as a studio representative, Smith’s role in the beginning entailed travelling across the globe to analyse the international centres and ensure they were working to the head office’s regulations.

This made him realise he wanted more. “I liked it so much that I learnt the dancing and the teaching and got training so I could learn how to run a business,” he recollects. It resulted in Smith becoming a franchisee for 32 years.

However, in 2008, the corporate offices needed someone with the knowledge and calibre Smith possessed and he was asked to become the director of studio services. “Before as a franchisee it was about helping clients and staff to develop and now I’m helping other franchisees,” he adds. “You’re helping people to do a better job and enjoy what they’re doing. That’s really what it is.”

The company set foot onto British soil in the late 1960s and immediately saw multiple centres opening, which made the franchise a household name. But unfortunately that soon changed. “The UK franchisee had personal issues at the time due to which he decided not to renew his agreement and closed the studios in 1982,” he says. “And there was no one there to take over.”

However, in 2002, when a franchisee from Israel proposed the idea to re-establish the brand in the UK, the franchisor couldn’t have been more chuffed. Running for 16 years now, Arthur Murray has three centres in Baker Street, Barnet and Kilburn with plans for more.

Indeed, Blighty has been a pivotal focus for the company after its resurrection. “The UK is one of our most prime markets in the world as dance has always been such a large part of [Brits’] culture,” Smith says.

Dancing is the easy part but learning how to teach and adapt to people from distinct walks of life is a different ball game Building on that, the franchise’s global ambassador, Gary Edwards, the Dancing with the Stars All Access judge is also spearheading franchise growth in the UK and Ireland. Edwards, who taught Michael Jackson the cha-cha-cha and had pupils like Barry White, Whitney Houston and MC Hammer under him, even deployed a campaign called #GetBritainDancing to promote the Arthur Murray brand. But scaling to this level doesn’t come without its fair share of challenges. Restarting a company in a country is the same as going to a new one, according to Smith. “No matter what business you open up you’ll always have a challenging situation but that’s the enjoyment of running a business,” he declares.

Seemingly, becoming a franchisee for Arthur Murray is not for those with two left feet. Before association with the brand is even considered, the potential franchisee is required to be

proficient in not only dancing but also teaching. “It’s ok if they haven’t been in business but they should have a good amount of reliability, skills in teaching, people handling and the confidence of operating a business,” he says. This is why Smith dedicated three years to learn the twists and turns of business before opening his studio and he put his best foot forward. “Dancing is the easy part but learning how to teach and adapt to people from distinct walks of life is a different ball game,” he adds. “Everyone learns differently – whether it’s couples, teenagers or someone with a disability.

You must know how to teach all of them.”

Apart from the dance lessons, franchisees are given training at Arthur Murray headquarters as well as in one of its studios. “They might have the basic knowledge of the art of dancing but they’re going [to] have to spend time in a studio to learn the everyday operations,” Smith says. “We have to

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ensure the franchisees abide by the law and understand the legalities in their locations.” Once they’re recruited, each franchisee is considered as an independent business owner and “a part of the Arthur Murray family.” “The only thing we require them to do is follow our methods and instructions to the letter, attend our seminars and then run the operations like a qualified dance studio,” Smith adds.

After the studio launch the franchisor is always available for help as challenges are inevitable.

In fact, Smith’s diary is filled with travel plans to visit his franchisees. “I also have representatives who go and visit the studios to ensure they are running perfectly well and we have meetings at least twice a year with all the franchisees,” he says. To increase the camaraderie between them, the company hosts a convention every other year where, along with training, the

The UK is one of our most prime markets in the world as dance has always been such a large part of [Brits’] culture franchisees get a chance to exchange ideas and have dance-offs with each other. “I always look forward to these as it’s a great time for forming friendships and healthy competition,” he continues.

While the franchise model has remained the same for decades, it was the marketing strategy that went through enormous changes and kept Smith on his toes.

Coming from an era sans Facebook and Instagram, Smith had to learn basic tech skills which wasn’t easy for him. “They call me the one that has to be taught everything,” he laughs.

Gary Edwards, Arthur Murray global ambassador

“It’s rather challenging when you’re born in a different era.” However, the franchisor doesn’t interfere with the franchisee’s social media strategies.

“They decide if they want to invest in advertising, we only guide them,” he says.

“If there is a big market area which has a multitude of franchisees we tell them to put their resources together and do mass marketing, so it splits the cost.”

And the franchisees are also added to the corporate website to garner more clients.

This is why Smith prefers to recruit each franchisee personally. “We put trust in these people since they will be representing our name,” he says. “In the end, we want them to capitalise on our brand’s strong foundation and run a successful business. We teach them so they can maintain our quality and structure.” Having been a franchisee himself, Smith is well-versed with what it entails. And he definitely believes in giving it all. “I always tell my franchisees there’s no such thing as a 40-hour work week,” he adds. “You’re going to have long weeks but that will make you profitable.”

With an annual revenue of $98m and having waltzed into more than 23 countries with 272 dance studios already, the franchise is adding more to its list with Croatia, Chile, Spain and Portugal.

Smith believes, in the tech-filled era, people must get off the sofa and revitalise themselves. “Dance is a necessity which will never stop being there – especially in the busy lives people lead today,” he concludes. “It’s the only art form where you’re expressing with your whole body.

As long as that continues, we will be a viable business.”

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06/11/2018 13:58

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Why your business model is key to building a successful franchise The Sport4Kids mission is to help potential franchisees build a growth focused sports business with huge potential. The franchisor is all about helping a strong network of franchisees to build large businesses of their own

S

port4Kids is revolutionising the children’s sports and franchise landscape. At the core is a business model that focuses on the interests of the franchisee.

Steve Jones, CEO at Sport4Kids, explains: “From the beginning we put ourselves in the shoes of the franchisee.

We wanted to give them a platform to build a large legacy business. To do this the business model has to drive growth, revenues and positive cashflows.

“Our franchisees all have corporate backgrounds with the ability to invest and lead a growth business. The Sport4Kids business model is designed to help them make money faster and in a more reliable way than other sports franchise formats.”

The business model maximises the opportunities to earn. It is designed to be a multi sports, multi revenue, multi market business network that looks to transform the children sports market and create a network of successful sports entrepreneurs, each of which has a clearly growth-focused and scalable business.

Dr Mark Gould, COO at Sport4Kids, shares: “The vision we had from the start was to build a business platform that could provide investor leaders with the ability to grow a large business. Creating the potential for scale and market domination in our business platform is a key part of our DNA.” The jewel in the Sport4Kids franchise network is the power of the business model, which has several key elements.

For starters, multiple service lines provide continued growth opportunities and entry points into schools and also align to market changes over time. This enables franchisees to align to local market needs and generate many sources of income reducing risk and maximising growth.

Moreover, franchisees enjoy multiple routes to market. Firstly, direct to parents for weekend skills classes, sports club structure, events and parties. Secondly, via nurseries directly and to parents and thirdly to schools for their direct provision and as a route to parents for after school clubs, holiday camps and breakfast clubs.

Sport4Kids’ model operates seven days per week. This maximises revenue and utilisation opportunities but also provides the ability to build a strong coaching squad. Weekends are an entry point for trainee sports entertainers to graduate through support coaching to leading and then onto nurseries and school provision where more experienced staff are required. Other coaching companies struggle with numbers and quality of staff. This is the core of being able to offer a career path.

Additionally, the Sport4Kids business model generates a positive and predicable cashflow.

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Sport4Kids was the first operator outside of the gym sector to use membership and monthly recurring payments. This reduces administration and provides consistent and sticky income from the membership base.

Schools pay termly in advance and major costs such as coaches and venues are monthly in arrears. Franchisees can rely on steady income and can plan a growth business based upon a positive cashflow.

Sport4Kids operates all year round, which means franchisees can maximise revenue opportunities, return against assets and keep their incomes consistent all year round. This enables the use of permanent staff, to cover overheads and supports growth. Traditional down times for other models include summer and Christmas downturns which have been addressed with skill classes, camps and nursery services.

Sport4Kids provides longer customer lifetime value.

The franchisor provides services to children as young as 18 months old up 14 years old. It will increase through to adulthood by retention as the children grow.

Competition is polarised to either 18 months to five years or from seven and upwards.

Through a wider range of services to families, Sport4Kids aims to take a bigger share of the family sports and entertainment budget with an extensive range of services. Added value service lines such as sports equipment through the S4K Shop and photographs via S4K Photography are part of this evolution.

S4K’s Ofsted accreditation enables a range of childcare product options and supports camps, after school and pre-school care functions. It provides credibility with schools and vat Tax benefits where childcare status provides VAT exemption.

Sport4Kids’ premium position and pricing enables gross margin contribution and re-investment into quality, training and new product development and support functions at a local level.

Franchisees benifit from larger territory sizes compared to competitor models providing longer term growth opportunities and a scalable business.

The franchisor’s continued R&D provides innovation and continual improvement in quality and the experience to keep ahead of competition. This provides the ability to react to changes in market and continued new revenue opportunities.

Finally, the core team has taken a big part of the value chain so that the franchisee can focus on the growth of their business. Automation, IT systems, product development, marketing, training, process development and several other assets reduce costs for the franchisee and maximise effort on the growth of their business.

Summing up the power of the Sport4Kids business model, Gould says: “The S4K Network is very much a collaborative model which focuses on generating growth focused businesses for each franchise. The business model delivers so many benefits and it is the economies of scale and working with great people that will help S4K dominate the market.”

Escape the corporate grind and join the revolution Sport4Kids is designed to build a big business for franchisees. So if you’d like to escape the corporate grind, create a new lifestyle and legacy for you and your family, why not look into Sport4Kids and build yourself a new future.

Contact us for more details T: 0300 303 3866 W: www.s4kfranchising.com

November 2018 | elitefranchise

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06/11/2018 15:53

I’m fed up with other people taking credit for work I’ve done

I’m not appreciated at all

I want to be my own boss

I put in the hard work in what I earn

Running your own business doesn’t have to be a pipe dream With a Techclean franchise you can be up and running in weeks.

Techclean are the UK’s leading expert in specialist IT cleaning services.

With franchises available in your area, we’re looking for good communicators with an aptitude for sales and marketing to run their own locally based business.

• WORK FROM HOME • TERRITORIES AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE UK • NET MARGINS OF OVER 55% • HUGE AND GROWING MARKET • REPEAT BUSINESS • EXTENSIVE ON-GOING BUSINESS SUPPORT

Request a free information pack at techclean.co.uk/contact or email franchise@thebardongroup.co.uk techclean, Unit 2 Cartwright Court, Forest Business Park, Bardon, Leicestershire, LE67 1UE 01530 513300 • franchise@thebardongroup.co.uk

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FUN! FLEXIBLE! FANTASTIC EARNING POTENTIAL! Multi award winning franchise opportunity Boogie Beat franchisees run: Active and lively music and movement Community classes Workshops in Nurseries, Schools and Intergeneration Parties and Special events

“

Fully flexible to fit around my very young family and busy mum life, with fantastic earning potential, a brand with 3 strings to the bow with classes, workshops and party packages plus a good support network from the whole team Boogie Beat stands out from the rest!”

- Caroline Hissey, Boogie Beat franchisee

Contact nicky@boogiebeat.co.uk or 01934 741648 To request a franchise prospectus www.boogiebeat.co.uk

The MJB Franchise Programme is a tried and tested programme, designed to enable you to run your own successful consultancy.

Grow a business with your coach, with you every step of the way Book your complimentary discovery session and start your growth journey today! www.mjbgraham.com/franchise • michael.graham@mjbgraham.com

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Chris Roberts director Franchise Finance

The difference between profit and cash Chris Roberts from Franchise Finance says having made a profit doesn’t equate to acquiring bragging rights if you can’t pay your overheads

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eople like talking about profits. How much they’re going to make or how much they’ve already made. Yes, this is hugely important because you don’t want to be running a loss-making business.

However, what is even more important is if you have enough cash to pay your bills on time. Unfortunately, a simple fact of life that is businesses go bust when they run out of money.

Let’s assume a franchise supplies goods on 30 days credit and on a Friday afternoon they make a £30,000 sale for goods they bought for £15,000. They dispatch the goods and raise an invoice. Therefore they can legitimately claim to have made a profit.

However, if on the Monday morning they need to pay the VAT bill or perhaps their wages and they don’t have enough cash in the bank to

do so, they are in big trouble. Yes, they’ve made a profit but it’s having a sufficient amount of cash or working capital that really matters.

In reality it’s all about timing. For example, a franchisor’s website might state that a franchisee should be able to make a profit in their first year of £30,000 and that the startup costs are £20,000. You could therefore be forgiven for thinking that if you have £20,000 to invest and you're going to make a profit by the end of the year that success is only just around the corner.

The reality is that without some sensible planning and checking to see how much cash or working capital is needed over and above the £20,000 startup costs, this is simply a car crash waiting to happen. The likelihood is that sales will initially start off low because it will take some time for the business to establish itself.

However, the overheads – things like salaries and rent – will probably be consistently high from month one. This means the business will probably be loss-making initially and need additional cash to sustain it through and into the profitable months in the latter part of the year. This additional cash is known as working capital. But how much will you actually need? The only way of knowing is to produce a monthly projected P&L account, a monthly cashflow forecast and an end of year projected balance sheet.

This is quite a complicated but necessary process and deserves some care and attention because it’s crucial to the success of your business.

Please do not leave it to chance. Do ask for help from your accountant, franchisor or business consultant – like us – and remember the old saying: turnover is vanity, profit is sanity but cash is the reality. october 2018 | elitefranchise

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06/11/2018 20:14

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Leading mobile coffee franchise Cafe2U enjoyed an excellent Green Coffee Month, highlighting the changes it is making to help the environment and raise awareness of how more people can become environmentally friendly through their coffee drinking habits

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he month began on Monday September 17 and concluded on Friday October 12 and comprised our Reusable Cup Week, coffee grounds recycling initiatives and a scheme designed to solve the problem of existing plastic film coffee cups not being easily recycled.

Cafe2U has taken upon itself to create awareness with customers and franchisees on the impact increased coffee drinking is currently having on the environment, and illustrate some easy ways we can all reduce this impact. Latest studies suggest that the UK consumes over 70 million cups of coffee per day and it’s estimated that, worldwide, five billion disposable cups end up in landfill a year, which is about one million cups a minute, every hour, every day.

One of the easiest solutions to prevent this is to purchase a reusable coffee cup. Cafe2U is proud to have teamed up with KeepCup to provide environmentally friendly alternatives instead of traditional disposable coffee cups and, during the Reusable Cup Week, Cafe2U incentivised customers across its network of 90 vans to only drink from multi-use cups.

As part of the month, Cafe2U donated 10p for every coffee sold in a reusable cup to Hubbub Foundation UK, the charity dedicated to solving environmental challenges including coffee cup recycling.

Whilst discussing the initiative, Tom Acland, managing director, said: “Cafe2U UK is passionately committed to the positive protection of the environment – meeting the needs of the present while thinking forward to the future. During our Green Coffee Month we highlighted the changes we’ve made already, whilst demonstrating how we are striving to implement new ways that we and our customers could be more environmentally friendly.”

Cafe2U takes premium, espresso-based coffee, hot chocolate, and sweet treats directly to the consumer at non-traditional locations all across the country, such as places of work, business areas, industrial estates, events and sporting occasions.

The business now boasts a network of more than 90 vans and was recently named the fourth largest coffee business in the UK in the Allegra Coffee Portal 2017. Cafe2U wants to set an example and lead the way in helping the environment across the coffee landscape.

Visit www.cafe2u.co.uk/franchise-opportunities or Call 07767 000005 for more information on our franchise opportunities.

November 2018 | elitefranchise

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06/11/2018 14:49

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Six reasons to choose a home care franchise Why a home care franchise provides a profitable, sustainable and rewarding business opportunity?

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aunching your own franchise brings with it a host of benefits – from franchisor support and safety-net of a proven model to being your own boss, managing your own destiny and reaping the financial rewards of your hard work. With franchise opportunities in almost every sector, how do you decide which is going to be right for you?

One increasingly prominent sector represented in franchising is home-care with multiple opportunities to develop a profitable, rewarding and exciting business. However, it’s unsurprising a franchisor like Radfield Home Care is becoming a household brand. The sector is indeed booming and for a number of reasons. Some of them are below.

Growth Thanks to an ageing population and increasing demand for at-home care services from both the government and individuals alike, the home care marketplace is valued at over £5.2bn.

Those specialising in older persons care also have the benefit of servicing the sector’s largest client base.

Technology Technology throughout the healthcare sector is becoming increasingly integral and home care is no different. Franchisors such as Radfield Home Care adopt the latest technologies and help franchisees improve efficiency, maximise client safety and increase profit margins.

Rewarding Both financially and morally, the home care sector presents a fantastic opportunity for those looking for rewards. Alongside the financial benefits of operating in a multi-billion pound sector, home care also allows you to give something back to your community and help improve the lives of others.

Regulated Along with the British Franchise Association, the home care sector is regulated by the Care Quality Commission. This means the best providers, with the strongest focus on quality, stand out in the marketplace and are brought to the attention of potential clients.

No experience required A large hurdle for non-franchise home care brands is the legislation, policies and procedures within the sector. We take care of this for you, opening the door to many entrepreneurs who don’t have prior knowledge in the sector.

to much smaller infrastructure requirements. Radfield Home Care also benefits from a unique invoicing structure reducing working capital requirements even further.

Contact

Edward Gill, franchise recruitment manager Email: franchise@ radfieldhomecare.co.uk Call: 01743 548 550

Low startup costs Unlike gym, retail and food franchises that have large initial investment requirements, home care franchises have significantly lower investment costs thanks

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06/11/2018 15:33

Heating up your business prospec t s

UK WIDE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES Aire Serv ® is part of The Dwyer Group®, one of the world’s largest parent companies of home service brands with over 3,200 franchisees worldwide, including Bright & Beautiful®, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance ®, Drain Doctor ®, and Mr. Electric ® in the UK. Join this exciting network now and start building your own heating and cooling franchise business.

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01295 983412 LeadingTheServiceIndustry.co.uk

06/11/2018 19:50

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Monitoring for success Key performance indicators (KPIs) are a vital part of every business – franchises are no exception to this rule. Due to the nature of replicating an existing business model, they’re even more prolific

BY JAMES THOMAS, FRANCHISE RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, D&T CHARTED ACCOUNTANTS

K

ey performance indicators (KPIs) are often the bane of a franchisee’s life and in a lot of cases the franchisor’s as well. So why do we put ourselves through all this trouble of tracking metrics, performance and leads? Easy – they’re the most effective way of driving success through your business and, if done correctly, they can even turn a failing business around.

As a franchisee you’ll be all too aware of the KPIs your franchisor mandates as part of your franchise agreement.

They’ll more than likely form the backbone of any meeting, review or catch-up with your franchise manager and I’m going to go out on a gambit here and say these three are probably going to be among them: monthly turnover, cost of sales and gross profit.

These three will always be the most exciting part of your KPIs as, at a glance, you get a pretty good idea of how a franchise is performing given they’re high level and easy to digest. You will of course also have some more industry-specific metrics to track depending on your sector. When I was a part of a franchisor team, those included the likes of success of a visit, client contact and service level agreement (SLA).

The big question, however, is what can you do to support those big hitter KPIs? What else can you monitor on a subsidiary level that will reinforce those three metrics? If we have a target of increasing sales by £50,000, there isn’t much value in monitoring the likes of turnover or gross profit, as these all happen after the event and won’t help track the success of reaching your goal.

So what do you do instead? How can you achieve your goal and use monitoring as a driving force behind that change? Simple – you backtrack and break it down. Once you have a target, you can work your way back and isolate what can directly affect this goal and monitor that, as well as those your franchisor dictates.

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Let’s look at an example: leaflet drops. Now this as a metric can directly attribute to an increase in sales. All you need to do is punch the numbers: firstly, £50,000 equals 50 customers.

Secondly, 50 customers equals 150 meetings. Thirdly, 150 meetings equals 750 conversations across calls and email.

Lastly, 750 conversations equals 7,500 leaflets. Put simply, to meet a target of increasing sales by £50,000, you’ll have to drop 7,500 leaflets.

Obviously, this is a very simplistic example and view of the situation and you will of course have other driving factors that contribute towards sales growth. Replicating this process across those factors too, though, will help increase the impact even further.

The only way to achieve your goals in a controlled manner is to ensure you track each spend and know what you’re getting from the output of your own time and resources i.e. if you spend £100 on marketing activity, you get X back. Knowing your return on investment is key.

A huge benefit of being a part of a franchise network is you have a wealth of experience sitting right on your doorstep.

Instead of picking up the phone to your franchisor, try speaking to one of your neighbouring franchisees. A lot of the time you’ll find they too, at some point, have looked to increase their turnover, gross profit etc. and will be able to offer their insight.

Maybe you’d like an outside opinion or one that’s unbiased – this can be invaluable too. There are a huge range of resources available to franchises, including companies such as d&t, as well as others that operate in the same space, who can help. It’s worth remembering in order to grow your business you need to invest into it, spend the time looking at growth strategies, dialling back and looking at what contributes to your KPIs and invest in bespoke advice – whether that be from within your own franchise or from a franchising business advisor.

Whichever route you choose to go down and whichever KPI you’re looking to affect, data will always be champion, not only to aid in achieving that goal, but also in ensuring you’re able to replicate next time around.

S.M.A.R.T objectives have long been a great force for change, once you know your KPIs. For best results, make sure they’re specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

Then they’re a valuable tool to guide your efforts, break down the how and give you attainable targets to reach for. It has been proven time and again how effective it can be to apply a bit of S.M.A.R.T thinking to your business strategy.

These initiatives don’t always have to be driven by the franchisor. They will give advice and be able to support you in delivering these objectives but ultimately the onus is on you as a franchisee to ensure your business is being monitored and driven forward. And who knows, maybe you can become the franchisee that everyone turns to for sage advice on how to monitor your franchise for success.

NOVEMBER 2018 | ELITEFRANCHISE

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WEEKLY REPEAT BUSINESS WITH VIRTUALLY NO COMPETITION Global leader with over 20 years’ experience Exclusive Territory with huge customer base High demand allowing for multi van operation Last few remaining territories in the UK!

LAST REMAINING TERRITORIES IN THE UK

OVER 350

FRANCH ISES WORLDWIDE

01788 550100 www.filtafryplus.co.uk | dslater@filtagroup.com

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05/11/2018 17:15

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY IN IRELAND OR SCOTLAND? Our recruitment franchise could be what you’re looking for Law Staff Legal Recruitment is an award-winning legal recruitment company situated in Cambridgeshire. Established in 2002 by Marcus Stevens, our Company Director, the business has grown over 16 years and now employs over 25 members of staff, ranging from experienced Recruitment Consultants to our exceptional Recruitment Assistants and Marketing Executives, including an excellent accounts team.

We operate from our own bespoke database system, with over 25,000 registered candidates actively seeking new employment opportunities in the UK alone. We pride ourselves on our strong brand and commitment to excellent service, working with top tier ‘Magic Circle’ firms, through regional heavyweights to the smallest niche practices. Each one is awarded the same level of specialist attention to ensure we are recruiting the right person for the vacancy. Working collectively we ensure that we produce tailored campaigns catering for individual client’s needs.

As we expand in 2018 we are looking for exceptional people to help build on our success, expanding our brand into Ireland and Scotland. Get in touch if you are ready for that next step in owning your own piece of this incredible business.

Why choose a Law Staff franchise?

Low set up cost

Continual support

Fantastic earning potential

Experienced Training given

Start working from home!

Flexible working

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05/11/2018 17:13

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Monkey Music Celebrating 25 years of success Monkey Music is turning 25 years. But how did the franchise achieve its great success?

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onkey Music is celebrating 25 years of magical music making this year – an amazing achievement and a role model for sustainability within the franchising industry. At the heart of its successful business model is a unique and progressive music curricula for babies and pre-school children delivered across the UK by over 150 Monkey Music teachers. This belief in the power of music to support all aspects of early development has created a legacy both for the brand, customers and franchisees. In fact, there’s been an incredible 2.4 million hours of Monkey Music classes taught since the beginning.

How has Monkey Music achieved its longevity? Because of the determination and commitment from its founder and CEO Angie Coates, a classically trained musician and mother of five. Her original vision for the company was trifold: to offer a sustainable business opportunity with a product of great integrity, to create a talking point that was equally rewarding for customers and franchisees and to grow a successful network where franchisees could flourish as individuals whilst being expertly supported.

Coates said: “One of the reasons I believe my original vision for the company has been upheld is because we haven’t been tempted to grow too quickly. We recruit carefully and train to a very high standard and we believe in investing in the long term and creating sustainable relationships.”

The brand epitomises the real advantages of franchising – the reality that ground rules protect and strengthen the brand whilst franchisees are empowered as brand ambassadors to extend its reach. The close relationship between the head office support team and franchisees offers the right mix of collaboration and direction.

Moreover, the recruitment and training processes are integral elements to the future success of a network.

A new franchisee said: “I found the training very well structured. It covered all aspects of owning a franchise. It’s a great comfort to know how supported we’ll be as franchisees.”

Over the years the network has grown expediently. Today a number of the very first franchisees have run classes for over 20 years and are still thriving. They’re a testament to the progressive nature, innovative qualities and huge benefits of owning a successful and sustainable franchise.

We recruit carefully and train to a very high standard and we believe in investing in the long term and creating sustainable relationships.” CEO Angie Coates To find out more Email: jointheteam@monkeymusic.co.uk or visit: www.monkeymusic.co.uk/franchise

NOVEMBER 2018 | ELITEFRANCHISE

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Your own business Sat Nav Franchise Finance’s Business Training Academy can help your franchise reach new heights

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he Franchise Finance Business Training Academy continues to go from strength to strength and has recently appointed its fourth and fifth members to the team. The idea behind the Academy is to help improve the financial and business knowledge and skills of the 22,000 plus franchisees operating in the UK and the franchisors and staff who look after them by providing a wide range of courses and workshops around the country.

Clients who have already benefitted from this training include many household names such as Dyno, Vodafone, Snap-on Tools, Anytime Fitness, Countrywide Signs, Bluebird Care, Safeclean and Speedy Freight.

Our financial training is based on three fundamental messages for franchisees. Firstly, businesses go bust when they run out of money.

Secondly, turnover is vanity, profit is sanity and cash is reality. Thirdly, when you measure business performance only then can you truly manage business performance. We firmly believe understanding these three fundamental aspects will have a major impact on whether a franchise business will survive and how successful it will be.

The Academy consistently receives great testimonials. For instance, one that Franchise Finance received in early October 2018 said: “The tutor had a great training style which makes it easier to understand than

just researching for yourself. Also, the template provided makes it a lot easier to complete your own business plan.”

A second attendee said: “Really good day and learnt a lot of useful information about a plan to structure and build a successful business.”

A third one added: “This is one of the best courses I have attended. Very useful information and very beneficial for me and my business.”

Key to receiving these stellar reviews is that Franchise Finance makes the subjects easy to understand through simple examples, plain English and easy to understand analogies.

A good example of this is our adoption of a driving theme and that during the life cycle of a franchisee, they’re undertaking various business journeys, until they arrive at and pass their stated goals and objectives.

Our business planning workshops introduce franchisees to their own Business Sat Nav to help them successfully navigate their business journey, see what’s around the corner and not run out of working capital, which is of course their petrol.

Indeed, when you first started to drive a car, did you just jump in and head off down the road or did you have some driving lessons first? Well, we suggest it makes equal sense to have some business driving lessons too and if you are not sure whether you need this then please do take our business driving test, which is actually our financial awareness

assessment. This can be accessed through our website and is designed to advise participants whether their business financial knowledge is good, reasonable or poor and what particular training would benefit them most.

Coaching is also provided to existing franchisees through our MOT service, which starts with a business health check. Every franchisee should from time to time stop working in the business and take time out to work on the business and review how they are doing against plan and consider what changes, if any, they need to make.

They also need to work on themselves and consider what behaviours, skills and knowledge they need, as they go through the different stages of the journey. Indeed, they may need to change aspects of the former and significantly enhance the latter.

For those existing franchisees who

Chris Roberts QFP, head of strategic development at Franchise Finance.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

really want to invest more time and money in their business and drive growth further and faster, we have recently launched our new Build the Value of Your Business Programme.

This is a modular programme and starts by aligning personal goals with overall SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based) business objectives and defines a specific route with specific ‘resting points’ for measuring progress along the way. This is the Business Sat Nav we talked about earlier.

Topics covered include a rear view mirror examination of past trading, a front windscreen view of the landscape ahead, the competition and their USP’s (unique selling points), a costed marketing plan, annual organisational charts to quantify and clarify growing staff and overall resource needs which may include property, equipment and vehicles along with a detailed SWOT analysis and a prioritised action plan.

All this is supported by the necessary set of financial projections which includes monthly projected profit and loss accounts, cashflow forecasts and projected balance sheets. This is just one example of the courses that we run. However, no matter what stage of the business journey you are at, the likelihood is that the Franchise Finance Business Training Academy will be able to help you safely speed up your progress and learn new skills along the way.

Please email training@ franchisefinance.co.uk or visit www.franchisefinance.co.uk for further details or to book a course.

By Chris Roberts QFP, head of strategic development at Franchise Finance.

NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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Technological advantages

Yours

for the

teching

By Eric Johansson

More franchises are investing in technology to improve their businesses. If you’re looking to do the same, there are plenty of great examples to draw inspiration from NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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Technological advantages

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any franchises love to brag about how long their history is and how rife with traditions their brands are. And sure, having had decades to establish their business is a great advantage. However, if they want to remain at the forefront of the market then they better keep innovating. Fortunately, technology provides clear ways to do just that.

While no investment should be done half-heartedly, there’s nothing wrong with drawing inspiration from the brands who’ve already incorporated the latest innovations in their offerings.

To get your creative juices flowing, we’ve assembled some of the coolest ways franchisors and franchisees alike are leveraging the digital revolution to their advantage.

What’s on the menu?

While Mickey D’s may be famous for serving up succulent burgers, the home of the Big Mac is extremely keen to

introduce tech into its business model.

In fact, in 2017, McDonald’s growth plan stated that “enhancing digital capabilities and the use of technology to dramatically elevate the customer experience” was a key ingredient for the company’s continuous success.

This outspoken strategy has already seen visitors to the golden arches enjoy things like self-ordering systems and tablets at their tables. Moreover, the mega franchisor is using the resulting consumer data to boost sales. We’re loving it.

Teching care of business When Apple unveiled the latest iteration of the Apple Watch this autumn, it rocked the healthtech world.

The gadget enables the user to not only accurately detect heart arrhythmia and where a person is but also shows if the wearer experiences a hard fall.

However, you may be surprised to hear that Steve Jobs’ old stomping ground wasn’t the first to use technology like this. Victoria Webber, franchisee of Bluebird Care Lincoln, has actively trialled a similar system among her clients.

Having teamed up with

MediBioSens, the healthtech startup, the homecare franchisee has been able to boost the safety of her clients as well as introduce new verticals that would provide people with more reasons to choose the healthcare provider. And she’s not the only one. Homecare franchises like Radfield Home Care and Clarriots Care have also invested in tech to ensure they provide a strong service. We can only embrace investments that makes people safer.

Smart homes Tech titans like Amazon and Google want people to start talking to their devices. But the opportunity is far greater for franchises than being able to ask Alexa to order a Domino’s Pizza. Including internet of things offerings into your services can boost your profits considerably. For instance, international real estate franchise Coldwell Banker increased its margins by setting up connected devices into the houses it was selling.

Having established a partnership with tech publication CNET in the past, the franchise went all in a few years ago by introducing the world’s first smart home staging kit, which includes installing smart thermostats, smoke alarms, security cameras, door locks and lights. Now that’s innovation you can write home about.

Remote reading E-learning is one of those words that means exactly what you think it does. Essentially, it provides you with the opportunity to learn new things via an online portal which you can access anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. For franchisors, this means they can train both personnel and franchisees without

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Technological advantages

Tech titans like Amazon and Google want people to start talking to their devices. But the opportunity is far greater for franchises than being able to ask Alexa to order a Domino’s Pizza having them travel to the head office.

And from ServiceMaster to Puddle Ducks, several franchisors have already taken advantage of the opportunity to upskill their franchisees in everything from anti-bribery legislation to how to safely teach babies how to swim. If you ask us, more franchisors should learn from their example.

Loyalty? There’s an app for that Businesses have used loyalty schemes for decades. However, the convenience store franchise 7-Eleven took the idea one step further by launching a loyalty app in late 2017. Essentially, by downloading the app customers can get points by purchasing things like crisps, beverages and fresh food and receive coupons for free coffee and other items in stores. Now that’s something to chew on next time you’re thinking about investing in tech.

Going cashless Whether you like it or not, it seems as if we’re heading towards a cashless society. Indeed, research from Starcom Worldwide, the media company, has revealed 73% of Brits don’t expect to be using physical money in five years’ time. Fortunately, some franchises seem to be ahead of the curve. In April 2018, SPAR, the grocery chain, introduced its first entirely cashless store in the Dutch city Utrecht. Under its sub-brand SPAR University, the franchisor enabled students to use the SPAR University app to simply scan and pay for items without popping by the cash register.

Not only did this enable customers to skip bringing their wallets but it also benefitted SPAR, which acquired lots of useful data in return. And as we know, the more you know about your

customers’ lives, the more you can improve your service.

Robots are bringing it home Everything from food to toilet paper will be delivered by drones in the future. And one particular franchise is at the forefront of this revolution. In the past, Domino’s Pizza has trialled delivering food with flying drones in New Zealand. In March 2017 the company stepped it up by partnering up with Starship Technologies, the Londonbased robot-development startup, to try out land-based robot deliveries too. The trial happened within a mile from selected German restaurants and while it’s still only in the testing stages, we can’t wait for it to become mainstream.

Recruitment software All franchises are only as good as the franchisees working for them.

Unsurprisingly then many franchises have invested in technology to ensure no ideal candidates get lost in the deluge of emails these businesses receive. For instance, homecare provider Promedica 24 receives thousands of texts from prospective franchisees on a daily basis. That’s why the company has invested in technology that makes it easier to track candidates, gauge how interested they seem to be as they go through the recruitment process online and see where and if some prospects abandon their pursuit.

This has enabled the franchisor to not only ensure it never misses out on opportunities but also that the recruitment process can be improved.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Putting Franchise Support Centre Stage With the opening of a brand-new headquarters and national training centre earlier this year and expanding UK-based and International franchise support teams, énergie Fitness is firmly putting the needs of its franchisees centre stage.

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s the longest established UK-based fitness franchisor with a 15-year track record of success, we know what it takes to succeed in the fastgrowing and dynamic health and fitness sector.

Providing comprehensive franchise support and a robust training framework has always been one of the hallmarks of our franchise package, it’s the very reason our franchisees don’t need any previous experience in health and fitness to be a success with énergie.

Health and fitness is a booming industry, with more gyms, more members and a greater market value than ever before.

The 2018 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report, compiled by Leisure DB highlights, reveals that over the 12-month period to the end of March 2018, the industry saw increases of 4.6% in the number of fitness facilities, 2% in the number of members and 2.9% in market value. With one in every seven people in the UK now members of a gym, owning a gym is becoming an increasingly attractive franchise opportunity.

It’s a great time to make a move into fitness and start a gym franchise. With an experienced team of operators onhand, énergie Fitness franchisees get support, help, advice and assistance throughout the lifecycle of their franchise journey. From initial support to help find and secure the right site, guidance with business planning through to a 12-step franchisee training journey, everything is in place to provide franchisees with all the tools they need for success. Once in business and operating their gym, regional operations meetings and business performance monitoring help to ensure franchisees stay on track to achieve their business goals.

Levelling-up To continue to provide our franchisees with the highest levels of support and training, earlier this year we moved into a brand-new headquarters and national training centre, dubbed ‘énergie Central’. The 15,000 square foot facility includes a large training room and crucially, a 5,000 square foot on-site franchised gym complete with all of énergie’s signature training experiences including thé YARD. This has enabled us to significantly increase the level of training we provide to franchisees and their staff teams.

One of the benefits of the gym franchise model is the flexibility that it affords to franchisees. Franchisees can choose to work in the business or employ a dedicated club manager to free up time and focus on the more strategic elements of the business.

Whichever route franchisees choose to run their business, they can rest assured that with the depth of training on offer, covering every aspect of operating a health and fitness club, their staff teams will always be fully up-tospeed with the latest tips and techniques to optimise their performance and the delivery of the énergie service standards. What’s more, with a fully operational franchised gym on-site, nobody has to skip a day’s workout.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

The full énergie franchise experience Prospective franchisees interested in owning a gym franchise can gain a great deal of information from attending an énergie Fitness franchise discovery day. Held once a month at énergie Central and supplemented with a franchise discovery open morning on a Saturday for those who can’t attend during the week, the discovery day provides a great opportunity to learn more detailed information about the énergie Fitness franchise.

Discovery days are designed to provide prospective franchisees with all the information they need to make an informed decision. It’s an opportunity to be immersed into the énergie franchise opportunity. On the day, we cover everything including our award-winning franchise support structure, how we help franchisees get into business and detailed information on the return on investment and potential rewards.

A key component of our franchise discovery days is the ‘line-up’ where prospective franchisees are introduced to every member of the énergie Central support team.

Throughout the day, prospective franchisees can talk directly to the énergie Central team members to truly get to know

the team who will be directly supporting them should go ahead as a franchisee.

In addition, the on-site franchised gym provides the perfect opportunity to see a live club in action and talk to the franchisees operating the gym. Prospective franchisees are encouraged to test out the énergie Fitness experience first-hand for themselves by taking advantage of a complimentary workout before the discovery day.

As a result, prospective franchisees come away from the discovery day with a complete picture of the business, from a consumer perspective as well as an in-depth understanding of the franchise model and a good feel for what life could be like as an énergie Fitness franchisee.

Why franchise with énergie Fitness?

When you franchise a gym with énergie Fitness, you’re partnering with a brand that has been empowering people to transform their lives since 2003.

From business planning and property acquisition through to ongoing marketing and operational support, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive gym franchise package that gives our franchisees all the tools they need for success. Best of all, you don’t need a previous interest in health and fitness to be a success with énergie.

To find out more and to book your place on an upcoming énergie Fitness Franchise Discovery Day, visit: www.energiefranchise.com or call 0845 363 1020.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

DO YOU ENJOY WORKING WITH CHILDREN? Are you a performing artist or teacher who loves working with children? We can set you on the road to success

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he Helen O’Grady Drama Academy is a one-of-a kind UK franchise offering a self-development programme for children designed to build their confidence and self-esteem through a carefully constructed drama programme.

We provide an opportunity for energetic, creative and passionate teachers to run a business enabling them to connect with children, have their school holidays free and to earn an attractive income.

THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS OF BECOMING A FRANCHISEE WITHIN OUR ORGANISATION Many join us wanting to be self-employed. If you do, then you can work flexible hours to suit yourself during term time only and be able to spend quality time with your family.

As part of our international network, you will have access to a wealth of communication and ongoing support. One

of the real advantages is being provided with a structured curriculum, covering ages from two to adults and that is being updated every term.

The success of any franchise is only as good as the initial and ongoing training and support. You will receive initial induction training, followed by termly seminars where new curriculum is workshopped as well as regular ongoing support from a member of our extensive training team.

All you have to do is follow a tried and proven system which has shown success for nearly 40 years in 39 countries.

THE INVESTMENT To become part of this highly successful organisation, you will be required to invest approximately £15,000 for a full sized branch. An interest free payment plan is available, with a minimum deposit of £3,000.

Helen O’Grady students in their summer production

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Our brand is the largest and fastest growing drama business in the world.

Helen O’Grady annual seminar in Guernsey

substantial amount of capital in an untried venture. You’ll have access to the specialised, highly skilled knowledge and experience of the franchisor’s head office organisation, whilst continuing in a self-employed capacity.

ACT NOW FOR YOUR OWN FUTURE If you are considering a franchise business, have a love for drama, and would like to help children increase their confidence and communication skills through a unique, fun drama programme, then act now.

We are seeking suitable people in Tayforth, South and SW London, Portsmouth, Guildford, Oxford, Plymouth, Southampton, Norwich Stockport and many other areas.

To show your interest, or for more information, please contact Chief Executive Officer, Nigel Le Page, on 01481 200250 or by email to nigel@helenogrady.co.uk or visit www.helenogrady.co.uk.

Helen O’Grady training seminar

It is now also possible to operate your own part-time drama academy business for three days per week for an initial outlay of only £2,000.

ADVANTAGES OF BEING A HELEN O’GRADY FRANCHISEE Our franchise business commences with the benefit of a name, reputation and

goodwill already established in 39 countries including; Australia, New Zealand, Africa, South Africa, Malaysia, China, Korea, Singapore, India, USA, Malta, Bosnia, Japan, Pakistan and the UK. As a franchisee you can set up a lucrative and proven business, without the need to risk a NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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RAISING STANDARDS

Top notch ownership No matter what business sector you work in you’ll be facing a massive number of regulations that can make success in your venture a challenge. Fortunately, franchising offers a solution

BY DAVID GLOVER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CAREMARK

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ecoming a franchisee can help you get a jump on the competitors who choose to go it alone. And there’s no secret as to why that is.

As a business owner there are so many hoops to jump through. When you first start out, you have to decide if you’re going to register as a sole trader, a limited company or a partnership. Every business owner has to know about the general legislative requirements of running a business such as employment, company and tax laws in order to avoid being chased by HMRC, being taken to a tribunal by staff or paying unnecessary fines or penalties for the late filing of statutory information.

On top of all this, depending on the type of business you start, you may have to meet industry-specific regulatory standards. For restaurants there’s so much to cover including food safety hygiene and for care, the industry we at Caremark work within, you must meet stringent standards from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Working with children bring its own set of requirements where you must allow enough time for DBS checks to be processed and, in some cases, open your business to Ofsted inspectors.

Then there are the things you want to keep in line with, rather than those you must. You may want to be as

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environmentally-friendly as possible, so you choose to gain ISO 14064 to prove your organisation’s carbon footprint.

You may want to be seen as the employer of choice, so you join the Living Wage Foundation and adhere to their implementation guide.

But why would you choose to start a business where you have to toe the line on so many external influences? Most businesses start out small, so you have to work harder to compete with larger organisations for your customers.

Showing that you’ve met certain standards can inspire confidence and trust in your ability to deliver quality and on time. On top of that, following a set of standard criteria can drive down costs, boost productivity and improve profits.

In fact, some contracts and supply chains will only award business to those who can show they’ve achieved an acceptable level, like getting a good rating from the CQC or one of the BSI’s ISO certificates.

Edelman’s 2018 Trust Barometer is an annual trust and credibility survey, measuring trust across a number of institutions, sectors and geographies. It surveys more than 33,000 respondents across 28 countries and this year’s findings reveal a flatline in trust across the institutions of government, business, media and NGOs in the UK. Trust in business fell to 43% whilst the other three institutions saw no change at all. That gives business owners a challenge but also

Raising Standards

Franchising is an excellent way of raising standards in business major opportunity to stand out from the crowd. You can take market share by engendering trust in your brand.

It sounds like a lot to do on your own and that’s just scratching the surface. So, it’s no wonder people choose to invest in a franchise rather than go it alone.

Following a franchise model means you’ll meet any criteria essential to provide an excellent service and safe products to your customers. A franchisor has been there, done that and got the t-shirt, so to speak. You’ll save a huge amount of time and effort when starting your business because of the franchisor’s experience.

Standards are set at both UK, country and regional level in some cases, so they can advise on what you need

to do for your territory. In care, for instance, the CQC regulates in England, the Care Inspectorate Wales, the Care Inspectorate Scotland and Northern Ireland has the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority. All of them have slightly different processes which we can support our franchisees to follow successfully.

Not only does a franchisor know all the legal requirements for your business but they can also tell you about those extra touches you can make to really impress your customers, retain their business and receive new customer referrals.

Meeting standards isn’t a one-off activity done just before an inspection – you have to embed these into your business, so you achieve them on a daily basis. And don’t just aim for ‘just good enough’, go for ‘the best’.

We love it when our franchisees improve their CQC rating from good to outstanding – we know they’re following our model and making the most of every support meeting, development opportunity and creating a great team culture.

Franchising is an excellent way of raising standards in business. The British Franchise Association offers franchisors and franchisees a range of educational seminars throughout the year, all geared to raising standards. And there’s no other industry I’ve come across that’s so willing to share best practice even between competing brands.

If you’re interested in starting a business in a community like this, franchising should be your first choice.

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OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR 2019

now possible to operate your own part-time Helen O’Grady Drama Academy Business (2/3 days per week) for an initial outlay of only £2,000

Contact for a FREE brochure NOW Visit www.helenogrady.co.uk Call: 01481 200250 or email: nigel@ helenogrady.co.uk

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The UK’s No1 dry carpet, Earn in excess of £50,000 per year If you’re looking for an exciting career change the constraints of working for someone else, a zerodrytime franchise could be the right choice for you.

Our franchisees come from all backgrounds: Armed Forces • Police • Fire • Advertising Printers • Sales People • Carpet Fitters and many more...

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

A growing organic market for Riverford Trading now for over 30 years, award winning vegbox scheme Riverford, continues to benefit from the growth in the organic market

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hen veg boxes first entered the market they were much more than just a box full of muddy vegetables. They enabled many small-scale farmers to earn a living and bridge the gap between the field and the table, cutting out the middle man – mainly supermarkets – and reducing food miles. While today the competition amongst box schemes may be on the increase, those founding principles remain.

Now in its sixth continuous year of growth, the latest Soil Association report states that the organic market continues to look healthy and is currently worth nearly £2.2bn. Outperforming the non-organic grocery market which has seen a decrease. In the same period organic sales saw a growth of 6% whilst non-organic saw a growth of just 2%.

This continued growth has been reflected in Riverford’s sales, which has shown a 9% increase on the prior year.

The last year has seen a 22% increase in farmers converting to organic growing but Riverford still remains one of the largest and leading home delivery schemes, delivering to 50,000 homes each week.

To remain competitive, companies must stay relevant and original.

Riverford have achieved that by regularly introducing new product lines, constantly listening to what our customers want and introducing new ways to pack and deliver our produce.

Vegbox consumers who were once happy to receive the same vegetables week in and week out are now more discerning, wanting greater variety and the option to substitute items

they don’t like. They also want to be able to make an interesting meal and perhaps learn new techniques along the way. So Riverford introduced tailor made recipe cards, cooking hints and tips and our ever increasingly popular recipe box range.

Social media is playing a big part in increasing awareness, with more and more people interacting, sharing news, recipes and experiences online and taking more responsibility for their carbon footprint. Riverford has encouraged online interaction with our brand by launching a dedicated recipe channel on YouTube – a marketing tool that has proven to be effective at engaging with and educating our customers. We’ll soon have a new app for phone users, making the whole online shopping experience easier.

The overall growth in the organic market can also be attributed to the great work bodies like the Soil Association have been doing.

Promotion of organic products is high and consumers are becoming increasingly aware of what they eat and where their food comes from.

This is evident amongst 18-29 year olds, showing that they are most likely to purchase organic food to fit their personal health and wellbeing lifestyle.

Research shows there are five main reasons why consumers switch to organic products: no pesticides, better flavour, higher animal welfare, higher quality of food and better for the environment. Fruit and vegetables being cited as the first products consumers switch to when choosing to adopt a more organic lifestyle.

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“In its sixth continuous year of growth, the latest Soil Association report states that the organic market continues to look healthy and is currently worth nearly £2.2 billion” Being aware of our impact on the environment is at the forefront of Riverford operations. We’ve spent months intensely researching more sustainable packaging options for our veg boxes and have pledged to replace all single-use plastic with home compostable packaging used in our boxes by the end of 2020.

While our current plastic use is minimal, it’s a necessary evil for the likes of salad, spinach and herbs, which would otherwise dehydrate in paper, causing food waste. With plastic being a hot topic at present, our minimal use of plastic is another unique selling point and an attribution to why we are currently seeing an increase in new customer numbers and retention.

Many consumers also choose to have a home delivery as they wish to support their local community and spend money with smaller, independent businesses.

Even cost-conscious consumers are switching to box schemes in an

effort to avoid the trappings of the supermarkets and that £20 shop for a pint of milk that most of them have experienced one time or another.

Riverford franchisees certainly benefit from customer loyalty, building strong relationships with their customers and providing excellent customer service and care. Customers understand that they’re supporting a local business, all be it under the umbrella of a larger business, it’s something we’re proud of and support.

Awarding a franchise to the right person is something Riverford take seriously. We’re looking for people who share our passion for good food and those who are comfortable talking to people in all sorts of situations.

Our franchisees really are our brand ambassadors, linking our farms to local homes, and working with us to spread the word.

We strongly believe that this is an exciting time to own a Riverford franchise and be part of the organic market. Consistently providing great

service and produce, means customers are historically loyal. They feel valued and part of something that’s doing some good.

Rob Haward, managing director at Riverford, commented: ”Riverford has stuck resolutely to its founding principles of good food, good farming and good business. We remain independent. Everything we sell is 100% organic and we have kept true to the roots we put down 31 years ago and continue to grow the veg ourselves. This set us apart from many other food retailers in the UK today and remain important factors that drive new customers to us and keep existing customers shopping with us”

To find out more, call us on 01803 227 380.

Email: franchise@riverford.co.uk or visit: riverford.co.uk/franchise

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Worst franchisees

Network nightmares

By VARSHA SARAOGI

Every franchisor wants a good relationship with their franchisees – after all, they represent the brand. But often there are some who choose to go rogue, which can result in termination or, worse still, court proceedings

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successful and fully compliant franchise network is an asset to every franchisor.

However, recruiting and retaining the right ones to build your brand can be a minefield and undoubtedly franchisee recruitment mistakes can turn any franchisor’s dream into a nightmare.

Naturally, making mistakes is inevitable. “There isn’t a franchisee in this country at this moment that’s doing everything suggested in their operation manual – not one,” argues Rik Hellewell, founder of Ovenu, the oven cleaning franchise.

But when franchisors do encounter a bad apple, they prefer to settle it amicably unless the franchisee repeatedly refuses to comply. “We will always try and give people the benefit of the doubt,” Hellewell reasons. “Franchisors are always seen as being the bad guys and the money grabbers but that’s not true. We want franchisees to understand we’re on their side. But for that to continue, they have to work with us, not against us.”

Too worse for wear Reflecting on one of his undesirable encounters, Hellewell had to deal with a franchisee who went overboard hitting the bottle. “There are some absolute bloody idiot franchisees out there who give the rest of the network a bad name,” he says.

For instance, Hellewell remembers a potential franchisee who not only paid the deposit but also attended the first day of his training, which fell on a Monday. However, he lost the chance of getting the contract due to his alcoholism. “He was drunk as a skunk on the same night as the induction and we didn’t see that guy again until Thursday – in fact on 86 elitefranchise | NOVEMBEr 2018

Thursday he was still drunk,” Hellewell recalls. “So we dispatched him back to Scotland and asked him to revisit the idea of becoming an Ovenu franchisee once he’d visited a clinic. The guy paid us £9,000 and didn’t get past his induction training and that surprised me.” Hellewell believes it’s beyond a franchisor’s control when they’re lied to as they recruit based on what they’re told. “If he told us he was an alcoholic, he wouldn’t

The biggest challenge is how do you get people to love it [and] treat it with the respect that you do because it’s your baby but to them it’s just a job Angela De Souza, Women’s Business Club

have been awarded the territory,” he adds. “The moral of that particular story is we can only act on the information we’re given. Not if you’ve got a franchisee who’s been economical with the truth or has blatantly lied to you.” The franchisee did get another chance but due to his drinking problem failed to complete even the first term of the agreement and was then terminated.

Backstabbing the business network A franchise agreement is a document franchisees must read and follow to avoid the unpleasant consequences of a possible

Worst franchisees

of Women’s Business Club, the franchise for female entrepreneurs, had with franchisees were so severe they saw her give up on the idea of franchising completely for a few years. One of her nightmares was when a franchisee got too greedy which caused the franchisor a bad reputation that hampered her business altogether. One of De Souza’s franchisees was so unhappy with the initial returns that she ended up over-promising to her clients leading De Souza in a pickle.

“She started getting very bitter saying the model doesn’t work,” De Souza recalls. “Because of that she started selling packages but when it came to delivering she started complaining as she didn’t have the time. She then wanted to terminate the agreement and I released her from the contract because she was doing more damage than good.” Unfortunately, the franchisee stepped on the franchisor’s toes and didn’t give the clients a refund. “So my reputation in that particular territory got ruined because they blame me,” she says. “I should’ve got a solicitor involved for the sake of the

breach. Additionally, many franchisors have regulations in place to be adhered to. In one such instance, a franchisee refused to fill his client information into Hellewell’s CRM system. “Within the first week we noticed that they were a little bit rubbish at putting the information into the right place so we explained it repeatedly,” Hellewell says. This process was essential because every client was asked to sign a checklist after the service was provided to ensure customer satisfaction. “After about four months we got an email out of the blue from the franchisee saying: ‘This isn’t what I expected.

This system you’ve got is a bit of a nuisance. My plan was to work in the business for a few years and then set myself up independently once I got all the knowledge, skills and expertise that I could extract from the franchise. Now that you’ve got all my client data makes this impossible for me.’” Gobsmacked by the audacity of his franchisee, Hellewell fired back with an email of his own. “So we said: ‘In that case mate, you need to disappear now. You need to buy yourself out of the remaining term of the agreement.’ That man was a complete idiot who didn’t understand what a franchise agreement actually meant in real terms.” The franchisor ensures every franchisee gets a physical copy of the agreement but it’s up to them to read it.

“We do things absolutely 100% down the line when it comes to ethics but franchisees must do the same,” he adds. Eventually the contract was terminated after the franchisee paid the remaining amount.

Becoming the scapegoat The bad experiences Angela De Souza, founder

There isn’t a franchisee in this country at this moment, that’s doing everything that’s suggested in their operation manual Rik Hellewell, Ovenu

people because now she’s got a job somewhere but I’m the one living with the damaged reputation.” Wiser from the experience, De Souza now ensures she thoroughly scrutinises potential franchisees before recruiting. “The biggest challenge is how do you get people to love it [and] treat it with the respect that you do because it’s your baby but to them it’s just a job.”

See you in court The first prerequisite when recruiting a franchisee, apart from checking their drinking habit, is assessing their ability to follow a tried and tested formula. In another bitter experience, De Souza was taken to court and asked for the franchise fee back. A woman with two franchisees, although passionate, chose to ignore the handbook and freestyle it. “She started producing her own creatives for advertising and marketing, which was not only different from ours but also bad quality and was handing them out to people,” she recalls. “When I visited her club it didn’t feel like my company but a knock-off version. When I told her to stick to the handbook, she got angry and said I was micro-managing. She took me to court, she wanted all her money back and it got really ugly.” In her case, De Souza won as her reasons were legitimate. However, going to court should be the last resort for every franchisor or franchisee given the unnecessary costs involved. De Souza adds that even though a franchisee has the best of intentions, they can’t ignore basic regulations. “There’s always teething problems in a business,” she continues. “I start with basic human kindness and 99% of people will respond well to a kind word. But I’ve learned that you can’t help everyone that way.”

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Restoring the smart repair industry T

he Restore Automotive franchise is the ultimate opportunity for a shrewd entrepreneur who wants to hit the ground running with a successful motor repair industry business with unlimited potential. All this while at the same time providing an in-demand service that people actually want, need and, when they see the results and cost benefits, actually love.

However, every story has a beginning and in this case, Restore Automotive is the brainchild of two individuals who came together, seemingly by chance and the rest is history.

class reputation and loyal customer base. Building on this success, Lusted co-founded a new product in Restore Automotive where his experience, operational leadership and dedication to success is a great asset and technical mentor to the business.

When not delivering a first class customer experience to customers, Lusted is into outdoor adventure sports, both on land and water. As well as having a passion for travel and seeing the world, Lusted has also ran a couple of half marathons and various Tough Mudder events raising money for Berkshire MS.

Meet the Restore Automotive Dream team

Marvyn Robinson, director and cofounder Robinson has a professional background in information technology and project management within large and small businesses, that nurtured a business acumen for success. With nine years in the online marketing space, he has generated many thousands of consumer business leads within the vehicle repair and other trade industries. Robinson co-founded Restore Automotive after working with Lusted for eight years, after helping to successfully grow Lusted’s own smart repair business using innovative marketing and business systems.

When he is not helping the business generate leads and sales Robinson is a keen aviation enthusiast, enjoys flying light aircraft and inspiring others by sharing the experience. As well as being a keen archer, he supports a number of local charities and gains a lot of fulfilment from mentoring young people from difficult backgrounds.

Tom Lusted, director and co-founder Lusted has 18 years in the motor trade industry covering all aspects of the vehicle body repair lifecycle. Operating a successful one man smart repair business for ten years with a first

For more information visit www.restorefranchise.com

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VeriSmart Inventories smart verification, smart investment Be VeriSmart and buy your own ready-made franchised business within the UK’s surging and recession-proof rental property industry

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eriSmart Inventories is taking advantage of the huge growth in the rental sector – and some of our franchisees are earning upwards of £100,000 a year.

New franchisees are joining us all the time right across the country and from all types of employment backgrounds.

Industry expert Jonathan Senior created the model after noting that the rental sector was growing rapidly as fewer people could afford to buy their own homes.

He was also aware that the required inventories were being compiled with pen on paper and were inconsistent across the sector. The entire system was due a technological overhaul.

This led to the development of VeriSmart Inventories, a unique and copyrighted smart verification system.

Unlike other models, VeriSmart franchisees use a bespoke paper-free method utilising voice recognition technology that automatically lays out an inventory. High definition pictures are then simply added.

Our training enables all franchisees to examine properties in a unique way with an expert eye and list everything needed to meet legal requirements.

Muhammed Hussain

Jonathan Senior

All inventories are then sent electronically to landlords or agents and to tenants for online verification.

And that is not all, franchisees can also offer a host of additional services that keep landlords legal and tenants safe.

These include legionella and fire risk assessments, proper smoke and carbon monoxide alarm testing, housing health and safety rating reporting and portable appliance testing, energy performance certificates and more.

When both landlord and tenants are in favour of the same thing you know you’re on to a winner.

And if proof were needed that we are popular, take one of our newest franchisees, Mohammed Hussain. He has taken on the Leeds area and he knows about the industry because he’s a landlord himself. “As a landlord I understand the importance of quick, accurate inventories,” Hussain says.

“When I decided to launch an inventory business I looked at a number of models and VeriSmart was head and shoulders above the rest. It includes lots of extra services and as a landlord this is exactly the type of one-stop

service I was looking for so I know it will be popular.

“I have been part of the Responsible Landlord Scheme for around 12 years and the VeriSmart method backs up everything it means to be responsible and legal.

“The VeriSmart way is very quick and accurate and really does keep landlords legal and tenants safe. I know I made the right choice.”

So what do you get from us when you become a VeriSmart franchisee?

Training We offer comprehensive training to all new franchisees, including some reallife and practical experience.

Our highly qualified trainers have worked with all our new entrepreneurs who are of all ages and backgrounds.

The simplicity of our system means training does not take long and we are able to help you quickly understand the legal elements of the sector.

The training is on-going. We keep you up-to-date on all legislation with dedicated person-to-person exchanges and online webinars.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Agreement You will receive a transferable franchise agreement, facilitating a family income for life.

Territory You will get your own franchise territory or postcodes to work within meaning you own your area. We are rolling out a nationwide programme so be sure to register your interest for your preferred postcode before it gets snapped up.

Sales and support We’re not all born sellers, therefore we’ll show you the tips that work. Moreover, we’ll also help you get started by visiting your area, targeting potential clients alongside you and we’ll help you to sign them up. Agents don’t usually enjoy doing inventories themselves and when they hear how quickly and cost-effectively you as a VeriSmart franchisee can do it for them, they will often bite your hand off.

Marketing We’ll assist in marketing for your business, providing materials, tips and helping advance brand awareness. You will receive an introductory marketing bundle and full colour brochures that will demonstrate your competitive edge.

Business growth Our support will help the development of your business in your area. We’re on the end of the phone and happily share any information, knowledge or experience that might assist. We also have industry experts who work with us and can offer solutions in specific areas, such as property law, dispute resolution, tenancy deposit protection schemes and much more besides.

Free helpline We offer a free property lettings helpline for any client using our booking system. It’s just another thing our franchisees can offer that sets us apart.

Conference As well as regular regional meetings, every year we have a get-together conference where we have expert industry guest speakers. Franchisees get an opportunity to discuss the industry, network and share best practice and tips.

Your safety, our concern We’ve signed up to Suzy’s Code, named after Suzy Lamplugh, an estate agent who went missing in 1986 after having arranged an appointment to meet a client for a house viewing. The code was devised by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which works to reduce the risk of violence and aggression in society through campaigning, education and support. With our licensees and clerks often working alone we want to do all we can to improve their safety and reduce risks.

Get a great start VeriSmart Inventories’ founder Senior said: “I still get a thrill when a new franchisee starts and begins to build a company for themselves using the model and technology we have created.

“There is a great camaraderie between franchisees which means they often assist each other to increase brand awareness, which benefits everyone.

“We still have a few opportunities across the country with new franchisees joining weekly.”

Visit www.verismart.biz for more information

NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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Ravneet Bermi

Big

splash

By ANGUS SHAW

While Ravneet Bermi’s business background made her the perfect candidate for franchising, it was her love for Puddle Ducks’ lessons that made her take the plunge

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t’s not everyday someone builds an award-winning baby swimming franchise despite not being a natural swimmer.

But Ravneet Bermi, franchisee of Puddle Ducks West Hertfordshire, Luton & Dunstable, has secured countless gongs. Indeed, thanks to the spectrum of business skills she’s picked up through her career, diving into the role of a babyswimming teaching franchisee was a natural move, especially since it provided a great work-life balance enabling her to care for her family.

Having worked in PR, recruitment, sales and business development in her previous career, Bermi knew a thing or hundred about fronting a company. “I built up a portfolio which led me to consulting a two-year old company for a short while and managed to grow it by about 600% in terms of profit,” she recalls. But clocking in at her job in London every day while dropping her daughter off at nursery increasingly lost its charm. “When I fell pregnant with my second daughter my husband said to me, ‘Why are you doing this for other people?

Why wouldn’t you do it for yourself?’” Bermi remembers. And it didn’t take her long to find the answer to what her new solo venture would be.

Having taken her oldest daughter to Puddle Ducks lessons in the past, she was already hooked on the concept. “I fell in love with it instantly,” she says. “My daughter was struggling with attachment anxiety and Puddle Ducks were very gentle.” Within moments of hitting the pool, Bermi knew she was destined to become a Puddle Ducks franchisee. That first lesson happened when her firstborn was ten weeks old and for the next few months Bermi would attend many more lessons. “I was trained and qualified as a baby swimming school teacher when she was about ten months old,” she says.

But before diving in headfirst and reaching out to the franchisor, Bermi quizzed the Leicester franchisee who she’d had the lessons with. “It’s almost better to hear it from a

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Ravneet Bermi

franchisee than going straight to the source because, obviously, they’re going to sell you the dream,” Bermi explains. When the franchisee gave a big thumbs up, Bermi knew her enthusiasm was well-founded. Following a meeting with the Puddle Ducks founders Tracy Townend and Jo Stone, Bermi firmly inked her name on the paperwork.

“In those first 18 months, I had worse sleep deprivation than when I had my baby from sheer panic” While she was ready to take the plunge and launch her own Puddle Ducks franchise, the franchisor’s training was anything but plain sailing. “The actual teacher training is where I struggled a little bit,” she says. “I found it hard to train because I’m not a natural swimmer.” Even though she certainly had the chops to set up the business and find customers, Bermi’s final franchisee test results were far from what she’d hoped for. “I think I’m the only franchisee to fail my assessment,” she admits. However, following intense training in Bristol, she quickly became more comfortable and finally opened her franchise in April 2014.

Bermi’s expertise shined from the get-go. For instance, by flexing her PR muscles she was the first Puddle Ducks franchisee to launch a Groupon deal, which saw customers flooding in for opening day. “People had jumped on it,” she recalls. “I had sold something like 134 deals, of which around 100 had booked in. The classes were full.” While it was certainly reassuring seeing a packed pool right off the bat, inevitable beginners nerves also found their way in. “I wasn’t initially a very confident teacher,” Bermi explains. “I think it’s a mixture of things, isn’t it? That anxiety of ‘please let this work’ [and] the excitement of ‘oh my gosh, I’ve done this, look at all these people here in my classes.’”

Although things looked promising, that whirlpool of emotions saw Bermi work hard to get her business afloat.

“In those first 18 months, I had worse sleep deprivation than when I had my baby from sheer panic,” she says.

“I’d wake up in the middle of the night in cold sweats thinking is this going to work? Am I going to make any

money?” Fortunately, the franchise network was always on hand to help out when Bermi needed it. “No matter what the problem is, another franchisee will jump on and help give you some advice,” she explains.

Thanks to the support of the network, Bermi’s hard work has paid off. “If I had done this independently, I don’t think I’d be anywhere near as successful,” she says.

And that’s saying something. Not only has she grown her business and hired managers to help her out with the day-to-day running, she’s also stacked up an impressive collection of awards and nominations. The list includes being a finalist for the Woman Franchisee of the Year award at the EWIF Awards 2018 and the Best Women in Franchising title at the Best Business Women Awards.

No wonder she’s fired up about the future. “Oh we’ll take over the world,” Bermi laughs.

More importantly, joining the network has also provided huge benefits at home. “It has given us a little bit more luxury,” she says. “It’s very much about being able to provide certain activities for our children that we may not have necessarily had the money to do previously.” Moreover, it’s given her a chance to attend other milestones in her daughters’ lives. “I can go to assemblies, help out with school events, take [my kids] to clubs and stuff after school,” she says.

Not only has it improved her family’s situation but now she loves going to work. In fact, she claims it’s been key to her success. “I firmly believe that if you enjoy what you’re doing and have a passion about [the company] it will succeed,” Bermi concludes. “I think when I was contacting and working for people you get stuck in that rut of ‘Ugh, Monday,’ you just don’t want Monday to come. Whereas now, Monday is like any other day for me and just a happy business. We enjoy it really.”

“No matter what the problem is, another franchisee will jump on and help give you some advice” NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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AFFILIATE MEMBER

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ON SALE DECEMBER 2018 Britain’s definitive league table flying the flag for franchising finesse returns for its second year. With everything from support to innovation taken into account for the judging process, franchisors small and large will be rounded up in a glossy printed publication and highlighted to our combined audience of 15,000 print subscribers and digital network of over 250,000 readers.

Click Here to Pre-order the printed edition now email: info@cemedia.co.uk | Call: 01245 673700 elitefranchisemagazine.co.uk/100 SPONSORED BY

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23/10/2018

17:16

Point Franchise – your one stop franchise

N UK umb aft er 2 50 er O Fra ,00 NL nc 0 v Y 6 his isi m e P ts on ort pe ths al r m * a in t on lrea he th dy resource.

Point Franchise is far more than just a directory.

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CMY

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We are a management platform that links franchisors and franchise candidates together; streamlining your lead generation process with unique leads that have the best chance of conversion.Our integrated web platform enhances your recruitment strategy by moderating each lead as it comes in to ensure our expert teams do all the hard work and and that you only receive serious applications that have a vested interest in your business.

So whether you are a business looking to recruit a new franchisee or an individual who has the entrepreneurial spirit and wants to take control of their own future,

you can begin that journey today by visiting us on : www.pointfranchise.co.uk

*Traffic sources: Similar Web, AHREF – March/April 2018

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06/11/2018 19:56

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Clean up with a Techclean Franchise Techclean is the office hygiene franchise with high profit potential that offers value for the money

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e expect franchisees to achieve a net profit margin of at least 55% within the first year of trading.

This is a business of unlimited opportunity in a market already huge and growing where franchisees work from a home base and so with minimum operating costs.

Techclean developed its knowledge and expertise in the 1980s through providing specialist cleaning services for the computer and communication rooms of large corporates, establishing itself as the market leader in this field.

But as technology advanced and computing and communication devices moved out of these sterile white coats only environments onto the desktop, cleaning of this equipment is now no longer in the domain of specialists.

Instead general office cleaners or employees themselves have the task of cleaning computers, telephones and other office equipment.

Swab tests have proved that there’s more harmful bacteria on a computer keyboard that a toilet seat which is why employers are increasingly looking at bringing in hygiene experts to help keep the workplace and staff healthy.

In today’s age of superbugs, office hygiene has become a top priority for work environments.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

General office cleaners may flick a duster over the keyboards and wipe around the desk but rarely achieve the level of cleanliness that is essential to keep bugs at bay and extend the life of the equipment.

According to the 2016 CIPD Absence Management Report, absenteeism costs British businesses an average of £522 per employee per year. That’s around 140 million days lost to sickness absence across the UK in 2015 with colds, flu and gastric illnesses topping the table of causes. If you combine this with the statistic that says 33% of people with contagious symptoms struggle into work rather than stay at home, it’s easy to see why providing a hygienic workplace is so important to productivity.

That’s where Techclean comes in. We know what’s required and our track record serving organisations throughout the UK from famous names including Porsche and Disney to schools, hospitals and charities speaks for itself. We work within an ISO environment and are Safe-contractor accredited giving customer’s immediate confidence of our credibility.

Techclean’s specialist service has never been in greater demand to properly clean and sanitise office equipment human hands regularly come into contact with.

We clean PCs, laptops, printers, photocopiers, fax machines, scanners, telephones, EPOS, ATMs and other system peripherals. Techclean is the market leader in cleaning computer, data and communications rooms – with a tried and tested approach for carrying out this specialised cleaning.

A Techclean franchise can slot in at any stage of your working life or provide a second income stream to run alongside an existing business or job and

territories are generous with each catchment area having at least 10,000 businesses. No premises are needed, making the franchise a perfect business to run from a home office with minimal outlay and low operating costs.

Former teacher and mother of four Susan Davies set up Techclean South Wales three years ago after her youngest child went to university. She said: “I just love the diversity of it and meeting different people.

It’s very satisfying work. We go into an office and in a just few hours we make such a big difference to the working environment. I have a small team of people working with me I call the ‘dream team’ – and customers are always delighted with the end results.”

If you’re looking for a business opportunity that is affordable, offers flexibility and isn’t dependent on any one market sector then Techclean could be the ideal choice.

We are looking for individuals with a strong work ethic and who are willing to follow a proven business model. The ideal Techclean owner will be good with people and have an aptitude for sales and marketing.

No previous experience is required as full training is given. You need to be good with people and have an aptitude for sales and marketing.

Costing just £19,500 plus VAT, a Techclean franchise stands head and shoulders above other low-cost franchise opportunities.

Techclean is part of The Bardon Group one of the UK’s leading franchisor s who also run three other well established high-quality brands – Kall Kwik, ComputerXplorers and Recognition Express.

You will benefit from on-going head office support in all the key areas of sales, training, business planning and finance and most especially marketing with access to the Techclean marketing systems, tools and collateral.

Contact: franchise@thebardongroup.co.uk Tel: 01530 513300 Web: www.techclean.co.uk

november 2018 | elitefranchise

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Today we cleaned 17 homes yet never left our house!

Imagine owning your own domestic cleaning franchise, earning over ÂŁ65,000 per year and never doing any cleaning yourself!

You can work from home at times that suit you, your children and your lifestyle and your other commitments.

AT LAST! A real business that is proven to work and that you can really be proud to say you own.

Ralph and Hazel Watson Franchisees in Fife, Scotland

British Franchise Association’s advice on picking the right franchise: 1. You should be able to recover your initial franchise fee in the first year 2. You should have a reliable residual income from regular clients 3. You can build an asset that can be sold at a profit 4. Totally free access to the existing franchisee network 5. Well proven systems and procedures with ongoing training and support

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B E PAR T O F S O M E T HING L I FE C HANGING Established in 2007, One Element is a unique and exciting outdoor fitness and social company, with ambitions to be the UK’s leading outdoor fitness provider.

Over the last 11 years, we have developed a robust and proven business model combining fitness and social activities whilst building communities.

We’re passionate about what we do and provide our members with our specialist high intensity interval training programmes which we have written in partnership with elite sports people and coaches based on scientific evidence.

We have a loyal and dedicated membership, many of whom have

been members for over 10 years and we want to expand this across the country.

If you want to be part of something life changing, you love meeting people, motivating them and helping them achieve their goals, then we’d love to hear from you.

We have franchise opportunities across the country. Get in touch, no obligations, to find out more about One Element: 07778 507227, franchise@one-element.co.uk or www.one-element.co.uk/franchise

The social fitness company

Cup the Cake is about a challenge where the sky is the limit Start your business from the comfort of your own home with no monthly royalties to pay out, what you earn is yours to keep. With three packages to choose from there is something to fit everyone’s needs and skill level!

To learn more about the business options available contact: t: 07799 453621 e: hello@cupthecake.com w: cupthecake.com

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fresh faces

New

beginnings

By ANNE STruijcken

With the speed of franchise industry growth it can be hard to keep track of every new franchise that pops up in the UK market.

So we looked up some of freshest franchisor faces out there

Are you a hopeless ramentic? A trip to Asia is all it took for this business idea to grow.

Wok to Walk was founded in Amsterdam in 2004 and already has more than 100 locations around the world. The quick Asian diner has a few locations in the UK with most of them being in London and the growth doesn’t show any signs of slowing down with new locations opening in Leeds and Liverpool. With plans of launching even more stores in the UK and the US, Wok to Walk is seemingly stirring up success around the globe.

Slim Chickens’ franchise story has got us eggcited. The US franchise Slim Chickens opened its first door in Arkansas back in 2003 and has served up succulent chicken dishes ever since. The chain is now accelerating its international expansion by opening restaurants in the UK. The first two have already launched and Slim Chickens is looking to open even more in 2019. So this is definitely an opportunity budding franchisees should savour.

Holy guacamole! When The Avocado Show launched in 2016, the franchisor claims the news about “the concept went viral like a celebrity sextape.” The name says it all. This unique restaurant franchise revolves around the green superfruit, serving delicious dishes, drinks and avocado-based products. Founded in Amsterdam, the concept has even seen people sleeping in front of new eateries before they’ve launched. The franchise already has some locations in the Netherlands and will open its first franchise location in Brussels in November this year. But UK avocado lovers also have reason to celebrate as the chain has plans to open a pop-up location in London in early 2019. It’s safe to say the buzz is hardly much avocado about nothing.

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fresh faces

If you donut know about this opportunity you’re doing something wrong.

Donut King has been around for over three decades and since opening the first store in 1981 it has grown a lot. It now has over 300 stores in Australia alone, serving the squishy creamy delights along with milkshakes, coffees and hot dogs. The franchise announced earlier in 2018 that UK customers will soon be able to feast on sugary treats. Having signed on a UK master franchisee, the company plans to open 140 Donut King outlets in Britain in the next decade.

We’re definitely hungry to find out more.

The Butcher’s burgers are made to perfection. The Amsterdam-founded craft burger brand launched in 2012 and has already made quite an impact. With high quality meat and brioche buns making fast food and not junk food you can never go wrong. Since the launch of the first restaurant it has spread to Berlin, Ibiza and is now planning on growing the franchise in the UK, with aims to open 20 franchisees in Blighty in the next five years. This sounds like moo-sic to our ears.

Virtual assistance services are increasingly becoming more popular and it’s clear why. Using technology to outsource tasks like answering phones or dealing with social media can massively free up entrepreneurs from the day-to-day running of their businesses. Get Ahead VA knows all about this.

Founded in 2010, it launched its franchise model in 2017. It now has regional branches in Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds and Reading.

And they’re not stopping anytime soon. “Our plans for the future are to open more regional offices, working with more clients who can benefit from growing their businesses with our flexible and skilled support,” Rebecca Newenham, founder of Get Ahead VA, tells Elite Franchise.

Managing a project can be challenging to say the least. With new information being continuously added throughout the duration of the project, it can be difficult to keep everything in order. That’s where iBinder comes in.

This newcomer to the UK franchising scene provides a project management system for people working in the construction industry, procurement and property management. This franchisor claims the system is easy to use and enables the people to get things done without risking things falling between the cracks. The franchise has seen rapid growth with locations in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. And earlier this year it set out to find a new UK master franchisee. Now that’s something you should take note of.

Don’t throw shade at this franchise because it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for. In just five years’ time it has expanded to five other countries and added 40 new locations to its portfolio. The award-winning franchise has modern and fashionable designs. OJO Sunglasses hopes for a bright future with plans of having 100 locations worldwide by 2020. There are no announcements made yet for where these locations are going to be but OJO Sunglasses will attend the International Franchise Show in London in April 2019 and is actively looking for new master franchisees. So it might be an opportunity worth looking up.

NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Outdoor fitness with One Element: the social fitness company As people continue to demand better work-life balance, the fitness and wellness industry continues to grow. According to Mintel, by 2022 it’s expected to be worth £3.9bn in the UK. Established in 2007, One Element is a proven business model and provides unique franchise opportunities in an exciting market

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ne Element was established by fitness trainer and entrepreneur Tom Marien in 2007. He has spent the intervening years successfully building and fine–tuning the business model and training programmes. Today One Element provides a combination of unique outdoor fitness sessions and social activities, with strong income and a rewarding lifestyle.

Based on scientific evidence, we know the best way to improve fitness levels and burn fat is to increase the heart rate and maintain it for intense periods.

One Element has developed its own unique high intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions based on this evidence.

By way of example, the graph in Figure 1 shows the heart rate and speed the member is working at, which is taken from one of our 50+ sessions.

There are four parts to this particular session which is developed from Olympic triathlete training. After the warm up, in part one we’re sprinting for one minute around a 200 metre track followed by a one minute rest continuing for a total of eight reps. You’ll see from the second set of graph peaks the consistency of his pace and how his heart rate climbs over the eight laps and slightly drops in the one minute rest, this is extremely effective at triggering fitness adaptations and improvements.

Figure 1 perfectly illustrates the effectiveness of our fitness sessions at one of our sessions.

The majority of sessions have been written in partnership with elite sports players and coaches, thereby ensuring the best possible content and effectiveness. Each week we have a different session which builds on the previous week and uses the technique of periodisation.

Members can therefore see improvements within each week and from one week to the next. Each One Element session lasts an hour and is particularly successful in ensuring our members get fit and stay fit.

You simply will not find these types of group-based sessions at other fitness companies.

In an industry which often has high entry costs and long lead times to set-up physical premises, the One Element model has significantly lower initial investment costs and can be set up in a much shorter time frame; thereby mitigating the need for large financial commitments.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

One Element – Our Story In 2004, having spent six years skiguiding and cooking in the Alps, Marien returned to England and subsequently decided to follow a career in fitness and coaching. “Whilst managing a gym in Clapham Old Town, south-west London, I started playing for a new rugby club – Old Wimbledonians,” Marien says. “There were only two teams, but still 60 players would turn up for pre-season training, aged from 16 to 60. The energy, commitment, laughter and banter during these sessions made them great fun. They welcomed all new players with open arms, everyone was included and they’d often finish with a drink in the bar. The next morning I’d walk into the gym and I would see people wearing headphones, getting on the treadmill, sitting on a static bike often watching the television. No one talked to each other. It was very much a socially sterile environment.”

Marien developed One Element to provide a combination of fitness and social activities throughout the year based on the sports club model. There’s everything – from post training brunches, drinks and black tie dinners to sports tournaments, Everest basecamp trips and ski trips – all to continually challenge and engage our members. One Element’s ethos lies in positivity and inclusivity.

One Element creates communities and lasting friendships around each park location, which leads to exceptional member loyalty and membership renewal.

Within two months of joining Old Wimbledonians Marien left the gym to develop an outdoor fitness business that could deliver rapid results. “Over the six weeks of pre-season training,

the players at Old Wimbledonians would visibly lose more weight, build more lean muscle and see dramatic gains in fitness compared to the gym members in the same period,” Marien continues. “Not only were they having more fun but they were also building psychological resilience by developing social groups and strong friendships.

This was when I recognised there was a gap in the market for sports-based fitness training developed around a sports club model and it inspired me to establish One Element.”

After identifying a way to make fitness more effective and fun and the importance of the sports club model which combines sport and social, One Element was born.

It is central to One Element’s principles that we provide the best fitness training we can to ensure members get the most out of their membership, see results and keep

“Since becoming a One Element Franchisee, I have seen a financial freedom and opportunity that I couldn’t realistically have achieved as an employee or running my own PT business. OEHQ support, guide and mentor me through recruitment, marketing and business management whilst it simultaneously being my own business.”

coming back. For instance, Barbara, a member from Putney talks of her experience: “I joined One Element ten years ago and still love it,” she says.

“I’ve achieved great fitness levels and the trainers are amazing. Love the banter, the laughs to push each other on and I’ve made great friends.

Outdoors in all weather conditions sun, rain and snow [it’s fun]”.

Why invest in a One Element franchise?

If you’re passionate about fitness, wellbeing and people and want to work in a growing and exciting sector with a brand which has been established and profitable for over ten years then One Element could offer what you are looking for. We provide exclusive territories, detailed operations manual, professional training programmes, marketing support and website pages.

We’re keen to hear from anyone who wants to belong to our community, be our partner and believe they have what it takes to be a One Element business owner.

For more information please call 07778507227, email franchise@one-element.co.uk or visit www.one-element.co.uk.

Tom Charman, One Element franchisee november 2018 | elitefranchise

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Due to increased demand for arts & crafts classes, parties and events, the award-winning Creation Station are looking for proactive and friendly people to run their own successful franchise.

Rated 5-Star by customers on Trustpilot and in an independent survey, franchise owners rated the franchise as 5-Star.

Would you love to be your own boss, doing something you love with the backing of an established, tried and trusted brand? Request your free information pack today.

Over 120 people already enjoy running their own rewarding franchise.To check if your area is available and for more info call Maggie today on 01395 29700.

s so pleased my area was still available as The Creation Station really ticks all the boxes for me and my family.�

Inspiring imaginations in North Watford, Hertfordshire

thecreationstation.co.uk/run-your-own-franchise Creation Station FP.indd 1 new tcs ad.indd 1 Untitled-1 1 Untitled-2

As seen on.

01395 239700 07/12/2017 11:44 10:51 02/02/2018 03/08/2018 12:18 12/01/2018 17:48

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Reviving British elegance with a proven business A 21st century tearoom franchise bringing back the very best of English traditions with a modern spin

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hen one thinks of a tearoom, the image that often jumps to mind is of quaint venues in locations often frequented by visitors seeking to turn the clock back to the British tearooms of the past, complete with vintage china and waitresses in little white aprons.

But since hitting the high street in 2010, Beatons Tearooms has been quietly leading the way in a far more contemporary take on this tradition.

Inspired by royal fashion photographer and icon Cecil Beaton, Patrick Duffy embarked on a journey to get tearooms back onto our high streets, incorporating all we know a tearoom to be but with a modern twist.

Founded in 2010, Duffy opened Beatons’ first tearooms in Tisbury, Wiltshire, where it was an instant hit.

Offering its own brand of gracious hospitality, customers embraced the founder’s vision that Beatons was more than just a tearoom but an experience bringing the refinement of a London hotel to Tisbury. In an age dominated by virtual experiences, online and social media Duffy believes we still, at heart, crave that same personal contact with people and sense of satisfaction which comes

with great attentive service in a beautiful environment. The ethos at the core of the business is the elegance, attentiveness and sparkle that only comes when a passionate owner is living and breathing the business. Beatons’ serving of the finest loose-leaf teas and coffees, home-baked cakes, brunch, lunch and renowned afternoon tea come with the winning bonus of an imaginative selection of new books to purchase.

Recognising the success of Tisbury, not long after Beatons opened in nearby Blandford Forum, Dorset, where it was equally well received and the journey into franchising began, bringing the proven model to several new locations. Focusing on organically growing the brand, the team took their time to carefully develop the Beatons franchise model, using bfa accredited consultants and advisors,

building the reputation of the group with the existing successful units.

This combined with a financial and operational model that works, this has enabled potential franchisees to truly see and understand Beatons as a proven brand. The growing franchise is proving to be a unique British success story with 21st century tearooms with franchises in Crowthorne, Petersfield and New Milton making a total of five units already, two further franchisees seeking property further north, national expansion is now well under way.

01747 871819 opt. 2 www.beatonstearooms.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2018 | ELITEFRANCHISE

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Do you have a passion for customer service?

Do you have personal drive and energy?

Join award winning and highly successful brand and the elite in glass and acrylic repairs. National account customers Franchise 500 ‘Best of the Best’ 25 UK franchise areas operating (320 globally) Exclusive single & multi van territories available Multiple revenue streams New Consistently ranked Franchise 500 listing to business?

No worries we’ll Full training included give you all the No industry experience required coaching and support you need.

superglassukfranchise.com

phil@superglassuk.com

Want to join a small but growing team, and be a part of a fun and creative low cost children’s franchise?

Do you: • Enjoy working with children • Love cooking • Want a low start-up cost for running your own business?

Sticky Fingers Children’s party and cookery workshop franchise could be for you!

By investing, you will receive an equipment starter pack with everything you need to run your first party. Sticky Fingers will also advise on how to market your business to generate a regular supply of eager customers and give help with setting up your accounts.

Does this sound like an exciting opportunity for you? Contact us today! stickyfingerscookeryparties.co.uk

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07745 305090

janet@stickyfingerscookeryparties.co.uk

06/11/2018 13:59

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Consistent ranking supports long term growth both sides of the pond

I

t’s true that franchise listings, like any other set of statistics, can be manipulated to indicate or suggest any given outcome. Certainly, some lists are restricted to those companies that advertise with the list publisher.

Therefore, it stands to reason that consistency of rankings of a long period of time gives a more accurate evaluation of a franchise’s standing.

This has been the case for SuperGlass Windshield Repair who has consistently appeared on the American magazine Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 listing since the start of the millennium.

Commenting on the listing, Tracy Stapp Herold, a magazine contributor, wrote: “The 2018 Franchise 500 rankings, from which this list is derived, are determined by an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength and financial strength and stability. But this list is not intended as an endorsement of any particular company. Always do your own research to find what franchise is truly the best for you.

‘I believe that this is one of the key contributors to our consistent ranking and network growth on both sides of the pond’.

Read the company’s legal documents, consult with an attorney and an accountant and talk to current and former franchisees.”

She added: “With more than 1,000 companies applying for the 2018 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, just getting on our list was an achievement.

But some companies rose even higher above the rest, claiming the highest ranking in their category.”

SuperGlass was one of franchises that all found a way to be at the peak of their industry.

SuperGlass UK is growing consistently towards fulfilling its objective of full Ranked #1 in Windshield Repair Category: SuperGlass Windshield Repair 2018 Franchise 500 Rank: 402 Total franchises/co.owned: 332/0

coverage with 27 territories now covered with most offering the real prospect of multi-van operations.

Director and UK master franchisee Phil Wells commented: “Supporting our franchisees is our number one priority, in all aspects of business from technical training, marketing accounting, sales to health and safety and more.”

A good example of this would be our recent management of a group CHAS accreditation which will allow many franchises to expand their glass polishing specialties into the construction industry.

Intrested in joining the Elite in Glass Repair? For more details please contact SuperGlass on 03333446606

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FRANCHISE TERRITORIES

Getting territorial Exclusive territories are common in franchise agreements. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get it right

By KATE LEGG

M

ost franchise networks operate on the basis of giving each franchisee their own exclusive territory. However, the wording in the franchise agreement will always need to be checked as exclusive can mean different things in different agreements. Almost all franchise agreements will have some exceptions to the rule.

Offering exclusive territories usually makes sense in the context of a franchise network. It avoids franchisees from the same network competing with each other. At best, it could be embarrassing if a client of one franchisee received a sales call from another franchisee in the same network. At worst, it could lead to franchisees devaluing the brand if they undercut each other and engage in price wars.

However, franchisors risk putting all their eggs in one basket by granting exclusive territories if areas are given to franchisees who fail to fully develop it. A valuable bank of potential customers could go untapped if the sitting franchisee is happy with their existing turnover and fails to further develop the business.

To limit this risk, the franchise agreement will often contain the right

for the franchisor to withdraw exclusivity or alter the boundaries of the territory if the franchisee either fails to achieve required performance targets or breaches the franchise agreement. This protects the franchisor against an under-performing franchisee who may be sitting on an untapped gold mine but refuses to develop it.

From a franchisee perspective, the right to operate exclusively in an area is a significant part of the bargain they paid for when they chose to join the franchise network. So withdrawal of exclusivity or changes to the territory should always be considered a last resort after the franchisor has exhausted all other avenues to try to correct any problems.

National accounts Moreover, franchise agreements will often contain other exceptions to the exclusivity rule. For example, the franchisor may reserve the right to serve national account customers either directly or by passing national accounts to another franchisee.

Advertising and marketing A specific challenge can arise in relation to advertising and marketing activities. Historically, many franchise networks created their territories to match the areas covered by Yellow Pages. As other forms of advertising

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became more important, it’s become almost impossible to limit advertising activities to solely within the franchisee’s territory. Any form of online advertising or social media can be viewed from anywhere in the world. Similarly, an advert placed in a local newspaper may be delivered to households outside the franchisee’s territory or a radio advert could be heard by someone outside the territory.

Although it’s lawful for franchisors to place conditions and limitations on franchisee advertising activities, franchisees can’t be stopped from carrying out passive advertising which isn’t specifically targeted at a particular area but happens to be received by someone in that area.

Cross-border enquires Franchise networks ought to have a procedure in place for dealing with situations where a franchisee receives an enquiry from a client outside their area. Some insist they should be passed to the local franchisee in the client’s area either with or without compensation to the franchisee who received the original lead. Others allow the franchisee who received

the enquiry to continue to serve the client even though they are outside the franchisees’ territory. Again, this may or may not involve paying compensation to the sitting franchisee in the client’s actual area.

Another challenge can arise when it comes to unsold territories. In such cases, a franchisee may be permitted to operate in unsold, neighbouring territories but the franchisor must have a pre-agreed process for what happens when the neighbouring territory is sold. This will usually involve the original franchisee passing the relevant clients over to the new franchisee, either with or without compensation being paid.

The extent to which geographical issues arise is dependent on the nature of the business. For example, in the case of a network that provides services in the client’s home, it’s easy to establish which area a particular customer premises falls into. But complications arise when a client lives near the border between two territories. In that case, the client’s nearest franchisee may be the one in the neighbouring territory.

Networks that rely on customers travelling to the business may find it almost impossible to restrict which customers use which franchisee.

For example, a client may live in one area and work in another. The franchise that they use could vary on each occasion depending on whether they are travelling from work or home. In these cases, exclusivity is usually limited to an agreement that the franchisor wont allow any other

franchisees to open business premises within the exclusive area.

Setting up territories For young networks, choosing the size and location of each territory can be particularly challenging. If areas are too small, there may not be sufficient sales potential for franchisees to be successful. Conversely, if the areas are too large, franchisees might not be able to fully exploit the territory leaving potential sales untapped.

Most franchise networks aim to keep each territory roughly the same size but this needs careful consideration. Depending on local geography and demographics, two territories of the same geographical size could have vastly different sales potential. For example, consider an area within a three mile radius in a heavily populated town compared to an area of the same size in a remote country side.

Local geography becomes even more complicated in networks that involve driving between appointments at clients’ premises. Travel distances between clients may be longer in a more remote area but take less time to drive than if travelling in a town with heavy traffic.

Getting the size and location of territories wrong will be a costly mistake for franchisors. Once an area has been allocated, there is little scope to change it. A franchisor may have to buy back the area at significant expense and/or pay compensation to the franchisee if the territory is to be reduced in size.

NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Success for over 50 years S

chmidt Kitchens is the leading retail kitchen brand in Europe with a turnover of over â‚Ź500m and employ more than 1,500 people. We design, produce and distribute innovative products and services that play a major part in home improvements in the kitchen, bathroom and interior solution marketplace. Fitted kitchens are now the norm and no longer a luxury in most households. The kitchen is now at the heart of your home and where families spend much of their time.

All our products come from our six factories in the heart of Europe, five in France and one in Germany. Since 1989, we’ve been developing an exclusive showroom concept and now have more than 700 ones spread around 25 countries.

One new showroom every week worldwide Our most recent UK openings have been in Sevenoaks, Kent and Epsom, Surrey and we will be opening new showrooms in Ruislip in Greater London, Reading, Milton Keynes and Norwich in the coming months. Our Sevenoaks showroom was

Our aim is to have 100 showrooms in the UK by 2022.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Financing Firstly, there is no franchise fee and no royalties. The investment level for a Schmidt showroom varies dependent upon the size and location, but starts at around £400,000. This is typically financed by three parties: your own personal investment, the bank and Schmidt funding. Once established, it’s a positive cash flow business with a healthy annual distributable income.

Next Steps If you think you’ve got what it takes to become a Schmidt franchisee, or you simply want to find out more, then we’d love to hear from you.

For more information please contact expansionUK@groupe.schmidt or visit: www.openaschmidtshowroom.com opened by husband and wife team Adrian and Janice Tobitt.

Adrian was previously a kitchen fitter and Janice an executive personal assistant. They wanted a business where they could work together and employ other family members as the business grew.

Today they are a team of four, Janice, Adrian, their son Ben and Monica. “The business is doing really well and we are so pleased we joined the Schmidt family, ” Janice says.

Epsom is owned by husband and wife team, Asam and Hanisha Mohammad. Asam previously worked for a national kitchen retailer but wanted his own business to ensure that he and his family could reap the full rewards of their efforts and success. “Schmidt is at your side on a daily basis in assisting you with the success of your showroom,” he explains. “You receive support with marketing, IT, sales administration and much more, with experts on hand when you need them.”

Training Schmidt offers a 14 week comprehensive training programme that allows us to recruit new business owners with no previous industry experience. We cover all aspects of new business ownership in addition to practical and theoretical training on our products and systems. We have put in place a training programme to guarantee your success.

NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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v2-Daltons business - full page ad - 196x270 with 3mm bleed CMYK 300dpi.pdf 1 05/10/2017 16:55:02

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Why Bodystreet’s boutique fitness studios are a real buzz What is Bodystreet?

Bodystreet is fitness studio where clients, working with a Bodystreet trainer, achieve their fitness goals from attending just one 20-minute workout per week. This means that Bodystreet is ideal for even the busiest of people to get and stay fit.

But when you hear fitness don’t compare Bodystreet to a traditional fitness business. Our studios are small in size but huge on personal engagement. The client and their fitness goals are everything to us.

We don’t seek thousands of clients who seldom use their membership, we want a group of regular clients we can focus on. Our studios incorporate EMS (Electro Muscle Stimulation) that get results fast.

Our franchisees and their team are highly trained so they can plan the right programme for each client.

Bodystreet is a business focused on customer service.

What is involved in being a Bodystreet franchisee?

As with any business a franchisee needs to be the leader in their operation. However, as with many franchise systems, the benefit of being a Bodystreet franchisee is that you are following a tried and tested process. This doesn’t mean the franchisor will build your business for you but Bodystreet will provide you the tools to do the job – quicker and better than you would on your own.

You will be expected to deliver on the business plan you put together when you were granted the franchise for your area. This means ensuring

the business grows in line with the targets set – client numbers, turnover and profit.

Do you need to be a fitness expert?

Whilst you don’t need to deliver the actual workout you do need to be hands on in the studio. So you must have an interest in sport or fitness and look the part. You must be able to motivate and manage a team and, most importantly, be willing to follow a process that has been proven for over a decade.

moment you decide you are potentially interested in our franchise. We can help you with finding the right property, seeking funding, recruiting your team and throughout the opening launch.

Our intensive initial training gets you educated in everything needed to launch your business but support doesn’t stop there. Our web academy provides on-going training for you and your team so that everyone can develop their skills as your business and team grows.

How will my team and I be supported?

Bodystreet’s support begins the

What is the support really like?

We asked our latest franchisees to

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

express their opinion of Bodystreet’s support. Here’s what they had to say.

Diana Stegaru and Charlie Mathes are the franchisees of Bodystreet Worthing and they couldn’t be happier about the opportunity provided by the franchise.

“Charlie and I have always been passionate about sport,” Stegaru explained. “Five years ago, we came across EMS in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Ever since, we wanted a studio of our own. Moving to the UK made this opportunity come true. Our studio would have never been possible without the help we got from the Bodystreet support team. From the initial presentation of the opportunity to the cutting of the red ribbon on August 18 in 2018, they’ve been there for us – just one phone call, visit or email away.”

She and her partner are hardly the only ones excited about the Bodystreet business model. So is Sukhi Ruprai Bodystreet of Sutton Coldfield who, when asked about the business, said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the Bodystreet support team for their consistent help, support and guidance helping me to launch my Bodystreet studio in Sutton Coldfield. The franchise support structure that they have put

in place is fantastic as it takes out a lot of the stress factors and decision making process. Bodystreet has a tried and tested approach and avoids having to reinvent the wheel. This ensured the whole process was streamlined. I would strongly recommend speaking to the team at Bodystreet.”

A third franchisee is Roger Sugarman of Bodystreet Eastcote. He said: “In my opinion there is a very big difference between being a franchisee and being a happy franchisee. The difference being down to the amount of input received from the franchisor and the relationship that you build up with them during the opening, or

on-boarding, process. The franchisor needs to be totally trustworthy, they need to be available to the franchisee at a moment’s notice, they need to come across as happy to help. Having visited numerous franchise exhibitions and met multiple operators, I decided that Bodystreet met my needs.

“They were constantly in contact with me to ensure that I understood the opening processes and, now that I am operating, answering any questions I have. Regular visits keep up the faceto-face relationship with me and my team which, continues to meet my expectation as to the level of support a franchisee should get.

“A new franchisee needs to do their homework, ideally find a niche in terms of product or location, ideally select a franchise that has a suitable level of initial and on-going support.”

Ready to make the right choice?

If you are thinking of the leisure industry, under the guidance of a niche operator then make sure you speak with Bodystreet, it is time worth investing.

Visit www.bodystreetuk.co.uk or call 01908 766220 for more information on our franchise opportunities.

NOVEMBER 2018 | elitefranchise

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Franchise Resales

Buy an existing franchise

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Search 100s of franchise resales now Visit bfsale.co.uk/eliteresales

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an altogether friendly bookkeeping experience

Merry Maids has been one of the most successful home cleaning franchise operations in the world for the past 37 years, with almost 100 franchises in the UK. If you’d like to hit the ground running, perhaps one of our existing Merry Maids businesses is for you.

Northampton

Investment: £60,000 Established: 2005 Turnover: £140,000

Wigan

SOLD

Investment: £35,000 Established: 2015 Turnover: £40,000

Grantham & Newark Investment: £75,000 Established: 2004 Turnover: £130,000

Bromley & Orpington Investment: £195,000 Established: 2002 Turnover: £340,000

TruGreen is the world’s largest lawn care company. The journey began as a small private company in 1973 which was acquired by ServiceMaster in 1990 and we now serve more than 3.4 million residential and commercial customers throughout the UK and the USA. Be a part of the world’s largest lawn care company with one of our rare resale opportunities.

We may also have other areas available for resale as our franchise owners’ circumstances can change at short notice so if you don’t see an area that you might be interested in listed, please still get in contact as we may not have had chance to update our resales information.

South Oxfordshire Investment: £54,000 Established: 2010 Turnover: £54,000

ServiceMaster Clean Contract Services deliver office cleaning, commercial cleaning and contract cleaning services to businesses across the UK. Our rare resale opportunities benefit from employees, equipment and customers, so that you can continue to grow a profitable business.

We also have vacant territory available in Scotland, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Norfolk & Kent.

Bournemouth & Poole Investment: £80,000 Established: 2014 Turnover: £120,000

Glasgow & East Strathcylde Investment: £300,000 Established: 2003 Turnover: £478,000

Over 4 million businesses in the UK require a bookkeeping service and you can be a partner in supplying it!

Whether you are a qualified or an experienced bookkeeper we have a route to suit you. As a Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise, you can benefit from the following: • Recurring income with average 50% net profit margins • Excellent growth opportunities to build into a management style business • Flexible hours – work from home – keeping costs down • Dedicated support in Bookkeeping, Operations, Sales & Marketing Although we don’t currently have any resale opportunities on the market, we do have vacant territories throughout the UK.

Contact ServiceMaster Ltd today on 0116 275 9005 or email franchisesales@servicemaster.co.uk for more information

sponsored by Resales.indd 1

www.franchisesales.com

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FRANCHISE RESALES

Call us today for a confidential chat: 0800 0188 297 or visit us at www.taxassistfranchise.co.uk

North Hertfordshire Investment: TBC Established: 1997 Turnover: £160,000

It’s been great and has exceeded expectations! I love the variety of clients that I get to meet and work with, ranging from new startups through to established businesses and also landlords and retirees.

A resale opportunity has arisen in one of our Franchises based in North Hertfordshire.

The franchisee started in 1997 and operates from office premises. The business is well known in the local business community servicing around 290 clients and has Gross Recurring Fees of circa £156K. This represents an excellent foundation upon which a new franchisee can further develop an already established business. The business has enjoyed regular growth, with the majority of new clients coming from recommendations and inbound leads generated from the support centre.

The Franchisee is selling the business because he is wishing to retire.

The business is offered as a successful going concern within the TaxAssist network and the purchaser will become part of our network of accountancy practices.

John Biggs - Franchisee

chat: 0800 0188 297 or visit us at www.taxassistfranchise.co.uk

West Midlands Investment: TBC Established: 2009 Turnover: c£90,000

I am happy to report that I now have over 400 clients, which generate an income and flexibility in how I work that could not have been achieved on the corporate ladder I stepped off.

Alex Smith - Franchisee

sponsored by Resales.indd 2

A resale opportunity has arisen in one of our Franchises based in West Midlands.

The franchisee started in 2009 and operates from a prominent shop front location so any purchaser would be walking into a readymade business with a fully fitted shop, complete with furniture, IT and telephone systems along with experienced staff.

The business has Gross Recurring Fees of circa £85K and services around 139 clients.

This opportunity provides huge potential and represents an excellent foundation upon which a new franchisee can further develop an established business.

The Franchisee is selling the business because he is wishing to retire.

The business is offered as a successful going concern within the TaxAssist network and the purchaser will become part of our network of accountancy practices.

www.franchisesales.com

31/08/2018 11:30

FRANCHISE FOCUS

AUTOMOTIVE Chips Away

Mac Tools

Restore Automotive

£: 29,995+VAT

£: 5,000

£: 24,997

chipsaway.co.uk

mactools-franchise.co.uk

restorefranchise.com

Revive!

Snap-on Tools

SuperGlass

£: 27,500

£: 16,037

£: 15,000

revivefranchise.com

snaponfranchise.co.uk

superglassukfranchise.com

ActionCOACH

Business Doctors

CPA Online

£: 27,000+

£: n/a

£: 7,375+VAT

actioncoach.co.uk

businessdoctorsfranchise.com

cpa.co.uk

Expense Reduction Analysts

Falcon Commercial

Jackson Fire & Security

£: 39,900

£: n/a

£: 39,500+VAT

erafranchise.net

falconcommercial.co.uk

jacksonfire.co.uk/franchise

MJB Graham Consultancy

PA4You

Platinum Business Partners

£: P.O.A

£: n/a

£: 30,000+VAT

www.mjbgraham.com/franchise

pa4you.co.uk

platinumbusinesspartners.co.uk

Regus

The HR Dept

Zeb PA

£: n/a

£: n/a

£: n/a

regus.co.uk

hrdept.co.uk

zebpafranchise.co.uk

Ableworld

Bluebird Care

Caremark

£:75,000

£: 115,000

£: 100,000

ableworldfranchise.co.uk

bluebirdcarefranchise.co.uk

caremarkfranchises.com

Fosse Healthcare

Heritage Healthcare

Home Instead Senior Care

£: 50,000

£: 29,995+VAT

£: 90,000+

fossefranchise.co.uk

heritagehealthcarefranchising.co.uk

homeinstead.co.uk/franchise

Kare Plus

Radfield Home Care

Right at Home

£: 40,000

£: 75,000

£: 37,000+VAT

franchising.kareplus.co.uk

radfieldhomecarefranchising.co.uk

rightathomefranchising.co.uk

Arising Cleaning Franchise

Betterclean Services

Blue Sky Guttering Ltd

£: 2,995+

£: 19,600+

£: n/a

arisingcleaningfranchise.co.uk

bettercleanfranchise.co.uk

franchise.blueskyguttering.co.uk

BUSINESS

CARE

CLEANING

SPONSORED BY

WWW.FRANCHISESALES.COM

FRANCHISE FOCUS

CLEANING Bright & Beautiful

Clear Brew

Deluxe Window Cleaning

£: 17,995+

£: 15,000+VAT

£: n/a

brightandbeautifulhome.com

clearbrew.co.uk

deluxewindowcleaningfranchise.co.uk

Drain Doctor

Dublcheck

Dyno

£: 21,000+VAT

£: 9,950

£: c250,000

ukplumbingfranchise.co.uk

dublcheck.co.uk

dyno.com

Envirogroup

Fantastic Services

FiltaFry

£: 23,950+VAT

£: n/a

£: 14,950+VAT

envirogroupfranchising.com

joinfantastic.com

filtafryplus.co.uk/franchise

Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems

Jani-King

Merry Maids

£: 1,000 - 5,000

£: n/a

£: 19,995+VAT

jan-pro.com/franchising

janiking.co.uk

merrymaidsfranchise.co.uk

Metro Rod

Minster

Molly Maid

£: 100,000+VAT

£: 28,225+

£: £16,975+VAT

metrorod.co.uk

minsterfranchise.co.uk

mollymaid.co.uk/franchise

MouldDoctor

Ovenclean

Ovenu

£: 33,000

£: 14,995

£: 9,995

moulddoctor.co.uk

ovenclean.com/franchise

ovenufranchise.co.uk

Prima Master Dry Cleaners

ServiceMaster Clean

techclean

£: n/a

£: 26,150

£: 19,500+VAT

primafranchise.co.uk

servicemastercleanfranchise.co.uk

techclean.co.uk

Time For You

Wilkins Chimney Sweep

Zero Dry Time

£: 14,750 +VAT

£: 13,100+VAT

£: 24,950+VAT

time4ufranchise.com

franchisechimneysweep.co.uk

zerodrytime.com

Cafe2U

Coffee-bike

Esquires Coffee

£: 26,650+VAT

£: 7,490

£: 22,500

cafe2u.com/uk

coffee-bike.com/en

esquirescoffee.co.uk

art-K

Clever Tutors

ComputerXplorers

£: 10,000

£: 3,000

£: 29,500

art-k.co.uk/become-a-franchisee

clevertutors.com

computerxplorers.co.uk

diddi dance

Helen O’Grady

Kiddley Divey

£: 4,995+VAT

£: 15,000

£: 5,997+VAT

diddidance.com

helenogrady.co.uk

kiddleydivey.co.uk/join-our-team

COFFEE

CHILDREN

SPONSORED BY

WWW.FRANCHISESALES.COM

FRANCHISE FOCUS

CHILDREN Boogie Beat

Kumon

Mad Science

£: 5,995+

£: 3,000

£: 23,500

www.boogiebeat.co.uk

kumon.co.uk

madscience.org

Magikats Maths and English

Mathnasium

Monkey Music

£: 10,000+VAT

£:40,000

£: 13,975+VAT

educationalfranchise.co.uk

mathnasium.com/franchise

monkeymusic.co.uk

Puddle Ducks

Sport4Kids

Stagecoach

£: 18,975

P.O.A

£: 14,995+VAT

puddleducks.com/franchising

www.s4kfranchising.com

stagecoachfranchise.com

Sticky Fingers

Swimtime

The Creation Station

£: n/a

£: 18,000+VAT

£: 7,999+VAT

stickyfingerscookeryparties.co.uk

swimtime.org

thecreationstation.co.uk

The Detective Project

Turtle Tots

Tutor Doctor

£: 9,995

£: 13,000+VAT

£: 49,700

thedetectiveproject.co.uk

turtletots.com

franchise.tutordoctor.co.uk

Mobile Workwear

Noa Noa

Suit the City

£: n/a

£: 40,000

£: 19,950 - 22,950

mobileworkwear.com/Franchise

noanoa.com

suitfranchise.com

BBX

DNS Accountants

Fifo Capital

£: n/a

£: 25,000

£: 25,000

bbxuk.com

dnsaccountantsfranchise.co.uk

fifocapital.co.uk

Rosemary Bookkeeping

TaxAssist Accountants

The Interface Financial Group

£: 16,970

£: 36,950+VAT

£: n/a

rosemaryfranchise.co.uk

taxassistfranchise.co.uk

interfacefinancial.co.uk

Beatons Tearooms

Broccoli Pizza and Pasta

Chopstix Noodle Bar

£: 55,000

£: 100,000

£: 59,000

beatonstearooms.co.uk

broccolifranchise.com

chopstixgroup.com

DATING Most Beautiful People £: 9,000 easterneuropewomen.com

FASHION & CLOTHING

FINANCE

rosemary an altogether friendly bookkeeping experience

®

FOOD & DRINK

SPONSORED BY

WWW.FRANCHISESALES.COM

FRANCHISE FOCUS

FOOD & DRINK Cup the Cake

Gallone’s Ice Cream Parlours

Harry Ramsden’s

£: 377+

£: 14,999

£: 150,000 - 250,000

cupthecake.com

gallonesfranchise.com

harryramsdens.co.uk/franchise

Incredible Ice Cream Company

Maston’s

McDonald’s

£: 25,000+

£: 25,000

£: 400,000 - 800,000

incredibleicecream-franchise.co.uk

marstonscareers.co.uk

mcdonalds.co.uk/franchising

Papa John’s

Riverford

Southern Fried Chicken

£: 100,000+

£: n/a

£: 125,000+

papajohns.co.uk/franchise

riverford.co.uk/franchise

franchise.southernfriedchicken.com

Subway

Warrens Bakery

£: 86,000 - 222,000

£: 18,500

subwayfranchising.com

warrensbakery.co.uk

HOME IMPROVEMENT & GARDEN Aire Serv

BoConcept

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance

£: 18,000+VAT

£: 100,000

£: 44,950+VAT

leadingtheserviceindustry.co.uk

boconcept.com

countrywidegrounds.com/franchise

Decor Walls & Flooring

Just Shutters

Mr Electric

£: n/a

£: 25,000

£: 26,238

decorcladdingcentre.co.uk

shutter-franchise.co.uk

franchise.mrelectric.com

Schmidt

Shuttercraft

TruGreen

£: n/a

£: 25,000

£: 28,000+VAT

www.home-design.schmidt

shuttercraft-franchise.co.uk

trugreenfranchise.co.uk

Concept Building Solutions

Concordia

Moreland Insurance

£: 32,995+VAT

£: n/a

£: n/a

concept-solutions.co.uk

concordia-employment.co.uk

morelandinsurance.co.uk

Diamond Logistics

InXpress

Mail Boxes Etcs

£: 14,997+VAT

£: n/a

£: 25,000+

diamondlogistics.co.uk

gb.inxpress.com/franchise-opportunities

mbe.co.uk/franchise

Pack & Send

The Original Poster Compay

Two Men And A Truck

£: 29,500

£: 15,000

£: 30,000

packsend.co.uk

originalposter.com

twomenandatruck.co.uk

INSURANCE

MAIL & COURIER

World Options £: 29,995+VAT worldoptions.com

SPONSORED BY

WWW.FRANCHISESALES.COM

FRANCHISE FOCUS

MARKETING Signarama

Vibe Marketing

£: 25,000 - 45,000

£: 14,995+VAT

franchise.signarama.co.uk

vibemarketing.co.uk

PET SERVICES Barking Mad

MyWaggyTails

Now Boarding Pet Hotels

£: 10,000+VAT

£: 7,750+VAT

£: n/a

barkingmad.uk.com

mywaggytails.co.uk/grab-a-franchise

nowboardingpethotels.co.uk

OSCAR

Trophy Pet Foods

We Love Pets

£: 8,995+VAT

£: 13,995+VAT

£: 9,999+VAT

oscar.co.uk

trophypetfoods.co.uk

welovepetsfranchise.co.uk

De Photo

Photography for Little People

White Box

£: 14,950+VAT

£: 15,000

£: n/a

dephoto.biz

photographyforlittlepeoplefranchise.co.uk

whiteboxphotography.co.uk

Kall Kwik

Recognition Express

Signs Express

£: 50,000 +shop fit +VAT

£: 35,000+VAT

£: 40,000+

kallkwik.co.uk

recognition-express.com

franchise.signsexpress.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY

PRINT

Voucher Packs £: 10,000 - 12,5000 voucherpacks.co.uk

PROPERTY Agency Express

Belvoir

Century 21

£: 24,500+VAT

£: 22,500+VAT

£: 23,500

agencyexpress.co.uk

belvoirfranchise.com

century21franchise.co.uk

HomeXperts

Martin & Co Estate Agents

Platinum Property Partners

£: 19,995+VAT

£: n/a

£: 41,450+

home-xperts.co.uk

propertyfranchise.co.uk

platinumpropertypartners.co.uk

Redstone Lettings

Surelet Property Rental Services

VeriSmart

£: 14,995+

£: 9,500+VAT

£: 9,000+VAT

redstonesfranchise.co.uk

SureLetFranchise.com

verismart.biz

SPONSORED BY

WWW.FRANCHISESALES.COM

FRANCHISE FOCUS

RECRUITMENT Driver Hire Nationwide

Law Staff Legal Recruitment

£: 35,000+

£: n/a

driverhirefranchise.co.uk

law-staff.co.uk

RETAIL Award Leisure

CeX

Cash Generator

£: 77,000

£: 150,000 - £250,000

£: 80,000

awardleisurefranchise.co.uk

webuy.com/franchising

cgfranchising.co.uk

Local Appliance Rentals

One Stop

£: 50,000+

£: 92pw+VAT

localappliancerentals.co.uk

openaonestop.co.uk

SPORT & FITNESS 9Round

Anytime Fitness

Body Street

£: 115,000+

£: 110,000

£: P.O.A

9round.co.uk/own-a-franchise

anytimefitness.co.uk

www.bodystreetuk.co.uk

Busylizzy

Energie Fitness

Fitness Space

£: 17,000+VAT

£: 95,000

£: 24,950

busylizzyfranchise.co.uk

energiefranchise.com

fitnessspace.com

One Element

Premier

YourZone45

£: n/a

£: 14,950 ex. VAT

£: 60,000

one-element.co.uk/franchise

makesportyourbusiness.com

yourzone45.co.uk

TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE Eazi-Apps

Fone Doctor

Project M Asia

£: 7,995

£: 58,000

£: from 25,000+VAT

eazi-apps-business.co.uk

fonedoctoruk.co.uk

projectmasia.com

Trivaeo Cloud Services £: 14,995 trivaeo.com​

TELECOMMUNICATIONS Auditel

Challenger Mobile Communications

£: 37,950+VAT

£: n/a

auditelfranchise.co.uk

challenger-mobile.co.uk

TRAINING Pitman Training

Sandler Training

£: 22,500+VAT

£: 55,000+VAT

pitman-franchising.com

sandlerfranchising.co.uk

SPONSORED BY

WWW.FRANCHISESALES.COM

DISCOVERY DAYS

CREATE THE WORK/LIFE BALANCE YOU WANT Dynamic, £3bn marketplace Six lucrative income streams Home-working potential Excellent support and training Robust marketing framework

t: 01530 513300 e: franchise@thebardongroup.co.uk w: recognition-express.com

01527 549 593

LeadingTheServiceIndustry.co.uk

Heating up your business prospec t s UK WIDE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES Aire Serv ® is part of The Dwyer Group®, looking after over 3,100 franchisees globally; Bright & Beautiful®, Mr Electric ®, Drain Doctor® and Countrywide Grounds® in the UK. Join this exciting business, needed all year round by commercial and residential customers. As part of one of the world’s largest franchisors, you’re in safe hands.

Please contact us for more information regarding available territories

SEARCHING FOR A CAREER CHANGE WITH A FUTURE?

Arrange a meeting with us today and find out if we are right for you!

Request more information enquiries.uk@boconcept.com

Book a discovery meeting with us by emailing: opportunities@century21uk.com or call 0115 902 1002 A meeting is a chance for you to find out more about the CENTURY 21 UK team and whether it is the right fit for you.

It’s important that you see the systems & support we offer and get the opportunity to speak to our Business Development Managers who would help you grow your business.

We hold these meetings across the country on a monthly basis.

United Kingdom

0115 902 1002 opportunities@century21uk.com www.century21franchise.co.uk

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DISCOVERY DAYS

RELAUNCHED FOR THE DIGITAL AGE

STRICTLY B2B

EXCELLENT SUPPORT AND TRAINING

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Robust marketing framework

ROBUST MARKETING FRAMEWORK

t: 01530 513300 e: franchise@thebardongroup.co.uk w: kallkwik.co.uk

TA KE CONTROL OF YOUR FUTURE

• An innovative business model • 15 -2 0 % opera ting profit • Prov id ing care the way clients and families want it • Award win ning suppor t CONTACT US TODAY

make their

FUTURE your

Call us now on 0800 854 714 or visit kumon.co.uk

BUSINESS • the UK’s largest supplementary education provider • proven business model • marketing support • comprehensive training

www.homeinstead.co.uk/franchise 01925 730 273 franchise@homeinstead.co.uk

PREPARING CHILDREN FOR THE FUTURE Home-based, management franchise Flexible, family-friendly commitment Generous territories with at least 600 prospects Dynamic support programme Rewarding and fulfilling

Discover how to MAKE MONEY and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! With a Mathnasium Learning Centre franchise you have the opportunity to build your own business, be your own boss and make a great living whilst making a difference.

Join us for a discovery day and experience the Mathnasium Method and Model, held in Manchester and Hertfordshire.

Book your place at mathnasium.co.uk or call 0161 791 0686 Standard call charges apply

t: 01530 513308 e: franchise@thebardongroup.co.uk w: computerxplorers.co.uk

november 2018 | elitefranchise

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DISCOVERY DAYS

In business for yourself, but not by yourself...

Come and talk to us at our Insight Day in York & Belfast 9th November - York 23rd November - Belfast www.mcdonalds.co.uk/franchising

Your Discovery Day Invitation

To join us on our next webinar or find out more about Platinum Business Partners go to:

http://bit.ly/PBPDiscovery Register your interest:

01202 652 103

platinumbusinesspartners.co.uk info@platinumbusinesspartners.co.uk

Butcher, baker and cabinet maker... our franchisees come from all works of life!

But they all have one thing in common. They all wanted to take control of their own destiny and become their own boss.

“The teams that perform the cleaning tasks are always very thorough, professional and quick.

I would certainly recommend using them”

Call us to learn about our Discovery Days

Fund Management group

Why choose Techclean? + Experience and credibility + Work from a home environment + Low cost, high margins + Operate in an ever growing market

Do you dream of being your own boss?

To find out more about our business opportunity visit www.monkeymusicfranchise.co.uk email jointheteam@monkeymusic.co.uk or call 01582 766464.

Discovery Day We want you...

The UK’s No1 Dry carpet, upholstery and hard floor cleaners

0800 1 80 40 20

zerodrytime.com/franchise

126 elitefranchise | november 2018

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DISCOVERY DAYS

Apply for up to £2,000 to run your own FLexible fun and rewarding Creation Station franchise Run your own educational, fun and flexible arts & crafts Creation Station franchise.

Choose your hours, have fun and create positive differences within your community with your own successful business.

Our Discovery Days provide the perfect opportunity to investigate what MOLLY MAID can provide and decide if it could be right for you! We hold one to one Discover Days to ensure we can tailor the meeting to focus on your specific requirements and circumstances. Our meetings are held at MOLLY MAID House in Maidenhead, Berkshire, that way you can experience our professional and family feel environment, whilst meeting other passionate members of the team.

Aaron Watson Director Business Development, Tel: 01628 583765 Email: aaron.watson@mollymaid.co.uk Web: www.mollymaid.co.uk/franchise

Discover more about our Ovenu Franchise with an informative, one to one chat over coffee.

Contact us today and we'll put a date in the diary.

Love fashion, live your passion with Suit the City

01189 743 911 ovenufranchise.co.uk

Join a leading business in a booming market, beating the current trends in retail. Work from a small studio and build your business with the aid of a team of Consultant Tailors all trained by Suit the City.

www.suitfranchise.com

UK’S NO.1 FRYER MANAGEMENT SERVICE WEEKLY REPEAT “MAN IN A VAN” FRANCHISE HIGH-DEMAND, EXCLUSIVE TERRITORY VIRTUALLY NO COMPETITORS

Call us on 01788 550100 to find out more www.filtafryplus.co.uk | dslater@filtagroup.com

Could YOU be the next UK Franchisee? november 2018 | elitefranchise

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Jane Maudsley founder & managing director Little Voices

On the way up When it comes to meeting someone for the first time, you have far less time than you would imagine. So always be authentic on the way up – otherwise, it could hurt if you end up on the way down

T

hink you have ten minutes to make a good first impression? Think again.

Scientific studies have shown the first seven seconds in which you meet somebody are when you make a first impression. In other words, you need to act very quickly to impress.

So to be remembered in the right way while cementing your future reputation, you must influence people sincerely.

If you believe it’s only important to give back and share the best version of yourself with others when you’ve made it, you better get that out of your head.

Those first seven seconds create a lasting impression. Don’t try building trust and relationships only when you’re at the pinnacle of where you wanted to be – it’s too late.

A goal is important to achieve but not at the cost of how you treat those around you.

The book How to Win Friends and Influence People highlights my exact point perfectly. Influencing others and creating your best self starts at the beginning, not the end or midway through the journey – behave and communicate to all people everyday from the very start.

I recently heard someone talk about how they wanted to pay it forward now and give back to share their knowledge to those around them. The fact they were talking in front of an auditorium full of people gives you some insight into how successful they were.

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06/11/2018 19:30

Well done!

Thank you !

The speaker referred to the role you have at the top as an escalator where you can push down the knowledge to those on the way up. However, your job starts way before this because there are lots of opportunities along the way to the top to share too.

I was on the receiving end of being ignored and a person who I was inspired by dismissed me on their journey on the way up. That memory will stay with me a long time – their reputation in my eyes is tainted and it will take a lot to change.

People who get to the top and forget who they met on the way up speaks volumes and they’re not half as respected as they could have been. How they behaved and communicated with those around them on their journey is important, so be careful not to fall into that trap. Don’t lose your reputation when you’ve secured the role you’ve strived for. Be true to yourself and to all past employers, partners, suppliers and those who inspired you and your journey. Treat them as you would want to be treated at all times. You never know when you’ll come across people for a second or third 130 ELITEFRANCHISE | NOVEMBER 2018

Hi Tom!

Congrats Lisa!

time and if they’ll even be a part of your future or able to influence it.

The problem is that we’re not perfect all the time, are we? But having self-awareness of what we communicate and how we treat others generally is key. I get that we make mistakes – even I have.

However, I try to share best practise and give genuine advice and support to all of those around me, not just in our franchise network but across the wider industry of children’s activities and franchising.

If you live by these traits how can you go wrong? My approach is to be genuinely interested in other people.

To smile or to remember a person's name is the sweetest and most important sound in any language to that individual. To listen, to talk about the other person's interests – because people love to talk about themselves – and to make the other person feel important can be really beneficial.

This is the advice in How to Win Friends and Influence People and I would say it’s on point, wouldn’t you?

Checkout Your Dream Franchise At the One-Stop-Shop for Franchise Recruitment, Profiles, Latest News, Success Stories, Upcoming Exhibitions and Dates for Your Diary.

www.franchisesupermarket.net advert_template.indd 1

06/11/2018 10:27

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