Franchise World magazine | Summer 2023

CONTENTS

UBX, the boxing and strength training concept, launches in the UK

Empowered Brands, the fitness franchise investor and owner of énergie Fitness, the UK low-cost gym, has announced the launch of its new innovative boxing and strength training concept from Australia, UBX

8

Paris Baguette has expansion plans for the UK and Europe

Paris Baguette, the world-renowned bakery-café chain, has made its debut in the UK, bringing its distinctive blend of French-inspired baked goods to British consumers

11

Chopstix plans to open 30 new stores following record sales

The UK Asian quick service restaurant group, Chopstix, plans to open 30 new stores this year, creating almost 1,000 new jobs

25

Tortilla Mexican Grill reports record annual sales and growth

Tortilla Mexican Grill, the UK fast-casual Mexican restaurant group, has achieved record annual sales for the period ending 1st January 2023 of £57 7m, an increase of 20% on the previous year

54

Winners of the EWIF Awards

The theme at this year’s awards was ‘Breaking Through Barriers’ to recognise that running a franchise of any size is not easy, as shown by the challenges all businesses have had to tackle over the last few years

7

AI... ‘do more good or harm’

Despite the debates around the rapidly increasing abilities of Artificial Intelligence, a survey by ID Crypt Global found that more than 80 per cent of people have no concern that the technology is going to replace them in the workplace

14

German Doner Kebab milestone of 150 outlets

German Doner Kebab has opened its 128th restaurant in the UK, which marks a milestone for the brand as the outlet also represents the company’s 150th worldwide outlet

15

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MORE FEATURED FRANCHISES

supplier of logistics staff

The British & International Franchise Exhibition

This flagship BFA-supported franchise exhibition has been the highlight of the industry-calendar for over 30 years, and for good reason

Oltco reaches recycling milestone through its 50 franchise regions

The sustainable resin bound driveway and flooring company, has announced a

Franchise World magazine

Britain’s longest-established franchise magazine, founded in 1978, covers franchising from the perspective of the two parties – franchisees and franchisors, both prospective and existing.

© 1978 - 2023 Franchise World Franchise World ISSN 0144-0543

Readers should seek advice from a qualif ied accountant and solicitor before parting with money, or entering into f inancial or contractual commitments Information in the magazine is provided in the main by franchisors/advisors and readers should not rely upon it without having personally verif ied it at source The publisher does not

Behrouz Bir yani offers the taste of India

Rebel Foods introduced Behrouz to the UK and currently has 35 outlets that are served through a virtual brand partner model 28

Maldives expansion for British Youth International College

The Maldives business will become its 11th franchise territory operating globally teaching maths, in addition to English, cyber security and programming 30

Water Babies introduces ‘Oceans of Imagination’

The baby and early years swimming school franchise has announced a brand-new immersive experience for families.

Heartcore’s franchise plans for its pilates studio

Heartcore has seven London studios in addition to its digital offering of livestream and on-demand classes that have attracted clients across the globe 37

Editorial

Nick Riding nick@franchiseworld co uk

Advertising

Jane Eyles info@franchiseworld co uk

Franchise World, Highlands House, 165 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1NE info@franchiseworld co uk www franchiseworld co uk

make any representation about the viability or otherwise of the franchises, or advisers, mentioned and does not accept any responsibility, or give any war ranty, representation or assurance that statements, conclusions and opinions expressed or implied are accurate or valid

Franchise resale at PVC Vendo

After 19 years working as an employee for a PVC Vendo franchisee, Richard Smithson saw the opportunity to take the reins of the business following the retirement of the owner 43

Pieminister’s growth and their ‘Little Acts of Pie-ness’

Pieminister has grown its customer base from selling at markets and festival stalls to selling pies nationwide through various shops, pubs sites and its restaurants

New franchisees take to the stage with Razzamataz

Two of the company’s new franchisees started out on their Razzamataz journey as students and have progressed via the teaching route 59

Sushi Shop secures first UK franchisee

Christie & Co, the business property adviser, reports that it has secured the first UK franchisee for Sushi Shop, on behalf of AmRest, its parent company 67

Burger & Sauce signs five new franchisees

The quick service restaurant brand was founded by Saad Masood in 2020 during the pandemic 70

ADVISORY ARTICLES

How franchising works: the two sides of the stor y Part one, of this two part series of articles, looks at franchising from the franchisor’s perspective

By Cathryn Hayes, franchise director, Revive! Auto Innovations

17

For franchisee’s thinking of selling, a critical first step is to engage your franchisor Selling a non-franchised business can be relatively straightforward In franchising it is not so simple as there is the inevitable third party involved – the franchisor

By Gillian Morris, UK head of franchising, HSBC

29

How to generate local PR for your business

This all-important and not-so-secret key to success centres around your ability to generate positive publicity and build a strong reputation within your local community

By Lucy Archer, co-founder, Rev PR

35

Investing in your CRM system could transform

your business

Ovenu has constantly invested in and evolved its bespoke CRM system to ensure it is the ‘best’ in their sector

By Rik Hellewell, founder and managing director, Ovenu

41

Are you a franchisor who is worried about resales in your network?

Don’t be, resales can be a great thing for both you and your franchisees In fact, by including exit planning in your

franchising process, you are setting yourself up for long-term success

By Michael Bohan, managing director, Franchise Resales 47

The Best Franchise Programme & Awards

By collecting data from employees, franchisors can get a better understanding of areas of strength and weakness in their operations.

By Sharon Weston, head of franchising, WorkBuzz 49

Could a franchise network accountant provide the cherr y on the cake?

A franchise network accountant can unlock the full potential of your business and its franchisees, making it an absolute lifesaver for you, not to mention the peace of mind that comes with knowing your network is in safe hands

By Jack Hayes, franchisor relationship manager, d&t

63

Not just a logo: the importance of branding

Branding should be integrated into everything you do, from your tone of voice and messaging, to design and appearance, to customer service and much more

By Chelsea Smith, content writer, Mayfly Inter net Marketing 65

Q&A to put you on the right track to buying a franchise

The fundamental issues of franchising.

By Nick Riding, editor, Franchise World 68

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TaxAssist sponsors SME awards

AS a Gold Par tner Sponsor of the SME National Business Awards 2023, TaxAssist Accountants will be promoting its brand to businesses across the UK at the seventh national business awards

James Mattam, business development director of the TaxAssist Group, will also be on the judging panel and presenting an award on behalf of TaxAssist

Keen to champion small and medium enter prises (SMEs), Mattam said: “We know there are thousands of talented businesses within our client base who have ever y chance of entering and winning and are delighted our clients are able to enter the awards with a TaxAssist discount

“With representatives from more than 1,200 SMEs expected to attend the event, it will provide an oppor tunity to suppor t and share in our vision to raise the prof ile of industrious, hardworking and enter prising businesses nationally

“Business awards are a sought-after accolade of achievement, a veritable endorsement of success in business which offers exceptional marketing and PR oppor tunities, as well as increasing credibility and standing in the eyes of peers and customers

“This is a fantastic initiative for both our target client market and the TaxAssist brand and we look forward to taking par t and showcasing the wide ser vices our accountants offer ”

The SME National Business Awards ceremony will be held at Wembley Stadium on 1st December 2023 n

Cafe2U plays a part in the King’s Coronation

Leeds-based mobile coffee franchise Cafe2U celebrated a memorable week in May after being chosen to cater for the members of the Ar med Forces involved in the coronation of King Charles III

Cafe2U was invited to tender to cater at the coronation, having previously provided its ser vices to around 3,500 militar y personnel and dignitaries who took par t in the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth II last year

Having won the tender, and on the Tuesday before the coronation, a fleet of Cafe2U franchisees (pictured) made the jour ney to the capital to ser ve coffees and pastries to approximately 6,000 militar y personnel taking par t in the practise r un in the early hours of Wednesday mor ning on the closed roads of central London

On the day of the coronation, Cafe2U said that its franchisees ser ved once again, to help keep the biggest militar y parade the UK has seen in more than 70 years supplied with caffeine and sweet treats

Cafe2U’s management team were also on hand to suppor t franchisees ensuring supplies were plentiful as they went from van to van restocking its products

‘10,000 coffees and 5,000 pastries’

Mar tyn Ward, chief executive of Cafe2U, said: “We were delighted and absolutely honoured to have the oppor tunity to play our par t in such a momentous and historic global event and thrilled that ever ything went so smoothly.

“We estimate we ser ved around 10,000 coffees and 5,000 pastries over the two days, including a ver y high number of ‘double double’ espressos In hindsight, that was probably due to the f irst procession r un-through taking place in the ver y early hours of Wednesday mor ning!

“Suff ice to say the schedule for rehearsals was exhaustive and those taking par t were extremely appreciative of the light relief afforded by a lovely coffee and a pastr y at 2 00am

“Most of the franchisees that took par t are based in the Greater London area but one of our newest franchisees travelled all the way from Bath to be a par t of the celebrations, highlighting the commitment of our incredible team ”

‘Simply humbling’

Ber nard Sullivan, franchisee of Cafe2U Biggleswade, said: “When I f irst became a Cafe2U franchisee, I never thought I’d get to meet as many amazing people as I have. Ser ving our ar med ser vice personnel when Cafe2U helped cater the Queen’s funeral last year was an honour; being asked to ser ve them a second time was simply humbling.

“I know I speak for all the franchisees who took par t in the coronation when I say the occasion was one of our proudest moments and an achievement we’ll all remember forever ”

Ser ving customers since 2004, Cafe2U mobile cafés visit non-traditional locations to ser vice customers at various sites such as off ice parks and industrial estates to community and spor ting events n

To learn more www cafe2u co uk

Winners of the EWIF Awards 2023 announced

The theme at this year’s 13th annual EWIF (Encouraging Women into Franchising) Franchise Awards was ‘Breaking Through Barriers’ to recognise that r unning a franchise of any size is not easy, as shown by the challenges all businesses have had to tackle over the last few years

Helen Mansf ield, managing director of EWIF, said: “It was tr uly uplifting to see the diversity, talent, and innovation that is driving our industr y forward As we honour the achievements of these remarkable women in our industr y, we are reminded of the prog ress we’ve made and the exciting future that lies ahead ”

EWIF Award Winners 2023

New Woman Franchisee of the Year

Emily Kerrison

Kidslingo

French and Spanish languages classes for children

New Woman Franchisor of the Year

Jenna Wilson and Fay Smith

Little Dreams

Baby and child sleep consultants

Young Woman in Franchising – Joint winners

Asha Marie Richardson

Razzamataz

Theatre schools

Holly Stepien

Bloom Toddler Classes

Multi-sensory toddler programme for active learning

Ser vice Provider of the Year

Suzie McCafferty

Platinum Wave Franchising

Franchise consultant

Woman Franchise Employee of the Year

Heather Wehrle

Right at Home UK

Home care providers

Acquisition of Pirtek Europe

THE inter national multi-brand franchisor, Franchise Brands, has announced that it has raised £92m through a Placing to enable it to acquire the owner of Pir tek Europe, Hydraulic Authority I Limited (HAI) for £200m (and £12 2m for cash, debt and working capital adjustments)

Inspirational Woman of the Year

Angela Sterling

Lingotot

Multi-language classes for children

Woman Franchisor of the Year

Jenni Dunman

Daisy First Aid

First aid courses for parents and carers

Woman Franchisee of the Year

Amy Patel Popat Right at Home

EWIF Ambassador of the Year

Ruth Brown Home Instead Home care providers

Overall Woman in Franchising of the Year

Suzie McCafferty

Platinum Wave Franchising

EWIF cong ratulating all the f inalists commented: “As we move forward, let’s continue to champion the cause of encouraging more women to enter and excel in the franchising industr y Together, we can reshape the landscape, create new oppor tunities, and celebrate even more incredible achievements in the years to come ” n

To learn more www.ewif.org

HAI operates Pir tek across eight European countries providing an on-site hydraulic hose replacement ser vice and associated ser vices, in addition to offering an emergency response ser vice 365 days-a-year, operated largely by its 70 franchisees

Franchise Brands says the bookbuild represents one of the largest public fundraisers this year in the UK in what has been an unusually muted period for UK equity funding markets

The acquisition and working capital requirements of Pir tek will be funded by new bank debt facilities of £110m, and £114 3m in equity issued by the company, which includes the £92m raised through the Placing, alongside a subscription by Pir tek management and employees, and the issue of Consideration Shares

Commenting on the acquisition, Stephen Hemsley, executive chair man of Franchise Brands, said: “We are pleased to have successfully completed the bookbuild for the fundraise with the suppor t of both new and existing institutional investors This will enable us to proceed with the transfor mational acquisition of Pir tek Europe ” n

To learn more www.franchisebrands.co.uk

● Suzie McCafferty (right) receives one of her award’s from Pip Wilkins, the chief executive officer of the BFA

UBX, the boxing and strength training concept, launches in the UK

Empowered Brands, the f itness franchise investor and owner of énergie Fitness, the UK low-cost gym, has announced the launch of its new innovative boxing and strength training concept from Australia, UBX

The UK’s f irst UBX site in Media City, Salford, is being opened by two local franchisees, Ben Waldron and James Wor rall.

Coming amidst post-Covid network sales of £33m across its énergie Fitness por tfolio of over 80 clubs with 114,000 members across the UK and Ireland,

Empowered Brands’ ambition is to open 250 UBX clubs within six to eight years

UBX was co-founded in 2016 by fourtime world champion Australian boxer Danny Green, and f itness and tech entrepreneur Tim West UBX cur rently has over 90 clubs across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, and says it is the world’s fastest g rowing boxing and strength training concept.

The brand explains that its concept is based on a unique blend of non-contact g roup boxing and strength training, backed by science, delivered by world

class coaches, and with convenience, enjoyment and results at its core

Inclusive for all and with new workouts daily, there are no class timetables or bookings required, as its ultra-flexible model uses intelligent prog ramming to make wait lists, late charges and inconvenience a thing of the past for its members

UBX adds that as an elite training experience, club members can simply ar rive when they want to, choose a round, and will always have coaches available to guide them from star t to

‘The UBX mission is to take boxing from an individual pursuit and transform it into a team culture.’

f inish for an easy-to-lear n, full-body workout in under 45 minutes

Team culture

The brand’s mission is to take boxing from an individual pursuit and transfor m it into a team culture

John Jempson, managing director of UBX Boxing + Strength, UK & Ireland and chief f inancial off icer at Empowered Brands, explains: “Convenience, variety and trainer suppor t are among the top three priorities when it comes to selecting a f itness activity, and UBX delivers on them like no other concept

“UBX is an environment where results are just an additional benef it to pure enjoyment – through the combination of team-based training and coach interaction Our clubs will be communities, where anyone can lear n new skills, working with each other towards a collective goal and going away with a sense of achievement following ever y session ”

‘Increased demand’

The opening of the f irst UBX franchised site comes at a time when Empowered Brands says there is a clear demand from consumers for f itness oppor tunities as it has seen membership levels across its énergie Fitness por tfolio having recovered to 114 per cent of pre-Covid levels

Jempson continues: “We’ve opened 22 énergie Fitness clubs since March 2020 across the UK, Ireland and Spain With movement towards flexible work schedules and an increased demand for social connection, not to mention a boom in interest for skills-based classes

and boutique f itness across the industr y, we’re expecting impressive results across our UBX franchises Convenience wise, the model is completely unrivalled too, which means exceptional retention ”

Keen to emphasise the unique oppor tunity to potential franchisees of UBX’s flexible model, Jempson is expecting it will be a driving force in helping Empowered Brands open no fewer than 22 clubs across both UBX and énergie Fitness this year, and 30 to 40 clubs a year through the next six to eight years

Jempson explains: “The UBX model is unique because such a small space is required as compared to other f itness franchise investments, only around 1,500 sq ft a club, but possible member capacity is high

“Star t-up capital required is low too, in the region of £130k – £200k factoring an initial personal investment from franchisees star ting from £40,000, but it’s a high retur ning f inancial model, easy to operate and highly scalable

“We suppor t franchisees with funding, systems, technology, marketing,

operations and infrastr ucture too – with over 20 years’ experience in the industr y, we think this level of suppor t and sophistication underlies why we are one of the most disr uptive brands across health, f itness and well-being ”

Pietro Nicholls, chair man of Empowered Brands, said: “The predictability of UBX’s franchise model makes it an attractive prospect to franchisees When you consider investing in one’s health and well-being is an essential consumer spending item too, we are extremely excited to commence the roll out of UBX clubs across the UK.”

Each new UBX club will be expected to require a minimum of three to f ive members of staff, which the brand sees as generating in the region of 1,250 new jobs across the UK leisure sector

Empowered Brands headquar tered in Milton Keynes, is backed by RM Funds, an alter native investment management f

To learn more

www.ownaubx.com

www.empoweredbrands.co

PARIS BAG UETTE

If you're ready to join the Paris Baguette family and spread joy through the art of baking, contact them today to learn more about this exciting franchise opportunity.

Paris Baguette, a global baker y-café, has expansion plans for the UK and Europe

Paris Baguette, the world-renowned baker y-café chain, has made its debut in the UK, bringing its distinctive blend of French-inspired baked goods to British consumers

Following the successful launch of its f irst London stores at the iconic Battersea Power Station and on Kensington High Street, Paris Baguette is looking for franchise par tners to expand its UK and European operations with the aim of rolling out 450 units across the continent by 2036.

Founded in 1988, Paris Baguette has g rown into a global franchise empire with over 4,000 stores across 10 countries including Canada, U S , Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Korea, and continental Europe, including Paris.

Known for its high-quality, ar tisanal baked goods and a commitment to using only the freshest, highest-quality ing redients, the brand has become a household name in many par ts of Asia, as well as in the U S , where it has over 135 franchised locations.

With its entr y into the UK market, Paris Baguette is aiming to replicate its success in other par ts of the world and

establish itself as a leading baker y-café destination for British consumers. The brand’s UK operations will be led by a team of experienced food industr y professionals, including Nico Gaillot, Chief Operating Off icer, who has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality sector

Gaillot expressed the company’s enthusiasm for expansion: “We are thrilled to be bringing Paris Baguette to the UK and to be able to share our love of freshly baked treats with more communities We are seeking franchise par tners who share our passion for quality and who are committed to creating unique consumer experiences.

“With the suppor t of Paris Baguette’s management team, our franchisees can expect to achieve success and g row their business ”

Paris Baguette’s mission is to reestablish the neighbourhood baker y-café as the hear t of the community The company achieves this by offering an extensive menu of over 25 premium items that are made fresh in-house throughout the day

The menu includes signature three-layer cakes, bespoke baguette sandwiches, French-inspired pastries, ar tisan bread, and locally roasted coffee All of these items are made with the f inest

ing redients and prepared fresh on-site ever y day, creating a perfect blend of a classic baker y, boulangerie, and patisserie

One of the brand’s signature items is its celebration cake, a delicate layered desser t that is a favourite among Paris Baguette fans worldwide The brand’s chefs also draw inspiration from Asian cuisine, incor porating flavours like matcha into their creations

UK expansion goal

While Paris Baguette’s UK operations are still in their early stages, the brand has ambitious plans for expansion in the coming years The company is seeking franchise par tners to help drive g rowth in the UK and across Europe, with the goal of opening 200 units in the UK by 2036

“We believe that the UK is a fantastic market for Paris Baguette, and we’re looking for par tners who share our passion for quality and innovation to help us expand our presence across the countr y, ” said Gaillot “Our franchise

model is designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners succeed, and we’re excited to work with par tners who are eager to bring the Paris Baguette brand to their communities ”

As par t of its franchise expansion plans, Paris Baguette is also committed to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact The brand has implemented a range of eco-friendly initiatives in its stores, including

We are thrilled to be bringing Paris Baguette to the UK and to be able to share our love of freshly baked treats with more communities We are seeking franchise partners who share our passion for quality and who are committed to creating unique consumer experiences.

reducing waste and using renewable energy sources In addition, the brand sources its ing redients from local suppliers whenever possible, suppor ting small businesses and reducing its carbon footprint

Paris Baguette’s entr y into the UK market comes at a time when the baker ycafé segment is experiencing strong g rowth and increasing competition.

According to market research f ir m Euromonitor Inter national, the UK baker y market is expected to g row by 2.2 per cent in 2023, driven by demand for ar tisanal and premium baked goods

In addition to its expansion plans in the UK, Paris Baguette is also targeting g rowth across Europe, where it sees

signif icant potential for its brand The company is already establishing a presence in several European countries beyond France, including Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, and Ger many, while looking to par tner with local entrepreneurs to help drive g rowth in these markets

Paris Baguette’s franchise model is designed to provide par tners with the suppor t and resources they need to succeed Franchisees receive training and guidance on ever ything from store design and layout to menu development and marketing and have access to the company’s extensive network of suppliers and vendors They also benef it from Paris Baguette’s established brand and reputation, which helps to drive footfall and generate sales

Additionally, franchisees receive ongoing suppor t from the company’s management team, who are committed to ensuring the success of ever y franchisee and will provide on-theg round suppor t for the f irst 10 days of a café opening In addition, Paris Baguette’s franchise model is flexible and adaptable, allowing par tners to tailor their stores and menus to the needs of their local communities

The initial franchise fee for a Paris Baguette café is £50,000 for one site or £40,000 for multiple sites, with a minimum investment required of £500,000 This includes the cost of site selection, constr uction, equipment, inventor y, and two months of training for bakers, general managers, and front-ofhouse staff With projected annual retail sales for a Paris Baguette café ranging from £1 5m to £2m, franchisees can expect to tur n a prof it within three years while ear ning a salar y during the initial years

Paris Baguette has also won numerous awards for its exceptional quality premium treats and franchise model In 2022, the brand ranked 25th in the Franchise Times Top 500 list – the most comprehensive ranking of the 500 largest franchise systems in the U S by global systemwide sales This year, Paris Baguette was recognised as the number one Baker y Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500

Paris Baguette has a strong track record

of success with over 4,000 stores operating worldwide, of which 3,800 are franchised. The franchise model has been par ticularly successful in the U S , where the company is opening a new café ever y week

U.S. multi-unit success

Since f irst ar riving on American shores in 2005, Paris Baguette has already established 135 franchised locations, distinguishing itself as a dominant player in the baker y café industr y. Many American franchisees are retur ning for multi-unit deals as they continue to see g reat success in existing locations with cafés that are producing upwards of $5m in revenue

As the brand continues to expand, there are numerous oppor tunities for franchisees to achieve success and g row their business Paris Baguette is actively seeking franchise par tners in the Greater London area, with plans to roll out across the rest of the UK and Europe over the next several years

The brand’s commitment to quality and innovation has ear ned it a loyal following among consumers around the world, and Paris Baguette is conf ident that it can replicate its success in the UK

and Europe As the company looks to expand its footprint in these markets, it remains committed to its core values of quality, freshness, and sustainability, and to providing customers with an exceptional baker y-café experience

Paris Baguette’s entr y into the UK market represents a signif icant milestone for the brand and a testament to its continued global g rowth.

With its commitment to quality and sustainability and proven franchise model, Paris Baguette is well-positioned to become a leading player in the UK baker y market and expand its presence across Europe in the years to come

For entrepreneurs and business owners looking to join a dynamic and innovative brand with a proven track record of success, Paris Baguette represents a compelling oppor tunity to tap into the g rowing demand for ar tisanal and premium baked goods and bring a unique and exciting concept to their communities n

To learn more info@parisbaguette.uk

https://parisbaguette.uk

AI... ‘do more good or harm’

Despite all of the recent debate around the rapidly increasing abilities of AI (Ar tif icial Intelligence), a sur vey commissioned by the digital identity security specialist, ID Cr ypt Global, found that more than 80% of off ice workers have no concer n that the technology is going to replace them in the workplace.

With the recent rise of Chat GPT and other rival chatbots, ID Cr ypt Global says the debate around AI has heated up with people all over the world discussing both the good or har m of allowing autonomous technology into our lives, workplace and homes.

The research sur veyed 1,196 UK off ice workers and asked them whether or not

they have heard of AI and unsur prisingly, 95% said they had

When asked whether the use of AI in the workplace is a positive step, opinion is divided with 45% saying ‘yes’ and 55% responding ‘no’

With 81% having no concer n over AI technology replacing them in the work place, 94% said they are not preparing for that possibility nor looking to lear n new skills or new industries to work in.

When asked if AI will ultimately do more good or har m for society, 47% saw the side of har m, 36% seeing benef it, with the remaining 17% unsure

Lauren Wilson-Smith, chief executive

isn’ t thinking for itself but regurgitating’

By Rik Hellewell, Founder, Ovenu

Maybe it’s just me but, from what I can gather, there are a few ‘lightbulb moments’ cropping up almost daily as more and more people think about AI

My cur rent experience is that this technology isn’t too much of a threat right now as it cur rently appears to work on binar y options, with AI machines chur ning out some content and at the discretion of the way more intelligent human brain telling the machine if the content is acceptable or not If not, the machine will tr y another couple of times – basically until the human says the content is acceptable or not.

My f irst point, therefore, is that AI isn’t yet as intelligent as it needs to be for most people to have a modest conf idence in its abilities Granted it can chur n out all manner of data but, and it’s a big but just now, it isn’t thinking for itself It’s regurgitating what is already ‘out there’ in multiple different ways

Let’s face it, ‘spell-checker’ wasn’t par ticularly good in the early days and ‘predictive text’ almost has a mind of its own at times.

But what I also f ind a little mystifying is the advent of the ‘AI Tutor’ whose role is to teach the student what to put into the AI ‘search bar’ to get the machine to generate accurate infor mation

Sounds familiar, of course it does – that’s what we’ve been doing with Google, Bing and Yahoo almost since the ‘ www ’ went global in the mid-1990s The human brain quickly worked out that if you put in a ‘r ubbish’ search quer y then you get ‘r ubbish’ results back

More recently, we’ve been talking to ‘smar t speakers’ such as Alexa and Siri, which recognise the human voice All well and good, unless you catch flu then the machines are completely flummoxed by your husky voice The same with

off icer and founder of ID Cr ypt Global, commented: “It’s wor r ying that so many people remain unconvinced that AI is going to disr upt their lives At this point, it’s clear that AI is going to become a dominant force in society, not least in the workplace

“There are cer tain jobs that AI is going to be able to execute to a far higher level than any human can, and do it in a much faster and cheaper way We live in a capitalistic world and industr y leaders are not going to be able to resist the benef its of replacing people with machines

“We need to increase awareness through education as AI’s prog ress is going to be swift and transfor mational ” n

facial recognition – tr y it following a shor t haircut, g rowing a beard or donning coloured contact lenses

I also wonder as to who ever thought why we’ve been ticking four boxes with traff ic lights in them to ‘prove’ we’re human? Haven’t we been teaching AI to the machines for years.

Plagiarism and copyright

But the loudest noises I’m hearing about AI – plagiarism and copyright infringements Like these things just cropped up with the advent of AI? Of course not, these ‘nasties’ have been prevalent since the advent of the inter net

The majority have sat back and done nothing about it, thanks mainly to the somewhat prohibitive costs involved of bringing action against per petrators of these crimes.

I say crimes because that’s what they are, but will this still be the case as more and more people sign away their legal rights as they access the world of AI?

Ponder the above as I head over to the intelligent ‘word-count’ facility to see if it ag rees with my mental arithmetic n

‘AI

German Doner Kebab milestone of 150 outlets

Ger man Doner Kebab (GDK) has opened its 128th restaurant in the UK, which marks a milestone for the brand as the outlet also represents the company’s 150th worldwide outlet.

The new GDK in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, will be ser ving its gour met doner kebabs to customers which the company says bring a fresh, high-quality taste sensation with a superior dining experience

Freshly prepared in front of customers, GDK adds that its game-changing kebabs masterfully combine premium, lean, succulent meats and local vegetables, ser ved in handmade, toasted waffle bread topped with unique signature sauces.

Now employing over 4,500 people across its network, Simon Wallis, chief executive of GDK, said: “Reaching 150 restaurants worldwide with our Westonsuper-Mare opening is a testament to our incredible g rowth and commitment to delivering a new dining experience across the globe

“Our expectation-defying kebabs are revolutionising this popular street food worldwide This unique innovation on a traditional dish has captured the imagination of a global audience to elevate GDK into becoming a market leader in the F&B space

“At GDK, we are committed to g rowth and strengthening our position as the

UK’s fastest-g rowing restaurant chain. Beyond that, our global demand reflects our position as one of the world’s most exciting fast-casual brands ”

Global expansion plans

GDK repor ts that it is also forging ahead with fur ther expansion into inter national markets with plans already underway to open 12 restaurants in Nor th America and its f irst restaurant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The global development pipeline for GDK is to open 400 restaurants worldwide in the next seven years The company said that in order to achieve this target, it has recently signed up some major new franchisees, including

Atul Pathak, for merly McDonald’s biggest UK franchisee, who sold his por tfolio to join GDK in 2022

In addition to Pathak, GDK said that Maristo Hospitality, one of the fastestg rowing hospitality g roups in the Middle East region, has acquired the GDK master franchise for the UAE

Based in Glasgow, Scotland, GDK’s restaurants span the UK, continental Europe and the Middle East, with expansion following in Canada, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and the U S n

To learn more

www.germandonerkebab.com

How franchising works: the two sides of the stor y

By Cathr yn Hayes,

Franchise

When the word ‘franchise’ is mentioned, many people in the UK think of a series of blockbuster films or railway operations But, my two part article looks at the world of businessformat franchising, from the perspective of both sides – the franchisor and the franchisee

According to the British Franchise Association (BFA), business-format franchising, is the granting of a licence by one person (the franchisor) to another (the franchisee), which entitles the franchisee to trade under the trademark/trade name of the franchisor and make use of an entire business package, comprising all the elements necessary to establish a previously untrained person in the business and run it with continual assistance on a predetermined basis.

A strong and successful business-format franchise should provide:

● An established market for the franchisor ’s products or services.

● Proven sales, marketing, and operational procedures

● The benefit of an established business name

● Training, ongoing support and help in running the business

● Where appropriate, help in finding, fitting out and furnishing premises

To be successful, both parties need to benefit from each other In part one, I am going to look at:

Franchising from the franchisor’s perspective

Franchising has grown considerably in the UK over the last thirty years and is now established in many business sectors, especially the fast-food and service industries

It can be a great way for a business to

Director, Revive! Auto

expand across the UK and beyond, without the potentially huge capital investment needed to grow a whollyowned operation

As a franchisor, you will award a licence (franchise) to local operators to sell your products or services, trade using your brand, using your trademarks and logos for a specific period.

The franchisee will have a personal stake in the business and own their business so you can expect them to be more motivated to grow and make it a success than employed managers However, you specify exactly how your franchisee must operate, they need to comply with your rules in terms of how the business operates

There will be costs involved at the outset to develop your franchise operation, but franchisees will pay you an initial fee that will, over time, help to reimburse these costs. When franchisees have launched and are trading, you will receive a regular income from them by charging a management service fee or marking-up the price of goods you may supply

At first glance, it may seem too good to be true, but as well as benefits, franchising can have its drawbacks which we will explore The development of a successful franchise network requires careful planning, ongoing

About the author

Innovations

monitoring, plus advice and support from professionals, such as a franchise consultant, accountant, franchise lawyer and specialist banking teams

It is important that a business planning to franchise has demonstrated that it is viable and profitable and has sufficient capital to expand, as even when franchising is done properly by a successful business, it could take some years to achieve a positive cash-flow and worthwhile profits

This article offers a brief overview of the aspects a business needs to consider when expanding through franchising

What is franchising?

Franchising is a “joint venture” between an independent person (the franchisee) and a business (the franchisor) which wishes to expand its activities.

The venture is governed by a legal contract This gives the franchisee the right to operate using the franchisor ’s trade name/trademark, in accordance with a business-format or “blueprint”

All aspects of the franchisee’s business are strictly controlled including image,

It is important that a business planning to franchise has demonstrated that it is viable and profitable and has sufficient capital to expand

Cathr yn Hayes is the Franchise Director at Revive! Auto Innovations and has over 25 years of franchising experience

Previously Head of Franchising at HSBC, followed by a shor t-term senior role at the British Franchise Association, Hayes has a high profile within the sector, contributing regular ar ticles to the franchise press and other business media cathryn hayes@revive-uk com www.revivefranchise.com

ADVICE FOR FRANCHISORS

products or service, systems, and administration This method is usually known as business-format franchising

As a franchisor you will:

● Allow franchisees to use your trading names, logos, business style and format.

● Help franchisees establish their own businesses to a pre-determined format.

● Provide continuing training and support to enable franchisees to operate and develop their businesses successfully

If you are planning to franchise, you should already operate a successful business with a good track record and have sufficient management and financial resources to develop and support a franchise network

The advantages

● You can achieve faster business growth without large-scale capital investment because each franchisee will finance their own business

● You can quickly grow the number of outlets under your brand, distributing your products or supplying your services.

● Instead of high numbers of staff and managers for a wholly companyowned operation, you would have only a small head office with a few highly skilled staff to support your franchisees.

● Franchisees invest their own money in their new business, so they are more likely to be highly motivated, and keen to minimise costs and maximise sales

● As they are running their business locally, franchisees will often have considerable local knowledge and may already be involved in local community life, which is likely to help the business

● Franchisees are responsible for financing and maintaining their units and for the employment and management of any staff

The disadvantages

● Developing a franchise network can be expensive at the outset, both in terms of management time and capital outlay

● Your investment won’t be recovered

until franchisees are appointed and you receive initial fees and then a regular income from them as their businesses grow

● You receive only a part of the profit made by the outlet, instead of all the profit if they were owned by you.

● Franchisees own their own businesses so you need to persuade and influence them rather than issue instructions as you would to your own staff Communication and people management skills are vital for franchisors.

● To protect your brand and company reputation you need to monitor not just the sales performance of each franchisee, but also their quality standards and customer service as well as brand standards

● Some franchisees may cause you difficult issues as you grow They will gain in-depth knowledge of your business through your support and training and may subsequently try to use it to set up as competitors Some may try to reduce the amount they pay in management service fees by not disclosing all their income

● Therefore, recruiting the right people and having a rigorous vetting process is vital You must also be sure that the people you select as franchisees can accept the responsibility and stress of running a business

Where to start

The first step is to find out more about franchising and see how you can use the experiences of others to avoid mistakes

Contact the BFA as they have a wealth of experience and offer franchisor training and support

A visit to a franchise exhibition will be a good introduction to the sector and you can attend the free seminars, hearing from professionals in the market

Think about appointing a franchise consultant to help you put your franchise

operation together I recommend that you use a BFA-affiliated consultant, speaking to two or more to ensure you chose the right one for your business.

The next big step is to set up one or more pilot operations – a vital ingredient in creating a franchise that will have a long-term future The benefits of the pilot units are:

● They will demonstrate whether the business is viable on a stand-alone basis.

● It will enable you to identify any problems and put them right Franchisees, who have parted with their hard-earned savings to buy your franchise, expect to receive a tried and tested format in which any difficulties and problems have been ironed out.

● Part of the pilot process is to put together a comprehensive operations manual This will be one of the methods of ensuring that franchisees follow your systems and procedures

● The pilot will give you a better idea of how much the setting-up costs for the business will be, what sales are required for break-even, and what level of profits franchisees could expect

The franchise agreement

Again, I strongly recommend you use a BFA-affiliated specialist franchise lawyer to draw up your legal contract This important document will set out the terms under which you are selling the franchise, your obligations, and those of the franchisee It must accurately reflect the promises you have made in your franchise prospectus and marketing material, and it should be fair However, it also needs to include the controls that are necessary to protect both you and the franchisee.

Preparing for launch

When the pilot is running successfully, you will be ready to prepare for the launch of the franchise These are some of the things you will need to do:

● Prepare a prospectus to attract suitable franchisees This should give clear, concise, and accurate information about your business and promote a strong company image Be careful with any claims of income and profits,

Some franchisees may cause you difficult issues as you grow They will gain in-depth knowledge of your business through your support and training and may subsequently try to use it to set up as competitors.

these should be backed up with the results from your pilot operations You do not want to bring people into your franchise with misleading information.

● Make sure you have plans for a comprehensive training programme for your franchisees You could include practical experience for them in one or two of your outlets/stores or with your own staff.

● Consider whether you will have sales areas or territories for each franchisee, this is usual with many franchise operations to ensure that a franchisee knows they can grow their business within set boundaries

● Decide how to calculate the initial franchise fee, management services fees, advertising fees, mark-ups, and any other payments that the franchisees will be making

● You may need to prepare projected cash-flow forecasts and profit projections, based on your pilot operations, taking care not to promise that franchisees will reach specific profit figures

● As mentioned earlier, you should prepare a comprehensive operations manual, covering all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the business

● Consider applying to join the BFA It has established a code of business conduct for its franchisor members and is a source of information for both prospective franchisees and franchisors

Recruiting franchisees

Bringing in suitable franchisees will be key to your success as a franchisor so ensuring you recruit people with the right skills and attitudes is vital The reputation of your business and the future of your franchise network could be at stake

Spend some time at the outset thinking about what will make a good franchisee in your business Will they need sales skills, is there particular technical expertise they need, what experience and attributes will help them to be

successful? Plan your interviewing/ vetting procedures to ensure that candidates have these skills

Don’t rush this part of the process When you launch your franchise, you will be keen to get things moving as quickly as possible, and to start recouping some of your initial outlay However, if you lower your standards and recruit the wrong people as franchisees, this will lead to problems in the longer term.

Popular recruitment methods include leads from your own website, exhibiting at franchise shows, advertising on specialist websites, and in franchise magazines and trade magazines covering your business sector – a mix of all, or several of these.

Franchisee finance

Depending on the start-up costs, franchisees will probably need to borrow to buy into your franchise and will have to put in some cash as well In the early days of your franchise operation, banks will probably lend around 50 per cent of the costs, but when your franchise network is well-established with a good track record, franchisees may be able to borrow up to two-thirds of the costs

There are several banks with specialist franchise departments and if you provide them with information about your franchise network, they can begin to build up a profile of your franchise This is used to support lending managers when they are considering a request for finance from one of your franchisees and means that the bank will have a better understanding of the business

Franchisees will need to prepare a business plan, together with financial forecasts to support their request for finance. You will probably need to help with this, but the franchisee should understand the figures and “own” the business plan n

Bringing in suitable franchisees will be key to your success so ensuring you recruit people with the right skills and attitudes is vital The reputation of your business and the future of your franchise network could be at stake.

GONG CHA, a fast-g rowing global bubble tea brand, has announced the opening of its 13th UK store located in Brighton, East Sussex

Founded in Taiwan in 2006, Gong cha says it is known for its consistently highquality, freshly brewed drinks made with premium ing redients

Gong cha f irst expanded overseas in 2009 and has since g rown to nearly 2,000 stores in 22 countries including the U S , Australia, Canada and Mexico

The new store in Brighton follows a period of strategic prog ress for Gong cha in the UK says the g roup, building on its existing network of stores in London, Leeds, Liver pool, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham

Paul Reynish, global chief executive of Gong cha, said: “We’re delighted to launch our latest store in Brighton, expanding our presence in the UK to more than seven cities

“As one of the UK’s favourite destinations, our opening in Brighton is another oppor tunity for us to showcase the strength, relevance, and adaptability of Gong cha’s world-class brand and offer It also presents a unique oppor tunity to introduce consumers across the countr y to the joys associated with bubble tea ” n

To learn more www.gong-cha.co.uk

It is important that a business planning to franchise has demonstrated that it is viable and profitable and has sufficient capital to expand

‘Bringing the joy of bubble tea’ to the UK

‘My first year turnover of £840k beat my original year four target’

Driver Hire is the UK’s largest specialist supplier of logistics staff, with over 100 off ices nationwide Their stor y began in 1983, when the f irst Driver Hire off ice opened in West Yorkshire, supplying temporar y drivers to local transpor t f ir ms

Franchisees r un a recr uitment business within their own postcode def ined ter ritor y and supply temporar y and per manent drivers, logistics and nonlogistics staff to local and national businesses that operate commercial vehicles Clients typically require Driver Hire’s suppor t with staff for operational peaks, holiday cover, and sickness cover

Huge levels of demand

Driver Hire operates in a high-demand sector Temporar y recr uitment in the UK is estimated to be wor th £39 5bn per annum (Recr uitment and Employment Confederation 2022 forecast). Even more relevant to Driver Hire is the major role logistics plays in the UK economy –meaning demand for temporar y drivers is huge.

Successful franchisees

This consistently high demand for Driver Hire’s ser vices translates into success for its franchisees In 2022/23, the average tur nover of a Driver Hire franchise business (single off ice) was over £1 3m The top perfor ming franchised off ices exceeded £3m More impor tantly for its franchisees, prof its are also healthy: typically, between 10% and 15% of tur nover

Tom Williams, Driver Hire Torbay, was a franchisee f inalist at the most recent bfa HSBC Franchise Awards Tom comments: “In my f irst year, my tur nover of £840k beat my original year four target I like recr uitment – getting

candidates out working is really rewarding It’s still early days and sometimes I have to pinch myself to realise the business is mine But I know there is so much more to come.”

Why is the business different to others in the sector?

Driver Hire is a ver y well-known, tr usted, and reputable brand – giving clients and candidates excellent reasons to work with them

Richard Bradshaw, Guilford franchisee, says: “None of my local competitors are franchised and I f ir mly believe this gives me an edge My clients benef it from dealing with a local owner-operated business, suppor ted by a nationwide brand ”

Award recognition

Driver Hire is the cur rent Elite Franchise Franchisor of the Year, and the bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year Silver Winner This exter nal recognition is a strong endorsement of Driver Hire’s proven business model, excellent suppor t for franchisees, and f inancial success across its network of off ices

Role of the franchisee

You will manage your recr uitment business from an off ice, typically suppor ted by between one and four members of staff The primar y focus of your business is to recr uit good candidates, and to engage with local

companies – so they call you when they require additional staff It’s a fast-paced environment, where good ser vice and sales activities are paramount

Training and support

Driver Hire’s 35 years in franchising means an excellent understanding of how to suppor t its business par tners Suppor t and training begin long before a franchisee opens for business, including a two-week Foundation Course, plus time in a Driver Hire off ice Training continues via its Franchisee Suppor t Prog ramme (for a fur ther six months)

Ever y franchisee is suppor ted by an Area Manager who regularly visits their off ice and actively helps them g row their business For example, the Area Manager will attend customer sales meetings and help win new customers.

With over 70 head off ice staff, franchisees can call on specialist suppor t with marketing, IT, compliance, HR, f inance, and franchise sales Franchisees benef it from Driver Hire’s bespoke IT system, and an award-winning website which helps generate candidates. In addition, Driver Hire’s national accounts team delivers signif icant business for franchisees, generating circa 20% of the network’s tur nover. n

To learn more franchise@driverhire.co.uk www.driverhirefranchise.co.uk

Unlock the potential of franchising at Olympia London

Fast-track your journey to business o wnership at London’s only franchise exhibition supported by the British Franchise Association.

On Friday 9 and Saturday 10 June, The British & Inter national Franchise Exhibition will once again open its doors to budding entrepreneurs, aspiring multi-unit franchisees and the franchisors of tomor row

This flagship event has been the highlight of the industr y calendar for over 30 years – and for good reason By combining leading franchise brands, a packed prog ramme of free talks and industr y exper ts under one roof, the exhibition offers attendees the chance to immerse themselves in the world of franchising

This year’s event will showcase franchise

oppor tunities to suit all budgets, interests, and ambitions Exhibiting brands include McDonald’s, Tutor Doctor, Visiting Angels, Platinum Proper ty Par tners, Black Sheep Coffee, The Massage Company, Flip Out, Kare Plus and many more, offering visitors the oppor tunity to lear n more about their options.

To help attendees take the next steps on their franchise jour ney, the event will offer access to a wealth of inspiration, education and practical advice

Specialist lawyers, funding providers, franchise consultants and representatives from the British Franchise Association

(BFA) will be on hand to offer complimentar y one-to-one advice on aspects of franchising

Plus, the BFA will deliver a series of independent seminars to provide a gateway into the industr y Sessions include ‘An introduction to franchising’ , ‘How to evaluate franchise opportunities’ and ‘Taking your next steps in franchising’

These invaluable presentations sit within an extensive prog ramme of over 50 free educational presentations and workshops covering all aspects of franchising Gain an in-depth insight into franchise trends, lear n more about specif ic franchise

models and discover the level of suppor t you can expect as a franchisee during franchisor-led seminars

McDonald’s Insight Sessions will give curious investors the chance to f ind out what it is like to be a franchisee with the iconic brand Representatives from the McDonald’s team will provide an over view of the oppor tunity and details on their f irst-class training prog ramme Pre-booking is essential via www.FranchiseInfo.co.uk.

During the Real Franchise Stories Q&A sessions, which will take place on each day of the event, visitors will benef it from f irst-hand accounts from successful franchisees who have ‘been there, done that ’ Attendees will lear n why panellists chose to invest, what they have lear nt along the way, and their top tips for prospective investors

Friday’s visitors will be treated to a

Keynote presentation by John Vincent, co-founder of the legendar y LEON During this unmissable session, Vincent will draw upon his personal experience of building one of the UK’s most notable brands to share his top f ive tips for franchise entrepreneurs

Existing franchisees looking to g row their por tfolios will gain invaluable insights from the Multi-unit Franchise Conference & Networking Lunch on Friday 9 June. Delegates will hear from successful multi-unit operators on a range of topics, including leading an expanding business and staying successful in evolving markets. Prebooking essential – email multiunit@vmgl com for more details

Tracy Shah, Senior Commercial Director at Venture Marketing Group, the event organisers, comments: “The British & Inter national Franchise Exhibition has helped thousands of visitors kickstar t

their jour ney to business ownership

This year’s event promises to be equally successful

“We are delighted to be back at Olympia London to showcase leading franchise brands alongside unparalleled educational content to help aspiring business-owners to unlock the potential of this lucrative business model ”

Tickets to the event are free. Pre-book online at www FranchiseTickets co uk

For more infor mation about what’s going on visit www.FranchiseInfo.co.uk. n

‘We are delighted to sho wcase leading franchise brands alongside unparalleled educational content to help aspiring business-o wners to unlock the potential of this lucrative business model.’

Chopstix plans to open 30 new stores following record sales

The UK Asian quick ser vice restaurant group, Chopstix, plans to open 30 new stores this year, creating almost 1,000 new jobs.

The rapid expansion, repor ts Chopstix, has been fuelled by record revenues, with system sales forecast to reach over £65m by the end of its f inancial year, an increase of over 40% on the previous year

The g roup projects revenue to rise even fur ther in the following 12-months with system sales of over £90m predicted, which it highlights as a signif icant landmark for a business founded on an initial investment of £80,000

Established in Camden Market, London, in 2002 by two entrepreneurs

Sam Elia and Menashe Sadik, the g roup has g rown steadily over the past two decades, before last year seeing a record number of 26 new restaurants opened

Chopstix says the business, which continues to be suppor ted by Metro Bank, now comprises locations across the UK and Ireland through a mix of company-owned outlets and franchises with brands such as Appleg reen, Spar ta Foods and Welcome Break

Competitor acquisition

The group kicked off 2023 with the acquisition of competitor, Chozen Noodle, comprising 27 motorway service area sites Chopstix expansion plans continue with a pipeline of new sites, through both company-owned and franchise models, including new equity stores at Bracknell in Berkshire and at Brent Cross in London, in addition to securing agreements with experienced operators like Sparta Foods, and trials with Haven and Butlin’s

Jon Lake, managing director of Chopstix Group, said: “We expect 2023 to be a

momentous year We’ve worked hard to build our team and f ine-tune our operational processes to ensure this is a highly scalable business that we can continue to g row rapidly

“We are already the largest Asianinspired quick ser vice restaurant brand in the UK, and with the effectiveness of the business and the breadth of appeal our dishes boast, we’re conf ident that the business can continue to expand at pace and become a tr ue household name in the next few years.”

Commenting on trading following Covid-19 lockdown restrictions Elia, said: “It is highly encouraging to see such marked rises in system sales In recent years, we have focused heavily on perfecting our back of house processes, which has really suppor ted rapid and effective expansion in footprint, par ticularly through the franchise model

It is highly encouraging to see such marked rises in system sales In recent years, we have focused heavily on perfecting our back of house processes, which has really supported rapid and effective expansion in footprint, particularly through the franchise model

“There is signif icant momentum behind the company, with the acquisition of Chozen and many new sites in the pipeline we are ver y conf ident about the year ahead and beyond ”

Sadik added: “We believe there’s scope to reach 500 UK sites, and we also want to g row inter nationally through franchising. Our flexible model means we can operate in forecour ts and food cour ts, town centres and shopping centres, holiday parks and retail parks

“We’re continuing to evolve, with air por ts and drive-thr u’s next on our list We’re just as passionate about Chopstix now as we were 20 years ago.”

Chopstix repor ts that a g rowing propor tion of sales are via its app that was launched last summer and has had 150,000 downloads The company has also found that its app users spend more per transaction than non-users Chopstix customers can also order through the deliver y providers, Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats n

To learn more

www.chopstixnoodles.co.uk

‘Our flexible model means we can operate in forecourts and food courts, to wn centres and shopping centres, holiday and retail parks.’

Oltco reaches recycling milestone through its 50 franchise regions

Oltco, the sustainable resin bound driveway and flooring company, has announced a milestone of recycling the equivalent of 500 million plastic straws from Recycle Bound, which utilises waste plastic that is already in circulation

Tom Stringer and Johnny Pearce, launched the Recycle Bound product for homeowners and businesses in 2019, and four years later has achieved this milestone through its 50 franchise areas in the UK and Channel Islands.

The company explains that its system uses waste plastic from straws, drink bottles and food packaging and each square metre of Recycle Bound consists of the equivalent of 3,000 plastic straws If Recycle Bound was laid on a standard 70 square metre drive, the company says the equivalent of 210,000 plastic straws would be recycled in the process

Growing up in Cor nwall, the co-directors of Oltco, Stringer and Pearce, said they saw f irst-hand the devastating effect plastic waste has on the coastline and they g rew increasingly concer ned about the effect it was having on our planet

Recycle Bound highlights that the system has achieved recognition from multiple awards, including ‘Product of the Year’ at the Cor nwall Business Awards, r unner-up in ‘Recycled Product of the Year’ at the National Recycling Awards and ‘Sustainability War rior’ from the British Franchise Association

Recycle Bound said the system has been

installed at leading visitor attractions across the UK, such as the Eden Project, National Tr ust Sheff ield Park & Garden, Bodmin Jail Hotel, Blackpool Sea Life Centre and RHS Harlow Car r Oltco adds that it recycled the equivalent of 1.7 million plastic straws in the resin pathways at the Eden Project

Stringer comments: “We have recycled the equivalent of 500 million plastic straws which is incredible It is so exciting and rewarding to see so many of our customers, both domestic and commercial, opting for Recycle Bound ”

Pearce added: “We are incredibly proud and won’t be stopping here as the number of plastic straws that are recycled in our Recycle Bound installations increases ever y day Here’s to the next 500 million.”

Oltco’s resin bound systems is suitable for a variety of installations from driveways to footpaths, playg rounds patios and balconies n

To learn more www.oltco.co.uk

Behrouz Bir yani offers the taste of India

Behrouz Bir yani, an inter national food brand owned by Rebel Foods, is celebrating a successful six months after taking its number of UK franchises from seven to 35

These impressive f igures said Behrouz puts the brand in good stead to smash its target of over 50 restaurant par tners by July this year

The company said that Behrouz is widely regarded as India’s most loved bir yani brand and a key name of Rebel Foods, the inter net restaurant operator

Last year marked Behrouz’s launch into the UK market Available by deliver y only, Behrouz aims to bring ‘Brits’ the authentic taste of India’s popular rice dish through its network of par tner restaurants Customers can order directly through its website, in addition to online platfor ms like Uber Eats.

Kaustubh Khare, brand countr y head for Behrouz Bir yani UK, said: “We’re passionate about celebrating what is cur rently an under represented dish here in the UK, while educating people on the right way to enjoy bir yanis

“We wanted to make premium bir yanis

accessible to expats craving the comfor t of home and Brits who want to enjoy the authentic flavour of one of India’s most popular dishes.

“Over the coming months, we’re looking forward to expanding our menu and reaching new customers as we enter new regions and cities across the countr y ”

Rebel Foods explains that Behrouz’s success lies in the g roup’s business model, which uses commercial kitchens to build inter net restaurant brands to deliver delicious meals to customers’ doorsteps

Operating system

Using the Rebel Operating System, Behrouz mar ries culinar y innovation with technology from inventor y and kitchen management, to demand management, fulf illment and maintaining food quality

Cur rent par tner restaurants can be found across major cities including London, Manchester, Bir mingham and Leeds

Khare continued: “It’s not just about our fantastic food, for us Behrouz is also about suppor ting the UK hospitality industr y, which is still, in many ways,

recovering following the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis

“Our innovative franchise model allows existing restaurants to become a franchise with us, and supplement their income by working with a successful inter national brand par tner, without having to upskill or take on new staff

“With Behrouz, our vision is to offer food lovers an indulgent royal bir yani experience and food operators the chance to increase their prof it without high risk ”

The Behrouz menu cur rently offers a variety of chicken, mutton and vegetable bir yani, in addition to its popular dishes such as Dum Gosht Mutton bir yani and Lazeez Chicken Bhuna bir yani The menu caters to multiple preferences, including halal, and offers a selection of kebabs and naans as side orders.

Behrouz cur rently ser ves customers from over 350 restaurants across India, UAE and the UK n

To learn more https://behrouzbir yani.co.uk

franchisee’s thinking of selling, a critical first step is to engage your franchisor’

By Gillian Morris, UK Head of Franchising, HSBC

By any measurement, the last few years have been challenging; few businesses have remained untouched Over the last three years, we have navigated our way through the COVID 19 pandemic, recr uitment challenges and inflationar y cost pressures All businesses in some ways have had to g rapple with one of these, if not all

Having come through these challenges, an increasing number of business owners have decided that now is the right time to refocus, step back and look for new challenges (even if it’s perfecting the golf swing)

Resales are increasingly the most impor tant topic for franchisors and franchisees Selling a non-franchised business can be relatively straightforward – if the buyer and seller ag ree ter ms, then they can hand the process over to their lawyers In franchising, it is not as simple as that, as there is the inevitable third par ty involved – the franchisor

For franchisees thinking of selling, a critical f irst step is to engage their franchisor, as each brand will have their own requirements and restrictions The franchisor will be interested and, in many circumstances will need to approve potential acquirers, they will want to be satisf ied that future franchisees meet their requirements and will suppor t the future g rowth of their brand

Often, franchisors will already have a potential list of acquirers including existing franchisees in the network and those seeking to buy an established business Existing franchisees are often the best pool of potential buyers as they will have already been vetted by the

franchisor and most likely to be approved candidates. Existing management and employees are another pool of potential buyers Whilst Management Buyouts are now a familiar ter m, an emerging sale route is to

Employee Share Ownership Tr usts

Often a brand will be seeking to broaden the skill base or demog raphics of their franchisee base and will work with selected franchise consultants to source potential new buyers who they believe will develop and g row their brand.

Mature brands will be able to provide high level guidance on historic business valuations. It’s unlikely that your franchisor will provide more detailed advice on the value of your business, as whilst they will want to ensure the outgoing franchisee achieves the best

possible price, they will also be interested in the success of the incoming franchisee and ensuring that they have a long-ter m sustainable relationship

Therefore, it’s impor tant to remember that these are for guidance as the nature of the business will drive the valuation and often are bespoke considerations to that franchisee.

Factors driving the optimum valuation will include the value of goodwill within your business, whether your income stream is contracted, its location and attractiveness to other buyers your franchise business may be more valuable if you have competing bids.

Additionally, a buyer may be willing to pay more if the seller is flexible around payment ter ms, including defer red

A buyer may be willing to pay more if the seller is flexible around payment terms, including deferred payment terms which may or may not be conditional on the business meeting future performance targets.

About the author

Gillian Morris has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services sector and was appointed as UK Head of Franchising, HSBC UK in Januar y 2022 Morris joined HSBC in 2017, as par t of HSBC’s Commercial team in Nor thern Ireland and in Januar y 2019 became Head of Corporate Banking & Agriculture, Nor thern Ireland for HSBC UK

Prior to joining HSBC, she worked for Lloyds Banking Group, based in London, having joined as a graduate trainee Her career to date has encompassed relationship banking, structured asset finance as well as strategy development and business per formance

She holds a Law degree from Queen’s University, Belfast and a BSc(Hons) in Banking and Finance from UMIST and is an Associate of the Char tered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) franchiseunit@hsbc.com www.business.hsbc.uk/hsbc-franchising

‘For

ADVICE FOR FRANCHISEES

payment ter ms which may or may not be conditional on the business meeting future perfor mance targets

Ag reed valuations will take into consideration many factors which will differ from sector to sector but from a banking perspective, we are interested in the ratio of the sale price to the historic cashflow generation (also known as EBITDA or Ear nings Before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amor tisation).

The EBITDA demonstrates the cashflow generation of the business and critically, the business’ ability to sustainably repay any debt that is incur red as par t of the acquisition The ability of a business to afford any associated debt repayments of an acquisition will be the driving factor in a bank’s ability to f inancially suppor t an acquisition

Whilst a buyer may be willing to pay g reater multiples than the bank is willing to fund, EBITDA will be reviewed over a number of years to ensure that the

EBITDA generated is stable and sustainable, this provides the Bank and the buyer with some protection in the event that sales decline, or costs increase (inflationar y pressures, interest rate increases, etc )

Once a potential buyer or buyer(s) has been lined up, there will be critical considerations around Asset Sale versus Share Sale In a share sale, the buyer purchases the shares in the trading company, the ownership of the company changes but the trading business continues as before

Whereas in an asset sale, the trading business is transfer red from buyer to seller and after completion, the seller is left with a shell company, with the assets transfer red to the buyer The business is operated by the buyer through a different legal entity

Each have their merits and the route chosen will often depend on the sector, the legal nature of the business (is it

Maldives expansion for British Youth International College

The British Youth Inter national College (BYITC) repor ts that it is expanding into the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, following the success of its pioneering game-based maths lear ning prog ramme for children in Sri Lanka

BYITC, a Scottish college founded in 2015 by Glasgow-based academic and educator Dr Rashmi Mantri (right), star ted as an in-person tuition prog ramme with classes in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and now offers online tuition reaching students around the world

The move to the Maldives is being led by Jude Xavier, BYITC’s franchisee in Sri Lanka, who has been impressed with the results of the company’s maths prog ramme using a counting tool that has been used for millennia – the abacus

Xavier said: “I really like the way gamebased lear ning has helped our children improve their maths calculation and visualise solutions faster than a calculator. Our students have improved their mental arithmetic skills so much that they’re known as ‘Maths Mavericks’ when they go back to their regular schools.”

Businessman, Xavier, is also the founder and chief executive of Anka Cor poration, a g roup of businesses based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, incor porating commodity

trading as a sole trader, par tnership, or limited company)

Vitally impor tant considerations will include whether the business has existing employees who are transfer ring with the business, whether the business operates from leased premises (which would require landlord’s consent) and of course what f inance ag reements are in place, including asset f inance and loans

The method chosen to transfer the business to a seller will have tax and legal implications, so it is ver y impor tant that sellers engage legal and accounting professionals, with franchise experience to ensure that they get the right advice for their circumstances Your bank, or trade association will be able to signpost you to a panel of professionals to talk to

Whilst this may appear daunting, don’t be put off as selling your business can be an exciting step and can open the doors to the next chapter of new oppor tunities and experiences n

trading, and shipping and technology solutions for hospitality, education and renewable energy sectors

BYITC delivers online abacus maths prog rammes and explains that it has developed the f irst games-based abacus maths application, with brightly coloured g raphics and characters inspired by digital games, designed to engage children in the lear ning process

Dr Mantri said she was proud the positive impact BYITC’s prog ramme was having on Xavier’s students: “We are thrilled to continue our par tnership with Mr Xavier and to work towards our shared goal of providing quality education to children across the globe and making fun-tastic maths lear ning ”

BYITC says The Maldives business will become its 11th franchise ter ritor y operating globally (including Dubai and the UK) teaching maths, in addition to English, cyber security and prog ramming n

Water Babies introduces ‘Oceans of Imagination’

Water Babies, the baby and early years swimming school franchise, has announced a brand-new immersive experience for families – a swimming jour ney to help little ones lear n a skill for life – through its ‘Oceans of Imagination’ prog ramme

A vibrant and stimulating lear ning jour ney for little ones, Water Babies says its Oceans of Imagination will unlock new challenges for children As their skills develop, they uncover missions around core aquatic skills, swimming strokes and water safety Fun and swimming prog ress will go hand-in-hand through pur poseful play.

Water Babies explains that its prog ramme will immerse children into a fantastical world with f ive dynamic characters known as ‘The Swimvincibles’ to encourage a passion and awareness of the water

Four islands – each representing a core area of swimming – have been created by Water Babies where children will work towards achieving key milestones to collect stickers, cer tif icates and

badges to recognise their prog ression of swimming skills

Hannah Smith, director of aquatics at Water Babies, says: “With our new exciting islands and amazing Swimvincibles, families will be able to fully immerse themselves into their swimming jour ney, as it will explain to children and carers why we teach the skills we do in our classes, to fully understand their child’s own and unique swimming jour ney ”

Paul Thompson, co-founder of Water Babies, adds: “We have a lot to be proud

of – for over 20 years we’ve been providing highly trained teachers and an exper tly developed swim prog ramme

“We understand the pressures faced by parents, that’s why our classes are nur turing and suppor tive in and out of the pool; as well as giving little ones the best star t in life We’re passionate about holistic lear ning, and our Oceans of Imagination is tailored to ever y stage, prioritising children’s personal development

“For babies, our classes provide a sensor y playg round and give parents and little ones the bonding time that’s so impor tant; but as children get older, the prog ramme has the scope to develop as they do – becoming more engaging and deepening in relevance and meaning ”

Founded in 2002, Water Babies says it has over 52 franchised outlets with around 600 teachers providing swimming tuition to over 52,000 little ones ever y week through its network across the UK, Ireland, Canada, The Netherlands and China

Water Babies adds that it is the only baby swimming school with its own pool consultancy ser vice and its own inhouse, award-winning underwater baby photog raphy unit n

To learn more www.waterbabies.co.uk

A REAL Business Opportunity with Caremark - The REAL Care Company

pie and, the oppor tunity to build a £1m tur nover business within three years.

The big oppor tunity comes from providing REAL care to all people! Providing home care to ever yone that needs it, enables our franchise owners to r un hugely successful businesses. In addition, they provide a well-needed and valued ser vice to their community and change lives for the better in the process!

As The REAL Care Company, Caremark’s business offering delivers both f inancial and personal rewards in a market that is g rowing year on year, driven by an ageing population and a health ser vice that is relying ever more on private care companies to provide care at home. Home care is recession proof and g rowing!

We have worked hard to build our brand in all markets across the entire home care industr y We ser vice private customers who pay for their own care as well as customers who require their local authority to ar range care for them For you, this means you have access to the entire home care market, not just a por tion of it

Our reputation is not only based on 17 years of experience and a business model that is proven to be resilient to

economic instability, but more impor tantly, our understanding of REAL care; putting people f irst and living the values of respect, honesty, integ rity, and teamwork.

This caring culture is present in ever y aspect of Caremark’s operation, from top to bottom, from the way we suppor t our customers through to care staff and onward through the operational and management teams

Our network of 120 plus off ices all reflect our culture because we believe in getting the caring for mula right By really caring about our customers and staff, a spirit of loyalty and teamwork is fostered amongst our staff which translates into delivering a caring, quality ser vice

This is what makes us different. And successful.

We’re justif iably proud of our f ine-tuned business model too because it suppor ts business owners to operate successfully in all home care markets, giving them ever y oppor tunity to build a long-ter m, prof itable business This means you can have a slice of the whole care industr y

Caring about you means we suppor t and guide you from the moment you join us and onwards through your business life:

● Two-week comprehensive, intensive induction training prog ramme setting you up to be launch ready

● High level of suppor t with only 20-25 off ices per regional suppor t manager

● Compliance suppor t from specialist quality manager

You don’t need to have a backg round in care to join us either. We’re looking for compassionate people with good business acumen and management experience; individuals who are excited by the idea of building a long-ter m care business and making a positive contribution to their local community

If this sounds like you, this is your chance to change your life and improve the lives of many others

At a Glance

Established: 2005

Number of franchised outlets: 132

Location of units: UK, India, Ireland and Malta

Investment range: up to £118,000

Minimum required capital: £37,500

Contact: 01903 266 392

franchise@caremarklimited co uk franchise caremark co uk n

If you’re looking to invest in a business that not only delivers profit but also makes a REAL difference to your community, you need to explore Caremark’s big opportunity.

How to generate local PR for your business...

and what’s the point of doing so, anyway?

As a franchisee, or any business owner, what’s one of the most impor tant factors that deter mines your success? The title of this ar ticle is a bit of a giveaway really, but a question is a g reat way to make a point, isn’t it?

This all-impor tant and not-so-secret key to success centres around your ability to generate positive publicity and build a strong reputation within your local community More commonly known as PR

What’s the point of PR?

Well, forgive me for saying but if people don’t know you exist, they’re unlikely to buy from you And, arguably worse, if they do know you exist but don’t like, tr ust or rate you, then not only will then never buy from you, but they may influence others not to either Yikes

Here then, is where local PR – public relations – comes in Local PR is all about creating a positive image of your business within your local community by telling stories about the businesses and people who live, study and work there And it can be incredibly effective in generating buzz, attracting customers, and building tr ust

We’re in a hearts and minds era

Whether you like it or not. And no matter what product or ser vice your business offers, you must speak to the hear t if you want to engage the mind and compel people to act.

Anyone who has chatted to me, or anyone else at Rev PR for that matter, since the star t of the pandemic will attest to the fact that on this point, we sound a bit like a stuck record But that’s because it’s so impor tant and something that even

now, many business owners are still getting wrong LIKE and TRUST are two of the most impor tant cur rencies in the world of business today

So, how do you actually ‘do’ local PR?

Admittedly, it can feel daunting to put yourself and your business under the spotlight Many franchisees (and franchisors for that matter) tell us that they simply don’t know what to talk about or where to star t You’ll be pleased to know, none of what you need to do is rocket-science It does, however, require time, energy and commitment. But tr ust me, it’s wor th it!

Rev PR’s top tips to get you started

Identify your target audience Before you star t creating your local PR strategy, it’s

impor tant to identify who your target audience is This could be potential customers, investors, or even other businesses in your community Once you know who you’re targeting, you can tailor your messaging and tactics to appeal to them

Build relationships with local jour nalists These contacts have g reat influence and can be powerful allies in generating local PR for your business Take the time to research local jour nalists who cover your industr y, or your niche within it or regularly cover the type of stor y you’re hoping to take out to them

Reach out with a friendly introduction prior to or at the ver y least, with a pitch for a stor y Building relationships with jour nalists takes time and effor t but will pay dividends in the long r un

Well, forgive me for saying but if people don’t know you exist, they’re unlikely to buy from you And, arguably worse, if they do know you exist but don’t like, trust or rate you, then not only will then never buy from you, but they may influence others not to either.

About the author

Co-founder of Rev PR, Lucy Archer is a passionate franchise professional with over a decade of experience She is a member of the Char tered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), the Public Relations and Communications Association and a BFA Qualified Franchise Professional

Rev PR currently holds the title of Best Franchise Awards ‘Best Franchise Supplier ’ and, in the last two years, was crowned Outstanding Small Consultancy by the CIPR and took Silver for Best PR & Marketing business in the Best Business Women Awards

Passionate about the power of brand stor ytelling, Archer and the team at Rev PR help franchisors and franchisees to grow their businesses, empower their teams and create legacies for themselves and their families

lucy@revpr.co.uk

www.revpr.co.uk

3

Host events and sponsor local causes If you’re just star ting out, a g rand opening event is a must and the ideal way to generate your f irst pieces of local PR Whether you are premises-based or work from home, have a ser vice or product, are a B2B or B2C business, there’s a way to generate coverage around your launch Check out the resource centre on our website for some advice and how-to guides

But what about if you’re already wellestablished or never got round to holding a g rand opening? In this case, hosting a timely, themed event or sponsoring local causes is a g reat way to get your business in the spotlight Consider par tnering with a local charity or nonprof it, inviting some of their key stakeholders along and genuinely doing your bit to raise money, awareness or make a difference

Or why not host an open day or experience, a free trial or a communityfocused event that aims to bring people together and tackle a local issue This is where a franchisee’s local knowledge becomes invaluable because you know what is happening in your area and you must leverage that knowledge!

4

Create valuable content This is key to generating any PR for your business, but especially local PR What issues are affecting people in your area right now? What questions do your customers have? What infor mation and knowledge do you possess that your target audiences need to know? This is a classic case of ‘give a little, get a lot’

The beauty of this type of content is that not only does it generate local PR and, therefore, raise awareness of your brand, it also sets you as a local exper t and a business that people can tr ust That’s what we call a win-win Don’t forget you should squeeze ever y last drop out of this content by repur posing it for use on your blog, across social media and even as video content

5

Leverage local social media Social media is often seen as a sweeping,

national and even global monster that cannot be tamed But that’s just not tr ue Used thoughtfully, social media can be a powerful tool for generating and spreading local PR for your business Research appropriate local g roups and identify key influencers – be that by industr y, interest or even location. Build relationships and look for ways you can genuinely work with influencers that will benef it both audiences

Keep it local

This could be the biggest tip of all! It sounds obvious but if you want to be in your local media, make sure your stories and news items are locally focused Hyper local is perfect The more local references you can bring in, the more village, town or city histor y you can cite, the more generations of a local family linked in, the better Remember to include those details in your pitches to really g rab the attention of your media contacts

Generating local PR for your business takes time and effor t – all the best things do, right? But with an ongoing focus and commitment, you will attract new customers, build tr ust, and position your business for long-ter m success What’s not to love?

Shift your perspective

There’s also one f inal – and ver y impor tant – nugget that works on any level, be it local, regional or national. It’s actually about a mindset shift rather than a specif ic action And it’s to stop tr ying to sell when you talk to customers in your content. People are looking for more – for connection, for community, for pur pose Hear ts and minds And the best way to do that is through stories –so, go tell them.

Team Rev regularly write ar ticles about hot topics and share PR advice like this to help you make the most of your PR activity To make sure you don’t miss out, follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter or Instag ram And, if you fancy a chat about local PR in more detail then get in touch n

To learn more lucy@revpr.co.uk www.revpr.co.uk

Recognition Express’ new catalogue

RECOGNITION EXPRESS is all set for its busiest season, as schools and businesses invest in branded merchandise for the coming academic year, autumn conferences and events.

In readiness for this heightened demand, the franchisor has published its 2023/24 catalogue, full of new products including drinkware, made from ‘Prevented Ocean Plastic’ that has been recycled after collection from coastal areas

Chris Masters, managing director of Recognition Express, says the catalogue is an impor tant marketing asset for franchisees, complementing the online presence

“We always see a spike in franchisees’ sales at this time of year, so the annual catalogue is strategically timed to suppor t and extend that When customers look online, they often already know what they’re looking for. The catalogue allows them to browse in a different way, stimulating ideas they may not have considered before ”

Recognition Express explains that franchisees can order a quota of catalogues for their own use or take advantage of centralised distribution

To view their product range click here n

Heartcore announces global franchise plans for its pilates studio

The UK boutique pilates brand, Hear tcore, has announced new expansion plans with the launch of an inter national franchise model seeking to open new studios worldwide

Hear tcore, founded by Jessie Blum (pictured) in 2007, has seven London studios in addition to its digital offering of livestream and on-demand classes that have attracted clients across the globe.

The company explains that each Hear tcore studio is carefully designed to feel like a home away from home to make the member experience tr uly immersive, and its distinctive franchise oppor tunity will enable like-minded entrepreneurs to establish a studio in their own market, joining an inter national community passionate about mindful movement

The brand says it is known as the exper ts in ‘Dynamic Pilates’, which delivers transfor mative results for both mind and body, improving mobility, flexibility and strength Classes are low-impact, making them accessible to a wider demog raphic, and with a level of adaptability that makes it suitable for all body types.

Each franchisee will receive a tailormade Hear tcore Franchise Package, which includes exper t suppor t in business planning, studio management and marketing, alongside in-depth teacher training Teachers at franchise studios will also be par t of Hear tcore’s ongoing training prog ramme, enabling them to continue their education and consistently deliver the most transfor mational workout.

Franchisees will also get access to its ‘Corefor mer’, a pilates refor mer designed by Blum that is exclusive to Hear tcore Its innovative design includes an extra-wide and long car riage, two platfor ms and a patented foot bar mechanism, which makes it easy to use and adaptable for ever y shape

Hear tcore’s digital platfor m was initially launched in 2020 to maintain operations during Covid lockdowns, which has now g rown to the creation of a global community including clients in Cape Town, Dubai, New York, Paris, Sydney and Tokyo

Blum said that over the last 17 years Hear tcore has gone from strength to

strength with over 100,000 people ‘moving together’ since its doors opened: “From the success of our London studios, each unique to their neighbourhood, to the thousands of members that move with us from around the world; our success is in the results we continuously achieve

“Now, we’re excited to replicate this success in markets across the globe by inviting those that share our values to join our community By doing so, not only will our par tners gain a unique wellness offering and tailor-made equipment, but they will reap the knowledge and insight of a founder-led business nearly two decades in the making ” n

To learn more

www.weareheartcore.com/en-gb/owna-studio

Wing Kingz is really going places and wants you along for the ride

Ever ything about the Wing Kingz brand is designed to be noticed. This exciting, new QSR brand is really creating a buzz

Don’t you think that when people head out on the town, they want more than just another restaurant, and Wing Kingz is anything but Customers will f ind g reat food, a g reat atmosphere and fantastic spor ting events all wrapped up in some serious swagger and style

Wing Kingz star ted their franchise recr uitment drive towards the end of 2022 with the launch of their new website and they’ve been inundated with enquiries from potential franchisees up and down the UK, and even a couple of enquiries from people wanting to open Wing Kingz restaurants overseas

Pictured below is their new branded Wing Kingz Wagon which is causing

quite a stir in Wing Kingz hometown of Milton Keynes.

Why is Wing Kingz proving to be such a popular franchise?

It is a brand that has perfectly captured the vibe and atmosphere customers are looking for:

● They have a world-class leadership team who are making their skills and experience available

● Wing Kingz takes the guesswork out of star ting a new business with a proven model

● Fantastic ear ning potential with six f igure income possible from just year two.

Of course, these are just some of the reasons why this is such a g reat oppor tunity. Another is the incredible launch package they are offering all new franchisees to give them the best possible star t In tr ue Wing Kingz style, they will be going all out with an initial six week Sky adver tising campaign for the local area

A snapshot of success at Wing Kingz, Milton Keynes

More and more customers are coming in all the time, and the restaurant has repor ted sales are up a whopping 11 per cent in Q1 2023 compared to the same

quar ter last year With their wide range of spor ting events and war m, friendly ambience, they are seeing a lot of new customers alongside some loyal, repeat business

On top of that, Wing Kingz consistently list as one of the top f ive take-away options for customers in Milton Keynes on Deliveroo – right up there with all the biggest name brands like McDonald’s, Nandos, and KFC

It just goes to show there is no cost of living crisis when it comes to g reat food and g reat atmosphere

Don’t miss your chance to get involved?

With so much interest being generated in this franchise, it’s only a matter of time before we star t seeing Wing Kingz restaurants popping up in towns and cities right across the countr y

Each one of those is going to be one less ter ritor y up for g rabs It could ver y well be the one you’ve got your eye on

So, if you’re interested in star ting your own restaurant business with Wing Kingz, get in touch soon It’s as simple as scheduling a call HERE or visit: wingkingzfranchise co uk n

Ovenu - The UK's original oven valeting franchise.

No experience necessaryin depth oven valeting and business operation training

Recession proof business

Enquiries from day one

Tried, tested & trusted since 1994

Exclusive territory

Bespoke, unique cleaning products generating

spectacular results

Set your own schedule

Get involved from

£7,400 + VAT

Benefit from 40,000+ client reviews & testimonials for our specialist service

Investing in your CRM system could transform your business

By Rik Hellewell, Founder and Managing Director, Ovenu

Ihad a message from a franchisee the other day to let me know they were doing a ‘jig of joy’ while on holiday in Tenerife The unlikely source of such merriment was Ovenu’s customer relationship management system (CRM)

When we introduced our first CRM back in 2017, it was difficult to persuade some franchisees to abandon age-old practices of scribbling down quotes or bookings in a diary or, even worse, on scraps of paper

Since then, Ovenu has constantly invested in and evolved its bespoke CRM system to ensure it’s the best in the sector, providing a comprehensive end-to-end service.

This not only ensures compliance with Data Protection Laws and GDPR as well as online and distance selling

regulations, but delivers exceptional results for franchisees and clients alike

The delight, which prompted that message from the Canary Islands, was due to the fact that the franchisee had accessed the CRM system via their smartphone and had booked in two clients a day for an oven clean whilst they were away

They went on to explain that they had set aside a daily 10 minutes, spent by the pool, during the holiday to deal with incoming enquiries, organise quotes and confirm bookings. Happy in the knowledge they wouldn’t arrive home to face a mountain of admin

Even 1,900 miles away, they were still able to run their business seamlessly and with maximum efficiency because they had access to all the necessary information.

By law, if you organise anything at arms-length, over the phone or online, and the product or services has a value in excess of £42, then the business is legally required to provide an itemised record of the transaction

As well as the usual features, Ovenu’s CRM possesses unique features including an accounting facility, that can raise sub-contractor invoices, and a data analysis function allowing franchisees to see which services and products generate the best income and highlights where they are getting the best returns on their investment

It also provides access to the Ovenu operations manual, which includes help and guidance, as well as tutorials

The majority of enquiries are directly uploaded to the platform and accessed by the franchisees, who then call the clients directly to discuss their requirements. If a client wishes to proceed, the system confirms the quote and the full booking details are sent to them, followed by a reminder email 24-hours prior to the visit.

The franchisees have a copy of the transaction accessible from their phone, tablet, or laptop. In many cases Ovenu franchisees will organise a repeat visit as they finish up an oven clean at the

ADVICE FOR FRANCHISORS

client’s home, as well as organising email reminders The system’s final task is to issue a receipt

The ability to confirm an appointment up to six months ahead is also beneficial to the client, as the price is guaranteed at the time of booking.

Cyber security and identity fraud is a major issue these days, both for franchisees and clients, and the CRM system is dedicated to keeping that information safe in the Cloud, with all data protected and encrypted

By law, if you organise anything at arms-length, over the phone or online, and the product or services has a value in excess of £42, then the business is legally required to provide an itemised record of the transaction, even down to the name of the technician who will undertake the task, and a form allowing the client to cancel their booking

Maintaining strict compliance to these rules helps preserve and uphold Ovenu’s five star reputation and underlines our commitment to our clients that we act in a transparent and equitable way An approach that helps us remain ahead of our competitors

The majority of our franchisees now fully appreciate and embrace the benefits of the CRM system, which is not only simple to use and access but helps streamline their business, giving them additional time to devote to delivering an exceptional service and generating greater income. Not to mention their improved work/life balance

While the system is extremely accurate, we find clients don’t want a completely automated response, which is why our franchisees always follow-up with a phone call to discuss the services available and what is best suited to their requirements

About Ovenu

Ovenu is one of the leading UK and international domestic oven cleaning and valeting specialist The process involves dismantling key components of an oven and placing them into design-registered equipment, which uses non-caustic, non-toxic and biodegradable products to clean the oven par ts

This maintains that hugely valuable personal connection between franchisee and client and further reinforces our high customer satisfaction rates

Ovenu’s CRM has steadily evolved over the years to become the ultimate tool that works with, and for, our local area franchisees and it has transformed the business by making the whole network more streamlined, successful and profitable n

To learn more www.ovenufranchise.co.uk

Bright & Beautiful shines with 30 per cent growth

Bright & Beautiful repor ts that the company is celebrating two consecutive record-breaking years with over 30 per cent g rowth, in addition to expanding to over 73 franchisees across the UK

The company puts the success down to not only its proven business model but also g reater demand post-Covid, with fewer competitors in the marketplace

Jo Vorwerg, managing director of Bright

& Beautiful, comments: “2022 was a phenomenal year for Bright & Beautiful with our franchisees experiencing huge g rowth, which is set to continue in 2023 and beyond

“I am so proud to be leading this innovative, deter mined and resilient network and also the Bright & Beautiful business development team who strive daily to suppor t our franchisees

“We are all so excited about the future of

our brand and know that 2023 will be another year of g rowth and achievements ”

A sur vey conducted by Bright & Beautiful in 2022 showed that 94 per cent of their clients said its hardworking team and their ser vices ‘make their homes happier’

The housekeeping ser vice provides as little or as much cleaning suppor t to suit the client from regular cleans, to post-build, end of tenancy and holiday let cleans The company adds that it employs and trains professional housekeepers who pride themselves on delivering its outstanding ser vices n

To learn more www.brightandbeautifulhome.com

PVC Vendo resale sold to its long-standing employee

After 19 years working as an employee for a PVC Vendo franchisee, Richard Smithson (below) saw the oppor tunity to take the reins of the business following the retirement of the owner Nick Clifton, and has now become the franchisee for Bar nsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheff ield

The resale ter ritor y of the commercial vehicle cleaning franchise was established in 1991 and Smithson says no changes are cur rently planned for the operation that employs two full-time members of staff but his goal is to expand it into a family business.

Smithson, having worked for Clifton since 2004, said he felt ver y comfor table with his decision to buy the business as he knew it was successful and prof itable: “Nick is still a g reat friend and mentor and I’ve got the daily advice and suppor t of my franchisor behind me too, which gives me g reat peace of mind ”

Explaining his ambition of having a family business, Smithson says: “My goal is to expand and tur n it into a proper family business My son Aaron joined us during the pandemic when his school was closed, and has never looked

back He loves being out in the vans all day, meeting customers and washing their vehicles to our ver y high PVC Vendo standards.

“He’s only 18 so has a lot to lear n, despite regularly asking me when he can become a par tner, but that ambition is g reat to see and I’m hoping my daughter Jordan (20) will come and work with us soon too, to make it a real family affair ”

Smithson and his team visit depots across Yorkshire, seven days a week, to wash commercial vehicles for clients who have anything from seven to 70 vehicles to keep clean The business also offers an inter nal cab cleaning ser vice, SaniClean, developed at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to sanitise vehicles

David Callister, operations director of PVC Vendo, was pleased that Smithson had bought the business having years of experience of vehicle cleaning

Callister comments: “We’ve been working with Richard to ensure he is just as conf ident with the paperwork and administrative duties as well.

“One of the huge benef its of a PVC Vendo franchise is that we deal with credit control at the head off ice, meaning franchisees don’t ever get involved in

chasing clients for payment Franchisees are paid, much like an employee, on a set day each month, and it is up to us at head off ice to collect payment from their clients, which we then pass on to them

“We have many father-and-son teams working together at PVC Vendo and it is wonderful to see it working so well for Richard and Aaron too We wish Richard the ver y best of luck and look forward to seeing the franchise prosper and g row over the coming years ”

PVC Vendo, owned by the franchise g roup Taylor Made Franchising, explains that the business is r un almost entirely through an app developed by the g roup

The app advises the mobile operative where and when the next appointment is and which vehicles are scheduled for cleaning An aler t is then sent to the vehicle owner or depot manager after the job is completed and automatically sends out the invoice to the customer

The company ser ves a variety of commercial clients including businesses with refrigerated and food-car r ying vehicles through to general haulage, security vehicles and fuel tankers n

To learn more

www.taylormadefranchising.co.uk

Why home tutoring has

You are no doubt well aware of how much help schools and local authorities need to deliver their educational goals. They’ve always str uggled to help those students most in need to fulf il their tr ue potential and pass their exams

In recent years home tutoring has become ver y much par t of their key policy, rather than just an add on for cer tain parents and schools.

Since the pandemic, there has been unprecedented demand for home tutoring ser vices to help deal with so many students who have fallen behind due to months, or even years, of missing school

As a result, the gover nment is offering 60% funding to schools for the ser vice for this cur rent academic year, par ticularly through the National Tutoring Prog ramme (NTP) set up in 2020

The success of the NTP and how you can be a part of it

Renowned social mobility foundation, the Sutton Tr ust, recently released a repor t which makes fascinating reading for anyone already in, or thinking of getting into, this business It’s well wor th taking the time to go through, but here are their key f indings about the impact of NTP:

● In early 2020, 10% of secondar y school leaders repor ted that one-toone and small g roup tuition was their priority for pupil premium spending that year By 2022 this was 34%

● Between November 2020 (the launch

of the NTP) and October 2022, there were 2,854,648 course star ts by pupils

● The NTP should be seen as a core par t of the school system going forward, with deliver y re-focused in the long ter m to tackle the attainment gap

● Given the strong evidence behind the effectiveness of tutoring, gover nment funding for NTP should continue with more schools encouraged to engage with it

Suff ice to say, home tutoring is well on its way to becoming an integ ral par t of the mainstream education system in the UK

Choice Home Tutoring franchise par tners are continuing to benef it from the NTP and others like it, ver y high levels of calls and refer rals from local schools

Unless there is a rapid, fundamental change in how schools are funded and str uctured, this looks set to continue for a long time, especially with suppor t from such respected bodies as the Sutton Tr ust

By joining the Choice Home Tutoring franchise, you too can be par t of an established business model which has a reputation for excellence all across the UK, and also become a gover nment accredited provider for the NTP

Interested in learning more?

Then why don’t you get in touch? You will want to make sure you get your facts straight before making your decision, and that’s where we come in There’s absolutely no pressure, and we are more than happy to take you through the f iner details of how this franchise might work for you

To contact Choice Home Tutoring please schedule a call with us HERE or complete our for m HERE n

... home tutoring is well on its way to becoming an integral part of the mainstream education system in the UK

never been so important, or in greater demand, than it is now

Are you a franchisor who is worried about resales in your network?

By Michael Bohan, Managing Director, Franchise Resales

Resales can be a g reat thing for both you and your franchisees In fact, by including exit planning in your franchising process, you are setting yourself up for long-ter m success

As a franchisor, your responsibility doesn’t end once a franchisee signs on the dotted line You need to continue nur turing your network and encouraging g rowth for as long as possible One way to do that is by including exit planning in your franchising process

When a franchisor provides exit planning strategies, franchisees have all the infor mation they need to achieve the best price when it comes time to sell or retire from the business This ensures a smooth exit from your network, keeping ever yone happy

But the benef its of resales go beyond just a smooth exit for franchisees When a franchisee decides to sell, it provides you with an oppor tunity to bring in a new and enthusiastic business owner who will continue to g row the business and your brand This incoming franchisee can bring fresh ideas, a new perspective, and potentially added value to your network

But how do you ensure that you are choosing the right candidate to purchase a business in your network? When your franchisees choose to sell with Franchise Resales, we make sure we understand what you are looking for in a franchisee This ensures that the incoming franchisee is a good f it for your network and has the potential to continue g rowing the business

Exit planning can also help your franchisees achieve the best possible

price for their business When exit planning strategies are provided, your network will be able to think about what is impor tant for them in the process of building their business This knowledge will help them achieve a g reat retur n on their investment.

Once all ter ritories in your network are sold, it’s a huge sign of a successful franchise But it can also help to increase the demand for a resale – when they come along Mature brands on average have 10 per cent of their network for sale each year This means that resales can become a regular occur rence, which is why it’s impor tant to have exit planning strategies in place

So, don’t fear resales in your network By giving your franchisees a helping hand with their exit planning, you are assisting their success and their smooth depar ture from the network And who knows, the purchaser of their business might just be the perfect f it to take your network to the next level

At Franchise Resales, we offer free exit planning seminars to help your franchisees prepare for their future exit

About the author

from the business These bespoke seminars are tailored to your franchise network and provide your franchisees with the knowledge and skills they need to create a successful exit plan

An exit plan is more than just a plan for the end, it’s a plan for the jour ney In order to be successful, your franchisees must f irst reach the milestones that are set out in their plan

Our exit planning seminars cover a range of topics, including:

● Understanding the process of selling a business.

● Deter mining the value of your business.

● Preparing your business for sale

● Identifying potential buyers

● Negotiating a sale

But our suppor t doesn’t end there We continue to work with your franchisees throughout their jour ney, providing ongoing guidance and suppor t We understand that selling a business can be a stressful and emotional time, which is why we are here to make the process as smooth as possible n

Michael Bohan is a seasoned professional in the franchising sector, having worked in the industr y since 2010 He star ted his career as a recruitment consultant for a local franchise operation in Lincoln and quickly developed a passion for franchising

Bohan has gained extensive experience in various aspects of the industr y, including franchise resales, exit strategies and business development Today, Bohan is the Managing Director of Franchise Resales, a UK-based company that specialises in helping franchisees sell their businesses In this role, he has been instrumental in modernising the company’s operations through the development of a new CRM system and website michaelb@franchiseresales.co.uk www.franchiseresales.co.uk

Your

WorkBuzz would like to invite you to take part in the 2023 Best Franchise Awards Programme & Awards. This is your opportunity to nd out how satis ed your network are and be recognized as one of the best franchisors in the industry

The WorkBuzz Benchmark Satisfaction Survey is an integral part of our working practice; it is the key to delivering continuous improvements in our franchise system and to ensuring we never become complacent. It has helped us to work in partnership with our valued franchisees and their teams, creating a collaborative culture and a highly engaged network of franchise owners, who share our commitment to striving for excellence. The Workbuzz team are extremely professional, forward-thinking, and fully focused on enabling best practice for franchisor and franchisees alike, and their support along our journey has been, and remains, highly valued

Lucy Campbell, CEO, Right at Home

Why is employee listening and feedback so important for franchise growth?

By Sharon Weston, Head of Franchising,

The Best Franchise Prog ramme & Awards are an acknowledgement of the excellent organisations across the franchising industr y within the UK

The awards recognise the achievements and successes of franchisors, as well as the franchising industr y as a whole, giving recognition to the effor ts of these organisations to improve their operations and provide an outstanding experience for both their franchisees and customers

Since 2011, the Best Franchise Prog ramme & Awards has worked with more than 350 franchise networks to gather objective feedback from their franchisees, benchmark their franchisee suppor t against industr y standards, and improve franchisee relations and network perfor mance.

How do the Best Franchise Programme & Awards work?

On an ag reed date, we will launch a branded sur vey to your network to reach all active franchisees who have been trading for at least two months

The sur vey should remain open for approximately two weeks with regular

Running employee surveys helps identify areas of weakness, areas that need improving, and areas of particular strength And it is this information that can help franchisees create a more satisfied and productive workforce, through making more informed decisions about how to improve inter nal processes

WorkBuzz

reminders sent out to those who haven’t yet responded Automated response rates will then be emailed to you daily, to provide an understanding of how many people in your network have completed the sur vey

Once the sur vey is closed and response levels from franchisees pass 60 per cent, you can enter into the Best Franchise Awards – where shor tlists are deter mined based on overall franchise satisfaction scores.

Employee sur veys enables franchise growth

Employee listening and feedback is essential to the g rowth of a franchise, as it provides valuable insight into the perfor mance of the franchise on a dayto-day basis By collecting data from employees, franchisors can get a better understanding of areas of strength and weakness in their operations This data can then be used to infor m strategic decision making in order to increase customer satisfaction levels, drive prof itability, and improve employee retention rates

Not only that, but employee feedback also helps to foster an open and transparent culture within the organisation, where employees feel

About the author

comfor table sharing their opinions and ideas This encourages collaboration between colleagues which can lead to quicker problem-solving solutions, g reater eff iciency, and ultimately longerter m success

The benefits of understanding the employee opinion for franchisees

One signif icant factor that is often overlooked in the franchising industr y is how employee opinions affect franchisees, franchisors, and the brand Employee sur veys are common across many industries, but they are par ticularly impor tant in franchises because of the way such organisations depend on the happiness and productivity levels of their employees in order to be successful.

Employee feedback and opinions provide critical insights into how franchises are r un. Running employee sur veys helps identify areas of weakness, areas that need improving, and areas of par ticular strength And it is this infor mation that can help franchisees create a more satisf ied and productive workforce, through making more infor med decisions about how to improve inter nal processes.

These happier, more productive work environments can then lead to reduced

Sharon Weston is Head of Franchising at WorkBuzz, the employee survey specialists She manages and develops the successful Franchise Satisfaction Benchmark Programme in the UK, helping franchisors to measure and improve their franchisee engagement sharon weston@workbuzz com www bestfranchiseawards co uk

ADVICE FOR FRANCHISORS

employee tur nover rates, increased engagement, and higher morale, in-tur n translating into improved customer ser vice, higher prof its, and higher overall success

What’s in it for franchisors?

Franchisees aren’t the only ones who can benef it from lear ning about the opinions of ever yone employed by them, though –the franchisors themselves benef it too

With a bulk of readily available data, franchisors can deter mine whether there are any common causes of concer n or issues that are in need of addressing across their franchises Franchisors that then take this employee feedback into account and make the relevant changes will see an increase in overall franchise development, increased sales, and a more signif icant demand for their franchise brand in the market

Summar y

Employee satisfaction has a signif icant and direct impact on franchise businesses Franchisees and franchisors should take critical steps towards creating an open and transparent communication system, allowing employees to provide valuable feedback on their employer practices This will help to create a more engaged and productive workforce, which is cr ucial for franchise g rowth

Employee feedback also helps franchisors understand market conditions, brand reputation, and customer experience, indicating how they can improve their ser vices By creating an open and transparent workforce, together with employee feedback listening programmes, franchisors can create an environment where their employees are satisf ied and motivated, potentially skyrocketing their success in the long r un

If you’d like to enter your franchise into the Best Franchise Prog ramme & Awards, or if you’d like fur ther infor mation about gathering employee feedback please contact me n

To learn more sharon weston@workbuzz com www.bestfranchiseawards.co.uk

May is the start of new franchise beginnings

By Mark Scott, Managing Director, Azura

May is the star t of many new beginnings and so it could also be the star t of a new franchise purchase or the star t for an existing business to offer a franchise

So much has already happened in May this year and as always it began with the May Day Bank Holiday The origins of May Day can be traced back to the times of the Roman goddess Flora According to legend, Flora was originally a nymph who was transfor med into a goddess by the gods in recognition of her beauty and g race She presided over the ar rival of spring and the renewal and g rowth of flowers

May 4th, jokingly called Star Wars Day, because of the slight change to a phrase in the f ilm series ‘May the fourth be with you ’ Interestingly the f irst f ilm made and the four th in the series was called ‘A New Hope’ May 6th saw the coronation of King Charles III – another new beginning for the royal line in the UK

So, taking these examples in to the franchise world; April saw one of the best franchise exhibitions for many years with visitors and exhibitors ver y happy with the event

Prospects have already chosen their franchise and so they will now be embarking on new beginnings also They will probably begin their induction, no doubt with an initial training course It might follow with new premises or new equipment and new customers for them If they need f inance to help the purchase there could be a new loan or a new overdraft facility

At Azura we have signed up three new franchisors to our franchise management system, so new beginnings for those clients and for us, as we will need to develop three more customised systems.

Of course, taking the step in to a new era is not to be taken lightly and no doubt

About the author

Mark Scott star ted his career with NatWest, where he worked for 23 years in their franchise team, including heading it up During his time with NatWest he worked with franchise networks at all stages of their development from new star ts to long established international brands

In 2021 he joined Azura, the first UK franchise management software company, where he is now Managing Director It is par t of the AIM listed Franchise Brands plc, which also owns Metro Rod, Chipsaway, Filta Group and Pir tek mark.scott@azura.co.uk

www azuragroup com

whether it was one of our new clients or a new franchisee, a signif icant amount of research would have gone in to the decision

For the franchisee they would have compared the business to others, spoken to existing franchisees, asked the franchisor plenty of probing questions, completed a business plan and had the ag reement reviewed by a franchise specialist lawyer Our new clients have also compared other systems, seen demonstrations and asked plenty of questions

Whilst May is the star t of new beginnings, the jour ney for franchisees and our customers will not stop there The franchisee business will g row from a small seedling to an established business that will hopefully fulf il all the ambitions of the franchisee We will never stop customising our franchisor’s system, as no franchise model stays the same over the years. It will need to adapt to changing circumstances and therefore changes to the system are needed also

As the month prog resses it will be interesting to hear what other new beginnings there have been in the franchise industr y n

Pieminister’s growth and their ‘Little Acts of Pie-ness’

Pieminister, the UK-based pie brand, has seen its 16th restaurant open on Westgate Street in Bath by franchisee Har r y Rober ts, who is already making plans for a second site

Jon Simon, a co-founder of Pieminister, comments: “We are delighted to see the brand continuing to flourish and are excited for the future At Pieminister we are committed to excellent ser vice, sustainable and ethical sourcing, and of course creating our delicious range of award-winning pies Bath Westgate Street is already off to a g reat star t, and we look forward to spreading our love of g reat pies to even more cities across the UK ”

Working with Seeds Consulting, Pieminister is planning to open over 100 locations, with the next franchise store cur rently scheduled this summer in Derby with an experienced multi-unit franchise par tner

Founded in 2003 in a home kitchen, Pieminister has g rown its customer base from selling at markets and festival stalls to selling pies nationwide through various shops, pubs sites and its restaurants The pie range features classics such as steak and kidney, chicken and mushroom, in addition to vegetarian and gluten-free pie options.

Pieminister says par ticular impor tance has always been placed on sustainability, reflected in their ‘Pie, Planet, and People goals’ These mission statements include suppor ting animal welfare, reducing their carbon footprint and waste, and ‘Little Acts of Pie-ness’ in donations to UK and global charities

Matteo Frigeri, founder of Seeds Consulting, commented on working with the brand: “Pieminister have a ver y good business model where pies are made centrally, ensuring consistency and eliminating the need for premises with extraction and hours of labour ever y day to make the food.

“The product is not only g reat as par t of a quintessentially British dining experience, but also travels well and can be consumed as a takeaway, ensuring its franchise stores can benef it from multiple revenue streams

“Upfront investment is moderate so even if they employ a manager, franchisees can make a ver y good retur n We are looking forward to our continued par tnership ” n

To learn more www.pieminister.co.uk

A Kleerly successful franchise

Meet Mike Cruz. Mike has been a franchisee with Optic-Kleer since 2012. He operates his franchise in Lincolnshire, in and around the areas of Boston, Spalding, Sleaford and Skegness.

Mike has had many years of experience repairing windscreens, as previously he worked for another windscreen repair company

How did Mike hear about Optic-Kleer?

“I heard about Optic-Kleer, whilst working for another windscreen repair company. I knew David as one of my competitors He approached me with an oppor tunity to star t as a franchisee and I jumped at the oppor tunity to be with a better company.

“One of the biggest advantages with Optic-Kleer is that I got fantastic suppor t, which I am still getting. This is totally different from the other company I worked for

“I was taken through step-by-step from setting up my registered limited company to VAT registration ”

The training lasted for f ive days and Mike gathered all the knowledge, not only to car r y out a professional repair but also how to r un a successful business

Is previous experience essential?

Mike believes that you don’t really need any previous experience to become a franchisee, as Optic-Kleer give you that training; it’s always going to be useful to have good face-to-face communication skills and self-motivation is also impor tant, because you are r unning your own business

Is Optic-Kleer good value for money?

With Optic-Kleer you will have ver y low overheads, which is g reat when you are self-employed The management fees are also ver y low and the software you will use to order the Optic-Kleer solutions is straightforward

The other good thing about this franchise is that the stock you have to hold (consumables, canopy and signs) is minimal

Who are your customers?

The way the Optic-Kleer franchise works is, the franchisee tur ns up at a super market and sets up their equipment Having a canopy, signs and a vehicle draws in the customers There is no cold

calling or leaflet drops There are no pressure sales, you just wait for the customer to come to you. There is also the excellent Optic-Kleer website which lets customers know where franchisees are working

Does Mike feel satisfied in his franchise?

“I have worked in this f ield before and obviously it is impor tant to keep customers happy. I like to be professional and treat people how I would like to be treated You are representing Optic-Kleer as well as your own business. I feel ver y satisf ied in my work as people are ver y nice and it is rewarding to be appreciated after completing a successful repair ”

Is he excited about the future of Optic-Kleer?

“Yes, I am looking forward to the future with all the new developments coming along digitally, and I think it can only get better After four years I have re-branded and bought a new van, ready for the next few years ”

If you can see yourself as an Optic-Kleer franchise owner get in touch with us today via email to: david@optic-kleer co uk; call: 07545-275137 or go to:

www franchise optic-kleer co uk n

Tortilla Mexican Grill reports record annual sales and growth

Tor tilla Mexican Grill, the UK fastcasual Mexican restaurant g roup, has achieved record annual sales for the period ending 1 Januar y 2023 of £57.7m, an increase of 20% on the previous year

The company also repor ts a year of record g rowth for the g roup with 18 sites added to its por tfolio bringing the total number of sites during the period to 82 Tor tilla opened 10 company-owned stores during the period as it took advantage of the favourable proper ty rental market

Six franchised stores opened during the year, f ive in universities through its par tnership with Compass Group, and one franchised site opened at Bristol air por t with the SSP Group.

Tor tilla said it strengthen its market position during the year by acquiring Chilango, with f ive of eight sites already conver ted to Tor tilla branding The company also expanded its offering with deliver y par tners such as Uber Eats, alongside new additional par tnerships with deliver y kitchens including Growth Kitchen and Kar ma Kitchen

New sites for the f irst quar ter of 2023 have opened in Derby and Greenwich in London, which the company repor ts are seeing encouraging early trading Fur ther sites are in the pipeline this year including Belfast, Bracknell and Milton Keynes, as the brand targets 45 new sites in f ive years

Richard Mor ris, chief executive off icer of Tor tilla, commented: “We have a

proven, g reat value, and highly popular customer proposition. More and more consumers are seeking out high-quality, healthy, customisable food at g reat value, and both of our brands – Tor tilla and Chilango – sit at the hear t of these exciting consumer trends

“The beginning of 2023 has star ted well with like-for-like sales up 4% in the eights weeks to 26 Febr uar y We know that restaurants that offer g reat,

consistent food at competitive price points will always be the winners in our sector, and we are conf ident that we sit ver y comfor tably in this space

“We remain highly motivated and excited about Tor tilla’s continued g rowth potential in the UK as well as our oppor tunities to build on our proven franchise operations to expand overseas ”

The Group was founded in 2007 by Brandon Stephens, from Califor nia, who ar rived in London in 2003 to f ind a gap in the market for quality bur ritos and tacos As a result, Stephens established Tor tilla with a mission of offering customers freshly prepared authentic Califor nian-inspired Mexican food

In addition to the company’s UK sites, Tor tilla has eight franchised outlets in the Middle East n

To learn more

www.tortillagroup.co.uk

‘Our Tortilla mission is to offer customers freshly prepared authentic Californian-inspired Mexican food.’

Could you be the next Sylvian Care franchisee?

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on people’s lives and seeking a rewarding business opportunity?

Join the Sylvian Care Franchise family and become a leader in the home care sector.

Sylvian Care is a well-established and rapidly g rowing home care provider with over 27 locations across the UK

Our unique relationship-centric approach to care, combined with our commitment to delivering exceptional ser vices, sets us apar t from the competition.

As a Sylvian Care franchisee, you'll benef it from:

● Comprehensive training and ongoing suppor t to ensure your success

Franchisee testimonial

● Access to our proven business model and strategies

● A strong and recognisable brand that resonates with clients and their families

● Exclusive marketing materials and resources to help you g row your business

● Membership in the British Franchise Association, adhering to ethical standards in franchising.

● The pride of owning a business that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of others

The Sylvian Care franchise is perfect for people who are:

● Passionate about improving the quality of life for the elderly

● Strong communicators with excellent inter personal skills

● Motivated and driven to succeed in a g rowing industr y

● Committed to the Sylvian Care vision, mission, and values

If you’re ready to take the f irst step towards owning a Sylvian Care Franchise and making a lasting impact in your community, visit our website: www sylviancarefranchising co uk or contact us on: 0118 327 3232 or email: franchising@sylviancare.co.uk to lear n more about this exciting oppor tunity n

Sisters-in-law,

Gabriela (left) and Alina Moldovan, share their jour ney as Sylvian Care franchisees, highlighting how their backg round in health and social care led them to this fulf illing oppor tunity

Gabriela said: “Both Alina and I have experience in health and social care, along with management exper tise When we considered star ting a business, we wanted one that would not only provide a stable income but also enable us to contribute positively to our local community, aligning with Sylvian Care’s mission to empower people to live life their way.

“Sylvian Care’s franchise model, with its domiciliar y care ser vices and strong ear ning potential, fulf illed both criteria As sisters-in-law, we were drawn to the fact that our franchisor was also a family-owned business, operated by a brother-sister duo Silviu and Cristina, our franchisors, have been invaluable sources of knowledge and suppor t whenever we needed assistance,

embodying the company’s values of integ rity, compassion, and collaboration

“The training we received was exceptional While we both had prior care experience, we lacked the knowhow to establish a business, market our ser vices, or navigate the dedicated operating systems Sylvian Care guided us through each step and has always been available when we needed direction.”

Alina added: “Managing a domiciliar y care business is challenging, but we can always rely on our franchisor for advice, as they have undoubtedly faced similar obstacles, staying tr ue to Sylvian Care’s vision of a more connected and caring society ”

Gabriela concluded: “We eagerly anticipate a long-lasting relationship with Sylvian Care and look forward to expanding our existing ter ritor y. ” n

Gabriela and Alina Moldovan - Sylvian Care Bracknell and Ascot

Advertorial

Big Mannys’ Pizza to open first franchised store

The f irst Big Mannys’ Pizza franchise is to open at Inver urie, Scotland by franchisees Mur ray Mor rison and his son Glen, owners of the town’s highly-rated Garioch Fish Bar

Big Mannys’ Pizza was launched in 2020 by brothers Philip and Ashley Adams and Calum Wright at The Adam Lounge Bar & Kitchen in Aberdeen, to offer ‘NYC-style’ pizzas and sides

The Mor risons’ Garioch Fish Bar, one of only six Scottish businesses to be listed by Fr y Magazine’s Top 50 Best UK Fish & Chip Shop Takeaways, has been remodelled to create a separate large area for collection and deliver y of Big Mannys’ Pizza and will operate alongside their established takeaway.

The franchisees said they are looking to recr uit at least seven members of staff both full and par t-time for the pizza operation, following a six-f igure investment for the site refurbishment and franchise ag reement

Mur ray, who has been involved in the takeaway sector for 25 years, said: “My son, Glen, brought Big Mannys’ Pizza to my attention. He told me how popular they were due to the quality of the product, and how they’ve built up a large following in a shor t period of time

“We’re thrilled to be the f irst Big Mannys’ Pizza franchisees It’s taken a wee while to get there as it’s the f irst

franchise but it’s a g reat outcome for all par ties. Many people here in Inver urie already know about Big Mannys’ Pizza and we think it’s going to be a real winner ”

The company said the expansion of the pizza brand star ted early last year when it opened a deliver y and collection unit near Pittodrie Stadium, home of Aberdeen Football Club, at a time when award-winning Aberdeen accountant Simon Cowie, managing par tner of Inf inity Par tnership (the accountancy and business advisor y practice) came on board with an investment

This was followed by Big Mannys’ Pizza reaching a licensed par tnership ag reement with Codona’s Amusement Park, to ser ve visitors at the beachfront attraction in Aberdeen.

‘Would we franchise?’

Philip, co-founder of Big Mannys’ Pizza, said: “We’ve been approached numerous times by people asking if we would consider franchising It has always been par t of our plan but we wanted to make sure we found the right f it.

“Mur ray and Glen knew all about us and what we’re tr ying to do, and their exper tise and success in the takeaway food sector was hugely attractive to us The success of the relationship with

Codona’s also gave us the conf idence to move forward.

“We’re delighted to reach an ag reement with Mur ray and Glen and we’re looking to rolling out the franchise model in other areas in the future Any entrepreneurs, with access to hospitality exper tise, are welcome to get in touch ”

Big Mannys’ Pizza says it has ear marked a future site for Peterhead and has collaborations with Nor th-East businesses to deliver pizza to diners in various venues across the region, in addition to an ag reement with H M Sheridan, a Royal-appointed butcher, who will prepare and supply chicken and other ing redients for the company

Philip comments: “To work with such a prestigious local f ir m and enhance our products at the same time is hugely satisfying We’re delighted to reach an ag reement yet again with another Nor th-East business.”

Big Mannys’ Pizza offers pizza in various sizes with traditional toppings including its special creations such as The BBQ Big Manny, Chicken Fajita Fiesta and The Hogfather n

To learn more info@bigmannyspizza.co.uk

● Pictured from left: Philip Adams, Murray Morrison, Ashley Adams, Glen Morrison and Calum Wright

Two new franchisees take to the stage with Razzamataz

The theatre school, Razzamataz, has welcomed two new franchisees with Kimisha Lewis opening in Coventr y and Brittany Ar thur (pictured above, second from left) taking the Lancaster ter ritor y

Razzamataz said that both franchisees had received guidance and suppor t from the company star ting with their initial enquir y about becoming a franchisee through to attending training sessions with a team of experienced theatre school professionals

Having really enjoyed the training from Razzamataz, Ar thur said: “It gave me the conf idence to believe that although I’ve never r un a business before, I can do this with the suppor t of the Razzamataz team Throughout the training period and the ongoing suppor t that we are offered, I’ve lear nt that I can do things that I didn’t think I was capable of.”

Lewis comments: “The launch was buzzing with excitement, and we felt like a Razzamataz family from the minute our prospective students walked through

the door We are so excited to bring Razzamataz to Coventr y and share the cur riculum, which is something new for the local community After the launch I received so many lovely messages from parents saying how much they enjoyed the day.”

The Lancaster and Coventr y schools are the f irst new schools to launch this year Fur ther schools are scheduled for September in Billericay, Dorchester and Manchester, in addition to new franchisees for its schools in Derby and Sutton Coldf ield.

Denise Hutton-Gosney, managing director and founder of Razzamataz, said: “We are ver y proud to be giving incredible oppor tunities for people to r un a prof itable business doing something that they are passionate about and working flexibly to f it their own schedules and lifestyles

“Two of our new franchisees star ted out on their Razzamataz jour ney as students and have prog ressed via the teaching

route, while others have come to us via our nationwide branding and reputation

“Ever y franchisee is trained to the same exacting standards to ensure their schools adhere to the excellent teaching quality and high customer ser vice standard values that we are known for ”

Razzamataz says its model can work for people with different expectations and requirements Although it is cr ucial to be passionate about perfor ming ar ts, no previous ar ts experience is necessar y n

To learn more

www.razzamataz.co.uk

CleanMyBed launches in the UK

CleanMyBed, a deep cleaning ser vice which removes allergy triggers from your mattresses and pillows, has ar rived in the UK Designed to improve sleep and wellbeing, the process is quick, dr y and chemical-free, and rids your bed of dust mites, pollen, pet dander and ever y other allergy trigger

The innovative ser vice originated as a result of the necessity to f ind a solution to a debilitating family ailment Charlie Wright, co-founder of CleanMyBed comments: “Our 7-year-old daughter woke ever y mor ning with itchy eyes and skin, a sore throat and a lack of decent sleep This was having a profound effect on her daily life and her perfor mance at school After extensive research and medical advice we found a solution and just like that, the CleanMyBed ser vice was bor n.”

How the ser vice works

The ser vice involves a high g rade HEPA13 vacuum device which removes dead skin cells, dust mites and their faecal matter encased within the mattress The debris is retained and not moved back into the air – as is the case with domestic appliances

This is followed by strategically positioned dosages of concentrated UVC light which kills microorganisms, including vir uses, bacteria, pathogens and any remaining mites, and leaves mattress and pillows 99.99 per cent sanitised

CleanMyBed has quickly become the tried and tested method to remove and alleviate allergy triggers from homes in South Africa The ser vice has been

awarded the Allergy Foundation of South Africa Seal of Approval and has also been launched in Norway and Switzerland

Our first UK ambassador, Charlie Mitchell-Heggs, is leading the way in bringing our fantastic, new ser vice into a new market.

“This treatment is especially impor tant for families with young children ” Charlie repor ts “Not only do they tend to suffer the most from dust mite allergies, but those allergies can be a major trigger for them developing asthma, which I found out from my own experience This is becoming a big problem in the UK, with around a quar ter of all adults and children losing quality of life, a lot of which is down to this build-up in their beds ”

JOINING us in September 2022, Charlie’s jour ney with CleanMyBed is ver y similar to the one that led them to establish the franchise in the f irst place His young son suffered from undiagnosed allergies and asthma which continued to get worse as he g rew older, eventually leading to a severe bout of pneumonia and hospitalisation

Once he had recovered, Charlie and his wife began to look into the root causes with a comprehensive allergy test, and discovered dust mites were the number one problem This, of course, led Charlie to look into ways to help his son, and it wasn’t long before he discovered CleanMyBed

Charlie is set to experience a number of benef its as an early adopter of CleanMyBed in the UK, including being among the f irst to bring an exciting new product and ser vice to market and playing a big role in helping us shape the future of the brand

He is ver y strongly placed to take full advantage of the g rowing demand in the wellness market as both domestic and commercial customers begin to realise exactly how much our Ambassadors can do for them

To book an appointment or enquire about franchise oppor tunities please complete the response for m HERE or schedule a call with us HERE cleanmybedfranchise co uk n

Could a franchise network accountant provide the cherr y on the cake?

By Jack Hayes, Franchisor Relationship Manager, d&t

Discovering the power of a franchise network accountant could be the cher r y on top of your franchise business success A franchise network accountant can unlock the full potential of your business and its franchisees, making it an absolute lifesaver for you, not to mention the peace of mind that comes with knowing your network is in safe hands

As a franchisor, you understand the impor tance of a strong business model, brand development, and providing suppor t and resources to franchisees However, keeping accurate f inancial records and ensuring compliance with tax laws can be daunting This is where a franchise network accountant can be immensely helpful and provide a huge weight off your shoulders.

These exper ts specialise in providing f inancial advice and ser vices to franchisors and franchisees. They offer valuable suppor t in developing a solid business model, creating accurate f inancial records, ensure compliance with tax laws and regulations, strategic f inancial advice and help franchisees with f inancial matters – meaning as a franchisor, you can have your cake and eat it too. Here’s how:

Developing a solid business model

Ever y cake needs a good base One of the f irst things a franchise accountant can help you with is developing a solid business model A franchise accountant has experience working with multiple franchises and can help you identify areas of your business that need improvement or ref inement

They can also help you create a budget and f inancial projections that will help

you deter mine how much capital you need to star t and r un your franchise

Creating accurate financial records

A recipe for success: Keeping accurate f inancial records is essential for any business, but it’s especially impor tant for franchisors who need to monitor their f inancial perfor mance and track royalty payments from franchisees

A franchise accountant can help you set up a system for tracking income and expenses, and can also assist with preparing f inancial statements, such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.

Ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations

Tax laws and regulations can be complex and ever-changing, not to mention a million miles away from the ‘fun stuff ’ It can be diff icult to keep up with all the requirements and deadlines, especially if you’re r unning a franchise business so why not leave it to the exper ts?

A franchise network accountant can help you navigate tax laws and regulations, ensuring that you and your franchisees

About the author

comply with all the requirements, avoiding costly penalties and f ines

no bur nt f ingers

Providing strategic financial advice

A franchise network accountant can provide valuable advice on f inancial matters, such as how to optimise your tax strategy, how to reduce expenses, and how to improve your cash flow

They can also help you identify oppor tunities for g rowth and expansion, such as opening new franchises or expanding into new markets When you put it that way, franchise network accountants are wor th their weight in salt

Helping franchisees with financial matters

No one needs to tell you that franchisees are the lifeblood of your franchise business, and that it’s essential that they receive the suppor t and resources they need to succeed, however, what some won’t realise is just how much suppor t a franchise network accountant can offer franchisees, such as preparing f inancial statements, developing a budget, and managing cash flow

Jack Hayes is Franchisor Relationship Manager at award-winning accountancy firm, d&t d&t has worked with over 100 franchise networks and over 2000 franchisees During his many years working within d&t, as a qualified accountant, he has worked with some ver y well-known household names within the franchise industr y

Paired with his current role, Hayes has the tools to help franchisors and franchisees alike Alongside the variety of services that d&t has to offer, he has helped franchise brands across the UK and their networks to increase franchise efficiency through exper t accountancy advice

jack.hayes@team-dt.com

www.team-dt.com

By providing this suppor t to franchisees, you can help ensure that they remain prof itable and successful, which in tur n benef its your franchise business as a whole It’s a win-win situation

Offering peace of mind

We all know that r unning a franchise business can be stressful at times, especially when it comes to f inancial matters By working alongside a franchise accountant, you can have peace of mind knowing that your f inancial records are accurate, your taxes are compliant, and your franchise business is on solid f inancial footing

This can help you focus on other aspects of your business, such as developing new products or ser vices or expanding your brand

The final flourish

In conclusion, working alongside a franchise accountant can be an incredibly powerful tool for franchisors.

By providing f inancial advice and ser vices, a franchise accountant can help you develop a solid business model, create accurate f inancial records, ensure compliance with tax laws and regulations, provide strategic f inancial advice, help franchisees with f inancial matters, and offer peace of mind

If you’re a franchisor looking to g row and succeed, consider par tnering with a franchise accountant like d&t to help you achieve your goals Never underestimate how much value a franchise network accountant like d&t can add. It could be the cher r y on your cake n

Choice Hotels signs strategic partnership with Borealis

Choice Hotels EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Borealis Hotel Group, the European hospitality company, have announced a strategic par tnership ag reement to expand their European por tfolios

The ag reement gives Borealis the oppor tunity to franchise upscale and midscale hotels from Choice Hotels EMEA por tfolio of brands across the ter ritories that Borealis cur rently operates, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ger many, Spain and The Netherlands, in addition to fur ther European countries.

‘Growing our franchised portfolio’

Jonathan Mills, chief executive of Choice Hotels EMEA, commenting on the new par tnership, said: “Growing our por tfolio of franchised hotels, so travellers have more options to choose from when travelling across Europe, is a signif icant focus for us and this new ag reement fur ther enables us to continue g rowing in markets where we already have a presence and potentially enter new ones

“Building on Choice Hotels’ 80-year global legacy, the ag reement will also see Borealis benef it from our commitment to enhancing perfor mance exclusively for franchisees Our newly refreshed brands and their brand hallmarks are designed to offer an

exceptional guest experience, while suppor ting shor t-ter m revenues and driving long-ter m equity gains for the Choice Hotels EMEA por tfolio ”

Bar t Van de Kamp, chief executive of Borealis Hotel Group, said: “Our strategy is to accelerate our g rowth as a European hospitality company, based on strong relationships and par tnerships with inter national hotel brands and other par tners We are therefore ver y pleased to have been able to add another inter national hotel brand as a franchisor with its own newly refreshed concept, to our highly valued g roup of par tners.”

Borealis’ cur rent por tfolio of hotels operating across seven European countries are all inter nationally branded with chains such as Accor, Hilton, IHG and Mar riott

Choice Hotels EMEA operates f ive brands across the region Par t of Choice Hotels Inter national Inc who refers to itself as one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, has 22 brands in total across 45 countries and ter ritories Alongside this milestone ag reement with Borealis, Choice Hotels EMEA adds that it is actively looking for more midscale and upscale hotels to join its fastg rowing por tfolio n

Not just a logo: the importance of branding for franchise businesses

By Chelsea Smith, Content Writer, Mayfly Inter net Marketing

What springs to mind when you hear the ter m ‘Brand’? No doubt you imagine a logo slapped onto ever y card, letterhead, social media platfor m and t-shir t But branding is much more than just a logo

There are many ways to describe the ter m branding, but in my eyes, it’s a symbiotic relationship with your target audience It’s a spark A connection When you’re having a free-flowing conversation with your audience, about a problem they have, that you can solve; that is branding

Branding should be integ rated into ever ything you do, from your tone of voice and messaging, to design and appearance, to customer ser vice and much more By positioning your product or ser vice as the solution to an issue your audience consistently str uggles with, you can keep your brand at the forefront of their mind

This is par ticularly impor tant when it comes to franchising your business If you have a foolproof solution to one of your demog raphic’s pain points, then ser ving that answer on a larger scale can help you g row and develop as a franchisor

Here, I’ll r un through some of the decisions you can make to develop your brand

Core values

Ever y business model has its core values But when it comes to branding, these core values should shine through From the way you describe your products, “sustainable”, “eco-friendly” and “environmentally conscious” to the promotions you make, “we plant a tree

for ever y order” There are tons of ways to share your ethos within the brand without explicitly saying “We care about the environment”, for example.

These types of core values should be in line with your target audience, and the solution you’re bringing to the table You need to place your demog raphic at the centre of your business, taking on their values and por traying them through the business

Another example may be outdoor adventures, you may train your franchisees to offer the same exhilarating experience across the countr y But your values should shine through when it comes to safety f irst messaging, durable gear and an ethos to clean up behind you, leaving nothing but memories

You wouldn’t position yourselves as the affordable option when there are lots of hidden charges, so don’t waste your time with core values that don’t align with your audience.

Vetting your franchisees

Now this isn’t as serious as it sounds There are no Disclosure and Bar ring Ser vice checks or family histor y lookins But when it comes to franchisees,

About the author

the people advocating for your business should be totally aligned with your core values

We Love Pets owners, Jo and Ryan, put this eloquently in their inter view with The Franchise Marketing Show where they mentioned their core values are “family, fun and animal welfare ” It’s not “we kind of like pets”, because “it doesn’t have the same ring” Any person looking to become a franchisee must love pets and have this exact mindset

When you have leads entering your inbox on a monthly basis with an attitude to simply make money, and they don’t actually align with your brand’s core values, then it’s not going to work Choosing the right people to join your franchise network is one of the most impor tant ways to stay consistent with your branding. And it doesn’t even cost a penny

Finding your voice

This step can be made so much easier when you understand your core values You may have perfected your product or become a master of your ser vice, but when franchisees come into play, it’s a whole different ball game Much like employees, when you allow franchisees

Chelsea Smith is a Creative Writing graduate and Content Writer for Mayfly Internet Marketing She has written for a wide range of companies from small businesses, to nationwide enterprises and has worked for marketing firms spanning Liverpool, Cheshire, and the wider Merseyside area Throughout her freelance and agency work, Smith has built knowledge in content marketing, copywriting, branding and SEO Her role at Mayfly encompasses all things wordy, from captivating blog pieces to optimised product descriptions chelsea.smith@may-fly.co.uk www may-fly co uk

FRANCHISE MARKETING MADE EASY

Mayfly Internet Marketing is the go-to marketing expert for franchisors.

If you ’ re looking for memorable social media strategies, paid ads that convert and search engine optimisation that get you ahead of the competition. Book a free consultation today.

to represent and advocate your business model, it’s impor tant to stay on brand

As previously discussed, this does not mean simply slapping a logo on a cap and away you go No, you’ll want to train your franchisees on the core messaging behind the business itself, and even choose your franchisees carefully to ensure they align with your brand

A simple way to keep your tone of voice consistent is by offering brand documents upon onboarding There may be some ter minology you’d wish to stick to or avoid saying, a specif ic way to describe your ser vice or product, or a characteristic which has propelled your brand so far

Keeping in line with this way of speaking to your end users means that the conversation between your brand and customer is always on point. No matter what touchpoint they’re at So, whether they’re enquiring about a promotion, receiving your ser vice, or leaving a review, ever y step is an authentic representation of the whole brand

Community presence

As the digital world evolves, and social media becomes much more than chatting

with your friends online, so should access to your brand A franchise with a community built upon the foundation of your ser vice or product is well-equipped to g row nationally and inter nationally more than those without

Think about your demog raphic. What do your end users do on a daily basis? What are their similar interests? Gym-goers may also be outdoor enthusiasts and pet owners might also care for the environment By creating spaces that speak to these interests, you can not only engage with your customers on a more personal level but also leverage the brand into adjacent niches

Think about community projects, Discord Ser vers, maybe your own app, and places where your demog raphic already spends their time Reaching out and asking for help to improve your product or ser vice in a space where your customers already exist is the perfect way to build on your company and create advocates in the making

Become the conversation

Branding is not just about what your company looks like. Sure, logos, font and colour palettes are integ ral to your design package, but consistency is key

Sushi Shop secures first UK franchisee

Christie & Co, the business proper ty adviser, repor ts that it has secured the f irst UK franchisee for Sushi Shop, on behalf of AmRest, its parent company

AmRest, a European multi-brand restaurant operator based in Madrid, Spain, cur rently has four Sushi Shops in London, in addition to two outlets in Brighton and Richmond. Its f irst franchisee has launched in Clapham and plans to open fur ther cafés in the London area

Sushi Shop says its leading chain of restaurants offer premium sushi, sashimi and other Japanese specialties and is an established inter national network with

company-operated and franchised stores across nine countries

Predominantly a deliver y and take-away concept, the company has seen its sushi offering being remarkably resilient throughout the last three years and is looking to build on this success by expanding in key regional UK cities

Christie & Co. is seeking fur ther ambitious hospitality operators who would be interested in becoming a multi-site franchisee New Sushi Shop par tners will have the oppor tunity to open cafés across the UK, and with a sushi menu offering only a few hot food options, stores can operate in retail A1 spaces in most cases.

When you have leads entering your inbox on a monthly basis with an attitude to simply make money, and they don’t actually align with your brand’s core values, then it’s not going to work Choosing the right people to join your franchise network is one of the most important ways to stay consistent with your branding And it doesn’t even cost a penny.

past just your appearance Your company should embody the brand

The tone of voice should be consistent across the board, from ad copy to blog posts, to the way your franchisees represent themselves. If you stay consistent with the messaging you put across, the values you keep and the people who represent your brand, your franchise is set to g row even fur ther than you may think

Keep the conversations going Talk to your end users about what it is they love. And exist in the spaces where your customers spend their time I have no doubt that a memorable brand, with strong messaging and clear core values will become the f irst por t of call when your customers need you most n

Simon Chaplin, senior director – Pubs, Restaurants & Franchise for the hospitality team at Christie & Co, commented: “We are delighted to have secured a new franchisee for AmRest, to help expand the Sushi Shop brand across the UK, and look forward to securing additional par tners in 2023 ”

Founded over 20 years ago, Sushi Shop was acquired by AmRest in 2018 and has outlets across Europe, as well as United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia n

To learn more simon.chaplin@christie.com

Q&A to put you on the right track to buying a franchise

By Nick Riding, Editor, Franchise World magazine

ThisQ&A seeks to address the fundamental issues of franchising for the beginner.

Q What is franchising?

It is simply a system for marketing goods/services that is not unlike dealerships, agencies or concessions

The franchisor sells you, the franchisee, the rights to set up your own local branch, or cluster of branches, to market the company’s goods/services

Q Would the company not be better off owning its own branches?

Yes, in terms of operating profits, but it would have to find the money to set them up, whereas it is the franchisee who funds the branches, usually through bank loans

The other big advantage to the franchisor is that it can expect that, as you have invested your own money, you will be more motivated and committed over the long-term to make the business successful than an employee

Q What is it going to cost me?

This, of course, depends on the franchise A business that you can run from home, for example, will obviously cost a lot less to set-up than one that needs premises, particularly in the high street

You pay an initial fee to cover your training, and the rights to use the brand and the business system for the period of the franchise contract

Also you will pay regular ongoing fees, a fixed fee, or based on a percentage of your turnover, or a mark-up on the goods that you are obliged to buy from your franchisor. There may also be an advertising/marketing levy, again based on a fixed fee or turnover

Q Will the initial fee be higher for the larger, ‘better known’ franchises?

Not necessarily The franchisor shouldn’t be setting out to make a profit from the initial fee, but from the ongoing fees

This is one of the important principles of the franchise system because it creates the incentive for the franchisor to help you build your business and continue to develop it Putting it simply, in order for the franchisor to succeed, you must first succeed

Q What is likely to be the scale of my profits?

This will, of course, depend on the franchise you choose, the territory or location you buy, and particularly how hard you work

The latter is critical Franchising is not about investing money, sitting back and spending the profits Launching and developing a new business, even with the back-up of a competent franchisor, is hard work

Franchisors are seldom looking for what are known as ‘absentee investors’ They need hard-working, fully-committed franchisees

The question can best be answered by looking at the franchisor ’s projections for the business and asking current franchisees whether they found them to be realistic

If the figures are impressive and you are prepared to work equally as hard as the franchisees you have met, you should be able to look forward to similar profits After all, you will have had the same training and help that they did so on that basis, given your location offers similar potential to theirs, whether you succeed or not at the end of the day is down to you

Q Would it be better for me to go it alone in a conventional business and not have regular fees to pay?

You would miss the many benefits of being a franchisee, such as training, the use of the franchisor ’s proven business system and branded, marketing and ongoing development

You would also face much less risk than you would if you were starting out on your own, particularly in a type of business in which you had no knowledge or experience.

With a franchise you have all the help you need to set-up your own branch of a business in which success has been demonstrated by its existing franchisees

Speak to them, and ask their opinion of aspects such as the standard of their initial training, the accuracy of the franchisor ’s financial forecasts (income, outgoings, etc ) and the level of ongoing support they receive

Q Which franchise should I buy?

This is the big question only you can answer It’s rather like asking what house or car should you buy? As with them, it depends on your personal situation, preferences and available finance

What can you afford? What are your personal aptitudes and working background? What would you really like to do for the rest of your career? Would the business need the support and participation of your family? Would the franchise be profitable enough to support your lifestyle? Would it meet your work/lifestyle balance aspirations?

Before looking at these questions indepth, you need to ask yourself whether you are, in fact, suited for selfemployment, and whether you would be

prepared to run the business according to the franchisor ’s rules

You will at the end of the day own your own business, but you must accept the fact that you are not entirely your own boss as you must run it according to the franchisor ’s system

This is necessary to maintain the quality and integrity of the whole network. After all, you are buying into the system not just to benefit from the brand but also its proven business system so why try to change it?

Q I often see franchisees described as franchise owners. Is this true? No, it’s misleading It is the franchisor who is the franchise owner.

Cer tainly, the franchisee owns his business, but it is only able to trade in a par ticular franchise under a contract with the franchisor for a stipulated period, usually with the option to renew for a fur ther ter m

It is only by owning the business that the franchisor can be in the position to police the network and ensure that each franchisee maintains the brand’s standards and reputation

This issue was made clear by one of the UK’s earliest and most successful franchisors who prefer red to call the system ‘business leasing’, as it is a process in which the franchisee ‘leases’ the franchisor’s brand and businessfor mat for a contracted period

Q Might the necessity to strictly follow the franchisor’s formula make the business insufficiently challenging?

This question is often overlooked Some franchisees are, of course, more ambitious than others There are those who are looking mainly for a comfortable work/life balance, rather than making large profits

However, franchising does offer the ambitious the opportunity to become a multi-unit franchisee with a significant regional chain of outlets

If you are highly ambitious, negotiate with your prospective franchisor at the buying stage to include in the agreement

an option on extra territories/sites Some franchisors particularly welcome franchisees who have aspirations to open a number of outlets and are particularly looking for candidates with the ambition to become multi-unit franchisees

The benefits for the franchisor is that it doesn’t have to face the costs of recruiting and training the ambitious franchisee and, most importantly, knows that he is successful in the business You suit them, and they suit you Also financing extra units is easier as it can come from the profits of the earlier branches

True entrepreneurs are, however, unlikely to be fulfilled in conforming to what they increasingly see as restraints imposed by the franchisor and they may, in fact, be better suited to starting a conventional business from scratch and go on to develop it as a franchise system

Q What does the phrase, comfort zone mean in the context of franchising?

It describes the stage at which the franchisee’s business has become so profitable that he chooses not to develop it further He has reached his ambition and is happy with his work/life balance

This causes two problems for the franchisor Firstly, it puts a cap on the future royalties it receives from taking a percentage of the franchisee’s turnover Secondly, it gives competitors the opportunity to capture a greater share of the market

This situation is not easy for the franchisor to overcome. It can offer incentives, such as a reducing sliding scale of royalties for higher turnovers and persuading the franchisee to sell back part of his area to create an extra territory for a new franchisee

Ultimately, however, the franchisor may have to try and entice the franchisee to sell by offering to buy him out at an inflated price

Q What are master and regional franchises?

A master franchise covers the whole of a country and a regional franchise, an individual region of the country Such

franchisees act similarly to a franchisor in respect to recruitment and control

In return, they pay a percentage of their income from initial and ongoing service fees from their franchisees to the parent franchisor. The latter usually imposes a development target on the number of franchisees recruited over specific periods to ensure the holder develops the system.

Franchisors sell such franchises, rather than franchising directly, to avoid the cost and risk of piloting and developing their system in a country in which they have no experience of the market or culture

They usually hedge their bet by including in the agreement a buy-back option that they can exercise after a period of time if the franchise proves successful

It is not unknown for a wealthy U S franchisee to take a master franchise for a foreign country in the system in which he has made his wealth This is an example of the more unusual entrepreneurial opportunities within franchising

Q Are there any franchise laws to protect franchisees?

No, there are no laws in the UK specifically addressed to franchising, as there are in many countries, but the system is, of course, subject to commercial law

The relatively few cases that have reached the courts have usually been brought by franchisees for misrepresentation Has the franchisor misrepresented the profits the franchisee could expect? Has the forecast for the sales figures been exaggerated or the setting-up costs reduced?

Q If there are things in the franchise contract I don’t like, can I change them?

No, not in a well-run franchise The contract sets out the rules under which the business has to be operated and, like the rules of a game, they must be followed to the letter

The quality and reputation of the system

will depend on its standardised business formula which is spelt out in the contract and the operating manuals you must follow

If franchisees were allowed to make their own changes, standards would differ from outlet to outlet; the franchisor would lose control; and customers would not get the same service across the network.

As a result, the quality of the franchise and its brand would decline, and along with them the resale value of your business, when it comes to the stage you want to sell and make a substantial capital gain

The franchisor ’s refusal to make changes is an indication of the strength of its system Conversely, if it allows changes to its formula it is a sign of weakness and often its desperation to recruit franchisees One of the most essential ‘jobs’ of the franchisor is to police its network effectively.

Q If I can’t change the contract, do I need a solicitor?

Yes, the contract is complex and you need a solicitor specialising in franchising to explain it to you It should set out in detail what the franchisor is going to do for you and what you will have to do in return All this needs to be spelt out in the contract and, as it will govern how you run your business, you will need to understand it to the letter.

As the franchisor has to protect its interests and those of the network even beyond the point at which you may have left the franchise, the contract can still control the options available to you after the two of you have parted A franchisee can’t take the sign down and continue trading as before but under a different name

After all, it provided your training and its business system It wouldn’t like you to become a competitor and will, therefore, want to resell your territory to a new franchisee. n

If you have a question, email nick@franchiseworld co uk

Burger & Sauce signs five new franchisees

Burger & Sauce has signed f ive new franchisees to open restaurants in the Midlands, with fur ther sites scheduled for Liver pool and Sheff ield by the end of the year

Anthony Round, franchise director of Burger & Sauce said: “Burger & Sauce continues to expand and we are delighted to welcome f ive new franchisees who are on board to suppor t our mission to bring our fresh, tasty burgers to more customers around the Midlands and now fur ther nor th

“As a franchisor, we will provide full training in how to deliver our awardwinning, fresh and simple burger concept, plus provide help with site sourcing, full f it-out of stores and marketing ”

The quick ser vice restaurant brand was founded by Saad Masood in 2020 during the pandemic The f irst restaurant quickly became popular with customers and tur ned over £1 5m in its f irst year, said Burger & Sauce

Cur rently the company has 11 sites across various UK locations in Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Sutton Coldf ield, Walsall, West Bromwich; and in Bir mingham at Alum Rock, Bearwood Road, Castle Vale, Kings Heath and The Bull Ring

This is just the beginning enthuses Round: “We have experienced huge

demand for our product and are now welcoming applications from more franchisees who have a passion for g reat fast food Franchisees need to be committed and we will do ever ything we can to suppor t the best candidates to g row a successful Burger & Sauce franchised business ”

Burger & Sauce adds that it cur rently has some exclusive ter ritories available around two hours drive from Bir mingham The company offers a 10-year franchise licence for £15,000 plus store, f it-out costs and associated fees Multi-site development licences are also available for approved franchisees

The Burger & Sauce brand is built upon two fundamental foundations: Fresh and Simple Its burgers are freshly handmade in store with options of original, club range or limited range with choices such as Angus Beef Stack and The Fier y Legend; and all accompanied with one of its three signature sauce Classic Homemade, Signature Sauce and Smokin’ Hot BBQ sauce Various side dishes include Mexican Nachos, chicken wings and chilli cheese bites.

Burger & Sauce were the regional winners for the Midlands and East Anglia in the 2022 Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year Awards n

To learn more www burgerandsauce com/franchise

E WIB 2023

Book your ticket today! 27th September 2023

Reading, RG2 0FL

EWIB is back for 2023! An event for female business owners, entrepreneurs, franchisors and franchisees who want to network with like-minded women. With the promise of fantastic speakers and interactive sessions, you’ll be sure to leave with a wealth of valuable takeaways. Tickets on sale now at www.thebfa.org.

EWIB 2023 proudly sponsored by: McDonald’s Restaurants, Platinum Wave Franchising & The Franchising Centre