FREE Franchise Magazine ( Franchising Magazine - Franchiseek, January 2023 )

CEO Foreword

By Joel Bissitt

Welcome back to another issue of Franchiseek Magazine, the magazine of the Quality Franchise Association, run by volunteers for the benefit of the franchising sector.

This month we’re thrilled to be closing in on the premiere for the Virtual Franchising Awards 2023, where across eight categories of excellence, franchises and businesses will be recognised for their work within the franchising sector, be it franchisee support, excellence in marketing or all round excellence in the prestigious Franchisor of the Year award.

In our first issue of 2023, we caught up with Stuart Harley who – once a ComputerXplorers Franchisee – took over the role as Franchisor just a few months ago. We’re also delighted to announce details of a Barclays and QFA partnered webinar which is free to attend and will be very useful for anyone looking to get into franchising

Could 2023 be the year you become a franchisee? We hope you enjoy this issue and wish you a very prosperous 2023

Discover

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WEBINAR: GROWING YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH FRANCHISING

We are all very familiar with the franchising giants that are in most towns or cities but franchising a route to growth that can be used by more businesses across a variety of sectors? Quality Franchise Association is a not-for-profit, trade association that assists both franchise businesses and individuals who are interested in franchising to start their own business. The team have a wealth of experience from franchising businesses of their own and use this knowledge to supporting entrepreneurs on their franchising journey. Event topics:

There will be 15 minutes of Q and A at the end of this session where you will have the opportunity to submit any questions of your own to the panel. Don’t worry if you can’t make it, everyone who registers for the event will receive a link to the replay following the event, so that you can watch in your own time. We look forward to seeing you there.

Meet The Speakers:

Joel Bissitt CEO

Ian Townsend COO

Julie Taylor Director

Lindsay Brown Director

We all start the new year with the best of intentions. Well here are Four Top Tips from our PR partner JournoLink to help you make the intentions reality before Valentine’s Day arrives and you put off plans until next year again! Make PR a critical part of your marketing.

PLAN MAKE USE OF TODAY’S COFFEE SLOT!

That’s all it takes to get started. One page answering three questions:

• What’s the business message you want to put in front of 10,000 journalists?

• Which publications would you like to see your business in?

• What’s coming up that you can use to capture the journalists’ interest?

ROUTINE

Put a one hour slot in your diary for each month of the year, to cover:

• Previous month’s review

• This month’s opportunity

• What’s the action, and who’s doing it by when

REVIEW

Don’t get obsessed on what media coverage you’ve won. Focus on:

• Which journalists showed an interest and follow them

• What could you do to make the next news story more compelling

• What was the impact on your web traffic?

YOUR COMPETITOR TARGETS

If you don’t seize the media attention, which of your competitors will?

• Make the focus for 2023 to be your business being the one the journalists want to talk to.

Interested?

If you’re a Quality Franchise Association member looking to

on the JournoLink platform, plus access the many free PR resources via the QFA JournoLink hub, get in touch today. Not a QFA member? Join today from less than £1 a day!

Mum of two, Amy Howerd, didn’t feel fulfilled working part-time for a software company. She longed for an interesting side hustle that she could run alongside her admin job.

Although she had never worked in the travel industry before, she loved organising holidays and wondered whether becoming a travel consultant would be rewarding and profitable.

After researching her options she decided to join The Travel Franchise in November 2019 and after completing her training she made her first booking as a Not Just Travel consultant the very next day. Pretty soon, Amy’s business grew so rapidly she couldn’t believe its success.

“I thought it would be a nice thing on the side, almost like a hobby,” says Amy. “But the job has ended up being better than I ever imagined. It’s completely changed my life.”

Because Amy had joined on the company’s Elite package, she was eligible for its unique Money-Back Challenge which means your franchise fee (£14,995) is refunded if you achieve a certain amount of commission in one year.

“Initially I hadn’t given much thought to the MoneyBack Challenge as I didn’t want to put pressure on myself,” said Amy who considered the franchise fee as money well spent on a good investment.

“But after two to three months I could see I was doing really well,” she adds, admitting it was a huge incentive.

But Amy still couldn’t believe it when the £14,995 franchise fee was refunded. Stunned, she realised that she could use the money as a support mechanism to quit her part-time admin job.

Amy’s now a full-time travel agent, working around 40 hours a week, juggling school runs and the kids' activities around her work and loving it

“As I’m working for myself at home I don’t have to ask for time off, I can work it around my life.”

Being a full-time consultant has also enabled Amy to sell expand her customer base and she’s now on course to hit £2 million-worth of holiday sales by early 2023.

“In 2023 I'd like to sell £1 million in holiday sales in a year – and it’s not unrealistic,” she says.

And as more bookings means more commission, she can also afford to take her family on more holidays including ski break every year.

“Previously we would have taken one holiday a year, but now we take several. I can simply pick up work while we are away,” says Amy.

As an Elite franchise owner Amy also gets invited on free mentoring trips abroad organised by The Travel Franchise’s customer-facing brand, Not Just Travel.

She travelled to Mexico in October 2022 with other NJT agents on the Elite Experience and had the opportunity to explore several high-end resorts and attend a series of classroom-style workshops with training on how to sell more holidays, find more customers and scale-up an agency fast.

“We learned how to boost enquiries, build our confidence, focus on repeat bookings and explore Mexico while staying in some incredible resorts,” says Amy. “I also found spending time with other agents really helpful.”

Animals at Home was established in 2003 to provide professional pet and animal care services to people with animal companions; and pet transport and animal ambulance services to pet owners, pet professionals and veterinary and pet charity organisations via franchised operator-owned branches

Animals at Home was established to be, and proudly continues to be a family of businesses; all working together to promote the health and welfare of pets and offer first class pet care services to local clients within the franchised areas

Above all, you’ll be your own boss You’ll be able to work out your own priorities in which pets to see and when, you’ll choose your best and most efficient routes to visit pets, you’ll be able to stop and have a break when you like and take in the views (often from the best ‘office’ in the area; your van!), but most of all, you’ll be working with many different pets and animals every day You’ll build up fantastic and trusting relationships with those animals, and your clients over the years and enjoy being a professional pet carer and trusted service provider for your local community!

Introducing Our NEW Pay As You Go Franchise Option

Get in touch to learn more about our NEW Pay As You Go franchise option which can help get you started with the Animals at Home franchise opportunity whilst balancing your investment effectively.

Do you want to run your own pet care company but this economic climate is making it difficult for funding?

We Need New Pet Franchisees to Join Us!

Meet Stuart

Harley,

Franchisor at ComputerXplorers

I'm Stuart Harley and I’m the Managing Director of ComputerXplorers I purchased the brand in 2021 from the Bardon Group’s MD who was looking to retire

Having owned the Southampton franchise since 2019, I knew the potential the brand had to offer –Southampton has grown to be the most successful franchise in the UK, turning over £385k a year. Whilst I manage the direction and growth of the business, and my team manage the day-to-day running of the Southampton franchise, I also like to be hands-on and still get involved in teaching classes

2. What does ComputerXplorers do?

We prepare kids for the future by teaching technology education in all sorts of settings – from after school computing clubs, fun, educational classes for nurseries, holiday and weekend camps, home schools, museums, festivals, even hospitals

To ensure kids are prepared for the future, we have to start young. We bring coding, robotics, game design, animation, to name a few, and we also build skills in critical thinking, collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and confidence

and understanding of whatever challenges you may come up against.

You can achieve great success by really engaging with the business model, and exploring all of the opportunities available. One of our newest franchisees has just turned over £130k in their first year, having come from a teaching background, the couple bought new ideas that have led to rapid growth.

4. What do you look for in a potential franchisee?

We take on people with little to no IT or education background as we know we can teach these things and provide a comprehensive start-up package with full training and on-going support

Most importantly, we are looking for businessminded people with a passion to help children make the leap from technology consumers to creative geniuses!

5. How many franchisees do you currently have?

We currently have 22 franchisees across the UK as well as having recently launched in South Africa and Dubai.

6. Please tell me how ComputerXplorers supports its franchisees?

Coming into franchising, you’re buying into a proven business model that we have yet to see anyone fail under. We have a wide support network that feels akin to a second family who all share a common goal

From day one we can support franchisees in assisting with applications for financing their business. Having joined the ComputerXplorers family, we then provide comprehensive training on how to run a business, how to teach using our comprehensive lesson package as well as supporting with the initial marketing drive

1. Who are you and what is your role with ComputerXplorers?

3. Why is ComputerXplorers a smart investment for entrepreneurs?

Stuart Harley is Franchisor at the leading children’s computer club franchise, ComputerXplorers

Our franchisees also have the support of each other and can learn from those that have been with us for over 10 years

7. What are your plans for growth over the next 5 years?

We often talk about this with our franchisees as not only do we want to see growth in the number of franchises joining the brand but also want to increase turnover for existing franchisees.

We are widening our offering beyond after school clubs and holiday clubs to offer wrap-around care. We’ll also be announcing some exciting extensions to the brand in the next year!

8. Do you have any discovery days upcoming?

We understand that whilst you’re looking into whether franchising is right for you, you may well have other commitments. That’s why, as well as offering bi-monthly discovery calls, we offer bespoke discovery sessions where you can speak to an existing franchise as well as the Managing Director.

Get in touch to book in a meeting.

9. What has been your best achievement in the past year?

Whilst my focus has been on refreshing the businesses foundations, we have also been pushing for new opportunities across our network and as a result we have experienced 300% growth.

With more investment in the business and marketing planned, I can’t wait to see what our network can achieve.

10. What are your interests and hobbies? What do you do to relax?

One of the main reasons I came into franchising in the first place was to get a better work-life balance and spend time with my family.

At weekends you’ll either find me with my three kids or taking the dogs for a walk....or using the kids as Chief Testers for our new tech!

Get in touch with the ComputerXplorers team today and request your free franchise prospectus.

“It’s very rewarding to see individual children flourish, Stephanie and I love to hear about how they continue their learning when they get home. Most importantly ComputerXplorers has fitted around my life and enabled me to focus on what’s important to me.” – ComputerXplorers Franchisee

Above: Stuart and team at The Business Show 2022

The Hottest Franchises To Look Out For In 2023

Another year has now gone by and time to consider again what the future holds for you, maybe you have been caught up in the ‘employee trap’ and the certainty of employment, possibly even within a corporate, you might now finally be considering your options, but what are your options?

Please read on to discover the world of franchising and how you might be able to be part of it.

Why Should You Look At Buying A Franchise

Firstly, franchising is not for everyone! I bet you did not expect to read that!

It is fair to say that franchising has probably been around for much longer than you realise, it certainly is not limited to an ‘80’s or ‘90’s fad, but arguably in excess of seventy plus years!

With one of the most successful business formats that has ever existed, you will certainly be on good company and have the very best chance of success, go compare this to most others ways of doing business and the stats will speak for themselves!

Which Franchise Should You Choose?

How has your career developed so far? Do you have skill sets that would morph over to other sectors? Do you even want to stay in the sector that you have knowledge and experience of? These are all very valid questions to ask yourself right now, sometimes your work history can help you, however, some sectors you can certainly enter into without any prior experience, this is one of the many benefits of franchising, there is already a system in place that can be taught to almost anyone!

Is Buying A Franchise Like Buying A Job?

You might see reference to this phrase in your research, quite often from individuals that do not fully understand the concept of franchising, or buying into an already proven system and replicating it, it is fair to say that nobody wants you to reinvent the wheel with a franchise, that is for sure, and partly what you pay an initial fee for, but there is life way beyond this, with the ability to build your very own business but with the support of a centralised head office function, something you simply would not get if you went alone!

ArticlebyRichardPakey

Whilst not an exhaustive list, here are some popular franchises that worked well throughout 2022 and ones which will almost certainly continue for the foreseeable future:

Food & Beverage

If it can be said that if anything good came out of market turmoil, especially covid, it would be how many food brands had to pivot from customer facing brands to online and through delivery, we have become a nation obsessed with this now, as well as becoming a near-on cashless society, the way forwards is more adventurous foods that can be delivered, with food brands looking to either take on very large sites and create ‘experiences’ or much smaller kiosk or takeaway formats, this creates more options for you in the franchise area

With various investments levels to take advantage of, this sector is one to watch, especially with more and more overseas brands looking to enter a more stable UK market!

Fitness & Wellbeing

Surprisingly, this sector has been resilient once economies did open up again, it seems like, as a nation, we missed the chance to go and get fit! Expect 2023 to see growth again but with more core offerings into other bespoke areas such as 1-1 support, wellness sessions even assistance with food programmes, it does look like individuals want to become more aware of what they are consuming and how to lead more healthy lifestyles, you might well be part of the solution if you decide this is the sector for you!

Senior Care

Probably not a great surprise to you as we know that we are all living longer, this does create opportunities within franchising too as more people want to stay in the own homes, are often medically stable, but do need social

support in order to do so, this is where you can add value as a franchisee because that support cannot be provided centrally, but can only be at a local level, by someone who understands the local community and can be available around the clock, the demand seems so high for these services that this sector could stay on the franchise hot list for many years to come!

Business To Business

Great news for you, most businesses have a craving for more new business, or people to spend more, or visit more often, these are typically small businesses that make up the huge proportion of the market, yet they are often very small scale and will have limited scope internally, therefore the need to outsource, again perfect for you if you decide this might be the sector for you, and do not worry either if it is larger businesses that you are used to dealing with, these groups have a different set of challenges, with cost savings, or recruitment or third party consultants often used!

House & Home Improvements / Mobile Franchises

Often the ‘darling’ of franchising as mostly this is reliant on your own time, to provide a solution to a problem, at a local level, once you have undergone training and can be mobile, enquiries should be quite quick, then look around you and you will see opportunities everywhere you look, you might find that you limitation becomes as your reputation builds and you are so in demand you have to build a business that is not so reliant on you, this is no bad thing!

Now, over to you…

Here is the briefest of insights, purely to get your imagination going, the world of franchising is a fascinating one, quite often a family of fellow franchisees, of course franchisors and consultants all looking to build and help you grow your own business, do let me know if you decide it might be for you too, you would be greatly welcomed and in good company!

Article By Richard Pakey

Lime Licensing Group Contact Richard

About Tech4T

Tech4T is a data analytics company specialising in UK and global franchise territory design, location planning, and field force (sales team) optimisation.

Each bespoke solution we provide – for franchise mapping or franchise territory optimisation or any of our other location intelligence services – is underpinned by advanced demographic and customer targeting to ensure that clients’ sales are maximised.

Our industry-leading interactive mapping software is coupled with first class customer service, and we work closely with our clients to ensure their franchise territory design, sales territories, and locations are optimised for the greatest success.

About babyballet®

Founded in 2005, babyballet® is an innovative awardwinning international business built on passion.

Established by mother and daughter team Claire O’Connor and Barbara Peters (a former Royal Academy of Dance examiner and an internationally renowned ballet teacher), it provides fun, educational ballet and dance classes for children aged between six months and six years old.

Each class is based on a carefully designed age

appropriate syllabus developed by experts to build physical and social skills in a friendly and fun environment.

The unique concept has seen the business grow from humble beginnings to today operating across the UK, in more than 80 local franchise areas, and around the world in locations including Australia and New Zealand.

More than 20,000 children each week enjoy a babyballet® class, and the business has exciting growth plans for the future including launching new classes and franchise (and licence) territories both in the UK and overseas.

The Challenge

After taking the decision to grow the business through franchising in 2007, babyballet® faced the challenge of identifying the right locations to launch in that offered their franchisees the best opportunities for success.

These needed to be based on demographic, lifestyle, and economic data, as well as statistics on the number of families and children in each area.

To ensure this information was presented and accessible in the most concise and easy-to-use way, babyballet® turned to franchise territory design and location intelligence specialists Tech4T.

The Solution

Tech4T took the time to understand the babyballet® business and its ambitions, both in the UK and internationally, before building them a bespoke version of their industry-leading Territory Runner Location Intelligence System.

Development and enhancement of the underlying franchise mapping software involved exploring the best combination of demographic information to include and selecting the right variables relevant for babyballet®. These were then transformed into usable data that could be surfaced and interrogated on fully interactive zoomable maps.

Initially focused just on the home market, UK Census data was selected for the system, expertly configured to show details such as the number of children by age range in each area.

The success of this led to Tech4T then integrating carefully selected demographic and location data for

Australia and New Zealand into the system, making it a truly global resource with the capability to add in data for other countries when required.

Importantly, this process included creating hand drawn bespoke territories in Australia where postcode areas were found to be far too large to create optimum franchise territories.

In every case, Tech4T ensured that each recommended franchise or licenced territory offered the same sales potential to each franchisee in the same country, with just a 5% variable tolerated. This means that every franchisee has the same opportunity to make their babyballet® franchise a success.

Client Benefits

The bespoke Territory Runner system created for babyballet® provides a number of benefits that enable them to maximise their franchise sales potential and further grow the business internationally. These include:

• The ability to send franchising prospects a detailed map and robust demographics data of their proposed territory so they can see for themselves their sales potential This includes data on how many children there are in the area, split by age bands.

• The ability to easily see the locations and boundaries of existing and planned franchise territories and amend these when required to ensure the best coverage

• The ability to easily design new franchise areas based on hard data and in-built tools such as heatmapping This visually shows in an easy-to-understand way where there are high concentrations of potential customers, as well as areas to avoid.

• The ability to combine demographic information with street level map data from systems such as Microsoft’s Streetside to support marketing campaigns Particularly useful when selecting the best areas within a territory for leaflet drops, Google local ads, or any other local promotional activities carried out by franchisees.

• The ability to show potential franchisees the drive time or travel distance from any point in their territory –such as their home – to other locations in their area This enables them to optimise their coverage and reduce the time they spend travelling between various points.

• The ability to show detailed Ordnance Survey data when zooming into a territory on an interactive map. This provides a more granular level of detail that is helpful for franchisees who want greater understanding of their territory

• The ability to easily map out and optimise new franchise territories across a wide area such as a region or even a whole country based on the underlying demographics data important to the business

About Territory Runner

Territory Runner is an easy-to-use online franchise territory design and management system developed to maximise productivity, increase territory sales, and optimise customer coverage. The interactive geographic visualisation of territories overlaid with any external demographic data helps maximise sales and improve territory optimisation

Fully customisable to suit your franchise, the Territory Runner framework comprises a tailored online database integrated with Bing mapping. The system is supported by Tech4T’s experienced team delivering specialist database, analysis and territory mapping services.

Harry Scott-Peters, Head of Franchise Sales and Success at babyballet®

“We love our Territory Runner system and rely on it every day. It is a huge sales feature for us, enabling us to provide potential franchisees with fantastic data that leads to a much higher franchise sales conversion rate than ever before.

“Before engaging Tech4T our conversion rate was just 4% Today it is nearer 10% because of the information we’re able to provide.

“And the system also enables us to map out and plan new franchise territories really quickly and easily, as well as change areas if we need to. The fact that we can also export data simply and interrogate locations on the interactive maps is also vital for us and makes the system an invaluable tool

“It is an exciting time for us and we wouldn’t be without Territory Runner and Tech4T; they have been great to work with since we engaged them in 2019 and we look forward to working with them in the years to come ”

Contact Us

For an informal chat to see how Tech4T can support your franchise, contact us today.

2WheelzElectric

Who Are ‘2WheelzElectric’?

‘2wheelzelectric’ is the trading name of Electric Motorbikes and Scooters Ltd. It is a newly formed company to facilitate the sales, marketing and administration of YDRA electric mopeds within the United Kingdom. We are the sole importers of these products from the EU. The company is offering franchises for specific geographical areas, with the size being partially dependant on the population density.

The Earning Potential

Sales income has a gross average of approximately £1000 per unit, so income potential is extremely lucrative

With a minimum sales target of 2 bikes a week, the franchisees would have a yearly turn over of £100,000 The electric vehicle market is really taking off and this is a fantastic opportunity to be a part of this lucrative sector.

The Franchise Package

leads from head office

Advertising and marketing

No cost marketing literature • Products to include delivery to franchisee

3 Brand new products for demo and marketing Interested? Request more information now to find out more about this fantastic new franchise opportunity in an untapped sector!

HOW TO START A HOME BASED BUSINESS

Becoming a Home Based Business Owner

There are 500,000-700,000 businesses started in the United Kingdom every year. More and more, people are starting their dream companies from the comfort of their homes, contributing to the growing trend of remote work.

There are many advantages to starting a company from home. First, you don’t have to pay for the rent, mortgage, or upkeep of office space. Home franchises are especially advantageous since you get to work from home and run an already successful business.

Below, we’ll get into everything you need to know about starting a home franchise. Keep reading to learn more and start working for yourself today!

Getting Into Home Based Franchises

Before you start your business, you need to know the difference between home-based franchises and other at-home businesses.

A home-based franchise is similar to a regular franchise. You contact the franchise owner and talk about buying a franchise.

Make sure it’s something you can run from home, such as a cleaning service You’ll have to buy into the franchise before you can start using their name and materials

The franchise owner may also have additional requirements for you. Make sure you ask about these prior to starting your franchise agreement

An at-home business, on the other hand, may not be a franchise. Instead, it could serve as your own individual company, independent of any larger brand

In many ways, it’s better to buy into franchises for sale When you do, you’ll benefit from working with a wellestablished brand People may recognize your company

from previous experiences they’ve had with other franchisees. This can lead to more clients.

Marketing Yourself

Once you have your franchise purchased, it’s time to start marketing yourself.

One of the best ways to do this is to make a Google My Business account. When you do this, you’ll need to provide relevant contact information for your business. Then, Google will place your information at the top of the results whenever someone looks for services like yours.

You should see what kinds of rules and suggestions your franchisor has for marketing your franchise. Sometimes, you might receive marketing materials you can use to get the word out.

Be Professional

You shouldn’t just rely on your franchise’s name to bring you loyal customers Instead, you need to think of yourself as an ambassador for the brand. In all your interactions with customers, you’re representing both yourself and the company at large.

So, you should be professional in all your communications Make sure you know how the franchise wants you to handle certain tasks so you can provide the type of quality work on which your business thrives.

Ready to Start a Home-Based Franchise?

Before you start your franchise, you need to know what types of companies are available for purchase

You can find a list of home-based franchises in a franchise directory website. Make sure you compare a few different franchises before you buy into one so you can find the best one for you!

Find your ideal home based business opportunity at the Quality Franchise Association.

New Year, New Career?

Cleanhome Franchising Can Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

If you’re looking for a new challenge, would like to be your own boss and have the opportunity to generate a £70,000 annual profit within 3 years then Cleanhome is the business management franchise for you.

1) Financials & Growth: - Achieve financial security with Cleanhome

• Structured to be low cost and generating high profit within the early years

• A business model that provides an easy way to earn a safe income

• A strong recurring revenue model, your business will be cash positive from day one

• The growth will be rapid, and with a high number of paying clients, your success cannot be knocked down overnight

• An opportunity to generate an annual profit of £70,000 per year within 3 years, even during a recession

2) Lifestyle & Opportunity: - Take charge of your own destiny, make your own success

• The business provides an excellent work/life balance.

• Working low hours for high return.

• Enabling you to achieve the lifestyle you choose.

• The opportunity is a safe route, it’s incredibly low risk with no stock.

• It’s your business, allowing you to work anywhere and at any time.

3) Technology: - Technology is at the forefront of our operations and allowing you to make best use of your time

• Cleanhome is a cloud based business and technology development is on-going.

• We support our business partners by providing them a cloud based business management system, allowing for: -

• The website Booking Engine – a live on- line 24/7 sign up system

• An Electronic Booking System, cutting out the need for any paperwork.

The saying goes ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is’ Not in this case and we are delighted to introduce Roger from Cleanhome Haywards Heath One of our first franchisee business partners, Roger incorporated Cleanhome Haywards Heath back in 2015

Watch and listen to Roger whilst he recounts his Cleanhome journey by Clicking Here

• Multiple Communication mechanisms, delivering up to the minute messaging that is integrated and automated. If

Introducing John from Haywards Heath

We have broken down the pros of starting a Cleanhome franchise into 3 key areas:

Recognition Express Launches New Branding For 2023

Recognition Express has a new look for 2023.

Established in 1979, the company introduced Europe to the concept of name badges and has been expanding its range of promotional products and branded clothing ever since

The iconic Recognition Express logo served the business well for over 40 years, but no longer reflected the dynamic business it continues to be

Unveiled to franchisees at the Recognition Express annual conference in September, the new-look corporate identity launched to the outside world on 1 January 2023.

The new logo retains the blue and orange colours of the original but moves to a more contemporary and vibrant palette. There’s a subtle nod to the lines in the previous logo in the three orange bars that together make up the E of the RE.

Explained Recognition Express managing director Chris Masters:

“When we set up the UK franchise for Recognition Express we inherited the name from the American master licence holder. What it meant in the 1970s was ‘quick badges’ but whilst we’re still market leaders for identity products , we’ve come a long way since then

During our rich history we have continued to innovate, moving away from being a single product supplier to becoming the branding consultants we are today.

“We set up a focus group drawn from across our network of Recognition Express business owners to agree the creative brief.

We asked local branding agency Creative62 to give us a new corporate identity that would deliver flexibility across all mediums - print, digital and social media

“We quickly agreed the name Recognition Express should be retained. It is well known in the marketplace, and we believed both elements of the name were still very relevant.

Recognition is about recognising prospects, customers and staff by giving them branded merchandise, name badges and uniform, awards and gifts.

Whilst we may not be able to offer Amazon type express delivery, we pride ourselves in offering the highest levels of customer service. We can be express in all aspects of our service from express response to enquiries, express delivery of samples and express delivery of product where possible.”

One of the key features the focus group wanted was the ability to take out a symbol to use where the branding area doesn’t do a full logo justice, such as social media.

The new RE element of the logo has been designed to stand alone, delivering a bold visual representation of the brand in even the tiniest of spaces.

The strapline was updated too. Continued Chris, “whilst unique solutions in promoting your image aptly described what we do, partners in promoting your brand provides an updated twist.

Using the word ‘partners’ encompasses the relationships we build with our customers and the words ‘promotion and branding exemplify what we do

“We’ve got an exciting new look to take us into the next phase of our company’s development. Our longevity in the marketplace and ongoing success of our franchisees speaks for itself.

The future of Recognition Express is looking as bright as our new identity!”

Could You Be The Next Recognition Express Franchisee?

Successfully trading since 1979, over 45 franchise territories in the UK and Europe and with multiple revenue streams Recognition Express is a stalwart of British franchising and is the most successful franchise network for the sector in the UK. Learn more about becoming a franchisee by requesting a franchise prospectus.

Request More Info

Recognition Express are leaders in corporate branding solutions

Home Instead’s Martin Jones made MBE in 2023 New Year Honours List

Home Instead is absolutely thrilled to announce that their UK and international chief executive, Martin Jones has been made an MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours list for services to older people.

Martin’s introduction to the care sector was through his father who needed support due to frailty in old age. Through this experience Martin came to understand the importance of home care and the positive impact it could have on families like his.

Shortly after, Martin joined Home Instead, initially as Chief Operating Officer in 2011. He went on to be Managing Director and then CEO – overseeing our 245 franchise offices that deliver care to over 16,000 clients.

During his time working in the sector, Martin has been a keen advocate of home care and its role within the health and social care ecosystem. He has also championed the role of care workers, helping to attract more people to consider a career in care.

Martin has taken on a number of non-exec and Trustee roles which have enabled him to build strong

links to the Department of Health and Social Security, Skills for Care and the International Longevity Centre, to name but a few.

He is currently Chair of the Homecare Association; Chair of The Care Workers’ Charity; member of the Age UK Board. He is also Chair of Home Instead Charities UK, part of Home Instead’s charitable endeavours.

Speaking about the award, Martin said, “I am proud and humbled to receive this award, particularly as it is for services to older people.

“Home Instead’s mission is to expand the world’s capacity to care – we want to make the world a better place to age in. For this to become reality, companies like Home Instead, the government and broader society need to ensure that there is the infrastructure, resource and, importantly, people in place.

“The integration of health and social care is critical, as is a mindset where old age is celebrated and revered.”

Home Instead is the UK’s No 1 franchise company with a management led business model that is proven to deliver outstanding care and outstanding results for their franchisees. Home Instead specialise in the care of older people and this gives their franchisees a clear focus Their unique home care service, which is companionship-based, allows their clients to remain living independently in their own homes, where they feel most comfortable. Previous experience in the care sector is not required as you will have a team of care professionals managing and delivering the care. Franchisees have the benefit of a highly experienced and supportive national office team that sets the standard and puts systems and processes in place

The Home Instead mission is ‘To be the UK’s most admired care company through changing the face of ageing’.

franchise royalty fees

What are they, what types are there and how much can the franchisor charge?

What are franchise royalty fees?

Franchise royalty fees are one of the biggest costs you’ll have to consider when purchasing a franchise, and you should pay close attention to them before you sign your franchise agreement But what exactly are franchise royalty fees? And how much should they be? Here are some answers to common questions about franchise royalty fees.

What is a franchise royalty fee?

A franchise royalty fee is a charge paid by a franchisee (the person who buys into a franchise system) to his or her franchisor (the person who owns and licenses that system) This money is generally used to offset costs associated with maintaining and managing a branded company Typical fees vary depending on things like your initial capital investment, location of your business, etc Of course, there are also other fees involved in buying a franchise: real estate costs for store-front locations, construction, and development fees But when you’re talking about selling franchises in general rather than specific companies franchise royalty fees are generally going to be higher than one-time costs like startup expenses

be from several sources: Products, services, and memberships that are sold in conjunction with your main product line or service. A flat royalty fee or some variation on a percentage royalty fee is often best if you are getting started in business because it keeps costs low while allowing you to keep cash flow positive Because these fees tend to be higher than other types of fees, however, they may not be right for everyone

2) Increasing percentage franchise royalty fees

A franchisor has the right to increase your franchise fee depending on certain factors. For example, is your franchise based in a popular location? Or did you pay more when buying a franchise, would it be fair for them to charge you less money every year because of what they paid you originally? If a franchisor raises their percentage royalty fee then that should apply equally to all franchisees across their entire network and not just those with older agreements but sometimes it can just be a case of individual locations where the franchise business is located

3) Decreasing percentage franchise royalty fees

What different types of franchise royalty

fees

are there?

A range of royalty fees are associated with franchising. If you’re buying a franchise, you’ll usually be charged an initial fee and a continuing fee in order to use the trademark The initial fee is due when you purchase a franchise while continuing fees are collected on an ongoing basis from your sales revenue These fees will typically be 5-10% of revenue and they’ll vary according to your sector, but can get as high as 20% Some companies may also charge continuing fees for a new store or marketing development, or local training Below we will list the 3 most common types of franchise fees associated with buying a franchise business

1) Fixed percentage franchise royalty fees

When purchasing a franchise, you’ll pay a fixed percentage of your sales to your franchisor. For example, if you buy into a franchise that charges 4% in fees for royalty, you’ll have to pay 4 percent of all revenue brought in from operations This revenue can

The franchisor may decrease the royalty fee percentage as an incentive to ambitious franchisees. This is more of a bonus than a discount, as it will increase the franchisee’s potential profits and decrease his or her start-up costs, allowing him or her to pay less upfront A lower royalty fee may only last for a certain number of years; if the franchisee is able to maintain strong sales after that period of time, he or she may be granted another term at the lower royalty percentage rate If sales continue to soar even after that period of time, the franchisor might permanently reduce the franchise fee percentage.

Interested in finding out more information about buying a franchise?

It’s a little-known fact that buying a franchise can be much less expensive than starting your own business from scratch That said, if you want to buy into a franchise, there are some additional costs you should know about If you are seriously considering buying a franchise we highly recommend you do thorough research before investing in any franchise business available.

FRANCHISE RESALES

Kick start your future with an already-trading franchise business for sale

Browse a range of franchise resale opportunities with Franchise Entrepreneur

5 reasons on why buying an established franchise is so beneficial:

The business is already up and running - All the groundwork has been done for you, all you need to do is pick up the reins where the previous owner left off, allowing you to immediately start generating revenue.

The business has a proven track record - One huge benefit is that there will already be existing contracts, brand recognition, a reputation and revenue to build upon.

It can be easier to obtain funding - With the performance history of the business, the banks may look more favourably at lending money; making it easier to fund your new business venture than if you were to start from scratch.

Staff – Existing staff can bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to a new owner; they can help ensure a seamless transition from one owner to another.

Support and Training - The franchisor will provide you with resources, connections, training and continuous support, which will help you avoid mistakes that might cost your company time or money! Furthermore, with a network of franchisees available to draw support and ideas from, you are not alone in your new business venture.

Agency Express Franchise Resales

Opportunities Available Across the UK

Join The UK’s Largest National Estate Agency Board Franchise

At any one time there are approximately 1.5 million estate agency boards displayed on the streets of the UK and Ireland.

Agency Express franchisees and their vehicles are responsible for serving over 60% of UK estate agency offices.

Franchising for over two decades, Agency Express is a ‘bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year ‘and ‘ESTAS Estate Agency Supplier of the Year’ multi award winner.

As a result of this, the next owner of these resales will be able to take advantage of the support that a successful franchise model can offer.

Agency Express resale opportunities would suit a self-motivated, practical, and driven person who enjoys meeting people and working outdoors. There is also excellent potential to expand this business into a multi van operation.

What’s Included:

• Exclusive territory license

• Fully sign-written van*

• Specialist tools & equipment.

• Corporate clothing

• Stationery and marketing materials

• 8 days comprehensive training & business launch

• On-going accounts, marketing, and sales support

• £5,000,000 public liability insurance - The premium paid on your first 12 months

Interested?

Click below to request more information about taking control of one of the two resale areas available. Request Info

Agency Express

Location: Offers Around: Kent £POA

A unique opportunity has become available to join the highly successfully Agency Express franchise in a select number of areas across Kent

Do you have a desire to run your own business and to benefit from a better work life balance? Are you self-motivated, practical and do you enjoy working outside? If the answer is YES then the Agency Express van-based franchise could be perfect for you!

Request Info

Agency Express

Location: Offers Around: Bucks £POA

Due to relocation a rare opportunity has risen to acquire a well-established van-based franchise, located in Buckinghamshire with Agency Express, the UK’s largest provider of professional estate agency board services. This franchise resale is an owner operated, single van business, covering Aylesbury and the surrounding towns and villages The next owner will benefit from being able to service a strong portfolio of existing clients. Due to the current franchisee boasting an excellent reputation within the local area, this business is ready to continue running in a successful manner Request Info

Agency Express

Location: Offers Around: Essex/Suffolk £POA

A rare opportunity has risen to acquire a well-established van-based franchise, located in either Suffolk or Essex with Agency Express, the UK’s largest provider of professional estate agency board services. This franchise resale would be sold as a single van business, covering the areas of Northern Essex or Southern Suffolk. The current franchisee is the owner of two territories and wishes to scale back to one

Franchise UK is the UK’s largest franchise directory with over 1,000 businesses looking to recruit franchisees to their growing franchise networks. With opportunities in all sectors, from van based businesses to white collar and retail, franchises cost anywhere from less than £500 up to high end businesses and brands.

There Has Never Been a Better Time to Own a Franchise in the Commercial Energy Sector

Imagine owning a business where:

You give clients clarity and choice in a confusing and expensive market.

You don’t have to ‘sell’ what you supply as no client can operate without your product.

You get paid even if your clients stay with their existing supplier.

You don’t have to cold call or knock on doors.

Typical clients stay with you for at least three years.

You’ll be helping businesses to go green.

How is your year going?

Are you any closer to leaving the drudgery, politics and nausea of employment to set up your own business?

The great news is you don’t have to do it alone. That’s the beauty of a Utilitrack franchise You’ll get the benefits of a reliable business model that can build your wealth, a back-office team to support you on your journey and a smile generating work-life balance that’ll make your former colleagues jealous A little over a year ago, most business owners didn’t care much about their gas and electricity bills

They knew they had to pay them or their business would be closed, but that was about it. Once every two or three years they might have to enter a new contract, but other than that, things just ticked over. That’s not the case now A year on and the energy crisis is constantly in the news. Business owners are worried

Interested?

about spiralling energy prices.

For some, their suppliers went bust, leaving them on uncapped rates and needing help fast For others, they are coming to the end of low-cost contracts and facing price hikes of between 300% and 400% and wondering what is going to happen next. These huge increases will hit their bottom line and might not only wipe out any profits but could even force them to cease trading.

It’s critical these businesses take action now and call in an expert to help them get a grip of their energy costs That expert could be you. What’s more, clients you help who are in crisis will form the foundation of your longterm business when normality returns – if it ever does.

Request a brochure now and if you like what you see, we can set up a discovery meeting where you’ll find out just how simple and effective a Utilitrack franchise can be.