Franchise Focus
FIND THE RIGHT Franchise for
YOU
businessfranchise.com November 2014 Issue 238
ÂŁ3.60
The ZipYard A stitch in time makes a great business
FREE TICKET SAVE ÂŁ25! TheNational FranchiseExhibition
20 & 21 February 2015 | NEC, Birmingham
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Relative values Why it pays to franchise with your family
whet your appetite
a closer look at the thriving food sector
THE KEY FEATURES OF JETTS SUCCESS. • Convenient, locations just minutes from home or work • Open 24/7, no lock-in contracts and low fees • Simple low cost fit out • Low staffing requirement (only 1 FT team member) • 90%+ of income paid automatically in advance • Average breakeven in 3-6 months • Multi club owners prevalent 2-6 clubs typical range • Owners keep their day job – av. 5-10hrs per week on Jetts • Excellent return on invested capital Jetts is about members working out on their terms.
The freedom to keep your day job and own a business because you can. *Valid for first five franchisees with an executed Franchise Agreement before 31.12.14 as a credit towards equipment supplied in your club.
£ 5000ENT EX VAT
EQUIPMER H UC VO 14* ID IN 20 VAL
b model Jetts clu
Jetts equipmen t
Grab a security blanket Editorial & Publishing Editor Annie Blinkhorn annie.blinkhorn@vmgl.com Editorial assistant Katie Shevlin katie.shevlin@vmgl.com design Xevi Soler xevi.soler@vmgl.com Production Scott Newman scott.newman@vmgl.com
This month is all about life’s comforts ...
T
he nights are unmistakeably drawing in and temperatures are dropping as fast as the leaves from the trees. It’s pleasing, therefore, that this issue of Business Franchise has a couple of life’s most comforting elements as its major themes: food and family. In most cultures, the two are inextricably linked and as such represent a joint symbol of warmth and security. This month, the main features look at both food and family within the context of franchising. Running your own business as a franchise comes with the security of knowing there’s a support safety net and a tried, tested and proven system you are following. There’s evidence in the Special Feature (page 30) that you can further enhance that feeling of security by working with family members, given that you will know each other well and share a common goal. Food, of course, has its own associations with comfort and wellbeing, but in business terms, this is a sector that shows no signs of slowing, and why would it? People always gotta eat! Read the Market Focus on page 34 for insights from both the franchisor and franchisee points
pUBLISHING DIRECTOR Tracy Shah ...........................................
of view on when it comes to making dosh from nosh. Anyone seeking further comfort and reassurance can turn to our sage advice experts. There’s also a strong theme this month of making sure your chosen franchisor is on the level and will, in return for your investment, provide you with all the training, support and ongoing assistance you will need to make your business a success. See pages 24-25 for tips on how to determine whether a franchisor is behaving to professional ethical standards. Expert advice is also available in the regular Q&A section (psges 28-29) where, this month, franchise insiders answer questions on the amount of support you should expect from a brand and how the family-like structure of a franchise network provides many benefits. All this talk of feeling secure will have me reaching for my tartan blanket next… Stay warm, everyone!
Advertising director of franchise sales Adrian Goodsell 020 8394 5200 adrian.goodsell@vmgl.com Account executive Annie Hogan 020 8394 5281 annie.hogan@vmgl.com Advertising executive Madi Nazir 020 8394 5283 madihah.nazir@vmgl.com ........................................... subscriptions 020 8394 5215 subscribe@businessfranchise.com www.businessfranchise.com ........................................... British franchise association
Annie Blinkhorn Editor
01235 820 470 www.thebfa.org
editor@businessfranchise.com
©2014. Venture Marketing Group Ltd. All rights reserved. ‘Business Franchise’ is a trademark of Venture Marketing Group Ltd (VMG). Copyright will be enforced for all features and design. Reproductions permitted by payment of reprint fees. Business Franchise (BF) is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, without the consent of the publishers, be reproduced, given or lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade, except at the full retail price and that it shall not be given, lent, resold hired out or otherwise disposed of in any mutilated condition, or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or affixed to or part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial mattr whatsoever. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of information in BF at time of going to press, VMG does not guarantee responsibility for any errors or omissions, or for the consequences of actions based on data contained herein. Contributions are welcome but VMG accepts no responsibility for submitted material. Views expressed in BF do not necessarily reflect those of VMG nor its employees. Investment levels stated may or may not include VAT – always check investment levels with the franchisor. Business Franchise is published by Venture Marketing Group, 2nd Floor, 2-4 St Georges Road, London SW19 4DP. Telephone 020 8394 5200 ISSN 0955-789X Newsstand sales & marketing by Imagine, London. Tel: 0845 612 0092 Email: anything@imaginemag.net www.imaginemag.net Distribution: Advantage, Circulation Dept, 5th Floor, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT www.anladvantage.co.uk • Finding your nearest stockist is easy, visit www.anladvantage.co.uk/WhereToBuy.aspx and enter your postcode.
Editorial and advertisements for companies featured in Business Franchise (BF) represent neither endorsement nor recommendation of such companies by VMG nor its employees. Readers are advised to seek franchising advice before entering into any contract with companies or persons mentioned in BF editorial and advertisements.
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 3
Contents NOVEMBER
www.yudu.com
VIEW BUSINESS FRANCHISE ONLINE AT WWW.BUSINESSFRANCHISE.COM, COURTESY OF DIGITAL PUBLISHING PARTNER YUDU MEDIA, AND SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TO RECEIVE THE LATEST ISSUE DIGITALLY EACH MONTH.
34
18
Can you stand the heat?
Cover story: The ZipYard
Up Front 3 6
Editor’s letter News Latest industry updates 11 bfa news Considering the benefits of small and big brands 12 The National Franchise Exhibition Review of the recent Birmingham event
Features
14 Real stories: CeX Hear from franchisees 16 Leading the way Interview with Carol StewartGill, founder of commercial cleaning franchise Dublcheck 18 Cover story: The ZipYard Charting the success of this garment alteration brand 4 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
30 It’s all relative Why family members make good franchising partners 34 Food, glorious food A look at what it takes to be successful in the food industry 90 Introducing... Acting franchise Youngstar
Franchise Profiles
41 42 44
47 48 50
Brightstar Care Award-winning care business from the US Jetts Australian fitness chain Wok&Go Leading noodle bar franchise Papa John’s Global pizza brand Anytime Fitness International gym chain Subway Leading sandwich brand
51 52 53 54 56 59 61 62 64 65 66
Platinum Property Partners Property investment franchise Century 21 UK Sales and lettings McDonald’s Fast food CeX Second-hand goods Mail Boxes Etc. Postal services Greensleeves Lawn care Minster Cleaning Services Commercial cleaning management franchise Ableworld Products and services for the elderly ChipsAway Car bodywork repairs Caremark Dedicated home care Snack-in-the-box Vending services
INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? Call 020 8394 5283
or email advertising@businessfranchise.com
New to FRANCHISING? See www.businessfranchise.com
67 68 69 70 72 74 76 78 80 81
Recognition Express Corporate branding products Home Instead Senior Care Elderly care business TruGreen Professional gardening Marston’s Pub retail NIC Services Group Commercial cleaning MACC Tools for construction Myhome Residential cleaning gas-elec Gas and electricity services Castle and Pryor Diamond drilling and cutting Cronio Phone Watches New American retail brand
30
Keeping it in the family
Advice
24 26 28
Looking for the good guys How to determine if a franchise is ethical Are you ready? Guidance on preparing a business plan Q&A Experts advise on all matters regarding franchising
16
Carol Stewart-Gill talks business
Resales
83
Franchise resales listings The latest opportunities to buy an existing business
Directories
85 88
ClassiďŹ eds Essential franchise services A-Z directory A comprehensive guide to aid your search
28
Q&A
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 5
Franchise News
The latest reports from businesses in franchising
Barking Mad businesswoman named Franchisee of the Year • Customer Service Franchisee of the Year: Joggy Dhillon, Domino’s Coleraine and Omagh • Young Franchisee of the Year: Aaron Stewart, Marston’s Sheffield and Mansfield • Female Franchisee of the Year: Rachel Shaw, Subway Thornton Heath and West Wickham • Olderpreneur Franchisee of the Year: Terry Lucking, Belvoir Peterborough and Cambridge • B2B Franchisee of the Year: Frank Sutherland, Autosmart Aberdeen
Tina Young collecting her award
n Tina Young, of dog boarding business Barking Mad, has been crowned winner of the bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards 2014. The awards, supported by Express Newspapers, also saw Tina win the Microbusiness Franchisee of the Year award, a category for businesses with less than £100,000 turnover. Commenting on her success, Tina said: “It’s unbelievable to be recognised for all the hard work that has gone into running my successful franchise. My staff have contributed hugely to this success, which can be seen in our excellence in customer service that drives 50 per cent of business coming from referrals. This award is for all of us and I can’t believe I won!” Cathryn Hayes, head of franchising at HSBC, commented: “Tina impressed the judges by turning her Barking Mad franchise into a management
6 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
franchise, changing her business model to allow her take on staff – the first in the Barking Mad network to do so. At HSBC, we are very privileged to work with some of the country’s most exciting and forward-thinking franchisees and Tina epitomises just this.” Following a rigorous judging process, the awards took place during a blacktie ceremony in Birmingham Town Hall, hosted by BBC Breakfast’s Steph McGovern. Recognised for their exceptional contributions to franchising in the UK, six category winners each received £1,000 for their efforts, while Tina collected £10,000 for taking home the top prize, all courtesy of HSBC. The winners are: • Franchisee of the Year and Microbusiness Franchisee of the Year: Tina Young, Barking Mad Northumberland
Commenting on the awards, Brian Smart, director general of the bfa, said: “We’ve now been recognising the country’s most exceptional franchisees for a quarter of a century, and each year the bar is raised higher and higher. It’s fitting that the 25th anniversary of these awards gave us a cross-section of finalists that showcase the inclusivity of the sector, with these 19 outstanding business owners demonstrating the achievements that are possible.” HSBC’s Cathryn Hayes added: “This year has given us so many diverse and inspirational stories that should motivate others to create their own success. It was very difficult indeed to pick out our winners because of the high standards of all 19 finalists. We are delighted to be able to celebrate their achievements and recognise some exceptional business owners that are at the forefront of the vibrant and growing franchise sector.” Seán Hammond, head of franchising at Express Newspapers, said: “These awards throw light on the fantastic successes that span the breadth of the franchising industry, paving the way for others to follow suit. We’re delighted to be able to celebrate and reward the lengths these businesspeople go to in order to push their businesses forward.”
november 2014 Hotcha announces its UK franchise offering
Andre Agassi helps European healthfood brand launch UK expansion n With research suggesting that half of the UK population is set to be obese by 2050, a growing European health food brand backed by Andre Agassi is looking to help Brits fight back, after announcing its UK expansion with the launch of London’s first Update 1 low-carb bistro-deli. The opening of the first site in Walthamstow took place in October and will be followed by a further four franchise operations over the next six months, including sites in Farringdon and Angel. By the end of 2019, the company aim to have over 50 Update 1 franchises operating throughout the UK alongside an e-commerce website and home delivery service. The low-carb bistro-delis will all include a premium, 100 per cent organic coffee offering, a fresh on–site bakery, a deli and a healthy fast food bistro providing a wide and varied selection of healthy hot and cold meals. They will also exclusively use and sell the specially created and clinically proven range of Update 1 food and drink products which are all low carb, low GI and contain no added sugar or artificial flavourings. Set up in 2004 by Hungary’s
health king and entrepreneur Norbi Ferenc Schobert, the company was floated in September and has ambitious plans to grow worldwide. Eight-time tennis Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi, who recently signed up as an Update 1 brand ambassador to help the company’s expansion in the UK, Austria, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Serbia, and Romania, said: “I have long believed that exercise and the right nutrition and diet are essential to long-term mental and physical health. The obesity problem around the world is extremely worrying so I am delighted and excited to be working with Update 1 to help people make the small changes that can make a big difference.” Founder of Update 1, Norbi Ferenc Schobert, commented: “Update 1 has been proven to help people lose weight without them needing to give up their favourite food items. With obesity a core issue to populations around the world, our aim back in 2004 was to make dieting easier, more enjoyable and less extreme in order to effect real change. With this first launch in the UK and our exciting plans in motion elsewhere in the world, we are excited to be another step closer to realising that dream.”
n Hotcha, the UK’s fastest-growing Chinese takeaway chain, was set up in 2011 by entrepreneur James Liang and now operates 10 stores in the South West. After recently announcing their franchise scheme, the company hopes to extend its network throughout the UK. James has launched the franchise scheme to establish Hotcha as a national Chinese takeaway brand following its successful roll out to date in South West England. Hotcha currently has a turnover of £2.5million. Hotcha offers a simple menu with a modern take on well-known traditional Chinese dishes and has a policy of training its own chefs through a special academy. It has recently added alcohol to its online and in-store offerings. Hotcha has proved particularly popular with families, young professionals and students. Stores are branded with a modern ‘street’ image and attract custom through multiple channels including online ordering, takeaway, delivery and dine-in services. The company has established central systems, which simplify the preparation and delivery of its menu and ensure that franchisees do not need to have a background in Chinese cuisine. In order to maintain product quality, improve margins and reduce staffing costs, all core ingredients including meat, fish, marinades and sauces are freshly prepared by Hotcha’s central production facility. Ingredients are then sent to stores every week where they are used to prepare dishes in line with Hotcha’s high standards, house recipes and presentation styles. A central call centre has been developed to streamline ordering and payment processes, allowing stores to focus on fulfilling orders and customer service.
James Liang
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 7
november 2014
Ovenclean’s first national conference cooks on gas n Ovenclean hosted its first full national conference last weekend, with a network-wide format chosen over the brand’s previous smaller regional meetings, reflecting the growth of the franchise nationally. Around 70 delegates attended Luton Hoo mansion house for the event. Tim Harris, Ovenclean’s CEO, explained: “Previously we have held smaller regional meetings, but as we’ve grown substantially over the last few years we felt it would really benefit the network to have one large national conference. “It was designed so that franchisees could come together, learn about our plans for the future, discover new techniques and tips, chat to fellow members of the network and – more than anything – have a good
time and go away inspired!” Motivational speaker Gerald Ratner gave a “powerful and compelling” presentation in the afternoon, which included his personal experiences of the demise of his multimillion-pound business, and subsequent successful relaunch of himself within a competitive marketplace. Delegates were also introduced to an array of new products, with the opportunity to try them out first hand on the day. Ovenclean franchisee Graham Kerridge said of the conference: “I enjoyed it immensely. There were some great ideas and exciting opportunities discussed – I took a lot on board and if I can put everything into place for my business that I want to as a result, it’ll really give it a boost and make a huge difference!”
It could be you!
Tim Harris Abhay Shah
Did you
know
?
In the UK, it is estimated there are over 22,400 franchisees in total
8 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
>22,400
n Abhay Shah set up his Caremark franchise in Hillingdon last year. “Before becoming a Caremark franchisee, I worked as an audit executive at Ernst & Young. This role gave me the opportunity to visit many different businesses and learn how their operations vary. Eventually, though, the numbers became too dull. I had always wanted to start my own business and whilst researching various opportunities I came across the social care sector. As I had no experience in this sector, franchising was the perfect way to enter the industry. “When I met up with Caremark, the emphasis placed on the quality of care that is expected of their franchises was evident. “Starting up my franchise has certainly been a roller coaster but it’s worth it when I hear the success stories of our care and support workers. To be able to facilitate the delivery of good, quality care has definitely been my greatest achievement. “There is certainly a lot of hard work involved in running a franchise but I have an excellent team of staff to lighten the load. I would like to take on another Caremark franchise in the not-toodistant future.” n
Minster provided me with a tried and tested business model...
“
When I was looking for a management franchise, my goal was to achieve success without loss of security. Many years of growth has resulted in an annual turnover of £1.7 million and I have a huge exclusive territory in which to continue the success story. Time has proven Minster’s tried and tested business model to be spot on. James Lofthouse Minster Franchisee, Sheffield
”
and this is why it succeeds... I I secured a large exclusive territory I it’s a management business I I have a multi-sector client base I it’s capable of developing into a substantial operation I it’s a utility rather than a ‘fashion’ business I I gained a good return on investment I it’s professionally marketed I it’s recession resistant
looking for a franchise opportunity? make sure the numbers add up!
41 branches
£30
m
sales/turnover
32
years of proven success across the UK
£150
k+
net profit potential
Minster is the biggest and the most successful commercial cleaning franchise in the UK Some resale opportunities are now available in large established territories
For a comprehensive information pack contact Minster on:
0121 386 1722
minster@minsterfranchise.co.uk
www.minsterfranchise.co.uk
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British Franchise Association news The UK’s voluntary self-regulating governing body for franchising
All things great and small staff and systems, and the proven infrastructure to support franchised outlets up and down the UK. As a general rule, the most established brands will have higher start-up costs precisely because you’re buying into a more proven model, and because the turnover potential can be highly lucrative with less perceived risk involved.
T
here are currently more than 900 brands using a franchise model in the UK. If you ask the average person on the street to name some then they’ll most likely come out with the usual suspects – McDonald’s, Subway, Domino’s Pizza and so on. Those global brands, however, make up only a fraction of the options available to prospective franchisees. Anyone who delves into what’s on offer will soon find a multitude of brands large and small with tempting business propositions. Some of those propositions are other household names that are not typically known as franchises and some are much smaller businesses, possibly just starting out in franchising or beginning to expand from their local marketplace. And, of course, everything in between! What does this mean for you, the prospective franchisee? There are very clear advantages to both the familiar, established brand as well as the new kid on the block when assessing what the right opportunity
is for you. Your strengths and the lifestyle you want to lead are critical factors in your decision-making process. Big business Franchisees of renowned national and/or international brands benefit from significant consumer knowledge of their products and services; often with brand loyalty and expectations already engrained within a core base of customers that keep them coming back time and again. Most franchises at this stage have national marketing campaigns in place and your brand will be seen on a regular basis. A larger network of franchisees also means there should be vast quantities of expertise to call on in addition to head office resources, including from franchisees at every stage of development and size. Those franchisees will be able to offer you, the prospect, an abundance of historical data as to the expectations of your own business and its potential profitability. Head-office back up should be plentiful, with dedicated business development
Good things come in small packages A brand newer to the market or franchising comes with very different considerations. There is little or no historical precedence when a business begins franchising as to what may be achieved by a franchisee, so accurate forecasting and substantial due diligence is critical in assessing the opportunity. With few trading franchisees to provide an idea of turnover potential and support offered by the franchisor, your research and your instincts are vital. Usually, you’ll be paying a lower fee to join as the franchise tries to attract those early-adopters that can propel it forwards. If you find the right opportunity, that can mean significant reward later down the line if the brand under which you operate suddenly becomes the next big thing in its marketplace. It’s certainly a route that has less proven success to back it up but if you’re willing to take that risk then the rewards are potentially substantial too. At the bfa, we have a category called ‘Provisionally Listed’ to distinguish those brands that are newer to the sector. That means that the business has demonstrated a commitment to ethical franchising, taken the right advice and has a proven pilot system in place. Those are important signs you should be looking out for in a newer franchise brand to help you identify the good from the rest. At its heart, the choice of known versus new franchisor comes down to a risk versus reward equation; how comfortable you are with each on a personal level is important to establish. It is also worth remembering that although they may have more evidence of success, there are no guarantees even with the bigger brands – dedication, hard work, tenacity and a strong will are vital to your success in franchising, no matter the size of brand you’re operating under. n
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 11
Event Review
The place to be Visitors found a wealth of opportunities and advice at this year’s National Franchise Exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham
“I
came looking for our next business venture and definitely found it today! I had a very good chat with a particular company and will be following up with them as soon as I get home, with a view to opening within the next six months.” Kathleen Antoniai, a self-employed businesswoman who had travelled to the NEC, Birmingham from Bristol was one of many thousands of aspiring franchisees who came away from The National Franchise Exhibition full of inspiration and enthusiasm for their next business venture. Kathleen and many others discovered a multitude of
12 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
successful franchise brands, narrowed them down to the most fitting and left the event fully loaded with valuable information from seminars industry specialists. Lee Stuart, a company director from Coventry was equally triumphant. He said: “I found what I was looking for at the exhibition very quickly! I'm definitely planning to pursue this further,” while Raj Jobanputra, a manager from Leicester, said: “It's been brilliant! The quality of the franchises on offer has been outstanding.” Face-to-face meetings with franchise brands led to a huge number of visitors setting up follow-up meetings on the spot. Jamie Shelley, a buyer from Leicester, was
eager to share his exciting prospect: “I was so impressed by Cafe2U that I have scheduled an appointment to attend one of their discovery days in Birmingham soon.” What was evident was that many visitors came armed with detailed and specific questions to ask particular franchisors, having carried out prior research to ensure they utilised their time effectively. Typical of them was Paul Addis, a lecturer from Droitwich Spa, who commented: “There was plenty of useful information at the exhibition. I had researched a number of companies that I found potentially interesting. We've exchanged details and I'm looking forward to booking further
Event Review
“The National Franchise Exhibition has helped thousands of potential business owners find new opportunities”
meetings over the next few weeks.” The high quality of franchisors enticed some visitors to come back on day two to progress conversations quickly. Watfordbased police officer Neil Tulloch met Marston's Pub on the first day. “I decided to come back on the second day and bring back my wife with me so that she could meet Marston’s too. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled.” There was something for everyone at the event. Stay-at-home mum Debbie Dobedoe from Peterborough said: “The Creation Station was brilliant and very informative. I'm definitely going to follow up with them again shortly and pursue this opportunity further.”
Many exhibitors also observed that those attending showed a high level of interest and planning. Tracy Owens, head of strategic development at Kare Plus was one of many franchisors that highlighted the strong and serious level of visitors coming through the doors. “We have had an incredibly busy two days. The vast majority of people that came to see us on the stand had definitely done their homework and came prepared. It has been very worthwhile exhibiting.” Seminars were also of the utmost importance to those attending and many were keen to gain an insider’s view into the world of franchising, seeking first-hand experience from those that had previously been in their position. Patrick Lunnan, a surveyor from Hatfield couldn’t agree more: “The ‘Real Franchise Stories’ presentation was excellent. The panel were very good and easily tapped into the audience.” But it wasn’t just the Real Franchise Stories that grabbed the attention and interest of visitors. Each theatre room was jam-packed with audiences eager to learn as much as they could and on several occasions there was only standing room left. In all the seminars, from the British Franchise Association’s to those presented by franchise brands and industry experts, there were huge crowds, engaged and enthralled by the high-quality of presentations and advice freely available to them. Dale Gerrity, self-employed in Stokeon-Trent, commented: “The seminars were brilliant and very informative,” while Pete Gillett, a manager from Burtonupon-Trent, said they were “very helpful; there were really great speakers and the presentations were very insightful. I was also impressed by what I heard at the Finance Clinic and Careers Clinic.” Many also sought information from the experts on hand such as HSBC, Lloyds Bank and NatWest, who were all
offering free financial and business plan advice, and lawyers including Hamilton Pratt and Leathes Prior were there to help with legal questions. Adrian Goodsell, director of franchise sales at organisers Venture Marketing Group, summed up: “This year’s National Franchise Exhibition has, like so many of our previous events, helped thousands of potential business owners to find exciting new opportunities and to learn much more about franchising in just a few hours. At the same time, more than 140 franchise companies were able to find and progress their discussions efficiently with the vast number of well-prepared serious prospects who came to meet them. Once again, the event has been a great success for very many visitors and exhibitors.” n
Upcoming event details:
TheNational FranchiseExhibition
20 & 21 February 2015 | NEC, Birmingham
TheBritish&International FranchiseExhibition
13 & 14 March 2015 | Olympia, London
TheBritish FranchiseExhibition
19 & 20 June 2015 | EventCity, Manchester
Visit: www.franchiseinfo.co.uk Follow us: @UKFranchising Facebook: FranchiseInfo group LinkedIn: T he Franchise Exhibitions Group Call: +44 (0)844 257 8668 November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 13
Real stories: CeX A franchisee of popular second-hand goods brand CeX shares his experience
Imran Ghafoor, CeX Gateshead What did you do before taking up a franchise? I’ve worked for the last few years in the corporate world in a management position; I loved my role, which took me all over the UK. Freedom is important to me. Why did you choose franchising? I’ve always wanted to run my own business and quickly realized that the CeX business model would work for me. The bustling stores spoke for themselves! Coincidentally, when I was researching CeX I found out that a guy I went to university with was already a franchisee with three stores – that really reaffirmed my interest! How did you raise the finance? I put together a detailed business plan with the help of CeX based on cost and turnover projections from similar, established CeX stores. Together with CeX, I confirmed that my costs and finance were in place to support my new venture, ensuring that the terms would suit my business model.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing? I’ve been training and working part-time for several months now in some of our local CeX stores in the North East. The training and support from CeX has been wonderful and very helpful; I’ve been given lots of responsibility and have learned a huge amount. I can ask questions at any point and have numerous avenues of expertise and experience to draw from. With CeX's help I’ve recruited a new team of staff prior to the store opening and the local stores have been great in supporting their training. Has becoming a franchisee changed your life and, if so, how? Yes, I’m going to be able to spend more time with my family – which is really important to me. What challenges have you faced? Opening a big retail business operation with a new team of staff involves a lot of planning. CeX have taken on the
14 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
responsibility for building my new store for me, but it’s great to have been involved in the decision-making every step of the way. What advice would you give to someone thinking of buying their first franchise? Do your research and be honest with yourself about why you want to do this. Can you manage people? What are your plans for the future of the business? I was used to manage a group of businesses in my previous career and hope to be able to do the same in the future. The difference is that they will be mine and I will have control of all aspects of the business. n
CEX
WEBSITE: webuy.com/franchising EMAIL: uk.franchisingteam@webuy.com CLASSIFICATION: Retail
“Success only comes with hard work, grit and determination�
Franchise Interview
Leading the way Investment level: FROM £14,000-£190,750 Last year saw Dublcheck, one of the fastest-growing and most accomplished franchises in the UK, enter its third decade of business success. Founder and chairwoman Carol Stewart-Gill talks about her trailblazing position in a recession-proof industry
H
ow did you mark the occasion of your 20 successful years of business? We hosted a gala dinner and ball in the Leverhulme Stand at the Chester Racecourse. It was fantastic to share the achievements of this wonderful organisation with our franchisees. Success only comes with hard work, grit and determination, and this anniversary demonstrates the commitment of our franchisees and dedicated head office team. In what way does Dublcheck differentiate itself from competitors? What does it offer that makes it stand out for prospective investors? Dublcheck is the franchise where you don’t need to do any selling unless you want to. Dublcheck obtains all the business for franchisees, so they know exactly what turnover they are going to get. This enables franchisees to concentrate on looking after their customers, instead of wondering where the sales are going to come from. It’s like a brick-building business, once you have one contract you keep building – so you know exactly what you are going to invoice every month.
What support does Dublcheck offer to its franchisees, both in the beginning and ongoing? Our head office walks franchisees through a full training course and is on hand to
advise and support every step of the way. Furthermore, we also go that extra mile and obtain cleaning contracts as well. What’s so good about this industry? Also, how have you continually thrived in the commercial cleaning sector with a management franchise model? First off, the UK commercial cleaning sector is worth more than £3billion and Dublcheck has seen a substantial increase in turnover, despite the ‘doom and gloom’ climate of late. Why is that? Well, it’s because everywhere you look buildings need cleaning. Commercial cleaning is one of the best industries to join because the market is more robust and recession resistant than many others.
“Our head office is on hand to advise and support franchisees every step of the way”
There is nothing quite like the commercial cleaning sector. This is a really exciting opportunity for franchisees because the growth and profit potential can be maximised using the experience, knowledge and systems we at Dublcheck have developed.
Talk us through the benefits of operating a Dublcheck franchise It’s a low-cost entry franchise in a recession-proof utility business with a low overhead requirement that one can operate from home. The business boasts a 92 per cent customer retention rate and literally hundreds of fantastic franchisee testimonials. Moreover, Dublcheck is a hugely successful franchise in a massive market that keeps on growing Possibly our greatest selling point for potential franchisees is flexibility. Franchisees can start small, with the minimum turnover package of £14,400 per annum for those who want initially to run their business while retaining the security of their current job. Or you can purchase up to £500,000 of annual turnover (with no upper limit) if you want to run a substantial managed business. The variable investment levels offered by Dublcheck allow franchisees the flexibility to run either a hands-on business, a partly managed venture with some hands-on duties or a wholly managed business depending on their skills, ambitions and life balance requirements. n
Dublcheck Website: www.dublcheck.co.uk Email: info@dublcheck.co.uk Phone: 0800 317 236 classification: Commercial cleaning
services
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 17
Cover Story
From shipyard to ZipYard The ZipYard success story continues
Investment: £20k-£50k
Investment level: £38,500
Graeme Mulheron
18 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Cover Story Richard McConnell with a member of his ZipYard team
stranger to the franchising business model. He was previously an awardwinning Cash Generator owner, running multiple branches. “The time was right to move on and give my career a new direction. I was proud of the Cash Generator businesses that I had built up but as a marketer, I am always on the look out for innovative ideas and the ZipYard model ticked all the boxes.” Graeme operates his ZipYard in the ideal location of Bedford town centre and within days of opening his doors, customers began flocking in. Graeme says: “I had read about The ZipYard’s arrival in the UK and was vaguely interested, but it wasn’t until I had to get a suit altered to go to a business awards dinner that I realised just how much the local area needed a top-quality alterations and repair service.
I
n unsettled economic times, there is often an attempt to create jobs rather than tackle the employment market from the outside. Franchising, however, reduces the risk involved in setting up your own business while bringing all the benefits of working for yourself. Nigel Toplis, managing director of The Bardon Group, which owns The ZipYard and three other successful franchise brands, says: “Where you have a good franchise system, you really have a kind of marriage, in that you have a proven business system, collateral, support and training from the franchisor and you have the dynamism, ambition, drive and skillset of the franchisee. Put them together and you really have a partnership; two people with two distinct sets of skills, but one distinct objective.” The ZipYard is one such success story. After experiencing a botched tailoring job, two entrepreneurs saw a gap in the market and used an empty shop opposite Belfast shipyard to set up their own business, which duly inspired the name. Nigel explains: “From there they decided to franchise the concept in Northern Ireland, then expand into Southern Ireland. We took the master licence to run Great Britain and we started trading in 2011. “The ZipYard has an ‘open kitchen’ approach, in that the store is open plan and workers are not confined to a back room. There are also fitting rooms on site and an automated processing service,
where the garments are tracked by barcode throughout the process and a text message is delivered to the customer upon completion.” Nigel believes it has professionalised the industry, adding an extra element of authority to an already talented workforce. “We’ve very much made it a professional, open, high-street operation,” he adds, which explains the growth of 15 new centres in the last two years and an expectation of reaching 50 centres within three years. Richard McConnell opened The ZipYard Altrincham in September 2011 and in 2013 was a finalist in the bfa Franchise of the Year awards, having also won numerous local business accolades. From a turnover of £174,000 in his first year to £270,000-plus in his second, growth has been exceptional and such has been the progress of the business that this one-time driving instructor has opened a second centre (Wilmslow), which is also doing very well. Already experienced in sales and marketing, Graeme Mulheron took the decision to buy The ZipYard franchise for Bedford in summer 2014 and hasn’t looked back since. By the time local mayor Dave Hodgson unzipped a six-foot giant zip to declare the specialist garment alterations and repair centre officially open, the business was trading at almost full capacity and recruitment was underway to add a third seamstress to the team. Graeme is no
“I searched high and low for someone to carry out the repair and eventually ended up in the middle of an indoor market at a stall having the alterations pinned in full view of other shoppers. It dawned on me that there must be lots of other people out there just like me, needing to have clothes altered but with nowhere to take them, so I decided bring The ZipYard to Bedford. “I have been extremely pleased by the success of our store so far. As with any business, if you can combine excellence in service with excellence of products, you have a winning formula and we certainly have that here at The ZipYard Bedford.” At the time of writing, there are 18 ZipYard centres in the UK. The centres carry distinctive yellow and black branding and offer a top-quality garment alterations and repairs to the public as well as local retailers, businesses with uniformed staff, hire and bridal shops and even schools, in a clean and purpose-designed retail environment with on-site seamstresses and private changing rooms. Territories are being snapped up fast but there are still opportunities available for the right candidates. n
the zipyard Website: www.thezipyard.co.uk Email: i nfo@thezipyard.co.uk phone: 01530 513 307 classification: Retail
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 19
Investment: £20k-£50k
‘Territories are being snapped up fast!”
d an list r b fa fina b r 4 – yea 1 20 the of
l u f s s e c c u s t The mos n o i t a r e t l a t garmen K U e h t n i e s i franch Who? • Are you ambitious to run your own business? • Customer driven and well organised? • Can you follow a proven business system?
How? All Zip Yard franchises are finished to a distinctive specification and you are presented with a fully operational and fully supported business with trained staff and comprehensive brand marketing from day one.
Support Includes: • • • • •
Marketing and promotion tools Group purchasing power Internet and web support Ongoing training programmes Continued concept and product development • Day to day troubleshooting
Total Cost: £38,500 + VAT plus shop fit* One-off licence fee Franchise package: - Corporate branding - Production equipment - Marketing and PR launch programme - Opening stock - Bespoke electronic point of sale system, software and computer - Extensive marketing collateral Training and project management Ongoing business support Fully fitted retail unit
“After meeting the franchisor, Nigel Toplis, we were very impressed by the professionalism of the franchise. Since opening the reaction from customers has been amazing and business is going so well that we are looking to open a second Centre, and possibly a third after that.” Richard McConnell, The ZipYard Altrincham
For further information call Emma Downes on 01530 513307 e: edownes@thezipyard.co.uk w: www.thezipyard.co.uk * The exact shop fit cost will be determined by the size and standard of the premises
Franchise Business Franchise
Advice For a range of advice from industry experts
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Franchise Advice
Calling it a day Jane Masih of Owen White Solicitors on the legal aspects of the resale process
S
ome franchisees are surprised by the processes, set out in their franchise agreements, that they are contractually bound to follow when they want to sell their business and can subsequently feel aggrieved by the level of control that their franchisor can exert. To understand the rationale for the control the franchisor has, it is helpful to remember that a franchise, whilst independent from the franchisor as a financial and legal entity, is dependent on the licence rights granted to it by the franchisor. Without a current franchise agreement, a franchisee has nothing to sell. The franchise agreement will typically contain provisions relating to a sale of the business. It is standard practice for a franchisee to
have the right to sell, subject to various conditions being satisfied. Generally these will include: • The franchisor having the right to review the terms of the buyer’s offer and an option to purchase on the same terms • The buyer satisfying the franchisor’s criteria as a prospective franchisee • The buyer agreeing to sign a franchise agreement with the franchisor and attend the franchisor’s training course • Payment of commission where the franchisor has introduced the buyer to the franchisee • Payment of a fee to cover the franchisor’s reasonable costs in dealing with the franchisee’s application to sell • Payment of all monies due to the franchisor at the date of completion of the sale of the franchise
Increasing numbers of franchisors require the parties to use a standard form of resale agreement and to contribute towards the franchisor’s legal costs in dealing with the sale. If you are considering selling your franchise, it is advisable to review the provisions in your franchise agreement prior to entering into negotiations, so you are aware of the conditions that will need to be satisfied for the sale of your franchise to proceed with the franchisor’s consent. n
jane masih Jane Masih is director and head of franchising at Owen White Solicitors. To contact Owen White please visit www.owenwhite.com, email jane.masih@owenwhite.com or call 01753 876 800
Looking for experienced and cost-efficient franchise solicitors? Owen White is one of the leading franchise specialists in the UK with over 30 years’ experience of providing legal advice to both franchisors and franchisees. Services include: • Drafting franchise and master licence agreements • Franchise disputes and litigation • Franchise resales • UK and EU competition law and relevant exemptions • Brand protection • International expansion • Franchise agreement reviews
www.owenwhite.com 22 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
For a free, no obligation consultation ... Contact Jane Masih on 01753 876 800 or email jane.masih@owenwhite.com
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Franchise Advice
Looking for the good guys It may be legal, but is it ethical? Manzoor Ishani on a franchising grey area
M
ost franchisors will refuse to negotiate the terms of a franchise agreement, presenting it instead to the franchisee on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis. It is important, therefore, that a prospective franchisee gives serious consideration to how ethical their franchisor is. How does one distinguish an ethical franchise from an unethical one? There are a number of aspects of a franchise transaction that a prospective franchisee should look at closely. The litmus test is to see whether the franchisor’s proposal is fair, by investigating: • The provisions in the franchise contract that are legally binding • The behaviour of the franchisor Regarding the behaviour of the franchisor, the prospective franchisee should talk to as many other franchisees as possible to see
whether the franchisor acts, and has acted, fairly and reasonably towards the network of franchisees. Care should be taken, however, if basing a decision on this alone. The fact that a franchisor acts and has acted fairly and reasonably does not guarantee they will do so in the future. Furthermore, it is always possible that the franchisor may sell a business to someone with a different approach and attitude, or the personnel in the company may change, and with it the attitude of the franchisor. The safest course of action for a prospective franchisee to take is to make sure that the franchise contract requires a franchisor to act fairly and reasonably. The first thing to look at is the cost of the franchise and the franchise fee (usually referred to as a front-end or initial franchise fee). It is considered unethical for a franchisor to make a profit out of selling franchises. The logic behind this is that if a franchisor can make a good profit simply from selling franchises there may
24 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
not be a great deal of incentive to support the franchisee after the purchase. All a franchisor would need to do is sell as many franchises as he can, for as much as he can, and then disappear. Not making a profit does not mean that a franchisor must make a loss. A franchisor should seek to recover the costs incurred by putting a franchisee into business. It is recognised that some franchisees will cost more to put into business than others and therefore a franchisor may lose some money on one franchise deal and make a small profit on another. By and large, however, a franchisor should break even over a number of franchise transactions. How, then, can a prospective franchisee determine whether or not a franchisor is charging too much? If a franchise fee is more than 10 per cent of the total setup costs, searching questions should be asked. Where the franchise fee exceeds this percentage, most ethical franchisors will be able to justify it, for example, because the
Franchise Advice
franchise fee includes extensive training or the cost of equipment, uniforms etc.
“The safest course of action for a prospective franchisee to take is to make sure the contract requires the franchisor to act reasonably” Another point to consider is how the franchisor derives income from its franchise network. The franchisor should not make money unless the franchisee also profits, so any franchise agreement demanding a minimum franchise fee or a fixed franchise fee should be regarded with suspicion. A franchisor who knows he will be paid irrespective of a franchisee’s success will
be less inclined to support a franchisee. Most ethical franchisors obtain their income from franchisees through continuing fees, which are a percentage of the franchisee’s gross turnover. This way, the franchisor has a vested interest in seeing that the franchisee’s turnover is as high as possible. The higher the franchisee’s turnover, the more the franchisor will earn. Where a franchisee is required to purchase products from his franchisor, care should be taken to see that the franchisor does not make a profit from selling those products as well as taking a percentage of the gross turnover. Such an arrangement would mean that the franchisor is seeking to take money from the franchisee from both ends of the transaction, ie from a mark-up on the products as well as a percentage out of the franchisee’s till. In such circumstances an ethical franchisor would choose one source for its revenue, but not both.
All prospective franchisees should ask their franchisor whether it is a member of the British Franchise Association (bfa) and, if not, why not. Membership is a consideration because the bfa requires its members to undertake to the association that they will comply with its code of ethics. At the end of the day, what must be emphasised is that a franchise transaction is a business decision and business, whatever its nature, involves risks. With the exception of death and taxes, nothing in this world is certain and a prospective franchisee should be aware of this. A prospective franchisee should investigate their chosen franchise thoroughly with a view to minimising some of the risks involved. n
manzoor ishani Manzoor Ishani is a senior consultant solicitor with Sherrards
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 25
Franchise Advice
Are you Y ready? Before taking the leap into franchising prepare a business plan, advises Cathryn Hayes
26 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
ou have carried out your research, visited an exhibition, spoken with franchisors and franchisees, sought professional advice from consultants and solicitors. What do you do next? Think about funding – have you prepared your business plan? A good business plan is a route map to future success, as well as helping you to secure finance. Many potential start-up franchisees are daunted by the prospect of compiling a business plan but it should not be an intimidating process. Taking time to complete it before you start your franchise will help you think methodically and develop and sharpen your ideas about your business.
Franchise Advice So what are the key things you will need to consider when preparing your plan? Your plan should set out details of the type of business you will be operating in your chosen franchise. The plan should define the long-term objectives. A good franchisor will help with this, but you should understand the figures and ‘own’ the business plan. It will provide a blueprint for running the business and a series of benchmarks for both you and the franchisor to check progress against. A good business plan will contain the following: Summary business description – details of the franchise being purchased and the financial needs.
Market analysis and product / service – research and identify local competition and assess what the likely demand of the product / service will be in the specific territory. Market strategy – outline intentions for marketing the product / service and how the sales figures shown in the projections will be generated. Management plan – include details of the type of business (eg sole trader, limited company) and CVs of key personnel. Set out the structure and key skills of the management team and staff. Financial data – at least two years’
projected figures are required, including a balance sheet, cashflow and profit and loss statement, ensuring that projections correspond with the information outlined above and they’re realistic. If it is a resale franchise, include details of the existing business being sold. Has the business been growing? Is it profitable? A copy of previous years’ accounts should also be included. Be confident about your figures and memorise any vital facts about the business. SWOT analysis – a one-page analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths might include brand name, quality of product, or management. Weaknesses might be lack of finance, or dependency on a few customers. Opportunities might be increasing demand or a competitor going bankrupt. Threats might be a downturn in the economy or a new competitor. To summarise, here are our fundamental rules for writing a business plan: Do: • Think about the purpose of the business plan before you write it • Focus on the key information the reader will want • Highlight future plans as well as describing the current situation • Be realistic Don’t: • Waffle or include unnecessary detail • Include overly optimistic assumptions • Ignore competitive threats and weaknesses The more solid information that you can gather, the better the business plan will be. When requesting finance the bank will look to assess the proposal using all of the areas covered above. A well-researched and written plan will show the bank that you are committed and understand the business, meaning that a request for finance is more likely to be looked at favourably than those who are unprepared. Don’t be afraid to talk to your bank. They can help you to develop a financial package suitable for your specific needs, using all of the options available. By working together, we can help to ensure your business develops to its full potential. n
Cathryn Hayes Cathryn Hayes is head of franchising at HSBC.
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 27
Franchise Q&A
Q&A Q [Bio]
Rob Clifford
is chief executive of Century 21 UK
What kind of support can I expect from the franchisor relating to the set-up and launch of my business?
A. Obviously every franchisor approaches this differently depending on the requirements of the franchise, but to my mind there are a number of nonnegotiables that the franchisee should insist on. Without the crucial support of the franchisor at the outset, the chances of launching the business from a strong position will be compromised. Anyone who has set up a business will know the amount of work required to get it off the ground, no matter what sector you choose to operate in. Franchisees are often surprised at the amount of organisation required in finding a premises, recruiting staff, and setting up the necessary systems that you will need to operate on a day-today basis, such as phones, internet and
28 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
accountancy software. A good franchisor with a strong head office operation will be able to support their franchise owners along that journey, offering advice and recommendations along the way. At Century 21 UK, we believe induction training should be available to everyone entering the franchise system and this forms the bedrock of activity management. For us, this is as much about educating our franchisees on the support and systems available through our franchise model as it is about marketing, sales training and industry-relevant topics, such as legislation. You should expect your franchisor to have a marketing, advertising and public relations strategy available to you in order to help you publicise your business. This should range from support / templates of advertising mailshots to helping you secure coverage in your local newspapers – all will help you hit the ground running. These are what we might term the basics, and all good franchise systems will offer that level of support. A good quality franchisor should be a guiding light, a sounding board and your first call for all business questions. They should be as invested in your business as you are, and the ones that work in a true partnership with their franchisees are often the most successful in their chosen sectors.
Franchise Q&A
[Bio]
[Bio]
Frank Orchard
Phil Harrison
is head of franchising for UK and Ireland at CeX
is head of the franchise department at Morris & Co Chartered Accountants
Q
I’ve been franchising for a number of years and, despite my best efforts, seem to have reached a ceiling with turnover. How can I grow my business?
A. The reply to this question obviously depends on the sector you are operating in, but there are three basic points that are worth considering when looking at increasing profitability: Firstly, I suggest you contact the franchisor with a view to obtaining ‘benchmarking’ figures relating to the network as a whole or, preferably, relating to franchisees across the network that are at a similar stage of development. If the franchisor can provide this information, it is well worth comparing the results of similar franchisees to your own and identifying specific areas that may be worth looking at. If the franchisor cannot provide these figures, then you could contact other franchisees yourself and arrange to meet with them to discuss performance. Secondly, I would recommend that you look carefully at your overheads to see if any savings can be achieved. This may seem like a trivial task but if you are operating on a 30 per cent gross profit margin then savings of £300 per month on total overheads equates to obtaining additional sales of £12,000 per annum. Lastly, when having done all one can with regard to the above, it may be worth speaking to the franchisor to see if any neighbouring territories are available, either as new or as a resale. This could be the best way to expand as the economy of scale will increase profitability, as overheads can be shared between two territories. Also, if you operate through a limited company, the cost of any ‘goodwill’ purchased can be written off over the period of the franchise agreement, and any fixed assets can probably be written off in total in the first year.
Q
What are the benefits of joining a large franchise network? How can I use this to my advantage?
A. Your franchisor, regardless of size, has a duty of care to ensure that your new business is given a high level of attention and advice, not just in the new opening phase but on a consistently regular basis. In a sizeable network you can ask existing franchise owners if the franchisor provides support in key areas such as merchandising, operations and training, people management, finance, shop fit-out and commercial performance analysis, and ensure both local and national marketing campaigns are evident. Where physical outlets exist, there is no substitute for visiting as many store managers and franchise owners as possible to ask whether project timescales, shop-fit standards and promises were kept. CeX do ensure that there is an experienced representative in-store in the first few weeks of trading, and regular visits (bi-monthly and quarterly) from operations and franchising managers until the business has established a sound customer base and is on the road to success, but a national footprint of stores is helpful as new franchisees have access to local knowledge from fellow owners and store managers, which proves invaluable. Dedicated training staff and procedures must be a priority to any franchise system, large or small, in order to transfer skills and expertise to the new and often inexperienced business owner. Support, however, may come from many sources within the company, so do your homework and look out for consistency and commitment from the franchisor. n November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 29
Special Feature
It’s all relative Many franchisees choose to make their business a family affair. Katie Shevlin looks at the value of this type of working relationship
B
usiness partnerships are often forged on the basis that you are working together with the same goals and achievements in mind. Going into business with a family member means this joint aim is already inbuilt, as you both, or all, ultimately want
to bring home the family bacon. Franchisors consider family members working together to be a sound prospect given that they will understand each other well and create a well-rounded team, with each person bringing different strengths to the business. The reason many individuals decide to
30 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
franchise is to restore some form of worklife balance. Franchising with a member of your immediate family not only affords this but also allows you to spend more time together and perhaps even strengthen your relationship. Here, three franchisees share the relative values behind their business.
Special Feature What did you do prior to franchising? I worked for Clydesdale Bank for 36 years before leaving in December 2012 and was principally involved with business, private banking and wealth management. During the last 10 years of my career I was part of the leadership team in Edinburgh. Subsequent to that I operated as a business and property consultant, mainly writing business plans for others and arranging property funding. On leaving school, Charlotte worked in a children’s nursery for over three years before becoming a carer involved in home care. It was this four years’ experience in care that prompted the decision to look for a delivery model that she felt met her own expectations and aspirations on how care should be delivered in an individual’s home.
home instead senior care
B
rian Johnstone is co-owner of the East Lothian and Midlothian franchise of Home Instead Senior Care with his daughter Charlotte. Their franchise opened for business in January 2014. Brian is the managing director while Charlotte is the care manager.
Have you ever worked with family before? What led you to do so in this case? I have never worked with family before and did not enter into it lightly, particularly given my experience of watching the dynamics of other family businesses during my time in banking. We discussed this at length but concluded that we both have the mix of qualities together that would make it work. We also get on tremendously well and are able to have disagreements and move on quickly. I was pleased to read in family business books that father / daughter business relationships are usually trouble free. Charlotte and I had talked about running our own business together for many years never thinking we would actually be able to do it. From my perspective, the attraction of giving something back to the local community as well as being able to work with my daughter every day were major drivers. It also allows her to create something that she can go on and manage in the future once I’ve retired. What appealed to you about franchising, and why Home Instead in particular? When we decided we were going to set our business up it quickly became obvious that our individual skillsets would fit well if we worked in domiciliary care and we therefore dismissed all the other options we had talked about. We also quickly concluded that this sector was one where setting up on our own would be terribly onerous with regard to, in particular, meeting the regulatory requirements from day one. It was then a matter of finding the right model that we felt would meet our aspirations. We engaged with a local franchise consultant who is extremely experienced in buying, selling and running franchises to
help us with the process of choosing the appropriate franchise. We quickly identified Home Instead as the one we wanted to apply for as it demonstrated the flexibility in the way care is delivered that we were looking for. With the Home Instead model, we are able to focus on relationship-led care and tailor the services we deliver to the individual needs of our clients. During our initial discussions with Home Instead we were particularly impressed by the enthusiasm and competency of their people.
“A major benefit of working together is that we bring a united passion to the business”
What are the benefits and challenges of working together? Both a benefit and a challenge of working together are that we know each other so well. Overall, this is a great advantage though. Quite often we instinctively know what the other is thinking. This leads to more decisive decision making. There are no politics in the office and we can say anything to each other and move on quickly. Another major benefit is that we can bring a united passion to the business and all our caregivers can see that we are both working together in a way that might not happen in an otherwise ‘normal’ employer / employee relationship. Because we do think similarly, there can also be the lack of different perspective to a problem or challenge; sometimes another perspective can create debate and wider thinking. We overcome this by having weekly and monthly strategy meetings with a set agenda. These happen in the office and not round the dinner table. We can also call on the expertise of the Home Instead national office and neighbouring offices. What strengths do you each bring to the business? How do you divide the work between you? With the support of Home Instead national office, we were able to clearly define our roles in the business. Charlotte’s strengths and experience are around the delivery of care, so she manages the service delivery to clients and also manages the caregivers. My strengths lie with the business and financial side and running the operation that supports the service delivery.
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 31
Special Feature What advice would you give to anyone going into business with family? Having a strong business plan is essential but also having a family strategic plan or charter is important. It will ensure there are no misunderstandings with regard to short- and long-term goals, responsibilities and roles, remuneration, succession and ownership. No matter how small the business is it’s important to have a properly constituted monthly meeting that has a pre-set agenda covering all strategic parts of the business. Operational issues can be left for shorter weekly meetings. How has the experience of setting up your business affected your personal relationship? I could never have dreamt that Charlotte and I would be any closer and our personal relationship any stronger. Having worked together through the whole experience from initial idea to where we are now, established and operating fully, we both agree that it has deepened our father / daughter relationship to a level I never thought possible.
ASPRAY
that Aspray is regulated and has an ethical approach to the work. The concept is also a selling point as we would be working with people and mainly helping the vulnerable. I believe that the services Aspray offer will always be in demand. What are the benefits and challenges of working together? Trust, loyalty, competence, reliability and shared common objectives are important in business. We have the same ethical approach to carrying out the work, with the customers’ interests and the aim of delivering quality service always coming first. Running the business can be challenging at times but having a clear definition and distribution of responsibilities definitely helps. Having Nadia work in the business will make it easier for Nadia to take over at some stage. What strengths do you each bring to the business? How do you divide the work between you? Nadia mainly deals with the customerfacing work, such as carrying out surveys, organisation, liaising with insurance and loss adjusters, as well as networking. I deal with contractors, corporate issues, marketing and accounts. Communication is vital and a meeting takes place every Friday where all information is shared and key business decisions are made. What advice would you give to anyone going into business with family? Share the responsibilities and play to each person’s strengths. It is also vital to maintain communication.
R
achid Bellili, together with his daughter Nadia, joined the Aspray network in 2012. They run the Kent territory together.
Servicemaster
What did you do prior to franchising? I previously managed housing association cooperatives in London while Nadia was a performing artist and then estate manager with a housing association. Have you ever worked with family before? What led you to do so in this case? Yes, in the past I worked with my son. Working with Nadia came about because I had a desire to work closer to home in Kent, and around the same time Nadia also wanted to settle locally. What appealed to you about franchising with Aspray? I had been researching Aspray for three years before deciding to invest in a franchise. The main attraction was the fact
J
ohn Flye works with his wife Jacqueline and youngest son Tom running several franchise territories covering a range of cleaning services – ServiceMaster Clean Humberside, South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, ServiceMaster Clean Leicestershire, Merry Maids Derbyshire and Furniture Medic South Yorkshire. What did you do prior to franchising? Prior to franchising, I worked in a sales
32 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
position with Prudential. Jacqueline and I started trading in 1986 and Tom joined the business in 2001 after leaving a role in retail with Wilkinson’s. Tom became a director in 2009. Have you ever worked with family before? What led you to do so in this case? We have no experience of working together as a family but we wished to move into franchising and were in a position to invest into the business.
“We each bring a different set of skills to the table” What appealed to you about franchising, and why ServiceMaster in particular? I used to work with the ServiceMaster Lincolnshire business in my previous role and was confident the business would succeed. ServiceMaster is a household name and has a good reputation in the cleaning industry. What are the benefits and challenges of working together? The benefits of working together are the different skillsets brought to the table and the already close relationship; there is no need to develop bonds with team members. Working together can put strain on personal/family relationships but generally the team works well and each person manages their own workload. What strengths do you each bring to the business? How do you divide the work between you? I am an experienced salesman, Jacqueline has strong administration skills and Tom is a good manager and an ‘ideas man’. Each team member takes on different roles, with Tom managing the Furniture Medic franchise and involved in the disaster restoration business also. I’m responsible for the day-to-day management of the carpet cleaning, disaster restoration and Merry Maids businesses and oversee all operations across the business. Jacqueline is in the business in an administration role. What advice would you give to anyone going into business with family? To run a successful business as a family, you need to ensure everybody knows their role and are pushing the business in the same direction. n
www.aspray.com
High End Income Opportunity Aspray seek credible individuals who would like to project manage property damage insurance claims and act as a loss assessor for the policyholder. Aspray look for self- motivated, likeable and professional individuals with good people skills and the ability to infulence others. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written are a must and the ability to demonstrate a “can do” solution orientated attitude at all times is key. The ideal background of a franchisee will be either project management, QS, financial services, building maintenance or management. However, applicants from other backgrounds will also be considered provided they can demonstrate the skills required to perform the role. This is a full time, high end income opportunity. Franchise fee £37,500 + Vat To speak to our recruitment team call 0800 077 6705 e-mail recruitassist@aspray.com
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Market Focus
Food
Highly competitive and fast paced, the world of food franchising is not for the faint hearted. So what does it take to be successful? Katie Shevlin investigates
glorious food 34 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Market Focus
T
he food-franchising scene, from over-the-counter takeaways to quick-service restaurants, covers virtually every type of cuisine imaginable and includes a host of household names. With many huge brands on the market, there’s bound to be a business proposition that whets your appetite. In recent research conducted by OnePoll, it was revealed that Britons spend
an annual ÂŁ30billion on takeaways and fast food, so the UK food sector is a buzzing and attractive market, and many big names from overseas have launched their franchise opportunity in the UK in recent years. The popularity of the market, however, means that it is a competitive industry to enter, and in order to run a food franchise operation you will need to be a driven and dedicated individual.
The long hours mean that you can expect serious hard work in the beginning – but once on the road to success you can, like some franchisees, switch to a management-style approach that allows you to focus on business development and not on day-to-day operations. Here, two franchisees and one food franchise founder explain what drew them to work in the lively food sector and describe their journey so far.
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 35
Market Focus WOK&GO
D
es Pheby is the founder of Wok&Go. The company was established in 2008 and is one of the UK’s leading noodle bar chains. How is business going so far? Franchising is going very well, half of our outlets are a franchise and we recently signed an investment group to take 15 franchise stores over the next 18 months in the UK and have also signed an area development franchise for UAE for 15 stores. We will be at 25 stores in the UK by May 2015. What are the benefits and challenges facing franchisees in the food sector? The benefits are well documented – when taking on any established franchise, you are buying into an already established business model with a proven track record and the success rate is therefore much higher than if you were starting out as an independent. In terms of challenges, there is a lot of choice out there in the food sector. Customers’ expectations are much higher, and the demand for good, fast food that is both healthy and high quality means you must keep looking to improve all areas and not drop the ball. It’s high pressure for the franchisees to not only match the demands from the paying public but also those of the franchisor as well. What kind of training and support do you provide to franchisees? At the start there is an extensive four-week programme of training that covers areas such as food hygiene, EPOS tills, financial reporting, payroll, menus and cooking. This is both classroom-based and on-site. We then follow this up with two weeks of on-the-job training when the store opens. We assign a manager and head chef to work with franchisees over this period on the job. Once this stage is complete, the franchisees are visited every two weeks by an area manager to discuss sales and
operational points and identify any training requirements there might be. What sets Wok&Go apart from its competitors in the food industry? Why do you think it has been so successful? The public are looking for premium-quality, fast-service, healthy, nutritional food presented in an interesting way that is smartly packaged and value for money. We tick all these boxes. Customers’ tastes are more evolved now and a sandwich or burger just doesn’t cut it anymore. Traditionally there have been two distinct categories: the fast food market and the restaurants. Now there is a group in between and we sit very comfortably in this area with our pricing and product. No one has grabbed hold of the pan-Asian market in this category more than us. We see ourselves as the leading brand in the UK and with our planned expansion we believe we will go from strength to strength. What kind of characteristics are you looking for in your franchisees? Ideally someone that is driven, believes in our product and is able to motivate people. We want people who are looking to grow their business, who are not just happy to have one store but will be looking to expand when the time is right. In my senior managers I look for drive and a hunger to succeed, so I see no reason to expect less from a franchisee.
PAPA JOHN’S
R
ichard Goddard owns Papa John’s Carlisle. Richard previously worked in the IT industry.
Why did franchising appeal to you, and why Papa John’s in particular? I was quite simply looking for a change. The Papa John’s product is fantastic and the brand is powerful – this is what first attracted me to the franchise. Papa John’s is growing in the UK and I wanted to be part of that.
36 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
What are the challenges of working in the food retail sector? The sector is fast paced and you deal with a wide cross section of the public. The volume of trade can be hard to predict at times – it only needs to start raining and we are twice as busy! What is a typical day like? As well as Papa John’s I manage other businesses, so first thing I spend an hour or two working on them, then head into my Carlisle Papa John’s store for about 10am. I work there until it closes around midnight. During the day I am managing the staff, taking orders and working on marketing promotions. I like to be handson and chip in where needed! I work hard but love what I do.
“What advice would I give to someone thinking of investing in this sector? Remember that food franchising is a fast-paced – you need to be ready for that”
What are your plans for the future of your business? For the Carlisle franchise I was lucky to be able to access the company’s ‘Enterprise Development’ incentive. My mind was already made up so the financial incentive that Papa John’s offered was such a bonus. I am already looking forward to the future and really lifting the potential of the franchise by opening more stores with Papa John’s help. I plan to open as many Papa John’s as possible! I am already looking at locations for the store I will open next year and I anticipate things will snowball after that. What advice would you give to anyone considering a franchise in the fast food sector? Food franchising is a fast-paced environment – you need to be ready for that. You also need to be prepared to undertake lots of marketing, as this is what will make or break your franchise. For example, we recently targeted our local student population with discount flyers and leaflets in halls of residence and at the fresher’s fair and advertised in the students’ welcome guide. This kind of activity builds awareness and converts customers. It’s part and parcel of running a food franchise.
Market Focus SUBWAY
franchisees and writing my business plan – which alone took just over two months. What training and support have you received so far? The guidance and support I had from the regional development team was so valuable; I felt like they were there with me every step of the way and I could call them to ask anything. The support was probably the most reassuring aspect for me. Although I had decided to start my own business, I felt I was in good company and was being well looked after.
S
tephen Coulter opened his Subway store in Holywood Exchange, Belfast in December 2013, having taken the decision to leave his job as a general manager for a large restaurant chain and instead become his own boss. What led you to invest in a Subway franchise? I had been watching the Subway brand closely for a long time. Once I’d decided that I wanted to make a move from my management job in the restaurant sector, I started looking around at business opportunities, specifically franchises. It made sense for me to stay within the sector that I knew well but to apply my knowledge and experience and work for myself. In January 2013, I began the process of applying for a Subway franchise, spending time in Subway stores, talking to other
How do you ensure you are one step ahead of the competition? There’s a coffee chain in the adjacent unit to my store so the quality of coffee and the breakfast offer was crucial. We invested in a high-end coffee machine, which means we can offer a range of excellent coffees to our customers. But by keeping within an affordable price point, we are able to encourage customers to give us a try, even if they haven’t stepped inside a Subway store before. If they call in for a coffee and a cookie and enjoy their experience, they may well stop by for a lunchtime Sub next time around. Do you find it challenging running your own store? It’s really hard work running your own business, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s one of the best things I have ever done, and I really enjoy it. Because the store has only opened recently, we’re still finding our feet to a certain degree, but learning every
day and making the most of all the opportunities. I employ seven full-time staff at the store, and I’m keen to lead by example. I take the time to get to know our regular customers and can often be found working behind the counter, serving customers and making subs. What advice would you give to anyone considering investing in a food franchise? My advice is simple: just do it. But be prepared to work hard, and that means being very hands-on in your store, especially in the early days. The training provided by the Subway brand at the UK headquarters in Cambridge is delivered to a very high level, but you need to make the most of all opportunities. Get out there and talk to other franchisees, spend time in their stores, and utilise the team at the development office, they are there to help whenever you need them. What are your plans for the future of your business? I’m really enjoying running my store at the moment, I have a great team around me and we’re in good shape. I’m looking to develop a delivery side to the business in the coming months, making the most of the lunchtime market, especially in the local business park. I’d love to open a second store and I’m always keeping my eyes open for opportunities, but I think there’s plenty to do here first! n
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 37
Business Franchise
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Profiles For a huge range of franchise opportunities now on offer
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Mail Boxes Etc. franchise opportunities offer: An established, fast-growing network with a proven system; Full support of a globally-recognised brand; A complete turnkey start-up package from £60,000; Comprehensive start up and initial training; Continual operational and marketing support
Call 01608 649230 or email franchise@mbe.co.uk mbefranchise.co.uk Mail Boxes Etc. Centres are owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc. (UK) Limited in the UK and Ireland. © 2014 Mail Boxes Etc.
Franchise Focus
From across the pond BrightStar Care is bringing its award-winning concept to the UK Investment level: From £500,000 (master licence/area developer)
I
n the UK, the rise in the number of those age 80 and older is rapid. This demographic now ranges between three and four million, while the estimated number of citizens aged 65 and older is more than 10 million. By 2050, this number is expected to rise to 19 million. The country’s ageing population has prompted the need for senior care services, particularly for those who want to stay in the comfort of
their own homes as they age. One franchise that is setting the standard of quality for these care services is BrightStar Care, a full-service private duty home care franchise that provides both medical and non-medical care to people, from infants to elders. With more than 260 locations across the US, BrightStar Care is ready to cross the Atlantic to help families in the UK. “BrightStar Care offers a high standard of care for families and we’re proud to be bringing that commitment to quality and compassionate care to the UK,” says Anthony Padulo, BrightStar Care executive vice president, international. “We are looking for well-qualified and passionate entrepreneurs who are eager to make a difference in their community by seizing the opportunity to be a master franchisee or area developer for our brand.” Recently, The Joint Commission — an internationally recognised quality-standards
organisation — presented BrightStar Care with the prestigious ‘Enterprise Champion for Quality’ award for the second year in a row; an acknowledgement of the brand’s proven commitment to the highest level of clinical quality and safety. BrightStar Care is one of the charter recipients of this award and the largest US-based home care franchise to achieve this distinction. BrightStar Care is in the ideal position to help you achieve your business goals while improving the health and wellbeing of families in your community. n
brightstar care Website: f ranchise.brightstarcare.com/
international
Email: anthony.padulo@brightstarcare.com Phone: 0800 086 8289 classification: Healthcare
BRIGHTSTAR CARE®
THE RIGHT INDUSTRY, THE RIGHT FRANCHISE, RIGHT NOW. BrightStar Care, one of the top home care franchises in the United States, is expanding internationally and looking for well-qualified master franchisees or area developers. Our multiple revenue streams and commitment to quality home care generate industry-leading unit revenue for our owners. Call now to find out what makes BrightStar Care “A Higher Standard of Home Care.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Padulo, Executive Vice President, International Email Anthony.Padulo@brightstarcare.com Call 0800 086 8289 Visit franchise.brightstarcare.com/international
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 41
Franchise Focus
Jetting across the globe Jetts brings its 24/7 fitness chain to the UK Investment level: From £300,000
Investment: £300k+
N
ot all gyms were created equal When Jetts set out in 2007 with their first club on the Gold Coast, Australia, they wanted to create a gym that stood for something much more than just a box full of equipment. Jetts is a family-owned company founded in Australia on the belief that members should have the freedom to ‘work out on their terms’. With this ethos as the central focus, Jetts created a gym that is open 24/7, with low fees, the equipment needed to get results and no lock-in contracts. Jetts went where other gyms in the industry had not – cutting out things rarely used by members and building smaller clubs in more convenient locations. The teams are fitness people, not sales staff, and they’re there for one reason: to inspire people to live a better life. Jetts UK Today, Jetts is an award-winning 24/7 fitness network with over 250 clubs and
more than 250,000 members in Australia, New Zealand and Holland, and their plans to expand in the UK are now a reality. After two long years of detailed research and preparation, Jetts is opening clubs in the UK as they seek to grow the most loved 24/7 gyms.
“Jetts is committed to a steady, consistent approach to growth” Jetts is seeking investors for two separate opportunities that start from £300,000 plus vat: 1. Area development investment, giving the rights to establish 40-50 clubs in a region. For an investment of £150,000 plus vat (excluding club set-up costs), you can secure the exclusive rights to an area suitable for 40-50 Jetts clubs. The clubs can be owned by the area developer or be franchised to third parties or most
42 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
commonly a combination of both. 2. Club franchise investment, with a view to individuals becoming multi-club owners over time. For an investment of £300,000£400,000 plus vat, you can secure the rights to open a Jetts club. Jetts’ strong preference is to develop business owners to become multi-club operators over time. Jetts has invested millions in developing an international infrastructure and a significant advantage is that club owners work directly with Jetts local UK executives from Jetts’ parent company, giving owners access to their considerable depth of infrastructure, systems, know-how and people. How is Jetts different? Jetts clubs have been designed with member experience and safety at the forefront and Jetts custom design each club to ensure an outstanding member experience. Being a multi-year winner of the five-star Canstar Blue rating for best customer service for gyms is testament to the Jetts service culture.
Franchise Focus
The key features of Jetts’ success: • Convenient locations just minutes from home or work • Open 24/7, no lock-in contracts and low fees • Simple low-cost fit-out • Low staffing requirement (only one full-time team member) • More than 90 per cent of income paid automatically in advance • Average breakeven in three to six months • Multi-club owners prevalent with two to six clubs typical range • Owner keeps day job – average five to 10 hours per week on Jetts business • Excellent return on invested capital How the model works Jetts clubs have staffed access for around 40 hours per week and outside of these times members gain access to a safe, secure club via a personal access pass. The clubs are monitored 24/7 by local leading security control rooms with direct camera access and recording in all clubs to create the safest environment in the
industry. Members can use all features of the facility whether it is 2:00pm or 2:00am – it makes no difference. This is a semi-passive investment for business owners as it requires only five to 10 hours per week working on the business, meaning most owners are maintaining their full-time jobs whilst growing their investments. This is a unique feature of the franchise system, changing the typical perspective that a franchisee must give up their day job and work 40-50 hours per week. Jetts’ growth Jetts’ growth has been an incredible story of commitment, discipline, fun, team work and success. Jetts is committed to a steady, consistent approach to growth founded on the philosophy of having the best quality and most profitable locations. Jetts is a multi-award winner consistently rating in the top few fastest-growing franchises (and companies) in Australia since commencing in 2007. Jetts entered the very competitive New Zealand market as its first international step in 2010 and
opened 50 profitable clubs in three years, having just reached 60 clubs as the marketleading brand. Jetts’ next move was to enter Europe via the Netherlands, opening their first club in November 2013 to great success. Jetts has moved top executives from the Australian support office to ensure the company could listen directly to members about how it was suited to local market conditions. After a patient six months of listening and watching they are set for UK and European expansion in the steady and disciplined manner that has underpinned their success to date. Jetts has generated excellent return on investment for club owners in every country they have entered. Opening a club every nine days for seven years tells the story about the depth of infrastructure and team. n
JETTS Website: w ww.jetts.co.uk Email: info@jetts.co.uk Phone: 07949 013 649 classification: Health and fitness
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 43
Franchise Focus
The fast food revolution Wok&Go offer a mouth-watering package for franchisees Investment level: £130,000-£150,000 years and around 100 in India. Des adds: “All of the UK stores will be operated under our managed franchise option, which is only offered by a few companies. With the minimum hands-on work required, it’s a particularly popular option with investors looking for multiple sites.”
“Wok&Go have franchisees of all ages and backgrounds”
Investment: £100k+
W
ith industry experts predicting that healthy and highquality fast food is the future of dining, it’s little wonder that Wok&Go is such an attractive option for many prospective franchisees. The company, founded by entrepreneur Des Pheby in 2008, has been at the forefront of this rapidly expanding food revolution since its inception six years ago. After a trip to New York, Des became inspired by the huge range of convenient and quick dining options available to our neighbours across the pond. This, combined with his love and passion for the aromas of the Far East, prompted the successful businessman to open his first food outlet – Wok&Go – in Chester. Wok&Go offers a fusion of Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine. Freshly prepared on site by expert wok chefs, the healthy, great-tasting and nutritious food is cooked in front of your eyes in minutes. Ideal for shoppers, office workers or those looking
for a tasty treat to take home. Des says: “Since opening in 2008 we've doubled in size each year and the next 12 to 18 months will be no different. It's an extremely exciting stage to be at and we expect to have our busiest period to date." “The fact that so many investors are choosing to become franchisees with us demonstrates the strength of the brand and the excellent opportunity that it presents.” Currently, there are 16 company-owned and franchised Wok&Go stores across the UK and Middle East. A second York store is also set to open on Monks Cross Retail Park, along with branches in Ipswich and Cardiff over the coming few weeks. In addition, Wok&Go have recently announced a £1.7million investment deal in the UK and a combined US $1.6million area development agreement deal between the United Arab Emirates and India. This will see a further 16 new sites open in locations such as Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle, up to 15 branches in the UAE over the next 10
44 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Franchisees can also opt for Wok&Go’s unique investor guaranteed return option. Des explains: “This is a unique option to Wok&Go, and one that I really think makes us stand out from the crowd. Not only does it offer franchisees the benefit of us managing their store, but it also includes a guaranteed financial return of 15 per cent in year one and 20 per cent for every subsequent year of the franchise contract. “Again this is proving hugely successful, especially for international Tier 1 visa investors, and has already attracted an investor from Nigeria. We are blazing a trail in franchise investment, determined to bring it into the 21st century.” Wok&Go have franchisees of all ages and from a variety of career backgrounds. The company is dedicated to helping franchisees make their business a success with the team behind the scenes at head office providing all the support needed to make the journey – from signing up to seeing a healthy profit – as smooth as possible. Ongoing support includes marketing, HR and recruitment, locating the perfect site, procuring top-quality equipment and a tried-and-tested launch programme to get the business off to a flying start. In addition to this, franchisees also receive a robust four-week training course. n
wok&go Website: www.wokandgo.co.uk Email: des@wokandgo.co.uk Phone: 01244 376 310 classification: Food retail
HEALTHY FOOD. HEALTHY RETURNS. LOWER RISKS THAN STARTING ON YOUR OWN EXISTING ESTABLISHED BRAND IDENTITY HIGH QUALITY MARKETING MATERIALS RECRUITMENT AND HR SUPPORT FRANCHISE SUPPORT MANAGER ON HAND
Fresh, nutritious, tasty food, cooked in front of your eyes and served in minutes. Our unique, brand-led, fusion food chain, blending the best of Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Chinese and Japenese cuisine lends itself perfectly to franchise. With 15 stores currently open in the UK and Middle East and further plans to expand here and internationally, the Wok&Go brand is going from strength to strength. With a passion for excellent customer service, great tasting, healthy food and year on year consistent growth, we have worked our way to become what we believe to be the leading noodle bar chain in the UK.
Join our expanding business today! Contact Des Pheby on 01244 376310 or des@wokandgo.co.uk
www.wokandgo.co.uk
Franchise Focus
Building an empire Papa John’s newest franchise opens in Bristol Investment level: £70,000*
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eading pizza franchise Papa John’s has announced the opening of its latest store in Bradley Stoke, Bristol. Franchisee Jitesh Patel joined Papa John’s in 2005 and already runs several Papa John’s outlets in the Midlands, now adding Bradley Stoke to his franchise portfolio. “Jitesh is one of our most committed franchisees,” explains Anthony Round, business development manager at Papa John’s. “He bought his first Papa John’s franchise when he was just 20 years old and a few years ago won our prestigious ‘Franchisee of the Year Award’. “As well as his own franchised stores he co-owns and runs two further Papa John’s in Leicestershire with his sister Nisha, employing around 50 people,” continues Anthony. “However, I know his ambitions
don’t stop there: his long-term goal is to own 20 Papa John’s! “Our growth is really accelerating and we now have over 260 UK stores with over 4,500 worldwide, 1,200 of which are international. We continue to open new outlets in the UK and we are delighted to support Jitesh Patel in his latest venture.” Papa John’s is growing and is looking for other enthusiastic franchisees to become part of its success story. The brand has offered a number of franchisee incentives in 2014 including a royalty break for new stores opening in Wales, The Midlands, North East, North West and Scotland before the end of the year, as well as free equipment and a contribution towards marketing spend for the store opening launch. There will be exciting new incentive deals for 2015 but these will be limited so it will be first come, first served!
Papa John’s is one of the largest pizza companies in the world and has opportunities for franchisees throughout the UK including the key locations of the South East, Yorkshire, Manchester, West Midlands, East Midlands, South West, North East, Wales and Scotland. n *Typically, the total cost of a UK franchise is between £177,000 and £225,000 (excluding vat and freehold), of which £70,000 should be in liquid funds.
papa john’s Website: www.papajohns.co.uk/franchise Email: enquiries@papajohns.co.uk Phone: 0844 567 0937 classification: Food
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 47
Franchise Focus
In peak condition
Own a business with Anytime Fitness – recently ranked the number-one franchise in the world Investment level: £105,000-£120,000
Investment: £100k+
D
ue to the location, convenience, 24/7 access and desire to support those who wish to lead a healthier lifestyle, an Anytime Fitness club can become the centre of the community and the tool to change people’s lives. Running your own gym can be a life-changing and inspirational business decision, especially when you know you are part of a number-one global franchise family. Anytime Fitness was recently ranked number-one in the Entrepreneur 2014 Franchise 500 list – a list widely considered to be the world’s best and most comprehensive franchise ranking, with well-known franchises like Subway, Pizza Hut, Hampton Hill Hotels and McDonald’s traditionally ranking near the top. According to Entrepreneur, the most important factors to consider are financial strength and stability, growth rate, and the size of a franchise system. The UK expansion of Anytime Fitness is moving fast, with over 135 clubs at different stages of process. The clubs in the UK have been received extremely well, with UK club membership numbers being the highest in the world out of all Anytime Fitness clubs (that’s across over 2,600 clubs, two million members in 20 countries). Sales and marketing director Karl
Dietrich says: “With just 13 per cent of the population currently using a health and fitness centre but 24 per cent* saying they would consider using one, there is a great opportunity to help people in your local community to start getting active.”
“Running your own gym can be a life-changing and inspirational business decision”
Anytime Fitness franchise opportunities offer reliable, predictable income and the chance to achieve the work-life balance you want, with freedom to choose whether you work in a club or employ a manager to take care of the business for you. Hugh and Cathy Mullan, Anytime Fitness Glasgow are on the lookout for their next club in Scotland. “We were seeking an opportunity that would give us control of our lives. We looked at other franchises and into setting up our own business but the more we looked into Anytime Fitness, the support and its proven success, the more we realised there was less risk involved. It’s like a family. What we love most is the importance of the members; we enjoy getting to know everyone,
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their stories and successes.” Linda Crowson is Anytime Fitness franchisee for Twickenham. “I did lots of research and due diligence and thought that the Anytime Fitness business model stood out from the rest. The thing I love most is the community aspect and getting to know our customers; they tell us that they love the convenience of the 24/7 model and many are surprised at the quality they get for their money. With 350 members pre-sold before we opened and the club growing, we’re delighted with how it’s all gone and are really enjoying being part of Anytime Fitness.” Anytime Fitness provide you with the support, technology and experience to help you open and operate your club and still have a work-life balance. Other benefits include: • A low staff model that means less management time and hassle • T he ability to predict, with confidence, next month’s income, and the month after that, and the month after that, and so on... n *Mintel 2013
ANYTIME FITNESS Website: www.anytimefitness.co.uk Email: leads@anytimefitness.co.uk Phone: 0870 478 8770 classification: Health and fitness
Join the No. 1 franchise in the world!
OPEN
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• GYM
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7 / 4 32 6 5 D
Own a franchise at the heart of your community
Anytime Fitness
“The fastest growing fitness club in the world!” IHRSA
“We both wanted to work for ourselves and were looking for an opportunity that would give us back control of our lives. We looked at franchises and setting up our own business but the more we looked into Anytime Fitness, the support and its proven success it took away most of the risk involved. It’s almost like a family. What we love most is the importance of the members; we enjoy getting to know everyone, their stories and successes.” Hugh & Cathy Mullan Anytime Fitness Glasgow Now looking for their next club in Scotland
What our franchisees enjoy: • Recession resilient industry • Low staff model • Join the fitness franchise revolution • 2,600+ clubs worldwide • Global member reciprocal usage • Specialised club management system
38 clubs now trading across the UK, more coming soon and over 133 territories sold. Call us on +44 (0)870 4788770 Email: leads@anytimefitness.co.uk
www.anytimefitness.co.uk AF Business Franchise Ad - Feb 14.indd 1
14/01/2014 20:16
Franchise Focus
Life-changer Subway offers its top tips for those considering franchising Investment level: From £100,000
D Investment: £100k+
o you have what it takes to become a Subway franchisee? With over 1,900 locations in the UK and Ireland, and over 42,000 stores in more than 105 countries, a Subway franchise is perfect for anyone who is keen to run their own business whilst benefitting from a leading global brand name. The credentials of the successful brand coupled with an entrepreneur’s passion and enthusiasm for the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry can lead to a rewarding franchise investment. The Subway brand – the number one franchise opportunity* – here provides its top tips on what to consider when deciding if franchising is right for you. Your needs The first question that must be asked when considering a franchising opportunity is whether or not franchising is the right path for you. Joining a franchise may seem restrictive for some entrepreneurs; however, the benefits of using a tried-andtested system and the affiliation with a successful brand are the main appeal for many business people. The solid support structure offered by Subway means that today 70 per cent of all new Subway franchises are sold to existing owners. Research Once you have fully considered whether
franchising makes a suitable fit for your requirements, it is time to research your potential franchise options. Spend time investigating exactly what each franchise offers you, the costs incurred and the support system offered whilst setting up your franchise and once your store is up and running. Look into attending any franchise exhibitions or seminars that will help you to get a feel for the different aspects of starting a new business.
“Subway guides its franchisees through the process, encouraging them to think ahead”
Ask questions – speak to existing franchisees who will be able to provide you with in-depth information on its franchise system and what to expect. You should ensure that you fully understand and can identify with the culture and values of the brand before committing to a purchase. Investing in a franchise can be a lifechanging business choice, so it is vital to make an informed decision. Network Networking is key when starting up a new business and this is no different
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when starting out with a franchise. Building up a good relationship with your local community and getting to know the surrounding local businesses will be beneficial when it is time to launch your franchise. Developing a good, strong support network can also result in possible partnerships, future business engagements and provide a source of potential crosspromotional opportunities. Building these contacts can be done in a number of ways, such as via faceto-face networking at regional events, local Chambers of Commerce and charity sponsorships, as well as utilising online tools, social media, etc. Other networking opportunities to consider are conferences and meetings organised by your franchisor. These events present you with a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the future of the brand, what practices have worked well for other franchisees and to learn more about issues affecting the company and its franchisees. The Subway brand organises meetings throughout the year where the worldwide Subway community can come together to take part in seminars and workshops. Budget From the planning stages of setting up your franchise, right through to when things are up and running it is key to keep an eye on your finances and ensure you have budgeted for your venture. Subway advises and guides franchisees through the process, encouraging them to think ahead and consider any possible drains on their resources. Subway franchisee, Damian Havlin owns and operates four stores in Northern Ireland, and is a self-confessed advocate of the Subway franchise system. Damian comments: “When the opportunity came about for me to buy my own store, I felt it was a dream come true! I liked the structure and support of working in a franchise – the tried-and-tested business opportunity, but with the chance to make your own mark, have your own stores and make your own connections. There’s nothing that can’t be achieved with the Subway business model, it’s so versatile – so much so, I’m already looking at options for my fifth store!” n *Subway is the number one QSR brand by total store count (as at January 2014)
subway Website: www.subway.co.uk/business Email: franchiseopportunities@subway.co.uk Phone: 0800 0855 058 classification: Food retail
Franchise Focus
Out of office Amanda Staton has a good income and work-life balance thanks to Platinum Property Partners Investment level: From £52,970 opportunity that would fit around our children and the family lifestyle,” says Amanda. Amanda and her husband Simon came across PPP at The National Franchise Exhibition in Birmingham, where they were just hoping to get some ideas. “We didn’t know what we wanted to do and had actually been considering starting a nursery. We saw Steve Bolton’s presentation and were really excited. We talked about it all the way home. It was something that was interesting to us, something we could manage and something we would own. But the key thing for me was that it allowed me to earn a good income while spending time with the children.” Since joining in January 2012, Amanda has three HMOs (House in Multiple Occupation) up and running, generating approximately £70,000 annual gross income, and a fourth in development. Her long-term plan is to build a portfolio that will generate enough income to provide for her children’s education whilst maintaining the same lifestyle. Simon is also hoping to retire early! “I wouldn’t have been able to build my business without the support of PPP and the network. They help you to grow your business much quicker and also make us think about pension provision, wealth management and how to get access to passive investment,” continues Amanda. Working approximately three days a week has enabled Amanda to organise her work life around her family. While she works very hard to ensure her property business is successful, Amanda enjoys the support of the network of other partners:
Amanda Staton
“One of the other big benefits of joining PPP is the network. That’s a massive intangible benefit for me that you can’t put a price on. “I have two young children and Simon has a full-time job so I have no-one else to talk with about it. So, having the support network of PPP around me is fantastic. It’s great to bounce ideas off each other or seek advice when you’re not sure if something is going right – it’s also good to just be able to chat to other like-minded adults rather than builders or babies!” If you’re ready for a new challenge or you’re interested in replacing or supplementing your income and want to ensure your financial security in retirement, PPP can help. Begin your journey by downloading a free copy of PPP founder Steve Bolton’s book ‘Successful Property Investing: How to Earn £50,000 to £150,000 in Two to Five Years’. Download here: www.platinumpropertypartners. co.uk/business-franchise n
PPP Website: www.platinumpropertypartners.co.uk Email: info@platinumproperty.co.uk Phone: 01202 652 101 classification: Property investment
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 51
Investment: £50k-£100k
P
latinum Property Partners (PPP) is a successful property investment franchise that enables both novice and seasoned property investors to build a sustainable, profitable and life-changing portfolio. Launched in 2007 by entrepreneur Steve Bolton, today PPP has more than 200 partners operating in 85 towns and cities across England and Wales, a 35-strong team at head office in Bournemouth and a nationwide network of coaches, mentors and property experts. PPP developed a business model that maximises rental income from specialist buy-to-let shared housing for young professionals, with the added benefit of long-term capital growth. The model generates much higher returns than traditional buy-to-let rental properties and produces a lifelong income stream that replaces or supplements a salary, provides a rewarding addition to standard pension provision and creates a substantial inheritance for your loved ones. Becoming a mother to Meghan in 2009 made Amanda Staton realise that she wanted a job that would allow her to spend more time with her children. Leaving her successful career in consumer sales behind her, she spent the next year hectically juggling consultancy work with a family life. After giving birth to her second child Tom in 2011, Amanda decided it was time for a complete change. “I knew that any corporate job I went back to would be very intense and five days a week, if not more. This option never sat comfortably with me and my husband and we wanted to find a business
Franchise Focus
Smart moves Rob Clifford, chief executive of Century 21 UK, on the benefits of franchising INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM £50,000
“A
ccording to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of self-employed people in the UK has reached its highest level since records began some 40 years ago. There are now 4.6 million people
classed as self-employed which has pushed their number, as a proportion of the total workforce, up to 15 per cent compared to 13 per cent in 2008, and just 8.7 per cent in 1975. There’s no doubting that the recent recession forced the hands of many who, following redundancy, decided to work for themselves. The ONS provides a note
of caution for those who are in, or are considering, self-employment. Whilst there’s no doubt that working for yourself comes with its own unique stresses and strains, it does, however, provide many with freedom and liberation from the constraints of working for someone else, alongside other myriad economic and personal benefits. This is perhaps the reason why franchising has increased in popularity. Not only do franchise owners have the freedom to run their own businesses but they also benefit from supreme resources and a support structure that many would envy. In effect, it can deliver the best of both worlds. Century 21 UK franchise owners have ample opportunity to make their mark and reap the rewards, plus they will be acutely aware they have a large corporate operation to back them up, taking away the strain that many start-ups have to carry on their own. If you’re looking at self-employed options, then make sure you look at franchising – it could be the best decision you ever make.” n
CENTURY 21 UK WEBSITE: www.century21uk.com/franchise EMAIL: opportunities@century21uk.com PHONE: 0115 902 1002 CLASSIFICATION: Property
Conditions in the property market are improving; we believe there has never been a better time to own an estate agency. Through the CENTURY 21 UK franchise system, you could own your part of the world’s largest residential estate agency organisation. This is your opportunity to make a considerable return on your initial investment. Access the BRAND, SUPPORT and SYSTEMS to help you thrive in a competitive marketplace. Previous experience in sales or lettings is not necessary as full training is provided.
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Franchise Focus
Serving the community McDonald’s and its franchisees have a unique approach to doing business INVESTMENT LEVEL: £85,000*
M
cDonald’s has proudly run its business in the UK for 40 years. The first UK restaurant opened its doors in 1974, and the first franchised restaurant followed just over 10 years later. For a business like McDonald’s, franchising is an integral part of the overall strategy and it continues to grow its business through its strongest franchisees as well as constantly looking for new recruits. The recruitment process is rigorous – the interviews and on-the-job evaluations process take place over a number of months, including a nine-month unpaid restaurant-based training programme, before the franchisees are up and running. This thorough approach to recruitment is important for both parties to ensure that they are entering into the right partnership. In return, McDonald’s provides a comprehensive training programme and industry-leading ongoing support. Each McDonald’s franchisee has continuous support from a team of dedicated company employees, as well as head office staff and suppliers wherever necessary. Ultimately, the company wants its franchisees to succeed and offers the best possible support to ensure
from offering all employees access to nationally recognised qualifications through to supporting grassroots football and organising local litter clean-up events. The company and its franchisees strongly believe that investing in the communities from which their customers and employees come is a key ingredient in both franchise and overall brand success.
“Ultimately, the company wants its franchisees to succeed and offers the best possible support to ensure this is the case” In fact, this summer, Cherry was instrumental in establishing an Essexwide campaign aimed at tackling litter. In partnership with Braintree District Council, she helped coordinate the two-month ‘Clean Essex Campaign’ that involved every local authority and many other quick-service restaurants and included litter-picking schemes, increased council enforcement and education through banners and posters. Cherry says: “In my view it is vital that everyone takes responsibility for litter. We should all make a commitment to help protect our local environment and keep it clean.” n
*As a guide, the cost of a restaurant typically ranges from £125,000 to £325,000. You will need to provide at least 25 per cent of the value as unencumbered funds, the remaining 75 per cent can be funded through a bank loan with favourable funding terms.
MCDONALD’S WEBSITE: www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ franchising
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 53
Investment: £50k-£100k
Cherry Lewis-Taylor
that this is the case. Today, almost 70 per cent of McDonald’s UK restaurants are franchised, operated by more than 150 business men and women – franchisees like Cherry Lewis-Taylor. On leaving the army after more than 20 years’ service, Major Cherry LewisTaylor realised she wanted to run her own business and, after taking an advanced management appreciation course at Manchester Business School, she decided to explore franchising. A former colleague made her aware of the franchising opportunities at McDonald’s, so she set about doing her homework on what it’s like working for the ‘golden arches’, even taking on an hourly paid role as a dining hostess in one of the restaurants. Her thorough research and hard work paid off. After completing the rigorous selection process and training programme, she was successfully on her way to a career as a McDonald’s franchisee. These days she is responsible for four restaurants and around 450 staff in Essex. Her restaurants contribute £6million annually to the area’s economy and, in addition to the people that Cherry directly employs, McDonald’s and its suppliers support a further 210 jobs in that area – that’s 660 jobs in total, contributing £13million to the local economy alone. Cherry says: “McDonald’s places a lot of value on its relationship with its franchisees and we are treated like business partners in every sense. It’s not just about agreements and targets, it’s about working together to achieve shared success for the brand, the business and the 1,200 communities that we serve around the UK.” It’s not just employment opportunities that McDonald’s and its franchisees support, though. With standard 20-year franchising agreements, franchisees like Cherry are encouraged to become an active participant in the communities they serve. Franchisees become involved in many aspects of their local communities,
Franchise Focus
Top of their game Investment: £20k-£50k
CeX is experiencing strong growth in a vibrant industry among its happy network of franchisees Investment level: From £40,000
B
y trading exclusively in digital entertainment products, the Complete entertainment eXchange (CeX) catapults the buyand-sell concept into the 21st century. Where similar outfits would have once traded books, CeX buy, sell and exchange mobile phones, games, computers, tablets, DVDs and electronics to and from the public.
Since first opening its doors in London in 1992, CeX has expanded to over 250 stores in the UK and more than 370 stores worldwide. It launched its first franchise operation in 2006 and now over half of the UK stores are franchised – clear proof of the brand’s strong business model and potential for growth. A new store opened almost every week in the UK last year and, as technology changes and the demand for used electronics is growing, this strong
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expansion shows no sign of slowing down. Frank Orchard, head of franchising, believes that sales in the sector will continue to rise: “In terms of the current economic outlook, consumer belttightening has actually benefitted many retail companies. CeX has thrived during the recession and remains confident it will continue to do so; shoppers today want a good price for their used items whether buying or selling.”
Gabriel Moreno
The confidence that existing franchisees have in the prosperity of the brand is evident in the fact that many CeX franchisees have chosen to invest in further outlets once their first store is up and running. Gabriel Moreno owns stores in Poole, Boscombe and Fareham and hopes to open more this year. Another successful franchisee, John Hollins, recently opened his fourth store in the North East: “Becoming a multi-site franchisee has enabled me to manage growth in a more strategic way – I employ managers to run things to CeX’s standard while I am at another store.” Franchisees can’t simply assume a background role, though. John continues: “Running a large business with teams of staff is always challenging, it needs hands-on daily management.” In fact, many storeowners attribute their achievements to the recruitment of a solid team of staff. Zahida Patel, CeX Bury, says: “I’ve recruited a fantastic team of which I am very proud. They’re great people and provide great customer service, which is the key to the success of the business.” The CeX team are on hand to help franchisees with the process of staff recruitment and training. The initial training programme for CeX franchisees themselves is an intensive 12-week store-based course, providing practical on-site experience. All aspects of retail and sales are covered, as are operational and technical procedures,
supervisor and store management principles, and general franchise and business ownership. The programme ensures that all franchisees are confident and fully prepared to run a CeX store. CeX provides support for all aspects specific to a retail business, from selecting a location to stock management. Jas Singh, CeX Dudley, believes the support of the franchisor has been invaluable: “The acquisition of a retail premises and the legal negotiations process has been quite time-consuming, but CeX used a specialist solicitor to help manage the process for me and were there every step of the way.”
“In retailing, every day brings new challenges and we could not do things as successfully if we were on our own”
Ongoing training is just as comprehensive and includes procedure updates, stock and pricing consultations and continuing business advice. In addition to this, each franchisee receives a bespoke EPOS (electronic point of sale) plus handson store identification, design and outfit. For a franchisee in the retail sector,
this training and having the backing of an experienced team can make all the difference, as business partners Stuart Dixon and Trevor Finlay, CeX multi-site owners in Northern Ireland confirm: “In retailing, every day brings new challenges and we could not do things as successfully if we were on our own.” One of the advantages of a CeX franchise compared with an independent start-up is the strong brand presence and the loyal troupe of customers that this brings. This support is particularly crucial in the ever-changing world of entertainment technology. Jas says: “This is a large business to run and my biggest commitment has been the time I’ve needed to spend training. You need to know the products and how the model works.” Running a CeX store requires significant personal and financial commitment, so although there are no personality prerequisites – CeX are a wonderfully varied bunch – the selection process is judicious. Franchisees are expected to demonstrate dedication to the brand, and should be able to motivate a team of staff and build rapport with customers. The CeX model attracts franchisees from all backgrounds but many franchisees come from office-based roles, seeking a change from the humdrum routine that these can involve. Prior to owning a CeX franchise, James Playle was a European equity sales trader: “The hours were too long and I yearned for more control over my career. My CeX franchise has improved my lifestyle and I don’t have to wear a suit to work ever again!” Some franchisees come from within the CeX family, having started out as sales assistants. Stuart learnt the business firsthand prior to becoming a franchisee: “I used to work for CeX as a store manager, so I understood how the business works and had always wanted to work for myself. Being able to become a franchisee within the business that I have grown up in has been a great opportunity for me.” Franchisees are buying into a global brand and a loyal customer base, and a CeX franchise promises impressive returns on investment. Franchisees will need at least £40,000 of liquid capital, and the investment required – which includes stock and store fittings – starts at £150,000. The opportunity offers unrivalled returns; a typical new store generates a return on investment within two years and an average annual turnover in excess of £1million. n
CEX Website: webuy.com/franchising
Email: uk.franchising@webuy.com classification: Retail
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 55
Investment: £20k-£50k
Franchise Focus
Franchise Focus
Happy birthday! Mail Boxes Etc. celebrates 21 years in the UK Investment level: from £60,000 just for everyday services, but for help and advice from our knowledgeable teams. “Brand awareness and consistent values are what drive footfall, and the customer’s experience is consistent across our network because our people have the skills to create the confidence and build the relationships that lead to higher value sales and repeat business. Having said that, we’re not about homogenisation – each of our franchisees is very much an individual, and their personalities, skills and areas of expertise are reflected in the approach they bring to the business.”
Investment: £50k-£100k
W
hichever way you look at it, a 21st birthday is a milestone, and so champagne corks are popping as one of the world’s largest retail franchises, Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE), celebrates 21 years in the UK. Coming of age also means taking a little time for reflection, a chance to look back at the development of a business model that’s gone from strength to strength, with a network that now comprises 150 stores throughout the UK and Ireland, and a firstclass reputation among franchisees and customers alike. Undoubtedly one of Mail Boxes Etc.’s best-kept secrets is its people. Whatever their backgrounds, MBE franchisees share a commitment to personal customer focus that combines local knowledge with a unique mix of services that help meet people’s everyday needs – from UK and worldwide parcel delivery, copy and print and mailbox rental to postal services. There’s no better advocate for the MBE formula than Girvin Vincent, who also has cause to celebrate this year. As the first person to join the MBE UK network, starting his business in 1993, Girvin was already familiar with both franchising and the MBE brand from living and working in Canada. In the UK, however, the brand was still unknown and franchising was little understood, so by signing up as MBE’s first franchisee Girvin was a pioneer on two counts.
Leap of faith After leaving his native Belfast for Canada to work for a Canadian bank for 15 years, transferring to London and subsequently being made redundant eight years later, Girvin was ready to work for himself, and was very impressed when he came across the MBE franchise opportunity. He explains: “It offered exactly the right combination of opportunities that suited my experience, talents and skills.” Girvin’s leap of faith paid off. He went on to create a highly successful business, spending the next 18 years working as an MBE franchisee in London, opening stores in several successive locations and ending up in Great Russell Street. He recently decided to go back to his roots, selling his London store and opening a new city centre store in Belfast. During Girvin’s years as a franchisee, the MBE network has grown steadily. “There have been many changes over the years in franchising, which – as a sector – has also expanded at an incredible rate,” he observes. “But Mail Boxes Etc. has continued to maintain the same values and high standards of customer service, which I think are crucial to the brand’s success.” National brand – local focus Sales and marketing director Michael Hawkins underlines the company’s commitment to core values: “The Mail Boxes Etc. brand is ubiquitous in the UK’s high streets these days, and it’s crucial to us that customers perceive their local MBE store as somewhere they can go not
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“Our people build the relationships that lead to higher value sales and repeat business”
MBE franchisees come from all walks of life. Many have backgrounds in key business areas such as logistics, which allows them to exploit their knowledge in advising customers on shipping and export, while contributing to the strength of the network by sharing expertise with other franchisees. Some may already have worked in retailing or the corporate environment. Younger entrepreneurs often join the network straight from university, gaining experience in an MBE store before setting up their own business. Coming of age is also a good time to look ahead, and Mail Boxes Etc. is confident that its formula will continue to evolve to meet the needs of franchisees and customers alike. “With all the set-up assistance, training and ongoing support we give our franchisees, there has never been a better time for forward-thinking, energetic, conscientious individuals who are dedicated to friendly, personal service to talk to us about joining the network,” says Michael. n
Mail Boxes ETC.
Website: www.mbe.co.uk/franchise_
opportunities
Email: franchise@mbe.co.uk Phone: 01608 649 238 classification: Print / post and parcel logistics
This is your chance to get on board with the
NUMBER ONE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY!
*
Over 42,000 stores in more than 105 countries worldwide Over 1,800 stores now open in the UK and Ireland 2 Outlet opportunities currently available
2 Low cost, simple operation 2 20 franchisee support offices
throughout the UK and Ireland
2 70% of franchises purchased by existing owners
To find out more visit...
www.subway.co.uk/business www.subway.ie/business or call 0800 085 5058 (UK) 1-800-413-076 (Eire)
*SUBWAY® is the number one QSR brand by total store count (as at January 2014). ©2014 Doctor’s Associate Inc. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associate Inc.
the official MaGaZiNe of the british fraNchise associatioN
Business Franchise
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www.businessfranchise.com 58 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Franchise Focus
A flourishing business
• A profitable and cash-generative business from the first month • A business that can grow into a multi-van enterprise • The opportunity to work with family or friends • A defined postcode area containing at least 80,000 target households • A pleasant and varied working environment • High levels of annual customer retention and an excellent opportunity for referrals • Individually tailored marketing launch package worth £7,000, including leaflet distribution, adverts, search engine optimisation, personalised website and more • Monthly franchise fee only 7 per cent • 14 days’ comprehensive training • Dedicated days each month to ensure support each step of the way • High-quality, own-brand products offering the best results at the best prices. Full turnkey equipment package including machinery, vehicle deposit, signage, software, stationery and initial stock • The opportunity to deliver high-quality lawn treatments and some of the best-insector customer service care
Greensleeves’ franchise network and client base continues to grow Investment level: FROM £24,950
“We understand that investing in a franchise and running your own business can be a bit daunting at first and that is why we are on hand at every stage of the process to ensure that our franchisees feel fully supported, trained and confident in running their businesses.”
lush, green and healthy. Services range from seasonal treatment programmes through to specialist applications such as scarification, hollow tine aeration and re-seeding depending upon the requirements of each individual lawn. Greensleeves offers a very comprehensive franchise package that includes products, skills training, marketing services, business and financial planning and accounts support – everything you need to launch a successful business. Previous experience running a business or a background in lawn care is not necessary – the company has a fantastic management system in place to deliver the regular support and training that franchisees need to succeed. The company directors are all franchisees in their own right and therefore understand the challenges facing franchisees, putting them in an excellent position to provide assistance and guidance when required. Greensleeves franchisees enjoy:
Greensleeves is a business that grows with its franchisees’ enthusiasm and hard work, with the opportunity to reap the financial benefits straight away. Many franchisees now employ staff and own more than one van to cover a much larger demographic area, servicing more lawns and increasing their turnover as a direct result. Greensleeves provides an excellent opportunity to run your own lawn care business without the fear of the unknown. The unique support you receive from day one is invaluable in helping you to establish and grow a profitable business. n
greensleeves Website: www.greensleeves-uk.com/ franchise Email: franchise@greensleeves-uk.com Phone: 0808 100 1413 classification: Lawn care
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 59
Investment: £20k-£50k
G
reensleeves lawn care is one of the largest and fastest-growing lawn treatment providers in the UK. The company has been providing highquality, affordable lawn care services to homes across the UK for over 16 years, boasting an impressive network of over 45,000 customers. With so many different franchises available to choose from, making that crucial decision as to which venture will provide you with the perfect blend of job satisfaction and financial success can be a hard one. Greensleeves, the lawn treatment experts, offer their franchisees exactly such a combination. With new franchisees joining frequently, Greensleeves appeals to people of all ages, locations and career backgrounds. The typical job of a Greensleeves franchisee is to analyse, advise on and treat their customers’ lawns, visiting at least four times a year to ensure their lawns are
David Truby, managing director, Greensleeves
Hard work. Passion. Dedication.
That’s what makes our franchisees. That’s what makes McDonald’s. ®
*
*
The last few years have been tough economic years for our customers and the country. Despite these challenges, McDonald’s franchisees have continued to experience sales growth and increased profitability.
We will continue to look to open new sites up and down the country and serve more customers with more convenient ways to pay and more choice available on our menu. That’s what makes McDonald’s.
That’s because the McDonald’s system works: it’s founded on the principle of everyone pulling together, the franchisor, franchisees, suppliers and employees all working together: for mutual benefit. It’s about mutual risk and mutual reward.
And we’re looking for new franchisees to help us make McDonald’s future.
We have been doing well because our focus on value and quality combined with sustained investment in our food, our restaurants and our people has continued to drive our business and ensure that, in a tough market, we outperformed the competition.
• Over 7 years of positive growth • McDonald’s supports a community of over 154 franchisees • On average, a McDonald’s franchisee operates 5 restaurants (with an approx cash flow of £800K*) • McDonald’s is an Award winning franchisor
For further information please go to:
www.mcdonalds.co.uk/franchising *Pre debt and interest deductions. Investment requirement of at least £85,000 free capital
McD Ad A4 Directory BusFranchise April 2014.indd 1
12/02/2014 14:36
Franchise Focus
A platform for growth Franchisees can build a valuable asset with Minster Cleaning Services
W
hen Martin Francis decided to leave South Africa after 23 years, he looked at business opportunities all over the world before returning to his native UK to take over the South Wales Minster Cleaning Services franchise. The 53-year-old had already identified office cleaning as a business that would make best use of his skillset gained from a career in banking management followed by 10 years running his own security business. Martin says that he was able to set about “reigniting” the Minster Cleaning Services franchise from his very first day. “The branch opened in 2003 and built up a strong, stable customer base with a capable management team; this has allowed me to concentrate most of my efforts on growing the business. Much of our business is currently within the Cardiff area, which has undergone significant regeneration over the last few years. It is one of the UK’s fastest-growing cities and a major centre for the retail, finance, media and tourism sectors, providing ample potential clients for Minster. As we also cover all the CF [Cardiff] and NP [Newport] postcodes, we have almost unlimited scope for further expansion.” Support for franchisees is seen as a priority at Minster and has benefitted from substantial investment during the company’s 32-year history, as managing director Mike Parker explains: “We have
developed sophisticated systems to take care of many of the routine day-to-day business activities such as IT, accounts, marketing and training and we employ the services of outside professionals for advice on employment law, health and safety and environmental legislation. This helps franchisees to build thriving businesses – average sales are over £700,000 across our 42 branches with many having reached an annual turnover of over £1million.”
“If you are prepared to work hard, you can build a successful and lasting business”
Martin says that the help that he has received has been invaluable. “There’s quite a lot to learn when you take over a business but, when you join Minster, you can call on specialists in every area as well as having access to advice and guidance from the rest of the franchise network.” As an essential commercial service that attracts clients from a broad range of sectors, office cleaning is relatively recession-proof. Minster Cleaning Services has been providing commercial cleaning services since 1982 and is one of the country’s most successful franchises. It has been a bfa full member since 1992 and annual turnover is over £30million.
Whether taking over an existing area or in a new-start situation, Minster franchisees can all create valuable, saleable assets. Mike Parker confirms: “A Minster Cleaning Services franchise could turn out to be an excellent investment for the future. We give franchisees a realistic, tried-and-tested plan to follow and, if you are prepared to work hard, you can build a successful and lasting business. As a management franchise that can employ over 200 people, the most important attributes are peoplemanagement ability, commercial awareness and resilience.” There are currently established franchises available for resale in Bristol, Derbyshire, Dundee and Hertfordshire at a fee of £10,000 plus vat in addition to the purchase price of the business. New opportunities include Cambridge, Doncaster, Durham, Leicester, London, Middlesex, Guildford, Peterborough and Swansea. Initial start-up cost is £28,225 plus vat, covering licence, training, software and hardware, stationery, machinery, equipment and materials. Between £40,000 and £60,000 working capital will be needed – finance is available from leading banks subject to status. n
minster Website: www.minsterfranchise.co.uk Email: minster@minsterfranchise.co.uk Phone: 0121 386 1722 classification: Cleaning services
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 61
Investment: £20k-£50k
Investment level: From £28,225
Franchise Focus
Job satisfaction Ableworld can offer franchisees more than just a steady income INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM £29,950
Franchisee Darren Pitt with customer Irene
W
hat do you want from a franchise? Typical answers include income, capital appreciation, and being one’s own boss. Another answer is to achieve job satisfaction. This means different things to different people but for those who choose to work in the retail mobility sector, job satisfaction is often expressed as “contributing to my local community”,
“helping others in need” or “making people’s lives easier or more comfortable”. Owning an Ableworld retail franchise gives you all the usual benefits you would expect from a franchise – ie an income, growth possibilities, the opportunity to run your own business and the relevant security of operating a proven system – but it also gives you immense job satisfaction by providing products and services to elderly and disabled members of the community.
There are currently 10 million people aged 65 and over in the UK and the numbers are growing every year as the ‘baby-boomer’ generation reaches an age where mobility and home-care products are more and more in demand. The market for mobility equipment such as scooters, wheelchairs and stairlifts is increasing dramatically and is estimated to be worth at least £1.5billion a year. Ableworld is one of the leading mobility retailers in the UK, providing high-quality products and services to this ever-growing market. The trusted Ableworld brand was created 14 years ago and since 2008 has been offered as a franchise opportunity. Ableworld is looking to recruit a select number of people across the UK mainland in the next 12 months to add to its growing network of franchisees. The retail mobility industry is at a turning point and there may never be a better time to join this growing sector and benefit from investing in a future where you can gain true job satisfaction. n
ABLEWORLD WEBSITE: www.ableworld.co.uk EMAIL: franchise@ableworld.co.uk PHONE: 01270 627 185 CLASSIFICATION: Retail
The UK’s leading mobility retailer: Recruiting franchisees now! Ableworld is looking to award a limited number of franchises for its successful mobility retail and stairlift business. In 10 years time 25% of the population will be over 65 years old. Our products and services are designed to capitalise on this growing market and you can capitalise too, as an Ableworld franchisee. The Ableworld Franchise Package: • • • • • • •
Two viable income streams A first class training and support programme Exclusive use of the Ableworld™ brand within a generous territory Lower than average fees Help in negotiating the best property deal & finance The opportunity of earning up to £95,000 p.a. by Year 3 Substantial marketing launch pack and much more
“Ableworld is one of the leading mobility and stairlift retailers in the country!” 62 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
For your FREE information pack email franchise@ableworld.co.uk, call 01270 627 185 or visit www.ableworldfranchise.co.uk
“Proud to be a member of the bfa”
Franchise Focus
Lifestyle change Brian Palmer finds franchising security with ChipsAway Investment level: From £29,995
B
rian Palmer, who is just about to celebrate his first anniversary since joining the UK’s leading minor automotive repair specialist, ChipsAway, says that redundancy was a blessing in disguise and he couldn’t be happier with his life now. Having worked for 18 years as an IT manager on a very decent wage and with a young family to support, it was quite a shock to find out he
was being made redundant, but actually it was just the incentive Brian needed to redress his work-life balance. “The redundancy really made me realise that being employed didn’t necessarily mean job security. I don’t feel I’m an entrepreneur by nature and I didn’t have the knowhow to set up my own business. I’m risk-averse and I felt franchising offered the perfect balance of independence and support.” Brian explains: “I was scouring the
internet one day and I came across ChipsAway. I went to an open day, spoke to franchisees and developed a huge amount of confidence in the business offering as a result of my research. I just kept coming back to ChipsAway.” The fact that ChipsAway have now been around for 20 years also appealed to Brian and the ongoing national advertising campaign, which includes extensive TV and online exposure and generated over £29million worth of enquiries for the network last year alone, was a huge benefit of becoming part of the leading brand in minor automotive repairs. “Before I would leave the house at 6:30am and not be back until 6:307.00pm, now we’re able to have breakfast as a family and I’m usually home for tea too! Long-term, I have plans to develop into a CarCare Centre (fixed-base workshop), which will allow me to hopefully take a more managerial role and employ people to undertake the repairs.” Brian concludes: “I’d definitely recommend franchising to others – in fact, one of the first customers I had has since become a franchisee for ChipsAway!” n
chipsaway Website: www.chipsaway.co.uk Email: uk@chipsaway.co.uk Phone: 0800 980 5423 classification: Automotive
UK’s Number one SMART brand*
Make the obvious choice
GUARAN TEED FUNDIN G AVAILAB LE
Over 5 times more brand awareness than any other competitor* Customer enquiries have grown by 50% in just 2 years 6 months national TV advertising included as standard For a minimum investment of just £15k** you can be part of the success of the number 1 brand in the SMART repair sector*.
Call 0800 980 5423 or visit www.chipsaway.co.uk
TV AS SEEN ON
*As reported by YouGov survey - visit www.chipsaway.co.uk/yougov for full details. Guaranteed funding available at the discretion of ChipsAway International Ltd. **Total Franchise Investment £29,995, of which a minimum £15,000 personal investment is required.
64 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Franchise Focus
Equipped to care
and beyond. People continue to be active, but whilst they do so, they may also require some support in order to maintain a fulfilling and independent life. With this in mind, Phil and Sarah recognised the need to provide a good service in their local community and were keen to take advantage of this opportunity, as well as work towards a more secure financial future.
Phil Mason and Sarah Massey loved the brand so much they bought a Caremark franchise Investment level: £32,950
Sarah Massey and Phil Mason
T
he care sector attracts all sorts of professionals who may come from different industries, but how often do you find an existing member of the company’s support team investing in the brand’s franchise? Two people who did just that were Phil Mason and Sarah Massey, the new franchisees for Caremark (Mansfield) in Nottinghamshire. Phil Mason, Caremark’s regional support manager for the North East, has worked with the company for several years, supporting franchisees and their growing businesses in his territory. Such was his faith in the Caremark model that his partner Sarah bought a franchise, as they both wished to bring Caremark’s bespoke home care to their own local community. Being able to build their own successful Caremark home care business made perfect sense. Both had knowledge of the sector and, furthermore, also shared with Caremark the same vision – that of a quality service, available to their home town community. During the recruitment process, certain qualities and skills are sought in prospective franchisees wishing to join the
Caremark network: previous commercial and management experience, a passion for the industry coupled with a desire to build a substantial business, as well as delivering first-class care and support to clients. Both Phil and Sarah possess these attributes and no-one knows the Caremark model better than Phil, having gained intimate knowledge of the operating systems and the care industry itself from his years with Caremark. Sarah’s extensive experience in the private care sector – with the last 15 years at management level – also place her in an ideal position to partner with Phil and launch Caremark (Mansfield). The business opened a few months ago, with Sarah taking care of the day-to-day running of the company, whilst Phil continues to support his franchisees in the North East. With the ageing population increasing, we will probably all require some form of care or support at one point or another in our lives, whether at home or to assist us in our daily living. Today, most people can expect to live longer than their grandparents. Times have changed and so has the average lifespan. With advances in medical science, better nutrition and improved living conditions, more people are now reaching their 90s
Commenting on their new venture, Sarah says: “When Phil began working for Caremark it immediately became apparent how much he valued the Caremark system. I, too, was quickly convinced that Caremark was the route we should follow.” Both Phil and Sarah understood that current government policy was and still is playing to the company’s strengths. Caremark has the necessary experience, solidity of business model and understanding of the marketplace to keep pace with change and the pair both realised that owning their own franchise offered a fantastic opportunity. In addition, Caremark happens to have a very successful network and some of its top performers are now industry award-winners. The brand enjoys a strong reputation that stands for quality and excellence, with its franchisees sharing the same vision and embracing the company’s mission statement: ‘to achieve greatness in the provision of domiciliary care’. Caremark (Mansfield) is already building its own reputation for excellence and is on its way towards this ‘greatness’. So any professionals looking for inspiration, or who are considering running their own business, would do well to look into Caremark’s rewarding franchise opportunity and consider building a solid future in this growth industry. One thing is for certain, with the population living longer, the demand for high-quality home care is only ever going to increase. n
CAREMARK
Website: www.caremarkfranchises.com Email: franchise@caremarklimited.co.uk Phone: 01903 266 392 classification: Care
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 65
Investment: £20k-£50k
“Professionals considering running their own business would do well to look into Caremark”
Franchise Focus
Hungry for more?
Martin Challis, Berkshire franchisee
Snack-in-the-box has a simple, appealing business model Investment level: From ÂŁ20,000
S
nack-in-the-Box are a franchised organisation working in association with Mars, Walkers and Britvic to supply a fantastic range of popular confectionery and drinks to workplaces of all sizes. Becoming a Snack-in-the-Box representative means that you will be joining a team of 80-plus franchisees across the UK and Ireland delivering snack products and drinks to businesses, servicing your own territory. A Snack-in-the-Box operation is a lowcost franchise, with packages starting from just under ÂŁ20,000. Not only will you benefit from a central support centre, providing you with customer service, sales and marketing support, but you will also have 100 per cent of the equipment sited by our experienced canvassers from day one. You will also
be equipped with company branded uniform and vehicle livery. Our vending services are delivered to offices and workplaces free of charge – there is no cost and contract, employees simply pay for what they eat and drink. There is a range of solutions available to suit all business sizes and requirements ranging from vending boxes and drinks chillers to slim-line and large, glass-fronted vending machines. Franchisees service their customers on a regular basis, restocking their snacks weekly and collecting the money, while regularly canvassing for new sites in order to grow the business. Snack-in-the-Box emphasise the need for great customer service, a professional attitude and a friendly, reliable approach from all of their franchisees. These values allow them to maintain a strong brand identity that will help you to build a successful business. n
66 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
snack-in-the-box Website: w ww.sitb.co.uk Email: enquiries@sitb.co.uk Phone: 0845 2266 492 classification: Vending
Franchise Focus
Production value Recognition Express is the leading brand in its industry
“W
ith a Recognition Express franchise, you have the freedom to take the business in whatever direction you see fit. The corporate recognition marketplace offers a lot of scope, and franchisees are 100 per cent in charge of making their own destiny. You have complete autonomy, but you are buoyedup by the franchisor’s support and guidance.” So says Graham Marshall of Recognition Express Essex. If you want to make inroads into a prosperous industry, take a look at franchise opportunities in the corporate recognition arena. It is now worth more than £3billion per year in this country alone. Recognition Express is the UK’s leading franchisor and provider in this sector, offering a comprehensive range of products spanning personalised name badges, signage, corporate gifts, branded clothing and more. With over 30 years’ experience and a thriving network of around 50 franchises, the brand offers an excellent proposition for would-be franchise owners. The bespoke training and support offered by Recognition Express are the envy of the franchise
industry. Additionally, centrally designed, managed and implemented direct marketing programmes form the backbone of the company’s marketing systems and are augmented by high-quality collateral, marketing tools and ongoing training designed to drive business growth, client contact and brand awareness.
“Recognition Express has enjoyed success for over 30 years” Stuart Fisher, who runs Recognition Express Harrow attests: “Quarterly meetings with [managing director] Nigel Toplis are hugely valuable in helping me to focus my business in the right direction. He is a great sounding board for new ideas and opportunities. Recognition Express is providing me with the base on which I can build a successful franchise and achieve my personal and business goals.” As a large, well-established network, Recognition Express has considerable purchasing power. This enables franchisees to offer competitively priced products whilst still making a significant profit. Many
items are held in stock at a central UK warehouse ready for immediate despatch, so franchisees can personalise goods for customer orders on demand. Nigel Toplis, managing director of Recognition Express says: “When you go into a franchise, you need to be sure it’s a business you can trust, with a proven track record. With Recognition Express you will have ongoing support from a team with unparalleled experience in franchising using proven business skills and marketing processes that have made Recognition Express successful for over 30 years.” The final word comes from Sir Bernard Ingham, past president of the British Franchise Association, who says: “I have always found Recognition Express to be a model franchise. It is an outstanding example of a company that takes ethical franchising seriously. The benefits are shared by Recognition Express, its franchisees and its customers, and that is why it is successful.” n
recognition express Website: www.recognition-express.com
Email: edownes@recognition-express.com Phone: 01530 513 300 classification: Business to business
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 67
Investment: £20k-£50k
Investment level: £35,000
Franchise Focus
Raising the standard Home Instead Senior Care – going the extra mile for franchisees Investment level: From £37,500
Investment: £20k-£50k
H
ome Instead Senior Care is an award-winning management franchise with over 150 offices throughout the UK, specialising in the delivery of the highest quality non-medical care for older people, to allow them to continue to live safe and independent lives in their own homes. Since Home Instead first opened its doors, the company has focussed on achieving its mission to become the UK’s most admired care company through changing the face of ageing. Over the last nine years, Home Instead has become an integral part of the local communities in which it operates, through networking and building relationships, developing key partnerships with referral sources and also signposting charitable organisations such as Age UK and the Alzheimer’s Society. The dedication, commitment and hard work of the national office team and franchise offices to support these organisations has created a trust that rarely exists between for-profit companies and charities. The success of this relationship was highlighted recently when Home Instead became the main sponsor for four of the 2014 Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walks in
in London, the South West, Midlands and the North West.
“We don’t just talk about change that is needed in the industry, we actively participate”
As the main sponsor, Home Instead had very strong brand visibility around the site and also on social media in the run up to and after the event. A group of Home Instead owners, staff and head office team members were on hand to support walkers and act as official marshals to encourage walkers around the courses. Commenting on Home Instead’s involvement, CEO Trevor Brocklebank says: “Over the years Home Instead staff have been active walking participants in many Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walks and our local offices have also been involved in organising walks. This year’s sponsorship was a natural progression and is one of the many ways that we support our franchisees. “We pride ourselves on being more than a care company that delivers the highest
68 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
quality at-home care; we don’t just talk about the change that is needed in the industry, we actively participate and are proactive to ensure that individuals receive the quality care that they deserve and that we would all expect for ourselves and our own family members. “We are recognised as leaders and innovators in our field and are actively involved in helping to shape the political agenda around social care. “By working with charities like the Alzheimer’s Society, we are able to raise our profile and to highlight the fantastic work that we and our franchise owners are doing.” Home Instead Senior Care is a management franchise and no care experience is needed as full training is provided. With territories available across the UK, it is a fantastic opportunity for people interested in running their own successful business while making a difference in their local community. n
home instead Website: www.homeinstead.co.uk/ franchise Email: franchiseinfo@homeinstead.co.uk Phone: 01925 732 460 classification: Elderly care
Franchise Focus
Tru growth TruGreen is the world’s largest lawn care company INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM £24,995
T
ruGreen was founded in 1973 and is part of ServiceMaster, the multibrand franchisor behind Merry Maids, ServiceMaster Clean and Furniture Medic. ServiceMaster has over 55 years’ experience in helping entrepreneurs grow successful, award-winning businesses. ServiceMaster launched a dedicated website for TruGreen franchise interest and now has a strong pipeline of enquiries filtering through daily. Five new businesses launched this year, of which three are virgin territories and two are franchise resales. This ratio signifies interest in new franchise start-ups as well as a desire to take over a thriving business and grow it even further. In 2009, former-FA groundsman and 2002 National Professional Groundsman of the Year Steve Welch joined ServiceMaster as TruGreen operations brand manager and brought with him over 35 years’
Paul Doherty
professional experience. Steve works closely with all TruGreen franchisees, injecting passion and enthusiasm into the network, securing the rapid success it enjoys today. Steve says: “With over 24 million gardens in the UK, the business opportunity in the lawn care market is certainly worth exploring. Owning a TruGreen franchise represents a year-round business providing tailored lawn care treatments. By servicing just four per cent of the homes in your territory, you could build a lucrative lawn care business, with a fleet of up to 10 liveried vehicles.” TruGreen offers clients a bespoke service providing lawn care plans and prides itself on engaging with its clientele. By maintaining a good line of communication customers learn to trust the advice they are given. Full training is provided on a two-week intensive training ‘Academy’, after which franchisees graduate and work closely with Steve and
FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES
the operations team. Paul Doherty, owner of TruGreen Loughborough since April 2014, adds: “I wanted to start a local business that my children could join in the future. TruGreen is well set up to help fledgling businesses like mine develop quickly. The amount of technical expertise and business experience available to a franchisee is unparalleled and the TruGreen model means I can interact with my customers personally, which is a large part of why I chose this franchise opportunity.” ServiceMaster operates a number of established franchise opportunities and their dedicated team is happy to discuss any questions you may have. n
TRUGREEN
WEBSITE: www.trugreenfranchise.co.uk EMAIL: franchisesales@servicemaster.co.uk PHONE: 0116 275 9005 CLASSIFICATION: Lawn care
FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES
GROW A TRULY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
Why choose
?
Why choose
?
Growth market and proven business model Technical & business training Brand name awareness Unparalleled on-going support Over 30 years of turf industry experience World leading franchisor with over 55 years of franchising experience
Market worth £4.7 billion per annum & set to grow
www.trugreenfranchise.co.uk/BF
www.merrymaidsfranchise.co.uk/BF
0116 275 9005 franchises@servicemaster.co.uk @SM_Franchises
Ongoing support & training Repeat business Employ your own staff - not agency World leader in domestic cleaning Established in 1979 Support from a franchisor with over 55 years of franchising experience
0116 275 9005 franchises@servicemaster.co.uk @SM_Franchises
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 69
Franchise Focus
Your round
Make your dream come true with a Marston’s franchise Investment level: £20,000
Investment: £20k-£50k
M
any people dream for years about having their own pub but few realise how achievable this ambition is with franchising. Buying a franchise enables people to have their own pub business but with the added bonus of training and ongoing support from an established and successful nationwide pub chain. Following the launch of its franchise two years ago Marston’s is now actively seeking new franchisees across the UK. Marston’s PLC is an independent brewing and pub retailing business operating around 1,700 pubs throughout the UK, with a rich heritage spanning 130 years. Marston’s now has over 60 franchised sites and is the only pub franchise that is a full member of the bfa. Marston’s needs people with drive, ambition and great personalities, people like energetic and enterprising Andrew Edwards, who opened two pubs in Wales within six months of each other – The Monkstone, Cardiff and The Barn, Llantrisant. Currently 33, Andrew has been his own boss since he was 20 years old when he set up a wholesale confectionery business with a friend. A
Andrew Edwards and team
year later he sold his share and moved to Spain where he built a bar, followed quickly by a restaurant and then another, before getting restless again, when he sold up and returned to Wales. Andrew wanted a new challenge but decided to stay in the hospitality sector because he enjoys it so much. “I wanted to work with an established, successful company,” he says. “I needed a thorough understanding of the UK market, so a franchise with comprehensive training and support systems seemed the obvious way forward.”
“Make the most of the support that’s offered and follow the triedand-tested system – you won’t go wrong”
He adds: “I was fortunate in choosing Marston’s because the company has an impressive track record and is well respected in the trade. The training I received was second to none and there is no doubt about the considerable
70 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
benefits of being a franchisee. “Some people who have worked for themselves may find it difficult to adopt someone else’s ideas but it’s important to remember that franchisors have taken years to perfect their systems. My advice is make the most of the support that’s offered and follow the tried-and-tested system – you won’t go far wrong.” Marston’s comprehensive training programme equips new franchisees with all the skills and knowledge they need. The right attitude and a great service ethic are fundamental requirements and are much more important to the franchisor than having previous experience within the industry. As well as training and ongoing advice and support, the investment covers many aspects of management, comprehensive marketing support, a fully integrated till system and rent-free, on-site accommodation, alongside a generous percentage share of turnover and profit. A franchise costs £20,000 and requires £20,000-£25,000 working capital. This covers taking over an established pub business with a minimum of five years trading history, fully integrated EPOS system, training programme, marketing provision and extensive ongoing support. Dave Price, Marston’s franchise operations manager, comments: “All of our franchise opportunities are located in the heart of thriving communities, each with individuality and charm. We’re passionate about our pubs and firmly believe that the neighbourhood local is a unique institution that forms an integral part of community life. “We offer a genuine opportunity for people to be their own boss with training, support and advice from experienced support staff. We work closely with franchisees towards the same goal – to make their businesses as profitable as possible.” n
marston’s Website: www.marstonsfranchise.co.uk Email: franchise.opportunities@marstons.
co.uk
Phone: 0844 245 7422 classification: Pub retail
6676 Marstons Franchise ad_Business Franchise Mag_297x210_col_5mmBLEED_S1.indd 1
22/09/2014 16:37
Franchise Focus
Insider knowledge Draw on the experience of NIC Services Group Investment level: from £20,000
N
IC Services Group has seen substantial growth across its franchise network. This record growth can be attributed to the flourishing facilities services sector, making an NIC management franchise a very appealing prospect. The facilities services sector, currently an £8.8billion industry, continues to see expansion and growth. Anil Patel, sales and marketing director, says: “The commercial cleaning and facilities services market has traditionally performed well in economic downturns; the service that our franchisees provide is essential to their clients, not optional.” NIC has been a part of the facilities sector for over 50 years and it is the company’s industry knowledge and experience, together with the low overheads that come from being a home-based operation, that ensures the continued success of its franchisees.
As this is a management franchise, cleaning industry experience is not essential. NIC franchisees come from a wide range of industries including accountancy, forces, sales and marketing, cleaning, leisure, and construction. Brian Pestana has been a franchisee with NIC for over six years, during which time he has built up a substantial and profitable business. Prior to joining NIC, Brian was the managing director of his previous two companies. Brian says: “I had grown tired of working long hours for corporate gain. Becoming my own boss has given me the chance to really change my lifestyle, I still work hard but I have much more flexibility and am able to spend quality time with the family.” Brian chose franchising as his route as it provided him with the backing and support of a large company that would not be available to him as a new business start-up. NIC appealed to him as it is a long-standing management investment opportunity that would draw on his existing
72 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
business acumen and sales skills. In addition to the company’s substantial experience and success, NIC also provides new franchisees with a guaranteed income offer through its ‘Business Builder’ programme. NIC’s sales and marketing team will help you to secure new contracts until the Business Builder target has been reached and in the first year of your franchise NIC will provide you with a guaranteed income, where you can earn up to £6,000* per month from the very start of your franchise. n *subject to your investment level
nic services group Website: www.nicfranchise.co.uk Email: info@nicfranchise.co.uk Phone: 0845 409 0910 classification: Cleaning services
Our national network needs you!
Darren Leonard Torquay
Payment collections, credit control & invoicing done for you! Work generated and booked by local office Co-ordination & access arrangements for each job No out-of-hours callouts Stable & experienced franchise support structure Areas available
st a rarely loafety e v I’ s rs ear In 16 y d the demand fo l sector n ta a n client ons in the re , so my inspecti wn enormously almost has gro has increasedI joined income -year. When was told year-on chise in 1997 I 0,000 a the fran be earning £4 ct, I did I could ry quickly. In fae always year ve ear one and I’v so I am that in Ymore than that,e! earned appy franchise a very h
Training available for suitable candidates
Don
t put
ss cGuine Gerry M on d SW Lon ur 100 One of o es e franchis
your d ecision o n the back bur ner! www.g as-elec.c o.uk/franchise 0 8 00 0 15 2030 Established in 1996
Investment level from £16,500 +VAT Gas-Elec - Business Franchise - Oct 2014.indd 1
15/10/2014 10:37:19
Franchise Focus
All the tools you need François Kolz, MACC franchise manager, on the brand’s development in the UK Investment level: From £15,000
Investment: £10k-£20k
“M
ACC is a French, family-owned business, with a turnover of £40million and 200 employees across Europe. For more than 50 years, our company has developed the concept around innovation and direct sale, which is still integral to the success of the business today. After a 14.35 per cent turnover increase in 2013, MACC has moved forward with a further 22.2 per cent increase this year. Our two UK van-based salespeople are doing very well. Thanks to the quality of our innovative products and the excellent service provided to our customers, we have always been able to ride out the ups and downs of the market. We move forward and keep the lead because we are always several products ahead. Investing in innovation pays off. This has always been part of the MACC concept: developing products for customers in the building trade with their needs in mind. The capacity to adapt to the market is, of course, essential. Having successfully operated two company vehicles in England for several years (in the Midlands and South East), we believe the time is right to start franchising. The product range we can offer our customers (builders, electricians, roofers, joiners, etc) is extensive and
the quality is second to none. MACC has an enviable track record in its marketplace and will continue to invest in product development and research in order to always meet and exceed the latest trade requirements, and every year new products are added to the range. The vans are modern vehicles fitted out for demonstration purposes. This is the best way to meet our customers directly on site, providing them with spare parts or other services and demonstrating the strength of the MACC product.
“No previous experience in sales is necessary; MACC people come from all walks of life”
Having the opportunity to sell unique products clearly helps in building a business but it is not the only asset offered by our company. MACC salespeople also benefit from excellent induction training at the head office in France and are led to success by a one-to-one support in the field later on. Our on-board computer and software system (IRIS) allows our franchisees to manage appointments, sales and after-
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sales service, and helps monitor how they and the business perform. The database is refreshed monthly and the invoicing process is carried out automatically, with access to a web portal provided in order for franchisees to track the information they need. These systems mean franchisees have more time to concentrate on their job: selling and making money. Franchisees will benefit from the MACC operating system, a wide range of innovative products, initial training, ongoing support and, above all, being part of a modern company with a bright future. No previous experience in sales or the building sector is necessary; MACC people come from all walks of life. We teach you everything you need to be successful. In return, we will ask you to give your undivided attention to the business and be totally committed to delivering the very highest standards of service to every MACC customer. Franchisees will need from £15,000 to invest and should see a good return in their first year.” n
macc Website: www.macc-uk.com Email: fkolz@macc.eu Phone: 0116 2789 820 classification: Tools / construction
MACC clever products will always make the difference.
rvice e s e t i s n O esmen d a r t y s u for b
A proud past and a bright future We do not just talk about innovation; we have done it for over 50 years! MACC Building solutions is the only company in the building sector who will ask the tradesmen what they need to do their job properly. As a result we supply our customers with very unique products that meet and exceed their requirements.
/ BF - Oct. 2014
Be part of that success story and join a modern company with an exciting future!
To learn more visit our website or contact Franรงois KOLZ on 0116 Franchise
or via mail fkolz@macc.eu
2789 820
Franchise Focus
From customer to franchisee Kenny Gall on his franchise journey with Myhome Investment level: From £14,995
“H
aving sold my previous business, I was looking around for a management franchise as my next venture. Myhome drew my attention – I had previously been a customer so I knew the service and understood the benefits it offered. “After visiting Myhome franchisors Niall Power and Gurmukh Randhawa, as well as several other cleaning franchises, it became clear to me that the Myhome business model was relatively simple, the franchise fees were reasonable and appropriate to the support offered. The opportunity to develop the brand throughout Scotland was an attractive
bonus for me. Having successfully launched Myhome Perth in June 2014 I am now seeing momentum build, with enquiries and customer acquisitions up significantly in the last few weeks. I have just signed up for my second van and we intend to recruit additional staff to cover new customers further afield within the territory. “I am working towards the launch of Myhome Dundee at the end of 2014 and two further territories by Easter 2015. Myhome has offered me incredible support throughout the journey and is committed to supporting me with the development of the brand in Scotland. “I believe there is a real need for a professional and reliable cleaning company with a wide reach and
Kenny Gall and Niall Power
consistent service and I very much look forward to delivering this to customers throughout Scotland.” Niall Power says: “Kenny’s success is further proof that the Myhome franchise training, 90-day nurturing process and ongoing support offered to Myhome franchisees is invaluable to the growth of their businesses.” n
Myhome Website: www.myhome.co.uk Email: franchise@myhome.co.uk Phone: 08450 668 866 classification: Cleaning
Success is in The System
10
Compelling reasons for choosing
• Fixed management fees • A recession proof business • A business, not a job • A successful operation with thousands of satisfied clients • One of the UK’s fastest growing market sectors
Do you have what it takes to own a
• Comprehensive operating support including IT and call centre • Fast track start up programme with on going support • 80% repeat business with high referral rate
franchise?
Do you have the passion to run a successful business? Are you energetic and motivated? “With a franchise, you are combining your management skills with our experience and expertise to build your own successful business, a great partnership”
• Assistance with low interest finance • Not dependent on skilled staff
Take the first step now and call us today
08450 66 88 66 Email: franchise@myhome.co.uk Web: www.myhome.co.uk
A Perfect Partnership 76 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
We’re a property investment franchise. We help you build your own specialist buy-to-let property portfolio that gives you a substantial income for life. “PPP offers the attraction of passive income after some initial hard work, without the sales slog I was trying to get away from. Secondly, where most other franchises leave you with just good will, with PPP we are accumulating tangible, appreciating assets in bricks and mortar.”
Paul Cronin, joined 2010
“When I joined PPP my five year goal was to be earning £100,000 per annum, but after just about three years I am already earning approximately £126,000 per annum so I feel a great sense of achievement.”
Gertie Owen, joined 2010
Find out how we can help you... Call us on 01202 652101
www.platinumpropertypartners.co.uk info@platinumpropertypartners.co.uk
Franchise Focus
Strong back-up Darren Leonard enjoys the support of gas-elec Investment level: From £16,500
W
hen Darren Leonard entered the world of plumbing 30 years ago, it was largely because he wanted to do a purely manual job. At the beginning of his career he got what he had signed up for – virtually no paperwork – but over the years things changed. The industry was increasingly driven by both legislation and a growing health and safety culture, and with these changes came ever more paperwork. Then, in 2001, Darren struck out on his own and acquired another mountain of administration almost overnight. “I realised I had to do something when I sent out a quotation with the wrong person’s name on the letter,” says Darren. Then came a disastrous 2011, which saw Darren £9,000 out of pocket when two of his customers failed to pay him, along with a general drying up of work.
“I could have probably handled the unpaid invoices,” he admits, “if I had been able to increase my workload, but as it was I had no money to pay for advertising.” All of which pointed to opening a franchise with gas-elec, the UK’s premier gas and electrical safety inspection company. Darren’s decision to invest in a gas-elec franchise has more than paid dividends. He makes almost £3,000 a month gross every month and his paperwork is now minimal. “My regional office in Somerton finds and books all my jobs, and makes sure they are close to one another so I’m not driving around too much. The first one is usually at 8.30am and I’m generally home at 5.30pm, when I enter the details of the day’s work on my computer before submitting them to the company for invoicing; it’s box filling and even I can manage that!” The work itself is straightforward too. “90 per cent is gas and electrical
safety inspections and remedials for rented properties,” he says. “I like the predictability. When I was working entirely on my own, unexpected leaks and the like meant jobs could take hours. Now I generally fit in six jobs a day.” n
gas-elec Website: www.gas-elec.co.uk Email: info@gas-elec.co.uk Phone: 0800 015 2030 classification: Gas and electrical safety
and services
® TV & FILM ACTING SCHOOLS
YOU!
AND THE WINNER IS .............
Star Franchisees needed in the UK immediately!
A
n
no
ee sS
TV
Tel 023 80 477717
Original Concept of TV & Film Acting Schools Untapped UK & European Market Low investment Full ‘Live’ Training Ongoing Support Full Office & Technical Back Up
www.youngstar.tv
78 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
info@youngstar.tv
franchisee_advert(210x297).qxd:Layout 1 11/07/2014 09:57 Page 1
OVER 16 YEARS OF FRANCHISE EXPERIENCE AND GROWTH
Start your own lawn care franchise! With an initial investment as low as £24,950, you can reach over 80,000 potential customers regardless of your previous professional experience.
Achievable Growth • Comprehensive Training • Full Equipment Package Complete business support including: business and financial planning, accounts and marketing package valued at £7,000 14 days of comprehensive training by the directors, who are successful franchisees in their own right Full equipment package, including machinery, branding and stock
For more information please call:
Call: 0808 100 1413 or visit www.greensleeves-uk.com
High earning potential through the proven and tested Greensleeves business model Exclusive postcode area with a minimum of 80,000 potential clients - fabulous territories still available with huge potential During the five years of the recent recession, Greensleeves’ business tripled their growth in franchisees, customer base and turnover
Franchise Focus
Get a slice of the action The reputable Castle and Pryor brand launches its franchise opportunity INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM £17,500
C
astle and Pryor are a specialist diamond drilling and cutting company with over 23 years of experience. They hold an enviable position in their sector, as the brand is well established and highly reputable. Creating a successful Castle and Pryor business is very achievable, with comprehensive training and extensive support provided by the franchisor from the outset and throughout what should be a long and profitable management venture. The launch of this new franchise comes at a time when the construction industry is experiencing growth and increased profitability.
As a business-to-business venture, a Castle and Pryor franchise offers its services to a range of clients including construction companies, local authorities, airports, rail companies, schools, hospitals, prisons and MoD. Owning a Castle and Pryor franchise means you are part of a growing and successful business, and franchisees will benefit from the guidance of senior executives from within the diamond drilling and cutting industry. If you have an interest in or passion for DIY, construction or building and possess leadership and managerial skills then a Castle and Pryor franchise could be for you. Experience in construction is not needed and, in fact, a fresh approach – combined
with a drive to succeed and a desire to follow a proven system – could be advantageous. Franchise investment starts at £17,500 with an expected contribution of £9,000. This contributes to licence fee, equipment, vehicle, livery, health and safety certification, training, NVQ, operations manuals, marketing launch campaign, literature, stationery, uniform, computer systems and mobile – everything needed to start your future business. n
CASTLE AND PRYOR WEBSITE: www.castle-pryor.co.uk/franchise EMAIL: franchise@castle-pryor.co.uk PHONE: 01252 524 080 CLASSIFICATION: Diamond drilling and cutting
A Cut Above The Rest!
Franchise opportunities with the UK’s leading diamond drilling and cutting company
Start-Up For Only £17,500
• A well-established brand with over 23 years of strong market reputation • Full training, instruction and regular guidance from experts • Strategic leadership and long-term business plan
CASTLE & PRYOR Measured By Performance
Choose a Franchise That Will Change Your Future Call us now on 0800 163 382 www.castle-pryor.co.uk/franchise 80 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Full Support & Training
Franchise Focus
More than a phone, more than a watch The fast-growing American mall kiosk franchise, Cronio Phone Watches, expands into the UK INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM £10,000 as airports, railway stations and cinemas. Setting up your own business can be achieved within days with the Cronio Phone Watches turnkey franchise model. Franchisees have the edge over future competitors, as the franchisor keeps stock consistently up-to-date with new technology in the market.
Experience in the retail industry • Proven financial resources. The master franchisee must have the wherewithal (either alone or with other investors) to buy the franchise rights, set up prototypes and systems, and develop the franchise business in the agreed territory • Proven management skills. For the most part, the master franchisee will be functioning in exactly the same way as the franchise does in its original territory The top reasons to invest in a mall kiosk franchise with Cronio Phone Watches: Benefits Low rental cost Technology Access to internet, telephone and security on the premises Flexibility Island module type is highly effective for promotions and high-impact displays
Relatively low start-up costs and high returns make this an appealing opportunity. Depending on the candidate, Cronio Phone Watches will sometimes offer up to 50 per cent finance, if the complete capital is not in place. The investment level starts from between £10,000 to £30,000 depending on location and size. In many cases, the return on investment is a matter of months. The company is also seeking a suitable candidate to hold a master franchise licence, on offer for £95,000. The ideal master franchise investor is someone with sufficient financial resources to develop a network of franchises in a specified country or region. It is a major management role supported by the know-how and experience of the franchisor. These are the qualities Cronio Phone Watches are looking for in a master franchisee: • Familiarity with the local market
Location Passing your kiosk is mandatory in order for visitors and potential customers to access other stores Display 360-degree showcase to catch the attention of clients Permanent exhibition Facilitates the sale of your phone watch products Innovation There is the exciting potential for growth, as phone watches are the ‘next big thing’ and you will be one of the few people selling this unique product n
CRONIO PHONE WATCHES WEBSITE: www.cronio.co.uk EMAIL: info@cronio.co.uk PHONE: 02082 528 269 CLASSIFICATION: Retail
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 81
Investment: £10k-£20k
H
aving travelled around the world as a cabin crew chief for more than a decade, Sharon Edwards wanted a life closer to home. After discovering a Cronio Phone Watch store in a shopping mall one afternoon, Sharon was impressed by the product and when opportunity presented itself in the form of an available kiosk space in a busy mall, Sharon took the leap into a new arena by investing in a Cronio Phone Watch franchise. She left a low monthly – but still safe and steady – income into the world of self-employment. Just months after becoming her own boss, Sharon has built up a five-figure monthly income. In addition, she has another two part-time employees, giving her the benefit of flexible working hours. Sharon will soon be opening her second Cronio Mall Kiosk franchise in another high-footfall area. The business model is easy to operate, as it can be run with no other employees. Constant innovation and development from the franchisor ensures that franchisees will always have the latest products available to their customers. In addition to revenue created from the shopping mall kiosk, the franchisee also benefits from online sales on their own website. The Cronio Phone Watches kiosk is not limited to shopping malls; it can be located in other areas such
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Sponsored by:
Franchise
Resales www.businessfranchise.com
Franchise resales listings T: 01522 246 811 E: info@franchiseresales.co.uk W: www.franchiseresales.co.uk
Barrett & Coe (Kingston upon Thames)
£98,000
Barrett & Coe, Kingston is an award-winning photography business with a major presence in the local area, profitable for five years with significant prospects for growth. Trading since 2006, the business moved to the current studio premises near the centre of Kingston in 2009. The studio specialises in baby and family portraiture with some makeover portraiture and event photography as well. Full induction training and regular personal development courses enables non-photographers to run this successful franchise. A full prospectus of sale is available following the signing of a non-disclosure agreement. Email info@franchiseresales.co.uk for full details.
Business for Breakfast (Cheshire)
£19,500
A-Z FRANCHISE DIRECTORY
To be included call 020 8394 5283
Launched in 2001, Business for Breakfast (BforB) is now the proven blueprint for running a successful business referral franchise and has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s leading and thriving business networking organisations. The business for sale runs four groups in Knutsford, Macclesfield and two in Alderley Edge. There is an executive team that look after the four groups (ie organised, chaired etc.) so this business is already at a passive income stage with plenty of room for growth in the area. A full prospectus of sale is available following the signing of a non-disclosure agreement. Email info@franchiseresales.co.uk for full details.
Dyno (Nottingham and Derby)
£549,000
Encompassing both of the famous Dyno Brands, Dyno-Rod and Dyno Plumbing, the resale of Dyno in Nottingham and Derby, covering both cities and surrounding areas, presents an excellent opportunity to take on and develop a thriving business. With a profitable sales turnover of well over £1million, a centrally located office base and an experienced team of technical staff the business is well positioned to continue the growth currently enjoyed and expand further into the large territory. It is not often that a well-run, established Dyno business with huge expansion potential becomes available for resale, making Dyno in Nottingham and Derby a business well worth investigating. A full prospectus of sale is available following the signing of a non-disclosure agreement. Email info@franchiseresales.co.uk for full details.
Minster Cleaning Services (Liverpool)
£425,000
The Liverpool branch of Minster was established in January 2000 by the current owner. From this standing start, impressive development has taken the business into the top five Minster franchises for sales performance every year since 2009. There is still significant room for expansion within this fast-developing city, however. The main areas of operation are centred on Liverpool and the Wirral, and include Ellesmere Port to the south of the Wirral and Formby to the north of Liverpool. This successful business opportunity is being made available as the owner wishes to retire. A full prospectus of sale is available following the signing of a non-disclosure agreement. Email info@franchiseresales.co.uk for full details.
Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids Master Licence (UK and Ireland)
£250,000
Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids is a unique hair salon franchise just for kids, which combines high-quality haircuts, the latest styles, great fun, and entertainment. Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids salons are bright, modern, meticulously clean and totally geared to giving kids – and their parents – a memorable experience. They don’t just stop at haircuts; they also have birthday parties, pampering parties, toys, hair accessories, jewellery, and lots more. This is an outstanding opportunity to take over and grow a proven concept where all the preparatory work has been done and shown to work. A full prospectus of sale is available following the signing of a non-disclosure agreement. Email info@franchiseresales.co.uk for full details.
84 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Business Franchise
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Whether you are looking for a solicitor or media agency, want to exhibit at a franchise exhibition or need a bank, here you’ll find a range of franchise services to help you and your business.
Consultants
Franchise Services
To be included call 020 8394 5283
Franchise Resales Derrick Simpson t: 01562 881 023 e: info@franchiseresales.co.uk www.franchiseresales.co.uk Locations covered: UK & international
Franchise Resales Limited – join us in the Resales Revolution Franchise Resales and its team of eight franchise professionals has revolutionised the way in which people buy and sell existing franchised businesses. Our proven, structured system takes the hassle out of the resales process by removing the main stumbling blocks that cause so many resale transactions to fail to complete. The Franchise Resales Team manages the entire process from start to completion enabling franchisees to concentrate upon their existing businesses. Our system also provides clear, detailed information for purchasers and guides all parties through the complexities of a sale/purchase. Franchise Resales can be instructed by individual franchisees or by franchisors. We also act as the outsourced resales facility for franchisor networks. Additional services include the delivery of Exit Planning Seminars as well as facilitating the sale of franchisors’ businesses. For further details and to arrange a confidential discussion please contact Franchise Resales on 01562 881 023 or email info@franchiseresales.co.uk
Media Venture Marketing Group’s (VMG) Franchise Exhibitions are the most established in the industry, and the only events supported by the British Franchise Association (bfa) with exclusive partnerships with the UK’s leading franchise media. The portfolio consists of exhibitions in London, Birmingham and Manchester. Franchise Exhibitions Adrian Goodsell t: 020 8394 5226 e: adrian.goodsell@vmgl.com www.franchiseinfo.co.uk Locations covered: UK
franchiseinfo FranchiseInfo Liam Jack t: 020 8394 232 e: liam.jack@vmgl.com www.franchiseinfo.co.uk Locations covered: UK
The exhibitions bring together high-quality investors from the UK and overseas with a wide variety of accredited franchised brands. The unique selling point of an exhibition is the face-toface contact between franchisors and potential franchisees; exhibiting generates more leads than normal office-based meetings; and franchisors can be confident of the quality of the leads, which they collect as pre-qualifying questions can be asked on the day. The fully integrated marketing campaign constantly evolves to bring you a fresh audience of potential franchisees, embracing new media as well as the tried-and-tested avenues and includes TV, radio, national and local newspapers as well as e-newsletters, social networking and outplacement offices.
FranchiseInfo.co.uk is the official website for the Franchise Exhibitions in the UK. It offers potential franchisees a unique online resource with all the information about the up-coming exhibitions as well as a general directory of franchise opportunities. The website provides a wealth of advice from the bfa, accountants and consultants, making FranchiseInfo an invaluable tool for anyone looking to buy a franchise. Promoted through all advertising media from radio and TV to national and regional newspapers, FranchiseInfo is the ideal way to recruit new franchisees, re-sell existing territories or find master licence holders, as well as boosting your company’s profile within the franchise industry.
86 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Media (continued)
Franchisor News Annie Hogan
t: 020 8394 5281 e: annie.hogan@vmgl.com www.franchisornews.co.uk Locations covered: UK & Ireland
Franchisor News is the only publication exclusively for franchisors and provides all the latest news, features and crucial advice. Franchisor News is an essential read for all those who operate within the franchise industry. Regular features in the magazine include: • News Focus: An in-depth study on the current affairs that affect the franchisor • Spotlight On: Looking to expand abroad? Detailed focus on franchising across the globe • Lead Interview: A close look at inspiring and successful individuals within the franchise industry • The Expert Advice Clinic: A panel of franchise experts answer your questions and provide advice on a range of issues Subscribe for FREE – email subscribefnews@vmgl.com The Growing Your Own Business portfolio of events is incorporated within the Franchise Exhibitions. These two-day events bring together professionals to discuss trends, opportunities and challenges in taking a business successfully through its early years.
Growing Your Own Business Helen Wood t: 020 8394 5207 e: helen.wood@vmgl.com w: www.sme-events.com Locations covered: UK
Delivering a free conference, business advice and networking opportunities, these events provide thousands of visitors the opportunity to learn from the experts and gain the skills they need to grow their businesses. Each event is promoted via an extensive marketing and PR campaign with advertising featuring in national, local, regional and trade press; local radio campaigns and outdoor media. The events are also promoted via B2B newsletters and various industry websites.
The world of
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of UK franchises
• Gain free advice and
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r
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n tur
0k £5ith0in jus!t* w
s
ear
4y
Run youR own ContRaCt Cleaning FRanChise
Market potential of circa. £6.2 billion** National sales programme Proven systems and procedures Brand name recognition Ongoing training and business support Dedicated marketing assistance Regular seminars with fellow franchise owners More than 55 years franchising experience
*An actual figure of a franchise territory **mbdltd.co.uk (estimated size of UK contract cleaning market by 2016)
• Find out about upcoming
franchise exhibitions
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For your FRee information pack, contact us on 0116 275 9005, visit www.servicemaster.co.uk/bf Follow us on twitter: @sM_Franchises
November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 87
A-Z Franchise Directory Please send details or amendments to: production@businessfranchise.com or call 020 8394 5272 The following franchise listings are a comprehensive reference guide to help you find the franchise opportunity that’s right for you. They are listed alphabetically and cover all business sectors. For more franchise opportunities please visit www.businessfranchise.com
Bluebird Care
Care services
NUMBER OF OUTLETS 193 BFA MEMBERSHIP FULL
CHARLES HOUSE, CHARLES STREET PETERSFIELD HANTS GU32 3EH
TEL FAX EMAIL WEB
01730 260 026 01730 262 714 franchises@bluebirdcare.co.uk www.bluebirdcare.co.uk
INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE £37,500 MINIMUM INVESTMENT £35,000
Bluebird Care is the foremost care franchise in the UK and is part of the Interim Healthcare Inc. Group, one of the largest care franchisors in the world. Bluebird Care is well known for providing a high quality of care at home throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. It is this reputation that has led to a number of national accounts, working with major care and insurance brands including Bupa Home Healthcare and Allianz Insurance. The care-at-home market in the UK is worth in the region of £20billion annually and is growing, offering a fantastic business opportunity. Bluebird Care is a management franchise and a major player in this marketplace. Our franchise owners recruit and manage a team of care staff who provide a much-needed service of care to people, both young and older, in their own home. This enables them to live as normal a life as possible. No other care franchise offers the depth of experience in care and franchising and this unique blend of experience means our franchise owners receive exceptional support and assistance with their businesses. Our franchise owners do not require experience of the care sector; we are looking for management experience, people skills and, above all, an empathy for what we do.
Cronio – Phone Watches
Phone watch retail and online shop
A-Z FRANCHISE DIRECTORY
To be included call 020 8394 5283
NUMBER OF OUTLETS 7 BFA MEMBERSHIP FULL
145-157 ST. JOHN STREET LONDON, EC1V 4PW TEL 0208 252 8269 EMAIL info@cronio.co.uk WEB www.cronio.co.uk
INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE £7,500 MINIMUM INVESTMENT £10,000
Cronio – Phone Watches is an American franchise that had its inception in 2012. We have now taken our first steps into the UK and EU and are looking to open kiosk franchises in the major cities throughout the UK. A Cronio - Phone Watches kiosk can be located in a shopping mall or other high footfall areas such as airports and railway stations. Being both a phone and a watch with the latest android technology, you put the best of two worlds into one. Direct distrubution from our factories to our franchise partners gives an edge over any future competitors. We rapidly adopt and release new technology and new versions of our products. Low start-up costs from £10,000 to £20,000, depending on location and size of the business model. This investment gives you low risk and, in many cases, investment is returned in just a matter of months.
McDonald’s Restaurants
Fast food
NUMBER OF OUTLETS 1200 BFA MEMBERSHIP FULL
INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE £30,000 MINIMUM INVESTMENT £85,000
It’s an outstanding business opportunity, why wouldn’t you want to be part of it? 11-59 HIGH ROAD EAST FINCHLEY N2 8AW WEB
www.mcdonalds.co.uk/franchising
McDonald’s is a modern, progressive brand. Recently we have seen record growth within the marketplace, contrary to the economic climate. Our new menu options and new-look restaurants contribute to our success and that of our franchisees. Our continued growth, unparalleled support and unwavering financial commitment to our franchisees has resulted in a strong business performance with 3 million customers coming through our doors in the UK every day. So, if you’re a like-minded, hands-on individual with drive and ambition, please visit: www.mcdonalds.co.uk/franchising
Recognition Express NUMBER OF OUTLETS 50 BFA MEMBERSHIP FULL UNIT 2, CARTWRIGHT COURT FOREST BUSINESS PARK BARDON, COALVILLE LE67 1UE TEL 01530 513 300 FAX 01530 513 309 EMAIL edownes@recognition-express.com WEB www.recognition-express.com/franchise
Corporate recognition specialists INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE £10,000 MINIMUM INVESTMENT £35,000 + vat
“Probably the most successful business-to-business franchise in the UK” – Nigel Toplis, managing director. • Over 30 years in business, successive annual growth, Franchisor of the Year, renowned expertise in centralised marketing programmes, strong brand, wide product range – multiple income streams. • We need people who will build relationships, communicate well and work hard – who have real ambition to successfully run a B2B operation. • Three weeks’ initial training, lifetime refresher training, centralised marketing systems, marketing launch programme, full range of samples and collateral. • Delivering business planning, financial analysis, product/service training and ongoing high level support. • We are the UK’s leading supplier and manufacturer of corporate and personalised products to businesses in our arena. • We trade in a marketplace in excess of £2billion per annum. Recognition Express is a true business-to-business franchise opportunity for those people who are looking for a proven and successful management franchise.
88 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Subway
Fast food
NUMBER OF OUTLETS OVER 1,900 IN UK & ROI BFA MEMBERSHIP FULL
INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE £8,500 MINIMUM INVESTMENT circa £100,000
CHASTON HOUSE, MILL COURT HINTON WAY, GREAT SHELFORD CAMBRIDGESHIRE CB22 5LD
The SUBWAY® brand is the largest specialist sandwich franchise in the UK and Ireland, with over 1,900 stores. Worldwide, the SUBWAY® brand has more than 42,000 locations in over 105 countries. Stores offer customers a delicious range of Subs, flatbreads or salads made right in front of them – just the way they want it.
0800 0855 058 UK / 1800 413 076 Eire FAX 01223 844 884 EMAIL franchiseopportunities@subway.co.uk WEB www.subway.co.uk
The concept is to keep franchisee investment low, the operation simple and offer customers fresh, great-tasting food. There is no need for grills and fryers in a SUBWAY® store and, because of the simplicity of the operation, there is an adaptable approach to the physical layout of the outlets.
TEL
A SUBWAY® franchise is perfect for those that have had experience running a successful business, or have benefitted from a flourishing career. SUBWAY® franchisees can take advantage of operating in a tried-and-tested system with great training and a solid support structure, with aspects such as site selection, leasing, purchasing, marketing and more.
The ZipYard NUMBER OF OUTLETS 16 BFA MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATE UNIT 2, CARTWRIGHT COURT FOREST BUSINESS PARK BARDON, COALVILLE LE67 1UE
Retail INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE £15,000 MINIMUM INVESTMENT £38,500 + shop fit + vat
The ZipYard is one of the most successful and fastest-growing garments businesses in the UK.
Business Franchise
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www.businessfranchise.com November 2014 | Businessfranchise.com | 89
To be included call 020 8394 5283
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE BRITISH FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION
A-Z FRANCHISE DIRECTORY
TEL 01530 513 307 EMAIL edownes@thezipyard.co.uk WEB www.thezipyard.co.uk
• The ZipYard is owned and operated by the franchise team who also run Recognition Express, ComputerXplorers and Kall Kwik and have over 50 years’ experience in business franchising. The team are on hand to offer help and advice, marketing support, ongoing training, product development and much more. • The highly visible centres, branded in The ZipYard’s distinctive yellow and black corporate colours, offer a full range of clothing repair and tailoring services, including bridal and formal wear. • Centres also offer a one-hour express service for zips, hems and minor repairs and in many units offer a dry cleaning concierge service for customers.
New Franchise
Introducing... …exciting new acting franchise Youngstar long into their late teens unlike other drama schools. The in-house professional production company creates this so franchisees do not take on stresses of producing a broadcast drama, but can concentrate on training the students ready to ‘star’ in it.
“Youngstar provides us with an excellent income and fits in well with family life”
Y
oungstar is a new, originalformat franchise of film and television acting schools, developed for the market over the last 12 years. The company is now being recognised as a leader in the acting industry for its naturalistic schooling. The Youngstar team is comprised of Bill Baxter and Louisa Hart. The company started when Louisa, a successful West End actress, was running a small theatre group for children and met professional television cameraman and director Bill. To increase the theatre group numbers, Bill suggested it might be better to make films with students aged 8-25 and take a more naturalistic approach to acting, in order to better suit modern television. Louisa says: “Bill had been trying to get me to go out on a date with him for while and I knew he was trying to chat me up, but I thought it was good business
idea so together we decided to run a holiday course producing a film. We were inundated with students!” The Youngstar concept was born and Bill got his date. Since then, the couple have married and had children Sophia, aged seven, and Lucas, aged five. Louisa continues: “Youngstar has now gone from a fun way of getting extra income to providing us with an excellent income and a job that fits in really well with everyday family life.” All the classes provide quality acting training, specialising in television and film. Students take part in films and attend their own premieres and Oscar-style nights. Youngstar’s renowned premieres let students experience being stars. The Oscar-style nights give parents the chance to see students in live theatre. Older students even get the opportunity to star in Youngstar’s very own local TV drama ‘Darton High’, which retains its students
90 | Businessfranchise.com | November 2014
Bill explains: “Casting directors have told us they do not want stage school kids, they want real, naturalistic children for today’s professional work, the days of stage-style acting is no longer seen on TV.” The franchise comes with an easy-tofollow model and full technical back up from head office. Louisa and Bill are looking for motivated dynamic individuals with business, marketing or sales backgrounds, or media and acting professionals or graduates. The franchise fee includes the manual, a five-day hands-on training programme and direct contact with Louisa and Bill to guide you every step of the way. Total set-up costs are around £10,000 including equipment. As well as Youngstar franchise opportunities across the UK, there are existing schools in Bournemouth and Oxford for sale (originally set up to test the model outside Southampton), with excellent staff, crew and students in place. Youngstar are interested in hearing from potential candidates wishing to grow a successful business in their local area. n
Bill Baxter
Louisa Hart
youngstar
Website: www.youngstar.tv Email: info@youngstar.tv Phone: 02380 477 717 classification: Children and teenagers
/ acting
Join our homecare franchise
A UK franchisor with a proven track record and reputation of excellence across over 80 offices
n
Long term opportunity in a growing market sector; a forecasted network turnover of ÂŁ50m+ for 2014
n
One of the best franchisee to support staff ratios of 3 : 1 n
Pictured: Karen & Graham Precious Managing Directors of Caremark (East Riding)
Speak to David Glover on
01903 266392 franchise@caremarklimited.co.uk
www.caremarkfranchises.com