PROSPER DESPITE THE PANDEMIC - What-Franchise.com

£3.99 | VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4

FranchiseWhat

EXPERT ADVICE

what-franchise.com

I SSN 1 7 4 4 - 6 9 8 8

9 7 7 1 7 4 4 6 9 8 0 3 7

0 4

HOME-BASED FRANCHISES6 established opportunities from under £10K

WE TOOK THE RESALE ROUTE2 franchisees explain why

FRANCHISEE FROM AFARYemi Penn runs her fitness business from Down Under

PAGE

40 FINANCE FACTS

Industry expert explains what you need to know

PAGE

60 TRIED. TESTED. TRUSTED

The unique benefits of owning a franchise

PAGE

96 CASH IS KING

7 proven ways to prevent late payment

POWERBRANDS

21-page special

THE CHANGING FACE OF

FRANCHISING

ACTIONCOACHRated 5-star for UK record 8th year!

PROSPER DESPITE THEPANDEMICHow to pick a winning concept

WHAT FRANCHISE 16_4 master_WHAT FRANCHISE 13/11/2020 12:39 Page 2



WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 5

Franchising & COVID-192020 has been a year

of transition for big parts of the franchise industry and prospective franchisees must adapt to this new normal

Franchisee From AfarYemi Penn runs a London-

based fitness franchise from her Sydney home 10,000 miles away. But her journey to success has been far from smooth

6 Home-based Franchises Whether it’s remote

assistance, publishing, cost reduction, tutoring, personal training or pet care, there’s a work-from-home business for you

CONTENtsHIGHLIGHTS

COVER STORIES

38 ACTIONCOACH Rated 5-star for UK record 8th year!

40 FINANCE FACTS Industry expert explains what you need to know

52 PROSPER DESPITE THE PANDEMIC How to pick a winning concept

60 TRIED. TESTED. TRUSTED The unique benefits of owning a franchise

72 WE TOOK THE RESALE ROUTE 2 established franchisees explain why

96 CASH IS KING 7 proven ways to prevent late payment

OPINION

11 FIND OUT THE FACTS Why you should adopt a systemic approach to buying a franchise

12 FINDING THE PERFECT CANDIDATE There’s an art to attracting top talent

66 SOLVING THE SOLITUDE OF SELF-EMPLOYMENT Franchising can help overcome the common obstacles you face

98 WE AIM TO REMAIN AT THE SUMMIT OF THE SECTOR Standing still is not an option at the British Franchise Association

FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES

48 ACTIONCOACH HELPED MY COMPANY TO SHINE New business is coming in faster than ever, Luke Murfitt says

49 IT’S THE NUMBERS THAT MATTER What a Shuttercraft franchise can do for you

50 PROUD TO SUPPORT BUSINESS OWNERS Jeremy Graham-Clare has created 100 new jobs in his local community

54 HELP OUR AGEING POPULATION Ableworld franchisees can build million pound-plus businesses

56 DELIVERING THE VERY BEST SERVICES Bluebird Care is flying high, thanks to its person-centred franchise

58 A CAREER IN COACHING Chrysalis Partners’ Graham Garman helps transform the fortunes of UK SMEs

63 NO ROOKIE MISTAKES ActionCOACH newcomer Kevin Riley has had a spectacular first year

68 Q&A Former social worker Vikki Ingram now runs a Sparkle Cleaning franchise

70 BORNE OF FRUSTRATION Sales Geek is offering sales warriors a more satisfying way of working

71 INSPIRED BY AFRICA Afrikana’s business model has success written all over it

15 44 82

60

81 LOOK NO FURTHER THAN FITNESS TRIB3 sees a bright future for the fitness sector

86 PLAYING AN ESSENTIAL ROLE X-Press Legal Services has just announced its best ever trading period

94 GROWTH MARKET Online opportunity What’s On In offers three franchise packages

INSIGHT

64 IT’S TIME TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE Why we can’t let a lack of awareness constrict the growth of the franchise sector

76 LIVING ON HIS OWN TERMS We interview Carl Reader about business, franchising and his new book


GLOBALFRANCHISEMAGAZINE.COM 7

© Aceville Publications Ltd No part of this publication may be copied, broadcast, interpreted, or stored, in any form, for any purpose, without the written permission of the publisher.Every effort is made to ensure the veracity and integrity of the companies, persons, products and services mentioned in this publication, and details given are believed accurate at the time of going to press. However, no responsibility or liability whatsoever can be accepted for any consequence or repercussion of responding to any information or advice given or inferred.

Published by Aceville Publications Ltd Pacific House, Innovation Business Park, Eastbourne BN23 6FA. Printed in England © Aceville Publications Ltd

ABC certified circulation: 12,580 January- December 2019

INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTION WINNER British Franchise Association Professional Affiliate and Supplier Awards 2019

FROM THE EDITOR

n this issue regular columnist Cathryn Hayes highlights the fact that

despite living through uncertain times a significant number of people still want to set up their own businesses.

Perhaps not surprisingly, one of the main reasons for wanting to become their own boss is because they’re in a job they don’t like. Another key driver is the desire for flexible working and the wish to work from home.

According to industry figures, nearly 40 per cent of UK franchises can be run from

home. There are a multitude of reasons for doing so.Home-based franchises typically have lower start-up costs and

overheads than premises-based opportunities, many come with an inherent flexibility, plus working from home means you can kiss goodbye to the commute, which pre-COVID 19 was averaging anywhere between 59 and 84 minutes per day.

If you want to take advantage of these benefits, turn to page 82, where we profile six franchises that can be operated from where you live. These range from virtual assistance, children’s tutoring and publishing businesses to cost reduction, pet services and fitness franchises.

Our website - what-franchise.com - also has a growing work from home listings section that we recommend you take a look at. You’ll find details of hundreds of franchises there, many of which include in-depth descriptions of their offering, along with success stories and a free enquiry service, which goes direct to the franchisor’s recruitment team.

When investigating buying a franchise, an increasingly popular option is to purchase a resale, which is a business that has been run for a period of time by a franchisee, who for a variety of reasons wishes to sell it as a going concern.

On page 72 two franchisees explain why they decided to go down the resale route and why they’re glad they did. After reading their stories, you might choose to take the same path.

Someone whose path has been far from smooth is Yemi Penn’s. During my time at What Franchise, I don’t think I’ve come across a more extraordinary story. This once homeless mother of two runs an F45 Training franchise based in London from her home in Sydney. Yes, that’s Sydney, Australia. It’s just one of three thriving businesses this exceptional women currently owns.

Yemi says her hunger to succeed might not have been so strong if there had been a degree of security in her life. She describes her journey with remarkable candour on page 44.

Jeff JamesEditor, What Franchise [email protected]

I

what-franchise.com

@whatfranchise

linkedin.com/company /what-franchise

facebook.com/whatfranchise

M A S T E R , R E G I O N A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L F R A N C H I S I N G

globalfranchisemagazine.com

FranchiseGlobal

INSIDER INFO

DRIVING FRANCHISE PERFORMANCE ACROSS THE BOARD

DRIVING RAPID, GLOBAL GROWTH

How to succeed in Saudi Arabia Explore the new Saudi law

Making decisions in a crisis Tips on being a better leader

Launching in Sweden A fresh and dynamic market

PAGE

26 DAN ROWE

Are cloud kitchens the next big thing?

ROBERT CRESANTI

How U.S. franchisors can bounce back

PAGE

40PAGE

58 EMMA LEHNER

The future of fitness franchising

6 THINGS EXECS MUST DO

CRUNCH FITNESS:

THE FUTURE OF F&B

HOW HOSPITALITY IS REVAMPING

FOR 2021

FROM THE PUBLISHER OF

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE: January 6

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Richard Davies Tel: 01323 471291 Email: [email protected]

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS Rachael Wenham. 01323 471291 [email protected]

Luke Elliott. 01323 471291 [email protected]

Matthew Gilley. 01323 471291 [email protected]

ACCOUNT MANAGER Millie Hall. 01323 471291 [email protected]

CIRCULATION MANAGER Joseph Gibbons Tel: 01206 505912

SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: 01795 414667

PUBLISHER Matthew Tudor

HEAD OF CONTENT (FRANCHISING) James Fell

CREDIT CONTROL Sue Carr Tel: 01206 505903

EDITOR Jeff James

DESIGNERS Adam Barford, Luke Rogers & Ben Kemp

PRINTED IN ENGLAND

NEWSTRADE SALES Marketforce. Tel: 0203 1483300

82

8 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 16.4

Facts and figures from the world of franchisingIn the know

Number crunching

TRENDING ONLINE: OPPORTUNITIES ON THE MOVE

“There is no need to abandon your plans to start a business by investing in a franchise.”This issue’s Powerbrands special report reveals how the sector is adapting to the new normal and what potential investors need to know.

This figure represents the amount of failed businesses that closed

because of cash flow problems. Read how you can prevent late payment on pages 96-97.

QUOTE ME ON THAT

It appears many entrepreneurially-minded visitors to what-franchise.com are eschewing brick-and-mortar opportunities and looking to invest in their own nomadic businesses instead.

For instance, since Boris Johnson’s second lockdown announcement the most visited article on the website is ‘How to start a vending machine business’.

While vending machines are typically found in fixed premises locations, for instance, offices, airports and shopping centres, the prospect of being on the

move is obviously a strong appeal to many prospective

business owners. This correlates with a significant

uptick in searches for the phrase ‘vending machine businesses’ on Google Trends

during the same period. Plus, the demand for the products will be sky

high: who doesn’t reach for sweets or chocolate when the going gets tough?

If you’re looking to start your own business or want to find out the ins-and-outs of franchising, head to what-franchise.com for inspiration and answers.

82%

Takeaway boom fuels Chaiiwala expansion Chaiiwala is planning to open an additional 52 stores per year for the next three years, as a result of the growing demand for delivery services following the coronavirus outbreak.

Nil Naik, the company’s franchise director, says: “Since

the pandemic, we’ve increased our delivery options across all third-party platforms and this has increased our takeaway sales by 10 per cent, with takeout now accounting for more than 80 per cent of our sales.

“As a South Asian street food provider with Western fusion,

our food and drink offering resonates well

with desi and ethnic demographic customers

and our expansion plans centre around our aim to reach a wider audience.”

The Leicester-based franchise has 32 stores in the UK and wants to open restaurants in Manchester, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Northampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London, with 40 locations due to launch before the end of the year.

Ovenclean reports rising demand Cleaning’s top of the agenda for UK homeowners, according to oven cleaning franchise Ovenclean, which has experienced its best summer for customer enquiries ever.

The business has reported receiving nearly a third more leads than the same time last year.

Rebecca de Chair, marketing manager at Ovenclean, says: “We’re really proud to offer our cleaning service to this increased

demand, which is partly a result of increased home baking during lockdown and because cleaning has become more of a priority for UK homeowners in recent months.

“Coronavirus has put enormous pressure on everyone and it’s understandable that people will be worried about going to work or having people come into their homes.

“But we’re doing everything in our power to keep our franchisees and their customers safe, adhering to COVID-19 secure practices at all times.”


RUNO GROUP PARTNERS WITH SPANISH FRANCHISORHairdressers Low Cost has made the Runo Group its UK master franchisor.

The deal involves establishing 100 salons in the UK and Ireland in the next 10 years. Runo, which says it’s identified 250 potential locations for HLC, has also invested in its own salon.

Julie Taylor, Runo’s training

and skills director, believes the HLC opportunity will fire the imagination of people looking to invest in a “relatively low cost” franchise.

She adds: “The HLC model is really interesting. It offers a working hairdresser, or someone who just wants to be a salon manager, a flexible option with added value.

“HLC salons operate a ‘no appointments necessary’ system. They also have their own range of products, which can be sold to salon clients.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Keep up to date with the latest news at what-franchise.com

Follow us on Twitter @whatfranchise

Tim Hortons plans drive-thru roll-out The fast food brand is aiming to grow its drive-thru business model rapidly over the next few years, with a continuous roll-out of sites across the UK.

After testing a number of franchise formats and following successful launches in Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester and the Midlands, Tim Hortons has pledged to have drive-thrus in every major city and town by 2022.

Kevin Hydes, chief commercial officer of Tim

Hortons UK & Ireland, says: “The pandemic has driven a spike in demand for our drive-thru restaurants and as a key part of our accelerated growth strategy we will be actively looking for leasehold and freehold opportunities across the UK and Ireland.”

Established in Canada in 1964, today Tom Hortons has around 4,700 restaurants globally. It opened its first UK outlet in Glasgow in 2017.



OPINION

Find out the factsAdopting a systemic approach to buying a franchise will increase

your chances of success in the long term

ranchising offers a wealth of investment opportunities across many sectors, with

support and training that will help you build your own business.

But there are some key things to consider before you take the plunge:

What work-life balance is right for you? There are franchises of all types. Some require you to be on the road most days servicing clients, while others need you to be office based and build a team to deliver the services.

Some offer part-time working solutions or full-time portfolio building opportunities that could lead to you running multiple businesses longer term.

Whatever you’re looking for, weigh up what you’re prepared to commit to and whether the return on investment is viable.

Research the industry With so many business opportunities to choose from, it’s important to get a good understanding of the industry before committing.

Where should you start? Speak to us! The British Franchise Association has been shaping and promoting the industry since 1977. See what’s on offer and view the current accredited franchises in the UK at thebfa.org.

Assess the opportunity • Speak to the franchisor. Do you feel you can do business with the organisation?

• Speak to franchisees. Are they happy having already made the commitment you’re looking to make?

• Understand your obligations. You’ll be required to sign a contract. Before you do, get it reviewed by a franchise lawyer.

• Know the investment requirements, so you can ensure you have appropriate funding, not just for your initial investment, but also the capital required to sustain your lifestyle and business in the early stages.

• Find out if the franchise is a member of the British Franchise Association. Companies applying for membership are making a commitment to franchise ethically. They undergo an accreditation that involves the bfa stress testing their franchise model to ensure it’s proven and viable.

Ask the franchisor questionsAsk about the nature of the business and the costs involved. Get the lowdown on the franchisor’s systems of operation and what training is on offer. It’s also worth finding out about how you fit in the

FTHE AUTHORPip Wilkins is CEO of the British Franchise Association

“Get the lowdown on the franchisor’s systems of operation and what training is on offer”

overall franchise network and what methods of communication are used.

Franchising has provided great opportunities for many people and with the industry being so diverse there’s no reason not to find something you love.

WORDS BY PIP WILKINS


OPINION

Finding the perfect candidateWhether it’s franchisees or support staff, there’s an art to attracting top talent

n order to succeed, a franchise needs two things: great franchisees and great support staff.

Obviously, it needs other things too, but it’s remarkable how many brands seem to lack a professional, candidate focused recruitment process.

It could be to do with the fact most in-house franchise recruitment managers are from a franchising background, as opposed to having had commercial recruitment experience.

Another reason is that recruitment, like franchising, is an industry you don’t often leave - especially if you’re good at it. This means very few people take the skills learned from one industry to another.

Antiquated systemsThere are exceptions, but overall the average franchise brand’s recruitment process would look pretty antiquated next to a modern commercial recruitment company.

And yet the costs of recruiting the wrong franchisee

are so high. Recruitment is both big

business and a highly skilled art. The recruitment industry

is worth over £35 billion to the UK economy, double

the contribution of the franchise industry. It would be interesting to put a figure on just how much good recruitment saves the economy and to apply that thinking to franchising

Whether we’re recruiting franchisees, finding a buyer for a resale or headhunting a new sales director, we use the same set of skills and experience to find the perfect candidates. There’s a craft to writing job descriptions, advertising, generating quality leads, creating shortlists, interviewing and making the right offer to the right person.

Recruiting franchiseesWhen it comes to recruiting franchisees, you can never place too much importance on knowing how and where to pitch your franchise opportunity and understanding the value of nurturing a good relationship that educates the applicant not only about becoming a great franchisee for your brand, but also franchising, funding and the realities of the commitment they’ll be making.

Since franchisors only really profit from long-term, successful franchisees, it’s vital that a brand’s recruitment strategy is as watertight as possible. It needs to be more than simply a sales and marketing process that convinces prospects to become franchisees, it must push applicants

I THE AUTHORSuzie McCafferty is CEO of franchise consultancy Platinum Wave

to take their due diligence seriously to ensure they’re joining the right brand.

To make sure you find the best candidates to fill the roles at your franchise, you need a rigorous process that draws upon all the latest methods, technologies and techniques.

End-to-end servicePlatinum Wave’s sister company, Franchise Moves, was conceived to bring the two worlds together and offer an end-to-end recruitment service to the franchise industry.

Our methods have been built upon years of experience running commercial recruitment agencies and having a 20-year understanding of what it takes to work in franchising or become a successful franchisee.

If you’re looking for a new role, we can promise you absolute discretion. Quietly looking for a new role in an industry as close knit as franchising can be challenging, as you don’t necessarily want everyone to know you’re leaving or suddenly available.

Equally, recruiting for a newly vacant position is often something employers prefer to keep under the radar until they can proudly announce a great new appointment. Sometimes both candidates and employers want their availability or requirements shouted from the rooftops and a good recruiter will know how to do that too.

If you’d like some expert advice on how to strengthen your internal recruitment processes, you can get it from right here in the middle of the franchise industry.

WORDS BY SUZIE MCCAFFERT Y

“It’s vital that a brand’s recruitment strategy is as watertight as possible”




TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G

THE SECTOR IS ADAPTING TO A NEW NORMAL. HERE’S WHAT WOULD-BE FRANCHISEES NEED TO KNOW

THE CHANGING FACE OF FRANCHISING

POWERBRANDS


TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G


he face of franchising has changed. The ‘new normal’ is bringing opportunities in sectors

that are surging now, but it also means other sectors are a less attractive option - at least in the short term. How do you know which is the best way to go?

First, be assured that there is no need to abandon your plans to start a business by investing in a franchise. The franchise sector as a whole is known for weathering economic storms well because an established franchise will have been tried and tested already.

Franchisors have experience of choosing the best places for outlets, the franchisees most likely

T

2020 has been a year of transition for the franchise industry and prospective franchisees must adapt to this new normal

THE AUTHORLinda Whitney writes about franchising for the Daily Mail, What Franchise and many other publications

WORDS BY LINDA WHITNEY

W H E R E V E R T H E R E I S C H A N G E

THERE IS OPPORTUNITY

to succeed and the products and services that sell well. Meanwhile, clever franchisors have been re-examining their business models and making changes to ensure they remain successful.

That means aspiring franchisees need to evaluate franchises more carefully. They must also evaluate themselves, as redundancy - or the fear of it - has driven

more individuals to apply to be franchisees, so franchisors can

afford to be more choosy. HERE ARE THE NEWQUESTIONS YOU MUST ASK BEFORE YOU INVEST IN A FRANCHISE NOW:

Which sectors are most likely to thrive?Franchises in sectors that stand to gain from changes in customer behaviour.

These include food and parcel deliveries, driven by the huge increase in online ordering; online tutoring, boosted by parents desperate to ensure their children

keep learning; cleaning, both commercial and residential; and website development, as many small businesses move online or increase their web presence. There are many more.

For example, the personal care sector has been boosted by an increase in demand. As have service franchises, where social distancing can easily be maintained between the franchisee and customer.

These are likely to be more popular among prospective franchisees and include outdoor franchises such as garden maintenance, mobile tree stump removal, gutter cleaning and estate agent sign erection services.

What about sectors facing more challenging times?Some hospitality brands, especially those that rely for large parts of their income on dining in, will be finding times hard.

Nick Williams, managing consultant at Ashton’s Franchise Consulting, says: “They face having to meet the costs of premises, employees, food supplies and in some cases shorter opening hours at a time when people are more reluctant to eat in anyway.”

Prospective franchisees need to

POWERBRANDS TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G

ask what they are doing about these issues. They also need to look carefully at any franchise that depends on bringing together groups of people indoors, such as gyms and some sports and children’s franchises.

Which franchise brands have best adapted their business model to succeed in the new environment?Many franchises have had no option but to adapt the way they do business. In some cases, the changes have been so successful that they’ve resulted in a new client base and a stronger business model. Rather than just surviving, these franchises are thriving.

Kevin Haswell, managing director of mobile coffee and snacks delivery franchise Really Awesome Coffee, says: “Our franchisees had mainly targeted people working in offices, but in lockdown, of course, many people swapped to working from home. So we had to think fast.

“We set up a new online franchisee forum via Zoom and discussed ideas about ways we could adapt to the new situation - and the franchisees came up with some excellent ideas.”

Really Awesome Coffee refocused its service to target essential workers in places such as schools, hospitals, doctors’ surgeries and care homes and then started targeting people working from home.

“We supplied social media content to our franchisees about our home delivery service and encouraged them to share it locally and talk to friends and neighbours about it - and it worked,” Kevin says.

The franchise’s social media reach grew by over 700 per cent and it’s still doing home deliveries, as well as returning to business and industrial parks where possible.

“We would probably not have made these changes without the pandemic, but we’ve emerged with a stronger, more flexible business and launched five new franchises,” Kevin says. “The lockdown changes have delivered a long-term benefit.”

How long will the business boost last?Look for evidence that the increase in business post-lockdown will be more than just a short-lived bounce back.

Rosalyn Hastings, expansion manager for the Schmidt kitchens and home interiors franchise in the UK, points out: “A survey by the Institute of Directors shows that 74 per cent of 1,000 firms said they planned on maintaining homeworking even after the pandemic.

“People now need multifunctional homes that provide an office, a study space for children, a workshop and a kitchen suitable for home baking.”

During lockdown Schmidt promoted its Creativ’Box online design tool, which allows people to design and order home makeovers, including home offices, kitchens and bedrooms, from their sofas.

It’s led to record months for Schmidt’s franchisees: August sales figures were up 139 per cent on August last year, September figures up by 146 per cent and footfall in its 28 UK showrooms increased.

Rosalyn expects the move to multifunctional homes to drive permanent increases in sales for the franchise network.

Are there any new incentives to attract franchisees?Lockdown saw the launch of a ‘No Money Down’ offer by the Wilkins Chimney Sweep franchise, designed to help those who had

been made unemployed, redundant or seeking a career change as a result of the pandemic.

Darren Taylor of Taylor Made Franchising, which owns Wilkins Chimney Sweep, says: “The scheme means the initial investment of £13,000 can be paid off over four years, with the first instalment not due until September of your second year.”

Razzamataz is giving stage performers whose careers have been devastated by COVID-19 the chance to start their own theatre school without paying the usual franchise joining fee of £7,995.

Denise Hutton-Gosney, founder and managing director of Razzamataz, says: “Theatres are closing and many employed in performing arts will be forced to look for alternative employment, so we will lose many talented people forever.

“We have waived the normal franchise fee to make it as easy as possible for suitable candidates to start their own theatre school with a Razzamataz franchise, regardless of their financial position.”

THE NUMBER OF PROSPECTIVE FRANCHISEES IS SOARINGPeople made redundant - or even just fearing the possibility - often decide to take the opportunity to open their own business.

Meanwhile, many people with existing businesses are choosing to use a franchise as a way to diversify, reasoning that it’s less risky than going it alone.

Both trends mean competition for franchises will be higher.

Jon White, UK country manager for InXpress, the logistics management franchise, says: “We’ve been inundated with prospective franchisees. We had 600 new enquiries in the lockdown period alone and currently have nearly 70 prospective franchisees going through our filtering process.”

Anyone applying to be a franchisee now must be extra mindful about meeting franchisors’ requirements.

“Clever franchisors have been re-examining their business models

and making changes to ensure they remain successful”


CAN I STILL GET FUNDING?Yes, says Andrew Brattesani, head of franchising at HSBC.

He adds: “It’s possible to get funding, but naturally the banks will be even more careful than in the past to ensure prospective franchisees meet all the criteria.”

John and Maria Pritchard, Really Awesome Coffee

How being pulled over by the police helped boost their franchise

Really Awesome Coffee franchisee John Pritchard was driving his delivery van along a quiet Scottish road when a police car started trailing him.

“I was doing nothing wrong, but they were getting increasingly close,” recounts John, who owns the Lanarkshire franchise with his wife Maria.

“Then suddenly a police van joined them and started giving me the blue light. I pulled in and they stopped behind me. I was shaking as I was surrounded by about eight policemen. When I lowered the van window, they asked: ‘Can we have a coffee?’.”

John served them all at the roadside and they left happily, but not before asking him to pop into the police station to supply some more coffee whenever he could.

“When I called the franchisor to tell him I was stopped by the police, he was shocked - until I told him they were just looking for some coffee,” John says.

The incident helped John and Maria, and the Really Awesome Coffee franchise network, to flex the business model.

“We started delivering to police and ambulance stations, hospitals, nurseries and care homes,” John says. “We started home deliveries too, promoting our service on social media with help from head office.

“We went from 50 followers on Facebook to 1,600 and as word got around on the streets neighbours would come out into their gardens for our

coffee delivery and make it a socially distanced occasion.”

As lockdown eased, the percentage of home deliveries fell, but with the arrival of the second wave of COVID-19 home deliveries rose again to 60-70 per cent in October.

“We’re also seeing many requests for ‘treat days’, where employers provide weekly coffee and treats to employees,” John says.

“The changes have created a stronger business for Maria and I. In February we had one delivery van and now we have three, so the business has grown too.”

Christopher Chubb, The Wheel Specialist

Why an established business chose to expand with a franchise

Christopher Chubb, his dad and brother own an automotive body shop in Birmingham and when they decided to expand into alloy wheel refurbishment they chose to do so with a franchise.

Christopher says: “We chose The Wheel Specialist franchise rather than expanding our business alone because that can take years of hard work building up a customer base.

“The Wheel Specialist’s central website lead generation and CRM system would be a far quicker way to gain customers, so we became franchisees in July 2019.”

The family now run the franchise alongside their existing business.

“It was full on from day one,” Christopher says. “We were getting 14-20 leads a night. Even now it’s 12-15 some nights and about 25 on a weekend.

“We were closed at the height of the lockdown, but The Wheel Specialist’s central internet booking system stayed up and running and many people used their time at home to make bookings for wheel refurbishment.

“As soon as lockdown lifted, we had a huge surge in business and we expect an ongoing increase as those customers recommend our services.”

Christopher and his family had never been franchisees before, but he

now rates franchising as a good way to add to an existing business.

“The Wheel Specialist is a well known brand and its lead generation system saved us lots of time and work,” Christopher says. “I’ve learnt a lot from them about sales, marketing, work scheduling and how to operate an efficient system to grow your business.

“The franchise package includes the systems and training needed to operate it successfully. Head office is always there to answer your questions and you can call on the experience of more established franchisees in the network.”


TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G

POWERBRANDS

Matt Strutt, InXpress

Being made redundant has made my life better

After a 15-year career with a car rental company that culminated in the post of EMEA head of sales and development on a six-figure salary, Matt Strutt was made redundant as a result of the pandemic.

Undeterred, he’s just bought InXpress Gatwick, becoming the global shipping solutions specialist’s 100th UK franchisee.

Matt says: “I wanted to make sure my four children were going to be okay, as well as finding a business I could pick up quickly.

“My particular strengths are customer service and sales. InXpress is built on this, which was also a big motivator for me to invest. I’ve learned new techniques for my new business and can’t wait to start.

“Although I was made redundant - an incredibly painful time - I’ve since realised it has made my life better. There’s no way I would have taken the step out of a well paid job otherwise. It would have been too risky, even though I always wanted to run my own business.”


TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G

“Anyone applying to be a franchisee now must be extra mindful about

meeting franchisors’ requirements”

BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT

Driving forceNew Revive! franchisee Ian Scott has ambitious

plans to have five car repair vans on the road within three years

hoosing the right franchise isn’t something that can be rushed.

Ian Scott, owner of Revive! Glasgow, took eight months to look at all the franchise opportunities of interest to him before deciding that Revive! was the one.

TEAM SPIRITHe says: “From initial conversations and dialogue with Revive! I got a feel for the culture, ethos and values within the business and that attracted me. There’s a real team there with openness, trust and transparency and that’s what drove my decision to join the franchise.”

After a career in the food and beverage industry, Ian has spent the past 10 years as business development manager for a training company.

A desire to set up on his own, but lacking the technical knowledge necessary to take such a big step, led him to look at a management franchise - and he hasn’t looked back since.

COMPREHENSIVE TRAININGIan was impressed with the comprehensive training provided by Revive!

“It’s been full on, but I thoroughly enjoyed it,” he says. “Due to my background, I have better knowledge of some areas than others and can pick them up very quickly. The biggest thing was the technical side of it, but the training was really detailed and far surpassed my expectations.”

Some of the initial training took place at the company’s own training academy, but most of it was delivered remotely via webinars by Revive!’s experienced support team.

Lisa Fenton, Revive!’s learning and development manager, overhauled

all the modules to enable remote training to take place in view of the pandemic. She coordinates all the training for Revive! franchisees, with a wide range of modules available.

As a new franchisee, Ian will have regular training courses planned in for his first 12 months, covering key areas such as sales and marketing, finance, leadership, recruitment and retention.

EXPERIENCED WORKFORCEIan opened Revive! Glasgow with two vans and a team of two experienced technicians.

His original plan was to set up as a family business with his son as the first technician, but with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Ian chose to hit the ground running with a knowledgeable workforce.

AT A GLANCEREVIVE! AUTO INNOVATIONS (UK) Established: 2004

Number of franchised outlets: 60

Location of units: nationwide

Investment range: £32,000

Minimum required capital: £15,000

Contact: [email protected]

revivefranchise.com

C

“It’s early days yet, but I’m delighted by the volume of business already”

TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G - R

evive! Auto

Innovations (U

K)


“With the difficulties presented by the pandemic, I made the choice to get started as soon as possible with two fully qualified technicians behind me,” he explains. “I’m still planning to build a family business, bringing my son in when the time is right, but for now my aim is to have five vans on the road within three years.”

In the meantime, Ian is focusing on building his business: “I’m going to get out there and drive the business, led by two main drivers: complete quality and customer service.”

Since opening, Ian’s technicians are being kept busy, gathering five-star Trustpilot reviews from delighted customers along the way.

“It’s early days yet, but I’m delighted by the volume of business already,” he adds.

TRAINING & SUPPORT SETTING YOU UP FORSUCCESS...Your Miss Milles journeystarts with our robusttraining programme. Thissupports new partners andfranchisees from their startup to the maintenance oftheir store.

FLEXIBLE ON ANY SCALEWe will help you realise yourambition with our dedicatedfranchise team. Our modelenables you to createmultiple Miss Millie’s sites inan expanding territory.

FRANCHISE COSTSBREAKING IT DOWN...We have made thefranchise package asaffordable aspossible. Judge thevalue we offer versuscompetitors, many ofwhom charge up tothree times as much!

A GAP IN THEMARKET!Miss Millie’s specialise inaffordable premiumproducts at a time whenconsumer tastes areevolving towards greaterquality, differentiationand trust. There is scopefor a quality nationalQuick Service Restaurant(QSR) brand to emergeacross the UK andbecome a ‘disrupter’against the large PLCbrands – Miss Millies

CONTACT USTODAY WE LOOK

FORWARD TOHEARING

FROM YOU...Email:

[email protected]

www.missmillies.co.uk




An incredibly rewarding experience

Richard Taylor’s franchise with The London Bath Co. is thriving in spite of the pandemic as Londoners swap holidays, traditional high street spending and fancy

restaurants for luxury bathrooms

ow are you finding running your own business as a franchisee with The London Bath Co.?

It’s hard work and the hours are long, but it’s incredibly rewarding and really exciting to see the business developing so quickly

Now that you’ve come through lockdown and reopened to a surge in business, how do you feel? I didn’t know what to expect when we first reopened. I was just concerned about survival to be honest, but then the phone started ringing and it hasn’t stopped since. I can honestly say I’m busier now than I was before the pandemic.

Many traditional high street retailers are struggling, but the opposite seems to be true for your business. Why do you think that is? There are a number of factors that are making it even busier than before the pandemic.

Being cooped up at home with a grotty bathroom for months on end has definitely forced the issue in some cases. Also, a lot of people haven’t been away this year or certainly haven’t had expensive holidays, so they’re spending that money on home improvements. Most builders I know are rushed off their feet at the moment.

How are you coping with demand? My dad and my niece are helping out in the showroom, but there’s never enough hours in the day.

The London Bath Co. has a ‘clicks to bricks’ business model that generates awareness online and drives footfall. How does this benefit your business? I actually asked head office to reduce my online advertising recently, as I can’t deal with any more inquiries at the moment. I completed my training and initially started trading while the store was still being fitted out and was busy from day one just from the inquiries generated online.

Does this business model help to even out the natural ebb and flow of demand for your services? It’s reassuring to know that if the

AT A GLANCETHE LONDON BATH CO.Established: July 2013

Number of outlets: 2

Location of units: Blackheath and Hampstead

Investment range: £80,000-£100,000


Contact: Steve Baker

thelbcfranchise.co.uk

H


TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G - T

he Londo

n Bath C

o.

showroom does quieten down with passing trade I can boost inquiries simply by contacting head office and asking them to increase my online advertising budget for that month.

I’ve had a pretty steady flow of business ever since I opened the doors to my showroom, but there have been times when the online enquiries have helped to fill my diary on the odd days here and there. We have a great marketing department and experts working on the company’s Google campaigns, which account for most of the inquiries we receive online.

What do you enjoy most about running your business? I love meeting people and enjoy designing bathrooms.

The CAD programme we use is intuitive and once you get the hang of it it’s really enjoyable transforming drab bathrooms into luxury, hotel-style ones.

And the least? Not having enough hours in the day

How has the specialist support provided by The London Bath Co. given you a competitive edge?

“I can honestly say I’m busier now than I was before the pandemic”

The London Bath Co. franchise is a partnership between franchisees and head office and the support they offer is across the board.

Our online marketing is sophisticated, but we also have slick marketing materials and showroom brochures that give our clients confidence and that big company look and feel.

And of course, all the fixtures and fittings are ordered directly from head office, so I can concentrate on simply designing and selling the bathrooms and managing the installation process with my clients.

It’s that hands-on approach that makes the difference between using a professional company like ourselves and taking a chance and hiring your own builders with varying reliability and capability.

How would you describe the ongoing day-to-day support provided? Support from the franchisor is always there when I need it.

I don’t tend to need the constant day-to-day handholding like in the early days, but it’s reassuring to know that it’s there when I need it.

The training programme includes learning to use CAD software and hands-on, in-the-field sales training learning how to sell to clients face- to-face. How helpful and comprehensive did you find this? I used to be a bathroom fitter, so I was used to dealing with clients face-to-face, but not using CAD software.

The training was great. It started with one-to-one sessions at The London Bath Co. head office in Hampstead with one of their designers to learn how to use the CAD software to design the bathrooms. Once I was up to speed, I was taught how to carry out in-home consultations. The more you do it, the more comfortable you become and after a while it quickly becomes second nature.

You’ve recently passed your first year end and even with the pandemic have exceeded your forecast and are showing healthy profits. What are your plans for the future? Resales are really popular in franchising. There are lots of people who don’t want to start a business from scratch, so I’m building a strong financial history in the business and eventually I hope to sell it on as a profitable going concern and for a healthy profit.

What are you planning to do once you’ve sold the business? I’ve already discussed this with our CEO. Once I’ve sold the business, I’m planning to start another franchise in a new area. I enjoy the start-up process and having done it before it should be pretty straightforward.



TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G - G

et Ahead VA


From furlough to franchisee

Sarah Yandell decided to join virtual agency Get Ahead VA after 30 years in the travel industry

ssex businesswoman Sarah Yandell had spent many years working in the travel industry. But when she was

put on furlough in March, she knew it was time to look for something new.

After years of commuting and managing business teams, she wanted to work flexibly and from home, yet still feel part of something.

Sarah began researching franchising options online. She recognised that franchising could be a successful way to launch her own business quickly and effectively by using an established brand.

After weeks of searches, Sarah discovered award winning virtual agency Get Ahead VA on what-franchise.com - it sounded like just the opportunity she was looking for.

PART OF A TEAM “I worked in the travel industry for 30 years and absolutely loved it,” Sarah says. “But it was clear that travel was

challenging jobs market,” she says. “That’s why I turned to franchising. I knew I could be in charge of my own destiny, not dependent on others.

“Get Ahead VA founder Rebecca Newenham impressed me right from the start by her professionalism, but also her friendly, supportive and down-to-earth approach. I loved her collaborative ethos and commitment to helping and supporting other businesses, not just selling to them.

“My fellow franchisees have all been so supportive as well. I feel lucky to be able to learn from their experience, enabling me to fast-track my business.”

FLEXIBLE SERVICES Get Ahead VA’s team of over 40 virtual assistants delivers nationwide marketing and business support services, enabling businesses of all sizes and from all sectors to save time, save money and get ahead.

With established franchisees from Wakefield in the north of England to west Surrey in the south, its team of highly experienced professionals provide flexible business services on an hourly, project or ongoing basis.

AT A GLANCEGET AHEAD VAEstablished: 2017


Location of units: Leeds, South Yorkshire, The Wirral, East Midlands, Berkshire & North Hampshire, West Surrey, Suffolk & Essex


Minimum required capital: £0

Contact:

01483 332220 or [email protected]

franchise.getaheadva.com

Egoing to take some time to recover from COVID-19. I wanted to work flexibly and locally, but I also wanted to feel part of a team and not just go it alone.

“Becoming a Get Ahead VA franchisee has enabled me to have the flexibility I wanted by working for myself, but to also be part of the wider team, with access to the fantastic experience of our team of virtual assistants.”

Running her own territory in Essex and Suffolk, Sarah will be working with businesses across Chelmsford, Colchester and Ipswich, providing marketing and business support services through the Get Ahead VA network. TAKING CHARGE “Being placed on furlough or made redundant can leave you feeling lost and unsure of what to do next, particularly in a

“My fellow franchisees have all been so supportive”


TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G - FA

STSIG

NS

Providing an essential service

As we adapt to the new normal, the signage industry is becoming highly attractive for many potential

franchisees, according to FASTSIGNS

n recent months, we’ve learnt just how essential signage can be. FASTSIGNS knew this long ago and has

been utilising its skills to assist in the management of the pandemic. Through the company’s franchised model, you could help too.

Over the past seven months, the UK public has been set adrift, reacting quickly to an ever changing stream of information.

There seems to be no end in sight for when things will go back to the way they were prior to March 2020. However, even among all this change, worry and uncertainty, one thing that has remained consistent is the value of a good sign.

REASSURING PRESENCEWhether thrown up quickly in the early days of the pandemic or more considered, brand enhancing signage has evolved in shops, restaurants and places of entertainment as the nation settled into a new pattern of behaviour.

Signage stepped into the breach to ensure calm, maintain order and inform - a reassuring presence that brought comfort to many.

This is the enduring beauty of signage. In times of concern, a clear and concise sign allows people to disengage and follow instruction. In times of excitement or joy, a sign is a landmark or reminder of an event, location or feeling.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYThe concepts discussed here are an outline of the emotional value signage can create for customers and end users, making the signage industry highly attractive for potential

franchisees who are looking for a new business opportunity.

Potential franchisees in the signage industry may look at the functional set-up of a sign, be it a traditional site identification sign, a vehicle graphic or an animated digital sign, and consider it high tech or outside of their capabilities. This is not the case.

FASTSIGNS has been in operation for 35 years and has over 700 franchisees operating in nine countries, with 24 of these located in the UK, the majority of whom did not have any experience in the signage industry prior to launching their business.

The company provides full training and support for newcomers to the industry, with ongoing support from business consultants and a robust network of suppliers that help franchisees create long-lasting value for their customers through signage.

SHINING EXAMPLERichard Wedgwood, franchisee of FASTSIGNS Manchester, launched his business amid the 2008 financial crisis, having taken voluntary redundancy from his international sales and procurement role.

Over the last 12 years, Richard has built his centre to be one of FASTSIGNS UK’s shining examples of how its model can provide an effective business in an exciting and creative industry.

Richard says his experience of the support provided by FASTSIGNS is “invaluable”, adding: “The initial training provided an excellent overview of the business from FASTSIGNS’ perspective. I’ve also developed a wide ranging array of new skills.”

AT A GLANCEFASTSIGNS Established: 1985

Number of franchised outlets: 24 in UK. Over 700 worldwide

Location of units: Birmingham, Bolton, Brighton, Chelmsford, Crawley, Enfield, Gloucester, Guildford, Hammersmith, Huddersfield, Hull, Islington, Kingston, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Southampton, Sheffield, St Albans and York

Investment range: £125,000-plus


Contact: 01785 253140. [email protected]

fsfastsigns.co.uk

I

“One thing that has remained consistent is the value of a good sign”


Ableworld, the UK’s largest mobility retailer, is at the forefront of one of thefastest growing markets in retail. Ableworld’s proven franchise model

can help you dominate your local market and build a profitable, long-term business of your own!

Contact Stephen Lampshire: 07585 709 136 | Email: [email protected]

• The retail outlet - a mobilitysuperstore which sells acomprehensive range ofquality products to help theelderly and disabled in theirhomes and outdoors

• The stairlift business - which,using only high-qualitybranded equipmentprovides homeowners witha variety of life-changing,helpful options

An Ableworld franchise gives you two complimentaryincome streams:

Ableworldat the Heart of the

Community

Already worth around £1.5bn each year, the mobility retail sector is set to expand dramatically as UK’s population

is living longer and demanding a greater quality of life.


01403 888339www.chrysaliscoach.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Start a lucrative and rewarding business offering business coaching and consulting services to the many millions

of prospective clients across the UK and beyond.

Chrysalis Partners has many benefits, including:■ Be cash positive in year 1 and earn in excess of £150K per year thereafter;■ Excellent cash flow from an early stage – clients pay you in advance;■ Fully inclusive 5-day residential training course at a high-quality facility;■ Enhanced support program for at least 3 months to help you win your first

clients with weekly calls from one of our Directors to guide and mentor youonto success;

■ Full access to the Chrysalis Partners Coaching and Consulting, Operations,Projects and Workshop systems;

■ At least 15 appointments with potential clients from Head Office, work full-time or part-time on your Coaching business;

■ Unlimited support from Head Office and monthly calls;

■ Chrysalis Partners operating license for 5 years initially, renewable foranother 5 years at no cost;

■ Attendance at regular Head Office events;■ Ongoing training to include new materials developed;■ Your own Chrysalis Partners website including landing pages, pre-built and

personalised to you;■ Your own pre-configured, fully automated lead generation system to assist

with finding new clients;■ Partner advancement program for those who want to progress and grow

their Coaching business;■ Use of Chrysalis Partners branding for your practice;■ Money back guarantee on your license fee.

Low start up costs:Not only is the fee payable very reasonable but you have very little that youneed to buy to get started. If you are mobile and have a telephone and alaptop, you are ready to go – everything else you need is provided within thefranchise system.


BEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENTB

ehind the Brand - X

xxxxxxxxxx

n the most turbulent times the UK economy has seen for decades, independent business

specialist TaxAssist Accountants has been an essential hub for local business communities, thanks to unsurpassed levels of support and communication.

With over 230 franchises based in shops and offices across the UK supporting over 77,000 clients, TaxAssist Accountants has seen its services in demand like never before.

FANTASTIC GUIDANCESouthall-based franchisee Raza Syed had only been operating his practice for three months when lockdown began, but is full of praise for the support that has been provided to him and his clients by TaxAssist Accountants.

Raza says: “I can safely say that the support and guidance received from TaxAssist in this rollercoaster environment has been incomparable, both as an accountant and a franchisee. It has been fantastic.

“One of the reasons for joining TaxAssist Accountants was because I was aware of how to obtain the best results from a franchise structure, having worked in a practice that specialised in the industry.

“The daily updates and assistance have proved the strength of the franchise and being a part of the successful, established network has been invaluable to both myself and my clients in terms of the depth and quality of resources available.”

EASY DECISIONWorking for himself had always been a goal for Raza, who joined

TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G - TaxA

ssist Acco

untants

Raza Syed is full of praise for the support he’s received from TaxAssist Accountants

AT A GLANCETAXASSIST ACCOUNTANTSEstablished: 1995

Number of franchised outlets: 237 franchise areas. 387 shops and offices

Location of units: UK




taxassistfranchise.co.uk

TaxAssist Accountants in October 2019.

He says: “I started my journey in February 2019 by attending a discovery day, which highlighted three invaluable areas that made the decision to join TaxAssist an easy one: the strength of the technical team and the support that was on offer; the brand and marketing support; and access to

“I found extreme transparency with TaxAssist’s approach to their franchisees”

Showing strength in turbulent times


Ienhanced services, which can really benefit me and my clients.

“I found extreme transparency with TaxAssist’s approach to their franchisees, with Karl Sandall and his fellow directors creating a culture of inspiring professionalism, honesty and a nurturing environment that’s essential when building a business.”

ACCESS TO EXPERTSRaza says he’s been able to tap into TaxAssist’s expertise to help with his business plan, organising a great finance deal, finding the right location, shop visits, sorting out a lease, shop refurbishment, marketing, internal support systems, technical support and new business leads.

“After just one year of trading with TaxAssist, I’m now servicing an ever growing portfolio of clients and I couldn’t be more pleased,” he says. “The technical support has been invaluable and enabled me to sign some key clients with good value.

“I’ve been in regular contact with clients, working closely with them on cash flow projections, furlough and grant applications, and I’m hopeful the guidance and support I’ve offered will play a big part in their survival.

“In around 16 months, I’ve invested in starting a new business, opened my first shop and have a growing client portfolio. Without TaxAssist, this would never have been possible.

“My friends and relatives who share the same profession and who have seen me grow as an individual are already enquiring about TaxAssist and I’ve been extremely excited to tell them my story.”


TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G - M

olly M

aid UK

This brand continues to

clean upMolly Maid has been recognised for its award

winning franchisee support

he Best Franchise Awards recognises exceptional UK franchisors as rated

by their franchisees and domestic cleaning company Molly Maid has once again received the prestigious 5-star rating.

The 2020 awards will be one for the record books, considering the significant efforts leading franchisors like Molly Maid have made to help franchisees overcome the impact of coronavirus.

POSITIVE FEEDBACKFranchisees are asked to anonymously rate their satisfaction in key areas of the support they are provided, such as training, culture and relationships and leadership. With hundreds of franchisors all shouting about how good their training and support is, receiving this high rating is something Molly Maid is proud of.

guidance on how to secure funding through government schemes and then providing processes to help them reassure staff and customers through the development of HomeSafe procedures.

The brand’s HomeSafe processes enabled franchise owners to be some of the first businesses open following lockdown, allowing them to safely continue operating regardless of the restrictions in place, and is why Molly Maid has already returned to over 85 per cent of its pre-COVID sales levels.

ABOVE AND BEYONDMolly Maid has captured some of the feedback provided by franchise owners, which helps to show how it’s achieved such a high rating:

“One of the reasons I chose Molly Maid was the incredible support they give to the franchise owners. I have not been disappointed.”

“The advice during the COVID pandemic has been detailed, measured and accurate. It reflects government policy, but was also understanding and encouraging. It set me apart from other businesses who did not have this support and allowed me to resume service

confidently and with a competitive edge through the new systems developed.”

“Without their continuous support and understanding of the situation, my business would not have continued. Their constant updates gave me a full understanding of expectations of staff and the business. Their support was above and beyond their duty.”

“I would have no hesitation in recommending a Molly Maid franchise to a prospective franchisee who was in the correct position to grow and develop the business. I would not recommend to someone who thought it was an easy option, because as with all businesses it requires dedication and hard work to achieve the results.”

Molly Maid hopes this feedback helps to paint a picture of why the company provides the perfect platform to launch your own business, gain close support along the way and become part of the market leader within the ever growing domestic cleaning sector, where cleanliness and healthy homes are a priority for everybody.

AT A GLANCEMOLLY MAID UKEstablished: 1984


Location of units: across the UK, from Scotland to the south coast

Investment range: £18,975 (plus VAT) and £7,000 working capital (£10,000 of the £18,975 is allocated to marketing for the first 12-18 months)

Minimum required capital: at least 30 per cent of the total investment (£7,975). The remainder can be funded through a business loan

Contact: Aaron Watson, director of business development. 01628 583765. [email protected]

mollymaid.co.uk/franchise

T

“Molly Maid has already returned to over 85 per cent of its pre-COVID sales levels”


The company says it’s equally as proud of the feedback received from franchise owners about the support they received during the current pandemic.

Their feedback highlighted how well they felt supported during these unprecedented times, firstly by how Molly Maid helped to protect their businesses with



We’re keeping calm and carrying on

Our franchise partners continue to provide a cautious, respectful and socially distanced service,

Cafe2U CEO Martyn Ward says

t doesn’t seem long ago that I was writing down my thoughts for this publication about our

year to date, providing an overview of what is now ‘the first’ lockdown. Moreover, I certainly didn’t expect to be talking about a lockdown again so soon.

I discussed how in February that at our annual conference we’d laid out our plans for the coming decade and announced our new branding, app and innovative new electric technologies in our mobile coffee shops. More importantly though, I’d recounted how excited we were to see all these being rolled out.

UNPRECEDENTED TIMESHowever, I then went on to express my thoughts - and indeed the shared feelings of many other companies - about the unprecedented times we’d encountered in the few weeks between our conference and Boris Johnson announcing what was meant to be an initial three-week lockdown on March 23 and the subsequent continuation of this into late spring.

My key observations were essentially that the world as we know it was changing, that it was to be a time when people and organisations showed their true colours and how community spirit would be hugely important in and out of the working world.

Further to this, I shared my own sense of pride about our company’s response to the pandemic and the brilliant work of the wider franchise community to adapt and endure in what has historically been our biggest challenge.

Whether it was through our drive to provide focus and clarity for our employees, supporting the well-being of our franchise partners or

the unique opportunities to do more for others - such as delivering more than 15,000 free cups of coffee to NHS frontline workers - I felt humbled by the grit and determination of our franchisees.

POSITIVE ATTITUDEWhile things have never quite returned to the ‘normality’ we once had - even as restrictions began to

ease - this positive attitude and resolve has been something we’ve continued to foster and exude across the organisation.

Our franchise partners will keep on providing a cautious, respectful and socially distanced service, following the same measures that have served our customers so well this year.

Finally, I feel it’s worth highlighting that I don’t doubt that I may once again find myself noting things down about all of this in the near future, but at the same time I’m convinced that I’ll be echoing the same positive sentiments when I do. Until that time, stay safe and look out for those around you.

CAFE2UName of franchise: Cafe2U

Established: 2004

Number of franchised outlets: 90-plus


Investment range: as low as £15,000 (subject to status)

Minimum required capital: £10,000 (subject to status)

Contact: Teresa Fowler

cafe2u.co.uk

I

“I felt humbled by the grit and determination of our franchisees”

TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G - C

afe2U


The Sky’s the Limitwith Sparkle Cleaning

If you believe in keeping things simple, adding value, having fun, putting family first and making money, then you’re our type of person!

Discover more: sparklecleanup.com




Leading from the front

Home Instead Senior Care has continued to demonstrate overwhelming success and excellence in

the care sector throughout the ongoing pandemic

ome Instead Senior Care’s proven business model and support for franchisees has allowed their high-quality

home care services to continue even throughout the most turbulent of times.

Caring is at the heart of everything Home Instead do and is reflected through their numerous care sector accolades, including ranking as the number one most recommended care company in the homecare.co.uk awards.

This is praise indeed as it is based directly on the reviews from the most important people - the wonderful clients they care for.

Overall, 50 Home Instead franchise offices were featured in the regional Top 20 Home Care Providers regional awards.

Specialising in the care of older people gives franchisees a clear focus. Their unique home care service, which is companionship-based, allows clients to remain living independently in their own homes, where we would all like to be.

A CARING SUCCESS STORY The franchise has over 224 local franchisees operating in the UK, providing outstanding care and outstanding results, and globally over 1,800 across 12 countries.

The Home Instead network was set up in the UK in 2005 and is so successful because everyone shares the same ethos and belief in their vision of ‘changing the face of ageing’ and improving the lives of our older generation.

The business model places franchisees and their teams at the heart of their local community as thought leaders and employers of choice.

The passion shown by Home Instead franchisees and their caregivers has been widely acknowledged by peers within the care sector.

Home Instead is a well-recognised and admired brand in the care sector. With an ageing population, there are high levels of demand for home care and franchisees enjoy huge growth opportunities.

AN ‘OUTSTANDING’ REPUTATION Home Instead has over 65 ‘Outstanding’ ratings from inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the care they provide, more than any other home care provider, which is something they are justifiably proud of.

Not only do their clients rate them highly, so do their network of franchisees. The franchise has received many awards and accolades and has consistently achieved five star rating in the WorkBuzz annual Franchisee Satisfaction survey.

Franchisees rated Home Instead on attributes such as the quality of their new franchisee induction training, the level and quality of ongoing support provided, their relationship with the franchise and whether they would recommend the Home Instead brand as a franchise opportunity to others.

AWARDED FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO CAREHome Instead continue to be recognised both nationally and regionally in prestigious awards, testament to their high-quality services and dedication to caring for the elderly and vulnerable in our population.

This year has seen a number of finalists and winners from Home Instead. They have been shortlisted in the Laing Buisson awards as finalists in the Homecare, Public Private Partnership and Outstanding Response to COVID-19 categories.

The company’s ‘COVID-19’ Taskforce, which was set up in direct response to the pandemic, has been shortlisted in the Home

“There are high levels of demand for home care and franchisees enjoy huge growth opportunities”

AT A GLANCEHOME INSTEAD SENIOR CAREEstablished: 2005

Number of franchised outlets 224




Contact: Imogen Clarke. 01925 730273

homeinstead.co.uk/franchise All care images taken in 2019

H


TH

E CH

AN

GIN

G FA

CE O

F FRA

NC

HISIN

G - H

om

e Instead Senior C

are

Care Heroes Awards 2020 in the Innovation category. The Taskforce supported franchise teams across the UK, advising and sharing the latest developments, government advice and guidance in the early months of the lockdown and beyond.

In franchising, Cath Chalton, owner of Home Instead Wirral, was delighted to be named Franchisee of the Year in the Encouraging Women into Franchising Awards for her exceptional contribution to both caring and franchising.

DELIVERING THE BEST CARE WITH THE BEST TECHNOLOGYHome Instead has continued to invest in pioneering technology to enhance the home care they provide, ensuring their elderly and vulnerable clients are safe and well.

Technology will never replace person-to-person contact, but it can bring huge benefits to clients’ lives, particularly in the hours that caregivers are not present.

Lockdown has seen many seniors isolated from their loved ones. Local Home Instead franchisees have been providing technology, including laptops and tablets, to help their elderly clients connect with their families and friends.

Once again, the Home Instead brand is leading from the front, launching the social care sector’s first Digital Health Library and tablet scheme through a

partnership with the highly respected Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA).

JOIN AN INNOVATIVE AND PIONEERING FRANCHISE Home Instead is a management franchise, so no care experience is necessary. But if you are caring and passionate and have the skills to be an effective leader, you can embrace their exceptional business model and make a real difference.

Owners are provided from day one with ongoing support from

their highly experienced 60-strong national office team.

This year, Home Instead has continued to host virtual discovery days, which of course is in keeping with current times, providing a wealth of information about owning a franchise.

They are also delighted to have welcomed 14 new franchisees to the Home Instead network, despite all the difficulties the pandemic is creating for everyone.

There are territories currently available throughout the UK, including a small number of resale opportunities that may suit potential owners looking to buy an already established business.

Behind the B

rand - OSC

AR

Pet Fo

ods


It’s become a way of life

Too young to retire, Lynette Higgins is enjoying a new career as an OSCAR Pet Foods franchisee

ynette Higgins liked the OSCAR Pet Foods brand so much, she brought one of the company’s franchises.

She explains: “It all started when I began searching for a good quality pet food for Fred, my gluten intolerant Golden Retriever. It was then that a good friend of mine told me about OSCAR and its superior products.”

VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY 18 months earlier, Lynette had taken voluntary redundancy from the Department for Work and Pensions.

“It gave me the opportunity to review my options,” she says. “Eventually, I came to the conclusion

OPEN AND HONESTWhat also reassured Lynette was that the team at OSCAR were able to answer all the questions she had about the franchise.

“With additional research on the brand, the company, the pet food market and local pet owners, I knew I was making the right choice,” she adds.

“I have support when needed and the flexibility to never miss an opportunity. Pet owners are easy to relate to - they share my passion for animals and are grateful for help and advice.

“To me, my business is social and it’s become a way of life, with customers becoming friends who I happily support in any way I can - whether that’s work related, picking up groceries or simply having a chat over a cup of tea. And best of all, I get to spend time with my own dog, who loves joining me on delivery rounds.”

SUCCESS STORIESSince becoming an OSCAR Pet Foods franchisee, Lynette’s become the first in the network to supply a National Trust property with ‘doggie dinners’ and treats for their tearoom, acts as an OSCAR ambassador to a highly regarded dog rescue centre and has fed a sickly dog who became a Crufts winner.

AT A GLANCEOSCAR PET FOODSEstablished: 1994

Number of franchised outlets: 100-plus


Investment range: from £8,995 (plus VAT)

Minimum required capital: £8,995 (plus VAT)

Contact:

Janet Walmsley. 0800 068 1106

oscar.co.uk

L “OSCAR came to me for a reason and I really liked the concept”

that it was too early to retire and considered going back to work in the hope of finding something that would be more of a vocation than a job. Having worked in management, training, marketing, sales and procurement, my skills are varied.

“As a lifelong pet owner, OSCAR came to me for a reason and I really liked the concept. It had a strong presence on the internet - eye catching and professional - which also gave me confidence. I thrive on a challenge, am self motivated and very much a people person and I could relate to the benefits of the OSCAR service.”





ulie Wagstaff had to experience two redundancies and the threat of losing her

house before she took control of her future. But when she chose to take action, her life started on the path to a wealth of fun, fulfilment and recognition. In fact, so much so that ActionCOACH UK, the franchise she heads up with her partner Ian, is one of only 4 brands to receive 5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction rating 8 times.

Originally trained as a food scientist, Julie moved into technical sales in the dairy industry after her first redundancy in the food industry. When the second round of redundancy hit in 2005, she became disillusioned with working in the sector and toyed with the idea of becoming her own boss, but meanwhile put her CV on a job site.

Julie explains: “I received a call out of the blue from a business coaching firm called ActionCOACH. They’d found my CV online and, honestly, I wondered if it was a con as it sounded too good to be true.

Julie Wagstaff was in danger of losing everything before she found a wealth of fun, fulfilment and

recognition with ActionCOACH

AT A GLANCEACTIONCOACHEstablished: 1993 in Australia. 2001 in UK

Number of franchised outlets: 200-plus in the UK

Location of units: UK-wide



Contact:

If you would like to know more about the ActionCOACH opportunity and you’re the kind of person who:

A. Loves learning and developing yourself;

B. Has enjoyed success in your career or sport; and

C. Is willing to invest if they see substantial returns can be made…

Then find out more by watching the overview video at actioncoach.co.uk/overview

J

“If I could become my own boss and help other business owners, then I thought it could be my perfect fit. I love learning and developing myself and this was a large part of the franchise model.

“I borrowed some money from my Dad, added that to my savings and at 28 years old became my own boss. It was a year where I took several leaps of faith in quick succession. Having signed the franchise agreement, I took another leap - onto a flight to Las Vegas for initial training at ActionCOACH University. At this point, I still wasn’t quite sure if anyone would meet me when I got off that plane!

“It was a shock to the system when we landed - ActionCOACH was very real. The training experience was also intense. I was the only female and by far the youngest in the group of 21 new franchise partners from around the world.

“During those 10 days I learned a lot about myself, but with a lot of more experienced businessmen in the mix I did start to doubt my abilities and it led to me developing some limiting beliefs about myself.”

THE RISKS OF NOT TAKING ACTIONJulie came back to the UK to launch her business, but did not

From redundancy to

multi-millionaire

Julie learning from Sir Clive Woodward

Proud to be rated 5-star for franchisee satisfaction for 8 consecutive years


Behind the B

rand - Xxxxxxxxxxx

Behind the B

rand - Actio

nCO

AC

H

follow the system ActionCOACH had recommended; something she reflects on with perfect clarity.

“I would book into networking breakfast meetings and then stay in bed,” Julie explains. “I thought no one was going to listen to a young woman with no business experience, so I didn’t really try.

“I was about three weeks from broke when I thought I would lose my house and was terrified at the thought of telling my Dad I’d lost all the money he’d lent me. That’s when I decided to get my act together.

“It was January 2006 and I reached out to one of the top Action Coaches in the UK to ask for help. He showed me how to work the phones to generate interest in my services, which was the primary source of new business back then.

“In my first month I secured one client, in month two I secured another two clients, then

four clients in month three, then nine clients in the fourth month after having decided to take massive action!

“By May 2006, my meeting-to-client conversion rate had hit 87 per cent - an ActionCOACH UK record. Incidentally, my record of nine new clients in one month has only just been matched during summer 2020 by Action Coaches Ian Harford and Matt Bull - a fantastic result and testament to the support we’re able to give to our local communities over the pandemic.”

Julie first met Ian Christelow at the September 2006 UK franchise conference. She knew he was the area developer for three ActionCOACH UK regions and they ended up talking about purchasing the London region as a 50:50 partnership.

“Three days later, I sent him the plan,” Julie says. “By the December, Ian and I had agreed to a million-pound investment to develop ActionCOACH in the London region. Two years later we bought another region and continued that approach every couple of years, acquiring UK regions as they became available or as our offers were accepted.

“It’s been year after year of incredible growth for ActionCOACH in the UK since Ian and I partnered up. When our two daughters arrived, our hard work didn’t stop, but I was able to practise what we preach to our business owner

clients as I brought in a team to support me in my role.

“That’s when we started to use an independent research agency to monitor the satisfaction of our franchise partners and got our first 5-star rating.”

RECOGNITION OF ACTION“As I once lived and breathed being an ActionCOACH franchise partner, this has helped us shape the business.

“We’ve implemented additional support for any areas I felt were lacking as a franchise partner. The recognition for this support has been incredible - 12 years of winning ActionCOACH’s Global Team of the Year based on average income of coaches in each country and net growth of the coaching team, so to stay at the top of 80 countries around the world is amazing. And ActionCOACH is rated number 4 in the Elite Top 100 Franchises and is the only Top 10 franchise to improve its ranking year on year.

“Of course, I love the recognition, but the biggest reward for me is to see the difference our coaches are making in their communities. The challenges of 2020 have been felt by every business owner in the UK and I’m proud to see how our Action Coaches have come together to freely offer support and guidance to thousands of businesses across Britain.”

“It’s been year after year of incredible growth for ActionCOACH in the UK since Ian and I partnered up”

UK team winning Country of the

Year for 12th consecutive year!


INSIGHT

Finding funding for your franchiseThere are several options available to new investors, even though lenders remain cautious

T

WORDS BY PHIL ARCHER

“Despite the current challenges brought on by the COVID crisis, the franchise industry is still moving forwards”

he pandemic has resulted in increased redundancies, plus a whole host of people

having a career rethink during lockdown. Many are considering franchising as a viable option for a new direction.

However, it’s a tough economic climate to start a new business because lenders are understandably being more cautious about funding the purchase price of franchises with so much uncertainty in the marketplace.

Shifts in lending policy Normally, depending on the franchise and individual circumstances, the main franchise banks will lend from a 50/50 ratio of individual investment and funding up to a 30/70 split. But in recent months we’ve seen shifts in policy, where some are not lending at all and ratios have been revised.

Many banks have taken a generalist view on certain sectors, blanketing those franchises where trading has been most

affected, such as retail, gyms and some van delivery franchises servicing office trading estates. What we’re finding is that a sound business case for an application is just not enough in some cases.

Scheme changeFor potential new franchisees, the situation has been compounded by the cancellation of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme at the start of lockdown in March. This scheme was designed to support people looking to start a business, but who didn’t have enough equity in their property to allow them to gain sufficient finance.

The EFG programme was suspended and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme were introduced. However, these new initiatives were aimed at supporting existing businesses rather than start-ups. So where does this leave potential franchisees?

What type of borrower are you?It makes a significant difference if the potential franchisee is a secured borrower rather than an unsecured one.

THE AUTHORPhil Archer is asset finance manager at d&t, an award winning chartered accountancy and business advisory specialist


Currently, tenants or anyone without equity in their home will only be able to borrow an unsecured loan of around £25,000-£30,000 from the main franchise banks to invest in a franchise. Previously, the EFG would have helped provide security for higher amounts of funding. Now, for unsecured borrowers options are restricted.

For those who do have equity in property, it’s possible to borrow against this. However, often it’s not as much as potential franchisees think. This is because all banks write back the property to 70 per cent of its valuation, then subtract the remaining mortgage amount to give the equity value.

Imagine your home was worth £120,000. A bank would write this back to 70 per cent of its value or £84,000. Say you had a £50,000 mortgage remaining. £84,000 minus £50,000 leaves only £34,000 equity, which the bank can lend against.

The asset finance routeTo raise further funding - for vehicles or equipment, for example - asset finance can be an option.

For unsecured borrowers, asset finance companies are also being more cautious. Some are not dealing with tenants at all, while those that are still lending are limiting their individual deal amounts. However, it’s easier to secure asset finance for homeowners. This doesn’t mean you have a second charge against property, just that you are considered a safer risk.

Previously, asset finance companies accepted low deposits, such as five per cent or even one payment in advance. Lenders now regularly require larger deposits, which can be anything from 10-30 per cent. This has an impact on the level of investment you need to get your franchise started.

In many cases, asset finance companies have also downgraded


their tier system. Normally applications fit into certain tier levels, often referred to from one to three according to their risk level based on certain parameters.

We’re now seeing some companies stepping clients down a tier automatically. So previously an application that would have been a grade one is now considered a grade two. The higher the risk profile tier, the more the deal needs to be restructured and usually the higher the interest rate charged. We have recently seen some gym franchisees being quoted as high as 20 per cent APR interest on asset finance for essential equipment, even with a 15 per cent deposit.

Choosing a brokerThe fact is anyone looking at investing in a franchise needs significantly more of their own capital to invest than they did nine months ago. Brokers need to think outside the box to help applicants secure the borrowing they need and applicants need solid, well researched and independently validated business plans.

For successful franchisees, finance may well end up coming from several different sources.

Other loan providers and the Start-up Loans scheme can be considered to make up the shortfall in the investment required. Here, the choice of broker is important, as it’s not as simple as sending off asset finance applications any more.

Now you need a broker that understands all aspects of your business plan, company structure and wider personal circumstances, so they can explore beyond the ‘normal’ and restructure your project to deliver the required levels of funding you need.

It’s vital you locate an independent supplier who has all these skills, is not limited in their approach and who can assess the market to get you the deal you need.

If you use different brokers or suppliers for different elements of the project, it’s critical you do not draw down on any one solution or commit to things like premises leases until all the required funding elements are approved. Otherwise you’ll be at significant risk and may be tied into financial commitments before actually being able to start trading.

Going beyond the boundariesd&t offers independent business planning, accountancy and funding advice, providing the full range of services you need in one place and connecting franchisees to the much needed finance they require to start or grow their business.

In the past six months, we’ve written business plans and worked on projects that have supported funding applications for well in excess of £3 million of franchise investment.

Given the current economic climate and individual circumstances, some applications have not been as straightforward as others. However, even in the most challenging sectors, we’ve been able to secure funding and help ensure the franchisee gets their business up and running.

In these cases, we’ve needed to go beyond the boundaries of a normal broker. As chartered accountants, we’re able to see the bigger picture and, for example, look at how the structure of a business can be changed to generate further routes to lending or strengthen the likelihood of applications being approved.

The good news is that despite the current challenges brought on by the COVID crisis, the franchise industry is still moving forwards. Deals are still being done and candidates with well researched business plans are getting the funding they need to finance their new careers in franchising.


Behind the B

rand - Miss M

illie’s

Ambitious expansion plans

Miss Millie’s has multi-unit franchise opportunities available across the UK

iss Millie’s has been in the quick service chicken restaurant business for decades.

Serving affordable, premium takeaway food to customers across the south west and Wales since 1988, the company was set up by Harry Latham, who introduced KFC to the UK, and his business partner Ray Allen.

As Harry and his family were good friends with KFC founder Colonel Sanders, he decided to name the new venture after the Colonel’s daughter, Mildred.

NEW CHAPTERMiss Millie’s saw new owners in 2019 and the company is now headed up by Carl Traill, ex-Burger King Director of Operations UK. Carl is now embarking on an ambitious expansion plan by

offering franchises to suitable candidates interested in investing in a multi-site opportunity.

Stores can be set up in city centre or suburban locations, shopping centres, food courts, airports and holiday parks. Ideal site size is between 1,000 and 2,500 square feet. Assistance with site selection and fit-out is provided by the franchisor. Multi-unit franchisees benefit from economies and enjoy improved incentives.

Franchisees get five weeks’ training in all aspects of the business, including effective supply chain management, HR and business development.

They also receive ongoing support, quarterly business reviews, access to Miss Millie’s IP Food safety and health and safety courses and benefit from the regular advertising and promotional activity organised by the franchisor, plus its extensive new product development programme, ensuring the brand’s food offering remains in demand in a competitive marketplace.

It costs in the region of £175,000-£450,000 to set up a full-sized Miss

Millie’s store (the franchise fee is £25,000). Ongoing charges include a management fee of 7.5 per cent of turnover and a 2.5 per cent of turnover contribution to the Miss Millie’s marketing fund.

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCEMiss Millie’s uses only Grade A farm assured chickens from suppliers that meet the highest welfare standards.

Customers can order their food via the company’s ordering app, which not only cuts queues and simplifies ordering, but offers a significant upselling opportunity, helping to maximise franchisees’ return on investment.

Miss Millie’s outlets also feature fully integrated digital self service kiosks, further enhancing the customer experience.

STEADY INCOME STREAMFranchisee Sarah Wilson says: “As a second generation franchisee, my family have worked alongside Miss Millie’s for over 30 years.

“The business model is a great opportunity for individuals and businesses alike, providing a steady income stream from a well recognised and long established brand.

“There’s a real affinity for Miss Millie’s amongst the customer base and the involvement in local community causes and sustainability is especially important to me.

“When I purchased the business, Miss Millie’s provided a great deal of support - someone would always be there if I needed some advice.

“I’m very much looking forward to seeing the exciting new reimagining of the brand over the coming months.”

AT A GLANCEMISS MILLIE’SEstablished: 1988


Location of units: south west and Wales




missmillies.co.uk

M

“There’s a real affinity for Miss Millie’s amongst the customer base”



INTERVIEW

ould you run a franchise from 10,000 miles away? Yemi Penn has been doing so

with exceptional success for the past two years. But then she is an exceptional woman.

Moving to Australia from London’s Brixton five years ago to start a new life after what she described as “messing up big time”, 38-year-old Yemi became a high achiever, creating thriving coaching and engineering consultancies.

But when it came to signing up with the fast growing fitness franchise F45 Training, she made the unexpected decision to base it back in Brixton. And it works.

FRANCHISEE FROM AFAR“I can hear the disbelief in your voice,” says Yemi, on the line from Sydney. “I obviously had to make some changes when COVID came along and now have a managing partner on board.

“Normally I shuttle between the UK and Australia and would have been in London for two months last April had it not been for the pandemic. I obviously keep a careful eye on what’s happening in Brixton, but not to the point of

micro management. The important thing is to harness the skill sets of the people you work with.

“You’ve also got to acknowledge that at some point they will probably leave. You should focus on how long they are going to stay and make life as good as possible for them while they are with you.

“What makes F45 different to other gyms? I tried several of the other systems and realised F45 was designed to use technology to bring the community together and was one of the first to do that.

“Another thing that attracted me is that head office is continually asking: ‘What can we do better?’ They have a hunger for continual improvement.”

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONSNow a multiple entrepreneur with three thriving businesses, Yemi tells the story of her often harrowing journey to her present success with an unhesitating frankness.

“Of course I’ll talk about it,” she says. “If my story helps anyone deal with their own problems, then that’s absolutely fine. When I look back on my trials and tribulations, I don’t think my hunger to succeed would have been so strong if I had security.”

It’s a story of overcoming the trauma of being turned out of the family home after becoming pregnant, spending nights on the streets and in rundown hostels while trying to complete an engineering degree. A story of divorce and failed relationships, becoming what she describes as

“a broken, vulnerable, depressed individual”.

You’d never guess. Today, Yemi is fulfilled, easy going, friendly and confident, passionate about her mission to transform people’s mental and physical health, happily in love and anxious to stress that if you want to do something you invariably can.

“I don’t think women know how powerful they are,” she says.

MOVING AROUND THE GLOBEYemi spent her childhood in Nigeria, where she went to boarding school and moved to London with her family as a teenager. There were problems when she told her father she didn’t want to follow in his footsteps and study law and far more serious ones when at 24 she became pregnant.

“I was in love with my partner, but we weren’t going to get married and my parents didn’t approve,” Yemi says. “My mum told me to move out and get myself together. To my parents, you just didn’t have a child out of wedlock so I moved out, registered as homeless and eventually got social housing.

“I was angry and frustrated at the time, but I believe most things happen for us, not to us, so I don’t have any resentment now.”

Yemi stumbled on engineering after finding she enjoyed putting together an IKEA desk and, despite her daunting personal problems, got a first class mechanical engineering degree at Brunel University.


“If you want to do something, you invariably can”

Wife, mother and serial entrepreneur, Yemi Penn runs a London-based F45 Training franchise from her Sydney home 10,000 miles away.

But her journey to success has been far from smooth

WORDS BY TONY JAMES

THE AUTHORAn award winning journalist and author, Tony James specialises in business and sport

C

“I don’t think my hunger to succeed would have been so strong if I had security”


“I’m an engineer by profession and an entrepreneur by passion,” Yemi says.

Later she moved to Japan, where her entrepreneurial instincts took over: she taught herself hairdressing and sold hair products. She married and in 2012 had a second child, but the marriage didn’t last.

“I felt like a failure again,” Yemi says. “Then the opportunity

came to move to Australia for engineering work on large railway infrastructure projects, so I took it. I was 32, my daughter was seven and my son was seven months, so on paper people must have thought I was absolutely mad.”

Looking back, Yemi says a new country and a new outlook on life was just what she needed. Within five years of arriving as an immigrant, she had started her

“If you want to do something, you invariably can”

INTERVIEW


own engineering consultancy, which was making over £650,000 a year, a coaching business and bought an F45 franchise business in London.

I LOVED THE CONCEPTFitness had been part of Yemi’s lifestyle since university: “Everyone looked pretty and trim and I realised I had to change how I felt about myself - until then, exercise wasn’t

something I’d paid much attention to. Then I really got into it and remember thinking: ‘I’d love to have my own gym’.

“F45 in Sydney was recommended by a friend and to say I loved it was an understatement. It offered much more than conventional gyms by combining high intensity interval training workouts, which were accessible to people of all fitness abilities.

“I also loved the fact that there were no mirrors and I didn’t have to battle with low self esteem - and even though it hurt like hell, I vowed I would come back.

“After I started my engineering and coaching businesses, I began to think seriously about opening an F45 gym 10,000 miles away in London - in Brixton, where I used to live. All the voices in my head said: ‘You don’t live in London any more - how are you going to do that?’ That’s when I decided to test everything I had been learning to become a coach.

“I told myself: ‘Yemi, if you open this business remotely you truly are worthy to be able to harness the power and all the tools you’ve got to help other people transform their lives.’ It’s a franchise, but I wanted that because I hadn’t ever done business to that capacity. It’s


Yemi’s words of wisdom

What do you enjoy most about being a franchisee?It’s like dipping your toe into the pool of entrepreneurship, but not your whole foot! Somebody else has thought about all the hard work and the risk and has created a model you can actually make better.

People say you want to work smart or you want to work hard. Owning a franchise allows both, especially one that’s a proven model like F45. With this franchise, there’s a sense of community and you know you’ve got backing, which is more comfortable than going on your own in the beginning.

What’s your proudest achievement?Setting up my own engineering consultancy in Sydney. Growing up, most of us are told there is only one way to succeed, although I’m sure there’s a whole world out there where people are told something different.

I was told you had to get a job and work nine to five. To shift out of that mindset and be able to create my own business - initially as the only employee and eventually with two others - opened up a completely new world to me. If I hadn’t done that, I probably wouldn’t now have F45.

And your greatest challenge?The first was myself - trying to unlearn all the things I had been told. The second was funding - that was the biggest thing.

There’s no greater oxymoron out there than going to a bank and getting them to believe in you and your vision to loan you the money before you have the chance to show them how trustworthy you are.

For me, with my background and my story, the periods of homelessness and not having any generational wealth behind me, that was tough.

Biggest lesson learned?I’m not going to be the first person nor the last to start a business who has come from humble beginnings That was the biggest lesson.

You start a business, whether it’s taking up a franchise or something new, and it can be so uncomfortable and you think you’re the only one going through that. I think there’s some comfort in knowing that others have done it before.

What advice would you give to a younger you?Be unapologetically fearless. What I mean by that is, unless someone’s going to die, go for it. Now more than ever we can see how vulnerable life is, so you’ve got to give it a go.

Top tip for someone wanting to invest in a franchise?Scrutinise the model, especially the cost model you have been given. Find extreme versions of the franchises that interest you - those that are doing well and those that aren’t doing so well - and figure out where you want to fit between those two extremes.

You have to imagine you’re a franchisee and your business is struggling. How would you get out of it? Prepare for the worst and anticipate how you would deal with it.

been great, but not without its challenges.”

In September 2018, Yemi’s dream finally came true.

“I just stood in awe as I saw over 100 people come in to train in my gym,” she says. “It was real and a physical manifestation of what can be achieved through hard work, tenacity, having faith and being resourceful.

“To have achieved this while solo parenting on the other side of the world was truly amazing.”

Yemi admits she didn’t write a business plan for any of her successful enterprises.

“I typically chose the business that will have the greatest impact and give me the biggest reward by way of satisfaction, accomplishment and finances,” she says.

FILLING A GAP IN THE MARKETShe’s got it right. The brainchild of Australian former equities trader Rob Deutsch, F45 is one of the world’s fastest growing franchises and a result of spotting a gap in the health and fitness market.

He believed the best training was simple, effective and, most importantly, enjoyable. Drawing on a bank of more than 3,000 exercises, the high intensity training on offer changes daily, working every muscle group and energy system in deliberate phases throughout the year.

Rob says: “People were turning up to normal commercial gyms

with very little innovation and results. They turn up on average once a month and that’s really bad in terms of how much usage they get out of it.”

F45’s pioneering approach was based on the formula that variation plus motivation plus innovation equals results. In stark white studios, clients exercise in front of huge plasma screens showing 45-minute workouts. The atmosphere is designed to be non-intimidating and caters for all ages and levels.

“One day you train like an American quarterback and perhaps the next day you train like a surfer,” Rob says. “We’re the Apple store of the health and fitness scene.”

The first studio opened in Sydney in 2012 and the concept was franchised a year later, coming to the UK in 2017.

Rob believes the franchise’s runaway success is all about serious health and fitness, but also keeping things balanced and fun. As he says: “If that includes enjoying the odd glass of wine at weekends, so be it.”

Wife, mother, serial entrepreneur and owner of three successful businesses, Yemi’s working day starts around 5.30am with a 30-45-minute workout and runs on high octane from then on.

She says she relaxes by sitting on the beach watching the waves, but we wonder how long it takes before superwoman is on the move again.


Behind the B

rand - Actio

nCO

AC

H

ActionCOACH helped my

company to shine New business is coming in faster than ever, Luke Murfitt

of Integrity Cleaning says

ith over 32,000 cleaning businesses in the UK vying for a slice of the market, one forward-thinking business

owner decided to take action. By engaging an ActionCOACH business

growth specialist, Integrity Cleaning has reached over double the industry standard profit margin and a 650 per cent increase in turnover.

Action Coach Mitali Chopra has worked with Luke Murfitt, managing director of Integrity Cleaning, since October 2018. As a natural entrepreneur, he wanted to become the biggest and best in the

Greater London area. For the first nine months, growth was impressive - but Luke wanted more.

OPENING UP MY EYES He says: “A lot of people would be apprehensive to have someone come into their business and make suggestions for change, but I knew this was the way for me to take things to the next level.

“I went to one of Mitali’s seminars and, very soon after, arranged a one-to-one meeting to discuss the work we would do together. I quickly realised just how valuable having an Action Coach would be.

“Mitali understood everything I wanted to achieve - I required a more robust structure, stability, a sense of order and to be held accountable for my actions.”

SEEING IMMEDIATE EFFECTS“Not only did I have more self-confidence, but the team started to feel it too. They began taking responsibility for their actions and delivering a much better service.”

Almost immediately after beginning their coaching sessions, Integrity Cleaning secured a six-figure contract with the largest construction project in London. Alongside that, they signed huge clients, including a London university, House of Fraser on Oxford Street and The Shard. New business was coming in faster than ever before.

Testament to his commitment and drive for success, Luke was crowned ‘UK Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2019.

“Mitali calls me her ‘champion’, so I call her the ‘champion of champions’,” he says. “She’s not only helped me achieve my goals, but has also allowed me to focus on the future and strive for further growth.”

Mitali says Luke is a coach’s delight and adds: “He’s started to take ownership of his business and the pay-off is very impressive. It’s been an absolute privilege helping him to realise his potential.”

AT A GLANCEACTIONCOACH Established: 1993 in Australia. 2001 in UK





Contact: If you want to change lives like Mitali and you’re the kind of person who:

A. loves learning and helping people;


C. Is willing to invest if you see substantial returns can be made…


W

“I quickly realised just how valuable having an Action Coach would be”




Behind the B

rand - ShuttercraftBEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT

It’s the numbers that

matterHere are the hard facts about what a Shuttercraft

franchise can do for you

hoosing a franchise needs careful consideration when it comes to the features

that are most important to you and will give you the greatest satisfaction from running your own business.

In your working life, what are the things you enjoy most and which franchise options will enable you to spend most time doing them?

How much do you want to invest? What’s your budget and how can you get the best value from the various options on offer?

What plans do you have for your venture into franchising? Is it important that you choose

a franchise you can grow and develop or is it more about getting the lifestyle you want or maybe a mixture of both?

Are you building a business for future generations? Do you want to build a framework that enables you to hand it over when the time is right?

These are all crucial questions and you need to work through what is important to you and develop a process that helps you decide which franchise to choose.

SALES AND INCOMEBut what’s even more fundamental than many of the questions you will ask yourself is what you can

expect from a franchise in terms of sales and income. After all, it’s not just about the dreams and aspirations you have, but about the hard facts of what the franchise will deliver for you.

Most, if not all, franchises will offer you full support and training. The majority will have a great network of individuals who support each other. Some will offer fantastic products or services that you really want to sell.

SIGNIFICANT FIGURESShuttercraft understands the dynamics and considerations that go into making your choice, but not only does this company provide everything in terms of award winning training and support, excellent products and a model that enables you to grow and develop, it also has significant figures that back up the company’s franchise proposition, including:

• 80 per cent of leads generated by

the Shuttercraft head office team to support your business.

• 60 per cent of leads generated by head office convert to a sale.

• The average sale price is £650.• Average of £32,000 per month

in retail sales for each franchise partner.

• £100,000 gross profit achievable in three years.

• Cash flow positive in six months.

Whatever you decide are the most important features for you, take a good hard look at the numbers. Evidence of what is achievable will help you start with the confidence to flourish.

AT A GLANCESHUTTERCRAFTEstablished: 2012




Contact: Lisa Stead

shuttercraft-franchise.co.uk/contact-us

C

“60 per cent of leads generated by head office convert to a sale”


Behind the B

rand - Actio

nCO

AC

H

Proud to support business owners

After three years coaching businesses, Jeremy Graham-Clare has created 100 new jobs

in his local community

ith 23 years of experience in setting up, operating and managing businesses,

Jeremy Graham-Clare is no stranger to business coaching.

During the 2008 financial crisis, he enlisted the help of a coach, who helped take the company he was with at the time from good to great. Little did he know this experience would prove integral to the rest of his career.

Whilst searching for his next opportunity, Jeremy spotted a familiar name. He’d become aware of ActionCOACH over the years and although he could see the value of business coaching, he hadn’t considered becoming a coach himself.

Jeremy spoke with several other franchise partners during his due diligence, as well as meeting with the UK Support Team, before launching ActionCOACH St Albans in January 2017.

GOAL SETTINGHe says: “Right from the start, it was all about helping as many business owners as possible, so I set myself a target of 20 one-to-one and group coaching clients for year one. I also set myself my own personal goal of creating 1,000 jobs in the area.”

Now, over three years later, Jeremy’s business is thriving. In 2019, the ActionCOACH exclusive

firm builder licence was introduced, giving franchise partners the opportunity to work with over 10,000 businesses in their territory. Jeremy jumped at the chance to upgrade.

“Not only has ActionCOACH helped me grow my business, the impact that it’s had on my personal life has been amazing,” he says. “Whereas in my previous career I was working 14-hour days, I’m now able to take my children to school and pick them up four days a week.

“Throughout lockdown, I exceeded an average monthly income of £30,000. I’m proud that I’m able to support business owners at their time of need and transform their lives too. So far I’ve helped to create 100 jobs in the businesses I’ve coached.”

NEXT STEPSJeremy currently coaches 37 clients in both one-to-one and group coaching environments,

which includes ActionCOACH’s additional programmes BookCLUB, GrowthCLUB and BusinessCLUB. Not one to rest on his laurels, he has his sights set on taking things even further.

“The next steps in my business will be to bring in three more office staff and an employee coach,” Jeremy says. “This will help me manage the business from a top level, creating a buzzing firm with plenty of great clients. Ultimately, I’m preparing for when I want to take a step back from the business and have it work without me.

“The feeling of community and support I receive from the whole network is simply staggering - I can’t put into words how useful it’s been in getting my business off the ground.”






Contact:

If you would like to know more about the ActionCOACH opportunity and you’re the kind of person who:

A. Loves learning and developing yourself;


C. Is willing to invest if they see substantial returns can be made…



W



PROSPER D E S P I T E T H EPANDEMIC

Forecasts suggest franchising will see strong growth in the next two-three years. Here’s how

to pick a winning concept

WORDS BY ALAN WILKINSON

INSIGHT


uring my 25 years in franchising, I’ve been asked many times how a prospective franchisee

should decide which sector or brand they should consider joining.

My response has been consistent over the years. However, as we’re in the middle of a global pandemic there are factors that should now be considered in addition.

Adapting to changeAs we endured the first period of lockdown from March to May, it’s fair to say most businesses suffered and confidence was often low. However, businesses rallied and, where they could, adapted to change, introduced new policies and procedures, improved communications with staff and customers and made the most of a difficult situation.

Some businesses boomed. For example, logistics businesses saw a massive increase in turnover, with people ordering more online than ever before. Food delivery businesses also experienced an increase in turnover, as people were less willing or able to visit restaurants or venture out.

The franchise industry was not immune to the challenges

of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions. However, in these times of hardship we have seen numerous examples of franchisors going above and beyond their standard obligations to their franchisees.

Many introduced weekly video conferences with franchisees. Some amended the terms of their contracts to allow for adjusted working practices that enabled their franchisees to continue to trade or trade in a way that was both safe and within government restrictions. The best franchisors did all they could to increase communications and work with their franchise networks. Many will come out of the pandemic stronger and more resilient.

Choosing the right franchiseSo what should you consider when choosing the right franchise brand for you?

Think about which sector you want to operate in. Some people will want to stick to what they know and choose a business in an industry they have experience in. However, many will choose a new sector in which they have no previous experience.

This is possible in franchising, unlike

Din non-franchised self-employment, because the franchisor will have a proven system and track record and should offer full and detailed training, help and support that gives you the skills needed to succeed.

How has the sector been affected by COVID-19? Have the businesses operating been able to maintain turnover and profitability. If not, how quickly are they likely to bounce back?

If you’re determined to open a business in a sector that’s currently suffering, contemplate deferring your decision until the economic outlook in that sector is better and you can see the impact of lockdown and a path forward. Alternatively, consider a different sector, perhaps one that has seen growth over the last six months.

Decide how much you can investYou’ll also need to decide upon the investment level you can afford or are willing to commit to a new business venture. There are franchises at all levels of investment, ranging from under £10,000 up to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Often a franchise fee will include a turnkey package of equipment and

THE AUTHORAlan Wilkinson is head of franchise development at The Franchising Centre

7 FRANCHISE SECTORS THAT HAVE PERFORMED WELL IN 20201. Logistics2. Food delivery3. Lawn and garden care4. Home improvements

5. Elderly care6. Pet care7. Cleaning


stock. However, sometimes there are additional expenses on top of the franchise fee. You should investigate this carefully and calculate how long it will take to reach profitability and, therefore, how much additional working capital you’ll need.

Ask the franchisor specifically about projections pre-pandemic and during pandemic and understand how your profitability may be affected. While only around half of new franchisees need to borrow money, the franchise friendly banks will lend, for the right franchisor and subject to status, between 50 per cent and 70 per cent of the required funds.

A key element to think about is the time it will take to recoup this initial investment. As a rule of thumb, for an investment of £10,000-£20,000 you should expect return on capital invested in 12-18 months. For larger investments, this timeframe could be longer.

You should determine the term of the franchise agreement and the renewal clause to ensure you have enough time to both recover your investment and build a profitable business.

Create a shortlistWhen you’ve decided on your sector and investment level, you then need to investigate the franchise brands that match this criteria.

Some sectors can have many franchisors operating in competitive markets. Often, however, a franchisor may operate in a niche market with little competition.

Some people will want to join an established franchisor with many existing franchisees. Others may prefer to invest in an opportunity with a business that might be new to franchising, but has the experience of operating company owned outlets. These ground floor opportunities often have the benefit of having more available territories and may even offer a lower franchise fee for the first franchisees.

Make a shortlist of franchises that meet your criteria and look interesting to you. This may include ‘safe’ options in a sector you’re familiar with, but may also include more ‘exciting’ options in market sectors you may have had no previous exposure to.

You should then apply for information on their franchise offers, research their websites and commence your investigations.

Thriving despite uncertain timesWhile it may be assumed all businesses in a particular sector may be struggling with lockdown restrictions, there are almost certainly examples of businesses that have adapted and found a way to prosper where others have struggled.

A good example of this is a food and beverage client of mine, which switched its focus from sit down, eat in meals to take out and delivery and offered waiters and restaurant staff the opportunity of becoming delivery drivers as an alternative to furlough. Throughout lockdown this business has not only maintained, but improved profitability.

Many franchisors have seen growth in sales in 2020 and some have recruited record numbers of new franchisees. We’ve seen franchisors in the lawn and garden care sector and in home improvements achieve record results in the last six months.

Since March and the start of lockdown, I’ve attended and presented at many webinars both in the UK and internationally. The strong prevailing theme is that the franchise

industry will see strong growth in the next two-three years. There are two key factors that will lead this growth.

First, a lot of good people will either be made redundant or make a decision to start their own business. This is always good for franchisee recruitment and strengthens franchise networks.

Secondly, franchising is built on networks of like-minded business owners, who constantly look for opportunities for growth and share their successes with their franchisor and each other. A franchisor’s role is to work with every one of their franchisees to understand what is and isn’t working and share that knowledge for the benefit of the network.

In conclusion, some franchise sectors have remained strong, including care, gardening and home improvements, pet care and cleaning. Some sectors have adapted, such as food and beverage brands doing more delivery. Unfortunately, there are those that have struggled, but will hopefully bounce back.

For those people ready and willing to invest in a franchise brand, there will be a sector and franchisor that’s right for you and which can provide a platform on which you can build a successful business.

“Many franchisors have seen growth in sales in 2020 and some have recruited record numbers of new franchisees”


Behind the B

rand - Ablew

orld

Help our ageing

populationHard-working Ableworld franchisees can build million

pound-plus businesses in the mobility retail sector

bleworld is at the forefront of one of the fastest growing sectors in retail. Its

proven franchise model can help you dominate your local market and build a profitable, long-term business of your own.

Like all great businesses, Ableworld was founded to provide the solution to a widespread problem. In 1998 experienced retailer Mike Williams was shocked by his own experience of buying mobility products for his father - he found low quality products being sold at hugely inflated prices to vulnerable people.

Mike saw the opportunity to build a different kind of business that would provide a professional, dignified, ethical and trustworthy service to those requiring mobility products and their families.

UNSHAKING ETHOSToday, built on that unshaking ethos and with Mike still at the

helm, Ableworld, with 36 stores, is the largest mobility retailer in the country in an industry valued at around £1.5 billion annually.

With approximately 750,000 people reaching retirement age each year, there is a stable and increasing demand for the 800 products and services offered by Ableworld franchisees.

In addition, since many people in this age group have generous pensions and significant property equity they have the resources to purchase this much needed equipment. Ableworld’s mission is to help these customers live more comfortable and active lives as they get older.

EARNINGS POTENTIALIts franchise gives you two complementary income streams:

• The retail outlet. A mobility superstore that sells a comprehensive range of quality products to help the elderly and disabled in their homes and outdoors.• The stairlift business, which using only high quality branded equipment provides homeowners with a variety of life changing options.

With a personal investment of just £25,000, you could have a business of your own in a sector that is growing year on year. Ableworld’s proven franchise model means hard-working franchisees can build a £1 million-plus turnover business, with full training and ongoing support from the market leader.

No previous experience of the mobility industry is needed, as the company has a comprehensive training programme. Successful franchisees combine a desire to help others with their personal skills and the proven Ableworld franchise system to create a business that makes a difference in their community.

REALISTICALLY PRICEDAbleworld franchises are very realistically priced. When the company finds the right partners, it encourages them to succeed from the beginning, not hold them back with enormous upfront costs.

Moreover, Ableworld can help new franchisees to borrow any additional finance required by facilitating arrangements with the banks, which look very positively on lending to franchisees because of their high success rates. In certain circumstances, it’s possible to borrow up to 70 per cent of your total investment, including working capital.

With some retail businesses, it’s simply a case of how much you sell, not what you sell. What Ableworld does makes a difference, which is why the company is proud to have been voted Dealer of the Year UK at the 2019 Access & Mobility Professional Awards for its continued dedication to helping our ageing population and people living with disabilities.

AT A GLANCEABLEWORLDEstablished: 2001

Number of outlets: 36

Location of outlets: nationwide


Minimum capital required: £25,000

Contact: [email protected]. 01270 613599

ableworld.co.uk

A

“Ableworld’s mission is to help customers live more comfortable and active lives as they get older”




Behind the B

rand - Bluebird C

are

Delivering the very best

servicesBluebird Care is flying high, thanks to its person-centred

franchise proposition

ccording to Age UK’s 2019 Later Life report, there are nearly 12 million people aged 65 and above in the UK. By 2030, it’s predicted

that one in five people in the UK will be in this age group.

So what does this mean for the care sector? It means that demand will only keep on increasing.

HOME COMFORTSUnderstandably, many older people would prefer to stay in the comfort of their own homes for as long as they can.

Home doesn’t just mean a place to lay their heads; it represents independence,

stability and flexibility. Perhaps most importantly, a home is filled with a lifetime of memories, raising a child, family Christmases or spending many happy years together with a partner.

The ongoing pandemic has given many even more reasons to find ways to keep their loved ones in their homes as long as possible. By receiving care in the safety and comfort of their own home, they will limit their exposure to a trusted carer or teams of carers who can attend to their needs, whether that’s collecting their groceries, cooking a meal, tidying the house or helping them in and out of bed.

MAKING A DIFFERENCEBluebird Care is privileged to offer care options to those who prefer to live at home. The company’s franchises are able to provide person-centred home care to people across the UK.

It’s imperative that service

providers keep up with the increasing demand of an ageing population, which is why Bluebird Care believes now is a great time to get involved in the care industry. It currently has franchises available to purchase in numerous areas of the UK. But why should you choose Bluebird Care?

The company takes great pride in making a difference. Its care assistants work dutifully and considerately to deliver a bespoke service to customers, ensuring their needs are met. As a result, Bluebird Care has been celebrated at the Home Care Awards, workingmums.co.uk, Top Franchise Awards and homecare.co.uk Top 20 Home Care Provider Awards.

As a Bluebird Care franchisee, you’ll enter the care sector under a brand that’s well known for its quality.

Perhaps most importantly, you and your staff will also have access to award winning training, as well as the collective expertise of over 200 businesses across the company’s franchise network. Bluebird Care’s blended training approach and continued support ensures the consistent delivery of the very best care services.

ATTRACTIVE OPPORTUNITYPaul Barry, owner of Bluebird Care Chichester, Epsom & Kingston, Oxford, Reigate and Sussex Weald, says: “I was particularly attracted to Bluebird Care for three reasons: the size of the UK care market, the strength of the Bluebird Care brand and the ability of their business model to be resilient in tough economic conditions.

“When I joined, I found the support and training offered by Bluebird Care to be very strong, particularly in the early days when all the care terminology plus policies and procedures can be new and slightly bewildering.”

AT A GLANCEBLUEBIRD CARE Established: 2004


Location of units: UK and Ireland



Contact: Victoria Brown, Franchise Development Manager. 07912 771149 [email protected]

bluebirdcarefranchise.co.uk

A

“Bluebird Care believes now is a great time to get involved in the care industry”



Behind the B

rand - Grapevine P

RBEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT

PR: why you should up the ante

Now’s the time to add this valuable tool to your marketing mix, Mel Betts, director of

Grapevine PR, says

t’s a tough time for many businesses right now. During a crisis, some firms

stop marketing altogether, but to survive and thrive they should be upping the ante.

PR is a great way to showcase your franchise. However, it’s long been seen as a ‘dark art’. It’s frustrating that an industry that is great at promoting its clients is not so great at explaining how and what PR is and how powerful results are easily achieved.

Having worked in franchise PR for 20-plus years, it’s high time I made an effort to explode some myths in order to put PR back centre stage as one of the most valuable tools you can add to your marketing mix.

DEFINING THE TERMFirstly, PR stands for public relations. I’ve always felt this can be a slightly confusing term, as 99 per cent of the work most PR agencies do is press relations rather than stakeholder relations.

Press relations involves a simple process of identifying news stories relevant to the client, developing a series of press releases and proactively supplying them to the appropriate media outlets that target audiences read in a timely manner.

In addition to a steady stream of press releases, news should be supported by bylined articles about topical, relevant subjects, plus client case studies. In the old days, press interviews were also useful, but have become less popular in recent years.

SPACE FOR DETAILOne of the main benefits of PR is that it provides the space for detail, which shorter social media posts can’t offer. ‘The more you tell, the more you sell’ is a phrase that comes to mind.

If you have someone potentially interested in buying a franchise territory, they will want to read case studies and success stories. Media coverage offers the perfect opportunity to create this high visibility collateral.

Phil Gaffer, franchise sales and business development manager at Papa John’s UK, explains: “PR has been instrumental in supporting our franchise recruitment process over the years.

“Regular trade press releases, articles and case studies written and placed by Grapevine demonstrate in detail the franchise opportunity we offer and has certainly helped us attract the right calibre of franchisees.”

KEY TO SUCCESSThe key to PR success is presenting information to the media that’s valuable to readers in a way a journalist can use it, ideally with as little editing as possible. This requires a schedule of stories; a pipeline of content, if you like. It’s that simple.

Okay, there are a few other elements, like the requirement to nurture great relationships with journalists, the need to use clear and careful messaging and to ensure a campaign dovetails into a coherent vision and strategy, but essentially it’s a straightforward, logical process.

So clients know what they’ll get from their PR budget, at Grapevine I offer guaranteed deliverables - for example, an agreed number of articles or press releases generated within a specified timeframe. I also encourage clients to go for a trial project, particularly if they’ve never undertaken PR before, to see how it all works.

If we’ve learned anything over the past few months, it’s that we need to do things differently moving forwards. So could now be the right time to add PR to your marketing mix?

AT A GLANCEGRAPEVINE PRContact: Mel Betts. [email protected]

grapevinepr.com

I

“If you have someone potentially interested in buying a franchise territory, they will want to read case studies and success stories”


Behind the B

rand - Chrysalis P

artners

A career in coaching

Chrysalis Partners franchisee Graham Garman helps transform the fortunes of UK small and

medium-sized enterprises

ollowing a successful career in the corporate world and after being made redundant in

2019, Graham Garman decided to look into franchising in order to help business owners transform their companies and drive more success within their organisations.

With over 25 years of coaching experience in sales and marketing, business growth and profitability, Graham is passionate about helping businesses achieve their goals.

BETTER BALANCEHe explains: “Throughout my career I’ve helped businesses to overachieve their targets. However, after being made redundant I wanted to find something that gave me more flexibility and the ability to balance my lifestyle around my work.

“Becoming part of Chrysalis Partners has allowed me to be both a successful business coach, as well as being able to enjoy time to myself.”

Chrysalis Partners is the fastest growing coaching and consultancy franchise in the UK, offering business coaching and consultancy to the small and medium-sized enterprise market.

Starting your own business can be daunting, which is why the company offers an inclusive marketing campaign (including 15 appointments with prospects) to get franchisees started, as well as an enhanced support programme that allows franchisees to work alongside a highly experienced coach’s coach for three months to help them win their first clients.

Chrysalis Partners’ model comes with a money-back guarantee on your licence fee, such is its confidence in the systems it offers.

COMMITTED TO SUCCESS“They’re totally committed to ensuring success for the partners and the value from the training is second to none,” Graham says. “With additional group meetings, Chrysalis encourages you to work together and share successes to broaden your knowledge and leverage one another’s strengths.”

With more than five million SMEs in the UK, demand for Chrysalis Partners’ services is huge. Furthermore, with most new businesses failing in the first few years the requirement for a coach to help steer them to success is greater than ever, particularly during the unprecedented recent challenges faced by the global economy.

“I was extremely worried about what lockdown might mean for business coaching,” Graham says. “However, Chrysalis have been so supportive to all the coaches - they reduced our monthly fees and scheduled regular zoom calls, which made me feel valued.

“We have all had to learn from this new way of working, but from day one Chrysalis were committed to making sure everyone wouldn’t be impacted negatively. I have been lucky and secured three recent deals, but without the extra support from Chrysalis this wouldn’t have been possible.”

GROWING COMMUNITY New franchisees join a growing community of business professionals, who share their experiences and thoughts on how they’re using the Chrysalis Partners models and strategies to best effect with their clients.

“The incredible support and training provided are world class,” Graham says. “I’m privileged to be part of the Chrysalis Partners franchise and I would recommend anyone thinking of a career in consulting to use Chrysalis.”

AT A GLANCECHRYSALIS PARTNERSEstablished: 2017






chrysaliscoach.co.uk

F

“The incredible support and training provided are world class”




ehind the Brand - A

gency Express

Share in the company’s

successBy investing in an Agency Express franchise, you benefit from low start-up costs, low overheads and high returns

gency Express is the UK’s largest provider of professional estate agency board services.

Established in 1998, its national network of specially trained franchise operators service and maintain over 60 per cent of all estate agency boards across the UK.

As an industry leader and multi award winner, franchisees benefit from one of the best franchise packages available and today an ever growing network of 117 franchisees share in the company’s national success.

Agency Express’ van-based, owner operated franchise opportunity benefits from low start-up costs, low overheads and generates high returns.

With its proven business formulas, top franchisees have

achieved turnovers in excess of £200,000, while others on average exceed £80,000 gross per annum.

AWARD NOMINATIONSupport and innovation are at the core of the business and Agency Express believes that a well supported network with a healthy work-life balance breeds happy, successful franchisees, which is one of the many reasons why the company has once again been shortlisted in the British Franchise Association HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards.

On being shortlisted, Stephen Watson, chairman for Agency Express, said: “Agency Express have been very fortunate to have already won a bronze, silver and gold award for Franchisor of the Year, so when we were once again announced as a

finalist in the 2020 bfa HSBC British Franchise Association Awards we were delighted.

“The revered award showcases the UK’s most exceptional franchisors and achieving a place in the final selection illustrates our ongoing commitment to our franchisees’ success and welfare. To be recognised as Franchisor of the Year is truly the kitemark of franchise excellence and something every franchise should aspire to.”

EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORTWith Agency Express, franchisees can also rest assured that they will have access to exceptional ongoing support.

From accounts and operations to sales and marketing, franchisees are guided through every aspect of their business, giving them the knowledge and confidence to become successful franchise owners.

Paul Dymond, who launched his Agency Express franchise in June 2020, says: “I first saw Agency Express on the bfa website and it ticked all the boxes. I liked the idea of a van-based, repeat customer business that had reasonably low overheads.

“The prospect and reward of being self-employed is something I strived for, but it’s the support and guidance you get when working with a franchise that gave me the courage to proceed.

“Starting a business, even in the best financial climate, comes with uncertainty. This is why a franchise opportunity appealed to me because of the high levels of support and increased success rates.”

If you’re considering franchising and would like the reassurance of a proven, award winning business model, the Agency Express opportunity could be the perfect match for you.

With Agency Express, no previous experience or qualifications are required, just self motivation and a willingness to succeed.

“Top franchisees have achieved turnovers in excess of £200,000”

AT A GLANCEAGENCY EXPRESSEstablished: 1998





Contact: Ben Brookes

agencyexpress.co.uk

A

ADVICE


INSIGHT

Join the fast lane to successThe unique benefits of owning a franchise will help you do something you enjoy while making that all-important profit

f you’re looking to start your own business or change career, becoming a franchisee is a great

way to minimise risks and improve your chances of success.

Whether you’re passionate about retail chains, fitness or cleaning, there are a huge number of franchise opportunities available that will help you do something you enjoy while making that all-important profit.

For those just starting out, you must do your homework on your franchise brand of choice. This includes evaluating all the options available to you, speaking to existing franchisees and meeting with the head office team.

While it’s important to do your due diligence, it’s also vital to remember that there are a number of unique benefits of owning a franchise business. Not only can you expedite the start-up phase of your new venture, but you will benefit from brand credibility, ongoing business support and the experience that’s on offer from the franchise network.

Power of the brandOne of the biggest benefits of becoming part of a franchise network is brand awareness.

It takes time to nurture a recognisable brand, but it can often be the difference between success and failure. By joining an established franchise, you’re in the right place to take advantage of a brand that’s reputable and well respected in the industry.

Customers come to rely on businesses and their products or services wherever they are located in the franchise network and this can be assumed when opening a new franchise.

No matter what the industry is, selecting a franchise with a recognisable brand will significantly

reduce the amount of time needed to educate your target market on your service proposition. Customers will have already established awareness of the products or services on offer and it’s up to the franchisee to meet those expectations.

A powerful brand also has the potential to increase the value of the franchise. By building strong customer relationships and loyalty, franchise companies may experience increased demand for new locations, thereby increasing the value of the entire network.

Brand awareness is a great way to stand out from the competition in today’s crowded marketplace. A strong network will help new franchisees to differentiate themselves and their products or services and gain customer loyalty quickly.

Ongoing business support When starting a new business, there are a number of issues you will face on a daily basis. Therefore, it’s extremely helpful to be part of a franchise network that provides guidance and extensive training to allow your business to prosper.

For a new franchisee, initial training is likely to include classroom and on-the-job instruction. In addition, franchisors may send members of its staff to assist in the opening of a new franchise and help train the franchisee’s employees on best practices.

Looking ahead, you can also expect to receive ongoing assistance from head office.

As a franchisee, you’ll be required to meet brand standards and procedures. This is why training is critical to help improve the business’ performance.

Training generally covers

ITHE AUTHORJean-Henri Beukes is managing director of commercial cleaning specialist Ecocleen

customer satisfaction, lead generation, new technologies and the profitability of your business. Franchisees should take advantage of this, which will allow them to focus on the things that matter most: customer service and building relationships.

Franchisees can gain guidance from the franchisor’s marketing specialists to build an understanding of what activity should be conducted

WORDS BY JEAN-HENRI BEUKES



when they first open their business. These professionals will be

available throughout the duration of the partnership, leveraging insights and expertise from the franchise network to make the most of the marketing opportunities available on a local and national scale.

Harnessing network knowledgeRunning a franchise can be stressful and challenging at times. That’s why it’s vital to select a franchise that offers a strong support network to help you through.

On top of support from the franchisor itself, you will be able to access peer support from your fellow franchisees. You can pick up tips and tricks for success and learn from those who understand your situation best.

By speaking with other franchisees who are at various stages of their franchising journey, you can ask for advice and come up with a solution to any problem together.

As well as ad hoc communications, many franchisors organise regular

events that allow franchisees to meet directly with others in the network,

as well as members of staff from head office. These are great opportunities to network with your peers, share new information and support each other.

Over time, franchisees will be keen to give back to the network, echoing their experience and the knowledge they received when they first joined. As a network grows, a culture of peer support and collaboration will be fostered, benefiting the entire network and boosting long-term success.

Having a tight-knit network can motivate the people who are part of it. Those within the network will also treat the franchises as their own, which usually means higher sales and profit levels. As a result, the speed of growth can help develop the infrastructure of the franchise.

A model for successBecoming a franchisee is appealing to many entrepreneurs. It removes the need to build a brand from scratch, establish business procedures and train staff.

When you choose to become a franchisee, you are buying into a network that has already shaped a model for success. There is a reputable and credible brand that customers immediately recognise, with marketing support to continue this momentum and spread brand awareness.

More importantly, franchising brings with it the benefits of ongoing business support and peer advice from others in the network.

Your franchisee peers may be more experienced and have important processes and systems figured out already. New and existing franchisees can take advantage of ongoing business support from head office across a range of functions, including sales, finance, operations and HR, meaning they can learn what they need to know very early on.

“It’s extremely helpful to be part of a franchise network that provides

guidance and extensive training to allow your business to prosper”



Behind the B

rand - Extra Help

We’ve created a strong family of

franchiseesManaging director Claire Robinson explains why Extra

Help is a great opportunity for people looking for a low cost franchise with high returns

xtra Help is a national franchise network that provides home help and domestic cleaning

services to many different types of people, including the elderly, new parents and working professionals.

The company is proud to be celebrating its 10th birthday this year. That’s 10 years of assisting thousands of happy customers. 10 years of building a family of wonderful franchisees across the country, who all work incredibly hard to build Extra Help’s collective

reputation. They are essential in maintaining the trustworthy, positive brand and company ethos Extra Help is so proud of.

Managing director Claire Robinson explains why Extra Help is such a great opportunity for people who are looking for a low cost franchise with high returns that they can get up and running easily:

WHY SHOULD A POTENTIAL FRANCHISEE INVEST IN EXTRA HELP, ESPECIALLY AT THE MOMENT?Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been able to keep operating, unlike many other businesses who were forced to close their doors.

We even recruited seven new franchisees during the recent lockdown, which proves Extra Help is a viable franchise opportunity, even in the current economic climate.

Our flexible business model meant our franchisees could simply focus on promoting the services they were still able to provide during lockdown, such as window cleaning, shopping, dog walking, gardening, etc, so were able to continue to earn an income, even though we were not permitted to enter people’s homes.

Also, as many of our customers are elderly or vulnerable, we were allowed to continue to assist them.

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT EXTRA HELP?Quite simply, it’s the people.

Our selection process ensures we only choose franchisees who

are genuinely passionate about helping others.

This means that not only do our customers feel safe, valued and cared for, but we have also created a strong family of franchisees who care about helping each other to achieve success.

We encourage them to collaborate and build relationships with each other and assign mentors to new franchisees, so they never feel alone.

WHAT MAKES THE IDEAL EXTRA HELP FRANCHISEE?Extra Help franchisees are compassionate and trustworthy, with a strong desire to help others.

They’re also highly motivated and willing to do whatever it takes to build their reputations within their local communities. People who are happy to follow a tried and tested, simple business model, but don’t need to be micromanaged, would be ideal.

You don’t necessarily need experience of running a business, but management experience is useful, as you’ll be running a team, coordinating schedules, etc. Good communication and customer service skills are obviously essential.

AT A GLANCEEXTRA HELPEstablished: 2010



Investment range: £10,000 (plus VAT)

Contact: [email protected]. 01752 905790

extra-help.co.uk

E

“Extra Help franchisees are compassionate and trustworthy, with a strong desire to help others”



Behind the B

rand - Actio

nCO

AC

HBEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT

No rookie mistakes

ActionCOACH’s award winning newcomer Kevin Riley has had a spectacular first year in business

ust 12 months after launching his ActionCOACH business, Kevin Riley scooped the

award for Global Rookie Coach of the Year.

The accolade is based on client income in a franchisee’s first full year and despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin certainly hasn’t made any rookie mistakes.

BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP In 2017, Kevin stood in front of his loyal employees after discovering a large-scale fraud in his travel company to inform them they no longer had jobs. Operations had to cease immediately and Kevin hated the thought of anyone else going through a similar experience - thus encouraging him to choose a franchise passionate about the success of business owners.

ActionCOACH pioneered the business coaching profession and now has 1,000 franchise partners worldwide, with over 200 in the UK. At the end of 2018 and 2019, ActionCOACH was named the UK’s Best B2B Franchise and for 8 years in a row has rated 5-stars for franchisee satisfaction.

“I’d set a target to generate a monthly income of £30,000 by year four of the business - I smashed through it within just seven months,” he says.

“As developments in early 2020 brought my client income up to £45,000 a month, I’ve begun to extend my team. That will mean ActionCOACH Warwick can support even more businesses and move closer towards our goal of creating 150 millionaires within 15 years.”

WORKING TOWARDS A GREAT FUTURE Although Kevin’s calendar has been fully booked for his first year, he knows how important those initial 12 months are in business. By putting in the crucial groundwork, he knows he’ll have a more flexible schedule to spend time with his family in the future.

“The main reason I work is for my family,” Kevin says. “My wife and our two children love doing things together. We love going on holiday, exploring different places and keeping active.

“We all knew sometimes business would come away with us on holiday - especially in those early days. But the flexibility of coaching means I can do it from anywhere.

“After my travel company closed, I lost sight of what I was looking for - ActionCOACH revealed itself to me when I needed it most. A year later and to be named Global Rookie Coach of the Year is great.”






Contact:

If you want to build a business with scalability and longevity, make a difference in your local community and you’re the kind of person who:

A. loves learning and developing people;


C. Is willing to invest if you see substantial returns can be made…


J


ADVICE


INSIGHT

It’s time to speak with one voiceWe can’t continue to let a lack of awareness constrict the growth of the franchise sector

ranchising is, in my opinion, one of the most misunderstood, most underestimated

and most overlooked sectors in the UK.

For years, there has been one constant and ever present complaint amongst franchisors: the pool of candidates never gets bigger. This is especially worrying as there seems to be hundreds of new ‘franchisors’ popping up all over the place courtesy of the ‘£50 and I’ll franchise your business’ consultants - all of which are fishing from the same pool.

Greater knowledge neededEvery year we franchisors attend conferences, go on courses, try new marketing methods and in the end we sit around a table and agree the only thing the sector needs is greater awareness of franchising amongst the general public.

Over the years, there have been attempts to boost awareness by the associations or commercial companies trying to sell floor space at exhibitions. But in reality they just haven’t had the clout to address the core issue of awareness that is constricting the growth of the sector.

Frankly, I’m tired of riding this same merry-go-round every year. So it’s time we stopped complaining about it and with one voice start doing something about it.

If you’re a franchisor, there’s a good chance you’re a member of the Franchise Mastermind group. You will have seen and been part of the extraordinary cooperation between franchisors over the past six months. Now more than ever,

FTHE AUTHORSean Goldsmith is a special adviser to the franchising industry

WORDS BY SEAN GOLDSMITH



it’s critical for us to stand shoulder to shoulder and make it our business to promote and educate as many people as we can about the incredible depth and diversity of franchising in the UK.

By promoting the industry as a whole, you will not only benefit your own business, but the businesses of the family of franchisors we have developed such strong bonds with.

Educate your local politiciansNot sure where to start or what to do? Do something simple, like educating your local politicians. Let’s get them to champion the franchising industry and start using us as examples of Great British businesses in their morning interviews on the BBC.

Write open letters like the one below I recently wrote to the Minister for Small Business, Paul Scully. It’s a small step, but if we all promote our industry we can move mountains.

Dear Mr Scully, I write to you as a member of an industry who’s good and tireless work is largely hidden behind the magnificent glow emanating from the golden arches of McDonald’s.

It is a sector that contributes over £17 billion to the UK economy and employs near on a million people. It is a sector that has time and time again proven its incredible resilience and unparalleled ability to survive tough economic times. It is a sector whose success is unapparelled in the world of small business. It is a sector where the small businesses within it enjoy a 93 per cent success rate compared to the 80 per cent failure rate of small businesses in the UK.

I am sure you have by now identified the magical sector I am speaking of, but in case you haven’t, we are the dog walkers, window cleaners, pizza companies, gyms, restaurants, children’s dance classes, coffee shops, mobile coffee vendors, delivery drivers, car cleaners, tutors, storage companies and heroic in-home carers, who have been looking after Britain’s elderly and most vulnerable throughout the pandemic.

I am, of course, speaking about the incredibly diverse franchising sector.

In a quite illogical twist of fate, franchising has largely been the forgotten sector because we are generally more robust than independent small businesses.

We are the forgotten sector because we put our heads down and never ask for concessions or favours. We are the forgotten sector because there is very little understanding of what we do in the halls of power.

Over the past six months, the industry came together in a way that was incredible to behold. It worked tirelessly for one purpose and one purpose only: to ensure franchisees survived the COVID-19 ordeal.

I am happy to report that they were almost universally successful in this endeavour. Yes, tens of thousands of small businesses have been kept alive as a direct result of the efforts of the franchisors of Great Britain.

Mr Scully, I am sure by now you are wondering what the point of this letter is. Well, allow me to explain. The franchising sector, and more specifically the franchisors behind the brands, possess unrivalled skills and expertise when it comes to launching and growing successful small businesses. That is an incontestable fact.

These masters of small business, as I call them, not only have the challenge of running their own small business, but are often supporting tens and sometimes hundreds of franchisees build their commercial dreams. But these incredible people and brands have been overlooked, underestimated and gone largely unsupported by consecutive governments for too long.

This is something I hope you will help me rectify as the franchise industry is a loyal, reliable and valuable servant to the British economy. As a sector, we are without doubt going to be at the tip of the spear of economic recovery for all the reasons I mentioned above. But in order for us to really make a difference, we need your help and support. Let me explain.

I support a group of over 350 incredible franchisors that have over the past six months repeatedly agreed that the biggest challenge we face is lack of awareness of the diversity and consistency of the industry. It is also fair to say that many of those in power have not been given the opportunity to

“It’s critical to promote and educate as many people as we can about the incredible depth and diversity of franchising in the UK”


understand the extent of the industry.

So with this in mind, I would like to invite you and your team to a tour of the franchising industry you currently represent. Not the carefully choreographed PR tours you are often subjected to. No, I would like to take you on a tour of the heart and soul of franchising in the UK - the reliable business engine that keeps firing, regardless of outside forces like COVID-19.

I want to introduce you to extraordinary business people who are leading the way in ground breaking innovation. I want to explain the models and systems that have proven so incredibly reliable when it comes to weathering the storm. I want to show you and your team exactly how franchising could become the pilot flame that reignites the furnace of small business growth in this great country.

We are a small but significant sector and I feel that once you understand our sector better you will see how, with your support, the franchising sector will lead the charge in the small business fight back in the UK.

I sincerely hope you will accept my invitation and I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards, Sean Goldsmith

Spread the wordSo to anyone reading this, spread the word in every way you can. Promote your fellow franchisors and see how quickly they will promote you.

And if we do this with one voice, we will all benefit immensely from the additional awareness of this most excellent industry.

their business dreams. Franchising could help you

overcome many of these obstacles, providing a route into self-employment by offering training and support, as well as a format to follow.

Three key benefitsHere are three key benefits of buying a franchise:

• You have a proven format to follow.

The franchisor has already operated the business to prove the model works and should have evidence of successful trading to demonstrate this.

As a new franchisee, you’ll start your business under the umbrella of the existing brand, with a structure to work to, which should reduce the stress of having to think of everything yourself.

• The risks are lower with franchising than

starting up on your own.

“The franchisor has already operated the business to prove

the model works”

Solving the solitude of self-employmentFranchising can help overcome the common obstacles you face if you want to be your own boss

n these uncertain times, during a global pandemic with recessionary pressures

rising, you wouldn’t think that starting a business would be high on people’s agenda.

However, according to recent research 64 per cent of the UK workforce want to set up their own business, rising to 83 per cent among 18-24-year-olds.

What’s driving this desire for self-employment? One in three want flexible working and to be able to work from home, while around the same number dislike their current job.

And yet, according to the same research, 43 per cent of these aspiring business owners don’t believe they will set up on their own. A quarter are concerned it will be too stressful. Men

fear competition and failure and women worry about whether

they have the relevant skills and are also

significantly less confident of

fulfilling

IThe latest British Franchise

Association/NatWest research shows that commercial failure accounted for under one per cent of franchise unit changes. The same survey revealed 93 per cent of franchisees reported profitability and over 90 per cent were happy with their relationship with their franchisor.

• Training and support will be provided.

As a new franchisee, you should receive comprehensive training in the operation of your business, enabling you to run it with confidence.

The franchisor should be there to support you, especially in the early days of trading - this is an important part of why franchise businesses are less likely to fail.

There should be ongoing training too, as you build your business and gain in experience, helping you to develop your skills as a franchisee.

Less stressful experienceFranchising can be a great way to get into business for yourself, with support, training and a proven format combining to make it a less stressful experience than trying to go it alone.

Of course, not everyone is cut out to be a business owner. It involves lots of hard work and is never going to be entirely risk free.

However, if it’s something you’ve always dreamed of, at some point you should take action if those dreams

are ever to become a reality. Don’t let a lack of confidence stop you.

WORDS BY CATHRYN HAYES

THE AUTHORCathryn Hayes is franchise director at Revive! Auto Innovations


OPINION

Interested?To find out more call

01483 332220or visit

www.franchise.getaheadva.com

If we have learnt onething from the pandemic,it is that flexible workingis here to stay and that is

fundamental to Get Ahead VA.

I would recommend thisfranchise opportunity toanyone who’s thinking of

taking the plunge.

Fiona Ibbetson, Regional Director

Get Ahead VA Leeds

Run your own Get Ahead Virtual Agency with executivementoring, integrated marketing campaigns, and full teamsupport within your own dedicated region.

We can help you go into business for yourself, not by yourself.

Pick Bluebird Care for your next adventureBluebird Care offers a comprehensive support package to support franchise owners in

getting started quickly.

Franchise owners manage and develop their businesses, recruiting a team of brand

advocates who deliver a continuum of high quality, person-centred, non-medical care

in the community.

Why choose Bluebird Care?

• Largest provider of Private Home Care in the UK

• Proven Business Model

• Award Winning Training

• Elite Franchise ‘Top 20 franchise for 2020’

Get in touch with Vicky Brown today to start your franchising journey.

07912 771149 | [email protected] | www.bluebirdcarefranchise.co.uk

“The best thing about BluebirdCare is that we get to follow a

model that simply works!”

Julie McLellan, Bluebird Care North Tyneside



Behind the B

rand - Sparkle Cleaning

parkle Cleaning delivers efficient and thorough commercial cleaning across the professional services,

industrial space, hospitality and education sectors.

The business says it’s unique because it’s more than just a group of people who are cleaning - it’s a family who mix fun with professionalism and always support each other to offer the best possible service to customers and franchisees.

We spoke to Vikki Ingram about making the transition from employee to Sparkle Cleaning franchisee:

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELFI worked as a social worker and in social work management for the past seven years in total. I got stuck in the ‘rat race’ of working hard, burning out, then taking

annual leave. That was my life. I’d got to the point where the

pressure of the job was making me resent it. When I became pregnant, I knew something had to change. I wanted a better work-life balance and a career I loved. I started my Sparkle Cleaning business while on maternity leave with my six-month-old baby.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF BEING A FRANCHISEE?At first, I had serious reservations about starting the franchise. The company wasn’t as established as other cleaning franchise options I could have considered. I had much self doubt about whether I could do

‘business’, as I had worked in the corporate world and in a steady income job for a number of years.

HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW? Looking back, I can see I made the right decision. I’ve got more control over my life, I’m earning a great income, I can give my family more time and Gareth Sanders, the owner of Sparkle Cleaning, has inspired me to keep growing the business.

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT SPARKLE CLEANING?I knew Gareth had Sparkle Cleaning for a few years and I trusted him. I’d watched him grow the business, so I had witnessed his success.

WHAT APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT THE BUSINESS THE MOST? The amount of support and the access to processes. The team has helped with implementing start-up processes, recruitment, onboarding and prospecting. My future plans are to continue to grow the business, so it can function without me.

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO OTHERS LOOKING TO START A FRANCHISE? Believe in yourself. I love it and would never go back to an employed job. Gareth has created a monster!

AT A GLANCESPARKLE CLEANING Established: 2016


Location of units: Bristol, Bath, Newport, Swindon, Birmingham central and Birmingham north



Contact: 01172 591456

sparklecleanup.com

S “I love it and would never go back to an employed job”


+

FORMER SOCIAL WORKER VIKKI INGRAM NOW RUNS HER OWN THRIVING SPARKLE CLEANING FRANCHISE

EXTRA HELP® is a franchise network that operates in a rapidly growing,recession-resilient market. We provide home-help and domestic services tomany different types of people, including the elderly, new parents andworking professionals.

EXTRA HELP®

franchisees receive apackage that is packedfull of benefits:

✓ Up and runningimmediately

✓ Own exclusive territory

✓ Operations Manual

✓ Comprehensive training

✓ Ongoing support

✓ Access to Facebookgroup

✓ Telephone number

✓ Email address

✓ Web page

✓ Database managementsystem

✓ Social media adviceand more.

Could you be our next franchisee?EXTRA HELP® is currently searching for caring and highly motivated franchisees to join our growing network.

If you’d like to find out more, please contact our franchise team today.01604 532932 | [email protected] | www.extra-help.co.uk



Borne of frustration

Sales Geek is offering battle hardened sales warriors a new, more satisfying way of working

ales Geek is fed up that the profession the company loves is generally seen in a negative light and that

‘sales’ has become a dirty word. Founder Richard Few was fed up

when he created Sales Geek. He was exhausted with the commute, tired of the day-to-day and frankly frustrated with office politics.

There had to be something better? A route to freedom and happiness. There had to be a way to use his knowledge and experience to support real people and real businesses at the core of his community? There had to be a way for ‘sales’ to mean more. Sales Geek was borne of his frustration.

Since Sales Geek’s formation in 2017, it’s helped hundreds of businesses to grow and thrive. The company has helped clients understand the transformational power of excellence in sales leadership. And at the same time its ‘Geeks’ have, like Richard, purged their frustrations and found a new, more satisfying way of working.

ARE YOU A SALES GEEK?Thousands of people work in sales and probably dream of escape, but only a small percentage can class themselves as true sales geeks.

To own a Sales Geek franchise you must align with the company’s core values and have 20-plus years’ C-suite experience.

Sales Geek franchise owners are battle hardened sales warriors. They have been there and done it and still return, committed to learning more each day.

They are able to diagnose issues and problems within a business and prescribe the right treatment. They are mentors, able to get the best out of everyone they meet, from CEOs to sales apprentices. A Sales

Geek exemplifies the company’s passion and ultimately commits to its mission to change the way the world perceives sales.

WHAT’S THE DEAL?A Sales Geek franchise provides a part-time interim sales director service for small businesses and if you match up with the criteria above you have the potential to own a very successful business doing just that. The company’s 180 per cent year-on-year growth and multiple awards provides its own case study.

It costs an initial £20,000 for a Sales Geek franchise, with a further £5,000 due in years two to five.

Sales Geek provides you with full training and processes, systems and materials to hit the ground running. Included is membership of one of the UK’s top networking groups.

A £200 per month marketing fee gives you access to the might of Geek HQ. System license fees are due from month three and ongoing fees are at 20 per cent.

A WORD FROM SALES GEEK’S FIRST FRANCHISEETony Capper of Sales Geek Lancaster and South Lakes says: “Sales Geek’s proposition was absolutely perfect for me.

“I’m able to do exactly what I love. I get to help real, grassroot small businesses within my community and make a massive contribution to their success, while maintaining a work-life balance for myself.

“As an added bonus, I’ve been able to get off to an absolute flyer with Sales Geek’s help and am billing 12 days per month after just three months. Best of all? I’m no longer a fed-up!”

“A Sales Geek franchise provides a part-time interim sales director service for small businesses”

AT A GLANCESALES GEEK Established: 2017


Location of units: UK and worldwide

Investment range: £20,000 up front, then £5,000 at beginning of years 2-5



salesgeek.co.uk/franchise-opportunities

S

Behind the B

rand - Sales Geek



Behind the B

rand - Afrikana


Inspired by Africa

Afrikana’s wholesome business model has success written all over it

ounded by entrepreneur Omair Ali, Afrikana was originally established

in Aldridge, a small town located in the north of the UK, in 2018.

A gap in the current hospitality market saw the start of an African inspired restaurant offering high-end food infused with a twist of beautiful African flavours. It was a new and exciting venture, not only consisting of a delectable menu, but a wholesome business model that had success written all over it.

During the course of 2019, the company experienced a year full of fast paced growth, progression and development. Afrikana was on everyone’s radar and resulted in multiple franchises being opened throughout the UK, as well as international deals being signed.

EXPERIENCED TEAMThe Afrikana team consists of skilled individuals who take pride in everything they do. Delivering at the highest level possible, they have a vast amount of experience within the hospitality sector.

Diversity is a key factor that the business thrives on - the mixed mindsets, personalities, energy and positivity creates the perfect balance within the workplace, allowing the company to understand and adapt.

COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORTWhen franchising with Afrikana, you’re supported every step of the way. The company’s support team specialises in a number of fields, including marketing, branding, finance and architecture, which

ensures the business runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the business had to rapidly adapt to the new normal. But through it all, the company stood united by its team, every employee, every franchisee and every customer and was always there to help.

There are a substantial amount of reasons why opening an Afrikana franchise will benefit you. For starters, you’ll be joining an established business, which reduces the risk of becoming your own boss.

AT A GLANCEAFRIKANAEstablished: 2018


Investment range: £150,000-£350,000 (plus VAT)



afrikanakitchen.com

FFRANCHISEE TESTIMONIAL

“Taking an Afrikana franchise has got to be potentially one of the most rewarding risks I have taken.

“We opened our store in the middle of a pandemic, but Afrikana has helped so much in guiding us to set up our dream store so it’s a safe, secure and exciting experience for everyone. Cardiff is buzzing and Afrikana is definitely the hot spot right now.”

Afrikana Cardiff franchisee

“During the course of 2019, the company experienced a year full of fast paced growth, progression and development”


Two franchisees explain the benefits of buying a business that’s already been in the capable hands of someone else

or those considering heading up their own business, the reassurance of continual lead generation and the support of

a head office function can make franchising a more attractive option compared to traditional self-employment.

Starting a franchise from scratch can be liberating, life changing and lucrative. But, depending on various factors, such as levels

of brand awareness nationally, it can still come with its own challenges, including the time it takes to build a loyal customer base locally.

That’s where purchasing a franchise resale can make a huge difference. By stepping into the shoes of someone wishing to exit their business, an individual is handed an ‘oven ready’ package on which they can continue to build.

So what are the main benefits of buying a franchise resale and what difference can doing so make to eager franchisees?

A READY-MADE BUSINESSBuying a resale will mean taking over the running of a franchise that has already been in the capable hands of someone else for what might be many years.

While this might seem daunting, in

F

WE’RE GLAD WE TOOK THE

RESALE ROUTE

INTERVIEW

reality it means you’re becoming part of a ready-made business that will enable you to start reaping the benefits of franchising sooner rather than later.

Andy Cornell, owner of ChipsAway Guildford, joined the network in 2011 after purchasing a resale opportunity on his doorstep.

He says: “I was attracted to buying this specific franchise because, primarily, regular trade was already in place - in fact, the order book was full for the upcoming four weeks. That meant I could focus on training and getting to know the business, rather than having to build up a customer database.

“The outgoing franchisee had also worked really hard to build up the business’ reputation, which meant I could capitalise on word of mouth recommendation. I knew that as long as I could do as good a job as he did, the business would continue to grow in the way it had been doing.”

EXPERTISE TO LEARN FROM While most franchise brands will offer extensive training to anyone joining their network, there’s no one better to learn from than the people who do the job day in, day out.

Buying a resale often involves a period of crossover, where the incoming business owner can shadow the incumbent franchisee to learn the ropes and understand the intricacies of that specific network.

And for those who step into a business that already has employees, there’s an established team to lean on while you get to grips with your new opportunity.

Richard Langston, owner of Ovenclean Bury St Edmonds & Thetford, joined the business as a subcontractor before it came up for resale.

He says: “The previous owner of my business, John, stayed on board after I joined the business in 2017.

“During that time, I didn’t have to think about the administrative elements that come with taking on a franchise, as John continued building the client base, handled the marketing and accounting, while I focused purely on delivering cleaning services. I was taught first hand by John, who knew his business inside and out.

“When I purchased the business, I was upskilled enough to handle the physical element of cleaning, but also take on the running of the business and its associated admin.”

A SPRINGBOARD FOR THE FUTURE Taking on a business is a huge change to anyone’s lifestyle, but another benefit of purchasing a resale is that its future can only be decided by one person - you.

Essentially, you’re joining the company partway through its story and you have the power to shape its destiny, whether that’s expanding its footprint, taking on new employees or reinvesting back into the franchise itself.

Since acquiring his ChipsAway business, Andy has grown it significantly and also been recognised for his


51% THE NUMBER

OF FRANCHISES ESTIMATED TO OFFER

RESALES IN THE UK

Source: British Franchise Association NatWest franchise

survey 2018

efforts to help new franchisees get to grips with running their own operations. He’s been awarded ChipsAway’s Business Mentor of the Year three times consecutively and was crowned Franchisee of the Year in 2016.

“I took on my first employee after just nine months, but another nine months later we were turning away work because we didn’t have enough time to handle the number of requests for our service,” he says.

“I took on a second employee and expanded into a small workshop. The business continued to grow, so we moved into a ChipsAway car care centre and I hired another recruit.

That was five years ago and we’ve been trading like that ever since.

“Buying a resale does give you the opportunity to expand quickly because you’ve already got a front load of work booked in, which means you can look two steps ahead.”

Richard adds: “Very quickly, I went from delivering the work the previous owner had already secured to generating business myself as the community got to know I was the new face of the business.

“The beauty of franchising is that this is my business and it’s up to me if it fails or succeeds. Buying a resale had major advantages in that I stepped into something that was already thriving - I simply had to ensure it continued to do so.

“Wherever the future takes me, I’ll be part of something I’ve been able to nurture, which continues to be successful and which makes a difference to customers.”

“Buying a resale had major advantages in that I stepped into something that was already thriving”


Behind the B

rand - Franchise Resales

A calculated risk worth

takingA franchise resale is the right choice if you’re

eyeing a new career opportunity, Michael Bohan of Franchise Resales says

here’s no denying the world has changed this year. Businesses across the world have

had to make major changes to the way they function.

There’s no doubt about it, caution is required when making any life changing decisions during this time. But that doesn’t mean buying or selling a business is not a good decision right now.

Throughout the pandemic, we have continued to receive enquiries for the businesses we have on the market and the launch of our new online portal

has seen an influx of buyers sign up who are actively looking for a new business opportunity.

ADAPTING AND THRIVINGWhile there are many uncertainties, business still continues, as does the buying and selling process.

There are many reasons a franchisee might need to sell, even during a pandemic. We have been in touch with the businesses we already have on the market - some were able to continue trading during the lockdown, while others were forced to shut.

Significantly, we have witnessed businesses making changes to their premises and processes to ensure the safety of their staff and customers. Businesses are adapting and thriving despite the circumstances.

A notable positive for the franchise sector is that the risk is far more calculated than starting a business from scratch. Not only do the businesses on the market with us have a proven method for success, they’re also established businesses in their own right, making a franchise resale the right choice for anyone who is in the market for a new career opportunity.

The pandemic may well have made you re-evaluate your work life or may have forced you to do so. Franchising could be the perfect option.

DUE DILIGENCEBeing a franchisee can change your work-life balance for the better. But before you start the

process, you must carry out your due diligence. Before you buy any business, you should always do your research and it’s perhaps more important now than ever.

Your should find out how the franchisee and franchisor have handled the pandemic. As well as the usual due diligence you will perform, such as checking the accounts, contracts and premises, there are other things you should consider. For example:

• Was the business affected by the lockdown and will it be affected by any subsequent lockdowns?

• Has there been any disruption to the supply chain?

• How has this franchisee and others in the network dealt with the pandemic?

• Were any of the staff furloughed?• What changes has the

business made to make sure it’s COVID safe?

By ensuring you’ve done all the relevant research on a prospective business, you can rest assured you’re prepared for becoming a business owner.

We specialise in the buying and selling of franchise resales, meaning we prepare our franchisees in advance. They know what a potential buyer will ask for. This means they will have all the information you require to allow you to make an informed decision.

AT A GLANCEFRANCHISE RESALESContact: Clare Fordyce, listing and relationship manager

Tel: 01522 246811

Email: [email protected]

franchiseresales.co.uk

T

“Being a franchisee can change your work-life balance for the better”



INTERVIEW


ell us about your business careerMy whole career came about by accident. I fell into accountancy, having left school to become a Youth Training Scheme hairdresser. After returning to

complete my GCSEs, I had a part-time job at a supermarket working two hours per day, which wasn’t providing me anywhere near enough money. So I did what all people of my age did and bought the local newspaper to apply for jobs.

I was offered two roles at two different accounting practices, but soon learned I wasn’t cut out to be an accountant. The technical work bored me, but I enjoyed the conversations I had with business owners. From there, I carved out my own roles in the firms I worked at to try and spend more time with other people, firstly by offering training, then having a client portfolio, then selling.

In 2007 I agreed the buyout of the company I was working at and between then and 2019 scaled it up to a multi-million, multi-award winning practice that looks after many household names. Along the way I spent a lot of time speaking on stage and writing and in October my latest book, BOSS IT, was released. You say business is simple, so why do people try to complicate it?People try to complicate it so they can then sell the ‘solution’, whether it’s an online course, a ‘mastermind’ summit, an expensive consultancy or something similar.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of things people need to know about business, but these things are easily found online or in places such as my book BOSS IT.

The reality of business is that most of the concepts and management jargon are really simple things that have just been made more difficult by ‘experts’. This shouldn’t be confused with business being easy, as it’s not. It’s hard work and needs consistency, persistence, effort and sacrifice, but it’s not complicated. What would you say to someone who wants to start their own business?One of the biggest challenges we have as a society is that self-employment isn’t seen as ‘normal’, despite around one in seven of us being self-employed.

If you want to start your own business, make sure you have the support of your family and that you have a sound financial footing to begin with. Also, don’t rely on friends’ well wishes as evidence your business will be successful, as well wishes don’t pay the mortgage. Instead, follow the ‘Dream, Plan, Do, Review’ process set out in BOSS IT and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Why should they consider buying a franchise?Many people reading this will know I’m a huge advocate of business format franchising, having written The Franchising Handbook and served on the board of the British Franchise Association.

A franchise is a wonderful way of buying into a proven brand and system, shortcutting the time, efforts and mistakes the franchisor has invested into the business model previously. What’s more, they’re buying into a network of like-minded business owners, who’ve been there, seen it and done it themselves - just in a different territory. To sum it up, it’s a great way of being in business for yourself, but not by yourself. With hundreds of franchises in the UK, how does a prospective franchisee decide which one’s right for them?By spending time doing their due diligence.

Think about the industry you would like to work within and how much you can invest. Kick the tyres of any projections or claims the franchisor makes and speak to other franchisees to ask their opinion of the business.

Finally, make sure there’s a cultural fit. Franchise agreements can be longer than some marriages, so you must be comfortable working with the team. What does it take to succeed as a franchisee?Hard work - just as in any other business.

With a franchise, you have the advantage that the investment in systemisation and brand development has already been done. So in theory all you need to do is turn up and apply the systems day in, day out.

A franchise won’t automatically pay you money like a cash machine though, as you need to work at it, stick to the system and treat it like any other business. What will someone get out of reading BOSS IT?In the words of Brad D Smith, executive chairman of Intuit and chairman of Nordstrom: “BOSS IT uniquely addresses the two most important aspects of business ownership: the why and the how.”

Most business books focus on either checklists or cheerleading, neither of which is very interesting in isolation. Instead, BOSS IT has been designed as a plain English business book for those who don’t read business books. It shares the reality of being in business.

T

Carl Reader explains why business is simple, why you should invest in a franchise and what you’ll learn from reading his new book

LIVING ON HIS OWN TERMS

WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM 77GLOBALFRANCHISEMAGAZINE.COM 77

“One of the biggest challenges we have as a society is that self-employment isn’t seen as ‘normal’, despite around one in seven of us being self-employed”

What will the small business landscape look like in 12 months’ time?It’s going to be a tough year ahead, that’s for sure. Some businesses will close, some will start, but my prediction is that the pandemic will make people think about what they truly want from their life.

Despite the pandemic being out of our control, many employees have had control for the first time in their careers: control over when they work around home schooling, where they work and how they work.

Even if the choice has simply been between the kitchen and the garden, it’s the first time many have had a choice. Going forwards, I think a lot of us will want to live on our own terms, which may include being our own boss.

GET TO KNOW CARL READERWhich business person do you admire most and why?Anyone who’s decided to make the leap and go it alone. On that basis, there are around six million people I admire in the UK. Best piece of advice you’ve been given?To keep details of everyone you meet in your Filofax. While that’s been replaced by LinkedIn, it’s amazing what can happen when you stay in touch and connected with your network. Proudest achievement?Seeing my words in print. Whether on the bookshelves or in a national newspaper or trade journal, you can’t beat that buzz. Greatest sacrifice you’ve made to get where you are?Time with my family. Running a business puts massive demands on you and you can never buy time back. What advice would you give a younger you?Go with your gut feel and do it, rather than do what society expects of you.


Behind the B

rand - Encouraging W

om

en into Franchising

At the forefront of career

progressionFranchising enables women to balance running a

business with their personal life, Encouraging Women into Franchising says

his year has been an eventful one so far. But if it’s taught us anything, it’s how much we need each other. In 2021

you can improve your connections with those who matter most, as well as your self-worth.

How do you assess your self-worth? A recent survey discovered people’s self-worth changed during the pandemic. Less people base it on how much they earn, valuing human interactions instead.

In the report, Professor Deborah Ward commented: ‘Social connections are important. We need them to feel secure and mentally healthy. Much of what’s required to achieve success in the financial domain comes at the expense of time with family and friends.’

The franchise industry creates opportunities that consistently improve these areas. So if you’re thinking about how to increase your feeling of self-worth,

franchising may be right for you. The study continued: ‘People

think money improves relationships; research suggests otherwise. Focusing on money means spending less time maintaining relationships.’

A HUMANISTIC APPROACH TO BUSINESSFranchising allows you to connect with like-minded people and make time for family and friends.

The proven model provides you with reduced financial risk once you’re up and running, which is especially important at the moment. You’ll also receive training in business and leadership skills. Furthermore, you’re surrounded by people cheering you on, as you grow and develop.

Cheryl White, managing director of Apollo Care Franchising, has recently pivoted to a more humanistic approach.

“I’ve completely changed my five-year business strategy,” she says. “I plan to implement a total restructure, doing more of what brings me joy.”

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR WOMENDuring lockdown, women felt pressured to balance homeworking with educating their children, while also dealing with the psychological fallout.

A survey of 40,000 American employees discovered that ‘25 per cent of women consider giving up work because of stress, while another 25 per cent worry their work performance is judged because they’re looking after their child.’

At the forefront of career progression, franchising enables women to balance running a business with family life.

This is because the franchise model equips you with a proven concept and comprehensive training, so you’re fully supported to develop the skills to succeed. It’s an ideal resolution for women who are highly invested in their career progression - whether they have children or not.

Julie Maxted of The Pets, Homes and Gardens Company says she’s learned to focus more on the well-being of her franchisees, adding: “We’d rather build better relationships with our franchisees by supporting and helping them.”

COULD FRANCHISING HELP YOU? Some of those involved in franchising have reprioritised what matters most and invested in their ideal work-life balance. They’ve since rediscovered higher feelings of self-worth.

As you assess what you want to achieve in 2021, why not join the rising number of women and see what running your own franchise can do for you.

Visit ewif.org and thebfa.org for your first step to taking control of your work-life balance.

T “You’re surrounded by people cheering you on, as you grow and develop”




ehind the Brand - P

itman Training

Join a leading learning brand

Pitman Training wants to partner with entrepreneurs who are driven by the desire to change people’s

lives through education

he world has changed a lot since 1837, when Sir Isaac Pitman revolutionised office

communications with the invention of shorthand, but the need for up-to-date business skills and continuing development is ever present.

In the current time, education - and more specifically adult education - is under the spotlight, with vocational training more popular than ever before. We are all now accomplished in the art of virtual communication and remote learning, with the need to offer flexible solutions paramount.

REAL WORLD SKILLSThrough a blend of MyPitman, Pitman Training’s interactive eLearning environment, and support from its in-centre Learning Coaches, the company provides training that helps learners get real world skills - and ultimately the job - they want.

The flexible study model allows students to work from home with

remote support or continue to study in one of Pitman Training’s relaxed and friendly centres at a time and pace that suits them.

CLEAR OBJECTIVEPitman Training is an award winning, widely recognised brand with a clear objective and ethos: to deliver outstanding quality training, to empower learners and transform lives.

Knowledge and skills enable confidence and opportunities and Pitman Training wants to partner with entrepreneurs who are driven by the desire to change people’s lives through education.

GROWTH IN ADVERSITYAs demand within the education sector continues to grow, the company is proud of its recent achievements.

By the end of this year, it will have launched nine new Pitman franchise locations, with more planned for early 2021.

Expansion across the UK, Ireland

and globally comes from both new partners and from within Pitman Training’s existing franchise network. The company encourages multi-centre ownership and has proven success, with many of its experienced franchisees taking on additional territories.

Pitman Training has launched three new training centres in the Republic of Ireland in the last few months. In addition, it will be opening new concept centres in key locations such as Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Exeter, Sheffield, Halifax and North London in the coming months and continues to actively market other greenfield areas across the UK and beyond.

EDUCATION NOWThere has never been a better time to take advantage of the opportunity to join a multi-million pound, high growth industry whilst making a difference in your local community.

The business model is highly profitable, easy to implement and fully supported by world class franchising systems and processes.

MAXIMUM VALUEThe Pitman Training franchise model enables franchisees to generate revenue from day one and very quickly move into profit. Thanks to a high gross margin, franchisees can achieve a fantastic return on investment.

Franchisees benefit from assistance in launch planning and ongoing operational support, regular network communication and sharing of best practises, national marketing campaigns and digital lead generation, plus access to 200-plus products and the unique MyPitman learning platform.

Do you have the passion to help transform people’s careers and change lives?

AT A GLANCEPITMAN TRAININGEstablished: 1992


Location of units: UK, Republic of Ireland, international

Investment range: franchise fee starting from £40,000-plus

Minimum required capital: £80,000-£100,000 total investment


pitman-franchising.com

T


Behind the B

rand - Schmidt

Franchisees are enjoying record sales

Business is booming for Schmidt, as demand soars for multifunctional homes and living space

he new demand for multifunctional homes means Schmidt kitchens and home interiors

franchisees are enjoying record sales.Rosalyn Hastings, expansion manager

for Schmidt in the UK, says: “The pandemic has ushered in the era of the multifunctional home.

“Homes are no longer just for evenings and weekends. Record numbers of people are now working from their homes, so their living space needs to be an office, a study space for children, a workshop and a kitchen suitable for home baking.

“All this has driven a massive increase in business for the franchisee partners, who own our 28 showrooms across the UK.”

DRAMATIC INCREASESchmidt UK has had two record months, with August sales figures up 139 per

cent on August last year. Figures for September are even higher, with an increase of 146 per cent.

During lockdown customers were using Schmidt’s online Creativ’Box tool to design and order their own bespoke kitchens, bedrooms and living spaces.

“We have seen a huge increase in online requests for appointments from customers keen to get their projects started and sales conversions and showroom footfall have both risen massively in recent weeks,” Rosalyn says.

“We actively support our network with TV advertising and national social media campaigns, which continue to drive the growth and success of our network.”

The boom in orders is in part powered by customers investing lump sums reimbursed by holiday companies for breaks they were

unable to take and, in some cases, redundancy payouts.

The market is also driven by home vendors boosting the saleability of their properties and buyers investing the funds they have saved because of the current cut in stamp duty. This is no short-lived boom.

“A survey by The Institute of Directors shows that 74 per cent of 1,000 firms say they plan on maintaining homeworking even after the pandemic,” Rosalyn says. “Homeworking is here to stay and people need homes that make it easy.”

ACTIVELY SEEKING FRANCHISEESSchmidt franchisees help customers to redesign their home interiors - including offices - plus kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and furniture.

Its vast choice of office desks, shelves, lighting, chairs and storage means each project can be unique to the customer’s needs.

“We are actively seeking more franchisees now and our performance, plus the upturn in the home improvements and retail sectors, mean that banks are now happy to lend to prospective Schmidt franchisees,” Rosalyn says.

You can start with just £80,000-£100,000 in upfront capital, since Schmidt offers an interest free loan to cover showroom fit-out and has arrangements with two UK banks to offer loans to reach the total investment of around £350,000.

AT A GLANCESCHMIDT Established: 1959


Location of units: retail parks and high streets




schmidtfranchise.co.uk

T

“We actively support our network with TV advertising and national social media campaigns”



ehind the Brand - X

xxxxxxxxxx

he lockdowns of 2020 have been a challenge for all industries, but there have been some unexpected highs for

the fitness industry. There has never been a bigger

global spotlight on the importance of the sector and finally, through campaigns, robust research and collaborative lobbying, governments are starting to recognise how critical fitness facilities are to our communities.

TRIB3 welcomes and supports this important discussion and the company sees a bright future for the fitness industry as we move into 2021.

It wants as many people as possible to be able to be part of this influential sector, which is why it’s launched the next phase of its franchise - a tiered specification and investment model in which franchise partners can start their own TRIB3 for an initial investment of as little as £59,000, alongside

Behind the B

rand - TR

IB3 Internatio

nal

TRIB3 sees a bright future for the fitness sector as we move into 2021

AT A GLANCETRIB3 INTERNATIONALEstablished: 2016

Number of franchised outlets: 5 (of 12 outlets)

Locations of all outlets: Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester x 2 (opening Q1 2021), Edinburgh (opening Q1 2021), Woking (opening Q1 2021), Bristol, Helsinki, Moscow, Madrid: Cuzco, Basilica and Goya

Investment level: £59,000 minimum (plus bank funding), dependent on location

Contact: franchise team. [email protected]

trib3.co.uk/franchise

bank funding, depending on location and demographic

UNIQUE FUSIONTRIB3 is a unique fusion of 45-minute zoned HIIT workouts and industrial-luxe design that creates an unforgettable boutique workout experience.

Customers are guaranteed results, burning up to 1,000 calories per session, but they’re also guaranteed to feel right at home, with social connection squarely at the heart of the brand, regardless of whether or not they’re training with TRIB3 in the studio or at home.

With its unique studio design, the company has created a ‘volume boutique’ model in which it always has, across a three-zoned studio layout, 42-plus spots per session. This means even with distancing measures in place, a TRIB3 store will still have a fast break-even at highly achievable occupancy levels. It’s a business model that is resilient to COVID-19 safety measures.

STORE OPENINGSTRIB3 is proud that, as a result, it’s continued to build and open stores throughout the last year against the backdrop of the pandemic.

TRIB3 Bristol opened in September and the compamy’s first franchised store in Madrid, TRIB3 Goya, opened in August. Even with distancing and safety measures in place, facilitating smaller class sizes, franchise partners achieved break-even within two months of opening.

COMMUNITY ASPECTBoutique fitness is different to a traditional gym environment - it’s more experiential and built around community. That’s why TRIB3 sees implementing physical distancing in its stores as being social and at the heart of the brand.

This community aspect was clear in the company’s results post-lockdown, with 80 per cent of year-on-year usage in month one of reopening and an average net promoter score of 78. As a store matures, this loyalty to the community and the brand means around 80 per cent of your monthly revenues comes from repeat business.

So if you’re thinking about making a change, look no further than fitness. You don’t need to have a background in the sector, as the TRIB3 team has a combined experience of over 150 years in the fitness industry to support your journey.

As people look to increase their health and well-being during these times, help be a part of the change and keep your community fit.

Look no further than

fitness


T

Alchemy Virtual Assistance is currently receiving an influx of enquiries for its services.

The business was set up in 2016 by former executive assistant Suzy Sanders and was launched as a franchise model in December 2019. It provides remote administration services, marketing and PA support to small business owners.

Chorley-based Eloise Robb is Alchemy VA’s newest franchisee. Since the soft launch of her franchise in August, she’s been approached by sole traders and independent business owners in the north west who are looking for extra support following the adoption of new remote and virtual ways of working.

An experienced in-house PA and VA, who also has a degree in business, Eloise says: “Lancashire entrepreneurs deserve the headspace to do the work they love during this challenging time, especially as they are working harder than ever to get back on track - but they cannot do it alone. These are the kind of people I’m supporting and I can help others too.

“I help plan and organise new and more efficient processes and procedures for clients, as well as

taking charge of their inbox, invoicing, social media management and lots of other tasks remotely.

“During lockdown many people re-evaluated their lives and decided to follow their dream to start a new business. Being a VA in Lancashire puts me in a fantastic position to support others as they recover, reshape and innovate during these uncertain times.”

An Alchemy VA franchise starts from £8,000 (plus VAT). For their investment, franchisees receive initial and ongoing training and support, including regular mentoring sessions; access to the company’s proven business model and processes; systems and back office set up, such as email address, office phone line and call handling; and continued investment in the Alchemy VA brand, including ongoing PR campaigns and marketing activities.

INSIGHT


6 home-based franchises

Whether it’s publishing, tutoring or personal training, there’s a proven work-from-home business for you

Alchemy Virtual Assistance

Tutor DoctorTutor Doctor claims to be the fastest growing in-home tutoring franchise in the world.

Franchisees like Jessica Abram manage a team of tutors who help students with maths, English, languages, science and exam preparation, either at their homes or via an online platform.

Jessica, who prior to joining Tutor Doctor spent almost two decades in the education sector, faced a unique challenge when she launched her franchise in Birmingham - it was just as the

coronavirus pandemic began to grip the UK. “Initially, COVID-19

presented a huge problem,” she explains. “Just as I was going on my training and preparing for the launch of my business, the virus arrived in the UK. And then the entire country plunged into lockdown.

“But rather than think of it as an obstacle, I considered it an opportunity. Schools were closed and students needed support - support my business could provide.”

Despite people being forced to stay at home, Jessica contacted families in her territory and outlined the assistance she could offer students. Her hard work soon started to pay off: Jessica’s 13 tutors currently now provide 17 students with expert tuition.

“On top of that, Tutor Doctor advises us on the benefits of partnering with schools, so I started to reach out to those in my area,” Jessica says. “Having explained how Tutor Doctor supplements classroom learning, I’m already working with six schools and this will become a strong focus going forward.

“As for everything else in the future, it’s my goal to ensure all my students achieve what they’re aiming for - whether it’s improving their GCSE grades, passing the 11 plus, getting into their dream university or simply building confidence.

“When working with parents, I share my own experience as a parent and explain how I would only offer a tutor to them who I would be happy to tutor my own child. I’m going through the same journey as a parent and it’s fulfilling to be able to use this experience to provide a solution to others.”

“Being a VA puts me in a fantastic position to support others as they recover, reshape and innovate”


This franchise has established a reputation for being ‘the go-to guide for you and your child’.

Its 40 franchisees produce four full colour magazines a

year and populate a website aimed specifically at local families.

Content comprises features, competitions, a what’s on guide,

reviews and paid for articles.They also sell advertising space in print and online,

as well as organise email marketing and social media campaigns for local businesses.

Raring2go! franchisor Freddie St George says: “With our low cost, all-inclusive start-up packages starting from £7,000 plus VAT and bank funding in place, it’s easy to invest in a Raring2go! franchise.

“And with our road map to success - our modus operandi - we show new franchisees how they can cover their initial investment within the first year of trading.”

No prior publishing experience is required to become a Raring2go! franchisee, as full training as provided, including in advertising sales. However, franchisees must be able to build long-term relationships with clients and have a good knowledge of their local area.

A small amount of working capital may be required on top of the start-up cost of this franchise and first year earnings potential is quoted at £20,000-£30,000.

Some Raring2go! franchisees design their own magazines, while others outsource this work. The magazine is mainly distributed through primary schools in the franchisee’s territory, which comprises a minimum of 15,000 primary school-aged children.

“We’re looking for people who are passionate about building an amazing business for themselves,” Freddie says.

“People who are looking to branch out on their own, but want the security of being part of an established, successful and highly collaborative franchise, who hate being a wage slave as much as the daily grind of the commute and who want to take control of their work-life balance and create a business that will be an appreciating asset.”

Raring2go!

“We show new franchisees how they can cover their initial investment within the first year of trading”

It’s never been more important for businesses to control costs, so it will come as no surprise that the services provided by Expense Reduction

Analysts’ 100-plus franchisees are in big demand.

As trusted independent consultants who operate on a ‘no savings, no fee’ basis, they’re able to advise clients in a range of sectors about strategy, cost reduction and process optimisation solutions that improve cash flow, working in collaboration with other franchisees to provide the best possible outcomes.

ERA’s 10-year franchise licence costs £44,900. For this you get access to the company’s proven methodology and systems, full training, plus a place on its coaching and mentoring programme.

Franchisees also receive marketing and business development support, are granted permission to use ERA’s Global app, which allows them to identify joint venture opportunities,

and are offered ongoing refresher training and networking opportunities.

According to ERA, some franchisees solely focus on business development activities, others have built significant incomes by delivering cost optimisation services, while a few members of the network have built large consultancy practices. Whatever route you choose to follow, six-figure incomes are commonplace among established franchisees.

Tim Barber-Lomax, ERA’s franchise recruitment manager, says: “We’re looking for talented individuals who have an entrepreneurial spirit and an ambition to run their own successful business.

“A specific career background is not as important as having the right attitude, as we can train and

support individuals to become successful ERA consultants.”

Tim adds: “We’re better positioned today than we have ever been. COVID-19 has massively impacted top line performance for so many UK businesses. Our success fee model and structure means we can help businesses in their time of need.

“The already huge market for our services is growing, which means the opportunity for new franchisees to take advantage is massive.”

INSIGHT

Eager to prevent people making excuses for not going to the gym, in 2008 New York-based Josh York started driving to his clients’ homes and places of work to ensure they never missed a session.

Two years later his mobile personal trainer and fitness business had over 1,000 clients and in 2014 GYMGUYZ was established as a franchise.

Franchisees provide people of all fitness levels with a personalised workout, as well as all the equipment and expertise needed to achieve their fitness goals.

Today there are around 250 GYMGUYZ franchises in operation worldwide. Recently launched in the UK, it currently has six franchisees in this country.

UK managing director Laike Mantori says: “GYMGUYZ is taking a firm foothold in the market and with the vast number of enquiries we are getting we’re looking forward to continuing our journey across the country.

“GYMGUYZ takes away the need to be in a gym environment, brings the equipment and provides the flexibility of training whenever and

wherever clients want.“This is a real USP and following

the success we’ve experienced in the US we’re confident GYMGUYZ will provide a compelling alternative to traditional fitness franchises, backed by its unique model and low minimum investment.”

An initial investment of £25,000 is required to become a GYMGUYZ franchisee (total cost is £37,000). For this you receive training in systems and operations, sales and marketing, staff recruitment and

retention, business administration and customer service.

Ongoing support comes in the form of regular training videos and support visits, plus access to the company’s online portal.

Franchisees are also assigned a support team, which provides guidance throughout the start-up and launch phase of the franchise, including coordinating van ordering and delivery, buying equipment and scheduling meetings.

GYMGUYZ

Expense Reduction Analysts

“We’re confident GYMGUYZ will provide a compelling alternative to traditional fitness franchises”


“The already huge market for our services is growing”


Hopes Happy HoundsMore people buying puppies and pets during lockdown is fuelling a surge in demand for a pet service franchise that has plans to double in size within the next 18 months.

Started in 2010 by Amy Wilson, Hopes Happy Hounds has 14 franchisees who offer dog walking, dog and pet sitting and cat and small animal care.

And with The Kennel Club reporting a 180 per cent rise in people enquiring about new dogs compared to last year, Amy says she’s identified a number of ‘ hot spots’ where she would like to see new franchises established, including Cambridge and parts of Scotland.

She explains: “My family and I have been involved with dogs for years. My parents were dog trainers and I have successfully run my own pet services business for over a decade.

“We aim to offer a professional, friendly and responsible service to our customers and our franchisees are trained to the highest standards in pet care.

“The current economic conditions make a low cost, proven franchise like ours even more attractive. People can work from home and set their own hours.”

Abi Neave launched her Hopes Happy Hounds franchise

in Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots in March 2019. Having previously worked at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for four years, she was keen to combine her love for animals with starting a business.

“When I read an advert for a Hopes Happy Hounds franchise online, I was instantly interested,” Abi says. “It was an opportunity to launch my own business with a great support network and, most importantly, it allowed me to continue to work with animals.

“The fact it was a franchise helped me, as all the policies, systems and procedures were already in place and I also got lots of help with marketing and social media. In addition, I received full training in dog care, cat care, animal first aid and canine first aid.

“So far it has gone well. There is a real demand for help with pets from owners who are not at home all day.”

“There is a real demand for help with pets from owners who are not at home all day”

BEFORE YOU SET UP A WORK-FROM-HOME BUSINESSYou may need permission from your mortgage lender or landlord before you set up a franchise in your home. You might also have to get approval from your local planning office and council, depending on the type of business you wish to run.

In addition, check with the franchisor whether the franchise package includes business insurance, as your home insurance may not cover items such as computers and stock.

And don’t forget to claim the tax allowances available to home-based franchisees. Your franchisor or an accountant will be able to advise you on what you’re eligible for.

KEY ATTRIBUTES OF A SUCCESSFUL HOME-BASED FRANCHISEE EXPERT OPINION: FRANK MILNER, PRESIDENT OF TUTOR DOCTOR

There are many reasons why prospects choose a home-based franchise, from the ability to take the children to school each morning to having time to spend with your family. There are plenty

of benefits of starting a business from the comfort of your own home, but what does it take to be a successful home-based franchisee?

Organisation is key. The ability to create a schedule that factors in both professional and personal activities - and, more importantly, sticking to it - is a vital skill to have. Perhaps you have children, with your priority being to generate the best work-life balance and make the most out of family life. Having a schedule will help keep things in line and allow for some structure to your day.

Working from home requires self discipline. To allow you to achieve what you’ve planned for the day, you’ve got to ensure you’re free from distractions.

It’s extremely beneficial to set up an office space, allowing you to focus on the task at hand - reducing the risk of being distracted by the TV, social media or fridge.

What you’ll also need is a commitment to your business. A home-based franchise doesn’t mean there isn’t any growth potential, so if you’ve got your mind set on reaching for the stars you’ll have to consider how you can accommodate more employees as you grow.

Showing the ambition, determination and eagerness to grow are all great characteristics of a successful franchisee.


Behind the B

rand - X-P

ress Legal Services

Playing an essential role

Property search specialist X-Press Legal Services has just announced its best ever trading period

n uncertain times, it’s good to know that some things will always stay the same.

As long as there’s a property market, there will be a market for property searches from X-Press Legal Services - and 2020 is proving to be a good year for the franchise.

The 26 locally owned franchise offices across England and Wales have been fortunate to continue throughout lockdown, just announcing their best ever trading period.

TRUSTED BRANDX-Press Legal Services delivers over 400,000 property searches and reports every year, helping solicitors and conveyancing professionals to identify any local authority, property and environmental issues. The company is trusted by more than 500 legal

practices to perform an essential role in the property buying process in the UK.

An X-Press franchise is low risk, as searches are fundamental to each property sale, development, remortgage and repossession; they’re required as part of every residential and commercial property transaction. X-Press franchisees benefit from regular, repeat business, whatever the state of the property market.

A recent report of orders received across the X-Press franchise network showed that franchisees have seen an increase of at least 50 per cent month on month. Homebuyers have continued with confidence through all the uncertainty in 2020, further boosted by various incentives provided, including the stamp duty holiday.

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSSince establishing X-Press Legal Services 22 years ago, co-founders Dave, Lynne and Christian Lister have built a hugely successful business, with a head office operation based in Warrington and a network of 26 franchise offices.

Testament to the success of the business model, over 50 per cent of X-Press franchisees have been part of the company since it became a franchise in 2005.

LOW RISK OPPORTUNITYLynne Lister, managing director, comments on what makes a good franchisee: “It’s much more straightforward than you might think to become an X-Press Legal Services franchise owner.

“You don’t need any previous legal experience, as your clients will be the legal professionals. It’s a low risk business that can be easily run from the comfort of your home with minimal overheads.

“The reports we prepare for clients are legal documents, so it helps if you have good attention to detail, excellent communication skills and some computer know-how. We welcome franchisees from many different backgrounds who often want to move from a corporate background to find a better work-life balance.

“We pride ourselves on being a welcoming, supportive franchise and ensure we all work together to make sure our current franchisees continue to see success and new franchisees get off to the best possible start.”

There are currently territories available in the following areas: North East, Lincolnshire, West and East London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Dorset and Wales.

AT A GLANCEX-PRESS LEGAL SERVICESEstablished: 2005


Location of units: England and Wales

Investment range: franchise fee of £29,750, with a working capital requirement of £15,000


Contact: Dave or Julie on 01925 393333

xpresslegal.co.uk/ become-a-franchise-owner

I“X-Press franchisees benefit from regular, repeat business”



Behind the B

rand - Esquires Co

ffeeBEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT

Delivering the perfect blend

Ethical coffee company Esquires has launched a regional programme to springboard national growth in the UK

squires Coffee, the global coffee chain with the community spirit, is the UK’s fastest growing

ethical coffee franchise. Established in 1993, it’s grown

from a small shop in Delta, British Columbia to become a leader in the ethical coffee industry.

GLOBAL EXPANSIONWith 45 stores in the UK, 15 in Ireland and more across China, the Middle East, Indonesia and Europe, Esquires is rapidly expanding, both in the UK and globally.

The combination of an independent coffee shop feel and the benefits of a chain - such as buying, economies of scale and customer loyalty - has undoubtedly accelerated this global growth. The ability to adapt to each locale ensures no two Esquires shops are ever the same.

However, while the company has experienced rapid growth, at its heart is a culture that values both people and the planet. Sustainability is a key driver; with its Fairtrade and organic

coffee and its wholesome food, the brand strives to use compostable materials and recycle and reuse whenever and wherever possible.

Esquires’ carefully developed operating and management system helps to provide innovation and support to its franchisees. The management structure is robust and creative, which results in sustainable businesses.

Each site is primarily selected and developed to promote profitability, but also to reflect elements of the local area and its heritage, with an aim to become a community hub.

Esquires Coffee recently launched a new regional programme. It focuses on growing the Esquires network across 11 UK regions, leveraging local knowledge and experience to springboard the national growth of the brand in the UK, while giving a more concentrated, focused service to local franchisees and their stores.

EAST OF ENGLAND The East of England region is well on track to surpass 50 stores by

2030, with plans for three new stores already in the works for 2021. Esquires is currently looking for new franchisees for both single and multi-site opportunities. So why invest in the East of England?

The main advantage is its location. Not only is it vast in size, but it’s also a popular place for commuters, as it’s part of the London commuter belt.

Whether living in the area and commuting to London for work or coming from the city as a visitor, many people pass through the East of England.

In addition, with six ceremonial counties within its borders, including Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, there’s plenty of scope for opportunity.

The East of England is also renowned for its affluence, especially in the west and south west of Essex. It’s the perfect location for new businesses to grow, with the daily cup of coffee having become a staple requirement for the more affluent in our society.

RESALES OPPORTUNITIESResales are currently available within this region.

If you prefer to take over an already established Esquires Coffee branch near you, rather than start a new business, the company has got something for you.

AT A GLANCEESQUIRES COFFEEEstablished: 1993






esquirescoffee.co.uk

E

“The ability to adapt to each locale ensures no two Esquires shops are ever the same”

This year’s online Approved Franchise Association Awards acknowledged franchising’s shining stars in 10 hotly contested categories

Recognition and reward


Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Approved Franchise Association was in the throes of planning its second annual awards ceremony, which was

due to take place in November. The organisation’s first awards event last year

was a huge success and the AFA was excitedly organising a fantastic ceremony and gala dinner that was sure to outdo 2019’s efforts.

Once the pandemic hit, the AFA made the decision not to cancel the event, but hold a free virtual ceremony instead. Its awards play a vital role in boosting morale within the sector at a time when it’s really needed, as well as helping people to raise their profile.

The AFA also wanted to recognise and reward those franchisors, franchisees and suppliers who have worked tirelessly over the past year to ensure the sector continues to flourish, despite these challenging times.

The virtual ceremony enabled the finalists to attend with their family and friends and opened the event up to a far wider audience than had originally been expected.

The finalists and award winners are as follows:

Outstanding Young Franchisor Award Sponsored by The International Franchise ShowBronze: Cameron McClure, Support Solutions.Silver: Simon Duong, Little Mandarin Classes.Gold: Rachel Fay, Little Learners.

SHOWS AND EVENTS

Rachel has built Little Learners single-handedly into an international franchise, while balancing motherhood and engaging with her franchise community.

With 36 franchisees, a story book collection and huge entrepreneurial spirit, the judges agreed that Rachel’s story was most inspirational.

Franchisor Of The Year Sponsored by TRUSTistBronze: Andrew Alleway, Tidy Green Clean.Silver: Angela Stirling, Lingotot.Gold: Caroline Sparks and Gaby Lixton, Turtle Tots.

The judging for this category was particularly difficult, as every entry demonstrated such inspiration and talent.

However, Caroline and Gaby have provided superior support to their franchisees in the face of extreme adversity. With over 50 franchisees in the UK and Ireland, Turtle Tots looks set to continue to flourish.

Franchise Leader Of The Year Sponsored by Darwin GrayBronze: Angela Sterling, Lingotot.Silver: Anton Skarlatov, Fantastic Services.Gold: Anna Neville, Kidslingo.

The judges believe Anna demonstrates true leadership and has successfully grown her franchise

network over the last year. The application highlights how

Anna adapted her business model quickly to offer online learning programmes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Best Franchise Support Sponsored by The Franchise Protection CompanyBronze: Caterpillar Music.Silver: Fantastic Services.Gold: Debutots.

The judges were impressed with Debutots’ efforts to design comprehensive support packages for each stage of a franchisee’s business and believe a clear and strong strategy has been demonstrated - both pre and during the COVID pandemic - with excellent, tailored communication schedules in place.

Outstanding Franchise Marketing Sponsored by DTP PrintBronze: Spoton.net.Silver: Fantastic Services.Gold: Bluebird Care.

The judges were impressed with Bluebird Care’s clear approach to its marketing.

The company has demonstrated a dedication and balance to supporting and growing its network, as well as caring for its end users. It makes excellent use of social media platforms and has received relevant media coverage.

Bluebird Care has also demonstrated a strong commitment to its marketing strategy, including allocating specific headcount for local franchisee marketing and rigorous monitoring of marketing spend and results.

Best New Franchise Sponsored by Accentia Franchise ConsultantsBronze: The Menopause Experts.Silver: Your Mortgage Plus.Gold: Just Cuts UK.

The judges were impressed with Just Cuts UK’s application, saying


its mid to long-term business plan was very clear and concise.

The company’s original vision and business model are ingenious and supporting evidence and franchisee testimonials support this view.

Outstanding Young Franchisee Sponsored by EliteBronze: Stacey Cooney, Rainbow International.Silver: Chloe Marchand, Kidslingo Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury.Gold: Holly Feltham, Just Cuts Lakeside.

The judges were inspired by Holly’s story and believe she is an excellent brand ambassador.

Her comprehensive award nomination covered all areas of the business, including plans for motivating staff during challenging times and continuously monitoring the business to identify areas of improvement.

is a fair leader and clearly passionate about her business.

Franchisee Network Contribution Award Sponsored by NatWestBronze: Duncan Attwood, fit20 Exeter and Erica and Frank Mudd, Pop Up Play Village Basingstoke and Reading.Silver: Sarah Canavan, Lingotot Bexley.Gold: Tony Antoniou, OvenGleamers Gravesend and Medway.

Tony shows selfless enthusiasm and passion for the OvenGleamers brand and is willing to go the extra mile to inspire the network and offer the best service to its customer base.

He is always there to offer help and advice to others and has demonstrated strong support for the network and franchisor.

Supplier Of The Year Sponsored by the AFABronze: Kieran James, Stryde and Nigel Apperley of TRUSTist.Silver: Paul Mitchell, Accentia Franchise Consultants. Gold: Stephen Thompson, Darwin Gray.

The AFA would like to thank everyone who entered the awards, nominated their colleagues and attended the ceremony.

The organisation looks forward to next year’s ceremony, which hopefully will revert to the face-to-face gala event originally planned and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The judges were pleased to see Holly’s goals and expansion objectives for the future and her impressive progress in growing her turnover by 45 per cent since last November.

Franchisee Of The Year Sponsored by Just Cuts UKBronze: Anna Coggan, Caterpillar Music Newark.Silver: Michaela Nowik, Extra Help Milton Keynes.Gold: Ivanka Obreshkova, Fantastic Services.

The judges chose Ivanka as their Gold award winner as they believe she demonstrates excellent leadership qualities.

Ivanka empowers everyone around her, showing huge commitment to creating and adapting a systematic approach to growing her business.

She actually began her career as a cleaner for Fantastic Services and now leads over 30 teams within her franchise. She

“The virtual ceremony enabled the finalists to attend with their family and friends and opened the event up to a far wider audience”


ALAN WILKINSON WRITES:A discovery day should provide an opportunity for a prospective franchisee to find out all the details about a brand and give them enough information to start to make an informed decision on whether or not to invest.

It’s also the franchisor’s opportunity to sell to you and find out if they think you meet their ideal franchisee profile.

A prospective franchisee should properly prepare for the meeting. This should involve doing a lot of research on the brand and preparing a list of questions.

These questions should be about the operational aspects of the business and also about their franchising

protocol and system. You want to know if the business itself would work for you and also how you would be supported as a franchisee.

In addition, you should research other franchises in that sector and compare and contrast the benefits of each. This often throws up some good questions to ask during a discovery day.

A franchisor will always be impressed if you know your competitors, both franchised and non-franchised, in your local territory. At the end of the day, the franchisor may be the expert in their field, but they’re unlikely to know and understand your local region as well as you do.

JOHN PRATT WRITES:At the moment, nobody knows. Franchise agreements are all different, so the first thing any franchisor would want to do is have a clear idea of what they would want their franchise agreement to say should a similar situation arise.

The focus of attention is likely to be the ‘force majeure’ clause, which suspends a contract during periods when it is impossible for franchisees to perform.

Franchisors may want to specify that franchisees must, during any period of force majeure, comply with the franchisor’s instructions concerning their dealings with customers, so as to continue to maintain customer loyalty.

While certainly franchisees would want to see a clause that says during a force majeure event they do not have to pay continuing fees, it’s unlikely that franchisors would want to concede that.

Indeed, it would be dangerous for them to do so because franchisors will want to look at each franchisee’s financial position and make an individual assessment.

As a result, another area that would need to be reviewed is the extent to which franchise agreements should contain a clause that confirms all franchisees would be treated similarly, because franchisors in a situation like COVID-19 would want to treat franchisees differently.

Q WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR A FRANCHISOR’S DISCOVERY DAY?

Q ARE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS LIKELY TO BE AMENDED AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS?

Our panel of industry specialists answer your franchise questions

Ask TheEXPERTS

ALAN WILKINSON is head of franchise development at The Franchising Centre and has been in franchising for over 24 years.

JOHN PRATT is senior partner at specialist franchise firm Hamilton Pratt and has advised franchisors for over 25 years.


LOUISE HARRIS WRITES:The use of fixed fee versus percentage of turnover royalties (or management service fees) is slightly controversial in franchising, but there are arguments for both.

A franchisor will primarily make their money from the royalties a franchisee pays.

Paying a fixed fee gives a known payment amount each month, irrespective of the amount of business a franchisee has. In some cases, this acts as a motivator for a franchisee, knowing that over a certain income each month 100 per cent of the income stays in the business.

Since the franchisor will receive the same amount of money each month, the question is what motivation

does the franchisor have to innovate and help the franchisee drive more business? And this is a question to ask before buying a franchise.

Working on a percentage means the franchisor also has ‘skin in the game’. There is motivation for a franchisor to innovate ways to drive business for the franchisee and increase local revenue, as they in turn earn more.

It does mean that sometimes paying the franchisor at the end of the month can feel tough, as it’s easy to forget they’ve helped you get to that level in the first place.

A cap or percentage fee reduction on achieving targets may be pertinent when a franchisee reaches higher income levels.

SHELLEY NADLER WRITES:The law prohibits anticompetitive agreements that fix prices between businesses. A franchisee therefore controls the price of the goods and services they provide. Any attempt by a franchisor to set a minimum or fixed resale price is prohibited.

Competition law permits a franchisor to fix prices for short-term promotions (generally two-six weeks) coordinated across the franchise network. If a franchisor wants to fix prices for short-term promotions, this right must be included in the franchise agreement.

If a franchisor wants to implement a promotion, they can only do so where the franchisee has agreed to participate. Crucially, the franchisee

must be free to opt in and out of the promotion and the franchisor should make it clear to customers the promotion is available at participating outlets only.

However, franchisors do have some degree of control over the price of goods sold by franchisees. It’s possible for a franchisor to impose a maximum resale price and franchisors may also provide franchisees with a list of recommended prices.

Again, in doing so franchisors should be careful that they don’t have the indirect effect of achieving a fixed or minimum resale price. If a franchisor wishes to impose maximum prices, this right must be included in the franchise agreement.

Q IS A ROYALTY FEE THAT’S CHARGED AS A PERCENTAGE OF TURNOVER BETTER THAN A FIXED FEE?

Q WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE PLACED ON A FRANCHISEE IN TERMS OF PRICING OF THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES?

Got a question about franchising? Email [email protected] or check out the ‘Ask’ section at what-franchise.com

LOUISE HARRIS is an experienced franchisor, having built and sold an award winning franchise. She is now head of strategic partnerships at easyStorage.

SHELLEY NADLER is a legal director in Bird & Bird’s international franchising team and has many years’ experience of advising on all aspects of franchising.

SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP

What Franchise’s resident business agony aunt Angie Coates, founder and CEO of Monkey Music, answers your business and entrepreneurial conundrums

MY BUSINESS IS STARTING TO GROW RAPIDLY. WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO KEEP AN EYE ON CASH FLOW?Phases of rapid growth make the tough times worthwhile! However, they can also be dangerous, lulling business owners into a false sense of security. Overinvestment in the next phase of growth may lead to costs outpacing income and create potential cash flow issues.

Most business owners will gravitate to what they enjoy and look to minimise their involvement in what they feel others could do better. I’m no exception and still take every opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives and get creative with our brand identity.

My attitude to finance has changed, though. In the early days of my business, finance meetings were not my favourite as I felt they stood in the way of me cracking on with what I wanted to do.

But having sailed a little close to the wind on one occasion, I realise now that if the cash runs out there would be no business and no one to blame except myself. After that experience, I made finance and cash flow my joint top priority alongside building the brand and customer experience.

These days, I meet the finance team weekly to review cash flow and conduct a broad analysis of some key areas of financial performance. We review our management accounts in detail monthly and delve deep into various

performance related financial reports.What to measure will depend on your

business. My wonderful finance team and I have worked together so that I get both the information I want and the information they believe I need, all presented in a consistent way that’s quick and easy for me to digest.

Those reports enable me to be strategic in my approach and inform all decisions, as they tell me what cash we have available to do more exciting things.

Now that I’m all over our financials, and cash flow in particular, it makes running the business more fun as I feel in control, even when the numbers are not what I’d hoped for.

So to answer your question: work with your finance team to understand what you need to know and how often, ask them to present it in a way that works for you and then be ruthless in prioritising it.

SOME OF MY STAFF HAVE STARTED TO WORK REMOTELY. WHILE PRODUCTIVITY REMAINS HIGH, HOW CAN I ENSURE IT’S MAINTAINED?Lockdown has resulted in growing staff expectations around flexible working and while I, like many others, have observed productivity gains in some areas of the business I share your concern that remote working may

compromise productivity longer term. However, unless we offer some degree of

flexible working we won’t be able to attract and retain the best people. Nonetheless, I worry that communication across the team may suffer, our culture may become diluted, processes will become less smooth and creativity compromised.

I’ve spent a lot of time talking to my team about which aspects of remote working have worked best for them and why. We are now looking to marry as many of those elements as possible with the things we feel are best done in the office.

Although it isn’t realistic to tailor our remote working policy perfectly to every individual’s wishes, what we create will be an improvement for everyone and we’ll refine it over time.

If we can make people happier about the structure of their working day/week without compromising the long-term functioning of the business, everyone wins. The biggest challenge is that whatever we include in our remote working policy, it needs to be both fair and transparent otherwise it will cause problems.

W I T H A N G I E C O AT E S

Have a question you wish to ask Angie? Email [email protected] out Angie on Instagram: @angiecoatesmusic




ehind the Brand - B

usiness Do

ctors

I’ve never looked backFormer retail director Kevin Cook says buying a Business Doctors franchise was the perfect

springboard to a new career

hen Business Doctor Kevin Cook isn’t helping small and medium-sized enterprise owners

develop the full potential of their companies, he’s to be found pushing himself at his local crossfit gym, pursuing his own dream of long-lasting physical and mental fitness.

It’s this kind of drive that has seen the former retail director make a difference to the growth journeys of scores of small businesses. As a sounding board, mentor and, most importantly, a hands-on team member, Kevin works with SME owners to help them navigate the optimal route to the next level.

GETTING OUT OF A RUTIn 2011, with 25 years’ director level experience in the retail sector, Kevin found himself redundant in the middle of a recession.

Having learned about Business Doctors a few years earlier through an advert in his local Cheshire Chamber of Commerce magazine, he knew the time was right to get out of his corporate rut - and that buying a white collar franchise was the perfect springboard.

Kevin says: “I wasn’t looking for a job when I came across the ad, but something about the friendly, jargon-free attitude of Business Doctors ticked all my boxes, so I kept it on file.

“When I was made redundant, I decided to call Business Doctors franchisors Matt and Rod. Nine years later, I’ve just signed up for my third term and, honestly, I’ve never looked back.

“It’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. Being a Business Doctors franchisee has allowed me to fulfil a dream of running my own business, drawing on my prior corporate experience and loving the buzz and excitement that comes with helping all kinds of small companies to grow.

“It’s given me freedom and flexibility, an improved work-life balance and a ready-made worldwide network of other friendly and experienced director level Business Doctors to tap into.”

EXPERT ADVICEIn his work as a Business Doctor, Kevin helps SMEs to expand through planning and implementing

business strategy, supporting them through recruitment, staff and team engagement, performance management, sales development, change management, commercial lease negotiation and premises management.

Some of these skills he brought with him from his own career, others he learned or further developed during his Business Doctors training.

With particular expertise in family-owned operations, Kevin draws upon the insight and knowledge of the international Business Doctors network to work in a number of sectors, including retail, manufacturing, legal, technology, financial, recruitment and haulage.

“The best thing about being a Business Doctor is the huge variety of assignments that come my way,” he says. “I could never become bored and I’m constantly learning and having my eyes opened to new things.

“The collaboration between the franchisees is inspiring and the satisfaction of making a significant difference to my clients’ businesses, and indeed their lives, is immense.”

BUSY PERIODThough the pandemic has seen many Business Doctors take a temporary step back from the physical boardroom and shop floor, it’s been a busy period for the franchisees, who have all become dab hands with Zoom.

“The fallout of COVID-19 has seen small business owners having to rapidly implement change, develop new business models and ways of working, bring in unfamiliar technologies and learn new management strategies,” Kevin says.

“And the Business Doctors, with their years of experience, steady hands and agile, unflappable minds, have been there to help them all the way. It’s what we do.”

AT A GLANCEBUSINESS DOCTORSEstablished: 2004

Number of franchised outlets: 40 UK. 100 international

Location of units: throughout UK and Ireland, Malta, South Africa, India, Belgium, Myanmar



Contact: Ben Davies. [email protected]. 01744 833778

businessdoctorsfranchise.com

W


Growth marketWhat’s On In is the website for people wishing to find out what’s on in their town, city and holiday location

f the What’s On In franchise, managing director Dani Smith says: “It was simple,

we know the UK online advertising market is worth £189 million and we saw the market was wide open.

“We also wanted to make our franchise available to anyone and that’s why we priced it at £798. The return on investment is amazing. We also offer an interest free finance package and payment over three-six months.”

USER FRIENDLYShe goes on to explain: “I needed to make sure our web platform was

user friendly for the advertisers and that we could offer any business a free sales web page. 82 per cent of UK businesses have no website, so we needed to address this with a free web page for every advertiser.”

THREE FRANCHISE PACKAGESWhat’s On In offers three types of franchise:

• Single franchise postcode.• Master franchise, UK or globally.• Corporate franchise, Europe

and globally.

FLEXIBLE OPPORTUNITYA typical What’s On In website not only offers a franchisee an excellent income from advertisers, but also allows them to place affiliates on their website, which pay franchisees up to 70 per cent commission. There are three income streams:

• Income for main businesses.• Income from tradesmen.• Income from affiliates.

A franchisee needs no technical knowledge, as all loading of adverts is carried out by the What’s On In support team. Bookings are made online via the website and payment is made within three minutes direct to the franchisee’s PayPal

account, which means excellent cash flow.

OPTIONAL 50-50 SYSTEMWhat’s On In has an optional 50-50 system, whereby you have a commission only sales person building your postcode area for you, offering complete freedom, and is perfect for someone with an existing business or job who wants a ‘hands off franchise’.

This option obviously requires less commitment from the franchisee.

Potential monthly incomes are £5,000-£20,000, depending on commitment. Franchisees receive a fully exclusive postcode area. The exclusive online franchise members’ area provides in-depth and comprehensive franchisee support and access to tips, advice and training tools.

LOW COST ENTRYDani believes What’s On In offers the perfect low cost entry into the profitable franchise arena.

New franchise opportunities are continually added throughout the UK. With its self service platform, high visibility, full tracking and low advertising cost, the What’s On In franchise offers the ultimate in online advertising.

AT A GLANCEWHAT’S ON INMinimum required capital: franchise costs £798. Interest free loan available

Contact: Dani Smith [email protected] 07860 833822

woifranchise.com

O

Behind the B

rand - What’s O

n In



Behind the B

rand - Hitachi C

apital Franchise FinanceBEHIND THE BRAND: PARTNER CONTENT

Forecast the future

Hitachi Capital Franchise Finance explains the importance of creating an effective cash flow

forecast for your business

good cash flow forecast is a valuable tool. But how do you plan ahead if you’re just starting

out or a new business owner? And how do you create a cash flow forecast that’s useful?

Here, we’ll explain how to create a cash flow forecast that could help take the pressure off your small business in the short term and make it easier to grow in the long term.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO CREATE A CASH FLOW FORECAST?Understanding your future cash position helps you to make better decisions about funding and how to grow your business responsibly. It’s essential information if you’re hoping to expand your franchise operation to multiple sites, buy

more stock or take on extra staff.A good cash flow forecast helps

you to understand if you’ve got enough money coming in to cover all your overheads and pay staff and suppliers. If you don’t have enough cash coming in, you can’t pay your bills on time. This affects your credit ratings and, ultimately, could lead to the end of your business.

WHY IS A CASH FLOW FORECAST SO CRITICAL?Everyone’s in a different situation. However, every business is dependent on the activity of its creditors and debtors and it’s important to maintain a healthy balance between the two.

If you get paid late by a customer, you have to settle an invoice earlier than you expected or the business owner doesn’t plan properly and takes too much money out of

it, your business may become financially vulnerable.

Low cash levels means extra pressure for you to deal with. It takes away some of your freedom to make choices about how the business grows or runs.

The answer to this problem is to project your cash flow and try to predict any action that’s needed to prevent that from happening. This is called cash flow forecasting and this is the simplest way to set up a 13-week cash flow forecast:

HOW TO SET UP THE SIMPLEST CASH FLOW FORECASTYou’ll need to reconcile what’s coming in and going out regularly. Generally, if you’re seeking funding, cash flow forecasts are produced over 12 months.

However, many small business owners find it’s beneficial to update their cash flow on a weekly basis over a 13-week period. 13 weeks is just over a quarter of a season in calendar terms. It’s also the usual length of time used by accountants, investors and lenders to assess if a business has a positive outlook for its cash flow.

You may be surprised by how far forward you can project your income, particularly if you’ve already started issuing invoices. But you’ll also see very quickly how useful a cash flow forecast is for monitoring who you’re expecting to make payments and what the impact might be if those payments are delayed.

Try it for yourself - manage your business the right way.

AT A GLANCEHITACHI CAPITAL FRANCHISE FINANCEFor more information call 01844 355575 or email [email protected]

hitachicapital.co.uk/franchise-finance

A

“You’ll need to reconcile what’s coming in and going out regularly”

ADVICE


INSIGHT

7 ways to prevent late paymentKeep the cash flowing in your direction with these top tips

id you know that 43 per cent of UK small businesses are getting paid up to two months

late, with an average overdue debt of £17,000? Or the cost of recovering overdue money is, on average, £9,000 for each business?

Healthy cash flow is essential to operate and survive. Of all the things that causes small businesses to fail, a staggering 82 per cent die due to cash flow problems.

Here are seven things you can do to reduce the risk of late

use them with every customer. If it hasn’t, consider getting some professionally written.

Your terms and conditions enable you to be specific with your clients about what you expect from them and, conversely, what they can expect from you. They eliminate the potential for misunderstanding and remove any ambiguity.

You may feel when starting out that the extra cost to get terms and conditions drafted is unnecessary. However, skipping this will be a false economy. If things go wrong with a client relationship, hiring solicitors to unravel what was agreed can be expensive.

It’s not enough to simply present your customer with your terms and conditions. They need to agree to them and you need to be able to evidence that

DTHE AUTHORNicki Kinton is the founder of Confident Cashflow and an accredited member of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management

WORDS BY NICKI KINTON


payment and bad debt and make sure that the cash flow is moving in your direction:

1Know your customerYou need to be confident both

new and existing customers will be able to pay their invoices.

You can get information about their financial circumstances from a credit reference data provider. It’s important to continue to watch the payment history of existing customers too, as their circumstances can change at any time. We often call this due diligence. All that glitters is not necessarily gold.

2 Have clear terms and conditionsYour franchisor has probably

provided you with a standard set of these. If it has, make sure you


agreement, which should happen before you transact any business.

3 Collect and safely store additional

customer informationAt the start of any new customer relationship, it’s important you have all the relevant information you need to be able to get paid promptly.

If the work is going to take a significant amount of time to complete, consider interim invoices at key milestones in the project.

Make sure your invoice details all the products and/or services provided and contains all the information needed to enable the customer to pay it promptly. Any error or omission can lead to disputes, which delay payment.

• Timing.• Frequency.• Number of contacts: the amount of calls, letters, SMS or emails required to chase for payment.

Make calling your primary method of chasing. Every opportunity to talk to a customer is an opportunity to build the relationship, even when asking for payment - if it’s done mindfully. A good relationship means you’re more likely to jump to the top of the invoice pile.

If you have a high volume of low value invoices, save yourself time and money by having standard correspondence templates for chasing debt. Such consistency in your processes will make sure you treat all your customers with fairness and equality.

7 Have the right data at the right time

You need to know if everything you are doing is making a difference. You also need to work out what improvements you can

make. Having good

reporting systems lets you compare month on

month your progress for key performance indicators such as aged debt, invoices paid to terms and volume of invoices in dispute.

You’ll never eliminate late payments and bad debts altogether. But you can reduce both them, and the negative effect on your cash flow, by being better informed, better prepared and better organised.

“If things go wrong with a client relationship, hiring

solicitors to unravel what was agreed can be expensive”


82%The amount of failed businesses that closed because of cash flow problems

You’ll probably already have your buyer’s contact details, but what about the accounts payable department? What days do they work? Not everyone works full-time.

Do you know when the customer does their payment runs? Every day? Every Friday? Only at month end? This information is vital to help you plan any credit control activity.

Does the customer require purchase order numbers? One of the biggest causes of delay is missing PO numbers. In some cases, finance departments won’t make a payment without one.

Use a standard customer information form to gather all this data, which will act as a checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything. Keep it up to date, as people move on and processes change.

4 Be prompt and accurate with your invoicing

Where possible, take some or all payment up front and don’t start work or deliver the goods until that first invoice has been paid. Otherwise, as soon as work is complete or goods delivered issue your invoice.

Put the due date on your invoice. This is not a legal requirement and many accounting and invoicing software solutions do this automatically. It does, however, make a world of difference and prevents misinterpretation of the payment terms.

5 Be fast and efficient when dealing with

disputes and queriesQueries and disputes can be genuine, yet they can also be delaying tactics.

Assign them to someone with the responsibility to respond to the customer directly. It’s good practice to have a documented dispute resolution process, which includes responsibilities and timeframes.

6 Have a clear process to follow for

chasing paymentsMake sure no invoice gets overlooked by having a documented process that outlines the:

OPINION

We aim to remain at the summit of the sectorStanding still is not an option at the British Franchise Association

s well as being the voice of ethical franchising since 1977, the British Franchise Association

provides franchisors, franchisees and professional advisers with a range of services and takes part in a number of activities we hope contribute to their future prosperity.

And as a forward thinking organisation, they’re under constant review.

Setting high standardsWhile standards are one of the biggest reasons franchisors undergo our accreditation to become members, they can also become one of the biggest barriers to some brands joining. As a result, the bfa has been working hard to ensure the joining process is one of collaboration, partnership and support.

It’s critical for the success of the industry that franchisors don’t feel intimidated by the process and view the opportunity to review and strengthen existing systems as a positive step.

Committing to operate as an ethical franchisor and maintaining that relationship is a big statement to make to a network and one we know increases brand value in the long run.

Once a franchise has joined the bfa, there are some important ongoing mechanisms to help it navigate the ups and downs of franchising, so we’re proud to now include a franchisee satisfaction survey as one of our tools to identify areas of improvement.

In addition, some significant updates are being made to dispute and mediation processes to try and help open lines of communication on issues before they have gone too far to resolve informally between franchisee and franchisor.

Brand and innovationWe produce significant project platforms for our members to obtain exposure and for franchise promotion at large. The next 12-24 months will see growth in the support we offer in this area.

In recent times, we’ve been able to facilitate collective digital advertising

A THE AUTHOREmily Price is chief operating officer at the British Franchise Association

promotions, where franchisor members can contribute to a subsidised bfa run PR campaign to target prospect franchisees and help raise the profile of franchising.

The bfa puts considerable effort into facilitating high quality content generation that’s low cost, but provides a great return to those who engage. We realise that in order to expand the reach of franchising we need to be in a position to talk to numerous audiences.

Customer engagementTo remain the trusted partner in franchising, we need to continue to earn that trust and this meant reconnecting with our communities and adding value.

Membership communications have been significantly restructured to ensure messages are clear, consistent and considered.

Online forums have been designed to promote free advice and guidance along with the opportunity to seek member-to-member opinion.

The senior team are proactively building relationships on the front line to ensure there’s a solid understanding of today’s member requirements. The customer centric environment we’re creating is at the heart of every team meeting, project and development.

However, let’s not forget our evolving membership community. For many years we policed standards alongside our affiliate community and existed as a franchisor-only association.

Today we want to represent the entire franchise industry and for us that means the thousands of franchisees alongside the hundreds of franchisors. We know that in order to have true influence, the voices we represent must include those at the coalface of franchising.

WORDS BY EMILY PRICE


“Membership communications have been significantly

restructured to ensure messages are clear,

consistent and considered”



PROSPER DESPITE THE PANDEMIC - What-Franchise.com

Documents