Wheels of fortune

With about 30 million vehicles on the roads, few areas lend themselves more readily to franchising than the automotive sector. In an industry often tainted by the dubious actions of cowboy operators, franchising provides a sense of cohesion, quality and consistency of service that can offer peace of mind to both operator and customer. Matt Pigott puts the high beam on a handful of well-established franchise propositions

 

Snap-on Tools

Few franchises can boast a longevity reaching back to the 'roaring twenties' in the US, but it was then that Joseph Johnson and William Seidemann pioneered the idea of the interchangeable socket wrench and started Snap-on. Today, Snap-on sells thousands of different products - including state-of-the-art diagnostics equipment, diagnostics software and power tools - to an ever-growing number of vehicle service and repair shop owners.

With franchise operators working in more than 150 countries, reaching a staggering 40 per cent of the world's vehicle market, Snap-on retains global dominance in the automotive tools sector.

Part of the reason for its continued success is that the business model has changed little during the past 80 years, with franchisees still taking tools directly to the market, meeting face-to-face with their prospects and accounts, and providing what is a truly personalised service.

Franchisees make their money on the margin between the price at which they buy tools in and the end retail price, with some Snap-on dealers in the UK currently turning over more than £1million a year - not bad for a business that doesn't charge a franchise fee and requires only a minimal investment to become fully operational.

In addition, what makes Snap-on unique is that franchisees operate out of vans that have products placed in the tool display area to encourage impulse buying. These mobile showrooms create excellent brand awareness and offer real convenience for the customer.

Apart from getting an operation with a secure fixed territory, new franchisees also receive training in all aspects of their business, right through from product knowledge to business administration including the use of Snap-on's bespoke onboard computer system.

Minimum total Investment: £8500
Website: www.snapon.com/uk
Phone: 01536 413800
Franchise classification: Owner-operator

 

Wheel Wizard

With about half of all vehicles' wheels suffering from bumps, scuffs and scratches, Wheel Wizard provides an emerging and in-demand service. Giving franchising in the automotive sector a different spin, Wheel Wizard homes in on a specific niche, rejuvenating wheel trims and hubs, negating wheel replacement and saving customers money. Using eco-friendly Small-to-Medium Area Repair Technology (SMART) and materials, Wheel Wizard has tapped into a receptive market that is growing rapidly.

With around 30 million cars on UK roads, Wheel Wizard franchisees have a large market to aim at, and should never be short of business once their marketing campaign is underway.

Wheel Wizard franchisees offer a valuable service to anyone looking to sell their car or showrooms that need to outsource this type of service. Because all Wheel Wizard franchisees sport the company's branded uniform and liveried vehicle, and because they are well trained and have a local presence, backed by a national outfit, they are in a prime position to gain customer loyalty while they generate business.

In addition to exclusive territory and four weeks of intensive training, franchisees benefit from a comprehensive package that includes all of the equipment and tools needed to carry out the reconditioning work. They also learn how to use Wheel Wizard's special paint system, its special customer management system, operating manuals and all promotional and marketing materials.

Before potential franchisees commit to purchasing a Wheel Wizard business they are invited to attend an open day where they will get the chance to speak to existing franchisees and watch wheels being restored by Wheel Wizard technicians.

Minimum total Investment: £20,000
Website: www.dentwizard.co.uk
Phone: 01675 471150
Franchise classification: Owner-operator

 

Dial-A-Rad

Set up more than 25 years ago, Dial-A-Rad began franchising in 2007. Today it supplies new, reconditioned and repaired automotive radiators to garages, mobile mechanics, body shops and the general public. Providing a niche service for car, motorbike, agricultural and commercial vehicle owners, the founders of Dial-A-Rad are the first to take a local radiator reconditioning and sales service and launch it at a national level.

Candidates should have a passion for anything on wheels and should have at least a rudimentary knowledge of the workings of a vehicle.

The main strength of the Dial-A-Rad proposition is its mobile fitting service, whereby the franchisee fits, repairs or replaces radiators in situ. This can be at the customer's home or workplace, and at a time that suits them.

Dial-A-Rad is looking for individuals who, apart from a flair for working with vehicles, also have a strong desire to start and build their own niche business.

New franchisees benefit from franchisor support plus a fixed and protected geographical territory. The franchise package also includes start-up stock; a full tool kit and specialist equipment required for fitting, building and re-conditioning radiators; business stationery and marketing materials; fitted and liveried van (lease rates apply); corporate clothing and work wear; a website with personal pages and intranet; membership to the Federation of Small Businesses; and a certificate of competency on completion of Dial-A-Rad's training.

In addition, a tailor-made launch programme that takes into account the social, commercial and demographic nature of any given locality is provided.

Minimum total Investment: £18,500
Website: www.dialarad.com
Phone: 01908 274484
Franchise classification: Owner-operator

 

Raccoon

Operational since 1992, Raccoon has wrapped thousands of cars, vans, buses, trucks, boats and planes, as well as two of the BA London Eye pods on behalf of Transport for London.

And one of the company's most impressive achievements to date was when it wrapped 600 cars over a three-week period, turning out around 28 cars a day for estate agency Foxtons.

To visualise the process, consider a tin box with cling film wrapped around it, where the artwork is printed on the film. The film can be removed with relative ease but it is almost impossible to discern from the original bodywork.

In the past six months, Raccoon has experienced its most exciting period of growth to date. It's been a time of heavy investment and business augmentation with £500,000 being spent prior to launching as a franchise, thus solidifying the business's infrastructure, developing its systems and doubling its floor space.

For anyone wanting to run their own high-quality large-format printing and vehicle-wrapping business, Raccoon is an excellent opportunity that provides a solid franchise package. It includes comprehensive training; all marketing materials and support; large and exclusive territory; help with locating suitable premises; branding uniforms; full vehicle-wrap; and media launch.

Importantly, franchisees learn wrapping by doing it on their own vehicle, which then acts as an advertising medium for the new business.

In addition, new franchisees get their own Raccoon website, branded and tailored to their specific territory to deliver locally relevant information and generate leads.

Today the company is looking for bright, enthusiastic individuals with a passion for graphics, vehicles, printing and the right level of investment.

Minimum total Investment: £27,000
Website: www.raccoon.co.uk
Phone: 0845 257 8757
Franchise classification: Management

 

Professional Car Cleaning

PCC is a professional car cleaning service aimed at private and corporate customers.

Using an extensive range of high-quality cleaning and valeting products, developed exclusively for PCC, franchisees can carry out their work quickly and effectively, tapping into a large and receptive market, with significant repeat business potential. PCC franchisees can readily service the domestic market, visiting car owners at home, but should be equally comfortable taking on much larger-scale jobs for corporate customers or showrooms with fleets of vehicles. Contracts provide regular ongoing and secure work for franchisees, capitalising on all available leads. Successful PCC franchisees can also consider developing their owner-operator business into a multi-van enterprise once they are up and running.

As part of the package, franchisees get a liveried and custom-built VW Caddy van. In carrying out their valeting role, they also use a range of specially made PCC products. Full support is given by head office along with a robust training package and, once trained, all franchisees are expected to deliver an excellent service to their customers, upholding the professionalism, cleanliness and quality of service encapsulated in the PCC brand.

As a sister company of ChipsAway, recently acquired by Myhome plc, PCC franchisees will benefit from unparalleled support from the franchisor and the network. Sales and marketing assistance will also be available, with franchisees benefiting from access to the ChipsAway and Myhome franchise network. This will help develop their customer base and capitalise on qualified leads in a way that would be very difficult, if not impossible, from a lone start.

Minimum total Investment: £12,995
Website: www.procarclean.co.uk
Phone: 0800 131 3301
Franchise classification: Owner-operator

 

ChipsAway

ChipsAway, which was recently acquired by the franchising conglomerate Myhome Plc, has been in the business of repairing chips and scratches on vehicles in the UK since 1994. Its growth arc since then has been nothing short of spectacular, with about 350 franchises operational today.

Small-to-Medium Area Repair Technology (SMART), has given the company impetus for international growth through the correction of scratches, body scuffs and minor dents at a fraction of the cost of traditional body shops.

Franchisees typically visit their customers, carrying out repair work in situ. However, there are two franchises on offer, the first being the mobile, van-based workshop, and the other being a fixed car-care unit. Naturally the two models vary in cost, but it is not uncommon for franchisees to upsize as their income grows. Likewise, the fixed unit does not preclude entrepreneurial franchisees from managing a lucrative van-based operation, with multiple vehicles in their fixed allocated territory.

Franchisees don't need any experience to become a ChipsAway franchisee, although an aptitude for manual work and attention to detail are valuable attributes prior to training.

The training itself covers the mechanisms and processes of repairing minor damage to parts of a car, including wheel scuffs, windscreen chips and interior fascia damage. There is also an administrative side to the business, which franchisees are walked through to ensure they get off to the best possible start.

Attendance of a free informal open day is recommended, where franchisees will benefit from seeing the ChipsAway system in action, get to talk to other franchisees and ask questions about the business.

Minimum total Investment: £22,500
Website: www.chipsaway.co.uk
Phone: 0800 731 6914
Franchise classification: Owner-operator/management (depending on model purchased)