Two's company

Lynne Lister thinks couples make great franchisees. She should know: she founded X-Press Legal Services, a property-search provider for solicitors, with her husband, Dave, in 2000, since when the business has gone from strength to strength. What's more, around half of the company's 43 franchises are run by couples.

For some people, working so closely with a spouse or partner probably is their idea of hell. But for others, nothing could be more satisfying than building a business together. Indeed, couples who jointly operate and own a franchise are among the most common types of franchisee in the UK. No fewer than one-in-four franchises in this country are owned by couples, according to the annual NatWest/British Franchise Association survey. And Ms Lister suspects the number of couples in franchising may be even higher than those statistics suggest: often there is just one name on the franchise agreement, but the other partner takes a very active role.

The number of couples working together  might seem surprising to the uninitiated, but ask such people - and their franchisor recruiters - and they will all tend to say that couples (and family members in general) can produce the goods. A couple who own a franchise are different in many key respects to an ordinary two-person management team, and their shared personal and business goals can make them an irresistible combination.

Like X-Press Legal, many of Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises' franchises are owned by couples. Fiona Robertson, lessee support and development manager for the pub company, says they make great publicans if they work together as a team. This usually starts during the training exercises. "We usually find that couples do well, since one will often pick up on points that the other may have overlooked."

Franchising can bring out the best of the gender divide. "Almost invariably one partner tends to be particularly strong on the business disciplines, while the other concentrates on the operational side," says Ms Robertson.

And a good franchise can even change lives. Many couples do well in community pubs, and welcome the chance to live on the premises. But it doesn't suit everyone. "Theoretically, this creates less strain on family life, but we always advise couples to think very carefully about the impact of their relationship and living and working together 24/7. It's not for everyone, but depending on their previous working experience, it can be the answer to many couples' domestic challenges."

At Mr Electric, an electrical installation and support business, around one-in-five of the franchises are owned by couples. Many find that being franchisees offers them the flexibility they need while families are growing, with the opportunity for expansion later, says Mr Electric's managing director, Clive Houlston. The couples he deals with like being control of their destinies.

He says that in his experience, even when only one partner is signing up as franchisee, the other partner is encouraged to come along to the training. Some then re-think and decide to join too. But it's a hard slog, not just for one member of a couple, but for both. "Your only taskmaster is yourself, and you may be the hardest taskmaster."

And anyone who thinks of franchising as an easy option may be in for a shock. Many become much more conscientious, and work harder, than they did for an employer. Couples need to be totally professional, because their livelihood depends on it. And, Ms Lister says, keeping home disagreements out of the office is crucial.

Franchising can offer real flexibility and the opportunity to work together, but couples must have total commitment. Ms Lister admits that for her, it was a steep learning curve. "Dave and I quickly learned to respect each other's boundaries," she says.

Yet for the right couples, a good franchise is a golden opportunity. So says Carol Stewart-Gill, chairwoman of commercial cleaning business Dublcheck, where a number of successful franchisees are couples. "Franchising is a fantastic way to get into business," she says. "Dublcheck is particularly suitable for couples because often one concentrates on the interpersonal side of the business, and the other on the operational side, using complementary skills."

Like many established franchisors around the UK, Dublcheck says it would welcome more couples who want to use the unique opportunity of a franchise to achieve their dreams.

Working and living with your husband or wife 24/7 might be unappealing for some, but a good franchise offers a very special opportunity for many a committed couple. N

slice of life

The Patils

Former lawyers Anil and Astrid Patil, both 33, are great examples of a couple who have taken the plunge together, and in doing so created the opportunity to change their lives.

Astrid, previously a solicitor, became a Domino's Pizza franchisee in 2005. Two years later her husband, Anil, followed suit and hung up his barrister's wig to join her full time. Now the joint owners of three successful stores in Portsmouth, Southampton and Christchurch, the husband and wife team are relishing the challenge of running a business together and have plans to open a new store each year for the next three years.

Finding a better work/life balance was a big driver for the Patils. "I felt trapped on the office treadmill, with very little time to enjoy life beyond work," says Astrid. "With future hopes to have children, I felt that my legal career just didn't fit into my life plan anymore. In fact, there were some weeks where I hardly saw my husband, and I knew that I needed to find a job that would enable me to more directly reap the benefits of working so hard, plus spend more time with Anil."

The Patils are now recognised within their local community and have engaged in a number of charitable endeavours. They recently organised a charity football match against the local newspaper to raise money for Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB), the Domino's charity of choice.

Anil comments: "What really makes my working day is the interaction I have with the community. Not only have we been able to create new jobs for local people, but it's great meeting people you wouldn't usually meet. A real highlight for me was playing on the same team as the SOGB athletes in the charity football match - they certainly taught me a few skills!"

Astrid concludes: "We're so glad we made the leap of faith and are feeling more positive about the future than ever before. I know it sounds clichéd but I do think we're the perfect team. Anil is the visionary, thinking ahead, and I'm the doer - pointing out the practicalities. He's got huge ideas but he often needs bringing back down to earth."

First class

The sykes

When Russell Sykes began yearning to leave a well-paid corporate job to start his own business, at first his wife Christine was sceptical. Then he took expert advice and heard about franchising. "It was a revelation to us," says Russell.

They gave the tried-and-tested franchise formula a try, and found that the ongoing support was crucial. Today, the couple are Portsmouth franchisees for postal services business Mail Boxes Etc, and have recently won the company's coveted "Outstanding Customer Care" award.

The decision has transformed their personal life too. "We both know what's going on in the business so there is no need for explanations, for example if you need to stay late to finish a job," says Russell. Since both are involved, both understand the priorities and pressures, he adds.

The couple avoid duplication by dividing up responsibility. The bonus is that they are working for a common goal and enjoying the benefits, which brings them closer together.

And Christine's initial reservations have been cast aside: "From day one, it has been such fun," she says. "We work hard but we laugh a lot because we enjoy the enormous variety of tasks and like our customers."

After years of saying that they wouldn't want to work together, the Sykes have possibly surprised even themselves. "Here we are doing it and loving it," says Christine. Yet relaxation is crucial too. "It's easy to get totally absorbed in work but it's important to maintain a balance with your home life and make time for your children too," she says. Leaving their successful franchise life behind for some healthy home life is vital, both agree.

Call off the search

The Fergusons

Becoming franchisees with X-Press Legal Services has been more than simply a business venture for Liz and James Ferguson - it's been a complete lifestyle change and an opportunity to work together in a beautiful part of the country.

The pair were working long hours in their respective jobs, with increasing out-of-hours demands on their time. So they moved to Cornwall to escape the rat race and ran a B&B to realise their dream of working for themselves, while looking for something better suited to their joint talents.

"We wanted a business that would excite us and bring the passion back into our working lives," says James. They found it in X-Press Legal, a supplier of property-related searches to solicitors and licensed conveyances. They launched the business last year and have become the franchise network's "Newcomer of the Year". "We were determined to succeed so we maintained a constant marketing effort and very high customer care standards," says James.

And while working with one's spouse would be challenging for some, it has been quite different for the Fergusons. Indeed, the franchise has transformed their lives: while they hardly saw each other before, they are now together much of time. "We get on extremely well and work brilliantly together," says James. "It's great being able to spend so much time together - a complete change from before."

Franchising means they can make the most of their skills. "The advantage of working with your spouse is that you know exactly their skill set, so sharing work and responsibilities is so much easier," James says. "And with both people so motivated, you're going in the same direction and achieving success together."

Bright sparks

The Rylands

A long conversation with wife Liz put Mark Ryland on the road to franchising. A trained electrician with an MBA, he had made his way up the corporate ladder and was working long hours with endless meetings, and had had enough.

But though he felt he lacked the experience to start his own business, a tried-and-tested franchise formula with Mr Electric offered him exactly what he wanted, while Liz, a qualified accountant, has been a key part of the team.

The couple are steadily expanding their London South West franchise, which started in a study at home. They are now building a log cabin in the garden to house the business so they can close the door on work at night.

"The transition from living together to working together has been interesting," says Mark, "but instead of living in each other's pockets, our new roles have given us a stronger personal bond."

They have now appointed an office manager, which will free up some of Liz's time to also focus on her own curtain-making business. But the couple will continue to work together on building their Mr Electric business. "It is a shared interest, and an excellent one too - we're closer than ever now. Working and living together would not be suitable for everyone, but we enjoy it."

Toasting their success

The Mathers

Justin and Michelle Mather jumped at the chance to take on a Scottish & Newcastle pub franchise. He was already running one pub, and she was working at another one - but franchising offered them the chance to work together and combine their skills.

The couple took on The Globe in Hexham, Northumberland, in 2001, using their own savings and a bank loan, and have never looked back. S&N Pub Enterprises provided full stocktaking and accountancy services, leaving the couple free to concentrate on building up the front of house side.

They have also worked hard on integrating work with their family life, with everything from the school run to dog-walking treated as shared responsibilities. They also bring equal skills to the franchise. "We like working together, and we like working with people, so it was ideal for us," says Justin. "One of us is always working behind the bar, and we both deal with suppliers and so on."

Yet the couple are determined not to let the franchise dominate their social life as well as their work and home lives. "We never talk about work when we go out," he says, "because we're here 24 hours a day, so when we go out with friends or for a meal we just talk about something else."

And a franchise set-up gives them the ideal opportunity to create a friendly community pub. They organise regular trips to the races and Christmas parties and their customers always respond positively.

They say they will carry on forever. "We enjoy this and will go on doing it for as long as we can," says Justin.

Fast learners

The Drurys

Martin and Janie Drury had been married for more than 10 years when they set up their Fastsigns franchise in Birmingham in 1986. Prior to this, Martin worked for BT and Janie had various jobs ranging from secretarial work and part-time teaching to IT.

Like many others, franchising seemed appealing because they knew they would not be on their own. "You are taking on an established, tried and tested and successful business formula," says Janie. Martin adds that they were attracted to Fastsigns because of its strong business proposition. "Fastsigns is very well organised with operations manuals to cover most aspects of the business, particularly marketing strategies and materials," he says.

In the dozen years since, things have gone well for the couple. "We've gained so much wisdom and experience about every aspect of running a business," says Janie. "We are still learning and each day brings a new challenge or learning opportunity. There's no time to get stale."

And they have worked together for so long, they almost have forgotten what it was like when they worked apart. "Let's just say that we knew each other very, very well indeed!" says Janie. "Despite the downs that you will inevitably experience, we are still together, so I suppose it has strengthened our relationship."

Martin agreed. "We have found that our personalities and backgrounds complement each other, as we are quite different personalities with different business backgrounds and talents - so all angles are covered."

Janie says that one of the secrets of their successful working relationship is treating each other as colleagues, rather than husband and wife. "[You should] decide in advance which one of you will be the boss - and stick to it," she says.

In fact, Martin suggests that franchising is particularly suited to couples. "If you disagree, there is a system in place that you can fall back on. We do it the Fastsigns way instead of Janie's way or mine. There is a third party who can pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in the couple and point them in the right direction," he says.

Keeping it in the family

The Prices

Parents Stephen and Ciorsdan Price, who met on a blind date in Ayr and married in 1989, bought the West Scotland franchise of Recognition Express. Ciorsdan's parents were actually the previous owners, and Ciorsdan worked there prior to the acquisition in August 2003.

"Working for my mother, I could see the potential in the business, the growth in the company and corporate branding," she says. "It seemed like a good idea and Stephen was disillusioned with his job, so when the parents decided to sell we made them an offer to buy the business."

Stephen, who worked in the financial services industry and latterly the golf holiday market before taking over the franchise, says he was attracted by Recognition Express's established brand and the offer of back-up including a strong initial training programme.

"We bought the business in 2003 and it's the best thing we've ever done," he says. "Business was turning over £180,000 and now we're at £500,000 with 20 quarters of consecutive growth. The most important lesson we've learned in the importance of client enquiries being followed up quickly and efficiently. Speed and professionalism are paramount to our success."

Ciorsdan says the couple have worked well as a team. "I look after artwork, admin and office duties and Stephen focuses on sales and growing turnover and profitability. We have our moments, but by and large we work well as a team and complement each other, which is so important in a small business."

Stephen agrees. "There's no point in having two great office administrators and nobody on the sales desk. Complementing each other is the key to succeeding."

Like father, like son

The Walkers

Not all 'partnerships' in franchising have to involve married couples. Keith and Robert Walker, father and son respectively, work together as the owners of Recognition Express's North Staffordshire franchise.

Rob, 21, and Keith, 50, who live in Stoke on Trent, set up their franchise in April 2007. Rob studied Physical Education and Business Studies at Newcastle College, and started his career in customer service for Vodafone. He is also a qualified mortgage advisor. Keith was a police officer for 30 years, at Staffordshire Constabulary and latterly he was seconded to the Home Office Inspectorate for three years. He retired from the force in March 2007.

Keith had always wanted to run a business, like his father (plumber) and grandfather (bookmaker) before him. "I did some part-time courses whilst I was a policeman, an MBA and a course in HR, and they inspired me to put the theories into practice," he says.

Rob was looking for a new job at the same time that Keith was thinking about investing in a franchise, and so the idea came together well.

Keith had been to a franchise exhibition at the NEC two years before he retired and had got talking to Recognition Express. "I was impressed with their approach," he remembers. "I didn't do anything at the time but when I retired from the police I was only 49 and a bit too young to stop working. Rob was looking for another job and I thought it was an ideal opportunity to work together. So, I asked him if he was interested and he said he was, so we did a bit of research and then decided to go ahead."

Keith and Rob have been in business for just over a year and have achieved their initial targets. "We still have a way to go and we are now planning to expand the business," says Keith.

Both Rob and Keith have found that they work well together. "The relationship at home hasn't changed - we still get on really well," says Rob. "The working relationship is new to us both and that's also going really well. Of course we have our disagreements but that is part of business and we always understand that work is work."

"We work well together," adds Keith. "Rob is very technology minded and good at the design side. He's very mature for his age and has picked up the business concept very quickly. He has lots of ideas as to how we can develop the business and is a really good asset."

While both Rob and Keith recommend family business, they do advise that business should be kept separate from family. "It works for us, but it might not work for everybody," says Keith. "We appreciate each other's views, support each other and compliment each other."