Value for money
It’s not necessarily true that the bigger the investment, the better the franchise. Perhaps the best things really do come in small packages. Report by Katie Shevlin
There are franchise opportunities on offer to fit a whole range of budgets. Buying a franchise business is not a get-rich-quick scheme; in fact, it often means you get out what you put in. With hard work, it is possible to make a decent living from a small investment.
Aside from available finance playing a major factor, many franchisees go in low because they feel less at risk and can have greater control over the day-to-day operational side of the business.
If your ambitions run to managing multi-units, teams of staff and having a Bentley in the drive, this might not be for you. If, however, you would prefer a more hands-on approach while generating a healthy income and striking a flexible work-life balance, then a low-cost franchise may be the best option. Here, four franchisees describe how their low-cost franchises have worked for them.
Ovenclean £14,995
After being made redundant from a luxury jeweller in Central London, Martin Walshe opened his Croydon Ovenclean franchise in 2009.
Why did you decide to invest in a franchise?
Having been in employment for 20 years, redundancy came as a bit of a shock, but it spurred me on to look at something new and take control of my own destiny. Franchising appealed as it comes with security and a lot of support, which was invaluable, especially during the first year.
What appealed most about Ovenclean?
After attending the Ovenclean open day, which answered a lot of my questions, I returned for a few meetings and chose Ovenclean on the basis that it has a simple, effective business model and an easy-to-learn trade.
Do you feel you’ve gotten a lot out of your investment?
Three years down the line, my investment is really paying off. I make good money doing an average of three to four cleans per day and I still make it home by 4pm – the change in my quality of life is amazing. When I worked in the city, I would sometimes work additional hours with no extra reward and, with over an hour commute each way, I didn’t have much time to spend with my family. Now, I get out what I put in.
What advice would you give to anyone considering franchising?
Franchising really is the way forward for people wishing to have more control over their lives, but with much less risk than going it alone. Make sure you choose a successful franchisor that can offer a large, supportive network.
Screen Rescue £18,000
Director Jamie Hilario set up his Screen Rescue franchise in 2012, following a lengthy working background in the automotive industry. Two years later, Screen Rescue has grown into one of the most successful windscreen repair specialists in the East of England and is now releasing low-entry franchise opportunities with the potential of high earnings.
What makes your low-cost franchise stand out?
Not only do we offer a low entry fee, but, due to extensive head office support and refined processes, we can also demonstrate low start-up costs with relatively low overheads, so running the business won’t cost the earth either. We’ve deliberately avoided the reactive public windscreen repairs market and focussed entirely on developing long-term, repeat volume business within our commercial automotive sectors. This strategy provides healthy margins and yields steady profit growth – essential factors for any franchise owner serious about building a business. Screen Rescue is backed by unique technology capabilities that give outstanding repair results, so our clients make significant savings with every screen repaired as we reduce their need for costly replacement windscreens. It’s a ‘win-win’ situation and is the driving force behind our rapid growth and year-on-year client retention. To give our franchisees the best chance of success, we’ve created one of the most comprehensive packages available in the market today. In addition, head office operates a business system that manages the admin and finance process from initial enquiry to invoice collection, which means our franchisees won’t spend time chasing invoices and fighting fire – they’ll be free to focus on building their business from day one. Each franchisee also benefits from their local web page presence within our national website, which further cements their local brand positioning.
What training and support do you offer new franchisees?
We believe in raising industry standards. Screen Rescue is extremely passionate about the quality of repairs and client care we provide and so our franchise owners and their staff will be fully trained to achieve an industry-recognised Level 2 NVQ Certificate in windscreen repair. We’re the only commercial windscreen repairs franchise to foster the development of NVQ-qualified technicians. From our five-week induction training to launch-week field support, we provide the highest-quality education and training within our NVQ-led masterclass training programmes, guiding our franchisees every step of the way.
Does a low-cost investment mean low returns?
A good franchise is a business investment that can change your life forever. Like any investment, establish what you get for your money and what the scope of its return is. By following our proven business systems and with consistent hard work, the return on a Screen Rescue investment can potentially be unlimited.
Wilkins £15,000
Mark Sullivan and his wife Justine own and run Wilkins Chimney Sweep West Suffolk. Mark was a police officer before retiring as an inspector after 30 years’ service. They have two young children and live in Hundon, Suffolk.
What attracted you to franchising?
We wanted the challenge of running our own business but felt that starting from scratch after 30 years of me being a policeman, possessing no regular business skills, was possibly too great a challenge for us. Franchising offered us a distinctive brand, a proven business model and support by a franchisor. Choosing a franchise seemed absolutely the right thing for us to do.
What made you buy a Wilkins Chimney Sweep franchise?
We’d decided a ‘man-with-a-van’ franchise was right for us because of the emphasis on freedom and independence. When we met owners Peter and Louise Harris, we found them to be very honest and helpful. Although we looked at quite a few other franchise operations, we eventually chose Wilkins because we liked the brand – I enjoy DIY and we felt that there was a market for chimney-sweeping services in our local area.
How would you rate the training?
The training was excellent. Louise and Peter scheduled the training to avoid me being away from home for too long as we have a young family. Firstly, I had a week of practical training on the road with Peter; then Louise came up to Suffolk and Justine and I had a week of really comprehensive training on the business model and administration. Finally, I had a further week of hands-on practical training in real-life situations out on the road with Peter. I learnt so much! I had no idea sweeping a chimney would be so physically demanding or, at times, complex. From the outside all chimneys look the same but each chimney presents a different set of issues, so I was thinking on my feet all the time.
What support have you received?
The support we have received from Peter and Louise has been great; aside from the initial training, they have also provided extensive ongoing support via phone, email, etc. If we have any concerns, they are always dealt with immediately. We’re very happy with the support we have received.
Did you have any concerns about investing in a low-cost franchise?
No, is the short answer. Naturally you are going to ask yourself ‘Is this going to work? Am I going to get my money back?’, but with a low-cost franchise the risk and concern is just that little bit less – if the worst does come to the worst, it’s unlikely you’re going to lose the roof from over your head.
What are your plans for the business over the next 12 months?
Our goal is to generate plenty of ongoing, sustainable business to earn back our initial investment and build up our customer-base. We aim to generate local recognition of Wilkins Chimney Sweep as a trustworthy and reliable brand. I find I’m being recruited to join a number of neighbourhood-watch schemes because I’m always out and about in the local community and have the skills and opportunity to be able to identify suspicious activity. This has been a real plus and is helping me to meet plenty of new customers locally.
Do you have any advice for anyone considering investing in a franchise?
Carry out due diligence. Talk to existing franchisees and don’t rush into anything; it can be a very exciting time at the beginning, full of excitement at the thought of running your own business but you need to ask the right questions and listen to all the answers.
A-Star Sports £12,500
Adrian Herring, 49, runs A-Star Sports in Chorley and South Ribble, Central Lancashire. Adrian developed a career as a qualified chartered accountant whilst maintaining his passion for sports as a local football coach. After spending time coaching young children in Ghana and South Africa with an international volunteering organisation, Adrian decided to make sport his career with an A-Star Sports franchise.
What attracted you to franchising?
It provides a great opportunity to run your own business while always having professional support and experience available when you need it. My franchise is following a tried-and-tested business model used by existing franchisees, with the flexibility to adapt it to my own circumstances and benefit from broader ideas in taking the business forward.
Why did you choose to invest in A-Star Sports?
I was really impressed by the professionalism, support and training offered by the franchisors. They are very open and honest and have a great deal of specialist and practical experience in operating in this sector and maintaining success over a number of years with the A-Star Sports business model. I was also keen to work directly with families.
What support and training have you received from your franchisor?
I received as much training and on-the-job experience as I wanted. I’ve also had help with finance, marketing, general management and setting up a local web page, together with procuring and organising all the vital equipment I need to coach a wide range of activities as well as our 10 core sports. I still have ongoing coaching and support at my fingertips, alongside extensive coaching, operational manuals and resources to support these activities.
Did you have any concerns about investing in a low-cost franchise?
I didn’t have any significant concerns, except that the day-to-day running and success of the business is all down to me! I spoke at length with current A-Star Sports franchisees and they made it very clear that, whilst setting up a business is incredibly hard work, the rewards from working with children and seeing the difference you can make are really worth it.
What are your plans for the future of the business?
Once I am established in my current franchise area, my aim is to increase the number of weekly classes, parties and the provision of holiday clubs by employing professional coaches to help to run them on my behalf. The next step is to look at expanding into new franchise territories offered by A-Star Sports.
What advice would you give to anyone considering franchising?
Do a lot of research to find the franchise that is the best fit personally and professionally. I would also advise anyone considering investing in a franchise to make sure they speak to and spend time with existing franchisees, as this can give a valuable insight into the real franchise experience. The franchisees at A-Star Sports really helped to put my plans into perspective.
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