Archive for May, 2008

Growing Office Cleaning Franchising in the UK

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

The commercial cleaning industry in the UK is gaining momentum, in that most of the businesses and commercial clients are yearning for different ways of bringing out improvements within their office environment. Keeping the office clean and tidy for the betterment of the employees and the maintenance of office decorum is the latest phenomenon in the country. Due to this, commercial cleaning franchises have been capitalising on the arising opportunities therein.

Also the growing competition has put a major impact on the appearances of the office premises of businesses across the UK, such that new customers get enticed towards the office set-up and that employees’ demand for cleaner working environment is put into place.

Taking this into consideration, office cleaning franchising proves to be a great opportunity for one to start up one’s own business and benefit from the rapidly growing demand in the winning cleaning industry.

In fact, the office cleaning branch of the cleaning industry seems to be more stable than the domestic cleaning branch, in the former, you get a ready experienced labour for commercial cleaning franchises.

Also an office cleaning franchise requires that a location is arranged for your business that has less competition or that offers a good demand for commercial cleaning services, such as a city centre location. Investing into an office cleaning franchise in the UK also enables you to run the business from home, office, or even vans with as few or as many cleaners employed as you wish.

UK’s Oil Change & Lube Franchise Business

Friday, May 30th, 2008

With more cars coming on the road which are being driven for a longer duration, the demand for automotive services has witnessed a sharp rise. Since its inception in the 1980s, the quick oil change industry has today emerged as a viable industry with huge growth potential. One finds it quite convenient to moving to a quick oil change centre and this has further instigated various savvy entrepreneurs to make a lion’s share in a lube franchise business worth 15 billion dollars.

Franchisees get an opportunity to choose from various options in a single industry, ranging from mobile franchises to stationary oil change franchises through to automotive service franchises such as tyre rotation, brake repair, belt replacement and a simple oil change. While mobile franchises carry low initial costs, stationary franchises are appealing for people seeking long-term business.

Franchisees must carefully examine the marketplace before investing into this business, in terms of their budget and chosen field. A lube franchise involves activities with a huge amount of repeat business in the retail sector. However, you need not have prior relevant experience in this arena to invest in oil change franchises, as you shall be provided with complete training in every aspect of running the business. Having previous experience nevertheless always proves helpful and is considered a great asset.

Homemakers can make it big with franchising in the UK

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Today, franchise businesses represent exciting avenues for housewives who can earn a good chunk of money while sitting at home. Home-based franchise businesses offer the following benefits:

Time Flexibility: Many franchise businesses offer the time management flexibility to housewives, or work-at-home mothers that enable them to keep a healthy balance between home and work, and lead a happy life. This flexibility also stands as a motivational factor for many women to get into a business which they can easily manage from home.

Security: A franchise business offers a safe and secure proven business model to the housewives to manage and generate revenue thereon. Besides offering a trusted brand name, a franchise business also provides ample training, backend support and advice on a continual basis. In addition to this, more benefits can be availed through associations in the franchise sector.

Be your own Boss: with a franchise business and as a housewife you get a unique opportunity to be your own boss in terms of the management of the business, while operating from home itself.

In addition to the above, other advantages that you can add to your benefit ratio are job satisfaction, no commuting required, support, and so on. No doubt, for many housewives a franchise business is a rewarding and worthwhile business opportunity to make an entry into the career world to be proud of.

UK’s Fitness Club Franchise Business Opportunities

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

In today’s scenario, where everyone seems busy with the Internet, computer games, alcohol, fast food and take-always, it is not surprising that a majority of people are seeking out ways to take the utmost care of their health and evade the coronary bypass.

Many times people even make it a New Year’s resolution to join a gym and gift themselves a healthy quality of life.

There have been several government initiatives, TV programmes, health associations and magazines that tend to spread a single message across that Exercise is the best policy to stay fit and fine. This has also led to the rise in demand for gyms in the UK fitness industry.

The escalating market for gyms has instigated many aspiring entrepreneurs to set up a franchising business in this sector and earn lucratively. The demand for fitness clubs in the country has been further anticipated to grow at six percent per annum. The burgeoning health sector invites a ready market for franchise businesses of fitness clubs that is well-supported by comprehensive training and assistance by the parent company.

A nominal start-up investment for building, staff and equipment can be soon recovered by exponential returns guaranteed from a good location, marketing strategy and resources provided by the franchisor. If you are craving for a franchise business opportunity in the UK’s fitness clubs, you ought to assess your personal skills, management qualities and budgeting skills to be able to take strong business decisions.

Invest wisely. Invest in a Window Cleaning Franchise

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

Everyone wants to give their windows the extra-shine look and normally want someone else to do this job for them for money, which opens a new avenue for earning huge profits by starting up one’s own window cleaning franchise business.

In the UK, the home service industry is on a boom and so you may not find a better time to grab the opportunity and splurge into the sector. While the initial costs would be minimal as you do not need a big office space, you get guaranteed returns as window cleaning is something you cannot afford to avoid and not something you cannot afford. Secondly, a window cleaning franchise can always be run on either a full time or a part time basis. You earn the flexibility of operating the business at your own pace, whilst catering to a vast number of people.

However, before stepping into this franchise business, you should first analyse the competition within a given region and if it offers you good returns, flexibility, stability and a comprehensive training program which is usually provided before you start the business. Besides, certain administrative functions are also involved in a window cleaning franchise that again requires at least some business skills to manage it efficiently.

Investing in a Pizza Franchise in the UK

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

Pizza has been an all-time favourite meal of choice for almost everyone from regular consumers to businessmen, in response to which pizza franchises in the UK are able to maintain a favourable position for themselves in the fast food industry.

Pizza franchises comprise various elements, each offering a different set of satisfying results to the end consumer. Pizzas are also recognised to hold the highest mark-up amongst other food items in the fast food market. However, the franchisee must take into consideration certain factors before splurging into a pizza industry, in terms of the location, finances involved and time required to operate the business outlet. These are further explained as follows:

Location: A pizza franchise outlet should be opened in such a location where there is a higher number of people, residential areas and most of the other elements like clubs, shops and pubs. Students can be considered a target segment, and so areas where most of the universities or colleges are located can be chosen for your franchise outlet. Students can also be employed in fast food joints on a part time basis.

Finances involved: In a pizza franchise business, it is essential to raise substantial capital, a certain proportion of which should be cash for the initial start-up business requirements.

Time required: As a franchisee, you should make sure that you provide ample time to your business during its initial stages, particularly in managing marketing activities, training, high standards and product control, and therefore, make it a worthwhile investment.

You may find plenty of pizza franchises available for you to engage in the UK and Ireland, the global demand for which is not likely to wane in the near future.

Wish to invest in a Car Rental Franchise?

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

Wondering if you can benefit from investing your money into a car rental franchise business in the UK? Well, to trust the facts, motorists across the country are in great need of rental cars, and it could be because of a number of reasons.

While some do not own a car, some might have given theirs in for servicing, some might be away on a holiday trip and a few others might have left theirs at home. The figures reveal that around 25 million people often make visits to the UK annually from across the world. What better opportunity can you think of than hiring a car rental service to cater to their travelling and sight-seeing requirements? If you think you have it in you, this winning deal is meant for you.

However, a car rental franchise involves a huge investment, in terms of site purchase, staff salary, insurance fees, and the purchase of cars and their maintenance. An aspiring entrepreneur with good experience would be an added advantage to deal with start-up costs and the daily expenditure involved in such a franchise business.

Since rental cars are bound to travel on an extensive scale, they must be serviced regularly and any replacement parts should be installed without fail, whenever desired. The turnover is highly influenced by the size and location of the car rental franchise; in that a small town franchise will not be able fetch more business to the franchisee as a city-based franchise would rake in.

In the UK, you may find several kinds of businesses within a car rental franchise, such as a commercial vehicle rental business, a wedding car rental business or vehicles rental service for special occasions. Make the right choice by assessing the demand for all kinds of rental services, before you sign a deal with the franchisor.

Laws of Franchising

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

Franchising has been specifically regulated in only a few countries. In the UK, there is a leniency towards franchising business opportunities. The complexity of the relationship between a franchisor and a franchisee and the large number of areas it involves, is partly to blame for the non-promulgation of franchise laws in the regulated countries. Countries that have laws to govern franchising businesses are, to a large extent, detailed and restrict any malpractices in the franchising business relationship. These laws had become necessary because of the practice of some franchisors to circumvent the franchisee’s rights to disclosures of a franchisor’s business performance, and restrict management and product support.

International Laws: Competition law or Anti-trust themes

Competition law is designed to eliminate activity and conduct that is likely to hinder the free play of competition in the marketplace. While most of the nations have adhered to this concept in varying degrees and have devised ways to keep the competition free, a few countries still need to fully embrace this approach.

Labour Laws

Labour laws are important for international and domestic franchises, especially in relation to the various outlets, shops and offices in which persons are employed. No franchising contract can deviate from the applicability of the labour laws. The labour laws govern the day-to-day conditions of employment that are particularly relevant in the context of franchising when an outlet is shut down or business is sold, in relation to the amount of compensation payable by the master franchisee, franchisor or franchisee.

A proposal to franchise the Post Office branches

Monday, May 26th, 2008

After public consultations were held on a proposal to shut Essex Road Crown Post Office in N1, it was announced not to go ahead with the closure of this branch for the time being. Discussions with a potential franchise partner continue. After the negotiations, there will be a six week another consultation on a proposal to franchise this Post Office branch.

Other branches in Islington are also set to close as part of the government-backed restructuring passed by Labour MPs. The voice of the campaigners was taken into consideration.

According to a national official of the Communication Workers Union, Andy Furey, franchising can be a big issue if the retailers in other areas take on the Post Office franchise and then shut down, it may cause inconvenience to the community as they will have no access to the services. W14 is the first postcode in London without a post office. It is a warning sign to the government and they will not be able to continue to franchise like this.

Islington Council leader James Kempton claims that there is enough business to sustain a post office. People should not think that franchising this business will not work, he added.

Tinies, the UK’s leading franchising network for Childcare, entertains children in an innovative way

Sunday, May 25th, 2008

Oliver Black, the director of Tinies, has conceived of an idea to keep children entertained at a wedding with the first nationwide mobile crèche. This mobile crèche service is for fun and organised childcare at different events, particularly weddings. Children do attend weddings, but they usually get bored and therefore it is always a matter of debate whether to take them, or make them stay at home.

Tinies crèche team is qualified and trained in first aid. They help children enjoy their time and take part in different kinds of fun activities. Children are looked after in a safe and organised way so that they do not get bored.

The Tinies crèche team brings all the activities with them, such as play equipment, music, games, sports equipment and arts and craft to keep the children in the age-group of 3 months to 16 year busy and engrossed. They use up the space in the hotel or a private room, to convert it into a safe crèche so that the children can enjoy their day as much as the adults do. The Tinies crèche team even has clowns and magicians.

Tinies provides services for several gyms, including Hurlingham club and Roehamton club and the UK’s top hotels like Hampshire, Stoke Park, The Four Seasons and Buckinghamshire.

Tinies is among the largest franchisees for Childcare in UK.

WSI Internet Global Travel Group United Carpets Auntie Anne's Cash Converters Pizza Hut (UK) Ltd Granite Transformations (Europe) Franchise Development Services (FDS) All Trades Network Well Polished Cash & Cheque Express Adept Cleaning Services Rohan Designs Countrywide Signs Limited FiltaFry Plus (part of The Filta Group) Mac Tools Europe