Archive for September, 2009

The growing popularity of franchise businesses in the UK

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

Franchising as a business has evolved greatly over the years. It is now considered one of the safest ways of conducting a business minus the additional risks and costs. Franchising is sort of an agreement between two partners. The franchising of an already popular organisation saves the company from incurring further costs into departments like advertising and brand building. A franchise as a business method has gained immense popularity in UK.

Contribution to the UK economy
The Franchise business has enormously contributed to the national economy. The increase was found to be about £7.4 last year. Thus, it is clearly evident that UK franchises have contributed a lot to the overall growth of the economy.

Different franchise agreements
There are many different types of franchise policies. In manufacturing franchise, the original manufacturer allows the franchisee to manufacture goods using its name.
In other words, a local manufacturer might produce goods and services using the brand name of the parent company.

Business and product franchises
In business franchises, the local owner produces products or distributes them on behalf of the parent company. In a product franchising agreement, the local company or the franchisee sells the manufacturer’s products to the customers. In addition to these, the local owner might carry the business in the name of the original company for a stipulated time period.

The different varieties of franchising are evidence to the evolution of the franchising business in UK. However, it is recommended to consider the market scenario prior to entering into a franchise agreement.

Smart ABC Franchise owners talk about their experience

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Lukas Skrzypinski and Amy Jefferies, owners of the Smart ABC franchise, are off with a flying start after they secured repair work worth £6,200 at the opening of their franchise. Amy Jefferies said that they are really very excited about their future with Smart ABC. Their aim is to expand the business at a stable pace, while offering high quality services to their customers in order to make sure that they build a bank of repeat clients and referrals.

Amy also said that prior to joining the Smart ABC network; she used to work in the development industry, while her partner Lukas, a skilled coachbuilder, used to work as a bodywork repairer for London Bus. Lukas was eager to start his own business and become his own boss, and Amy was in between jobs when they decided to start their business together. Franchising was the only reasonable route into self-employment as it would provide an access to the ongoing teaching, support and a well-known business model.

They initially met the SMART (small to medium area repair technique) ABC franchise at an exhibition and the team of Smart ABC really made a good impression. They were open, friendly and extremely professional. After investigating and investing opportunities with other SMART repair franchises, Smart ABC was however, the best in terms of cost and professionalism. They further gave a business consideration thought and attended the open day of Smart ABC, which actually eased their decision to invest in the Smart ABC franchise.

Opening a franchise is an excellent business option

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

There are a whole lot of factors which make franchise business one of the most lucrative business opportunities around. Firstly, the investment that is required to start a franchise is much lesser when compared to starting independently owned businesses. It is also a known fact that a franchise business has a much better chance of succeeding and running in profits as compared to an independently owned business. Moreover, by opening a franchise of a reputed franchisor will automatically create a demand for your business without the need for promotion and marketing.

There is a presence of a whole lot of types of franchises in the UK and you can choose from among these the one which is best tailored to your tastes. Your personal likes and dislikes should always be kept in mind while choosing a franchise because you will surely work a lot better with a product or a service which you like yourself.

A good and reputed franchisor will help you get started with your franchising business in an easy and step-wise manner. They will make you undergo a training session which will throw light on the various aspects of franchising. A good franchisor will also provide you all the support in staff training that you require.

If you are looking for a business opportunity that allows you to be the master of your own little business or if you are someone who is bored of being a small gear in a big multi-national enterprise, then franchising can be one of the best business options for you.

National Franchise Exhibition to begin from 2nd October

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Franchising is one of the preferred modes of business used to achieve a positive growth. Franchising as a business opportunity has become very popular in recent times. This has propelled many organisations to join the franchising bandwagon. The UK is one of the most preferred destinations for setting up a franchise.

Franchising has become eminently popular in UK. This has led to the introduction of various types of franchises. British Franchise Association is another evidence for the popularity of franchising in UK.

The National Franchise Exhibition is another prominent example of the position of franchising in UK. This event is one of UK’s largest and most famous events committed only to franchising.

Cash Generator will also be participating in this unique event. The event will commence
on the 2nd of October and will continue until the 3rd of October. It will be held in Birmingham at NEC.

The ever increasing reputation of franchising can be associated to the fact that it involves a lesser amount of risk factor. Franchising already contributes to about £11billion a year to the national economy of the UK.

Legal advice and a thorough study is recommended when setting up a franchise

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Franchising as a form of business is extremely popular in the UK. The UK is in fact the home for several popular franchises. UK franchises are further assisted by the British Franchise Association concerning the legal specifications. The association guides interested individuals regarding franchising, such as starting out and setting up a franchised business. Experts thus recommend the individuals to be well prepared before setting up a franchise for the first time.

Franchising the part or the whole
You might decide to franchise a particular offering of your business, which necessarily is not a major part of your business. However, you can also franchise the entire service, but should be well equipped to do so. Strict guidelines should be formed, which will help the new franchise to perform aptly. Such guidelines prove beneficial to meet a crisis-like situation.

Legal Specifications
Franchising consists of a lot of legal formalities that need to be in place before starting the franchise. Generally the services of a legal expert should be sought who will provide you with all the required legal advice. This will save you from the legal hassles at a later stage. Details regarding brand name, leasing and other agreements will be dealt with the legal expert. Legal advice is a must in order to avoid any untoward legal problems.

Patience is the key to success
Any business venture will not yield immediate results and the same applies to Franchising. Continue your persistent efforts and witness the positive growth in your franchise.

How franchise works and what’s in it for you

Friday, September 25th, 2009

The concept of franchising has brought diverse opportunities for anyone who has the drive and the zeal to make it big in business.

A franchise encourages the selling of both the commodities as well as services of an established brand. In franchising, one needs to also evaluate one’s skills immensely. When selling products, you have to be strong in areas such as interpersonal skills and marketing knowledge. As for franchising of services, you should ideally have a good deal of knowledge of your service and the marketplace and knowledge of your client.

If you think that you have the required skills to make it big in the world of franchise, then you should try a management franchise. This area in franchising offers individuals the opportunities to exercise their skills and also to add to their skill base through constant on-the-job training.

There are three things that will generally attract any talented professional franchisee into management franchises. Some of these factors are listed below.

The Franchisor – This sometimes happens to be the greatest motivational factor as far as franchise is concerned. Franchise professionals get to work with these sorts of reputed organisations which have a high standing in the corporate world. This automatically works as a very able motivator to attract more franchise professionals to work with a certain company.

The Operation Process – A well defined structure, as far as a franchise is concerned, should be the backbone of any franchising system. In most management franchise processes, since there will be many professionals involved, there will be a minimum number of hassles while you do business. This is especially beneficial for people who do this business for the first time.

Other than these factors mentioned there are factors such as low capital investments and even location of the franchise that makes a difference.

How to start a franchise business?

Friday, September 25th, 2009

You have to invest a lot of money to start your own business. You have to invest a huge amount, even when you are starting a franchise business but it comes with less risk. There is a chance of loss in opening your own business but the risk of financial loss is reduced significantly when you are opening a new franchise business.

There are number of franchisors in the UK and you can invest in any one of them. Companies like McDonald’s, Dream Doors, etc. are always looking for franchisees to expand their business.

Nowadays, the recession has hit almost every part of the world and many people want to invest for financial security but are confused in taking a decision. All you need is to start a business which is profitable and gives you financial support. Starting a franchise is a right option for some and not for others.

These tips will help you select the right franchise

  • Choose a company, which is in your field of interest and you will enjoy doing the work.
  • Discuss with your friends and family. Accept their views and start thinking whether the company is reliable or not because you will invest a huge amount in that company.
  • You need to know the company’s working pattern because this will help your work in future.

Lastly, check the franchise agreement. It is a legal agreement between you and the franchisor. However, after starting the franchise, you need to work hard to make profits.

Further expansion planned by successful McDonald’s franchise owner

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Every McDonald’s franchisee has a success story to tell but the success story of Bill Liddy is simply awe inspiring. Bill worked as an electrical engineer previously and had to travel to several under-developed countries. In 1994 he decided to settle down in the UK and bought his first McDonald’s franchise.

Today he owns 7 independent McDonald’s restaurants and is planning to buy 3 more McDonald’s franchises within next 18 months. Currently the 7 McDonald’s restaurants that Bill owns are located at Cramlington, Gosforth, Gateshead, Wallsend, Killingworth, Longbenton and North Shields.

All the franchise outlets are doing business extremely well with consistent improvement. Recently Bill spent £400,000 revamping the restaurant situated at Coast Road. This McDonald’s restaurant is now equipped with a WiFi zone and energy efficient electrical equipment.

The facelift attracted new customers to the restaurant and thus Bill has decided to revamp another of his chain franchises in the similar manner. He also adds that the recession has had no effect on the business and all his franchise restaurants are doing better than ever. If you want to have a similar success story then consider owning a Mc Donald’s franchise and being your own boss.

Assure certain success for your franchise

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Are you thinking of starting your own franchise? It is a very wise decision indeed to expand your business. However, you should be well-endowed with all the necessary tools in order to set up a successful franchise. Franchising is complete with its share of risks and tribulations. It is recommended to be well prepared with all the essential information prior to setting up the franchise.

Competition
If you are already a successful leader in your particular category, then it is obvious that your franchise will be accepted without any opposition from the general public.
On the other hand, competition analysis is a must to ensure a guaranteed success ratio for your franchise. A detailed understanding of the competitors and major players will provide you with all the required information for setting up the franchise.

Train your employees
It is advisable that you provide your employees with all the necessary information pertaining to the business. They should contain all the necessary skill, expertise and equipment to attract the consumers. The training procedure should be cost-effective and quick to undertake.

To advertise or not to advertise
Advertising plays a key role in the success of any business. It is possible that the goodwill of the main company will automatically be transferred onto the franchise.
Experts on the other hand will advice you to promote your arrival in grandeur and style.
Advertising is an investment, which pays off with great dividends. Appoint an effective advertising agency or a public relations agency to promote your franchise.

You cannot even think about starting a franchise without considering the above vital points. Ensure the positive success for your franchise by being well prepared beforehand.

The growth of franchising from sewing machines to modern fast food outlets

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Franchising as a business venture has been in existence for many years now. Franchising has become eminently popular in recent times. Isaac Singer can be touted as the father of modern franchising. Isaac entered into a franchise agreement in order to provide his sewing services to a major part of the target audience. A selection of trained local employees ensured the unhindered supply of his products to the end customers.

Soon, many other companies followed his footsteps. General Motors, the car manufacturing company sold its cars through franchising. This enabled them to cut the costs and increase the profits.

The success of these organisations encouraged other businesses to set up their very own franchises. Fast food companies were the next to join the franchising bandwagon.
McDonald’s is the pioneer of franchising in the fast food segment. The incomparable success of McDonald’s outlets propelled other fast food companies to initiate their own franchises. Almost all the fast food franchises have received an overwhelming response from the customers.

Franchising is now one of the most popular forms of conducting a business. Several companies from different fields have successfully launched their own franchises, spread across many continents.

The success of franchising led to the foundation of the British Franchise Association.
This particular organisation provides the interested individuals or companies with necessary guidelines required to be followed for the setting up of a franchise.

One thing is certain, franchising as a business opportunity has indeed come a long way.
Franchising is not an expenditure, but in fact is a healthy investment.

United Carpets Adept Cleaning Services Mac Tools Europe Cash Converters Granite Transformations (Europe) Countrywide Signs Limited FiltaFry Plus (part of The Filta Group) Franchise Development Services (FDS) Rohan Designs Cash & Cheque Express