Care franchise Caremark has recently appointed a new Regional Support Manager for the North of England and the Midlands. In July, following a week-long induction course, Paul Richards began his role as the Regional Support Manager.

Founder of Caremark franchise, Kelvin Lewis said that he is very delighted to validate the appointment of Paul Richards. Paul brings a lot of valuable experience to his role. He will also be the initial port of call for the entire franchise owners within those regions. It is helpful for every franchise owner to have a local support manager who can easily get to any office whenever needed.

Caremark is committed to offer the best assistance to its entire franchise owners and the selection of new Regional Support Manager is just one example of this.

Paul said that Caremark is a brilliant organisation in which the dedicated pursuit of importance in terms of domiciliary care is apparent at each level of the business model. He also added that he is thrilled to join Caremark and contribute to their success and growth through business development and direct support of their franchises in the North of England and the Midlands.

Paul further added that he is looking forward to work with the franchise owners in order to build upon the success of Caremark’s main business and support them in response to the requirements of a developing care sector by breaking new grounds and branching out other dedicated client groups.

As a former computer programmer working for merchant banks, Jackie Ogle was keen to find a franchise opportunity which complemented her existing IT skills before committing to franchising.

After looking for about three years and finding nothing which appealed to her, she happened upon franchise business Activ Web Design while searching the internet. Jackie, who is based in London, launched her Activ franchise in February and now has territories in postcodes W4, W5 and W13 as well as recently acquiring post codes W7 and NW10.

She said: “I had always been used to working for major PLCs but took a four year break to look after my children.

“Rather than go back to working for a large business I wanted to find an alternative way of using my IT skills and experience and to essentially work for myself. As it’s an IT-based venture, Activ suited my objectives well and the business is now gradually taking off. “So far I’ve built websites for a dental laboratory, jewellery maker, builder, plumber, notary public and truffle maker to name but a few and have received some glowing testimonials from grateful customers, all of which is most rewarding.”

As someone who is new to franchising, Jackie has also found the guidance offered by Activ’s directors Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin very helpful.

She added: “The Activ head office team have been most supportive and have helped iron out issues as and when they have arisen. “Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin are always available and open to suggestions from franchise owners.

“I quite like the fact that Activ is a relatively new company so in effect we are learning together as the business grows and evolves.” Like several other Activ franchise owners, Jackie has found that networking has played a significant part in her success to date.

She said: “I’m a member of networking group BNI and Athena, the business women’s networking organisation, both of which have assisted me to make useful contacts and find new leads. I’ve also advertised via the internet and in local business directories.”

While valuing the   many years’ experience she has gained working for major organisations, Jackie who is 48, is glad she decided to take the plunge and change direction.

She said: “The culture is very different in big businesses so it’s very different working for myself. Having taken four years off work then launching the  Activ franchise  I cannot imagine working for anyone else again as I enjoy the freedom and independence that  franchising offers. My friends and family have been extremely supportive and my daughters are now in their teens so don’t need me around as much.  I can choose the hours I work to some extent and at my age I’m even more determined to strive harder and ensure the business works for me. I’m securing more new clients as well as more leads as a result of recommendations and am looking forward to exploring further opportunities in new territories as I gradually take on more post code areas.”

Franchising has provided great opportunities for people who dream to make it big in the world of business. It has helped many pioneering companies grow and create their own market position. Franchising allows the franchisees to sell their products and services under the brand name of an established company. There are several types of franchising that have helped people worldwide. Management franchising is one such type that provides great astuteness and knowledge that enables individuals to unleash their talents.

Management franchising offers a variety of advantages like:

Franchisor: Generally, the franchisor plays a key role in attracting people or groups to take up franchising opportunities. However, in management franchising, people get the chance to work with the established organisation. Hence, individuals enjoy higher status and respect in the business society.

Low capital investment: Management franchising does not deal with products. This type of franchising requires managing a team of professionals to develop the business of the franchisor. This cuts down on the investment done in warehouses, products and transport thus, requires low capital investments.

Structured Operation Process: To those who are new in this business, management franchising is beneficial as the over-all business operations are run under a well-defined system. The hassles of carrying out the business are minimised as there are a team of professionals involved in the whole process.

High return on investment: Management franchising brings high returns on investment due to low operational costs and lower capital investments. This is one of the main reasons for people opting for management franchising.

These are some of the advantages of management franchising.

Most people, who want to start their own business, decide to do so by buying a franchise. There are a lot of advantages of owning a franchise. They are as follows:

• You get to be the boss: Owning a franchise is like owning an established or successful business. Since you are going to be in charge of the outlet, you have to hire employees and have to manage the everyday tasks.
• When you buy a franchise, you actually will be running an established company. You will be using the name and trademark of the parent company. Due to this reason, you do not have to spend money on marketing and advertising for the business. The business will already have loyal customers. This will help your business succeed.
• When you buy your own franchise, you will be running your own business on behalf of another business. The parent company will provide you with a lot of support and help. In this way you will learn the basic knowhow of the business.
• With the guidance of the parent company you can gain a lot of experience which you can later use to start your own business.

Owning a franchise is preferred over starting your business because it reduces the risks involved. You can be assured that the capital that you have invested will not go to waste.

If you are planning to start a business of your own, you might have taken advice from a lot of people.

If you have not come across this advice, then you should glance through the following points to save you from the dangers of loss. Buying a franchise is extremely beneficial as you will be assured of gaining profits quickly.

When most people think about owning a franchise, the first thing that comes to mind is restaurants. This is because restaurant franchises are very popular and are increasing in numbers due to their success rate.

Here are a few advantages of owning a restaurant franchise:

Due to hectic work schedules, a lot of people find it a lot more convenient to grab a bite to eat at restaurants. Hence you should buy a franchise from an established restaurant. This will benefit you greatly in terms of profit.
Restaurant franchises can be started anywhere, by choosing a great geographical location, and depending on where your target audience is, you can potentially earn great profits.

Invest in buying a franchise and you will be assured to have a great future business.

It is not quite a year since former British Airways human resources senior manager Mark Rouvray bought an Activ Web Design franchise but in that relatively short space of time business has really taken off.

Mark, who spent 14 years in management with BA – and, before that, 10 years with British Gas – has amassed a wealth of experience and knowledge during his long career with major plcs. But, when the opportunity came to take voluntary redundancy, he decided to change direction and invest in an Activ franchise.

Mark, who is 46 and holds an MBA in IT management as well as a BSc Hons degree in operational research, wanted a franchise which had an IT element – but more importantly, put him in contact with growing small businesses. After speaking with Simon Rickett, co-director of Activ, he realised that an Activ franchise presented him with the perfect opportunity.

He said: “Much of what I did while at BA related to computers and I also managed a team developing website content for the company intranet. Although always interested in IT, I realised I would like to play a more creative part in the end product. What also appealed to me about Activ was the technical support and expertise which exists within Activ’s head office. Knowing that Simon Rickett and his team can provide this means I can be confident of assisting clients should their IT needs be of a more bespoke nature and go beyond  that of a standard website package.”

Mark, whose impressive  client portfolio features almost every trade from builder to electrician,  has also created websites for a diverse range of retailers including a jeweller, high street butcher and  home accessories business.

And, in addition to offering websites, Mark, also enjoys being able to speak with small businesses on a one to one  basis – passing  on experience he has gained while working in senior positions for household name employers over many years.

He said: “Some of the franchising opportunities I looked at before buying Activ primarily involved the franchise owner becoming a salesperson.

“I wanted something which offered more than merely selling and ultimately I would like my Activ franchise to focus not only on websites but also business consultancy for smaller companies looking for guidance and advice. I am now at the stage where I am receiving recommendations and am confident of winning more work as smaller businesses acknowledge that a website should be high on their list of priorities. I’ve now completed about 20 websites and after a relatively slow start in the first couple of months am at the point where I’m building at least one website a week.”

Mark, whose former role at Heathrow involved a two hour a day round commute, also appreciates the flexibility his major career change has provided.

He added: “Making the move has changed my life/work balance for the better and I very much look forward to continuing to grow my business.”

Are you the kind of person who has always dreamed of owning your own business? Were you always interested of being your own boss? If the answer is yes, then buying a franchise is the best option for you.

Starting your own business might involve a lot of risks, thus getting into the market as a franchise is a great way to learn various business tactics.

Owning a franchise is really beneficial compared to starting your own business from the grass roots level. This is because by buying a franchise you are going to be associated with a recognised brand. Moreover, you will already possess a customer base and so it is important to buy an established franchise because your work will be reduced as it will already be popular.

When you buy a franchise and agree to the terms and conditions, you will be given all the important details. Most franchises have a marketing plan planned which you can get access to, making your work much easier.

If you plan to start your own business, you learn with every process and mistake that you make. But, when you buy a franchise you get trained and are led along the way to follow a particular tried and test strategy. There are experts and professionals who will train you and your employees, giving out information of how businesses work successfully and how you can use the best business methods to acquire profits.

Running an Activ Web Design franchise can be very rewarding – and not just financially.

Since taking on an Activ franchise in the Colchester area 20 months ago, Peter Slegg has helped nearly 50 small owner managed companies in his area gain a valuable online presence. And, says Peter, assisting small businesses and sole traders by enabling them to market and promote their goods and services on the internet is extremely satisfying.

Peter, who is 36, previously worked in the insurance industry for 13 years handling claims. However, he came to the conclusion that he did not want to work for someone else for the rest of his life and looked into the possibility of buying a franchise.

He said: “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but did some research on the/ net to see what options were available. Activ ticked all the boxes so I decided to invest. Within a matter of weeks I had recouped my initial investment and 20 months on my earning are around 75 per cent higher than they would have been had I stayed in the insurance sector.”

But, says Peter, it’s not just the opportunity to make a better living and be his own boss which have made taking on an Activ franchise the right decision for him.

He said: “I love working with people and helping them achieve their goals. Most of us prefer to work with people we like and trust, so the personal element of the service Activ offers is just as important as the technical and creative aspects. In the past few months I’ve built websites for a vast range of businesses including architects, a gardening business, bouncy castle provider, children’s nursery, a plumber, an electrician, and a football club, a powder coating company, a local politician and a wedding planner. In fact, there’s even a former rock star on my books. I cover virtually every sector and find that everyone’s needs are different. Some want an e-commerce site; others just want a standard website, while quite a lot want their sites to be regularly updated. I am now at the stage where much of my business comes from referrals so I don’t need to advertise although networking, through groups such as BNI, has certainly helped me win new clients.”

Although Peter is happy to work weekends and evenings to meet clients’ requirements, he does value being able to take time off when he chooses and often works out at the gym when there’s a window in his diary.

He added: “My work requires concentration so staying in shape mentally and physically helps me stay focused. If I do have a problem or an issue though I know I can always speak to Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin at Activ’s head office whose help and support is second to none.

NHS business manager Paul Hanlon loves his day job but was looking for a second revenue stream which would not only boost his income but would offer a new challenge. Thanks to Activ UK -  the unique business opportunity which allows franchisees to earn every time someone clicks on their Activ UK local area website – he found just what he wanted.

Paul, who is from Leicestershire and has a Masters degree in business management, bought the Activ Oxford franchise a year ago and has seen the site’s traffic increase steadily.

He said: “It has trebled month on month for the past three months and is on target to do so again this month.”

The brainchild of Activ owners Simon Rickettn and Dillon Boivin,  Activ UK is  now the largest network of local area websites in the UK and partners with some of the world’s leading internet brands including Yahoo UK, EBay and Yell.com

Launched in November 2008 it provides local people in  towns and villages across Britain with an online guide to everything in their area including local news, homes for sale, cars for sale, and activities taking place in their communities. There is even a section on how to save money by using local businesses

And Paul, who  is 26 and has no plans to give up his full time job in the NHS,  believes  this opportunity represents  an excellent opportunity for people like himself looking for an alternative business venture they can run themselves.

Thanks to ongoing assistance from  Activ Director Simon Rickett and his team, Paul has found he has plenty of time to concentrate on his career and take time out to pursue his other interests – including travelling to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United.

He said: “One of Activ UK’s main advantages is its flexibility. I can work on my business whenever time allows, whether it’s for an hour in the morning before I leave for the office or for a few hours in the evening. It’s great to see how the site’s usage is increasing as more people find out about it. Activ UK suits my lifestyle and my friends, family and partner have been most supportive of the idea. I’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new challenge and a novel way of making some extra money but who is perhaps not at the stage of wanting to commit to a franchise full-time.”

Simon Rickett said that the popularity of Activ UK meant that  areas are being signed up fast, with people across the country keen to take on an opportunity which was  low risk, simple to understand, easy to run and offered good earnings potential.

He added: “There are so many advantages to taking on an Activ UK area, as Paul has discovered, and we are keen to hear from other prospective  entrepreneurs who may be interested in taking on another local area in Activ UK’s  expanding network.

There is good news for budding entrepreneurs across the UK. Those who are interested in starting up their own business can now be part of a franchise of one of the UK’s leading technology companies.

Robertson Technologies have introduced this scheme for a limited time only. The cost of this franchise opportunity has been reduced from £25,000 to £15,000. However, this offer will only be given to five lucky applicants. Hamish Robertson, the man behind Robertson Technologies, is looking forward to granting this fantastic franchise opportunity.

The successful track record of Robertson Technologies is easy to see- the company has achieved a turnover of £300,000 and built up an enviable client base over just a few years. One of the major reasons for the success of Robertson Technologies has been cited as being their ability to deal with clients’ IT issues on site. Robertson is now planning to establish franchises across the UK- particularly concentrating on Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.

Robertson Technologies are eager to help entrepreneurs who have suffered setbacks in setting up their own business due to the ongoing recession. This is the main reason why they are focusing on candidates with a desire and determination to set up a franchise, rather than those who are experienced in the IT field.