Franchising is a good opportunity to take on a readymade business model. The difference between buying a small or mid sized business and franchising is success. The success rate for franchising is a lot higher than other start ups. Listed below are some smart tips for success in franchising.

• The first and foremost requirement of franchising is dedication. In order to ensure a high level of dedication you need to establish if you genuinely love the business. If you do not feel passionate about it, there are greater chances of failure. If you love the business, you will be more interested and self motivated. Choose a franchise depending on your interest and what you like best.

• You need to be careful about the business you select. Buy a franchise within a well known and established network. Doing this will ensure that the method used has been tried and tested previously. It is important to ask the franchisor about the future plans that they have for your business. You should establish whether the franchisors you choose have their fingers on the pulse of the market.

• Read the fine print and all the documents that you are required to sign. Ensure that every aspect has been proof read very carefully. Also read the rights that you are entitled to as a franchisee. Find out if you have exclusive rights to the area you have been entitled to. The renewal options that you have and the exact term in years needs to be discussed.

Keep these important tips in mind when you choose a franchise.

Prestige Nursing is one of the leading UK companies in the area of healthcare recruitment and homecare services. In 2009, seven new franchisees joined the network. This means that the total number of franchisees has reached 12.

Franchise manager of Prestige Nursing, Pam Feltham, said that their franchisees cover a range of healthcare sectors. They do not believe in having large numbers of franchisees but they do want quality people to work with them. In addition to this, they also provide a lot of support and training to the start the franchisees on the right road. This makes sure that the newly opened franchisees will be successful.

The company now needs to strengthen their franchise team, as the franchise network is growing every day. The company has appointed Jenny Evans as its franchise support manager.

Jenny says that she wants to start working with experienced and new franchisees, as it will help in developing the business. She also said that she is pleased to work with a highly reputable nursing and care agency.

In 2010, the company is expecting some growth which means that new franchisees will join the network. They are looking to take five new franchisees or possibly more.

Activ Web Design has proved to be the perfect family business for its owner Eric Fitton and his wife Julie.

Eric, an ambitious Australian entrepreneur, came across Activ Web Design while looking for a business to run alongside his full-time job. “I have always had a great deal of interest in technology and design so when I spotted the Activ advertisement it got my attention straight away,” Eric said.  “Initially I took it on part-time as I have a full-time position, which takes up most of my time, my thoughts were that I could fit Activ in during my spare time.”

As well as providing web designs, Eric offers his customers a range of services, which resulted in a sharp increase in the number of customers his business generates.  To meet demand his wife joined the business.  “My wife and I had always fancied having our own family business,” he continued.  “As the business developed and generated a number of additional opportunities, it needed more attention which was great for us as my wife got involved in the day-to-day running of the business.

“Before Activ I had my full-time job and my wife was at home doing the housewife role, things have changed much for my wife, she now has a goal to achieve with the business and although our days are pretty full and busy there is a great sense of achievement when we get a new customer.”

With their business thriving, Eric and Julie have benefited from the support they have received from Activ Web Design head office.  Eric added:  “I have been really impressed with the support I have received from Activ head office in the UK. Although I am 13,000 miles and several time zones away, I am always able to get hold of the support team when I have needed them, nothing seems to be too much trouble, when I ask for help it is there straight away.  At initial start-up they spent several hours at a time on the phone walking me through the tools available to help me develop and grow the business. The experienced staff are always there to point me in the right direction if I come across a new situation and they are always offering to call me and walk me through any trouble spots, offering advice both on design and business in general.

Keen to see his business grow Eric has been working hard to make it a success.  “Enthusiasm is required to get the business off the ground and you cannot let up once things start moving.  That said, the feeling of accomplishment when you release a new website and a customer tells you how impressed he is with the ease of it all and the apperance of his new website, certainly makes up for all the effort along the way.  If I had to do it all again I would without hesitation.”

Buying an existing franchise needs to be a carefully considered decision. Listed below are a few tips for making a sensible and informed decision before you buy.

• Ensure that you like the business that you buy. You need to enjoy the industry and be genuinely interested in what you do. When you purchase a franchise it is possible that you will be working for more than 12 hours a day. Sometimes you may also have to work on weekends. In order to ensure that your dedication to your work does not dwindle, choose a franchise you like.

• If you are buying an existing franchise business, it is important to investigate. The real work begins when the owner has accepted your offer. Verify the cash flow in the business and look out for latent problems. If you see any deterrents you should immediately terminate your offer or put it on hold. You need to create clauses and stipulations in your offer that will allow for such actions.

• Do not restrict yourself to one type of business. You should approach the buying process with an open mind and a positive disposition. Another important piece of advice is that you should not judge based on the name of the business alone. A franchise that seems small may be better suited to your needs compared to a big name.

Keep these simple tips in mind when you want to buy a franchise.

Nowadays, there are many people who are buying franchises as they offer several benefits over independent businesses. One of the main benefits is that franchising involves less risk. In addition to this, you also have increased growth, limited liability and a stronger brand.

Why franchising is better than opening your own business

After buying a franchise, you can sell the services and products of the existing company. This means that under the franchisor’s brand name, you can easily earn profits. Franchising is like opening your own business but it will provide you with more resources and tools.

In addition to this, if you are a newcomer in the world of business then it is an ideal option for you, as you only have to follow the existing formats of the company. Even the opening of the business is done by the franchisor, so you only have to sell their products. The franchisors also offer the franchisees with training, accounts and marketing strategies.

How will you profit?

Due to the reputation of the existing company, you can easily attract customers and make profits. Apart from the brand name, franchisors also offer you many other services which will help you to run the business smoothly.

Franchising is also beneficial to the franchisor to some extent, as they will get their share of profits from the franchisees. Other than this, franchising also helps the franchisors in expanding their brand name across the country. If you are planning to buy a franchise then you will find various franchises in different fields.

Nowadays, you will find more people are opting for franchising as it is less risky and requires less investment. At present, you will find various types of franchises, so it is a bit tricky to select an appropriate one in which to invest. If you are planning to start a franchise then you need to make sure that you have researched well. This is because, once you have invested then there is no turning back.

While researching, you can ask existing customers, franchisees and bank managers about the company. In addition to this, you also have to read trade magazines, newspapers and sites which will help you to know the present situation of the market.

Fix a budget – Before taking a decision, you need to know how much money you can spend on franchising. This is because sometimes buying a franchise is costly, which means that you have to put a lot of money into the business.

Know more about the business – After establishing the budget, you have to make sure that you get to know the franchisor’s business completely. This means that you have to study all the products and services properly.

What a franchisor will offer – In most cases, the franchisor offers several benefits which include training and financial support. Some franchisors also disclose their marketing strategies which helps in increasing sales.

If you are planning to start your own business then you need to know that it is a difficult task, as it requires a lot of investment. In addition to this, there is also the chance of loss. One of the best ways to reduce the risk is to invest in a franchise. The investment required in franchising is often less too.

When investing in a franchise, you need to consider some important factors. First of all, make sure it is a renowned and reputable brand name in the market. You also need to check that these franchises follow the rules and regulations which are defined by the Government. In short, these franchises need to work according to the British Franchise Association (BFA).

Other than this, you can meet and discuss with people who are running a franchise. This way you can easily come to know their working pattern. This information will help you to know how to run a franchise successfully. At the time of buying a franchise, you need to pay a nominal fee to the franchisor. On the other hand, the franchisor will help you with accounts, marketing strategy and training.

Lastly, you also need to consider the franchise agreement, which is a legal agreement between the franchisor and franchisees. This means that you have to check the agreement thoroughly.

A Norwich based husband & wife team have scooped TWO top awards for their relocation & property management business Medics on the Move.

Gary & Nikki Jones, who run Medics on the Move in Norwich, won the company’s ‘Business Achievement award’ for their Letting & Management portfolio AND the coveted Franchisee of the Year Award – beating 26 other franchisees.

Nikki said “Winning the Franchisee of the Year award is a real accolade because standards amongst the franchises are so high.  It means a lot to me because I know that part of the reason for winning is down to feedback from our clients, – so it means we are getting it right!”

The Bristol-based franchise group was started by Carole Stubbs & Vickie Knighton in 2002 and is an award- winning business.

A recession-proof business is presumably what every potential franchisee dreams about. Although the combination of a proven business model, a well-known brand name and enterprising, hardworking individuals means that franchises usually perform above the market, the latest figures indicate that the £11.4 billion UK franchise market actually shrank by 9% in 2009. Bucking that trend, however, is home improvements franchisor, Granite Transformations, whose unique ‘kitchen worktop that fits on top’ has proved a hit in recent recessionary times. What’s more, as the economy recovers, an upturn in commercial and domestic construction and housing sales will surely stimulate further sales growth.

Part of a global franchise operation, Granite Transformations has seen annual sales increase by 15% across its UK showroom network, as ‘nesting homeowners’ opted for affordable kitchen makeovers while riding out the recession. More than typical is relative newcomer, Darrell Smith, who has grown monthly revenue at his Granite Transformations franchise business from £15k to £102k, in a single year. Yet, despite this recession-beating performance and an earlier successful track record as an independent financial advisor, he wouldn’t have contemplated setting up in business on his own, without the umbrella of a successful franchise package.

“With a franchise operation, half the work is already done for you,” says Darrell. “In addition to an established business model, the systems have been created, there’s a comprehensive training programme, streamlined product development and distribution, plus the obvious benefits of national and regional marketing support.”

“It’s tough setting up a business from scratch, especially on your own,” he adds. “But in an established group of franchisees, as there is with Granite Transformations, there are other like-minded people with the same commercial objectives, whose ideas and experience you can tap into. Franchise meetings also provide an opportunity for social networking, intelligence sharing and comparing your sales performance with others. It’s a very stimulating environment.”

This year, Granite Transformations has also reduced the price of entry, by providing centralised worktop manufacturing and eliminating the need to invest in a local production facility. With franchise fees from just under £30k and additional setting-up costs of around £34k, this brings the initial outlay to slightly below the national average of £68k, making it viable for someone with savings of £20,000, say, and additional bank financing. In return, Granite Transformations provides in-depth product training, extensive sales and merchandising material, showroom and vehicle signage, bespoke management software and national TV advertising and PR support.

“A franchise package like this, which combines a retail showroom and home selling, would suit anyone with direct sales experience,” says Darrell. “Besides, as has been proved over a difficult twelve month period, Granite Transformations’ product virtually sells itself.”

Exclusive franchise territories are still available in selected UK postcode areas.

Weight management experts Dietcare have started 2010 with the intention of expanding their business. The franchise is continuing to grow through the launch of three more weight management centres, which are located in Swinton, Stockport and Birmingham. The franchise’s director, Steve Sykes, said that the company was starting the year on a positive note with the new launches.

He added that with the growing awareness of obesity in the UK, the weight management company has seen a rise in enquiries for its franchising opportunities from all over the country. These individuals have recognised that the market is growing, and want to make a difference to peoples’ health and well being.

Dietcare has been providing people with suitable ways of managing obesity for more than 33 years now. This has made them leaders in the weight and obesity management industry. Another feature that has lead to the success of this franchise is their tailored weight loss plans that meet individuals’ specific requirements.

Dietcare’s plans are based on healthy foods that can be obtained anywhere. They are specifically designed to increase the metabolic rate, so that it is possible to burn calories more effectively- making them an attractive weight loss option for many people.