Business Franchise articles from April 2005

Business Franchise archives from April 2005

Eager Eades joins BFA.(franchise news)
April 1, 2005... JAMES EADES has joined the British Franchise Association (BFA) as its new business services manager. Eades, 34, was previously responsible for setting up the PlumbLocal franchise brand as franchise development manager. He has more than ten...

Big bash for Snap-on Tools.(franchise news)
April 1, 2005... SNAP-ON TOOLS, one of the UK's longest-established franchisors, has just celebrated in style its 40 years of franchising in the UK. The company staged a product expo at the ICC in Birmingham, where its network of 420 tool dealers had the...

Prince calls on Castle.(franchise news)
April 1, 2005... CASTLE ESTATES managing director Neil Hollingworth has been invited by HRH The Prince of Wales to spearhead a new housing programme in the UK. The Affordable Rural Housing Initiative aims to get available housing back into the community by...

Supreme delivery.(franchise news)
April 1, 2005... DOMINO'S PIZZA has smashed the world record for the furthest food delivery, earning the worldwide pizza delivery company a coveted place in the book of Guinness World Records. Lucy Clough, joint venture franchisee of two UK Domino's Pizza...

Brewing success.
April 1, 2005... EDWARD BREWER has been appointed to the role of business development manager for consultancy franchise Auditel. Coming from a professional background in sales and as an independent financial advisor, Brewer brings to the group a dedicated...

Mellor makes the grade.
April 1, 2005... DOMINIC MELLOR has become marketing executive for Kall Kwik UK and will assist in promoting the company's range of services, from design through to print, fulfilment and delivery. Mellor joins Kall Kwik UK from Thales e-Transactions Ltd and...

Moving on up.
April 1, 2005... YOUR MOVE has recruited Peter Everett as its new franchising development manager, signalling the company's ongoing commitment to expansion in this area of its business. Everett's new role will involve marketing and promoting the franchise...

Papa John's and Chris Moyles in rally for charity.(franchise news)
April 1, 2005... PAPA JOHN'S PIZZA recently joined forces with Radio 1 star Chris Moyles to raise some dough for Comic Relief. Papa John's exclusively sold the Red Nose Rally pizza, created by Moyles to mark his John O'Groats to Land's End trek in aid of...

25 Years and still counting.(franchise news)
April 1, 2005... PRONTAPRINT GLOUCESTER is marking a double celebration now that the centre has been in business for 25 years and the centre's production manager Gary Evans is celebrating the same number of years at Prontaprint. Evans, who was recently...

Saks awards ceremony a success.(franchise news)
April 1, 2005... TOP ACHIEVING salons and individuals in the Saks network were recently rewarded at Saks National Awards, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London. Franchisees and staff from Saks' 120 salons were among 1,500 guests who filled...

Sign the dotted line.(franchise news)
April 1, 2005... SIGN-A-RAMA, the USA-based signage provider, has raised more than US$35,000 for three leading charitable organisations--Junior Achievement, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Shriners Hospitals for Children. Ray Titus, president of Sign-A-Rama,...

Great Scots: after the success of last year's Scottish Franchise week, the British Franchise Association's Franchise Group for Scotland is again hosting a week of events raising awareness of franchising.(news)
April 1, 2005... The annual turnover of the UK franchising industry was reported in the BFA/NatWest Franchise Survey 2004 as 9.65billion [pounds sterling], with 0.6billion [pounds sterling] of this contributed by the Scottish franchise industry. The Franchise...

The British Franchise Association (BFA).(membership overview)
April 1, 2005... THE BRITISH FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION (BFA) evolved in 1977 to become the only voluntary accreditation body for franchising in the UK. The BFA accredits franchise companies for membership on the basis of a strict standards structure. These...

Full members.(who's who?)
April 1, 2005... FULL MEMBERS: established franchisors with a proven trading and franchising record. To qualify as a full member, franchisors are required to submit a completed application form, including disclosure document, franchise agreement, prospectus,...

Associate members.(who's who?)
April 1, 2005... ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: companies with a growing franchise network and evidence of successful franchising for one year with a least one franchisee. To become an associate member of the BFA, franchisors are required to submit a disclosure document,...

Provisional listing companies.(who's who?)
April 1, 2005... PROVISIONAL LISTING COMPANIES: companies new to franchising, developing their franchise concept and taking BFA-accredited advice on its structure.

Affiliated professional advisors.(who's who?)
April 1, 2005... AFFILIATED PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS: experienced franchising advisors in a wide set of categories able to offer help and advice to both franchisors and franchisees.

BFA welcomes new prospective members.(bfa news)
April 1, 2005... After successfully recruiting many new members in 2004, the British Franchise Association held a member's workshop to explain the benefits of membership, and two days later held an open day for franchisors considering joining the association....

Diary date 2005.(bfa news)(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... 24 March 2005 BFA Franchise Awareness Day Held at HSBC's Canary Wharf headquarters. For business intermediaries to meet BFA members and staff, as well as learn more about franchising and the BFA's involvement in promoting franchising to...

Scottish Franchise Week 1-7 June, 2005.(bfa news)(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... Scottish Franchise Week 1-7 June, 2005 Below is the current timetable for Scottish Franchise Week 2005, a week of events promoting franchising in Scotland. Please check the British Franchise Association website nearer the time for more...

Make over the odds: when it comes to bricks and mortar, appearance is everything. From exterior to interior, from the front porch to the back lawn, homeowners want to make the best of their nest. Matt Pigott looks at some of the ways for potential franchisees to make big money from home improvements.(home improvements)
April 1, 2005... With its long winters and lousy weather, the focus in the UK centres largely on the home, and that's quite simply because us Brits spend so much time there. When we're not at work we're indoors either cooking in the kitchen, curling up on the...

For love or money? When you're looking for a business to buy, do you for something you love or something to make you loads of money? Carol Davis asks both franchisees and franchisors, and finds that hard cash talks--but to carry you through the hard graft you also need enthusiasm.
April 1, 2005... Transforming Britain's gardens and working in the fresh air all day, while building your own business, may seem like a sunny dream for weekday commuters, or those tied to a nine-to-five desk job. But Peter Fielding, marketing and business...

Join the red tab team: it's one of the most well-known brands in the world, yet very few people realise Levi's also has a high street presence. The corporation is now working hard to develop its retail arm in Europe by recruiting high calibre franchisees.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... For those seeking a franchise in premium fashion, there has never been a better time to consider a Levi's franchise. Veteran jeans manufacturer Levi Strauss, the company that owns the Levi's brand, is active in 42 countries and is currently...

Food for thought: the Brampton Pie Company may have started in a small Fenland village, but it's cooking up plans to expand through franchising.(new launch)
April 1, 2005... The Brampton Pie Company believes it is the purveyor of the best meat pies you can buy. A bold claim? Yes, but it would appear to be borne out by the degree of consumer satisfaction and loyalty--and even tenacity. Customers vote with their feet...

Fit for anything: new franchise Attiva offers a refreshing approach to achieving a healthy lifestyle.(new launch)
April 1, 2005... With ever-increasing awareness of the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise, consumer demand continues to grow for health and fitness clubs. It's a multimillion-pound sector with a wealth of opportunities for franchisees. However, many...

Counter productive: kitchen worktops are cooking up success for 1st 4 Tops franchisee Andy Walker.(new launch)
April 1, 2005... Business is booming for new franchise 1st 4 Tops, which specialises in the supply of granite and quartz worktops. These are displayed in kitchen showrooms around the UK and each franchisee fulfils the orders taken. Demand is high and, because...

Tailored service: as more and more men want to look the part on special occasions, Home Suit Hire is launching a franchise that is changing how men shop for formal wear, with something for everyone that's brand new and not just in blue.(new launch)
April 1, 2005... A woman's wedding day is supposed to be the happiest of her life, but getting married can be a very stressful experience. This is especially true when it comes to choosing what to wear. Nowadays, the desire to find the right wedding outfit...

Holding the key: there are buy-to-let mortgages, variable mortgages, fixed rate mortgages, cashback mortgages--the list is virtually endless, and so are the sales possibilities. Matt Pigott meets Mortgage & Property Service franchise director Paul Welch to find out how you could be winging your way to a six-figure sum.(new launch)
April 1, 2005... Having been snowed into his home in Darlington, it was a wonder that Paul Welch, franchise director for Mortgage and Property Services Limited (M&PS), managed to make the three-hour train journey down to London Waterloo to be interviewed at...

Bright spark: following on from the success of his franchise for finding a reputable local plumber, Steve Baker is launching a similar service for electricians called ElecLocal.(new launch)
April 1, 2005... When established entrepreneur Steve Baker prepared to launch his pioneering ElecLocal franchise this spring, he had no need to run a separate pilot scheme. The new venture is based on the soar-away success of the sister franchise PlumbLocal,...

Polished performer: new franchise launch Permagard is now making the state-of-the-art system used to protect the bodywork of executive jets available to British car owners. Paul Beadle finds out how franchising will be driving the company's expansion.(new launch)
April 1, 2005... David Tarsh, managing director of Permagard, is launching a new franchise that he believes will revolutionise the luxury car cleaning market. The business centres on a unique protective coating developed by the aviation and marine industry,...

Building better businesses: the Quantum Organization offers experienced professionals the chance to become business consultants, helping companies generate more customers, expand sales and increase profits. Franchisee Mark Rigby explains why Quantum is such an attractive prospect.(new launch)
April 1, 2005... Mark Rigby was on the lookout for a job to capitalise on his commercial awareness and strong business background, when Quantum contacted him. 'I left the company I was working for in 2003 and was keen for my next job to be at board level...

Solving the puzzle: it can be tricky finding a business that puts your management skills to the test, but also offers freedom and personal fulfilment. Running a child-oriented business is an ideal solution, as the founders of new franchise Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries can testify.(new launch)
April 1, 2005... With more mothers choosing to return to work early and more tax incentives for them to do so, there is an unprecedented demand for nursery places in the UK. Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries is launching a franchise opportunity to tap into this...

Pitch perfect: rugby-loving Richard Thompson is one of Minster Cleaning Services' star franchisees, and like many others in the business, he brings a host of special skills to his work.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Richard Thompson, a rugby enthusiast and Minster franchisee for Berkshire, understands the importance of teamwork, both at work and on a rugby pitch. 'Creating a successful team in business has a lot in common with building a winning rugby...

Dear diary: from self-employed car broker to qualified cartridge remanufacturer in just six months is quite an achievement. Smart Cartridge franchisee Nick Forrester and wife Jo share their diary excerpts detailing this fast-track career change.(franchise focus)(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... 28 MAY 2004 It's now ten months since I quit my job with the BMW dealer and the car brokering business is doing okay. Would like to see a greater level of turnover and better margins though. Interesting chat today with our IT man, who has...

A-z list of exhibitors.(exhibitor listing)
April 1, 2005... All entries correct at time of going to press A-Z list of exhibitors 1st 4 Tops G150 1 Virtual.com B40 1/2 Price Ink Cartridges F215 247staff ...

Exhibitors by category.(exhibitor listing)
April 1, 2005... Exhibitors by category Correct at time of going to press ACCOUNTANCY/FINANCIAL ADVICE Certax Accounting Ltd B35 Franaccounts A65 AUTOMOTIVE Car Medic ...

Capital welcomes captains of industry.(foreword)
April 1, 2005... Franchising in London and Southeast England contributes more than 3 billion [pounds sterling] of the UK franchise industry's 9.1 billion [pounds sterling] annual turnover--almost a third of the industry's revenue. The number of franchise...

A world of opportunity: from graffiti removal and waterless car valeting to pasties, organic vegetable delivery and pet foods, franchising offers a more diverse range of opportunities than you can imagine.(information)
April 1, 2005... SPONSORED BY THE British Franchise Association (BFA) in conjunction with the Daily Mail, Business Franchise and Franchise World, the British & International Franchise Exhibition offers visitors the chance to find out more about a wide range of...

Access to vital advice.(The British & International Franchise Exhibition)
April 1, 2005... FREE SEMINARS For everyone looking to find out more about becoming a franchisee or franchisor, there will be a series of highly informative free seminars run across both days by the British Franchise Association (BFA). They will include...

Is franchising right for you? If you're looking to run a business of your own, joining a proven franchise system offers a greater chance of success than starting from scratch.(The British & International Franchise Exhibition)
April 1, 2005... Before you part with any money and invest in a franchise, there is work to be done and there are questions to be asked. You will need to thoroughly research the franchise you're interested in, making sure that it is the right one for you and...

The next steps: there are many choices to make when setting up your own business and it's easy to make mistakes, so avoid the pitfalls by following Manzoor Ishani's step-by-step guide to getting your franchise off the ground.(The British & International Franchise Exhibition)
April 1, 2005... You have made one of the most important decisions in your life, which is whether or not to start a business of your own. The next decision is just as important--what sort of franchise business to go into. And once you have selected a franchise,...

Your A-Z exhibitor guide.(The British & International Franchise Exhibition)
April 1, 2005... Your A-Z exhibitor guide All entries correct at time of going to press 1 Virtual.com B40 Contact name: Sharon Whiteley Photography Tel: 0870 442 4969 Mob: 07974 929 121 Website:...

Welcome to the business of your dreams; Martyn Dawes, chief executive officer of Coffee Nation, welcomes you to the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference in London.(Growing your own business: exhibition and conference)
April 1, 2005... 1-2 April 2005, Olympia, LONDON GROWING YOUR OWN BUSINESS takes time, hard work, support and passion. Since setting up Coffee Nation in 1999, I've taken all the support offered to me and I've learned a lot of lessons about hard work and...

Conference programme.(Growing your own business: exhibition and conference)(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... Friday 1 April 2005 Day One 10:30-11:00 OPENING ADDRESS What does it take to maintain business strength? * Taking your business from birth to expansion * Does your business concept have to be unique? * Staying ahead...

Growing your own business A-Z exhibitor guide.(exhibitor profiles)
April 1, 2005... Growing Your Own Business A-Z exhibitor guide A Woman's Place Business Zone GYOB140 Contact name: Dawn Charles Networking Tel: 01727 752 394 events Fax: 020 8754 1800 Website: www.awp.ecademy.com ...

Healthy balance: more time with the family and greater flexibility at work are common reasons why many people consider running their own business. Expense Reduction Analysts franchisee Ian Kershaw explains how he struck a work/life balance.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... 'I wanted to reduce the time I was spending away from home so that I could spend more time with my family,' says lan Kershaw, who joined Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) as a franchisee in January 2003. 'At the same time, I still wanted to be...

Moving on up: reaching a five-year anniversary is a landmark achievement in the life of any business, but rather than resting on its laurels, estate agency network Countrywide Franchising is aiming even higher with the expansion of its Bairstow Eves brand.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Not content with celebrating the opening of its 100th Bairstow Eves franchise branch last September, Countrywide Franchising passed yet another milestone in February this year--the fifth anniversary of the launch of its very first estate agency...

Grand design: having overhauled its corporate identity and achieved official Business Superbrand status, it's not surprising that franchisees are flocking to join Kall Kwik. Centre owner Sanjay Ashar is one of the new breed.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... 'I aim to own a thriving business that still has the potential for growth.' This is the answer given by Sanjay Ashar, the new Kall Kwik franchisee for Harrow, when asked where he wants to be in five years' time with his new business. Ashar...

Heroes in action: when companies aren't running as smoothly as they could, it's time to call in a business coach. Become an Action international franchisee and this coach could be you.(promotional feature)
April 1, 2005... The philosophy of 'practise what you preach' has probably never been more clearly demonstrated than by the franchisees of Action International, a global organisation that boasts more than 600 franchisees across the globe. Action International...

Hitting the right note: Bongo drums, a didgeridoo--you name it, Ray Owen has valued all sorts during his time as a Cash Generator franchisee. Now he's taken on a second store and is finding there's never a dull moment.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Seven years after becoming a franchisee in St Helens, Merseyside, Ray Owen is now marking Cash Generator's coming of age as he takes on the Burnley franchise as a resale opportunity. As the network matures, more and more franchise territories...

Voice of the people: experienced Snap-on Tools franchisee Clive Surridge is now a member of the British Franchise Association's National Franchisee Forum, Paul Beadle reports on what Surridge hopes to contribute.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Snap-on distributor Clive Surridge knows the franchise industry better than most people, having experienced it from a number of different angles. He started his first franchise 14 years ago with Snap-on, which provides top quality tools for...

Smart thinking: franchisees Geoff Markey and Bernard Sulex were colleagues for 12 years, working for the same waste management company. So, when they came across ChipsAway, they wasted no time in becoming business partners in franchising.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Geoff Markey and Bernard Sulex had grown tired of the daily grind of corporate culture. They worked long hours for not enough reward and each had started to look around for the best business opportunity to go it alone. Their separate...

Living the dream: as more franchisees hit the high street and head office relocates to new premises, things are certainly moving on up for Dream Doors.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... There's a palpable excitement in the voices of Derek Lilly and Troy Tappenden, co-founders of kitchen door replacement franchise Dream Doors, when they talk about how far the company has come since the franchise was first launched in 2002. ...

The right timescale: Waltham Electronics has steadily expanded its franchise network during the year since it was launched, and has seen demand escalate for its limescale removal and prevention system, Scale Manager 2.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Scale Manager 2 is an inexpensive product that emits low frequency magnetic pulses, neutralising the ability of calcium carbonate particles to bond and form limescale. As the treated water then passes through any household plumbing system, it...

Sunbelt rises in the south: a booming business is selling businesses. Michele Witthaus reports on the leading franchise specialising in brokering successful enterprises.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Global business brokerage firm Sunbelt Business Advisors has made significant strides recently by attaining both British Franchise Association (BFA) and Irish Franchise Association approval. The company now holds the distinction of being the...

Second time lucky: for Phil Challis, the chance to buy an existing AlphaGraphics store in Leicester city centre was too good to miss. Now he's firmly ensconced in the AlphaGraphics fold and tells Alex Dean why buying a franchise resale pays dividends.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... 'I considered a range of franchise businesses before deciding on an AlphaGraphics resale opportunity,' says Phil Challis, new AlphaGraphics franchisee for Leicester. 'I investigated other print-industry models and a greenfield AlphaGraphics...

Clean living: one of Myhome's successful franchisees has advice for entrepreneurs looking for a fresh challenge.
April 1, 2005... Residential cleaning has become one of the UK's fastest-growing market sectors, with 2.7 million households spending around 11 billion [pounds sterling] every year on domestic help. Russell O'Connell, chief executive at residential cleaning...

Changing lanes: car enthusiast Elliott Bain began his working life training prospective franchisees to repair damage to cars and bikes. But the gamekeeper quickly turned poacher when he found that his former trainees were making two or three times as much money as their teacher.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Elliot Bain joined ground-breaking franchisor Car Medic straight from as a 16-year-old, and quickly built up the expertise to make damaged cars look as good as new, inside and out. But after a few years at Car Medic head office teaching the...

More than just mail: as a growing number of small businesses call on the services of Mail Boxes Etc, franchisees are finding being part of a worldwide support network pays dividends.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Mail Boxes Etc (MBE) currently has a network of 96 high street shops in the UK, but will soon be hitting a total of 100 operating centres across the UK and Ireland. Each store offers a comprehensive range of business services to both local...

Cash on the double: with more than 100 franchisees already established in the UK, Dublcheck prides itself on providing a high-quality commercial cleaning service--and hopes to secure a lion's share of the sector in the coming years.(promotional feature)
April 1, 2005... Founded in 1993, Dublcheck has already made its mark on the franchise industry. It was recently recognised as one of the UK's fastest growing companies by Richard Branson's Virgin Fastrack 100 and The Sunday Times, and it aims to continue...

Sure thing: like any business, running a property lettings agency can have its upsides and downsides, but Surelet supports its franchisees every step of the way.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... With booming house prices making buying unaffordable to swathes of the population, together with an increasingly mobile work force within the UK and coming from overseas, it stands to reason that the demand for properties to rent is fairly...

The fast lane: Brendan Lane's transition from prospective Paperfix franchisee to master licensee took just a matter of months. Carol Davis finds out why.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Staying motivated is no problem for Brendan Lane, the new master franchisee for Paperfix with responsibility for the whole of Ireland. 'Getting out of bed in the morning will be easy when I've got such an exciting venture to work on,' he says,...

Frontrunners: our love affair with clothes and the need for somewhere to keep them, mean that in 2004 the doors opened on four new Sliderobes franchises.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... With space at a premium in most homes and clean, uncluttered interiors in fashion, good storage is a must. Demand for wardrobes is as strong as it's ever been. For Richard McMullan, managing director of Northern Ireland-based franchise wardrobe...

Just the drop: if you've had your hair turned white by the exorbitant prices some companies charge for ink, get ready to dye it back again. The Inkdrop franchisees sell recycled cartridges at half the price of the big players.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... If you wanted to fill the tank of your car with cartridge ink, you'd probably have to sell your house--or at least remortgage--in order to do it. Filling an Olympic-sized swimming pool with the stuff would set you back millions of pounds. But...

Gym fixes it for franchisee's 40th; work can be fun when you join the exciting children's play-and-learning concept that has just arrived in the UK.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Paul Shuttleworth promised himself a change of lifestyle once he hit 40, and went on to give himself the best birthday present ever. He signed the franchise agreement for The Little Gym on his 40th birthday, and with his wife Yvonne is now...

Stationery and moving forward: with a strong foothold in the UK's printer consumables market, Lasertech is now also supplying office products to its customers--and franchisees are relishing the challenge of meeting this new demand.(promotional feature)
April 1, 2005... For most small businesses, purchasing printer consumables is a relentless, uncontrollable cost. And with the current market worth some 1.5billion [pounds sterling] a year, Lasertech franchisees in the business of selling such consumables...

Shift your career up a gear: Mobile Car Valeting's franchisees are a diverse group but they've one thing in common: a desire to make the most of their working lives.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... James Pullar spent 20 years sorting out other people's computer problems before he took up a Mobile Car Valeting franchise in Cambridgeshire earlier this year. Further up the country in Lincoln, Mark Burton has given up seven years as a...

Grime stoppers: of all the dirty jobs people hate, cleaning the oven is up there with the worst, so it's not surprising that Ovenclean franchisees have customers queuing up to call in the professionals.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Ovenclean, the domestic oven cleaning franchise, has plenty to celebrate. In 2004 the company commemorated ten years as a corporation and three years as a national franchise brand. Last year also saw the launch of its 200th franchised outlet in...

A fitting solution: launched just four months ago, curtain and blind fitting franchise Fit-ex has its first franchisees trained and ready to roll. Managing director David Hinwood-Jones looks forward to a bright future.(promotional feature)
April 1, 2005... As the owner of a successful interior design business with 14 years of experience in the sector, expert curtain and blind fitter David Hinwood--Jones had the right kind of attributes to start up a successful franchise. He developed a solid...

Topping it off: Papa John's offers franchisees the benefits of an established brand mixed with innovative ideas--and boasts an award-winning service.(promotional feature)
April 1, 2005... When Papa John's first arrived in the UK, it did so with a heritage of award-winning success. It s sister company in the USA had chalked up more than 70 separate accolades for customer satisfaction. The company decided to tap into a gap in...

Trucks of the trade: building your own business is never easy, but franchisees with truck-mounted cleaning service Hydro-Dynamix can expect comprehensive support from the outset--along with a few special perks.(franchise focus)
April 1, 2005... Hydro-Dynamix offers its franchisees a great deal of freedom. For example, the company does not charge its franchisees percentage royalties. Instead, after an initial fixed fee--roughly equivalent to a day's work--Hydro-Dynamix makes its money...

Catching the Office Express: Office Express Group's star is on the rise, with increased growth for the core business and its franchisees--who are finding its special service is just the ticket.
April 1, 2005... Midlands-based office and business supplies franchise, Office Express Group, is on the move. Just 14 months after the franchise was launched, it is relocating to bigger offices to meet the needs of the growing franchise network and to satisfy...

On the right track: if you're a franchisor setting up a network or a franchisee in need of a van, Opti-Rent could have just the sort of flexible, good value leasing or purchasing deal you're looking for.(franchise services)
April 1, 2005... A great business idea isn't always enough to ensure success. Proving reliable customer service is also crucial. All companies need transport to get operators and their kit to customers safely, preferably without a cloud of fumes from the...

Offering sum help: finding an accountant who understands franchising can be tough for both franchisors and franchisees. ALB Accountancy is coming to the rescue with a new specialist service.(franchise services)
April 1, 2005... Few accountants specialise in franchising, and many businesses pay over the odds for accountancy advice that is not tailored to the specific demands of franchising. ALB Accountancy recently launched a new division specifically aimed at...

Balance of power.(banking)
April 1, 2005... Competition is increasing among the major high street banks to win the custom of the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). After all, SMEs account for more than 99 per cent of all the businesses in Britain, employing over 40 per cent...

Coming to an agreement: whether you're the one drawing up a franchise contract or the one signing it, it's important never to make standard assumptions, says Jane Masih of solicitors Owen White.(Hot topic: industry expert tackles a topical issue in franchising)
April 1, 2005... Prospective franchisees are commonly told that their franchise agreement is in a 'standard form' and that no changes can be made to it. While it is good practice for a franchisor to use the same agreement throughout the network, the presumption...

Q & A: franchising is a complex business and it is often hard to know where to turn for reliable advice. Help is at hand--ask our selected panel of industry experts, who offer invaluable advice on franchising in every issue.(franchise advice)
April 1, 2005... Q: How many different agreements will I have to enter into when buying a franchise? Mohammad Olajide, Skipton, North Yorkshire Anton Bates replies: A: After your initial meeting with a prospective franchisor, you may both wish to...

For free or a fee? The charging of fees for renewing a franchise agreement is a sore subject in franchising, with some arguing they are justified and others saying they are unfair. Whatever your views, it's important to understand the finer details.(renewal fees)
April 1, 2005... 'I must say it all looked pretty straightforward, or so I thought,' says Henry in dismay. As a prospective franchisee, Henry has been advised by his franchisor to get the franchise agreement he's been given reviewed by a solicitor. 'Well,...

Need to know: from maternity leave pains and fraudulent claims to tax deadline headaches and disturbing crime statistics, Barrie Pennington is here to put you in the frame.(business bulletin)
April 1, 2005... 136,000 SMEs WILL BE VICTIMS OF CRIME According to research from AXA insurance, around 12 per cent of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be victims of crime in 2005--that amounts to 136,000 businesses. The most common insurance...

Calling the shots: unwanted telesales calls and junk mail are the last things any busy business needs. Richard Watson has some unorthodox tactics for tackling unwanted marketing attention--turn the tricks of the trade to your advantage.(marketing methods)
April 1, 2005... Putting at risk my associate membership of the Royal and Ancient Order of Telesales Operators, I am prepared to suggest effective countermeasures to those who constantly telephone busy franchisees with offers of loans, investments, credit...

Franchisees of the month: Alan and Jane Halliday, Jason Hartland, Kall Kwik.(class act)
April 1, 2005... NAME: Alan Halliday, Jane Halliday and Jason Hartland AGES: 49, 44 and 35 respectively OCCUPATIONS: Franchisees with business design and print franchise Kall Kwik FRANCHISE LOCATION: Leamington Spa and Coventry respectively ...

Resale of the month: AlphaGraphics.(Franchise Resales)
April 1, 2005... alphagraphics[R] AlphaGraphics is the gold standard of quick-print franchise stores. FTSE 100 companies and even small to medium-sized enterprises compete in a global marketplace and can no longer afford to entrust their documents to...

Why buy a resale?(Franchise Resales)
April 1, 2005... Existing franchises are sold for various reasons--retirement, ill-health, moving abroad, etc. Some franchise companies operate networks comprising hundreds of franchisees and more than one entry in the listings may simply reflect the scale of...

Buying into resale success.(Franchise Resales)
April 1, 2005... LOOKING FOR AN ESTABLISHED FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY? Most franchises have mature businesses with track records of success that can give you cash flow from day one. Resales are available in every part of the country, and in every type of...