Business Franchise articles from April 2010

Business Franchise archives from April 2010

A life less ordinary.(EDITOR'S column)
April 1, 2010... Do you know how many UK industries were described as 'extraordinary' during the downturn? My guess is very few. So you may be surprised to learn that the Key Note market report 2010 states that, given the depth of the recession, franchising is...

Franchise market to rise.(Franchisenews)
April 1, 2010... THE VALUE of the franchise market will rise by 1.4 per cent in 2010, according to the recent Key Note franchising market report. It predicts year-on-year growth increasing slowly thereafter bringing the total industry turnover to around [pounds...

Energie powers Gulf fitness stream.(Franchisenews)
April 1, 2010... * The first energie Fitness Club franchise in the Middle East has been launched in Doha, Qatar. The stunning new [pounds sterling]2 million facility boasts state-of-the-art cardiovascular and resistance equipment, a dedicated boxing and...

Stat-O-Meter 2010 key franchising report.(Franchisenews)
April 1, 2010... 1,000 Total number of franchised businesses predicted to be in operation by 2014. 2% Rise in number of franchisors in 2009. 7% Decrease in the franchise industry's turnover. 1.2% The number of franchise units that rose in...

One in a million.(Franchise news)
April 1, 2010... * SIGNS EXPRESS has recognised its long-serving franchisees for reaching the milestone of a [pounds sterling]5 million invoiced business by awarding them with [pounds sterling]1,000 worth of Red Letter Day vouchers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Top speakers.(Franchise news)
April 1, 2010... * This year's British & International Franchise Exhibition features speakers from Toni & Guy, Hilton Hotels, Ladybird and McDonald's. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Founder of Toni & Guy, Toni Mascolo, was...

Business on fire!(Franchise news)
April 1, 2010... * FRANCHISEES IN Blazes's central heating division have had a surge in interest since the Government announced its boiler scrappage scheme in January. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Steve Bate bought his franchise in October as a part-time...

Quote of the month.(Franchise news)
April 1, 2010... "It is a sad truth that solicitors are the party poopers, the cynics, the safe professionals." Mark Machray on what legal advice you need--read more on page 135.

Quick as a flash.(NEWS SHORTS)
April 1, 2010... When Essex County Council's inward investment department INVEST Essex needed 1,000 fully customised USB flashdrives in a hurry, Graham Marshall and his team at Recognition Express in Essex rose to the challenge producing them in just seven days,...

Toddlers can handle IT.(NEWS SHORTS)
April 1, 2010... A brand new nursery school in Edinburgh is teaching toddlers IT skills. Lynne Kerr, owner of ComputerXplorers south-east Scotland, teaches ICT to a group of nursery pupils from Bruntsfield House Nursery. Lynne Kerr said: "The classes have a...

Signs of a new start.(NEWS SHORTS)
April 1, 2010... It's a new start for 29-year-old Gill Brown, who opened her Fastsigns franchise in Derby this January. Gill said: "You've got to take the plunge. I fancied going into the signage industry because I think it's a solid business. People always need...

Enter the Dragons' Den.(Franchisenews)
April 1, 2010... * Are you ready to turn your idea into a multi-million pound reality? The BBC's award-winning Dragons' Den is the first and longest running business investment series, with a track record of backing future millionaires. In the coming months the...

New launch.(Franchisenews)
April 1, 2010... FOUNDED IN 1907 by Samuel Smith, Ringtons remains the only company in the world to deliver tea, coffee and biscuits door-to-door. Having survived two world wars and several recessions, the business has taken the strategic decision that future...

Comment.(Franchisenews)
April 1, 2010... "WITH the recent publicity surrounding the levels of unemployment amongst 18 to 25 year olds in the UK, it is worth exploring the opportunities and benefits that franchising can offer them. In my experience at Dublcheck I have found that...

Looking for an award winner? The search is on for the UK's top franchise by the British Franchise Association.(NEWS)
April 1, 2010... AS THE UK MOVES from recession to recovery, the franchisors that innovated, excelled and thrived under economic pressure are being sought to enter the leading industry awards for franchising. The bfa & HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards...

Guaranteed turnover: with Dublcheck's 17-year track record of getting sales for franchisees, this is your opportunity to join a huge industry worth more than [pounds sterling]3 billion. Here's what some Dublcheck franchisees have to say.(COVER STORY)
April 1, 2010... Dublcheck is the franchise where you don't need to do any selling unless you want to. Dublcheck obtains all the business for franchisees, so they know exactly what turnover they are going to get. This enables franchisees to concentrate on...

On a high: the sky can be the limit when it comes to high-level investment opportunities. Rob McKinlay investigates.(SPECIAL FEATURE)
April 1, 2010... The only chance us mere financial mortals will ever get to purchase a hotel is on the Monopoly board. However if you can rustle up a few million of your own money, with a bit of help from a proper banker, you can have a hotel of your own, in the...

Polished performance: you don't need to get your hand dirty with a cleaning franchise, as Vesna Siljanovska discovers.(MARKET FOCUS)
April 1, 2010... ROBUST, LONGSTANDING and a service that will always be needed are just some of the ways that people in the cleaning industry describe it. The fact is "there will always be a demand for cleaning" says Richard Samarasinghe, operations director at...

Forces of nature: the nit market is worth [pounds sterling]30 million and the Hairforce--Lice Assassins is here to take a share.(The Hairforce)
April 1, 2010... THE HAIRFORCE--Lice Assassins is a unique nit and head lice removal service, which guarantees to eliminate any head lice problem. Half of all four to I I year olds will catch them each year and The Hairforce delivers an effective chemical free...

Tea time: since 1907, Ringtons has been delivering tea, coffee and biscuits door-to-door.(Ringtons)(Company overview)
April 1, 2010... FOUNDED IN 1907 by Samuel Smith, Ringtons remains the only company in the world to deliver tea, coffee and biscuits door-to-door Having survived two world wars and several recessions, Ringtons remains a family business with three of Sam's...

Ladies first: 1230 The Women's Company is looking for women with a sociable and professional outlook.(1230 The Women's Company)
April 1, 2010... 1230 THE WOMEN'S COMPANY (TWC) was already a successful networking organisation for businesswomen when its founder Jackie Groundsell decided to franchise the business at the end of 2009. "Our managers' experience told us that running a 1230...

London calling: the British & International Franchise Exhibition.(SHOW GUIDE)
April 1, 2010... WELCOME TO the 2010 British and International Franchise Exhibition at London Olympia. The exhibition will provide you with an ideal opportunity to better understand the opportunities available to you, either in investing into an existing...

Book in: it's been a successful 2010 for Rosemary Bookkeeping so far.(Rosemary Bookkeeping)
April 1, 2010... ROSEMARY Bookkeeping heads into 2010 with roaring success as it has already taken on two new franchisees. This great start to the year is set to continue as this efficient and friendly business, offering outsourced bookkeeping services to small...

Lettings boom! Former estate agent Alex Lamb, franchisee of Martin & Co Northampton, has had a phenomenol start.(Martin & Co)
April 1, 2010... IN THE autumn of 2009 Alex was preparing to launch his Martin & Co office in Northampton and was looking forward to following his business plan. However these targets were blown out of the water when the Northampton office recorded Martin...

Fit business: explore the Fit4less by energie opportunity--a 'no frills' fitness franchise.(Fit4less by energie)
April 1, 2010... NOW THAT we are officially out of the recession, it is the perfect time to consider a franchise investment in the fitness industry. The 'no frills' market is booming for supermarkets and hotels, and especially for Fit4less by energie--the 'no...

Cooking up a storm: why former gardener Kenny Latchford's Ovenclean franchise is hotting up!(Ovenclean)
April 1, 2010... FRANCHISEE JOHN Cattermole proved to be a good friend indeed when he recommended an Ovenclean franchise to his pal Kenny Latchford, a former gardener who had been struggling to find work through the winter. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kenny,...

The green room: work outdoors and create beautiful gardens with a Greensleeves franchise.(Greensleeves)
April 1, 2010... CARING FOR lawns has been Greensleeves' speciality since 1998. It franchised in 2000 to offer a nationwide service to the domestic market and is the perfect opportunity for people who would rather be free in the fresh air rather than tied to a...

Motoring to success: Atul Patel is racing ahead in business with his Autosmart franchise.(Autosmart)
April 1, 2010... HIGH WYCOMBE-BASED Atul Patel has only been an Autosmart franchisee for just over a year but he is already starting to reap the rewards of running his own profitable business. "I spent eight years working at a number of prestige car...

Are you being served? The ServiceMaster family of brands offers four solid options in the service industry.(ServiceMaster)
April 1, 2010... AS A LEADING expert in the service industry, ServiceMaster operates franchises in residential cleaning, commercial cleaning, furniture restoration and repair, disaster restoration and professional lawn care. Whichever franchise option you...

Fix your career: 0800 Handyman is one of the UK's premier repair and maintenance businesses.(0800 Handyman)
April 1, 2010... ENTREPRENEURIAL DIY enthusiasts with drive and ambition now have the chance to run their own local lucrative, 0800 Handyman business. 0800 Handyman is owned and operated by The Zockoll Group. Chairman Jim Zockoll is a pioneer of the UK...

Leaders of the pack: it's dog training at its best with Bark Busters.(Bark Busters)
April 1, 2010... BARK BUSTERS'S success has seen the company grow to be the world's largest dog training company. The brainchild of Sylvia and Danny Wilson, Bark Busters celebrates its 20th birthday this year since its formation in Australia in 1989. Bark...

Happy talk: John Pellew, CEO of Telcoinabox Ltd, reveals why a telecoms franchise is a safe bet.(Telconabox)
April 1, 2010... OVER THE last 12 months the UK economy has suffered heavily in the global financial crisis with company closures and huge jobs losses, but John Pellew believes there is good reason to be positive about the telecoms industry and that it is far...

Shine on! Rob Stobbs turned his back on company politics and walked into a new life with Autosheen.(Autosheen)
April 1, 2010... "I WAS fed up of all the jockeying and political nonsense and just wanted to do something for myself," he explains." I was looking for an opportunity that was straightforward and didn't involve having to handle employees; something totally down...

Build your future; Molly Maid is one of the leading brands in the [pounds sterling]3 billion-plus domestic cleaning market.(Molly Maid)
April 1, 2010... SINCE MOLLY MAID started in 1979 it has provided its cleaning services to hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers in Canada, USA, Portugal and Japan as well as the UK. This year alone more than 400 Molly Maid franchises will clean in excess...

Less is more: helping others lose weight has made Mary McLean's LighterLife business gain pounds.(LighterLife)
April 1, 2010... MARY MCLEAN has operated a LighterLife franchise in Inverness for more than three years and is still inspired by each and every client. Mary goes that extra mile to help her clients embrace a healthier and happy life and believes this has...

When's lunch? Pet lovers should consider an Oscar franchise--a pet food delivery service.(Oscar)
April 1, 2010... OSCAR IS the UK's leading pet food home delivery franchise business. Its aim is to eventually meet the country's 27 million pets and introduce the Oscar complete pet care service directly to every one of them. Oscar builds its reputation on...

Revive your life: after travelling the world, Byron Lindsay found his next destination in Revive!(Revive!)
April 1, 2010... BYRON LINDSAY 34, became owner of Revive! High Wycombe in 2008. Having spent 10 years travelling the world in the commercial laundry business, Byron decided it was time to put down some business roots closer to home and his long-term partner...

Fulfilling a dream: former Royal Navy technician, Paul Cordingly has taken on a gas-elec franchise.(Gas-elec Safety Inspection)(Company overview)
April 1, 2010... WITH HIS experience as a skilled Royal Navy technician, Paul Cordingly has proved to be an ideal candidate to own a gas-elec Safety Inspection franchise. Paul spent 14 years sailing the world in frigates, but today you'll find him in a gas-elec...

Magic touch: Martin Nietrzebka can repair any car bump or scratch as a Dent Wizard franchisee.(Dent Wizard)
April 1, 2010... THE NEW CAR market has taken a bit of a prang during the recession--but that's not bad news for all businesses, especially for a franchise specialising in repairing bumps, bangs and bashes. Dent Wizard specialises in a unique process called...

Perfect fit: create beautiful kitchens with Just Fitted Kitchens.(Just Fitted Kitchens)
April 1, 2010... NEW FRANCHISE business opportunity provider Just Fitted Kitchens is offering a high quality business with full support and training from a tried-and-tested method for a low start-up cost. The ethos of Steve Jennerway, Just Fitted Kitchen's...

Picture this: if you're interested in running your own photography studio, explore Venture.(Venture)
April 1, 2010... VENTURE OFFERS bespoke photographic experiences in its 55 studios across the UK, as well as a further seven studios in Dublin, Hong Kong and Connecticut, USA, with plans to significantly expand its presence globally over the next few years. ...

Safe as houses: X-Press legal services is seeing the positive affects of the upturn.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
April 1, 2010... X-PRESS LEGAL Services Limited was set up in 2000 and launched as a franchise in October 2005. It specialises in providing property searches and reports for solicitors and other professional conveyancers. It has a nationwide network of 40-plus...

Great chemistry: why Chemex is the perfect business match for ambitious franchisees.(Chemex)
April 1, 2010... REACHING 25 YEARS in business is no small feat for any company, especially one operating in a highly competitive industry that has seen many changes over the last few years. At Chemex, the UK's leading franchised cleaning and hygiene...

Bringing in the dough: take on a pretzel bakery franchise with Auntie Anne's.(Auntie Anne's)
April 1, 2010... AUNTIE ANNE'S is a franchised pretzel bakery that is successfully operated through more than 1,000 stores owned and operated by franchise owners in the USA, Canada, Middle East, Far East and now in the UK. Auntie Anne's sells freshly baked...

Solid foundations: join the kitchen business with Granite Transformations.(Granite Transformations)
April 1, 2010... GRANITE TRANSFORMATIONS provides an advanced kitchen worktop and interior surfaces material, made from natural granite, quartzite or glass blended with high performance polymers. Thanks to a unique production process, the process is lighten...

All about the brand; Recognition Express provides corporate promotional products.(Recognition Express)
April 1, 2010... SUPPLYING BRANDED business gifts and personalised promotional products, personalised name badges, staff awards, posters, banners and signs, plus a full range of branded clothing, to businesses and organisations in the UK is a significant,...

Sparkling result! New City Contract Cleaning is sweeping up contracts across the UK.(New City Contract Cleaning)
April 1, 2010... NEW CITY Contract Cleaning, the commercial contract cleaning franchise, recently awarded territories to a further two new franchisees as part of its ambitious and challenging schedule of expansion, which looks set to take them into numerous...

Easy-ID makes it easier: there is even more choice and flexibility with an Easy-ID franchise.(Easy-ID)
April 1, 2010... Digital photobooth franchise Easy-ID is introducing a three-tier franchise start-up package to make choosing a franchise 'easy'. This means potential franchisees have more choice when it comes to selecting the franchise opportunity that fits in...

Going green: grow a healthy business and enjoy a healthy lifestyle with Envirocare Grounds Maintenance.(Envirocare)
April 1, 2010... IF YOU are thinking about a change in direction, enjoy an outdoor working environment, are energetic and enthusiastic, and looking to be your own boss with the support of an established business, read on. Envirocare Grounds Maintenance was...

Top choice: be in business for yourself, but not by yourself with Select Franchising.(Select Franchising)
April 1, 2010... SELECT FRANCHISING not only offers potential franchise partners a proven franchise model, but also an enviable wealth of support from an experienced team of professionals. Select Franchising has three established recruitment franchise brands:...

Flying start: Xperience's latest lettings franchisee hits the ground running.(Xperience)
April 1, 2010... XPERIENCE IS the UK's largest estate agency franchisor, with more than 85 agency branches across England and Wales. One of the brands under the Xperience umbrella is Parkers. Paul Harding launched his Parkers lettings franchise in Cirencester at...

A passion for care: Bluebird Care offers a professional and successful business.(Bluebird Care)
April 1, 2010... AS THE leading care franchise in the UK and Republic of Ireland, Bluebird Care strives hard to maintain the high standards of the business. "Our business, first and foremost, is about providing a very high standard of care to our customers,"...

Rule the world; Cartridge World supplies refillable printer cartridges. Why not open your own store?(Cartridge World)
April 1, 2010... MANY PEOPLE dream of the day they can tell their boss exactly what to do with their rotten job and leave to start their own business. However, the harsh reality is that up to 50 per cent of new businesses fail in their first five years--often...

Top achievers; Discover the franchisees that have a turnover of [pounds sterling]1 million with Minster Cleaning Services.(Minister Cleaning Services)
April 1, 2010... KENT FRANCHISEE, Esmond White, has been named Franchisee of the Year a1 Minster's recent annual conference. The award is based on performance criteria including sales, new business acquisition and customer retention. Esmond started his...

Green green grass; Don't miss your chance to run one of the fastest growing lawn-care franchisees GreenThumb.(GreenThumb)
April 1, 2010... BRITAIN'S BIGGEST lawn care franchise has experienced a record start to the year with more franchisees than ever joining the company's highly respected training courses in January and February. In fact, so many new Green Thumb franchises are...

Up and away: from financial services to freedom with ChipsAway, discover Lan Whitlock's story.(ChipsAway)
April 1, 2010... A 52-YEAR-OLD lan Whitlock has finally hit lucky after a rollercoaster experience in the financial services sector. The misfortune of being made redundant twice, as well as being the victim of a financial services franchise failure, might have...

Kids love IT! ComputerXplorers has taught more than three million classes worldwide in twenty years.(ComputerXplorers)
April 1, 2010... COMPUTERXPLORERS sets a standard for franchised businesses in the 21st Century by offering the following benefits: * Working from home * Modest entry costs * Flexible working hours * Low operating costs; high net margins * Appeals...

Fast forward: MOT2U is looking for franchisees that have got the drive.(MOT2U)
April 1, 2010... THE SIMPLEST IDEAS are often the best, and that's certainly the case with MOT2U, a successful MOT franchise that has become a driving force in the UK. We've all been there--suddenly remembering that we've got to get our car MOT'd by tomorrow...

Love Monday mornings; After 20 years in recruitment, Jane Garrard found herself a new role with Personal Career Management.(Personal Career Management)
April 1, 2010... JANE GARRARD was a senior director in the recruitment industry responsible for the management of a large number of branches across London and the south-east. The part of Jane's job that she enjoyed most was the people development side,...

Fixing your future; Part of The Stanley Works, a $4 billion plus global organisation, Mac Tools offers a smooth operation.(Mac Tools)
April 1, 2010... OWNING YOUR own business can be exciting and daunting, and Mac Tools recognises this and has developed a strong training and support structure to enable franchisees to develop their businesses. Being a full member of the British Franchise...

Year of plenty: the Yates's beat the recession with Metro Rod.(Metro Rod)
April 1, 2010... WITH AN expanding workforce, healthy profits, and valuable contracts with household names such as BUPA, Next and JD Wetherspoons, it's hard to believe that twelve months ago Mike and Matthew Yates's business prospects were looking very...

Design for life; French furniture manufacturer Gautier is offering a franchise with finesse.(Gautier)
April 1, 2010... WITH A presence in more than 50 countries, Gautier is the brand name of a premier French furniture manufacturer For the last 50 years it has had a long and successful history with customers and partners alike, symbolising reliability and...

Brand power: run a retail business with the high profile Esprit brand.(Esprit)
April 1, 2010... SINCE 1976 Esprit has been at home in Europe. Over the years the international label has become a recognised symbol for image and design, and its brand exists in 80 countries worldwide. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Today Esprit is considered to...

Grab a slice of the action: Domino's Pizza is the ideal proposition for anyone looking to start their own business.(Domino's Pizza)(Company overview)
April 1, 2010... FOUNDED IN the USA in I960, Domino's Pizza is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the UK this year The company continues to achieve strong growth, with like for like sales up by more than eight per cent. Domino's currently has 608 stores in the...

Homing in: secure your financial future with property investment franchise Platinum Property Partners.(Platinum Property Partners)
April 1, 2010... DESPITE THE current uncertainty (in the UK economy, Platinum Property Partners (PPP), one of the UK's most successful property companies and the world's first investment franchise of its kind, believes property remains one of the most secure...

Flamin' good: join the Burger King team and find everything you need to succeed morning, noon and night.(Burger King)
April 1, 2010... THE BURGER KING brand is one of the strongest and most recognised in the world. It celebrates individuality and choice: 'Have it your way' isn't just a slogan. It's part of Burger King's heritage and drives its culture. Burger King has been...

A close inspection; why you need a solicitor for your franchise agreement, Mark Machray explains.(Sherrards)
April 1, 2010... STARTING YOUR own business is of course a risky undertaking, but without those people willing to do so, where would we be? Entrepreneurs drive the economy creating jobs and wealth; they are the people with the enthusiasm and ambition to inspire...

Do you agree? There are many agreements during the early stages of buying a franchise, Rebecca Jones sums up what you need to know.(FRANCHISE ADVICE)
April 1, 2010... THE FRANCHISE agreement is the most important agreement you will sign for your franchise business. However there are other early documents you may be asked to sign during the franchisee recruitment process. The most common of these agreements...

Need money? Thorough research and preparation is the golden ticket to funding, says Richard Holden.(FRANCHISE ADVICE)
April 1, 2010... YOU CAN expect that the failure rate of a tried, tested and proven franchised business to be much lower than an independent start up. However, it should be understood that buying a franchise doesn't guarantee success; rather setting up your own...

The panel.(Q&A)(Interview)
April 1, 2010... THE PANEL Sarah Walker Sarah has worked in property for 11 years--as an estate agent, a TV presenter, freelance writer and investor. She is building a property portfolio in Bournemouth and Poole. Peter Williams Peter is one of the...

On the market: Mazoor Ishani on the legalities of selling up and moving on, otherwise known as franchise resales.(FRANCHISE ADVICE)
April 1, 2010... "BE YOUR own boss--own your own business!' scream various advertisements for the sale of franchises. It is true that one of the principal reasons why people buy franchises is that they get to own their business and, after years of hard work when...

Recognition Express; Exceptional resale opportunities.(RESALE OF THE MONTH)
April 1, 2010... Recognition Express is a major UK Franchisor and very proud of our franchising credentials: * bfa member since 1980 * Franchisor of the Year award winner * Extensive marketing collateral * Centrally managed appointment generating...

Resale Opportunities with Leicester.
April 1, 2010... The Franchise Owners currently runs both the Peterborough and Leicester franchises and living in Peterborough he has decided to concentrate his efforts on his local area and is prepared to offer the business for sale at a very competitive price...

Resales explained.
April 1, 2010... 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...

A-Z franchise directory.(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2010... The following franchise listings are a comprehensive reference guide to help you find the franchise opportunity that's right for you. They are listed alphabetically and cover all business sectors. Information for these entries is provided by the...