Business Franchise articles from December 2010

Business Franchise archives from December 2010

Christmas spirit.(EDITOR'S COLUMN)
December 1, 2010... Come January 1, when I'm sat on my sofa feeling like a giant mince pie with a red wine headache, surrounded by mint matchmakers and a tin of Quality Street with only the orange creams left, I will probably vow to take up running, ashtanga yoga...

Penny change.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... * Domino's Pizza is the first UK retailer to use Pennies, the electronic charity box. This means Domino's online shoppers who pay by card are now able to round their bill up to the nearest pound and donate the extra pennies to charity. ...

Stat-o-meter.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... Latest stats from kitchen facelift franchise, dream doors: 18% Increase in network sales for second year running [pounds sterling]920k Total sales achieved in August [pounds sterling]950k Total sales...

Five tips: to kick-start your franchise search.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... 1. List what you enjoy doing and what sector/job type it falls under 2. Register for the latest franchise opportunities at www.businessfranchise.com 3. Visit a bfa-approved franchise exhibition, see www.franchiseinfo.co.uk 4. Speak to...

Thorntons cuts its franchise fee.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... * To celebrate 100 years in business, Thorntons has reduced its franchisee fee from [pounds sterling] 15,000 to [pounds sterling] 5,000 until the end of 2011. "We want to celebrate the fact we've been in business since 1911 and have been...

Accor secures two London hotels in time for Olympics.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... * Accor, the international hotel group that offers franchise and management contracts, is to launch two major new hotels in central London in time for the Olympic Games. One of these will become a Novotel hotel while the other will come under...

Pawnbroking on the rise.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... * Recent public spending cuts could further accelerate the pawnbroking industry's current growth, according to Cash & Cheque Express franchise. Marketing Director Kris Baldwin commented: "With the banks unwilling to lend, savvy consumers...

New launch: Healthy Glow.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... * Home spray tan company Healthy Glow has recently franchised its business and is now looking for franchisees. Healthy Glow is a spray tan service that is carried out in the client's home using specially designed equipment to ensure the...

It could be you!(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... * Colourfence franchisee James Hunter Started out: Selling wooden fences for Colourfence before the business franchised and has now been a successful franchisee for five years. Today: Has secured a number of major deals, including several...

Credit facility boosts business.(News Shorts)
December 1, 2010... MAC Tools, manufacturer of high quality automotive tools and equipment, has launched a new product credit facility designed to provide a finance service to its customers. The facility allows customers to purchase high value equipment and spread...

Coffee Republic travels to Cyprus.(News Shorts)
December 1, 2010... Coffee Republic has signed a master franchise agreement with Terra Group, a premier local real estate and financial services group, that will see 15 of the speciality retail coffee bars open across key locations in Cyprus. Commenting on the...

Paintball heroes.(News Shorts)
December 1, 2010... Stafford-based ChipsAway franchisee Carl Hardiman and his team of employees have been treated to a paintballing day after raising more than [pounds sterling]4,000 for Help for Heroes, ChipsAway's adopted charity of the year. The paintballing day...

New qualification from Revive.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... * SMART repair franchise Revive! will be offering Quality Assured Awards (QAA) for its new National Cosmetic Qualification, following approval from the IMI Awards. This means it can offer a National Cosmetic Qualification (NCO) under the IMI...

Top marks.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... * Edinburgh Bluebird Care franchisee Jane Perry has been awarded a Grade Six in every category by the Care Commission - a grade classed as excellent and the highest in the city. In the same month she was also runner-up for a national award. ...

Why is franchising a good option following redundancy?(Comment)
December 1, 2010... "Redundancy can be scary to say the least, I should know having been made redundant myself. Many franchisees join a franchise because they do not want to be in a position where they can be made redundant and they want control over their...

Franchisee engagement: key issue at the bfa's AGM.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... The British Franchise Association (bfa) is aiming to improve franchisee engagement through a franchisee register, which will be a key issue at this year's AGM in December. The bfa will be inviting all members to attend the AGM and a special...

Bfa Charity Golf Day supports the Back-Up Trust.(NEWS)
December 1, 2010... The bfa Chairman's Charity Golf Day event raised more than [pounds sterling] 6,000 for the Back-Up Trust. Chosen by bfa Chairman, Mike Goddard, the Back-Up Trust is a charity that runs a range of services for people with spinal cord injuries...

Upcoming: franchise events.(NEWS)(Calendar)
December 1, 2010... The British & International Franchise Exhibition Olympia, London 18 - 19 March 2011 The British Franchise Exhibition Manchester Central 10 - 11 June 2011 The National Franchise Exhibition NEC, Birmingham 30 September...

What will the New Year bring? As 2010 draws to a close, Lloyds TSB's head of franchising, Richard Holden, offers some sound advice to kick-start your year.(ADVICE)
December 1, 2010... The last 12 months has seen for most of us the first coalition Government in our lifetime, and it has already faced some tough decisions on how to reduce the budget deficit and deliver the necessary spending cuts. What this will ultimately mean...

Q&A.(Interview)
December 1, 2010... [Q] What happens if I buy a franchise and then decide it is not for me? Tom Morris, Kent [BIO] JANE MASIH heads the franchise team at Owen White solicitors. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [A] This is not an uncommon situation. It is highly...

Shock absorber: when times get tough, franchising continues to hold its own. Legal expert Manzoor Ishani reveals why franchising performs so well in a recession.(ADVICE)
December 1, 2010... Those of us who have been involved with franchising for a few decades have now experienced a third recession. Is it worse than the one in the early 70s? In some ways it isn't. At that time people were paying 18 to 20 per cent interest on their...

Topped the lot: in 2010 Papa John's Pizza opened 33 new stores, recruited 25 franchisees and opened a [pounds sterling]5 million state-of-the-art dough plant that will enable the network to double in size in three years.(Cover story)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 170,000 Papa John's entered 2010 on the back of 17 successive quarters of growth, with a strong pipeline for both new stores and new franchisees, and all the tools in place to increase momentum and enter...

Looking good: the health, beauty and fitness industries are sustaining very healthy bottom lines, despite a tougher economy. Natalie Hoare examines some leading franchises that are in the business of making us look our best.(Market Focus)
December 1, 2010... As a nation, it seems we are simply not willing to neglect our appearance, even if the economy dictates tightening the purse strings. Health, beauty and fitness franchises seem to be fairing incredibly well. So well in fact, that a number of...

Kids mean business: could you train the next swimming champion or drama queen? Child-based franchises provide teaching and management opportunities for people who want a fun and rewarding business. Vesna Siljanovska reveals.(Special Feature)
December 1, 2010... The child-care franchise sector is big, varied and robust, and with more than 12 million children living in the UK it comes as no surprise that kids mean business. In a cash-rich time-poor world, parents will always be willing to spend money...

All about insurance: as a not-for-profit organisation, medical insurer WPA is a bit different - and it expects its franchisees to be different too.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 7,500 "If you want a franchise you can believe in, WPA may be for you," says Berkeley Harris, a former franchisee who now heads WPA's national franchise team. "Our policy is to put the customer before the...

Cleaning up! Molly Maid, the domestic cleaning franchise, has been established in the UK for more than 25 years and offers a management opportunity in a sector worth in excess of [pounds sterling]1.6 billion.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM [pounds sterling] 16,975 The Molly Maid service provides high quality reliable domestic cleaning, operated by franchisees that manage teams of staff within an exclusive area. Staff members are fully insured, work in...

World of opportunity: become a web consultant with Spoton.net and you could be earning [pounds sterling] 50,000 by year two. Read on to find out more.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 12,495 With a Spoton.net franchise, you will market and sell high-end websites, as well as related internet and marketing services in a rapidly expanding market. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Of the 2.5...

In demand: Dublcheck has a 17-year track record of getting sales for franchisees - this is your opportunity to join an industry worth more than [pounds sterling] 3 billion.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]13,750-[pounds sterling]190,750 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With a Dublcheck franchise you don't need to do any selling unless you want to. Dublcheck obtains all the business for franchisees, enabling them to...

The right time: Jacquie Hanson was confident that investing in a LighterLife franchise would give her the best of both worlds - a balance between being self-employed with the right amount of business support.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]12,000 Jacquie Hanson felt unfulfilled in her job as a PA and, although she was very successful, she craved a new Lichallenge. Jacquie was unsure if at the age of 50 she could change her career at this late...

Take your pic: LittleAngels is an exciting business that specialises in portrait and group photography of pre-school children.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 12,000 LittleAngels will help you build a flexible, profitable and rewarding business, and provide you with the perfect balance between business success and family life that you've always wanted. A...

You beauty! Now operating in the UK's beauty sector, Biocare Estetika provides franchisees with all the necessary equipment, marketing and know-how to make your business a profitable one.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]19,000 Biocare Estetika is proud to be a successful franchise in the European beauty sector. Its latest technology treatments cover three underlying beauty desires: no more wrinkles, cellulite and unwanted...

Healthy pick: the framshed is a young, ethical and exciting business delivering organic produce directly to the customer. Discover some fresh food for thought.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]14,000 Set up by brothers Tom and Richard Cropper, The Farmshed was born from a passion for locally sourced. organic produce. The brothers started delivering to friends and family in their local area and,...

Resales offer a flying start: around 30 per cent of all UK franchise sales are resales. Here's why an existing Minster Cleaning Services franchise could be the right opportunity for you.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 28,000 (New start-up opportunity) More and more people are becoming franchisees by acquiring an existing business rather than starting up from scratch. This is because an existing business has the benefit...

You're hired! Travail Employment Group supplies all types of people for all types of jobs. With more than 30 years' success, it's a proven success story.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 35,000 Established since 1977 and franchising since 1985, Travail Employment Group certainly knows its market. And according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the recruitment industry is...

World of opportunity: franchisee Mike Cooper, 322 reveals why he bought a Cartridge World franchise with his wife Jackie in Milton Keynes.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 29,950 Franchising has traditionally been seen as the preserve of the more mature - a second career perhaps or a way to invest for the future after redundancy. But now, more and more ambitious young...

Health kick: Prestige Nursing: one of the UK's leading nursing and care agencies, provides a positive analysis on the current changes and spending cuts affecting the health and care industry.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM [pounds sterling] 30,000 The widespread cuts in public expenditure announced in the recent Comprehensive Spending Review have caused some disquiet in those industries that traditionally look to Government spending for...

On the button: unfasten a new business opportunity with The Zip Yard - a fast growing garments alteration franchise in the UK and Ireland.(Franchise Focus)(Company overview)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]40,000 In today's fast-paced world, people no longer have the time nor the skills to sew on a button or adjust even the simplest of hems, let alone risk damaging a favourite or expensive garment. As a...

Growing business: with many people facing redundancy this winter, Britain's biggest lawn care franchise GreenThumb has seen a surge of enquiries from prospective franchisees.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]28,500 Managers with years of corporate experience are looking to invest their redundancy packages into a business of their own but with the backing of a successful tried-and-trusted formula, according to...

The right stuff: are you are ready to run your own estate agency business? Discover if you're made of the right stuff as Reeds Rains, one of the fastest growing sales and lettings estate agency franchises in the UK, reveals what it is looking for in a franchisee.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]90,000 - [pounds sterling]110,000 CRM is known by most in business as an acronym for Customer Relationship Management, ie, quality service. To Reeds Rains, it also stands for consistency, resourcefulness and...

Chocolates for almost 100 years: did you know that Thorntons has been making chocolates for almost 100 years? In fact, its very first shop was opened in Sheffield and there are now 380 stores and 220 franchises nationwide.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]20,000 - [pounds sterling]50,000 Today, Thorntons is based in Derbyshire, employing 4,000 chocolate lovers around the UK and is proud to be one of the best-loved and oldest names on the high street....

Great potential: recognition express has been operating franchises in the corporate recognition and promotional products sector since 1979.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 30,000 Recognition Express is the most successful franchise network in its sector in this country, with more than 45 franchisees in the UK and Europe. Supplying branded business gifts and personalised...

Pick & Mix: Cash & Cheque Express stores offer a wide range of services including buying and selling quality pre-owned goods, pawnbroking and other fast and convenient ways to shorc-term lending.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 55,000 - [pounds sterling] 95,000 The Cash & Cheque Express 'Pick & Mix' business concept enables franchisees to tailor their own store to suit their personal needs. Franchisees can choose from...

Star care: Access Care has had a phenomenal year. It has recruited 16 franchisees, a master licencee for Ireland and has big plans to expand into the US. CEO Leo Skagerlind, former right-hand man to dragons' den's Richard Farleigh, reveals why this could be the home care business for you.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 29,500 Access Care was set up in 1994 by Judie Tighe when she struggled to find a professional carrer for her father after he suffered a quadruple heart bypass. The business proved very successful and,...

In style: as Noa Noa approaches it's 20-year anniversary, UK managing director Jason Lynch reveals why now is a good time to invest in this classic vintage women's wear brand from Denmark.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling] 25,000 - [pounds sterling] 40,000 Barely 16 months into his role as managing director at Noa Noa, Jason Lynch is confident that the components are now in place to take the Danish womenswear brand to the...

Home comfort: Blue Ribbon Community Care takes pride in its ethical and caring ethos and wants franchisees who not only want to better their own lives, but want to make a real difference to the lives of others.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]22,500 "The increasingly ageing I population means there is a huge and growing demand for home care in the UK. Due Ribbon Community Care recognises the difficulties that can come with old age and is...

A new beginning: how a MetroRod franchise helped a military veteran find job satisfaction.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]50,000 - [pounds sterling]100,000 After 24 years of distinguished service in the military. Will Duncan MBE never thought he would find a new position that compared to the rewards of a life in uniform. Yet...

Moving experience: in the UK 2.5 million households move home every year, creating an industry worth [pounds sterling]1.5 billion. So why not capitalise on this market with a Two Men and a Truck franchise?(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]50,000 - [pounds sterling]100,000 In the 1980s, Brig and Jo Sorber needed to earn some extra cash while at High School in Michigan in the US, so started removals using an old pickup truck. Their mother Mary...

Best foot forward: Foot Solutions is a specialist shoe store combining technology with some of the world's finest footwear. It provides footwear and arch support solutions for all customers' needs. Franchisee Andrew Scowcroft tells his success story.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... Shortly after completing his first year in retail. Andrew Scowcroft and his wife Karen are actively looking for their second retail location to add another Foot Solutions store. Despite the fact that neither Andrew nor Karen came from a retail...

French twist: in 1958, the Gautier furniture brand launched in France and since then has satisfied customers in every corner of the globe.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]150,000 Gautier is an established furniture brand. Its worldwide sales have exceeded [euro] 160 million in 2007 and are expected to touch [euro] 200 million by 2012. A Gautier franchise partner enjoys the...

Scoop up success: two Italian friends opened their first luxury ice cream parlour in Paris eight years ago, later franchising it in 2004. Today, Amorino is now bringing its high-end product to the UK -a nation that eats even more ice cream than Mediterranean countries.(Franchise Focus)
December 1, 2010... INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]140,000 When former company director Brian Kreel became the first Amorino franchisee in Bicester last year, after a decade of working in Italy, he was delighted to introduce the finest quality Italian ice...

Legally sold: the final stage in the resale process ensures you have the legal title to the business and are protected from any potential inaccuracies post-sale. Derrick Simpson explains.(FRANCHISE RESALES)
December 1, 2010... A franchise resale transaction is only complete when the legal process is finalised and you have decided upon the resale opportunity, negotiated an acceptable price and secured funding for the purchase. The legal completions process of a...

Franchise resales listings.(FRANCHISE RESALES)
December 1, 2010... T: 01562 881 023 info@franchiseresales.co.uk www.franchiseresales.co.uk FRANCHISOR AVAILABLE - FOR SALE This is a rare opportunity to become a franchisor and grow your own franchise network in the Childrens' Soft Play sector at...

Resales explained.
December 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...

Recognition Express: exceptional resale opportunities.(Resale of the month)
December 1, 2010... Recognition Express is a major UK Franchisor and very proud of its franchising credentials: * bfa member since 1980 * Franchisor of the Year award winner * Extensive marketing collateral * Centrally managed appointment generating...

Resale opportunities with Leicester.(FRANCHISE RESALES)
December 1, 2010... The Franchise Owners currently run both the Peterborough and Leicester franchises, and living in Peterborough they have decided to concentrate their efforts on the local area and are prepared to offer the business for sale at a very competitive...

Franchise services.(Directory)
December 1, 2010... sponsored by franchisornews Consultants Business Options Clive Sawyer t: 01420 550 890 m: 07773 347 635 e: clive.sawyer@bi.isinesso:itior.K.niz w: www.businessoptions.biz Locations covered: England, Wales: Scotland,...

A-Z franchise directory.(Directory)
December 1, 2010... Please send details or amendments to: Prodution@businessfranchise.com or call 020 8394 5272 The following franchise listings are a comprehensive reference guide to help you find the you. They are listed alphabetically and cover all...

Thinking big: less than a year ago, Alistair Hoy invested in a ChipsAway car repair franchise and has already started to expand his business, creating a more managerial role for himself.(Franchisee of the month)
December 1, 2010... Alistair Hoy had worked in sales and marketing for nearly 30 years when he decided to take on a ChipsAway franchise. He says: "I have held senior roles in companies operating in the USA and Asia. I was never going to be interested in downsizing...