Business Franchise articles from March 2005

Business Franchise archives from March 2005

Subway network spreads overground.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... SANDWICH FRANCHISE Subway has been awarded the number one spot in the annual Franchise 500 listings by US magazine Entrepreneur--the most comprehensive system of ranking franchise businesses in the world. This year's results represent the...

Pet care franchise calls for tsunami animal rescue.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... AS THE SURVIVORS of the Asian tsunami disaster begin to rebuild their lives, animal welfare organisations are joining forces to ease the plight of pets, livestock and wildlife in areas that have been most badly affected. Pet care...

New insurance law hits lettings.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... FRANCHISE LETTINGS AGENCIES and property landlords are being warned to prepare for new legislation governing the sale of insurance products. Under tough new laws, buy-to-let investors will only be able to arrange buildings insurance...

Ten years for ChipsAway.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR business ChipsAway is celebrating ten years of franchising in the UK. To mark the achievement, the company's US founders and international business partners recently congregated at ChipsAway's new Midlands headquarters. ...

Anthony ascends.
March 1, 2005... CHIPSAWAY has appointed Dave Anthony to the newly created role of franchise support manager, a move designed to strengthen the company's existing development support structure. Previously a franchisee then business developer, Anthony is...

Coup for Culshaw.
March 1, 2005... DEAN CULSHAW is the new training and development manager for recruitment and consultancy franchise group CNA International. Culshaw joins the company from Lander Associates, where he provided training to the recruitment industry. He will...

Minton takes control.
March 1, 2005... RICHARD MINTON has become managing director of Complete Weed Control and founder Roger Turner is now chairman of the company, having being at the helm for more than 30 years. Minton joined the company as business development manager in...

Wheeled out worldwide.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... GREEN CLEEN, the wheelie bin washing franchise, is celebrating the launch of its first franchise in Canda, which is under its third master franchise agreement. This brings the total number of worldwide outlets to 25. Green Cleen Canada...

Month in numbers.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... 16 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION (BFA) 21 BFA/NATWEST FRANCHISE SURVEYS EVER CONDUCTED, INCLUDING THE SURVEY DUE OUT NEXT MONTH 274 FRANCHISE BRANDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY MEMBERS OF THE BFA

BFA gets Swisher service.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... WASHROOM SANITATION FRANCHISE Swisher has secured a weighty endorsement of its services by adding the British Franchise Association (BFA) to its customer list. Johanna Roughley from the BFA says: 'We decided to use Swisher because we...

Ovenu cleans up Down Under.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... OVENU HAS INITIATED its worldwide expansion plans by striking a deal to operate its franchise model in Australia. Bernard Bannon (pictured on right) and his wife Janet will establish the Ovenu franchise in Perth, Australia, and plan to...

Record sales generated.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... CASH GENERATOR has announced record sales increases on second-hand goods over the Christmas period, which the company attributes to the UK's current obsession with recycling second-hand goods and the increasing popularity of sites such as...

Vaal is victorious.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... CHESHIRE FRANCHISEE Richard Vaal is the fortunate recipient of Safeclean's Franchisee of the Year award. Vaal beat off competition from around 100 Safeclean franchisees across the UK and won the award for achieving consistently high...

New training centre aids pizza plans.(franchise news)
March 1, 2005... DOMINO'S PIZZA has opened the UK's first centre of pizza excellence, a state of the art training centre in Kingston, Milton Keynes. The centre has been built to accommodate the company's rapid expansion and constitutes an investment of...

Northern highlights: the British Franchise Exhibition in Manchester was the place to be last month for an insight into the rainbow of opportunities franchising has to offer.(exhibition report)
March 1, 2005... On 28 and 29 January, the G-Mex Centre played host to the British Franchise Exhibition incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Showcase & Conference. The place was buzzing with talk of franchising and business development, as swarms of...

The British Franchise Association.(membership overview)
March 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?)
March 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?)
March 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?)
March 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?)
March 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.

The good, the bad and the reality.(BFA news)
March 1, 2005... Ever wondered what it is really like to be a franchisee? Want to know the good and bad points of being a franchisor? Attend the relevant British Franchise Association's (BFA) seminars this year to find out THE BFA runs seminars and...

What it means to members.(BFA news)
March 1, 2005... THE BRITISH FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION (BFA) has compiled what it calls a 'value proposition', summarising the values that define the association under four headings--community, know-how, credibility and influence. These four propositions are...

New members/upgrades.(BFA news)
March 1, 2005... Congratulations to the following new BFA members and companies with upgraded membership status: UPGRADED MEMBERSHIP Expense Reduction Analysts (Full) The Money Shop (Full) Soundsteps Music School (Associate) NEW MEMBERS...

Which event is for you?(BFA news)
March 1, 2005... WHETHER YOU'RE a potential or existing franchisee or franchisor, there is so much information available about franchising--so many seminars and workshops you could attend--it can sometimes seem overwhelming and hard to know where to turn for...

Make a tidy profit: if you're looking for a new challenge, the cleaning sector is teeming with possibilities, both for potential franchisees happy to be hands-on and for those seeking something more managerial. Matt Pigott selects a few shining examples of domestic and commercial service.(cleaning franchises)
March 1, 2005... Tell your family and friends that you're thinking about taking on a cleaning franchise and the chances are they will feel your pulse and check your temperature to see if you're ill. Let's face it--cleaning is hardly glamorous and few relish...

New horizons: while there's no denying an appreciation of printing technique is an advantage, the skills needed to make a name for yourself at Prontaprint might surprise you. Michele Witthaus meets Prontaprint's new managing director, Laird McKay, and the franchisees proving there's more to this print giant than meets the eye.(Cover Story)
March 1, 2005... Most people who want to run a franchise would love to buy into a brand that's a household name. It can also be an attractive prospect to join a company that's breaking new ground in its industry sector. Prontaprint offers both of these...

Happy ever after? While the saying 'never mix work with pleasure' often rings true, an increasing number of couples are flouting the cliche and combining forces to run a franchise. Carol Davis discovers how it can pay to go into business with your partner.(special feature)
March 1, 2005... Fiona Williams, managing director of Flowers Forever, believes getting into franchising with your other half is an excellent template for a successful business. And she should know--she now runs a franchise with her husband John, the...

Trouble and strife: if you're unsure about entering into business with a loved one, these franchisees tell their tales about the reality of being a couple building a life in business.(special feature)
March 1, 2005... KALL KWIK John and Chris Hardwick JOINING HER HUSBAND John in running the Aylesbury branch of Kall Kwik full-time came naturally for Chris Hardwick. 'I've always been involved in the business,' she says. 'I looked after the children...

Reid the signs: as a high-powered consultant to the oil industry, Mike Wheat's job took him all over Europe--until he realised that he wanted to spend less time in hotel rooms and more time at home. Carol Davis talks to the man who found the answer with Reid's Estates.(new launch)
March 1, 2005... After years of self-employment, Mike Wheat was confident running a business and used to being successful. Though his career in consultancy was a success, he wanted to find something much nearer to home that involved less travelling. So, he...

Brite idea: UK businesses spend millions every year on replacing stained ceiling tiles, but Kwikbrite Ceilings has found a way to cut these costs and brighten the bank balance of a few fortunate franchisees at the same time.(new launch)
March 1, 2005... As a 35-year-old entrepreneur already owning a chain of successful solarium salons, Ian Wilkinson had little need to get involved in another business venture. But, as is the case with most entrepreneurs, having a finger in just one business...

On the pulse: as beauty services grow in popularity, Pulsar is ideally placed to help franchisees build a bright future with low overheads--through its pioneering use of technology in salons across the UK.(new launch)
March 1, 2005... The beauty industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK, led by increasing consumer demand for everlasting youth. The market is largely driven by women who are enjoying the benefits of having a higher disposable income than ever...

Recognising potential: after years spent helping franchisees build successful businesses, two key figures behind the Recognition Express empire have decided it's time to practise what they preach by taking on a franchise themselves.(franchise focus)
March 1, 2005... You couldn't ask for a more powerful endorsement of a particular franchise business than when employees decide to invest their own money in it, becoming part of the franchise network instead of just working for it. That's exactly what two...

Going global.(exhibition preview)
March 1, 2005... WHERE: Olympia Exhibition Centre, London WHEN: 1-2 April 2005 ENTRANCE: Doors open from 10am each day, clsing at 5pm on Friday and 4pm on Saturday. Visitors can purchase tickets in advance by credit card for 8 [pounds sterling]...

Doing it for themselves: from selling Cornish pasties to supplying signs, meet the franchisees making money being their own boss.(case studies)
March 1, 2005... THE ASBESTOS GROUP Bryan Goodayle BRYAN GOODAYLE went to the British and International Franchise Exhibition in 2004 with the aim of adding another arm to his existing business. Having been made redundant from a position as...

Join the ranks: from its franchisees and mobile sales teams to service technicians and support centre personnel, everyone must pass through Pirtek's new 'boot camp' if they are to uphold its high standards of on-site hose replacement.
March 1, 2005... The business world is littered with military metaphors. New markets are attacked and conquered, competitors are defeated and strategic alliances are formed. But where Pirtek is concerned the figurative language doesn't end there. The...

Hot property: Robert Jordan already has a successful property management chain but now plans to build a national network of franchised lettings agencies to capitalise on the UK's residential lettings boom.(promotional feature)
March 1, 2005... Jordan's is a successful property management company based in the Northwest, founded by Robert Jordan, who is currently president of the lettings industry body, ARLA (the Association of Residential Letting Agents). The company was...

Read between the lies: no matter what you read in the marketing literature or what you are told during the sales process, it is the content of the franchise agreement that really counts. Jayne Lynn from Shakespeares Solicitors offers franchisees top tips on what to look out for in the small print.(Hot topic: industry expert tackles a current issue in franchising)
March 1, 2005... The basic requirement of a franchise agreement is that it should set out the way in which a franchisee trades using the franchisor's name and business model, and what the franchisee pays for this model in return. Not every franchise agreement...

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)
March 1, 2005... Q: Is there any reason why I can't sell my franchise and join a competitor? Mark Brunchild, Dunmore, Essex A: Anton Bates replies: Yes, almost certainly there is, but the question is really in two parts. Firstly, can you...

The perfect match? Franchise brands often combine forces for practical reasons, but co-branding can also create problems, as Manzoor Ishani explains.(brand partners)
March 1, 2005... 'Hello George, how are things going with you?' 'Extremely well, actually. I'm pleased to say that I managed to deal with the franchisee trade union that has been giving me so much bother recently. I saw the rebels off, if you know what I...

Need to know: from changes in congestion charging to increases in the minimum wage, Barrie Pennington outlines the latest business news and legislation affecting small to medium-sized firms.(business bulletin)
March 1, 2005... CONGESTION CHARGES KILLING SMEs The Forum of Private Business (FPB) in Scotland has joined with colleagues in London to oppose the introduction of congestion charges. Three-quarters of its members in the Edinburgh area have rejected the...

Forecast your fortune: even with the support of an established franchise network, estimating the likely annual sales for your new venture can feel more like fortune telling than business planning. Richard Watson gives tips on seeing into the future.(cash calculations)
March 1, 2005... Calculating accurate sales targets or cash flow forecasts is a daunting task for most prospective franchisees and one they would rather bypass altogether. Happily, franchisors will often provide an average sales forecast as part of an initial...

Franchisees of the month: Alan and Jane Halliday, Jason Hartland, Kall Kwik.(class act)
March 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: Learnington Spa and Coventry respectively ...

Resale of the month: Minster Cleaning Services.(Franchise Resales)
March 1, 2005... Minster Cleaning Services is a cleaning management franchise providing an essential business-to-business service. Many people like the idea of working for themselves but find the prospect of setting up or buying a business far too...

Why buy a resale?(Franchise Resales)
March 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)
March 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...

Resale directory.
March 1, 2005... RESALE DIRECTORY CLEANING SERVICES Minster Services Full member INVESTMENT REQUIRED AOA Group TELEPHONE 0121 386 1722 Type of franchise WEBSITE www.minstergroup.co.uk...

A-Z franchise directory.
March 1, 2005... Key Terms * Number of outlets Current number of franchise units in network * BFA member status Franchisor's level of BFA accreditation * Initial franchise fee Initial amount paid to franchisor...

Checklist for champions.(last word)
March 1, 2005... Having read through this magazine you would be forgiven for believing that franchising is the universal remedy for all business ailments. Franchising is certainly a far safer way to get a business up and running, but while there are many case...