Business Franchise articles from May 2008

Business Franchise archives from May 2008

Credit card fraud on the increase.(Need to know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
May 1, 2008... Fraud on debit and credit cards rose by 25 per cent in 2007 in spite of the introduction of CHIP and PIN facilities. The cost of card fraud in the UK now stands at 536 million [pounds sterling] with losses rising for the first time since...

Manslaughter law warning.(Need to know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new offence of corporate manslaughter which came into effect on April 6 is an opportunity for employers to check that they have effective systems in place for managing health and safety. The offence does not...

Work life balance still a dream.(Need to know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)(Website overview)
May 1, 2008... 45 per cent of home based workers find it difficult to separate work and home life according to research from BT Business though 56 per cent of them began their companies because they wanted a better home/work balance and 34 per cent wanted...

Victory for part-time workers.(Need to know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
May 1, 2008... A recent decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (P. Sharma v. Manchester City Council) has reinforced the ability of part-time workers to pursue claims, As a result, law firm Mace & Jones, has warned employers that they may need to review...

New powers to snoop.(Need to know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
May 1, 2008... The Professional Contractors Group (PCG), which represents freelance workers, has attacked proposals which would give additional powers to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. The new powers would allow to question anyone including end clients...

British more ambitious.(Need to know: ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The once-reserved British are becoming increasingly ambitious, with more than seven million believing they will become millionaires. A survey by Orange Business Services also found that two-thirds of that number...

Road charge warning for SMEs.
May 1, 2008... While the government has announced it is seeking alternatives to a nationwide road charging scheme the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has warned SMEs that they could still face paying charges. Shropshire County Council recently joined other...

Small businesses are not immigration officers.
May 1, 2008... New legislation on employing foreign workers has drawn a critical response from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Parts of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act came into force in February and they require small firms to...

SMEs lose faith in government.
May 1, 2008... In a poll conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses, 93 per cent of owners said their confidence in the government had diminished in the last year The Federation blames a series of tax rises and increases in red tape for the scale of...

The American connection.(Franchise news)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection, has announced it has become part of UK Greetings (UKG) Limited, UKG is the British subsidiary of American Greetings Inc AG, It is the world's largest...

Mr. Electric goes brand new.(Franchise news)
May 1, 2008... Leading franchise brands, Mr. Electric and Aire Serv, have invested over 40,000 [pounds sterling] on re-branding their white liveried vans and literature in order to update the brand and to reflect the company's expanding worldwide network....

You're wood-fired!(Franchise news)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Domino's Pizza's franchise sales team is predicting a surge in enquiries from potential entrepreneurs inspired by the new series of The Apprentice. During the screening of the BBC show last year. Domino's enquiries...

Birthday at Ed's.(Franchise news)
May 1, 2008... Ed's Garden Maintenance, provider of garden maintenance services in southern England, is enjoying a double celebration this week, not only marking its first birthday as a franchise operation, but also toasting big success during its inaugural...

Former GB athlete makes business leap.(Franchise news)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Olympic gold medalist Sally Gunnel OBE met up again with fellow athlete Keri Lees Haddock to help launch a new and exciting venture for Keri. Keri competed for Britain alongside Sally from the age of 15 to 28....

Motor care.(Franchise news)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Leading franchisor Bluebird Care has announced its sponsorship of coverage of the famous Le Mans 24-hour motor race in June. The event, which is known as 'the greatest motor racing event in the world', regularly...

Simply thebestof.(Franchise news)
May 1, 2008... Thebestof, the national network of local marketing websites, has been voted the top Innovative Business of the Year at the Fast Growth Business Awards 2008 Hundreds of companies vied for the top slots at the Awards with thebestof beating off...

New franchising programme unveiled.(Franchise news)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brent Business Venture (BBV), the not-fox-profit business support agency for Park Royal and the whole of North West London, has unveiled a new programme designed to offer free support and advice on franchising for...

FMA winners lauded: the 2008 Franchise Marketing Awards took place in April, a chance for the industry to party while recognising the best of the best in marketing ...(Franchise news)
May 1, 2008... THE LEADERS of the UK's major franchise companies gathered to reward excellence in marketing when the winners of the 2008 Franchise Marketing Awards were announced on Friday April 4. More than 400 figures from the UK's highly successful...

Final countdown: the national finalists have now been selected for the 2008 bfa Franchisor of the Year Awards, sponsored by Express Newspapers and HSBC.(bfa news)
May 1, 2008... THE FRANCHISOR of the Year Awards set out to acknowledge the high calibre of bfa members and honour the outstanding performers among them. The theme for this year's main award was 'Now and then, five years on', and required applicants to...

Semi-retirement for Peter Williams.(bfa news)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PETER WILLIAMS, the well-known franchise consultant, has announced that he is to go into semi-retirement following a major operation to correct a spinal problem. 'Obviously I am sad to be leaving the bfa after...

Our Survey says ... the 2008 NatWest/bfa Franchise Survey again shows positive signs for franchising.(bfa news)
May 1, 2008... OVER THE last 10 years the franchising industry has grown and matured into a significant element of the UK economy. The latest NatWest/ bfa survey reveals that the estimated economic contribution of the franchising industry has increased from...

Capital venture: April's British & International Franchise Exhibition at Olympia, London, provided two days of excellent business for those who attended.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The British & International Franchise Exhibition, held recently in Central London at Olympia, delivered two days of excellent business and networking opportunities for the leading exhibitors and thousands of...

Crunch time: there's no better time to join Cartridge World, the printer cartridge franchise that can defy the credit crunch.(Cover story)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In recent months, the phrase 'credit crunch' has been well used. On any day, broadsheets, tabloids and broadcasters threaten us with financial gloom, rising risk of recession and falling house prices. But if...

Time heels: Business Franchise hotfoots it to Shoes Glorious Shoes where it finds a perfect franchise opportunity for those interested in fashionable footwear.(NEW LAUNCH)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Are diamonds really a girl's best friend, or is it her shoes? 'It's shoes most of the time', says Maria Darling, managing director of Shoes Glorious Shoes, the shoe and handbag party plan company she set up two...

Franchises with flex appeal.(Flexible franchises)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One of the main reasons for leaving gainful employment to set up a business is increased flexibility. More time with the kids, less time commuting--a better work/life balance all round--are just some of the...

The biggest success: that's what you will become if you follow the TaxAssist Accountants path. John Bensalhia talks to St Albans franchisee Mark Fordham to learn of his achievements in a run of nearly five years.(PROMOTIONAL FEATURE)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TaxAssist Accountants provides small businesses with expert advice tailored specifically for their needs, from the completion of end of year accounts and tax returns to payroll, VAT and bookkeeping. In addition,...

SECC style: prepare yourself for businesses a plenty, as Scotland's premier franchising event returns to Glasgow's SECC in June.(Exhibition Preview: THE BRITISH FRANCHISE EXHIBITION, SECC, GLASGOW)(Conference news)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The British Franchise Exhibition 13-14 June 2008|SECC, GLASGOW Glasgow will play host to an exciting range of franchise opportunities when The British Franchise Exhibition, incorporating the Growing Your...

Ladies first: there's no doubt women are still not making the most of themselves in the franchise industry. Carol Davis looks at the evidence and makes the case for change.(SPECIAL FEATURE)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] More women than ever are coming into franchising and making a success of it, and yet women in franchising are still outnumbered by men. That's the finding of NatWest/British Franchise Association research, which...

Try freedom: your Gateway to a travel agency is within your reach. Collect your passport for a Freedom Travel-Gateway franchise ...(WOMAN FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Freedom Travel-Gateway business opportunity is for people who have no formal experience of working in travel, but want to start their own travel agency. Lots of people want to get into the travel industry...

Making an imp-ression: franchisees of Precious Imp Prints are growing at a phenomenal rate and here founder Rebecca Susca reveals how tiny impressions make the biggest impact on lifestyle and earnings.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As a full time mum, Rebecca Susca loved spending time with her 18-month old son Thomas, but she was also looking for something to give her back some independence earning a little money at the same time. Having...

Diet another day: if you are you looking for a fresh and exciting challenge in 2008 that fits in with your family, why not consider running a Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs franchise?(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With this exciting business opportunity you can be your own boss and combine staying fit and healthy with earning an excellent income. Running a Rosemary Conley franchise is the ideal way to achieving the perfect...

A ton of success: UK Websaver--the loyalty card scheme that was one of the fastest growing franchises of 2007--has signed up its 100th franchisee.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... Franchise business UK Websaver, designed to reward customer loyalty by offering discounts online and off-line on goods and services, is also proving increasingly popular with retailers and other traders. Participating businesses posted...

Gonna make you a PopStar: delivering the Ultimate Party Experience, PopStarParties allows youngsters their dream of the swanky pop lifestyle ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PopStarParties is the exciting new franchise opportunity from the Recognition Express Group--a company with over 29 years of successful franchising experience and previous winners of the bfa Franchise of the Year...

Michael's a polished performer: Autosheen's Michael Bale explains why the fleet valeting franchise is so highly regarded and has brought him a great deal of success.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Fleet valeting specialist Autosheen keeps franchisees busy with a lucrative flow of regular work, generated from national accounts secured by the central sales team. Former fitness instructor Michael Bale, an...

Looking for security in your life? Meet Homezone, a company that can offer their franchisees security and in turn offer security and piece of mind for customers in a vast market.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With over 25 years' experience in the security market, Defence Security established Homezone to cater for the growing home alarms and CCTV market and developed a unique online quote system to allow people to browse...

The Bang theory: imagine what it would be like to try and run a business with only one thing to sell. When that one thing is a brand like Bang & Olufsen, then perhaps you can feel a bit less anxious about that prospect.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With over 100 Bang & Olufsen franchise stores in the UK and Ireland there are still plans to develop new sites. Most Bang & Olufsen franchisees did not have prior experience of running their own business. What...

Maid to order: domestic cleaning franchise MOLLY MAID has recently announced that its annual worldwide turnover has topped the 100 million [pounds sterling] level.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company with the pink and blue brand colours cleaned over 1.8 million homes in 2007, generating annual consumer turnover of 111m [pounds sterling]. With average house prices in the UK topping the 200,000...

The bride side of life: established for more than 30 years, The Wedding Guide is now widely recognised as the leading magazine/internet marketing service for the wedding industry to brides.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With a circulation across the country of 250,000 copies of the magazine and an annual figure in excess of 500,000 unique visits to the website, The Wedding Guide is increasingly used on a local basis by most of the...

Work like a Dream: Dream Doors opens a whole host of possibilities for franchisees, as current franchise owners explain to Business Franchise ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dream Doors, the UK's number one franchised kitchen door replacement franchise opened a further seven showrooms in 2007 and now has 20 retail outlets trading across the country. With over 30 branches in total, and...

Lee sews up 'seriously lucrative' super car deal: Professional Car Cleaning franchisee Lee Andrews is a man in his element. He is mad about cars and is paid handsomely for the loving care he lavishes on the prestige and super cars he valets each week.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 'I have such passion for the job I do, each car is absolutely immaculate by the time I'm finished with it,' says Lee. 'That's why my order books are continuously fully booked with loyal, regular customers who...

A wheel opportunity: Perfection Alloys Ltd was founded in 1999 by Simon Gudgeon after being involved in the motor trade within Leicestershire and surrounding areas since 1991.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The concepts of refurbishing alloy wheels and delivering superb service were paramount in the start-up ethics of the Perfection Alloys. Alloy wheels were initially removed from the vehicle and taken to a unit...

Computer gains: children learn best when they are having fun at the same time--and it's that premise which underpins the ComputerXplorers programme.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Along with our lungs and mobile phone features, a lot of us use just 20 per cent of the available potential when using computers? Children today are surrounded by technology; digital cameras, Sky Plus and Wii...

A real Pro: ProLawnCare was established due to an ever-increasing demand for high-quality, reliable lawn care company ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ProLawnCare is managed by Richard Salmon who is a qualified agronomist. He has over 20 years of technical, sales and marketing experience in the agrochemical sector and coupled with his knowledge of the lawn care...

Putting experience into practice: an experienced healthcare franchise explains what it has learnt over the last 10 years, and how franchisees will benefit.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A leading player in the 3.7 [pounds sterling] billion healthcare recruitment industry, Prestige Nursing is delighted to have made a return to franchising in 2007. Jonathan Bruce, managing director, explains why...

Make a SMART move to ChipsAway! The smart money, it seems, is on market-leading automotive cosmetic repairs franchise, ChipsAway International. Business Franchise finds out why ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As customers get wise to the benefits of the ChipsAway SMART (Small and Medium Area Repair Technology) system, compared to the heavy cost and inconvenience of a body shop repair, franchisees are reaping the...

Mowing up: Haywards Heath franchisee Rob Davies found that his previous job in the corporate sector had reached a cul-de-sac. Fortunately, help was at hand in the form of the Matt's Mowing franchise.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Rob Davies had spent the last few years working his way up the corporate ladder, but as with many in the same situation, found the higher he got, the less he enjoyed it. With longer hours, a heavier workload and a...

The best decision I ever made: it has been a year since Sandra Constable joined award winning independent travel company Travel Counsellors, and what a year it has been.(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Sandra was one of the first to join The Travel Academy, a unique franchise programme launched last year that enables people from a variety of backgrounds to take control of their destinies and enjoy a successful...

Dublcheck mates: tap into the 3bn [pounds sterling] UK commercial cleaning sector with Dublcheck. With guaranteed turnover and no selling required, it's no surprise franchises are raving about it ...(FRANCHISE FOCUS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dublcheck is the franchise where you don't need to be able to sell. It obtains all the business for you, so you know exactly what turnover you get. You can start with the minimum turnover of 14,400 [pounds...

Prior engagement: Leathes Prior is one of East Anglia's leading commercial law firms with a nationally acknowledged expertise in franchising, intellectual property law and dispute resolution (including mediation) ...(Franchise law)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Leathes Prior is a full service practice and its enthusiastic and commercially minded lawyers complement professional integrity with a high level of personal service. Leathes Prior's involvement in franchising...

Money matters: will your new franchise be profitable or leave you at a loss? Robina Every explains the importance of understanding finance.(Hot topic)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Spreadsheets, cash flow, profit & loss forecasts--are you thinking of skipping this article already? Well don't! Many people find understanding finance the least exciting part of running a new business....

Q&A.(FRANCHISE ADVISE)
May 1, 2008... THE PANEL [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cathryn Hayes Q: Can franchise fees be paid off gradually or do they have to be paid upfront? Cheryl Taltallian, Cornwall A: The franchisor will normally expect the franchise fee to be...

Taking the P45: Richard Watson gets to grips with that most toughened nut of society, the tax inspector, and finds the whole situation most taxing ...(Business tax)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Around the start of the new tax year, a queue of anxious citizens forms outside my office. Each has the same sad story to recount. They have been sent a bill by Revenue and Customs. They have certainly been...

The franchisor's bible: Manzoor Ishani has recently been involved in a case on behalf of a franchisor client where the dispute with its franchisee centred on the ability (or lack of it) of his client to enforce certain provisions of its franchise agreement.(Franchise manual)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The operations manual, we have always been told, forms the engine room of the transaction between a franchisor and its franchisees. Franchisees make great play of the fact that they are not given access to an...

Lessons in sign-making: starting as a new franchise can be daunting, but with the right training your already half way there. Martin Davis at Signs Express (Huddersfield), talks training, support and his first experience.(Franchise diary)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] When I first decided to become my own boss, I had a few ideas which industries to look into but sign-making came out as a clear favourite. I had no direct experience but was told that all I needed to become a...

Janine's designs on a successful business: Apollo Blinds regional manager Andy Wynter has nominated Janine Brown from Stokesley as the franchisee of the month.(Franchisee of the month)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Janine Brown is a young woman who has the ability to see things from a customer's perspective. This may sound blindingly obvious but, in actual fact, it is a very difficult proposition to fully grasp. Many...

Recognition Express.(RESALE OF THE MONTH)
May 1, 2008... First impressions really do count. It is crucial that the image companies project is both positive and enduring. Every organisation needs to be instantly recognisable in today's highly competitive market place. Recognition Express has...

Resales explained.(FRANCHISING RESALES)
May 1, 2008... 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...

Aiming long: owning your own business is just the beginning, Derrick Simpson suggests you should have a vision of the future to make it succeed ...(RESALE CORNER)
May 1, 2008... When I was a franchisor I spent a fair amount of time meeting with prospective franchisees and discussing their motivation for acquiring one of our franchises. One of the things that really turned me on or off a particular candidate was the...

A-Z franchise directory.(Directory)
May 1, 2008... Keyterms * 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...

Franchise services.(Directory)
May 1, 2008... Consultants Franchise Deveoplment Services Roy Seaman t: 01603 020301 e: enquiries@fdsltd.com Locations covered: UK Are you considering franchising your business? Or are you an established franchisor? Our 25 years...

Playing by the rules: cocktail partygoer Bill Ewbank claims success in franchising is just around the corner, providing you follow the rulebook ...(Last word)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There are many reasons for a franchisee to become an ex-franchisee, whether by their own volition or through the active encouragement of the franchisor. And it's hardly surprising that ways do part. After all,...