Stepping up: Foot Solutions began in Ireland in 2007 and now has nine successful stores across UK and Ireland with a number of new stores planned.(Focus)

INVESTMENT LEVEL: [pounds sterling]175,000

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Described once by Footwear News as 'Footwear's answer to Starbucks', Foot Solutions is a speciality retail franchise focusing on comfort shoes, custom arch supports and foot care products. It carries some of the world's finest comfort shoes with extra depth and width. Footwear covers all categories from comfort, sport, dress and casual to specific physiological shoes that have health and wellness benefits.

In terms of support, franchisees receive extensive training in all Foot Solutions products and technology at the company's state-of-the-art pedorthic training facility and laboratory in …