Tartan kitchen army: head office may be down in Hampshire but Dream Doors' Scottish franchisees find they have all they need within easy reach for a thriving kitchen-fitting business.(franchise focus)

When Dream Doors opened for business four years ago, it was a good idea at the right time. The UK DIY boom was starting and the prospect of revamping a kitchen just by changing the doors on the units attracted plenty of interest. The company has now been in franchising for two years and has 44 franchises, with plans to grow by another 50 per cent this year.

'We are the UK's number one brand in the sector and we offer a high margin profitable business,' says franchise director Derek Lilly.

'We have such a diverse range of franchisees: everyone from a judge and a computer technician to officers from the armed forces. We have some kitchen fitters, but only a few, as most franchisees use subcontractors to fit the doors.' The original franchise still operates from head office where, says Lilly: 'We are turning over about 40,000 [pounds sterling] a month at 50 per cent gross margins.'

One of the things that makes the Dream Doors franchise attractive to such a wide range of people is its flexibility. …