Strong roots and more branches: it's been a remarkable year for the property market and a busy one for estate agents, but how many of them will still be around when the property market goes off the boil? One name guaranteed to be in it for the long haul is Bairstow Eves Countrywide, which is continuing to expand its successful franchise.(Progress report: Bairstow Eves)

BAIRSTOW EVES IS PART of the Countrywide Assured Group, the UK's largest estate agent. The franchise division was launched in February 2000 with the aim of expanding the Bairstow Eves brand by up to 500 outlets. With a total of 55 new branches already opened and 112 locations committed in total, Countrywide is also becoming one of the UK's fastest growing franchises.

Alan Snowball, managing director of Countrywide Assured Franchising, says: 'A Bairstow Eves franchise gives a local agent the marketing strengths of a national network, and the support infrastructure of a large franchisor, while remaining an independently owned and operated business, with its own working style and personality.'

The programme of new openings is now starting to accelerate as established franchisees open their second and third branches. In the case of Lincolnshire-based franchisee Tom Webster, branches four and five are due to open in June. Webster came into the business through his work as a probate lawyer in his own legal practice. 'I was occasionally involved in the selling of houses and I was quite keen to get into the estate agency business. I bought a small agency and decided to rebrand it as a Bairstow Eves franchise.'

He now has offices in Sleaford, the flagship branch; Ruskington, a small village location; and Stamford which opened a year ago. Grantham and Newark are the locations of his fourth and fifth branches, each with a partner who is investing in the branch.

Webster says: 'The brand name makes all the difference and the back-up service that the company provides you with is excellent. The key to running a franchise like this is having the business acumen. Yon can be very experienced as an estate agent, but you also need to be able to handle the responsibility of the business in its entirety. However, in doing that you must also be aware that what you are doing is duplicating a system that has proven to be successful. The other key to successful franchise ownership is embracing the system, not trying to reinvent it.'

As for the competition from independent agents that has increased in recent months, he says: 'Competition stimulates the market and I welcome newcomers to try, but I expect to dominate the market. They are seizing the opportunity, but without the overall quality of service they soon lose thee because customers vote with their feet.'

A Bairslow Eves franchise involves a start-up fee of 12,500 [pounds sterling] and a total investment of around 50,000 [pounds sterling]. The package includes full training--both business training and team management training: help with recruiting and training staff; and help with finding suitable premises. There are also major cost savings through group purchasing deals, time-saving single-source supply facilities, expert technical support, and centralised vendor referrals. The company will also help prospective franchisees prepare business plans in order to raise funds from clearing banks.