Franchise Article

When it comes to buying a franchise, you need to look at yourself as well as the type of business you are launching.

There’s a dizzying appeal to starting a new business and being your own boss, but before venturing into the entrepreneurial world it is vital to weigh up the pitfalls as well as the benefits and opportunities. If you look carefully you’ll find that some options carry a much higher risk than others, whilst some will come with far more support right from the start. 

Helen Gould  decided to take a Kendlebell franchise which offers personal telephone answering services. It appealed to her because it is a professional service to businesses and in a strong and growing market. The services she would be providing were, she knew, things no commercial enterprise could do without. She knew exactly what she wanted: “It had to be something that would not be a risk, a passing fashion or a trend” says Helen. “I wanted something where I’d build relationships, have lots of dealings with people and wouldn’t need expensive premises.”

There was a cost in buying the franchise, but it came with a package of support which provided a strong launch platform. Now after three and a half years she is running a business that continues to grow and she can relax knowing she has broken through the start-up barrier and created a thriving business.

According to Simon Carter of Kendlebell UK her success is no surprise. She is typical of the kind of person who is going to succeed. “People need to match their experience to the business they choose. The fact is, you need to be realistic. For instance, if you have spent your working life in an office, you are much more likely to have the knowledge and understanding to succeed in an office-based or service business like this.”

“Imagine how long it would take to develop your own systems, routines, marketing materials, price structures, operating  standards and, above all else, brand” says Simon. “I’d advise anyone looking for a business to look at the training and support they will receive from their franchisor. His own advice to a potential entrepreneur is to look carefully before selecting a business from the range of options in franchising. “You need to be comfortable with the product or service because you’re going to be living and breathing this. And you have to be confident in the franchisor too because they can be such an asset with plenty of free consulting advice and experience to offer.”  He also says it is essential to choose a business in a market that won’t leave you languishing as a glorified sales rep who always needs new customers merely to stand still. “You want a business which can establish regular clients who can grow with you by using you more often or taking more of your services” he argues. “Then  you will have a real prospect of growth.”

Sitting in her office in Ware, Hertfordshire, Norma Ingle has over 250 businesses all relying on her to provide a professional face for them. She too has a Kendlebell franchise. There are two teams working independently, each one dedicated to a group of clients they know well and who consider their Kendlebell team to be part of their own staff. Norma likes that idea more than anything: “My teams answer their calls, deal with routine enquiries, take credit card orders and even run help lines offering support. They often know suppliers and customers better than the businesses themselves.”    

These close relationships appeal to her. “Having experienced myself the frustrations of seeing businesses lose opportunities because they missed phone calls or managed customers badly, I saw the strength of the business straight away”  she comments.

Her advice to anyone looking for a business opportunity is to concentrate on quality and getting the business basics right. “In this kind of business it is all about treating people well and knowing what you are doing.”

As for the satisfaction she was craving at the beginning? “It is all in seeing how much added value we deliver for our clients. It makes it all worthwhile.”