Accelerate your career (Daily Mail franchise story - UK Franchise opportunities)

Accelerate your career

By: Linda Whitney

WITH more than 28 million cars on our roads, there will always be a demand for vehicle-related services, and there are franchises that can help you cash in.

But it takes more than an enthusiasm for cars to run a successful business.

‘You need to be happy dealing with customers, be skilled with your hands, fit and willing to work from a van, as well as be interested in cars,’ says Paul Phillips of Dent Technique, whose franchisees provide mobile dent removal.

Mr Phillips provides four weeks’ training, plus two weeks’ customer service training with an existing franchisee, going out to repair dents for individual customers and dealerships.

The investment of £12,500 includes almost all of your marketing for the first year.

Other mobile vehicle services franchises provide windscreens, tyres, valeting, paint repairs and more. See www.franchise-world.co.uk for a list of opportunities. If you are interested in vehicles and design, then a Raccoon vehicle-wrapping centre franchise could suit you.

Raccoon franchisees have won Vehicle Graphic of the Year awards, having transformed everything from tuk-tuks to double-decker buses into works of art on wheels.

You get full training, but you should have business and management skills. A corporate sales background helps. Investment is from £17,959 plus around £10,000 working capital.

If you have some business experience, the leasing franchise Vehicle Options would like to hear from you.

It is looking for people with sales and marketing experience who would like to provide leasing and motor finance to businesses and individuals.

Investment packages range from £12,950 to £25,000, which includes almost all your leads. If you prefer to be involved in a car rental centre, Budget Rent-a-car is looking for some new franchisees.

You get national and international marketing training, management information, systems support and computers as well as competitive fleet terms and insurance.

You must have sufficient collateral to afford fleet acquisition credit lines and a working capital of £50,000.

• DENT Technique: 08708 500 625.
  
• Raccoon: 0845 257 8757.
• Vehicle Options: 0870 751 8887.
  
• Budget: 01344 668 848.