Are you cut out to be the boss (Daily Mail franchise story)

Are you cut out to be the boss?

By: LINDA WHITNEY

YOU MIGHT like the idea of going into business with a franchise.

But are you cut out to be a franchisee? There is more to it than simply handing over a franchise fee.

Franchisors will be checking whether you fit their criteria for a successful franchisee.

'Leave behind the employee mentality,' says Iain Martin, of Kyros, which, as a franchisee recruitment specialist, offers potential franchisees a free assessment of their suitability.

You will be in charge of your business, so you must be self-motivated, even though the franchisor will be there to help you.

'The primary factor in the success of a franchised business is always the franchisee,' says David Shimwell, of Pitman Training, whose franchisees run office skills and IT training centres. Investment costs £22,500.

Be prepared to show franchisors that you are right for their business.

With a franchise, sales and marketing, are more important than the technical skills required to make the goods or deliver the services you are offering..

Franchisors look for commitment, so work out the time you are able to devote to the business.

'Our franchisees put in 25 to 30 hours a week, even though they can choose their own hours,' says Suzanne Ivory, of Ivory Tower Cards.

Her franchisees install greeting-card stands in retail outlets, returning regularly to collect cash and change stock.

The Ivory Tower franchise can be run from home with a vehicle. Typical investment is £10,000 to £12,000.

'The key to being successful is having the capacity to remain focused and determined,' says Mr Shimwell.

Think twice if you are the type who wants to do everything your own way.

'Most franchisee failures occur because the franchisee did not follow the franchise system,' says Martin.

TRAVEL FRANCHISES HOLIDAY habits are changing and some sectors of the travel and leisure trade are worth getting into. A franchise can help you do just that.

'Our bookings are up by 15 per cent compared with this time last year,' says Matthew Eastlake, of the Caravan and Camping Club.

If you always wanted to run a campsite, the Caravan and Camping Club franchise could be a way in.

The £35,000 franchisee fee includes help finding a site, marketing and promotion to the club's 230,000 members and access to its computerised booking system.

It suits couples and families who like the outdoors and have a range of business and personal skills.

The cruise sector has been the fastest-growing part of the travel market for years and, despite the economic downturn, the Association of Cruise Experts predicts a rise of 5 per cent a year in sales of cruises for the next two years.

'People are still booking cruises,' says Geoff Ridgeon, of cruise sales specialist, Go Cruise, a franchise you can run from home. It is a subsidiary of travel company, Fred.Olsen Travel.

The £13,995 cost includes training, a website and affiliation to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

KYROS 01562 881 002, Ivory Tower Cards 01628 626 866, Pitman Training 01937 548 562, Caravan & Camping Club 08451 307 631, Go Cruise 01473 292 019..


JANE CHADWICK, 45, invested in a Go Cruise franchise two years ago after a long career in the travel trade.

'I loved cruises and had made a career of selling them, but after I was made redundant, I decided I wanted my own cruise sales business,' says Jane, from Bedworth, Warwickshire.

A franchise seemed the obvious answer, as travel trade franchisors provide you with the ABTA and ATOL licences and bonds you need to get started.
Normally, these would mean an investment of thousands of pounds.
Jane says: 'I called lots of existing franchisees before investing. I wanted to see if it was right for me, because I wanted a franchise that allowed me to do things my way and Go Cruise does.' The most important thing when selling is enthusiasm, says Jane.

'I am passionate and motivated because I love cruises, and that comes across to customers.'

Credit:Dave Evitts Newsteam.co.uk
09/01/2009