ChipsAway
ChipsAway is the original, and market leading automotive SMART car body repair franchise. We have over 30 years of experience successfully developing, nurturing and supporting franchise owners from all walks of life with varying backgrounds, work experience and ambitions.
ChipsAway is part of Franchise Brands plc, an international multi-brand franchisor with a combined network of over 200 ChipsAway franchisees in 12 countries.
Total investment: £29,995 +VAT
Investment Amount:
£20,001 - £50,000
Industry Sector(s):
Automotive Franchises, Featured Franchises, Low Cost Franchises, Smart Repairs, Specialised, Vehicle Based Franchises
Engineer a prosperous, secure future with ChipsAway
Research shows we’re recognised by 11 times as many customers as our nearest competitor, meaning we’re always top of the list for the nation’s car repairs. So, when you launch a franchise with us, you’ll automatically become one of our hundreds of other successful business owners.
Want to launch your own ChipsAway franchise, but not sure it’s right for you? Here’s why it is:
- We supply an average of 1,000+ leads per ChipsAway franchisee each year, meaning we bring the business to you
- Our franchisees achieved an average turnover of £100k+ last year, which also equates to fantastic year-on-year growth*
- National TV and online advertising campaigns keep our network front of mind for people in your area
- ChipsAway has been established for over 30 years – we’re recession proof with a proven business model and hugely experienced support team
- Studies show that franchises have a success rate of approximately 90 percent, compared to only about 15 percent for businesses that are started from the ground up
- We give you all the support and training you need to launch your successful franchise including technical training, sales and marketing support and business mentoring
Read on to learn more about ChipsAway, and how you can create a better lifestyle for you and your family through franchising with us.
Are you ready for something more?
Whether you want job security, want to fit work around the most important people in your life, want to earn more or just want a more flexible lifestyle, you can have it all with the ChipsAway franchise.
Our franchisees tell us that launching a business with ChipsAway gives them more satisfaction and freedom than any previous job role, providing them the opportunity to perfectly balance professional and personal commitments. That’s because with ChipsAway, you’re free to choose how much work you take on, and when you do that work.
Plus, they get the satisfaction of being out on the road, meeting new people every day who they’re proud to deliver an outstanding service for. Every day is different, but every day is worthwhile.
Who are ChipsAway
ChipsAway was launched in the UK in 1994, and today provides SMART (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology) repair technology to car owners across the country.
With a rapidly expanding network of over 200 franchisees in the UK, we now have the largest network of repair specialists in the UK, who provide high-quality, value-for-money repairs to car paintwork, on a same-day basis.
Our specialists work from vehicles fully equipped as mobile workshops, or fixed-base units known as Car Care Centres.
Getting started with ChipsAway
Established for over 30 years, our market-leading car repair franchise makes it simple and straightforward for you to start your own business.
You don’t need any car body repair experience because you’ll receive four weeks of expert, hands-on car repair training at our bespoke facility – accredited by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) – before you start work.
How much will you need to invest to get started?
Your ChipsAway franchise will cost £29,995 +VAT, but with our various pricing options you’ll only need £20,000 +VAT to get started.
How do you know whether this franchise will work for you?
Everything is set up for you to succeed from the minute you launch your franchise because although you’ll be your own boss, you definitely won’t be going it alone.
As well as offering practical and technical training in all elements of the service you’ll deliver, we provide a course in sales and marketing, unlimited support from our head office and supply you with a business mentor – an experienced franchisee – who you can call whenever you need to.
The ChipsAway business model can be adapted to suit your aspirations and lifestyle, so the opportunities for you are unlimited.
If you’re a motivated individual willing to take on an exciting new challenge, you can enjoy all the benefits of being part of a franchise network and have the chance to improve your future. The ChipsAway franchise package includes all the essential components for business success, including:
- Full sales and marketing support
- IT and accounting systems
- Technical training
- Business mentoring
- Digital marketing and PR support
All of this, as well as the fact our franchisees receive an average of over 1,000 customer leads per year as a result of the national marketing activity done centrally, means you can get up and running quickly and profitably, with the reassurance you’ll have a regular flow of eager customers.
Behind the scenes with a ChipsAway franchisee
Self-employment had always been an ambition of Colin Hall’s, but he had reservations about such a big step. Encouraged by friends who knew his dream was to run his own business, Colin came across ChipsAway which had the reputation, authority and ready-made package of support he needed to take the leap.
He said: “I’ve got two young children and a mortgage, and the thought of not having enough work to keep me busy or bring in enough income was daunting. But speaking to the team gave me all the reassurance I needed that I’d be provided with enough leads to build a successful network of my own. I decided to get involved and I’ve never looked back.
Within six months of becoming a ChipsAway franchisee, Colin had built up a network of customers which sees him repair more than 40 cars per month, resulting in income of over £9,000. For Colin, though, the true benefit of franchising has been the flexibility it allows to be more present at home than ever before.
He said: “My working hours vary around my family, which is a huge bonus. I’m able to pick my children up from school and enjoy a big part of their day, then organise the business admin around their schedule. The improved work-life balance has definitely been the best part about moving to self-employment with ChipsAway. I’m so much happier.
If you’d like to learn more about ChipsAway, request your free info pack below.
*Full details can be provided upon request.
Richard Dexter
Richard Dexter originally had a seasoned career as a Film and TV animator where he worked on films such as Lord of the Rings and Avatar. However, after 16 years in the industry, he decided he wanted a better work-life balance. Now he gets to take his 2 dogs to work with him each day, take his young children to school and watch them grow up.
"I needed a new challenge and a change from my current career. My work had become something I no longer enjoyed. I wasn’t particularly looking for a franchise but my wife found out about ChipsAway and the nature of the work really appealed, so we looked into it further.
"It seemed to offer all the things I was looking for. I could be my own boss and continue to do something creative. I couldn’t have started this type of business without the training support and backing of an established company behind me. Working outside in a fairly physical job appealed too, but most importantly it meant I could see more of my family."
Richard became a ChipsAway partner in 2011, and since joining the franchise he has found the training and support to be excellent:
"Support has always been there for me at ChipsAway. Any problems and they’ve been there on all levels, whether it’s been a personal issue or work related. The 4-week training course is the perfect way to learn!"
ChipsAway provide franchisees with an initial month of technical, sales and marketing training, which is then followed up with more advanced training 3 months later. Other training courses are also available on request.
"Initially, my biggest reservation was putting a large amount of money into something brand new. It’s a scary step. However, I don’t have any regrets – I now have a thriving business that both supports my family and gives me the time with them that I was missing in my previous life."
A ChipsAway franchise has certainly given Richard the freedom to mould his work around his lifestyle:
"After dropping my son at school at 9am, I walk the dogs, make my phone calls to potential customers that have come in and start my first job at 10am. There’s no set finish time. Sometimes I will work into the evenings if I’m very busy, particularly in summer when I like to make the most of the long days."
"Joining ChipsAway has made my life so much better! I spend less time stuck in front of a computer, there’s no office politics, I have more time with my family and can even take the dogs to work. Overall, it’s just a happier, healthier work / life balance.
Finally, we asked Richard about his aspirations for the future, he replied: "I just want to continue as I am. I’ve always wanted a job where I wake up and want to go to work, and I have that now!"
Tunde Odeyemi
After completing an engineering degree at University and starting a career in the Oil and Gas industry, he decided after a few years that he wasn’t maximising his full potential. After spotting a ChipsAway van and seeing the sophisticated interior workshop, he knew it was for him.
"I decided to become a part of a franchise because the team would be able to support my areas of weakness in starting up a business. A reputable franchise would be able to train me from the get go, thereby minimising loss of time in learning about the operations and marketing side of things. The support from the franchisor as well as the support from fellow, experienced franchisees is a gold mine.”
"ChipsAway have trained me on how to repair a car and provided me with a knowledgeable business developer, who was an experienced fellow franchisee. This mentor helped me set up and set out successfully.
At ChipsAway, we provide franchisees we an initial 4 weeks technical training, as well as sales and marketing training. This is then followed up by more advanced training a few months later. Furthermore, on-going business support from a Franchise support team is also available, as well as other courses on request.
"I have also received periodic updates about crucial changes in the industry, modern equipment for doing jobs better and quicker as they hit the market, marketing and IT training, ongoing operations support, substantial financial support when I was in need to get business loans to grow and expand amongst others.”
Now 11 years later, Tunde is loving his new life as a ChipsAway franchisee and has expanded his business into a Car Care Centres. These are fixed based workshops, often able to complete larger and more complicated repairs.
"It has taken a lot of hard work to build my enviable life, but ChipsAway really has given me an amazing lifestyle. I now have time for my wife and little baby as I can work really flexible hours.”
Tunde mentions hard work, and certainly it hasn’t all been easy: “My biggest challenge was surviving the recession. However, I overcame it by increasing my marketing, looking after my customers by giving them the best service and upscaling my skills and equipment so that I could say yes to more types of repairs that came my way.” We’re here to help franchisees every step of the way, through the good and the bad times.
"My future goal is to expand my Car Care Centre into a multi-location business, and then to sell when time is right. I am very pleased to say that there is very little I would do differently and I have absolutely no regrets with ChipsAway!”
Spencer Grainger
Spencer Grainger joined the network in 2012. Prior to joining the franchise, he set up his own Ski business in Austria which was very successful. When he returned to the UK he began working as a Sales Manager but missed the benefits of running his own business. He didn’t want to work for a company but wanted to be his own boss and reap the rewards of his own hard work – a ChipsAway franchise seemed like the perfect option!
"After I attended the open day, ChipsAway seemed like a great company to invest into and far more professional than other franchises I’d looked at. I wanted to join a franchise rather than starting on my own because of the support. This was the right decision - the technical support and training, general business support and leads from marketing definitely gave me a head start."
"Since joining, I’ve always had someone to talk to at Head Office that is able to answer any queries. If you put the time and effort into organising your business and organising your diary, and if you absorb all the advice provided in training and from the rest of the team, you will succeed."
Spencer was initially concerned about earning enough money and knowing whether the franchise would work for him – a common worry of many people who are looking to start their own business. However, a ChipsAway franchise has fantastic return on investment and you start earning money from day one. The average franchisee received over 1,000 enquiries via Head Office in 2017, which at our average repair value equates to over £80,000.
Not only has a ChipsAway been profitable for Spencer but owning his own business has allowed him to fit his work around his lifestyle: "I choose to start early so that I can work on my first job of the day before 9am. I complete around 2/3 jobs a day and then finish off quotations at the end." ChipsAway franchisees are able to manage their own diary and work as they please.
Finally, we asked Spencer what advice he would give to prospective franchisees: "Have good time management skills and believe in yourself! My aim for the future is to continue being successful - I have no regrets about joining ChipsAway." At ChipsAway, we are always here to support you.
Ian Moyle
Keith McGowan
Having been made redundant, Andy Cornell launched his ChipsAway franchise three years ago:
I’m absolutely thrilled with the way my business is going. I’d always dreamt of running my own business rather than seek another job. I wanted something flexible, that was not massively expensive and which had the potential for growth. ChipsAway has proved to be everything I’d hoped for. ‘It does what it says on the tin’, and if you follow the business model you can’t go wrong!”
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