Business Doctors has launched its first Irish franchise in Dublin

The consultancy business came to Ireland earlier this year when serial entrepreneur John Nelligan bought the master franchise for the North and the Republic.

With plans to launch 20 territories in total, John has just sold his first and largest territory – the prime Dublin area.

Former pharma industry executive Pat Kerley is the buyer of the potentially highly lucrative patch, that includes both Dublin city and county.

The Dublin 7 resident is no stranger to start ups. In 2008, he co-founded outsourcing company Alchemy Healthcare. Just 18 months later, the company was sold to Pharmexx, which later became part of UDG Healthcare PLC.

On deciding to launch the first Irish Business Doctors franchise, Pat said: “Business Doctors was an instant fit for me with my entrepreneurial, sales, marketing and business development background. Their culture and ethos of wanting to help and assist small businesses achieve their vision and objectives through collaboration really appeals to my values.

“Being part of a network will give me access to skills and knowledge beyond my own experience. And buying into an established and trusted brand will get me off the blocks much faster than starting from scratch – and of course provides a safer option in what are still uncertain economic times. “I am very much looking forward to working with Dublin’s diverse small and medium sized business scene and bringing the expertise I have gained through thirty years’ experience within big pharma and from building up and selling my own small business.”

Master franchisor John, a former industrial engineer from County Kerry, is no stranger to the world of franchising. In 2011, he bought his first territory from high street garment alterations franchise The Zip Yard. Just one year later he snapped up Galway, becoming the company’s first franchisee with multiple businesses. In 2015, he added Douglas to his portfolio.

John said: “The Business Doctors brand has the potential to become the most recognised name for small and medium sized business consultancy across Ireland. Dublin is just the start. I plan to launch three territories a year until each of Ireland’s estimated 238,000 SMEs has a local Business Doctor to call upon for support.”

John now has his sights set on finding Business Doctors franchisees for Cork, Limerick and Galway.

Business Doctors helps small and medium sized businesses to grow, offering support with everything from business strategy to employee engagement and funding.

With over 40 territories now operating globally, the SME consultancy took its first steps beyond British soil when it launched in South Africa in May 2014. Today, Business Doctors territories are up and running in eight regions of the country, including Johannesburg, its largest and wealthiest city. In 2016, Business Doctors launched in India, Malta and UAE.