Starting up a Domestic Services Franchise Business
Joel Caws - Technical Director, Select Your Franchise
A domestic services franchise can be a great business start up option, especially when you consider that the services provided are often based on necessities for pretty much any home owner.
With over 25 million homes in the UK, and 7 out of 10 being owner occupied, thats over 175 million potential customers in the UK for anyone in business providing domestic services. A fair sized market by any standards.
There are many different types of franchise business aimed at providing domestic services:-
Domestic Cleaning Franchise businesses
The need for cleaning never ends! And for those ‘cash rich, time poor’ families, having someone to do the job of keeping the house clean is an attractive option. But that’s not all – there are also franchises which cater for more specialised services such as carpet and upholstery cleaning – another job which many prefer to pay to have done.
Handyman Franchises
For those not all that enthusiastic about DIY, fixing that loose door hinge, that persistently leaking pipe, that broken fence, can all seem like too daunting a task. Finding a handyman is usually the first port of call for such people and so a franchise business in this area means you have a wide variety of different manual labour based jobs to take on.
Kitchen Based Services
Sprucing up your kitchen by replacing the doors has become very popular in recent years, since it alleviates the need for a total ktichen refit, but also gives it a new lease of life. Oven cleaning is another popular domestic services franchise business option to meet the needs of those who do not wish to undertake the job themselves.
Other Domestic Service options
There are many other different domestic service franchise businesses available from gas and electrical servicing, to chimney sweeping, to disaster restoration services.
Of course, whatever option you decide you will need to make your choices carefully. Do your research properly to ensure you know all you can about the franchise business you are considering. Meet with the franchisor and also make sure you have the opportunity to speak to some of their existing franchisees. They have walked the path you are taking and can offer you real feedback on how the franchise performs and what to expect.
There are plenty of options for advice when it comes to choosing a franchise opportunity such as online franchise directories for research, franchise associations, franchise consultants and other industry professionals.
Ultimately, you will be responsible for making your new business a success so be prepared to stick to the proven franchise system and to work hard at it.
Tags: domestic services franchises, franchise opportunities, franchises, franchises for sale, joel caws
Five great reasons to choose a Franchise
Joel Caws - Technical Director, Select Your Franchise
You might have your own great ideas for starting up a business but for those who would love to start their own business and are short on ideas, a franchise can be a great business option working from an idea that’s already proven. Below we will look at 5 benefits of choosing a franchise.
1. The Franchise Formula
At the core of any franchise is its proven formula. This is mainly made up of the techniques and strategies that make the business work and that cause it to be successful. This formula also makes up the primary part of the franchise manual which is usually given to new franchisees as their business ‘bible’ to read and follow so that they can replicate the success of the original franchise pilot businesses.
2. Training & Support
Unlike starting up business for yourself, a franchise business is usually offered with a level of training and on going support. This is to enable you to run the business effectively and successfully by having a proper understanding of the franchise formula and how it is to be applied in the day-to-day activities of the business.
3. Franchise Associations
Another benefit of considering a franchise is that many countries have a Franchise Association. Generally speaking, the associations exist to promote ethical franchising in their respective countries by providing a membership scheme for franchisors. There is often a set of criteria which the franchisor must meet in order to become an approved member and this can therefore provide a level of assurance when choosing a franchise if they are an Association member. In the UK, this is the British Franchise Association and in the US it is the International Franchise Association. Additionally, the Associations may also be able to assist with any other help you might need such as pointing you in the right direction for franchise professional guidance for example legal and financial issues.
4. Proven Track Record
The good thing about a franchise is that you can often talk to other aspiring business people, just like yourself, who are already running the franchise you are considering as a business. The franchisor will usually be able to provide a list of franchisees that they are happy for you to contact as references for the franchise. It can give you extra peace of mind to meet and speak to people who have already travelled the road you are on and have already taken on and are running the franchise.
5. Financing
The majority of the high street banks have franchise sections that specialise in funding franchise business start-ups. You will still need to prepare your business plan but having the weight of a franchise system behind you can give the bank some extra assurance that you are working with an already established and proven business concept.
Finally, its worth noting that a franchise business is no guarantee of success; it provides a formula which if worked correctly, with dedication and determination, can provide the platform for a profitable business. It does, however, have some great advantages (some of which are mentioned in the points above) which can give you the edge over trying to start up a business from an unproven idea.
How to run a Franchise Business
Joel Caws - Technical Director, Select Your Franchise
From time to time, many of us have considered starting up their own business. But many of us get held back from making the leap into starting a business from our own ideas, because of the fear that we might not have the skills to make it work, or because we don’t want to be completely isolated in running a business on our own.
A franchise business can therefore represent a proven business model with training, support and back up which provides that little extra help in the challenge of starting up your own business.
So how best can you run a franchise business effectively? Well here are a few simple common-sense ways that may help you on your way:-
Good old fashioned hard work
Running any kind of business takes hard work and dedication – I have yet to hear of any solid, longstanding business that wasn’t built on the hours and hours of commitment put in by the business owner. A franchise business is no different in that sense. Having a proven system is like having a car that has been tested and proven to run and get you from one place to another. However, it won’t get you very far unless you get inside, start up the engine and drive it forward!
Stick to the proven system
A franchise works because its based on a tried and tested business model. The original business owner has spent all the time ironing out the problems and refining the business model so you don’t have to make the same mistakes. For best results, you will stick closely to the system that has been shown to work. Carrying on our car analogy, a car built specifically for normal road use doesn’t perform well if you drive it off-road onto rocky or uneven ground. In fact, it will most likely get stuck, damaged or breakdown for the simple reason you are using it in a way it was never intended to be used.
These are just two tips that can make a major difference in whether your franchise business succeeds. There are of course other factors that can make a difference but in my opinion these represent two of the largest success factors. Feel free to comment if you have any further ideas to contribute.
