Expense Reduction Analysts UK Franchises for Women

Enjoyment the key to success for Julia!

Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) franchised Consultant Julia Goodfellow has experienced a phenomenal start to her business, since joining ERA back in October 2004. Leeds based Julia, who was a Commercial Bank Manager previously, opted to join ERA as she became frustrated by the limitations of employment in large organisations. “I became frustrated by the amount of time that was being wasted and just wanted to have more control over how I worked. I felt that I had the skills to become self-employed and made the decision to leave my employment, once I felt comfortable that a franchise would give me the independence I needed but also the support and resources”

“I quickly narrowed my search for a franchise down to established members of the British Franchise Association as I knew the banks were much keener to support recognised and proven franchise models. I wanted a business that was recession proof because the economic future was uncertain. The concept seemed to fit so well with my skillsets. I looked at one or two other businesses that had similarities to ERA but the literature I was presented with was poor in comparison to what ERA provided and the depth of client base, support structure and strength of brand of ERA appeared to offer me so much more!”

In the back of mind, my only concerns were about whether I would feel lonely working from home and the time it would take for income to be receipted. My experience however, was such that I barely had time to contemplate these concerns as I was too busy with my ERA work. I enjoy great variety in my working day as I meet clients and suppliers, all of whom have different needs. I also work with a large number of my fellow franchised consultants on different projects and also have a regular ‘partner’ where we jointly visit new prospective clients and share project work that is signed. Even when I am home-based, I am still in constant communication with my colleagues through the excellent ERA communication and database systems.

In fact, Julia has experienced one of the most impressive starts to an ERA business that has been seen. “I prepared my business plan in accordance with the conservative guidance of the franchisor, and also the views and feedback from the franchisees I spoke with, and made sure I could support myself financially as the business developed. The reality, I found, was different. I started receipting income in only my third month of business and billed a six-figure level within only thirteen months”. ERA franchisees run extremely low cost businesses, with no staff or premises, so a six-figure billing level, could be as high as 80% profit, after taking out business overheads including a monthly franchise support fee.

Its great that bulk of what I do, I am rewarded for directly. I have complete control of my business. The key to success, I feel, is enjoyment. You need to be assertive with clients and suppliers but that comes easily when you are full of confidence because you know that what you are offering will help the client. You have to be prepared to work hard but, again, when I am the beneficiary and I love what I do, it doesn’t feel like hard work!