Do you have the drive?

Do you have the drive?

By: Linda Whitney

WITH 30 million cars on the roads, it's no surprise that there are many vehicle franchises.

You don't need to be car-mad to run a vehicle franchise, but it helps.

'An interest in cars is a good start,' says Richard Clark from Raccoon, a 'vehicle-wrapping' franchise that has wrapped a Land Rover Defender in mirrored silver foil for designer brand Dolce & Gabbana, and a Ferrari for an exhibition.

But enthusiasm for cars is not all you need. 'Sales and marketing experience helps — our franchisees do demonstrations at exhibitions and shows, and you have to think of your own creative marketing ideas for your franchise area,' says Mr Clark.

You get training in the wrapping method and work from a light industrial unit. Total start-up cost is £28,000.

Fewer car owners now clean their car on a Sunday morning.

Many actually pay franchisees of companies such as Auto Valet Direct to do it.

You work from a van fully equipped with everything required to wash, polish and valet cars — and remove minor scratches — at owners' homes or on garage forecourts.

'It's a hands-on business, and you must enjoy meeting people, and be happy outside in all weathers,' says Chris Johnson from

Auto Valet Direct. Set-up costs are £15,000.

If you like tinkering with cars, a technical franchise might suit.

Franchisees with The Wheel Specialist refurbish alloy wheels to a factory finish, and supply and fit new wheels and tyres, from fixed units. You manage a team of employees, but you will be trained in the necessary skills, too.

'Our franchisees tend to have some engineering background and business experience, but you don't need to be an alloy wheels expert,' says Ginny Murphy of The Wheel Specialist. It costs £60,000 to £80,000.

Other vehicle service franchises involve replacing windscreens, clutches, radiators, tyres, removing dents and scratches, car rental, and chauffeuring, and a new franchise, Towbars2U, that involves fitting towbars.

'There are more than 1,000 different kinds of towbar, and our franchisees will fit them at motorists' homes or workplaces,' says Stephen Sims, who set up the business. It's a new franchise and costs £10,000.

RACCOON, 0845 257 8757; Auto Valet Direct, 01325 251 455; The Wheel Specialist, 0845 465 4865; Towbars2U, 07788 428 040.

For more vehicle franchises, see www.franinfo.co.uk..

FRANCHISE

ONLY 6 per cent of franchisees are under 30. Do they face credibility problems in the business world? 'I certainly found banks were quite concerned about dealing with someone in their 20s, but I had the money to prove my commitment to setting up my franchise,' says Lee White, 27, the Bradford franchisee with Totally Dynamic, a vehicle wrapping franchise. Lee (pictured) had previously run his own graphics and signwriting company.

'It can also be daunting for young people when trying to get potential customers to commit to using your services.

Fortunately, I had examples of work I had done for other businesses. The training from Totally Dynamic means the work is of a very high quality.' He now has six staff wrapping vehicles in eye-catching livery, ads and logos. 'Not enough young people thinking of starting out in business realise that they can choose a franchise,' he says.

'Meet the franchisors so you can gauge if they take you seriously.' Jenny Rope of Totally Dynamic, which has four franchisees under 30, says: 'Enthusiasm can make up for the shorter business track record that young people have.

Experience of running your own business is the kind of thing we look for in young franchisees.' A Totally Dynamic franchise costs from £28,000.

'Franchising is ideal for young people to get ahead in business,' says Nigel Toplis of new franchise PopStarParties. 'With a franchise you can develop the business in your own way, but the franchisor is there to provide training and business advice.' Franchisees run parties where wannabe pop stars — usually eight to 16-year-olds, but also adults — can make their own CDs. The experience is filmed to produce a pop video of the recorded track, and highlights of the event.

Franchisees get a portable music studio, and full technical training. It costs £10,000.

Totally Dynamic, 01603 435 738, PopStarParties, 01530 513 305..