Marathon you can win

By: Linda Whitney

YOU usually do not need previous experience to take on a franchise — but that doesn't mean just anyone can do it.

Check whether franchising will suit you. Do you have the right attitude? The franchisor may sell you the business formula but it's down to you to make it a success.

'You have to leave the employee mentality behind,' says Iain Martin of franchise recruitment specialist Kyros, which offers serious potential franchisees a free suitability assessment.

Cathryn Birchall, who is looking for more franchisees for the £80,000 fireplace retail franchise Blazes, says: 'We look for self-starters with commitment and dedication. I think it's no coincidence that one of our best franchisees is a marathon runner.' A CV that includes achievements such as climbing mountains, or leading a team to success, shows you have the energy and skills to make things happen.

You must be entrepreneurial, but not so much that you want to do everything your own way.

'Most franchise failures occur because the franchisee failed to follow the franchise system, often because they felt they knew better,' says Mr Martin 'Mavericks don't suit franchising, insists Mrs Birchall. 'You have to be willing to take advice.' But you need not abandon your own ideas. The degree to which you have to follow the system varies among franchises. At travel agency Harvey World Travel, for instance, Natalie Turner says: 'We have rules about what products you sell, but it is up to franchisees how they market their business. They can submit their ideas and provided they are not detrimental to the brand, we usually approve them.' Set up costs are around £50,000.

Do you have the skills?

Franchisors will train you in the specialist skills required in their particular business, but almost all franchises also require communication and sales skills.

'Whatever the franchise, you have to be able to sell your product or service,' says Debra Huckall of Barking Mad, which costs £11,500 to set up. Its franchisees arrange in-home pet care for clients' dogs.

'We are very choosy about our franchisees and interview them several times during recruitment, as well as using psychometric profiling to ensure they have the right attributes,' says Mrs Huckall.

Management skills are commonly required in many franchises, especially those where you start managing staff from day one.

Vivenne Riley from Prontaprint, whose franchisees run High Street design, print and copy centres, says: 'Management experience is important for us because you cannot start a Prontaprint centre without a team of staff.' The franchise also sees sales and marketing experience as essential, and is looking for more franchisees with at least £30,000 to invest.

Kyros 0870 104 4233, Blazes 07000 252 937, Harvey World Travel 08712 080 525, Barking Mad 01524 276 476, Prontaprint 08457 626 748, Apollo 01924 413 010..


FRIENDS WHO MEAN BUSINESS

'I COULD have gone into business for myself as I had done it before, but I felt franchising was a better option,' says Lynn Bryson, who has an Apollo Blinds franchise in Belfast with her friend Vivien Davidson.

Lynn (right in the picture) ran her own blinds and curtains business in New Zealand and Vivien had been an accountant in Australia, but when they met after returning to their native Northern Ireland, they felt they had the complementary skills they needed to start the franchise.

'We knew about franchising because it is popular in Australia and New Zealand, so we investigated the Apollo franchise,' says Lynn. 'There are some rules, but it is not as restrictive as many franchises. I wanted to sell curtains alongside the Apollo Blinds products and they allow me to do that.

'Unless you want to do something unique and are very entrepreneurial, you are probably better off with a franchise than starting up alone.

With Apollo we had a well-known brand from day one, while in New Zealand it took me five years to get my brand established.

'Apollo's initial training told us how to avoid the pitfalls I had found out about the hard way when running my own business .' Apollo is looking for more potential franchisees with £25,000 to invest..