Interested In Advertising? | Contact Us Here
Warning!

 

Welcome to Clean It Up; the UK`s largest cleaning forum with over 34,000 members

 

Please login or register to post and reply to topics.      

 

Forgot your password? Click here

richywilts

  • Posts: 4262
seriously considering the franchise route
« on: May 17, 2011, 10:00:05 pm »
because i get asked a lot if my business is part of a franchise im considering running an operation like ian lancasters as i think it takes away a lot of stress knowing each man is left to run his area and chase his own debts etc also with the name window clean direct its quite limited with work i would like too go for but suits domestic window cleaning

my vision is too get quite a few franchisees working in the north west region so window clean direct name becomes quite renowned

does anyone know how i go about looking into this iv googled n read a bit on business link, im considering this and setting up a canvassing type business with a friend who a top salesman in all companies hes worked at electric area manager roles business development manager at advertising company where hes the top boy

hes currently looking for a fresh start
Richard Wiltshire
Window Clean Direct

richardwiltshire36@yahoo.co.uk
www.windowcleandirect.co.uk
07894821844

Ste M

  • Posts: 1826
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2011, 10:07:04 pm »
bloody hell richy, dont you ever just do one thing and stick to it ;D concentrate on getting a full round of top notch great paying custies, then when your beating them off with a big smelly stick (or gav) then look into branching out. thats all my opinion of course so dont take it personally and please dont shoot me down and ignore me forever  ;D

richywilts

  • Posts: 4262
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2011, 10:11:09 pm »
i dont like the window cleaning side of it ste n now im experimenting with employees i find it hard to trust them and stuff and dealing with complaints etc its just an idea at moment what were gna look into as me mate isnt available til july
Richard Wiltshire
Window Clean Direct

richardwiltshire36@yahoo.co.uk
www.windowcleandirect.co.uk
07894821844

Scoop

  • Posts: 262
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2011, 10:25:27 pm »
Hi Richard

Franchising is a complex area, and I speak from experience (having been a master franchisee). Franchisees rightly expect a huge amount and are not always the kind of people suited to hard outdoor work. Collecting £500 in royalties from an unhappy franchisee can be much harder than collecting £12 from Mrs Smith who's been on holiday for a month. (is it maybe worth adding a card payment page to your excellent website?  ;))

An acquaintance of mine operates a system which may or may not interest you. He hires window cleaners on a self-employed basis, allows them the use of an X-reg Escort van, supplies the equipment, the water (they fill up at his house) and the customers. They pay for fuel. He gives them a round sheet every morning and they go out and do the work. He gives them 50% of the value of the work and keeps 50% for himself. He does no cleaning himself. Your top salesman could do the canvassing for the areas that you want to open and instead of offering a franchise (which is very hard to sell, believe me) you are offering a job and you've got 100 people biting your hand off.

This does still leave the responsibility of canvassing and collections in your hands, but it will be far more profitable per unit than selling franchises.
Don't wish it were easier. Wish that you were better - Jim Rohn

richywilts

  • Posts: 4262
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2011, 10:29:00 pm »
cheers for that lee

from what i know if someone is basically only working for you and no one else being self employed they shud be employed

having website redone by new designer soon after having a refund from previous designer who was going to redesign current website

it is just an idea at moment but it works for ian lancaster just thinkin about lookin into his business model
Richard Wiltshire
Window Clean Direct

richardwiltshire36@yahoo.co.uk
www.windowcleandirect.co.uk
07894821844

supernova77

  • Posts: 3547
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2011, 10:33:16 pm »
Quote
i dont like the window cleaning side of it

In my opinion you have to be prepared to actually clean the windows when needed if your going to setup and run a successful window cleaning business!

I have a guy who works for me, but I clean all new customers at least 3 times before I "let him loose" on them so they get know and trust me.

Andy

Gav Camm lammy 283

  • Posts: 7520
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2011, 10:38:22 pm »
in richy's defense his business would run
better if richy wasnt cleaning windows  ;D ;D
and secondly if he employed a secratary  ;D ;D ;D
thirdly he could give me all his work  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
LET YOUR PANES BE MY PLEASURE

"If CALSBERG did WINDOW CLEANING
 it would be C.C.C  Probably the best WINDOW CLEANERS IN THE WORLD ..........."

richywilts

  • Posts: 4262
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2011, 10:38:35 pm »
yes this is what i have found customers like too know who there dealing with i didnt expect it to be that much of a problem i think people are more inclined to complain when they know its employees carrying out work too

Richard Wiltshire
Window Clean Direct

richardwiltshire36@yahoo.co.uk
www.windowcleandirect.co.uk
07894821844

richywilts

  • Posts: 4262
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2011, 10:41:30 pm »
hahahahahahaahahahaahaha gav u tosspot

Richard Wiltshire
Window Clean Direct

richardwiltshire36@yahoo.co.uk
www.windowcleandirect.co.uk
07894821844

Gav Camm lammy 283

  • Posts: 7520
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2011, 10:43:14 pm »
its true my friend lol ;D ;D ;D
LET YOUR PANES BE MY PLEASURE

"If CALSBERG did WINDOW CLEANING
 it would be C.C.C  Probably the best WINDOW CLEANERS IN THE WORLD ..........."

richywilts

  • Posts: 4262
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2011, 10:49:43 pm »
cant wait to take over wrexham "whats that comin over the hills...is it a window cleaner"

il let ya have ya buckley work to buy ya family bread etc n water
Richard Wiltshire
Window Clean Direct

richardwiltshire36@yahoo.co.uk
www.windowcleandirect.co.uk
07894821844

Gav Camm lammy 283

  • Posts: 7520
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2011, 10:52:33 pm »
lol no wooley backs allowed in m8
told ya sit in the office booking me
the jobs
cuz i have to say you price well  ;D
LET YOUR PANES BE MY PLEASURE

"If CALSBERG did WINDOW CLEANING
 it would be C.C.C  Probably the best WINDOW CLEANERS IN THE WORLD ..........."

Gav Camm lammy 283

  • Posts: 7520
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #12 on: May 17, 2011, 10:55:52 pm »
cant wait to take over wrexham "whats that comin over the hills...is it a window cleaner"

il let ya have ya buckley work to buy ya family bread etc n water


no one in wrexham could afford ya  ;D ;D
LET YOUR PANES BE MY PLEASURE

"If CALSBERG did WINDOW CLEANING
 it would be C.C.C  Probably the best WINDOW CLEANERS IN THE WORLD ..........."

Tom White

Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #13 on: May 17, 2011, 11:12:29 pm »

An acquaintance of mine operates a system which may or may not interest you. He hires window cleaners on a self-employed basis, allows them the use of an X-reg Escort van, supplies the equipment, the water (they fill up at his house) and the customers. They pay for fuel. He gives them a round sheet every morning and they go out and do the work. He gives them 50% of the value of the work and keeps 50% for himself. He does no cleaning himself. Your top salesman could do the canvassing for the areas that you want to open and instead of offering a franchise (which is very hard to sell, believe me) you are offering a job and you've got 100 people biting your hand off.


I reckon if for some reason your mate was taken to court for some reason, he would be legally classed as the employer, and not a 'hirer of self employed people' since he provides the tools and the work. 

♠Winp®oClean♠

  • Posts: 4085
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #14 on: May 17, 2011, 11:26:11 pm »

An acquaintance of mine operates a system which may or may not interest you. He hires window cleaners on a self-employed basis, allows them the use of an X-reg Escort van, supplies the equipment, the water (they fill up at his house) and the customers. They pay for fuel. He gives them a round sheet every morning and they go out and do the work. He gives them 50% of the value of the work and keeps 50% for himself. He does no cleaning himself. Your top salesman could do the canvassing for the areas that you want to open and instead of offering a franchise (which is very hard to sell, believe me) you are offering a job and you've got 100 people biting your hand off.


I reckon if for some reason your mate was taken to court for some reason, he would be legally classed as the employer, and not a 'hirer of self employed people' since he provides the tools and the work. 

One of my customers owns & runs a large roofing business, well known & respected in the area. They're never short of work & do many large contracts. He also runs his business like this- the workers are self employed, he provides them vans which they drive out of the yard every morning & return at night. His words to me were "when they are employed they're lazy & have too much time off. When they are self employed they work their butts off & are never off sick" ;D ;D

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #15 on: May 18, 2011, 12:25:39 am »
il let ya have ya buckley work to buy ya family bread etc n water

I own Buckley :-)

richywilts

  • Posts: 4262
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #16 on: May 18, 2011, 02:43:04 am »
not for long we all know ur minimum charges ;D ;D ;D
Richard Wiltshire
Window Clean Direct

richardwiltshire36@yahoo.co.uk
www.windowcleandirect.co.uk
07894821844

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #17 on: May 18, 2011, 05:12:54 pm »
not for long we all know ur minimum charges ;D ;D ;D

thats only only for new customers still plenty at a tenner  ;D

ashbash

Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #18 on: May 18, 2011, 07:46:21 pm »
you dont like the window cleaning side of being a window cleaner. is that a spelling mistake or are you just being stupid

bobplum

  • Posts: 5602
Re: seriously considering the franchise route
« Reply #19 on: May 18, 2011, 08:05:38 pm »
if someone is given work orders,uses your van,works mon-friday etc etc he is employed,in the eyes of the law.
you have to break it up by allowing him/her to work for someone else for so many weeks of the year and if they say they are self employed they then have to produce invoices for the second employer
then we get into the public liability situation