[taylored]

Ian this looks good to me the time and cost to write up one would be alot more.

[Perfect Windows]

From that I read that you have put together a start up in franchise package that costs £1500.00. Is that package set up transferable to any franchise model?

Your franchise is low cost, mine will have reasonably high initial investment because of the van & equipment, could the paperwork if bought fit my model?

Rob;D

Rob,

I'm already in possession of Ian's package; I'm going to be franchising this year.

I genuinely feel that if you're thinking of franchising a repeat business like window cleaning, you could do no better than speak to Ian.  Assuming it's a similar deal to the one I undertook, it's worth every penny.

For background, I've been to the franchise exhibitions and they are full of people who will tell you that you have the best idea since sliced bread and if you give them £33K (I kid you not!) they will get you franchising.  It's almost as if they have a vested interest in telling you your idea's perfect.  Ian does things differently; you pay a lot less for a service that will get you a long way to where you need to be.  It isn't all bells and whistles, but then it isn't £33K either.

One caveat, Ian's system relies, to a large extent, on your having a long-term view of your business.  As it happens, that fits in nicely with the way I look at the world.  If you're looking to make a quick buck out of franchisees (and there are plenty of franchises out there based upon that premise) it's possibly not for you.

I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say that Ian's always good for a chat about this.

Vin

[Rob_Mac]

Vin

Exactly what I was looking for, thanks for that (I also knew you were at this stage as well (remembered a previous post))

My question now is it right for my business model (not being repeat)?

Rob

[Perfect Windows]

Vin

Exactly what I was looking for, thanks for that (I also knew you were at this stage as well (remembered a previous post))

My question now is it right for my business model (not being repeat)?

Rob

I don't think I know enough about your business to comment, really.

Vin

[Rob_Mac]

My business has successfully worked on the Sainsbury's refurb, extension, new build, refresh programmes now for the last five years and is looking to develop further into retail cleaning. These are one off cleans but there is plenty of work and I cannot 100% guarantee work but I have enough work every year to share that work out and to move sideways to other avenues within the programmes.

The only thing that has stopped this is client confidence in how many places I can be at any given time and there is massive scope for my work - across the supermarkets.

Rob

[Ian Lancaster]

From that I read that you have put together a start up in franchise package that costs £1500.00. Is that package set up transferable to any franchise model?

Your franchise is low cost, mine will have reasonably high initial investment because of the van & equipment, could the paperwork if bought fit my model?

Rob;D

Rob,

I'm already in possession of Ian's package; I'm going to be franchising this year.

I genuinely feel that if you're thinking of franchising a repeat business like window cleaning, you could do no better than speak to Ian.  Assuming it's a similar deal to the one I undertook, it's worth every penny.

For background, I've been to the franchise exhibitions and they are full of people who will tell you that you have the best idea since sliced bread and if you give them £33K (I kid you not!) they will get you franchising.  It's almost as if they have a vested interest in telling you your idea's perfect.  Ian does things differently; you pay a lot less for a service that will get you a long way to where you need to be.  It isn't all bells and whistles, but then it isn't £33K either.

One caveat, Ian's system relies, to a large extent, on your having a long-term view of your business.  As it happens, that fits in nicely with the way I look at the world.  If you're looking to make a quick buck out of franchisees (and there are plenty of franchises out there based upon that premise) it's possibly not for you.

I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say that Ian's always good for a chat about this.

Vin

Thank you Vin

[wightsurf]

Why dont you take on the repeat work after the first cleans?

[Rob_Mac]

I really can't say too much about the business moving forward but that has been noticed and has and is being worked on as well. The continuity of work is not an issue, far from it.

Rob

[boshravie]

Excellent advice from Mr. Lancaster. One thing you have to remember, is that you need to make sure you sell your franchisee to the right person. That’s the key to successful franchisee. 

[richard jagger]

My business has successfully worked on the Sainsbury's refurb, extension, new build, refresh programmes now for the last five years and is looking to develop further into retail cleaning. These are one off cleans but there is plenty of work and I cannot 100% guarantee work but I have enough work every year to share that work out and to move sideways to other avenues within the programmes.

The only thing that has stopped this is client confidence in how many places I can be at any given time and there is massive scope for my work - across the supermarkets.

Rob

[Rogue Trader]

Ian ,

who provides the franchisees with the work , and how are they paid?

[Ian Lancaster]

Ian ,

who provides the franchisees with the work , and how are they paid?

Most franchises require the franchisee to find his/her own work.  In our system we guarantee the franchisees as much work as they can handle, and develop it for them over a non-specified period of time (usually 6-10 months for £900 per week).  As with all franchises, the franchisees are running their own businesses so they collect the money and then pay the franchisor a royalty.

[Darranvps]

It looks like we are all at it!

We have been developing our franchise idea for quite some time and are almost ready.

I think it is of vital importance to be able to provide the franchisee with a lot of work.

Our model will include providing work in the following areas to keep the franchisee extremely busy. We started our business in March 2010 and are now buying our 4th Van - we have 7 employees and Me!
We will encourage our franchisees to take on board most of the following services as this will guarantee them lots of work within their chosen areas.

Commercial Window Cleaning
Gutter Cleaning
Builders Cleaning
Cladding Cleaning
Pressure Washing
Floor Cleaning
& many more "one off" cleaning services.

[Ian101]

Ian ,

who provides the franchisees with the work , and how are they paid?

Most franchises require the franchisee to find his/her own work.  In our system we guarantee the franchisees as much work as they can handle, and develop it for them over a non-specified period of time (usually 6-10 months for £900 per week).  As with all franchises, the franchisees are running their own businesses so they collect the money and then pay the franchisor a royalty.

£900 a week .... is that correct or did u mean a month ?? ... works out to £46800 a year ??

unless thats work level and not franchise fee of course.

[Londoner]

Sean

I know at some point I am going to have to get professional advice but wouldn't mind a start in knowing what I really have to pay for and what is freely available.

Do you mind me asking what the model cost, what they got for the money etc?

Rob

Rob I would go to a franchise show, there is also free advice freely available on franchises, fair play for ian trying to sell his info for £1500 a pop

The Franchise show was last weekend at Olympia.

[Window Washers]

Sean

I know at some point I am going to have to get professional advice but wouldn't mind a start in knowing what I really have to pay for and what is freely available.

Do you mind me asking what the model cost, what they got for the money etc?

Rob

Rob I would go to a franchise show, there is also free advice freely available on franchises, fair play for ian trying to sell his info for £1500 a pop

The Franchise show was last weekend at Olympia.

I know 

[Perfect Windows]

It looks like we are all at it!

We have been developing our franchise idea for quite some time and are almost ready.

I think it is of vital importance to be able to provide the franchisee with a lot of work.

There do seem to be a few people cracking this particular whip.  However, I know it's been tried before and failed, which is why advice is so useful.  I do think that this business of ours is well-suited to franchising and that we're present at the start of a sea-change in how it's run, possibly nationally, but it needs to be done with the interests of the franchisee at heart or it'll fail.

Yes, you need to be able to give the franchisee the work they want.  Not necessarily "a lot" but as much as they want.  We're looking for people who want to do three hard days a week or four easy ones for a good net salary after all costs.  Plenty of people seem to be looking for an easier life rather than more money.

Gaining customers is the difficult part of this job if you don't know what you're doing (witness a post on here every other day about canvassing or leafletting), so I see that as a crucial benefit of franchising.

Onwards and upwards!

Vin

[Rogue Trader]

Ian,

are you saying that the franchisee pays £900 per week to you to canvass for him on top of his initial £9k outlay?

[Ian Lancaster]

Ian,

are you saying that the franchisee pays £900 per week to you to canvass for him on top of his initial £9k outlay?

No :

That's the value of work we find him!  Our franchisees could have £900 per week turnover on the work we get for them, and yes, Ian - they can turn over £46,800 a year if they want to.  Most people have their comfort level though - provided they do at least 85% of their "round valuation" as an average and pay us 20% we're happy

[Rogue Trader]

i remember from an old post that you and your wife were leafletting/canvassing for each franchisee , is this still the model or are you using other canvassers?