With nearly 3,000 members, you will not be surprised to hear that the BFA has heard just about every journey into franchising story there is, from Paul Garcia who spent a decade working as a Safeclean technician before deciding to buy a territory of his own, to Anneka Hurst, who left a long career as a secondary school teacher to buy a Rhythm Time franchise, going on to enormous, award-winning success. There is one phrase we hear over and over again: “I wish I had done it sooner.”
Low failure rate
With a failure rate of less than 6% over 25 years, franchising is renowned as a safer way into self-employment according to the 2024 British Franchise Survey sponsored by NIC Local. So, it probably is not that which is holding them back.
Average age of franchisees
The same survey also revealed that the average age of a new franchisee was 49 years old, yet from more recent polling of our members, we discovered that the average age a person finds out about franchising is actually 33, so there is a considerable gap between finding out what franchising is and committing to buying a territory. Is it fear of failure? What are they doing in those 16 years?
“I waited too long”
Safeclean franchisee Paul said that looking back his biggest regret was: “I waited too long; you are never 100% ready.” Rhythm Time franchisee Anneka agreed: “Taking that initial leap in 2023 was a risk, but it taught me that sometimes you have to be prepared to step away from what you know in order to discover what you are capable of.”
Building a future
Paul is happy with his decision to take the plunge, saying: “As a technician you are earning a wage. As an owner, you are building something that is yours.”
Anneka has gone on to huge success with her franchise – a finalist in the What is On 4 Kids National Awards for Outstanding Newcomer, twice crowned Rhythm Time Franchisee of the Year, a Top 100 Businesses honouree in the Club Hub Awards and a triple finalist in the Class Business Awards taking place in October 2026. She says she is proud of her “thriving business, a fantastic team, hundreds of families and some wonderful recognition along the way.”
Pushing forwards
Former Olympic sailor turned Guardian Home Care founder Christina Handasyde Dick MBE admits: “Confidence does not come first. You take the next step, then the next and eventually you look back and realise how far you have come.”
Trust the process
For others it is about trusting the process. Kay Chambers, franchisee of Popolo Ceramico, Portsmouth, Emsworth and Petersfield says: “Do not worry if you do not know all aspects of running a business, you can learn as you go and you do not have to be the finished article to be successful, just make sure you have a plan.”
Before you take the leap
There are certain boxes you need to tick first.
Finances
Can you afford to do this? Do you have access to, either via savings or a bank loan, the funds necessary to pay the initial franchise purchase fee and to support yourself during at least the first 12 months as the business grows? If not, now is not the time to buy a franchise – but it is the perfect time to start planning how you will achieve that in the future.
Legal
Have you already identified the franchise specialist solicitor you are going to use to check your franchise agreement? A list of BFA member advisors, including solicitors, is available at thebfa.org.
Due diligence
If you are already looking at a couple of franchises, have you spoken to a full range of their existing franchisees? Are they happy with their businesses? Are they profitable? Would they do it again? Are they receiving full support from head office? If you are not comfortable with the answers from at least five different franchisees at various stages of their franchise ownership, then walk away. Talking to current franchisees is the very best way of gauging the success of a franchise.
Franchising is not for everyone, but there is a franchise for everyone. If you are looking for more control of your life, whilst still working hard, then buying a franchise could be for you.
Key takeaways
- The BFA’s 2024 British Franchise Survey found that franchising has a failure rate of less than 6% over 25 years, making it one of the safer routes into self-employment.
- The average age of a new franchisee is 49, yet people typically discover franchising at 33 – meaning there is a 16-year gap between awareness and action that is rarely explained by fear of failure alone.
- Safeclean franchisee Paul Garcia’s biggest regret was waiting too long, while Rhythm Time franchisee Anneka Hurst found that taking the leap taught her what she was capable of.
- Christina Handasyde Dick MBE, founder of Guardian Home Care, says confidence does not come first – you take the next step, then the next, and eventually look back at how far you have come.
- Before buying a franchise, three boxes must be ticked: finances (can you fund the purchase and support yourself for 12 months?), legal (have you identified a specialist franchise solicitor?), and due diligence (have you spoken to at least five existing franchisees?).
