With more than three quarters (76%) of UK professionals intending to look for a new job in 2022 in search of a better work-life balance, franchising can be the answer to many people’s problems in the new year. As well as offering prospects a unique opportunity to become their own boss whilst enjoying the benefits of an established business with a proven track record of success, franchising also offers flexibility and freedom that you do not get from being an employee.
Mick Perrone is a Greensleeves franchisee who recently left his previous job after working over 20 years as an account manager in audio-visual distribution to run Greensleeves’ Bedford territory. “After 20 years in my previous industry with three different companies, I decided I needed a change. I was always frequently up and out early and back late, I had to travel a lot and just didn’t really have enough spare time to spend with my family,” said Mick. “When the pandemic hit, I found myself stuck at home doing online meetings and trying to sell visual products over Zoom. As you can imagine, it was pretty difficult and demoralising. However, being stuck at home made me appreciate things more, like spending time in the garden and with my children.
“I decided to look into franchising because I knew if I wanted to change careers and start up my own business it’d be a challenge to do it alone and I did not have any previous experience. I needed a great support network, which is exactly what I found when I discovered Greensleeves. Franchising also gave me the opportunity to run my own business and choose hours that suited me. I have a young family, so becoming a franchisee with Greensleeves has allowed me to support them. I even have the delights of doing the school run now!
“I had no real experience in lawncare before joining Greensleeves, but the training they provided was excellent and the ongoing support has been equally good. By joining a franchise like Greensleeves I have access to the encouragement and knowledge of Greensleeves network. Something I wouldn’t have had if I started my own business.”
Advice from the experts – choosing the franchise for you
There is no doubt that franchising is a great way to improve your work-life balance. David Truby, the managing director of Greensleeves, gives his advice on how to choose the right franchise for you:
1. Ask yourself what you want from a franchise?
When searching for a franchise, I would recommend taking a step back and considering what you want to achieve by investing in a franchise business. Are you looking for a part-time opportunity or something you can do as a hobby? Or will it need to replace your salary as an employee? Do you have ambitions to own more than one franchise at a time? Be brutally honest when answering these questions – finding the perfect business will be easier once you decide what you are trying to accomplish.
2. How much time are you willing to invest?
Once you have decided what you want from a franchise, it is important to think about how much time you are willing to invest. A key question to ask yourself is whether you are interested in an owner-operator franchise, where you deliver the service of the franchise, or a management model where you to start the business with a team in place to deliver the day-to-day activities whilst you manage the team. Think about family and other commitments and decide how many days and hours you are willing to work. For example, deciding you only want to work weekdays 9 to 5 will eliminate many retail and services franchise opportunities. However, it would not damage the prospects of taking on a lawncare franchise.
3. What are you good at and what are you interested in?
You have to be passionate about what you do to be successful at anything in life. It is like looking for any job. Evaluate your interests, experience and personality to find the right match – although there is no need to limit your choices to just the sectors you have worked in previously. Consider whether you want to work alone or with others and whether you enjoy interacting with customers and managing staff. Follow your passion and good things will come!
