Elite Franchise 100 Guide 2018 by Elite Business Magazine

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JUDGES

CLIVE SAWYER managing director, Business Options

Clive Sawyer is the founder and managing director of Business Options. Business Options is one of the UK’s leading franchise and businessexpansion consultancies providing help, advice and support to companies looking to expand their business through franchising and, if not, find appropriate alternative expansion models such as licensing, distributorships or agencies. Sawyer has written three book on franchising How to Franchise Your Business, 20 Most Asked Questions in Franchising and The Essential Women’s Guide to Buying a Franchise, all of which are available on Amazon and through the bfa’s bookstore.

PAUL CLEGG managing director, Coconut Creatives

Having been involved in franchising for over 12 years, Paul Clegg is more than qualified to join the Elite Franchise 100 judging panel. He has become a voice of authority through the franchises he has worked with, both in the past and as managing director of Coconut Creatives. Clegg’s opinion is often sought out as a recognised trusted advisor for understanding franchising challenges. In 2011 Clegg attained the bfa’s qualified franchise professional title, in recognition of his professional knowledge

MARTIN JONES managing director, Home Instead Senior Care

Martin Jones is the managing director of Home Instead Senior Care, which specialises in delivering bespoke, quality care and companionship to older people in their own homes. Jones is responsible for leading the entire UK operation, including the National Office support team and its 190 franchise offices. Jones is a member of the Business in the Community’s Age at Work Leadership Team, where he creates and develops strategies to support older workers. Jones is also an ambassador to the Governments Champion for Older Workers and a trustee for the Care Workers charity, existing to support the welfare of care workers.

RICHARD HOLDEN head of franchising, Lloyds Banking Group

Having spent all of his working life in banking, Richard Holden is widely regarded one of the most experienced and knowledgeable bankers that specialises in the UK franchise market. Holden leads the Lloyds Banking Group franchise team and his insight and innovative touch has transformed the way that the bank has supported the sector over the years. Dedicated franchise lenders that handle the entire sanctioning process for potential franchisees has demonstrated Lloyds Banking Group’s ability to deliver fast, reliable and consistent decisions to help their customers grow and succeed. Holden is a firm believer in the development of ethical franchising in the UK and helps to share good practices and raise industry standards.

NICOLA BROADHURST partner and head of franchising, Stevens & Bolton Nicola Broadhurst trained at Theodore Goddard (now Addleshaws) in London and worked at Mishcon de Reya and Mundays before joining Stevens & Bolton LLP in 2011 as a partner and head of franchising. Broadhurst is a commercial transactional lawyer specialising in franchising and commercial exploitation of intellectual property. She regularly advises both franchisors and franchisees. Her practice has a particular emphasis on international expansion through franchising, including direct unit franchising, master franchising and area development, as well as offering advice to those international franchisors looking to import franchise systems into the UK.

JOSH RUSSELL editor, Elite Franchise

Both our esteemed editor and the final member of our judging panel, Josh Russell is the man in charge of properly apostrophising our publication and making sure every entrant in the Elite Franchise 100 is up to snuff. And as an ardent franchise fan, he’s felt incredibly privileged to have overseen the inaugural Elite Franchise 100 and wishes a hearty congrats to all those shortlisted.

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

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DNS Accountant dnsaccountantsfranchise.co.uk

DNS Accountants

started as a traditional accountancy practice in 2005. Due to the personal style of Sumit Agarwal, its managing director and awardwinning founder, the franchise has created a unique method of delivering accountancy and tax services to small businesses and contractors. And it’s safe to say that DNS Accountants stands out from the competition in a number of ways. For instance, clients are given a chance to choose

from the pricing and delivery systems the franchise has developed over the years. The key in such a competitive market is pricing and delivery and DNS Accountants gives every new franchisee the tools they need in order to succeed. DNS Accountants’ franchisees are perfectly positioned to offer all services under one umbrella,

always meeting their clients’ needs and further cementing the relationship with them. A DNS Accountants franchise not only offers franchisees a strong brand but also access to cloud-based accounting and CRM solutions, the usage of a recognised brand, training and support and a large, exclusive marketing territory.

Photography for Little People photographyforlittlepeoplefranchise.co.uk

Established in 2005, Photography for Little People is the UK’s leading mobile family-portrait studio. The franchisee runs an exclusive, custom, mobile photography studio specialising in newborn, pregnancy, baby and family photography. Photography for Little People’s franchisees are experts at taking beautiful impressions of children’s hands and feet. The youngest to date was just six hours old. Photography for Little People was founded by mother and daughter team Jan Massey and Melanie Armstrong. Since launching the business in 2008, the founders have established a beautiful business that specialises in capturing

those special moments in time both through their fine-art photography and their unique impressions. The company now covers the UK and has expanded into Hong Kong and Singapore. All franchisees are trained to an exceptionally high standard, which reflects in their images and bespoke pieces made for their clients. Photography for Little People is renowned for its free photo shoot, meaning that there is no obligation to buy the photos. The founders and the franchisees pride themselves on the fact that they all love capturing precious memories, photographing bumps and newborn and creating beautiful and stunning pieces of art that truly deliver a big wow factor.

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Celebrate women who are making their mark in franchising

98 Challenger mobile challenger-mobile.co.uk

Established in 1991, Challenger Mobile has grown to become one of the largest independent B2B telecoms companies in the UK. It is part of the O2 Direct Partner Network and has received the Digital & Customer Excellence award for the last three years.

at the Building on this success, Challenger has launched a referral programme, giving others the opportunity to join it in the highly lucrative telecoms marketplace. This allows franchisees to create a longterm residual income and run their own business, something made even simpler by the fact there is no product to sell.

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Radfield Home Care Radfield is the brand to watch in the home-care space, offering a clear model that allows franchisees to access the rapidly growing, lucrative private home-care market radfieldhomecarefranchising.co.uk

Radfield Home Care

was launched in 2008 by sister and brother team Hannah MacKechnie and Alex Green. But they were hardly strangers to the sector, having grown up in a residential home for elderly people established by their parents. Their

established 2016 Investment level ÂŁ75,000 Number of franchises 6

intimate understanding of how excellent care should be delivered came in use when they opened their first branch in Shrewsbury, which would kick off the expansion of their network across the West Midlands before they finally franchised Radfield Home Care in 2016. Since launching, the level of interest in

Radfield has been overwhelming because it is a specialist in delivering elderly care, providing franchisees with access to a rapidly growing market. Since launching, Radfield has not been short on accolades, having become the first certified B Corp in the UK healthcare sector, attesting to its ethical values in looking after both franchisees and employees. These values are echoed in the highly motivated franchisees who want to provide a high-quality care service to their clients. They understand that owning a home-care business needs both empathy and care for others, as well as a desire to grow your own business. The training and support provided to franchisees is unlimited - if they need support then the Radfield team is there to help and guide them. The franchisor sees franchisees as long-term business partners and is with them every step of the journey. Radfield is an exciting brand in the home-care sector. It is an early adopter of new technology solutions, has a business model that is positioned perfectly to benefit from the ageing population, is the only ethically accredited company in the UK healthcare sector and is set for the rapid growth of its franchise network in 2018.

Sector Home care

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Warrens Bakery

96 Beatons Tearooms beatonstearooms.co.uk

Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop began life as a small, friendly tearoom in the village of Tisbury, inspired by royal photographer Sir Cecil Beaton. It has since blossomed into a franchise spreading across the UK, with each tea room serving its own distinctive brand of gracious hospitality, along with a range of loose-

warrensbakery.co.uk

leaf teas, delicious homemade cakes, light lunches and a specially curated selection of books to browse and purchase. As the brand continues to grow, Beatons Tearooms is seeking hard-working and dedicated franchisees with the passion needed to turn their dream of owning a tearoom into a reality.

There is a gap in the market for a premium bakery. Fortunately, Warrens Bakery, with its unparalleled heritage and provenance, is the franchise ready to fill that gap. This traditional British bakery has national brand recognition. Having been established over 150 years ago and being the world’s oldest pasty maker, Cornwall’s oldest commercial bakery crafts its own products and has experience-led branding in its stores to demonstrate this craft skill. The people working for the franchise are devoted to craft baking. Nothing makes them happier than

using fresh ingredients, testing new recipes, kneading dough or crimping the perfect artisanal product. Warrens Bakery specialises in affordable luxuries at a time when consumer tastes are evolving towards greater quality, provenance and differentiation. This passion has certainly served the franchise in good stead, with Warrens Bakery regularly being voted one of the UK’s leading craft bakeries. And unsurprisingly, it also means that the company is growing fast. With over 50 equity stores and BritishRetail-Consortium-accredited production, the franchise has a robust business model, proven across multiple counties. Now the franchise is seeking like-minded franchisees to roll out its premium bakery brand across the nation.

95 Fitness Space fitnessspace.com

‘Never train alone’ is Fitness

Space’s ethos. As a serviceorientated, boutique offering, Fitness Space differentiates itself from the competition through the supportive environment it provides – every member has a dedicated fitness coach and customised programme available on the Fitness Space app. The flagship Fitness Space studio was opened in Ascot, followed by the first franchise-owned premises in Hughenden Valley. Since

then the brand has gone from strength-to-strength. Driven by a model that can operate in highstreet locations and flourish in competition-rich areas, its consistent and sustainable profitability is what helps to make it an attractive franchise opportunity.

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Gallones Ice Cream gallonesparlours.com

The Gallone family

have been making their amazing ice cream for over 100 years from their traditional family recipe. In 1935, the ice cream was manufactured and then sold via their three vans in Northampton; by 2013 they had over 30 vans and were distributing to parlours and supermarkets all across the UK. In July 2013, Aldo and Cathy Gallone opened their first parlour next to the factory. The parlour offers customers the

chance to treat themselves to one of more than 50 flavours of ice cream, enjoy a Gallone’s special-blend coffee or even book a birthday party in the bespoke Willy-Wonka-style party rooms for children where they can make their own flavour of ice cream In addition to in-store sales, Gallone’s Ice Cream Parlours also sell one-litre tubs of their own ice cream for enjoyment at home. The success of the brand and the parlour led to several enquiries from customers and friends seeking to open their own Gallone’s via some form of franchise. As a result, after piloting the concept in the nearby town of Market Harborough with some success, Gallone’s began using franchising to expand across the UK.

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92 Award Leisure Franchise awardleisure.co.uk

Offering franchisees an exciting opportunity to run their own hot-tub and outdoor-leisure retail store, Award Leisure has a proven business model to help them build a long-term profitable business in a booming consumer-leisure market. Award Leisure provides 100% support every step of the way, with comprehensive training in the company’s technical

Celebrate women who are making their mark in franchising at the systems, retail strategy, sales methods, product knowledge, software applications and customer service. With the help of internal marketing systems and support from Award Leisure’s experienced head-office team, this provides all franchisees with a profitable long-term future, sales growth and lots of customer engagement.

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MagiKats Maths and English educationalfranchise.co.uk

Demand for tutoring is growing at a faster rate than ever before. Fortunately, this provides an excellent opportunity to shape the minds of young people with an education business. MagiKats centres provide maths and English tuition from pre-school to GCSE. MagiKats franchisees support children and young adults in their local area, employing mentors to deliver its programmes using its world-class

materials and multi-sensory learning methods. Offering a two-strand system that gives both an immediate boost to topics being covered at school and steady consolidation to fill in gaps in core skills, MagiKats gives students a programme that is built just for them – no two will ever be the same. With decades of experience and an expanding network, MagiKats offers a ready-made structure that anyone can follow – no teaching experience necessary. With comprehensive training and support provided, all a MagiKats franchisee needs to do is apply their energy to its system. This makes it a great fit for franchisees with experience in business development or sales and marketing; it’s also the perfect match for those that have taken some time out to raise a family and are now looking for something that can provide flexible working. MagiKats believes in ‘learning without limits’ and that applies to its franchisees too.

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Rosemary Bookkeeping rosemaryfranchise.co.uk

Rosemary Bookkeeping

began franchising in 2009 and offers a unique bookkeeping system, providing clients with the information they need when they need it. The company’s franchisees provide an affordable and professional bookkeeping service that supports both their clients and accountants, allowing them to concentrate on what they do best: running their business. A truly scaleable franchise

model, Rosemary Bookkeeping is designed to suit any lifestyle, with the option of outsourcing all or some clients depending on what best suits the franchisee. And with HMRC’s Making Tax Digital initiative launching soon and the introduction of quarterly tax submissions for all SMEs, the benefit of buying a Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise is clear. Now under ownership of ServiceMaster, Rosemary Bookkeeping franchisees have access to the experience of a

long-established franchisor that offers expertise in finance, HR and sales and marketing. The strength of Rosemary Bookkeeping comes in the franchise network itself, with many franchisees subcontracting work to others in the network. Rosemary Bookkeping can work just as well as an investment opportunity – running the franchise but outsourcing all the work – as it can providing a bookkeeping service for each franchisee.

Shuttercraft is one

Shuttercraft shuttercraft.co.uk

of the UK’s leading suppliers of premium window shutters and blinds. The franchise offers an opportunity to join the team as a management franchisee. The market for interior shutters has exploded over the last five years and Shuttercraft has seen consistent year-on-year growth, which is driven by increased demand due to the higher awareness of window shutters and the desire for

a stylish alternative to more traditional window coverings. Shuttercraft franchisees run their businesses as a management franchise and employ fitters to install the premium made-to-measure shutters. Shuttercraft only sells S:CRAFT window coverings, the best in the market for both craftsmanship and engineering. While the market is still in its infancy, Shuttercraft isn’t resting on its laurels and is instead taking advantage of this opportunity to grow exponentially. Shuttercraft provides its franchisees with extensive multi-layered support, expert training, technical support and business admin to give your business every advantage while growing it. This management opportunity is suited to ambitious, confident individuals who want to rapidly grow a business with revenues in excess of £500,000.

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88 Minster Cleaning Services minsterfranchise.co.uk

Minster Cleaning Services

was established in 1982 and has been a full member of the bfa since 1992. Now it has more than 40 management franchise branches that provide

commercial cleaning services to over 6,000 clients. With so much experience of franchising and the commercial cleaning market, Minster provides a rock-solid business model with considerable growth opportunities. Larger branches employ upwards of 200 people, with many achieving annual sales in excess of ÂŁ1m. Franchisees receive comprehensive initial and ongoing support across the key business areas of marketing, finance, operations and IT plus professional advice in the complex fields of employment law and health and safety.

FiltaFry filtafryplus.co.uk

Since 1996 FiltaFry

has been providing on-site micro filtration of cooking oil, a deep vacuum-based clean of fryers and a complete fryermanagement service. FiltaFry started with a single franchise in the UK and now has over 350 franchisees that service more than 10,000 kitchens in 13 countries around the world. FiltaFry franchisees can either own a single unit franchise or build their franchise into a multi-van business. Franchisees or trained staff then visit clients

87 Diamond Logistics diamondlogistics.co.uk

is a high-growth, Fast Track 100 delivery and fulfilment franchise targeting the explosive expansion of e-commerce to build franchisees a sustainable, continual and lasting income. Centralised admin, billing and first-stage credit control

Diamond Logistics

on a weekly basis to filter the cooking oil in deep fryers and provide a deep vacuum clean before returning the now clean and filtered oil. The service not only keeps fryers hygienically clean and improves food quality but also reduces the risk of accidents, all while saving the client both time and money. Each franchisee has their own exclusive territory made up of hundreds if not thousands of potential customers with virtually no competition. Potential customers can range from restaurants, hospitals, schools and offices to anywhere that has a deep fat fryer. With the service required on a weekly repeat basis, it allows the franchisee to earn a good income from just a small customer base.

mean franchisees are relieved of many daily tasks and there is a full programme of business training and assistance in the Diamond business model. In under three years, the Diamond model guides franchisees to an annual turnover of at least ÂŁ1m in their areas when the sales programme is followed properly.

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Dublcheck dublcheck.co.uk

Founded in 1993, Dublcheck has more than 100 franchisees in successful operation across the UK. Offering a rapid return on investment and requiring low overheads, the commercial-cleaning franchise also provides training, ongoing support and mentoring to help its franchisees get up to speed. On top of this, Dublcheck is a great fit for any franchisee worried about

the prospect of knocking on doors and obtaining their own clients. With over 25 years of success in setting people up in business, it takes responsibility for obtaining contracts for its franchisees, which means they know exactly what turnover they will achieve. This approach takes pressure off franchisees, enabling them instead to concentrate on looking after their customers and building strong relationships. Like building bricks, franchisees can keep constructing their businesses one contract at a time and know exactly what they are going to invoice each month. Additionally, the UK commercial-cleaning sector is worth more than ÂŁ8bn and Dublcheck has seen a substantial increase in turnover despite the recent economic climate. Because buildings everywhere need cleaning, the commercial-cleaning market is one of the best businesses to join as a franchisee because it is more robust and recession resistant than many others.

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84 Noa Noa noanoa.com

In 1981, Noa Noa was created by the two founding brothers, Harald and Lars Holstein, as a reaction to the monotonous and uniform

fashion of the time: they felt sensuality and creativity needed to be reinstated in clothes. Noa Noa believes that private initiative is the strongest drive in the world. And the kind of initiative and enthusiasm it is looking for is found in people who have funds available for investment, want to establish their own business and want to see it grow. By choosing Noa Noa, franchisees can combine the desire of having their own business with taking control of their own destiny, both financially and personally, while at the same time minimising the economic risks.

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83 Suit the City suitfranchise.com

Since Carol Rawson and Sallie Belton first launched Suit the City, the bespoke tailoring franchise has become a successful enterprise. And there is no sign that its growth may be slowing down, as the market grew 22% in 2016 and customers are becoming more discerning.

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So it’s hardly surprising that the company has attracted a number of talented franchisees over the years. Each member of the network gets access to a wide range of products to sell: its inventory includes everything from the sharpest suits to casual chic and evening wear. But the franchisees won’t be alone as they’ll lead a team of consultant tailors fully trained by the franchisor. The franchisees will manage the development of the business, winning new clients through networking and events. With low overheads and strong margins from a mix of new sales and long-term clients, franchisees’ success is only limited by their ambition, leadership and drive. Drawing upon the franchisor’s experience, franchisees learn how to gain new clients and market their business. To be successful franchisees must love networking and have the ambition to build something special.

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established 1994 Investment level £9,950 Number of franchises 100+ Sector Domestic cleaning

82 Ovenu ovenufranchise.co.uk

With two decades in the industry, Ovenu is turning up the heat in the ovencleaning sector

The Ovenu business was started nearly 25 years ago by Rik Hellewell. Under his guidance the company has grown, developed and prospered over the years and has become the first choice for those looking to get involved in the oven-cleaning-andvaleting sector. The Ovenu opportunity is a perfect fit for hard-working people who appreciate the benefits that a tried, tested and trusted franchise brand offers aspiring business people. Ovenu has a clear understanding of the two key components that make up its franchise package: cleaning ovens to a meticulous standard and running a profitable business. And what differentiates Ovenu from the many similar companies in the sector is the outstanding knowledge, help, support and practical guidance on offer to franchisees through every stage of their business development. The family-run headquarters and external specialists who are retained by Ovenu are undisputed experts in their fields. Their input helps keep Ovenu’s franchisees way ahead of their competitors.

It would be easy enough these days to contract out a few of these projects to significantly cheaper suppliers but that’s not how Ovenu operates. The company understands that quality has to be a top priority throughout the entire business. To ensure their success, each franchisee is given a startup package with the finest and most cost-effective tools available, including Ovenu’s own cleaning-product range. The online and offline marketing is outstanding with a range of eye-catching and high-visibility adverts, including fully managed online campaigns. Not only this but the initial and ongoing fee structure is realistic and easy to understand and the most recently introduced version of the client management system is generating significant extra profits for all franchisees.

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ZeroDryTime In the past decade, Zerodrytime has proven that supporting franchisees and offering high-quality services can really help franchisees clean up zerodrytime.com/franchise

Zerodrytime has been cleaning households and commercial premises since 2008. Today it has over 55 vans covering virtually every part of the UK and is the country’s only dry carpet, upholstery and hard-floorcleaning franchise. Zerodrytime offers a unique opportunity for franchisees with its four cleaning solutions under one umbrella as well as second-to-none training, support and backup from its UK training centre in the north east of England. Zerodrytime has a proven track record in getting new franchisees from startup to earning about £50,000 in their first year. This is thanks to the franchise’s solid foundations of support and knowledge, providing new franchisees with the platform they need to build their business in their desired location. Some of Zerodrytime’s franchisees have multiple vans on the road and have now graduated from being a man in a van to having a management role. Training begins with a unique fasttrack process followed by a two-week course in the classroom and real-life job situations before franchisees hit the road. Franchisees also receive ongoing support and marketing advice, as well as backoffice tools such as e-learning portals and video tutorials to ensure they continue to be successful. Zerodrytime franchisees receive all machines, equipment, products, uniforms, van signage, tools, marketing materials required, as well as a website and full comprehensive training as part of their initial investment. Plus, franchisees also receive an exclusive territory of around 90,000 homes.

established 2008 Investment level £19,500 Number of franchises 52 Sector Domestic and commercial cleaning

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Concept Building Solutions is part of the

Concept Building Solutions

Apollo Blinds

conceptpropertyclaims.co.uk

apolloblindsfranchise.co.uk

is a rapidly growing franchise network selling and installing gorgeous made-to-measure windowblinds, plantation shutters and awnings. It is part of the Hunter Douglas Group, the world’s largest windowblinds company, meaning franchisees have access to the broadest range of window blinds in the UK. It is first to market with innovative, highquality products that can be

Apollo Blinds

installed in a wide variety of spaces, from straightforward living-room windows to trickier roof lights. The new management has secured increased levels of investment for the franchise, leading to an expanded support infrastructure for existing and new franchisees.

Service Solutions Group and have been one of the foremost property claims management companies in the UK over the better part of two decades. Franchisees survey damage sustained to properties, negotiate with the insurer and undertake all works required on behalf of the policy holder. As well as their service being free of charge, new franchisees receive the property industry’s most comprehensive training package and one-to-one support, ensuring that they will succeed Each franchisee has the potential to work with UKwide insurance contacts and in an industry unaffected by the economic climate.

Marston’s Pub franchise marstonscareers.co.uk

Marston’s Pub Franchise offers franchisees the chance to run a successful, profitable pub business in the heart of a thriving community. For an initial investment of just £25,000 plus working capital, franchisees could be running a topquality business with the added reassurance of the extensive franchise support package Marston’s provides. Marston’s has a long and successful background in pub operations: it is a stable business and its business model is proven. It doesn’t rest on its laurels though: it’s constantly looking at ways to develop what it does for the good of both the business and its franchisees.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Offering access to a huge market and receiving remarkable ratings from its customers, franchisees can evidently clean up with Ovenclean

OVENCLEAN ovenclean.com

Ovenclean is one of the UK’s original oven-

cleaning companies. Launched in 1994, the Ovenclean network currently stands at around 100 franchisees operating across the UK, all of whom undergo two weeks of intensive training. With over 26 million households in the UK alone, franchisees can enjoy a massive, virtually untapped marketplace, as well as growing demand from emerging business markets. As an Ovenclean specialist, franchisees will learn the skills to restore a range of kitchen appliances. Its smartly uniformed technicians are courteous, knowledgeable and carry out professional oven cleans for their customers, priding themselves on providing a first-class service and high-quality cleaning However, it’s not just ovens that it can scrub. Ovenclean franchisees are able to clean all domestic oven brands and models, including electric ovens, gas ovens, ranges, microwaves,

established 1994 Investment level £14,995+VAT Number of franchises 110

hobs, extractor fans and also barbecues. All removable components such as racks, doors and glass are cleaned using specialist equipment in the fully-equipped Ovenclean liveried vans. Ovenclean provides a unique product range and innovative cleaning system: it has no added caustic and has been assessed and approved to ISO 14001. The strength of this cleaning system engenders tremendous customer satisfaction – so much so that word of mouth referrals have become a strategic part of the Ovenclean operation, resulting in a rapidly growing and satisfying business that provides high earnings and a flexible lifestyle. In light of this, it’s no surprise that customers have given it the tremendous rating of 9.9 on Trustpilot, meaning that 99% of its customers rate it as five-star company. Ovenclean is part of Franchise Brands plc, which is a global, multi-brand franchisor. Franchise Brands oversees four brands in total, encompassing more than 500 franchisees across 12 countries. Therefore, Franchise Brands has a wealth of experience and knowledge in helping franchisees to launch and grow their businesses.

Sector Domestic cleaning

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

TruGreen Professional LawnCare

trugreenfranchise.co.uk

TruGreen has been creating beautiful

lawns around the world for nearly 45 years and provides an expert lawn-care service. No two lawns are the same and neither is a TruGreen treatment package. As highly trained and qualified lawn-care technicians, new franchisees will be able to identify grass species and lawn diseases to recommend a bespoke care package to suit every customer.

Technical training and business coaching is provided by ServiceMaster, the multibrand franchisor that owns TruGreen, whose resident lawn-care expert has over 40 years’ experience in professional sports-turf management and external training. With their help, new franchisees will be qualified in the necessary accreditations. As one of the UK’s longestestablished and leading multi-brand franchisors, ServiceMaster also provides ongoing marketing and business support throughout each franchisee’s journey. The proven franchise model is designed to maximise the potential revenue opportunities during the peak lawn-care seasons, whilst allowing time to manage and review business performance in the quieter seasons. Bespoke business management software keeps track of sales and marketing intelligence, so franchisees can focus on building their business. As demand increases, franchisees can employ additional staff and invest in additional vans and equipment. There is no upper limit with TruGreen.

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Platinum Business Partners Steve Bolton’s e-commerce franchise has grown at an impressive rate since it was first launched in 2016 platinumbusinesspartners.co.uk

established 2016 Investment level £30,000+ Number of franchises 124 Sector Online business

The online revolution is here and it’s changing the way people live their lives and how they shop. This is something Platinum Business Partners is taking full advantage of. The e-commerce franchise founded by Steve Bolton combines the power of franchising with that of online retail. Given the exciting allure of the brand, it’s hardly surprising that the franchise network has already grown to include 124 franchisees since it was first established in 2016. And they haven’t been wrong to put their faith in Bolton’s business acumen. For starters, becoming a Platinum Business Partners franchisee enables people to run their own business that will provides them with a steady growth projection and flexibility. As an added perk, each franchise can just as easily be run from a home as from a coffee shop. All franchisees need is an internet connection This is in no small part thanks to the support offered by the franchisor. For instance, franchisees get help setting up a tax-efficient business, creating their own brand and how to utilise existing platforms such as Amazon and Shopify. Unlike many other businesses of this size, joining the Platinum Business Partners network only requires a reasonably low level of startup capital. Most of the franchisees that have already joined had access to a minimum of £30,000 which covered their initial franchise fee and set up for launching four products. With the help and support of the franchisor, franchisees can expect to see a ROI of between £2,000 and £4,000 salary per month.

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Optic-Kleer The new leadership of David Overton has made Optic-Kleer a franchising force to count on franchise.optic.kleer.co.uk

Optic-Kleer has been franchising since 1991. It is the largest windscreen-repair-only company in the UK and is aiming to become a household name. Encouragingly, with 50% national coverage, it’s safe to say that Optic-Kleer is on its well on its way to achieving this goal. All franchisees operate in their own exclusive territory, are thoroughly trained and are given excellent ongoing support. For instance, while franchisees repair windscreens, the franchisor manages the process thereafter, including collecting payments from insurance companies on their behalf. New franchisees also benefit from tapping into a business model developed over several years that enables customers to save time

established 1991 Investment level £15,000 + VAT

by having their windscreen repaired while they’re at their local supermarket. OpticKleer’s relationship with most of the UK supermarkets provides franchisees with a steady stream of daily customers. Optic-Kleer’s managing director David Overton has a great understanding of what the franchisees need to become profitable thanks to having spent time working as a franchisee before buying the business. Since taking over Overton has refined the Optic-Kleer model. For instance, he has invested in a digital revamp of the franchise’s operations to deliver the complete package for all franchisees. This digital investment enables customers to easily find the Optic-Kleer franchisee closest to them. Other perks of the revamp include paperless invoicing at the point of sale using tablets, improving the customer experience and the quality of data collected via the Optic-Kleer app. The revamp has also meant that franchisees can view and manage their work online thanks to a new back-office system, as well as seeing the launch of a new website telling how franchisees escaped their old jobs to become successful business owners.

Number of franchises 47 Sector Van-based

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Buy a coffee franchise. Coffee is big business: 2.2 billion coffee cups are consumed every year in coffee shops. It makes lots of money: Industry turnover is approx. £7.9 billion and sales have increased 10% since 2015. And it’s growing: Analysts predict the coffee shop sector will exceed 30,000 outlets and produce £15 billion turnover by 2025.

Visit FranchiseSales.com to find out more about buying a coffee franchise – and more!

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BoConcept boconcept.co.uk

Global retailer BoConcept is more than a franchise: it’s a concept for creating outstanding modern and sophisticated living spaces at affordable prices. BoConcept was established in 1952 when two Danish craftsmen opened a furniture factory in the small town of Herning in Denmark. The goal was to make stylish great quality furniture that was functional, gave great value for money and offered customisable solutions to fit customers’ lifestyle and needs. This goal turned BoConcept from a small furniture factory into the largest global franchise retailer of Danish furniture, with operations in more than 260 stores in 60 countries.

Century 21 UK century21franchise.co.uk

CENTURY 21

is the world’s largest residential estate agency organisation, comprising over 7,400 broker offices and approximately 111,000 sales professionals in 78 countries worldwide. The global success of its model is based on achieving customer service excellence through the consistent application of its brand values.

Happiness is often connected to the extent of personal freedom we experience in daily life and BoConcept believes in choices rather than fixed solutions. Franchisees around the world share an interest in attractive design and sublime furnishings with their customers and many first encountered BoConcept when they were looking to buy furniture for themselves. In addition to their interest in design, many franchisees are driven by the desire to be self-employed

CENTURY 21 came to the UK in 2005, with the franchise licence being acquired in 2013 by the SDL Group, one of the fastest-growing property-services groups in the UK. Being part of the SDL Group gives each of the brand’s UK franchisees access to several additional earning opportunities through surveying, property management, auctions and financial-services referrals. The CENTURY 21 UK team works with franchisees to build a robust business model, with a focus on the proposed territory, the results of guided research, their experience and the network they have at their disposal. They help franchisees to understand the size of their sales and lettings opportunity and how they can achieve this without being overwhelmed. The franchise also assists with finding a suitable office location, launching each individual business, creating a marketing plan, assisting with strategy

while also being part of an expanding international chain. BoConcept specialises in furniture and accessories and delivers a unique shopping experience that prides itself on exceptional customer service and consultancy expertise. With 25 years’ experience and an accredited bfa membership, BoConcept has a well-established and proven franchise model. In other words, it’s easy to see why BoConcept sits comfortably on the Elite Franchise 100.

and compliance, providing access to comprehensive property-management software and ongoing training and development. With ambitious plans for the future and plans in place to exploit the latest innovations in tech, Century 21 UK is sure to be climbing through the ranks in the years to come.

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is the first fire and security business to provide access to this lucrative market as a franchise offering. A Jackson franchise offers a potentially excellent return on investment, a strong and immediately recognisable brand and a sterling reputation among its large and growing client base. With over 25 years of experience in delivering industry-leading service the franchise is ideally positioned to help franchisees meet the demand for a comprehensive fire and security solution in their area. Office managers need solutions and are delighted to find professional and reliable providers offering just that.

Jackson Fire & Security

70 Jackson Fire & Security

71 Mail Boxes Etc. mbe.co.uk/franchise

the post, parcel and print company, is one of the world’s most successful non-food-or-retail franchises. The company has 160 stores in the UK and Ireland, which are all part of a growing global network of 1,600 franchisees. The franchise’s high-street onestop-shop concept offers

Mail Boxes Etc,

jacksonfire.co.uk/franchise

customers mailbox and virtual office rental, post, parcel and print services. Additionally, Mail Boxes Etc. also provides small-business owners, the public, students, overseas visitors and buyers in the fine art and antiques sector with everything they need in terms of print.

Buy a sandwich franchise. Britain’s favourite food Valued at £4.4bn 11.5bn sandwiches consumed each year

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

established 2006 Investment level £29,500 + VAT Number of franchises 14 Sector Children’s education

ComputerXplorers With a truly unique offering that helps kids become tomorrow’s tech superstars, ComputerXplorers is a digital franchise with a difference www.computerxplorers.co.uk

ComputerXplorers is the

country’s leading provider of computing, coding and programming education for children aged three to 13. Its clubs and classes are linked to the national curriculum throughout the UK and, with over 200 pieces of curriculum, lesson plans and parent updates, its range is comprehensive and the breadth of its offering substantial. Offering after-school clubs, pre-school and nurseries, summer camps and in-curriculum time classes, each of ComputerXplorers territories include at least 300 primary schools and 300 pre-schools or nurseries. Having no significant competition, ComputerXplorers is quite unlike any other franchise and is ideal for people who want to combine running their

own business with raising a family. Additionally, being a home-based management franchise, the business benefits from low operational costs and high margins. And franchisees don’t have to be Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates: whilst ComputerXplorers looks for candidates that are confident with technology and enthusiastic about its benefits, franchisees recruit, train and manage a team of people to deliver the classes, meaning they don’t need to be IT experts. Instead, franchisees are responsible for managing and marketing the business, which involves contacting and meeting with professionals, including head teachers, nursery owners and holiday programme leaders. ComputerXplorers is run by The Bardon Group, which runs a stable of four franchise companies and has combined experience of over 70 years in franchising.

The company provides comprehensive ongoing support – from curriculum development and business planning to marketing and PR, regular conference calls and at least one annual network meeting. On top of this, its initial fee includes substantial software licences, a bespoke marketing launch programme, an appointment-generating system, a website, a laptop, marketing material, training, manuals and a licence to trade.

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68 Trophy Pet Foods trophypetfoods.co.uk

Trophy Pet Foods has been established since the early 1990s and is the first mobile pet-food franchise in the UK. Since then it has become a market leader in its field with a substantial team of passionate franchisees and it is a nationwide company with the knowledge and experience to make each franchisee successful. Three pillars â&#x20AC;&#x201C; convenience, quality and British â&#x20AC;&#x201C; define Trophy Pet Foods. Its high-quality British-made pet food, free home-delivery service, free samples, competitive pricing free expert nutritional advice and friendly customer service, are all ingredients that truly make Trophy Pet Foods a winning combination.

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ChipsAway Two decades of experience has enabled ChipsAway to grow a network of over 200 franchisees chipsaway.co.uk

Having been established in 1994, ChipsAway has spent more than 20 years building a fantastic reputation for providing high quality, value-formoney repairs to car paintwork on a same-day basis. Its customers benefit from a fantastic local service backed by a nationally recognised brand with extensive industry experience. The magic of a ChipsAway repair is that it eliminates the inconvenience and potential expense of using a body shop. It enables everyday minor damage to car bodywork to be repaired as new quickly, conveniently, professionally and at a fraction of the cost of traditional body-shop methods. Its services include repairing minor paintwork scratches, bumper scuffs, dents and alloy-wheel repairs and its specialists work from vehicles fully equipped as mobile workshops or fixed-base units known as Car Care Centres. Today, ChipsAway is a full member of the bfa and has over 200 mobile car-body repair specialists in its growing network. Due to its customer service and the high quality of its car body repairs, its customers have also given it the coveted five-star rating on Trustpilot. On top of this, according to YouGov research, a third of people in the UK have heard of the ChipsAway brand, which is a 14% increase on 2015â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s results and means that ChipsAway has 11 times more brand awareness than its closest competitor. ChipsAway was acquired in 2008 by international multi-brand franchisor established Franchise Brands. Franchise Brands is 1994 also parent company of established brands Investment Metro Rod, Ovenclean and Barking Mad, level encompassing more than 500 franchisees ÂŁ29,995 and having a collective trading history of + VAT over 50 years. Number of franchises 220

Sector Automotive

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66 We Love Pets welovepetsfranchise.co.uk

For ten years, We Love

Pets has been providing dog-walking and pet-sitting services to thousands of happy customers. At its core, the franchise is a family-owned and award-winning, bfaaccredited, company in the

pet-franchise market that puts pets at the heart of what it does. Becoming a franchisee has enabled many people to become their own boss, work with animals and get a better work-life balance. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only franchisor to offer its franchisees the City & Guilds Dog Walking and Pet Sitting qualification. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the only one to offer ongoing business, vet nurse and solicitor support.

sandlerfranchising.co.uk

After growing its network

for five decades, Sandler can today boast about having a multi-award-winning global network of over 250 franchisees. The sales-development consultancy works over long periods of time with clients of all sizes, providing franchisees with a recurring income and a work-life balance they

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65 Sandler Training

at the

could never aspire to in the corporate world. Sandler combines professionalism with personality to deliver worldclass sales and business consultancy to local SMEs. Sandler Consultancy has a flexible model allowing franchisees to stay as a sole business owner or create a practice with employees.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Razzamataz Theatre Schools With its comprehensive performing arts curriculum, it’s no mystery why Razzmataz is getting a round of applause in the Elite Franchise 100 razzamataz.co.uk

Razzamataz Theatre Schools was created in

established 2000 Investment level £7995 + VAT Number of franchises 44 Sector Children’s Activities, Education

2000 to make performing arts available to children and young people. In 2007, founder and managing director Denise Hutton-Gosney appeared on BBC’s Dragons’ Den and won the backing of Duncan Bannatyne. Razzamataz offers exceptional training in dance, drama and singing with exciting opportunities to perform as well as welcoming guest workshops with industry experts such as Ashley Banjo from Diversity. The classes cover everything from traditional West End and Broadway musicals to street dance, pop singing and acting for camera. Razzamataz is very proud of the comprehensive training the franchise offers from day one. This initial training starts with a week at the head office where new franchisees will learn everything they need to about running a theatre school. As well as its head-office team, Razzamataz also brings in outside industry experts make sure it keeps up to date with the latest advancements in its industry. Some of the subjects covered include PR and marketing, health and safety, employment law, social media, accountancy, HR and every other aspect to do with theatre schools. The franchise also has regular refresher training, which is held in various different locations across the UK to make it easy for franchisees to attend. There are also monthly Skype calls with the franchisee’s dedicated support manager, various training webinars with a host of industry experts and lots of local networking with other franchisees. Annually, Razzamataz has a conference and regional events to share best practice and learn new ways to succeed in business. The franchise has recently received feedback from the Smith & Henderson Franchise Satisfaction survey where Razzamataz scored so highly that they joined a group of elite franchisors and received a 5 Star Franchise Satisfaction Award.

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lloydsbank.com/business

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Clear Brew clearbrew.co.uk

Its tried and tested methods

– coupled with its unique portable water-fed mixing units, market-leading chemicals and industrytested inhibitors – mean that Clear Brew’s eco-led repeat beer-line-cleaning service reduces costs, cuts waste, minimises risk and improves draught-beer line quality. With no upfront costs or contracts, its solution becomes a vital repeat service that its customers rely on and are happy to endorse.

Clear Brew has just welcomed its 40th franchisee and is looking to continue to expand nationwide. It is seeking highly motivated individuals who are enthusiastic, great communicators and have a desire to succeed. By choosing Clear Brew, franchisees can become their own boss, running a highly successful franchise with their own huge, protected territory, a training package, a full equipment pack, marketing launch and full ongoing support. A golden opportunity for those who want to help consumers better enjoy their amber nectar, Clear Brew means franchisees can run their business from home and enjoy benefits such as low overheads, an excellent daily cash flow, high profit margins and massive growth potential. The franchise offers a vital repeat service to their customers, regardless of the state of the economy.

The Detective Project

thedetectiveproject.co.uk

Ever since the former

Metropolitan Police Jenny Williams launched The Detective Project franchise in 2013, the company has provided fun and science-based events for children and adults, enabling them to explore how crime is really investigated in 21st century. Children enjoy the educational workshops delivered in primary and secondary school, detective clubs, youth groups and children’s parties, which all spark an interest in

science by experiencing hands-on crimescene investigation challenges. Adult workshops include corporate, team-building and social events based on competitive crime-scene investigation. It’s no surprise that the feedback over the years has been brilliant. And the franchise is growing. While most of its current franchisees have backgrounds working with the police or in teaching and forensic science areas, the comprehensive training process can be tailored to all successful candidates. However, that doesn’t mean all prospective franchisees will be suited for the franchise. To succeed, they have to understand that this is a people business, be able to communicate with children and adults, parents and teachers, individuals and businesses. Furthermore, the franchisor is looking for energetic, self-motivated people to join its team, working for themselves but not by themselves.

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61 Really Awesome Coffee reallyawesomecoffee.co.uk

Really Awesome Coffee is

the UK’s leading mobile café franchise. With its unique mobile cafés, franchisees typically enjoy a healthy worklife balance serving up fresh coffee and deli-style food to customers at local businesses. It’s a sociable, stress-free way to spend their weekdays and there’s also the option of weekend event work for additional profits.

into

As well as finding customers for franchisees, the franchisor’s proven business model includes a comprehensive three-week training and business launch programme, followed by individual ongoing support from a dedicated franchise development manager.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

established 1983 Investment level £19,500 + VAT Number of franchises 9 Sector Specialist system hygiene

techclean Having cut its teeth cleaning out offices in the 1980s, techclean is serious about growing its network techclean.co.uk

Often when something

seems too good to be true, it probably is. However, techclean is the exception to the rule. The Bardon Group’s latest franchise offers new franchisees an opportunity to achieve an amazing return on investment, with many achieving a net

profit margin of over 55% within the first year of trading. And it’s easy to see why as there is a lot of demand for these services. In today’s age of superbugs, office hygiene has shot straight to the top of most companies’ list of priorities. Swab tests have proved there’s more harmful bacteria on a

computer keyboard than on a toilet seat. General office cleaners may flick a duster over the keyboards and wipe around the desk but can rarely achieve the level of cleanliness that is essential to keep bugs at bay and extend the life of the equipment. That’s where techclean comes in. The franchise meets this growing demand from businesses and organisations by providing a top-quality cleaning service for office equipment that comes into regular contact with human hands. By doing this, techclean has become the market leader in its field. Today in a market that is ever-growing, techclean’s customers include big names like Porsche and Disney as well as banks, lawyers, call centres, schools, hospitals and universities. Each franchisee will head up a generously sized territory that covers at least 10,000 businesses. No premises are needed, making the franchise a perfect business to run from a home office with minimal outlay. The ideal owner will be well organised, ambitious and good with people and ideally have an aptitude for sales and marketing. No previous cleaning experience is required as full training is given.

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59 Riverford Organic Farmers riverford.co.uk/franchise

Riverford Organic Farmers

is a multi-award-winning organic-home delivery franchise business and a full member of the bfa. Seeing its franchisees as brand ambassadors across the UK, the people in the network are dedicated to building relationships and delivering ethically grown organic produce to over 47,000 homes each week.

Having been trading for 30 years, the proven business model has the added benefit of being home-based. The franchisor looks after the farming, packing and delivery to local distribution hubs. Additionally, Riverford Organic Farmers supports its franchisees through a wide range of central marketing activity and back-office support, sowing the seeds for their success.

Founded in 1997, Swimtime now operates in over 300 sites, teaching 20,000 children and adults to swim every week. What’s more, with local authority budgets squeezed and the public ever more aware of children’s health; swimming represents a fastgrowing market with heaps of potential. With numerous national contracts and industry-leading management systems, Swimtime offers franchisees an enviable launch pad to run a successful and rewarding swim school. The franchise is a full bfa member that supports the Living Wage Foundation, offers fantastic support and have their sights on changing the lives of children forever.

Swimtime swimtime.org

56 Busylizzy Family Club

58 Esquires Coffee esquirescoffee.co.uk/franchises/

Just when you thought

that the UK coffee market was saturated, Esquires Coffee stepped in proving that the Brits still have a taste for ethical coffee. Visit one of their coffee shops and it’s easy to understand why the franchise is brewing success at a rapid pace. Check out the cool and quirky environment filled with

busylizzy.co.uk/

communal tables, cosy seating and work-friendly tables. And that’s even before tasting the delicious Fairtrade and organic tea and coffee. Esquires embraces individuality and sustainability more like an independent shop rather than a large chain. And now they’re looking for franchisees to join them.

Busylizzy is a members’

club for new parents, hosting pregnancy & postnatal fitness sessions and fun classes for mums to enjoy with little ones aged from zero to four years – all wrapped up into one monthly membership fee. Classes are booked via the Busylizzy app, which offers complete flexibility for its members to pick ’n’ mix sessions each week. As a management franchise, club owners build a steady,

reliable monthly income stream from membership subscriptions and manage and motivate a team of instructors to deliver them. And thanks to its innovation and the support it offers to its franchise owners, Busylizzy won the bfa HSBC Emerging Franchisor of the Year award in 2016.

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Broccoli Pizza and Pasta

established 2012

Offering freshly prepared Italian food for a health-conscious community, Broccoli Pizza & Pasta’s impressive growth and commitment to training left our judges licking their lips

Investment level £120,000+ Number of franchises 94 Sector Food industry

broccolifranchise.com

Since 2012, Broccoli Pizza & Pasta has grown into an

international brand with an extensive network of stores. The franchise continues to expand its network throughout the UK with the aid of its dedicated and professional franchisees and its landmark 100th location opening very soon. It credits a lot of its success to the hard work of its franchisees: the people who believe in the brand and can see the global expansion to date. Broccoli Pizza & Pasta’s food is always fresh and cooked in a theatre-style kitchen. It serves up great-tasting pizzas, pastas and salads, with a focus on fresh ingredients, fast and friendly service and customer experience. It cooks its meals to order and prides itself on giving the customer a huge range of choices with endless combinations. Crucially, all of its meat is HMC-Certified halal – not only does this gives it a USP in comparison to competitors but also opens up a whole new experience at affordable prices.

Broccoli Pizza & Pasta franchisees have the opportunity to start their own businesses, whilst having consistent support and aid from its franchise managers and head office. Not only has this allowed it to grow into the brand it is today but one of the factors that impressed the Elite Franchise 100 judges the most was its comprehensive training and support package, which stretches from site selection to ongoing research and development. When this is coupled with impressive year-on-year growth – which is set only to continue as it aims to expand its offering in the Midlands, London, Scotland and Wales – Broccoli Pizza & Pasta has definitely earned its place in this year’s rankings.

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Wilkins Chimney Sweep franchisechimneysweep.co.uk

The demand for chimney

sweeps has increased significantly in the last decade with the rising popularity of woodburning stoves. Fortunately, Wilkins Chimney Sweep is ideally placed to take advantage of this opportunity. Founded in 1895 and franchised in 2011, the company has an impressive track record and is the only bfa-accredited chimney-sweep franchise. Franchisees start as owneroperators and grow to multiple vans offering chimney-sweeping services as well as off-season driveway and patio cleaning. With award-winning marketing support, a bespoke back-office system

and unique in-van technology, franchisees are set up immediately after their threeweek-long training. This support enables franchisees to run their businesses from home and make choices about their work-life balance, making the franchise an ideal option for people looking to escape corporate life and still earn a good living. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe to say that franchisees following the model can achieve great things, with one franchisee winning the bfa Franchisee

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53 Signs Express franchise.signsexpress.co.uk

two decades, Signs Express has the experience and skills to help new franchisees become their own bosses. With expert support, training and advice in all areas of business operations as well as industry know-how, the people joining the network will not need prior sign-industry experience to become a Signs Express franchisee.

Established for over

of the Year award and three more having been finalists over the years. Wilkins Chimney Sweep is looking for people who are self-motivated, friendly and enthusiastic with a business aptitude. No previous experience is required as long as candidates have the right attitude.

And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to see why people would be interested in taking the chance on Signs Express. Not only does the franchisor offer new franchisees initial training and ongoing support but it also provides an opportunity to achieve regular repeat business in a stable marketplace.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

are experienced business people seeking an established management franchise or plumbers who want to grow their existing business, Drain Doctor can help franchisees realise their ambitions. Drain Doctor provides comprehensive training, bespoke technology and ongoing support with technical operations, marketing, financial planning and recruitment, all focused to drive business growth, as well as offering support in providing value-added services to help franchisees maximise every opportunity. Thanks to its scale, it also holds major corporate accounts, work from which is passed to franchisees in their exclusive area – at no additional cost. In addition, Drain Doctor conducts and encourages regular meetings with other franchisees in the network to foster constant innovation and share experiences to help strengthen franchisees’ businesses. Using the experience gained since the first UK franchise opened in 1994, The Dwyer Group, owners of the Drain Doctor franchise, has grown to over 2,800 franchisees across ten countries, helping more than 2.5 million customers annually.

Drain Doctor

ukplumbingfranchise.co.uk

Established in

1994, Drain Doctor provides plumbing and drainage services for commercial and residential customers. Since its launch, it has grown into a strong network offering a trusted franchise with the potential to grow into a multi-technician business. So whether they

Mad Science madscience.org

Established in 1985, Mad Science provides exciting and engaging curriculum-aligned programmes for primary-school-aged children. It now supports over 100 franchises globally: coupled with its impressive financials, the breadth of its UK network certainly caught the Elite Franchise 100 judges’ eyes. Mad Science offers a year-round business model, which includes afterschool clubs, holiday camps, workshops, birthday parties, special events and more. In 2016, 500,000 UK children saw a Mad Science show. These programmes are delivered across large territory areas by teams of trained instructors. Its in-house research and development team have created more than 200 hours of original

material, with new content being released regularly and brand new concepts in the pipeline. And its globally recognised brand partners include NASA. Mad Science works with franchisees who aspire to establish their own team of dynamic and enthusiastic staff members. Its support package includes a comprehensive onsite training plan, ongoing support and training from head office, a UK-based franchise account manager and a dedicated peer mentor with over ten years’ experience.

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Everything you need to get into franchising.

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Op po rtu nit ies Franc hise A dvice Case Studes Find a franchise...

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

established 1993 Investment level ÂŁ12,975 + VAT

Monkey Music

Angie Coates has hit all the right notes with Monkey Musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preschool musical activities monkeymusicfranchise.co.uk

Monkey Music is

celebrating: it has been 25 years since its doors first opened and the sound of Monkey Music filled the lives of hundreds of thousands of families across the UK. Today, its classes are considered to be a leading light in preschool education and the brand is going from strength to strength. Following the birth of her first daughter and understanding the benefits of early exposure to music, founder and CEO Angie Coates created a musical curriculum that stimulated early learning and development. Due to its success and rapid growth, Monkey Music was franchised in 1998. Monkey Music offers an award-winning progressive curriculum for pre-school-age children that includes over 500 specifically crafted songs and

Number of franchises 46 Sector Pre-school music education

activities, developed by professional musicians in association with educational and child-development specialists. Each class is highly interactive and age-specific with the aim that all children learn new skills and reach their full potential whilst making music. As a respected businesswoman, teacher and musician, Coates was invited by award-winning publisher, Pan MacMillan to write a series of books for children based on the Monkey Music ethos. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sing and Play and Magic Sounds have further enhanced the Monkey Music customer brand experience and enabled more families, worldwide, to benefit from its unique qualities. Monkey Music was one of the very first pre-school businesses to franchise in the UK and, as a full member of the bfa, it has been instrumental in developing the pre-school activity sector. The success of Monkey Music lies in its tried and tested business model combined with

expertise at its head office, which offers franchisees business and teacher-training programmes, ongoing franchise support, introduction of new technical innovations such as an integrated CRM system and a mobile and interactive website. Monkey Music continues to seek fresh and innovative opportunities to grow its franchise network and to keep the Monkey Music experience at the heart of preschool music education in the UK.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

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Celebrate women who are making their mark in franchising

49 Anytime Fitness UK anytimefitness.co.uk

Anytime Fitness opened

its first 24/7 club 15 years ago in Minneapolis and is now the world’s fastest-growing franchise with over 3,800 clubs in 30 countries. Having

launched its first UK club in 2010, it now boasts over 140 clubs across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Anytime Fitness prides itself on offering friendly and convenient gyms that club members can work out at during every hour of every day of the year. This concept has been a true home run, attracting over three million members worldwide and seeing a new member join every three minutes.

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Buy a coffee franchise. 2.2 billion cups of coffee consumed each year Industry turnover is approx. £7.9 billion Growing to £15 billion turnover by 2025

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No 50 - 41.indd 2

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

established 1983 Investment level from £25,000 +VAT Number of franchises 40 Sector Drainage

48 Metro Rod metrorod.co.uk

Having thrived in the industry for decades and demonstrated dedication to its franchisees, it’s no wonder Metro Rod made it into the top half of the Elite Franchise 100 Founded in 1983, Metro

Rod is a leading provider of drain-clearance and maintenance services delivered on a largely reactive basis. The services are provided by 40 franchisees with geographical coverage across the majority of the UK. Metro Rod has been clearing and unblocking drains for more than 30 years and is proud of its reputation for providing a quality service and satisfying customers. Due to its many years of experience and expertise in resolving drainage issues, many major companies and leading high-street names trust Metro Rod to deal with their regular drain maintenance. Metro Rod serves national business customers across multiple sectors including facilities management, retail, water utilities, social housing, hospitality and insurance, as well as local

businesses and other customers in the private and public sectors. Domestic customers also form a small part of Metro Rod’s business. Nationally, Metro Rod has more than 40 regional drain-cleaning service centres. That means it’s always ready to send a friendly, professional and local engineer to investigate straight away, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Metro Rod’s specialist drain clearance and maintenance services include highpressure water jetting, CCTV surveys, drain or sewer lining, excavation, electro-mechanical cleaning and fat and grease management. With all its expert staff trained and equipped to the highest national industry standards, it should have your blocked drain flowing freely again in no time. In March 2017, Metro Rod was acquired by Franchise Brands plc, which is a global, multi-brand franchisor. Franchise Brands plc oversees four brands in total, encompassing more than 500 franchisees across 12 countries. Therefore, Franchise Brands plc has a wealth of experience and knowledge in helping franchisees to launch and grow their businesses.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Everything you need to buy a franchise.

47 Belvoir! belvoirfranchise.com

Belvoir was founded in 1995 by Mike Goddard after a long and successful career in the RAF. Goddard set out to build a business on the foundations of good customer service and professionalism, which the brand remains synonymous with to this day. Fast forward 22 years, Belvoir has successfully acquired three franchise brands and has over 300 offices nationwide, over 170 of which are under the Belvoir brand. Many of these offices have branched out into sales with many more coming on board, meaning they can offer customers a complete end-to-end service. Some have even successfully expanded using Belvoirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Assisted Acquisitions Scheme.

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Signarama franchise.signarama.co.uk

Founded in 1986, Signarama is one of the largest and most experienced signs and graphics franchises in the world. And franchisees enjoy all the benefits that go with it: world-class training and support, enviable buying power, instant brand recognition and an R&D department that brings the latest technology and software innovations to market. Operating in the B2B sector, Signarama franchisees are uniquely placed to work across all industries. The brand enjoys a reputation for delivering quality products and outstanding customer service. As a testament to this, over 70% of franchisee turnover comes from repeat business.

And Signarama is constantly improving its franchise. For instance, in 2017 it launched the new Light model, offering a more affordable entry point to the industry. A low-fuss, low-overhead opportunity, the Light showrooms are fitted out exactly like other Signarama centres but without the production equipment and has lower costs. Its Light model is the ideal way for ambitious professionals to dip a toe into the

lucrative sign market with the option to upgrade to a full production franchise as their business grows. By staying true to its legacy and still showing ambition to try new things, Signarama has easily qualified to Elite Franchise 100.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Platinum Property Partners platinumpropertypartners.co.uk

established 2007 Investment level £300,000 to £600,000

This franchise thoroughly impressed the judges with its solid offering and guidance is one of two businesses founded by Steve Bolton that made the Elite Franchise 100. And much like its younger sibling Platinum Business Parters, this franchise has a lot to offer new franchisees. For instance, investing in the network will present budding franchisees with an opportunity to secure financial security and to achieve a better work-life balance. There are not many investment opportunities out there that can give new franchisees a 15% ROI on their money and free up their time. Thanks to Platinum Property Partners’ guidance and support, franchisees can become successful property investors and landlords. And by following the franchise’s tried and tested business model, joining the network can help turn a £300,000 capital investment into a substantial income. Unlike other franchises, franchisees own the assets from day one, so the income keeps coming in long after their commitment to Platinum Property Partners has expired. The franchise will teach franchisees to learn everything they need to know to be successful. It can point out what costly mistakes to avoid, as well as how to get across any potential pitfall, pick properties to buy, cost-effectively refurbish them and obtain the required planning permissions and licensing. This is what Platinum Property Partners has specialised in for over ten years, having more than 300 franchisees who either have or are well on their way to achieving financial freedom. Today, Platinum Property Partners’ franchisees own more than 900 properties across 200 towns and cities throughout the UK. On average, each property generates a £17,000 annual gross profit – 40% higher than traditional buyto-let models. Platinum Property Partners

Number of franchises 327 Sector Property investing

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

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44 dream doors dreamdoors.co.uk

Dream Door’s service is a proven success. Replacement kitchen doors, drawers and worktops can save clients’ money, time and hassle. This unique selling point has allowed the company to grow and proves that the service is becoming more popular as the years go by.

Established over 17 years ago with a single Gosport showroom, Dream Doors now boasts over 75 nationwide with over 60,000 kitchen makeovers to its name. It has been shortlisted for over 40 Awards with 14 trophy wins. And with more potential franchisees due for training it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

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EWIF award entries open 22nd January 2018

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EWIF award entries close 7th March 2018

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No 50 - 41.indd 6

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

43 CEX

Having established a growing business when other retailers close shop, CeX easily made the Elite Franchise 100 webuy.com/franchising

The best ideas are often

the simplest and the most profitable. The Complete Entertainment eXchange – commonly known as CeX – has updated the traditional buyand-sell concept by trading in digital entertainment products. The franchise’s stores buy, sell and exchange mobile phones, games, electronics, computers and film media. CeX’s execution separates the franchise from similar retailers. Its secret lies in trading in a focused yet complementary product range, backed up by 25 years of experience that has given the brand recognition as a technology and entertainment specialist. The CeX website provides CeX customers with the opportunity to buy, sell or exchange their goods online with all of the orders being fulfilled by CeX stores directly, giving franchisees the benefit of a much wider customer base. CeX has recently expanded into electronics services and is developing this range to provide customers with a complete solution for all their electronic needs and providing franchisees with new 50

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

ESTABLISHED 1992 INVESTMENT LEVEL £150,000 to £250,000 NUMBER OF FRANCHISES 107+ SECTOR Retail

revenue streams. Additionally, CeX has launched its own range of complimentary branded products and is expanding this range, further improving its retail offerings and profits. To ensure the smooth running of the franchise, CeX has developed its own set of bespoke computer systems that simplify the process of buying and selling. Goods are tested before they are bought in and then resold with a 24-month warranty, offering customers great value for their money and, not to mention, much-needed peace of mind. These systems have enabled CeX to set its own prices based on market conditions, maximising profits and limiting exposure to industry forces. Given the franchise’s focus on constantly improving its offerings, it’s hardly surprising that CeX has been able to open more stores while other retailers

in the sector have been closing theirs. In fact, since first launching in 1992 CeX has expanded its network into Europe, across the pond to America and has even gone down under to Australia. In 2016 CeX opened a new store in the UK nearly every week and, as of 2017, it has a worldwide footprint of over 600 stores. And many of these stores are owned by CeX franchisees who enjoy unrivalled returns on their stores within two years and an average annual turnover in excess of £1m. The total investment requirement starts at £150,000 but can reach up to £250,000, depending on the store size. Franchisees will require a minimum of £40,000 in liquid capital, plus the ability to raise the balance of the total investment. Fortunately, CeX has an excellent relationship with all major franchising banks, meaning it can help franchisees with up to 70% of the funding. CeX is an associate member of the bfa and has an experienced and dedicated franchise and training support team providing franchisees with guidance, tools and support, which enables them to develop, grow and manage their businesses. Its large network of franchisees share best practice and experiences and has helped shape the CeX business into what it is today. Additionally, franchisees receive both extensive initial and ongoing training, stock and pricing advice from experts. Furthermore, people joining the network also get help setting up their access to the intranet, web, email and business services. Franchisees also get hands-on support to launch and market the store. CeX is currently seeking new franchisees to roll out the retail brand both across the UK and internationally. The franchise is particularly keen to expand the brand and open stores in Welsh and Scottish towns where it does not already have stores.

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

42 The HR Dept hrdept.co.uk

Sue Tumelty set up The HR Dept as a consultancy in Bristol in 2002, offering pragmatic HR and employment-law advice to small and medium-sized companies. After being inundated by requests from all over the country, Tumelty decided to franchise the company with a vision to create a national network of HR experts across the country selling a local and personal HR advice service. Now having expanded into Ireland and Australia, The HR Dept has over 60 franchisees offering support

in HR, health and safety and reselling services such as employee benefits and HRadmin software. The franchise’s marketleading tribunal insurance covers clients’ legal costs and any award. With a recent ruling that employees can take their bosses to court for free, this is now a must-have for all companies employing staff. The HR Dept offering is being able to speak to the same person, having on-site support where needed and not being a call centre. The franchise’s HR directors are in the geographical areas their clients are and its territory model allows the network to collaborate, not compete.

One Stop’s long experience

41 One Stop openaonestop.co.uk

means it knows convenience retailing inside out. It runs its stores simply and efficiently and knows its customers well. The franchise’s product range is based on its analysis of daily sales in over 170 franchised and 770 companyowned stores. One Stop shares its insights to help franchisees decide on the right range for their stores. Being a major player in the market has enabled One Stop to offer customers great prices with healthy margins. And of course its promotions are renowned throughout the sector, so they’ll help to drive footfall and increase basket spend.

Buy an existing franchise Search 100s of franchise resales now Visit bfsale.co.uk/eliteresales

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10/12/2017 14:41

Buy a pizza delivery franchise. A large market: 49% of people in the UK eat pizza at least once a week. And a growing market: The home delivery market grew by 5.4% between 2011 and 2016. It exploits the boom in smartphones: Mobile devices have fuelled a surge in online sales, over half of pizza orders are now placed online.

Visit FranchiseSales.com to find out more about buying a pizza franchise â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and more!

Untitled-4 1

11/12/2017 08:15

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Chopstix Noodle Bar

With its impressive growth and ambitious plans for the future, it’s safe to say that Chopstix whet the Elite Franchise 100 judges’ appetites chopstixgroup.com

of founders Sam Elia and Menashe Sadik as well as COO Max Hilton Jenvey, the accessible east-Asian brand has been steadily growing in recent years. With its faster, fresher and healthier alternative in the food-to-go sector serving Oriental-influenced chicken and vegetable dishes served with rice or noodles, the brand’s popularity continues to grow. Indeed, Chopstix’s appeal is such that it enjoys the patronage of customers from all backgrounds and demographics, including the elusive Gen Y. The fast-growing brand has doubled the number of outlets within the past 18 months and, at time of writing, operates 75 units across the country within shopping and retail centres, transport hubs and high streets. However, because of its hugely popular and good value for money offering, Chopstix is on track to have 100 outlets by the end of Q2 2018. Currently, 46% of branches are run in partnership with franchisees including Welcome Break and Applegreen. Chopstix is particularly attractive to franchisees because of its streamlined operation and low entry costs, not to mention the higher than average returns associated with the brand, so it is expected that franchised outlets will quickly overtake the number that are company owned. Under the stewardship

established 2001 Investment level £59,000 Number of franchises 23

As an independently owned company, Chopstix’s ability to quickly adapt and innovate is key to its ongoing success and this will be underlined during 2018, when the franchise introduces new formats to franchisees. In the coming months, a choice of new models for smaller spaces will be available nationally and internationally to independent investors and large, multi-unit operators as the brand further widens its appeal in, and suitability for, an increased variety of high-footfall environments. Raving about its growth-hungry strategy and its grand plans for the future, the Elite Franchise 100 judges feel that Chopstix is evidently set to take a big bite out of the food-service sector.

Sector Food to go

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Merry Maids

Merry Maids has been making customers’ homes across the world sparkle for nearly 40 years and in the UK, over 65 Merry Maids franchised businesses are reaping the benefits of a boom in the UK domesticcleaning market. With the backing of ServiceMaster, one of the UK’s most experienced multi-brand franchisors, Merry Maids

merrymaidsfranchise.co.uk

franchisees utilise its recognised brand name, proven franchise model and tried and tested cleaning methods to build their own profitable cleaning empires. The support doesn’t stop there either: Merry Maids’ dedicated marketing team will help franchisees create local digital awareness and drive enquiries, whilst the experienced brand manager provides ongoing business coaching and mentoring to help them achieve their goals. As Merry Maids’ franchisees grow their businesses they will end up employing and training more staff. Fortunately, Merry Maids is always at hand offering advice on how to best build a business structure capable of handling increased demand. The proven cleaning system and Merry Maids guarantee ensure that every customer receives a quality service. Bespoke management software tracks revenue and marketing spend, as well as organising daily cleaning schedules and invoicing. With Merry Maids, franchisees’ focus is on building a profitable business, not the day-to-day grind of admin, paperwork or cleaning.

Buy a care home franchise. Industry worth an estimated 7.8 billion Growing demand for services Low investment

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Bright & Beautiful brightandbeautifulhome.com

Established in 2007 and now

owned by The Dwyer Group, Bright & Beautiful is a multiaward-winning, rapidly growing, scaleble and in-demand domestic housekeeping management franchise. Domestic cleaning is an established franchise sector and Bright & Beautiful provides a franchise model with exceptional client service and attention to detail. With fully branded tools that produce results for marketing, financial management and recruitment, the latest web-based management software and

an eco-friendly philosophy, Bright & Beautiful franchisees have a wealth of resources to build a strong business. Bright & Beautiful allows franchisees to become ethical employers with clear USPs driving success, provide over 100,000 cleans in homes each year, build a staff of fully employed professional housekeepers, provide peace of mind for clients, and take payments in advance or via direct debit. More than anything, Bright & Beautiful is people focused, with franchisees who take pride in delivering high standards of client service and

creating ethical employment in their local area. With a sincere commitment to continuous improvement and multiple franchisee panels that enable it to harness the best ideas of its network in the areas of marketing, quality and innovation, Bright & Beautiful clearly has a sparkling future ahead of it.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance countrywidegrounds.com/franchise

Established in 1986, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance is an awardwinning management franchise with a multimillion-pound turnover, serving over 12,000 sites across the UK, operating in the horticulture, gardening and landscaping sectors, providing year-round grounds maintenance to commercial customers. Its services include grass and hedge cutting, pruning, road sweeping, litter and leaf clearance, hard and soft landscaping, gritting, snow clearance

and tree surgery. With large exclusive territories, blue-chip customers and national accounts, each franchisee has the opportunity for great growth. As a management franchise, franchisees donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require any horticultural experience: existing ones have come from many backgrounds, including business executives, ex-forces, teachers, accountants, engineers and farmers. With excellent support and training, new franchisees benefit from three weeks of initial training at head office and in their

territory. They also spend time shadowing existing franchisees to fully understand the business. An initial head-office marketing launch are provided and ongoing telesales and tendering support, with many contracts being sourced through head office on the franchiseesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; behalf. Using the experience gained since the first UK franchise opened in 1994, The Dwyer Group, owners of the Countrywide Grounds Maintenance franchise, has grown to over 2,800 franchisees across ten countries, helping more than 2.5 million customers annually.

Buy a property franchise. A lucrative market A resilient sector Large earning potential

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Premier Education Group

Premier Education Group From delivering football lessons during the holidays to ensuring kids around the globe have something to do, it’s easy to see why the judges were impressed by Premier’s dedication to the next generation makesportyourbusiness.com

established 1999 Investment level From £14,950 ex. VAT Number of franchises 125+

is the UK’s number one sport and physical-activity provider, operating within nearly 15% of all English schools. The franchise delivers over 30,000 sport, physical activity, health and wellbeing programmes every month. Premier’s journey began back in 1999 when CEO David Batch founded Premier Soccer after his professional football career came to an end. What began as a business delivering football over the summer holidays soon developed into something much bigger. It wouldn’t take long before the business had transformed into a franchise delivering multi-sport activities within primary schools across the UK. Nearly 20 years on, Premier delivers health and wellbeing, sports and performing-arts programmes to over 2,500 schools every week throughout Blighty. The network includes over 1,200 enthusiastic and committed activity professionals, working across more than 120 franchised territories. One of the reasons that Premier is the market leader is because its commitment to children doesn’t stop at getting them to be more active. The programmes are not only written by industry experts, they take children on a more rewarding journey, one that leads to greater confidence, improved personal development and more successful lives. The franchisor has been able to have such a strong impact by partnering up with leaders in the field. For instance, Premier is a founding partner of ukactive Kids, the organisation dedicated to boosting physical activity amongst children. The franchise is also the official delivery partner within Primary Education for British Fencing, the national governing body. Not only is the franchise making impact in the UK but it’s also expanding its international footprint too. Premier is now active in India and the US and is looking to expand further into the US, China and Australia.

Sector Sports education

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

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35 Puddle Ducks

puddleducks.com/franchising

Tracy Townend and Jo Stone founded Puddle Ducks in 2002 after they attended baby-swimming lessons together whilst on maternity. They saw a gap in the market for a high-quality product, teaching independent swimming from birth. The business was franchised in 2007 and today, it has 35 franchises across the UK and teach 20,000 children to swim every week. Their leading experts in baby and child swimming have developed a progressive programme for babies and children up to ten years old. Puddle Ducks has been awarded Smith & Henderson’s coveted 5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction award five years in a row, one of only four franchises in the UK to achieve this.

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Will one of your franchisees have their name inscribed on one of our prestigious awards?

Nominations for the 2018 NatWest EWIF Awards will be opening soon!

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EWIF award entries open 22nd January 2018

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EWIF award entries close 7th March 2018

Don’t delay and miss the boat! INSPIRE your franchisees, EMPOWER your brand! For a full list of award categories, please visit: www.ewif.org/2018-natwest-ewif-awards

Find out more: info@ewif.org | www.ewif.org

No 40 - 31.indd 6

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Mac Tools

From providing road training to schooling them in the nuts and bolts of building their business, Mac Tools offers franchisees every tool they need for the job mactools-franchise.co.uk

As part of Stanley Black & Decker, the largest

tools manufacturer globally, Mac Tools offers franchisees the best of both worlds: unrivalled products and brand power, alongside personalised support and guidance. It is a true family of business owners and support staff, which means franchisees are never on their own as they launch and drive their businesses forward. With comprehensive training and ongoing mentoring, they need no prior experience in the automotive sector to succeed. Mac Tools’ franchisees operate from mobile showrooms – fully liveried vans stocked with the equipment mechanics want and

established 1938 Investment level £5,000 Number of franchises 170+ Sector Automotive / van-based

need. They also enjoy the rights to sell more than 18,000 world-class tools from several brands including Mac Tools, Dewalt, Facom and STANLEY. With over 170 UK franchisees and counting, Mac Tools’ business model is a proven route for franchisees and their families to gain complete control over their lifestyles and financial futures. Customers see and experience Mac Tools everywhere, giving franchisees national marketing power at a local level. From TV shows to sponsorships at the British Touring Car Championship, British Superbikes and Moto GP, it provides exceptional brand support that keeps their businesses in the spotlight locally. Investment starts at just £5,000 with no royalties or hidden charges and franchisees enjoy an average year one turnover of around £165,000. They can expect gross annual profits ranging upwards from £50,000 as they establish their businesses. No wonder then that during its years of franchising in the UK, Mac Tools has been able to build a strong financial footing for itself and attract more than 170 franchisees to join its ranks. This alone would have been enough to catch our judges’ eyes but the amount of work it puts into training and supporting its staff helped it nail its place in the top 40. Evidently Great to Work With is much more than just a slogan – it’s the Mac way of life.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Pitman Training pitman-franchising.com

is a recognised brand with over 25 years of experience. The franchise is the UK’s leading independent vocationaltraining provider, with a global reach stretching from the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean across to Malaysia. With over 75 franchise-owned training centres, the brand is synonymous with high-quality, revolutionary office-based training. Pitman Training has been leading the way for growth in development and efficiency Pitman Training

within the workplace since Sir Isaac Pitman’s invention of shorthand in 1837. The strength of the Pitman Training certification coupled with premium quality courseware and the opportunity for flexible learning at a time and place that suits the student makes the Pitman Training experience truly unique. New franchisees are given extensive training and induction programmes to ensure they fully understand the successful Pitman Training approach and systems. The franchisor also provides ongoing support – particularly in sales and marketing from a team of dedicated franchise-development managers – and the full backing of a highly experienced customer support team. Moreover, franchisees also benefit from an extensive programme of marketing campaigns deployed at a national and local level, including the launch of their own website.

Buy a pizza franchise. A large market A growing sector Exploits the boom in smartphones

Visit FranchiseSales.com to find out more about buying a pizza franchise.

No 40 - 31.indd 8

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Barking Mad Given Barking Mad offers its franchisees superlative support, it’s no wonder that everyone and their dog are rushing to celebrate the franchise barkingmad.uk.com

established 2000 Investment level £14,957 Number of franchises 75+ Sector Pet care

The original marketleading dog-boarding

business, Barking Mad’s quality branded service organises fantastic one-toone dog holidays and was independently voted number one in its sector by customers on TrustPilot. Part of the Franchise Brands plc group, Barking Mad is a full-time pet-care business with a family feel that enjoys a booming market with lucrative repeat business. Not only does its generate a high profit and offer rewarding work building relationships with local dog-loving communities but it also provides regular repeat business and flexible working hours. Barking Mad franchisees gain the security of a tried and tested business model with support in all areas. They benefit from one-to-one support, training and coaching as well as national sales meetings, conference and regular group meetings and learn everything from dog behaviour and customer service to business planning and accounts. Not only is Barking Mad a full member of the bfa and ISO-9001-accredited but its support and success has won it multiple awards including Amazon Growing Business, bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year

and Franchisee of the Year. On top of this, it was given 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction status by Smith & Henderson and ranked above the industry average in training and support, franchise systems, culture and relationships, leadership and general satisfaction. Additionally, it’s the first and only pet-care franchise brand to be on TV and has extensive online and offline marketing assets. With such a strong dedication to franchisee satisfaction, it’s hardly surprising that Barking Mad proved such a hit with the Elite Franchise judges. Our panel singled the dog-boarding franchise out for recognition thanks to its significant investment in ongoing support, particularly the help it offers to bolster franchisees’ marketing efforts. A lead that all great franchises should follow.

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

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31 Auditel UK auditelfranchise.co.uk

Founded in 1994, Auditel has become a pioneer in helping UK companies make effective and informed procurement decisions. For over two decades the franchise’s strong network of business-management specialists has developed

a wide range of services, uncovering opportunities to accelerate business performance. The awardwinning business model has been successfully replicated by over 180 businessmanagement specialists, proudly serving over 3,000 clients in almost every sector of the economy. Nationwide, Auditel franchisees enjoy the benefits of a trusted, proven brand whilst being supported by a team of experts.

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Buy a coffee franchise. 2.2 billion cups of coffee consumed each year Industry turnover is approx. £7.9 billion Growing to £15 billion turnover by 2025

Visit FranchiseSales.com to find out more about buying a coffee franchise.

No 40 - 31.indd 10

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ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Oscar Pet Foods

With more than 100 franchisees and more than 20 years’ experience in the franchise sector, it’s no surprise that when it comes to pet franchises OSCAR is ahead of the pack oscar.co.uk

Using premium, locally sourced

ingredients where possible, nutrition is the primary consideration to sustain a healthy lifestyle for cats and dogs. And with statistics provided by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association revealing that 8.5 million dogs and 7.5 million cats live in the UK, the opportunity OSCAR presents speaks for itself. OSCAR specialises in providing the complete pet-care service direct to the customer, from food and toys to treats, accessories and health-care products. Additionally, it delivers a service that is appreciated by customers who want to feed their pets the best food at a competitive price, while enjoying a service that is backed up with free advice from experts in nutrition, behaviour and veterinary matters.

established 1994 Investment level £8,995 + Number of franchises 100+

OSCAR Pet Foods is a tried and tested system that opens the door to anyone with a business interest but with no given skill. The investment choices are backed by a strong training and support package, which ensures franchisees are never alone. It is also the only pet-food franchise to offer an official qualification in companion animal nutrition: Certcan (QCF - Level 3). Embracing such educational excellence in the nutrition of dogs and cats gives franchisees something to be really proud of and is proving enormously helpful when advising customers about their pets, which in turn helps cement long-lasting brand loyalty. With over 20 years’ experience in franchising and pet-food manufacturing, OSCAR keeps ahead of trends and developments to ensure it delivers highquality products and standards while supporting its franchisees and their customers. Thanks to this longevity in the market and the hale and hearty network it has built up around Blighty, it’s no surprise that in our judges’ eyes OSCAR has proven itself to be the pet industry’s top dog.

Sector Pet food

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29 InXpress gb.inxpress.com/franchiseopportunities

InXpress is a global

shipping franchise that helps get the same prices and customer support for small and medium-sized businesses that carriers typically reserve for Fortune 1000 companies.

The franchise earns the discounts and increased service through cooperative buying that bundles the revenues of these small businesses together. InXpress is a respected partner to global carriers and delivers great results and customer service. Its franchisees are salesminded people with an aptitude for business who enjoy going out selling and marketing their services. They secure the clients but never touch the parcels, which are all handled through the franchiseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carrier partners.

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Turtle Tots www.turtletots.com

Turtle Tots is a proven and awardwinning baby and preschool swimming school, franchise with over 50 franchisees across the UK, Ireland and Australia. Having successfully launched and established Turtle Tots in Bristol, co-founder Gaby Lixton became aware of how flexible and rewarding running the business could be. Eager to share her model and success with others, she teamed up with her co-founder Caroline Sparks and together they began to franchise Turtle Tots in 2011. And this particular model includes a few things that sets Turtle Tots apart from the competition. For starters, the franchise likes to give something back to the community, which is why every franchisee gives a percentage of all income to a

chosen charity, local to them and close to their heart. Another thing setting the franchise apart is the fact that it offers aqua-natal classes, helping franchisees win customers before theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve even given birth. The swimming programme uses the most advanced learning and development techniques available in baby swimming. New franchisees can expect to earn more than ÂŁ25,000 in their first year and spend between five and seven hours a week in the pool, having fun helping your little ones gain their water confidence.

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Kall Kwik kallkwik.co.uk

established 1978 Investment level £50,000 + shop fit + VAT Number of franchises 43 Sector Printing retail

Having spent 40 years serving local businesses and giving back to the community in which it operates, Kall Kwik has definitely earned its place in the Elite Franchise 100 traded in the B2B sector for 40 years, Kall Kwik was always going to make a marked impression on the Elite Franchise 100 judges. And it can credit its considerable longevity to always being prepared to meet change head on and remaining customer centric at all times. Kall Kwik is about so much more than print and design. The Kall Kwik Business Services concept offers a lower entry cost to the marketplace and by outsourcing high-end production it ensures lower ongoing operating costs – thus increasing net margins. Successful centre owners have broadened their service to include web design, email marketing and webto-print and provide marketing advice and services to local businesses – ranging from creating, printing, distributing and ultimately following up a direct marketing campaign to fulfillment and sourcing very specialist printing services. Today, Kall Kwik Business Service Centres are ideally placed to take Having successfully

advantage of the estimated 4.9 million SMEs in the UK marketplace, not to mention the thousands of schools, charities and local government organisations. With the development of technology, the cost of entry is very competitive at around £50,000 – excluding shop fit and VAT. This fee covers the right to use the brand, training, marketing launch, equipment and ongoing business support from The Bardon Group team, which has over 100 years of combined experience in franchising for franchisees to benefit from. Alongside its impressive heritage in the franchise sector, one of the factors that really impressed the Elite Franchise 100 judges was Kall Kwik’s commitment to local communities and charities. Whether it’s running a competition to provide free logo design to local business or championing environmentally friendly products in partnership with the Woodland Trust, Kall Kwik’s franchisees evidently have a passion for philanthropy as well as printing.

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ServiceMaster Clean servicemastercleanfranchise.co.uk

Starting out as a carpet cleaning

company in 1929, ServiceMaster Clean has since become one of the world’s leading cleaning brands offering many franchise opportunities. For the domestic consumer-focused investor, the residential carpet and upholstery cleaning model provides a man-in-a-van opportunity to build a reputable, local business. A more commercially minded franchisee may prefer ServiceMaster Clean Commercial, which is designed to provide commercial carpet and upholstery cleaning services to organisations on a repeat basis. A third option to consider for budding franchisees is buying a ServiceMaster Clean Disaster Restoration franchise. But this is not a franchise for the faint of heart, as franchisees will be expected to be available every hour of every day, 365 days a year. In exchange,

Buy an existing franchise

these franchisees can help people dry and restore flooded properties or clean up after fires, accidents and traumas, restoring a sense of normality for the people affected. Finally, ServiceMaster Clean Contract Services franchisees operate in the multi-billion-pound commercial and office-cleaning market, enabling them to achieve annual sales of over £1m. With the backing and support of a world-leading franchisor, new franchisees can join a proven model and build their business. Where there’s muck, there really is brass.

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established 2004

Business Doctors In a little over a decade, Business Doctors has become the go-to brand for entrepreneurs across Britain businessdoctorsfranchise.com

When Rod Davies and Matt Levington

launched Business Doctors above an Indian takeaway in 2004, they had big aspirations. With over 40 years of managing-director-level experience between them, the pair promised to make management consultancy accessible, affordable and relevant to owners of small and medium-sized businesses. Starting small and local, Davies and Levington spent their first three years perfecting their craft in the Merseyside area. With the Business Doctors name already trademarked, the pair drew on their international experience of managing SMEs to help their clients achieve next level growth. And it seemed small businesses were crying out for their style of no-nonsense help, which includes sales planning, new market development, recruitment, fundraising, succession planning and team building. Rapidly the entrepreneurs realised they had hit upon a winning formula.

Investment level £37,500 Number of franchises 40 Sector Business coaching

In 2009 they launched their first UK franchise and today Business Doctors helps SMEs to grow in 13 countries, including India, South Africa, Ireland and Malta. It is the only business-support franchise that works hand-in-hand with entrepreneurs, practically facilitating the growth and development of their companies on a holistic basis. The network’s approach to garnering new business is deliberately low key and based around collaborative networking and seminars rather than high-pressure sales. While other franchises bring coaching methodology or focus on specific issues such as cost reduction, Business Doctors alone has a bigger-picture mentality. It’s hardly surprising then that the franchise has ranked so highly in this year’s Elite Franchise 100. Securing some serious year-on-year growth and offering comprehensive support from the second franchisees join the network, Business Doctors’ model made a marked impression on our judges. Having such an active involvement in championing their franchisees’ interests is commendable and definitely deserves a spot in the top 25. As the franchise says, they don’t just coach; they get on the pitch.

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Kumon kumon.co.uk

The Kumon

method of learning was developed in 1954 by Toru Kumon, both a parent and a gifted maths teacher from Japan. When he discovered that his own son Takeshi was not fulfilling his potential in maths at school, he created worksheets for him to complete at home every day, which would take Takeshi step-by-step, from the easiest arithmetic to the complex maths his father taught in his own classes. For 60 years, the method has helped children across the globe excel academically and develop a love of learning for themselves, in no small part thanks to Kumon’s franchisees. They

have the ability to be an educator, responsible for the individualised instruction of each of their students using the unique Kumon method. In the same way the franchisees nurture each of their students, Kumon also puts a high priority on the ongoing professional development of everyone who joins the network. Thanks to the thorough training around the teaching model and on how to run the business successfully, each new franchisee that joins the network is prepared to succeed from day one.

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Heritage Healthcare

An innovative attitude and a commitment to caring for everyone under its brand means Heritage Healthcare has well and truly earned its top 25 ranking in the Elite Franchise 100 heritagehealthcare.co.uk

A great home-care franchise isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just one that

takes good care of your loved ones: the marker of a truly first-class care franchise is how it takes care of its franchisees. And this is where Heritage Healthcare shines: offering detailed, granular training and award-winning support on everything from marketing and brand-building to payroll and invoicing, for the franchise care is obviously personal as well as professional. Heritage Healthcare began as a home-care provider in the north east of England in 2008. Together, CEO Glenn Pickersgill and directors Sally Pickersgill, Michelle Fenwick and Amanda Jackson have over 80 years of experience within the care sector. After opening four successful home-care offices in as many years, the directors decided that in order to build the business

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into a national home-care provider, they would franchise the business. Within Heritage Healthcare is an ethos of expert quality. The company’s headoffice policies and procedures, which underpin those of their franchisees, achieved international standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. The commitment to these standards by Heritage Healthcare enables franchisees to share in its success by providing outstanding care whilst maintaining an efficient and effective business. Heritage Healthcare’s focus on quality enabled the company to join the bfa as a provisional member, a status that was upgraded to associate membership within just three years of franchising. The Heritage Healthcare team has continued to build the company’s knowledge and reputation within the franchise sector. In 2014, Fenwick became the first qualified franchise professional within the UK care sector. Fenwick has also gone on to take the position of chair of the bfa’s Northern Forum, was nominated for the Darwin Gray Inspirational Woman of the Year award at the Encouraging Women into Franchising Awards and is regularly asked to appear on expert panels. In 2016, Heritage Healthcare was named as a finalist of the bfa HSBC Emerging Franchisor of the Year award – this year they went one better, taking the title for 2017. The award recognises the foundations that the team has put in place within its first five years of franchising in order to provide franchisees with a unique standard of support, whilst enabling significant but sustainable growth. Additionally, the

in-house Heritage Healthcare marketing department has reached the finals of the Franchise Marketing Awards in both 2016 and 2017, working with franchisees to create bespoke, location-specific content, artwork and campaigns. This success is mirrored in the significant number of awards and finalist positions that franchisees themselves have achieved over the past 12 months. Heritage Healthcare Ealing and Richmond were named Startups’ Franchisee of the Year and Heritage Healthcare Trafford reached the finals of the Great British Care Awards and were recognised as being within the top 5% of the UK Care Employer category. On top of this, Heritage Healthcare Cardiff received an outstanding result of 100% in a recent inspection and Heritage Healthcare Windsor was recognised in the Encouraging Women into Franchising Awards as New Franchisee of the

Year. Additionally numerous Heritage Healthcare franchises were named within the top ten care providers within their region by Homecare.co.uk – awards which are based solely on reviews provided independently by service users and their loved ones. Heritage Healthcare currently has 20 franchisees across 21 locations and the network continues to exceed expectations. And 2017 has been an incredibly successful year for Heritage Healthcare, both as a franchisor and as a franchise network. For instance, it will see the Heritage Healthcare franchise network deliver over 200,000 hours of care to clients. The Heritage Healthcare brand continues to grow across the UK, with the network going from strength to strength. And we’re sure if it carries on like this that it’s going to provide some very stiff competition next year.

established 2012 Investment level £29,995 + VAT Number of franchises 20 Sector Home care

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DYNO dyno.com

By putting the clients front and centre, Dyno established a highly profitable franchise Rather than just

established 1963 Investment level c£250k Number of franchises 74 Sector Services

unblocking drains, Dyno’s 24-hours-a-day, 365-daysa-year emergency service responds to a wide range of issues for both domestic and commercial customers. It’s underpinned by a set of values that puts the customer at the heart of everything it does, which is why it is constantly looking at ways to improve both the service it gives to its customers and the relationship it has with its franchisees. Dyno prides itself on delivering excellent levels of customer service and is constantly looking for ways to improve. For example, it has recently established a network of customer service training centres up and down the country; bringing its engineer training in-house ensures the training is highly relevant and tuned to the needs of its customers. It has a dedicated national accounts team that manages relationships with some large national clients. On a local level, its franchisees can tap into a wide portfolio of marketing materials to support their local activity and all have locally based commercial customers they look after. Another key feature of its business is the relationship it has with British Gas. Dyno provides a high-level service to British Gas Homecare customers, which means that each Dyno franchise enjoys a ready-made customer base that can provide a valuable income stream to complement the local on-demand market and commercial customers generated by the franchisee. Based on financial success alone, Dyno received plenty of kudos from our judges and has evidently earned its place in the Elite Franchise 100 rankings. But when one factors in the fact that it has been a franchising fixture since 1963, there is no doubt in our minds that this cornerstone of the community deserves to be ranked as one of Britain’s brightest franchises.

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Local Appliance Rentals Local Appliance Rentals is offering budding franchisees great value for their money localappliancerentals.co.uk

It’s no mystery why Local

Appliance Rentals is the fastestgrowing consumer-rental franchise in the world. The company simply provides an affordable and debt-free way to access big-ticket household items people desperately need. And demand for the franchise’s services is growing at breakneck speed. However, the exponential growth has resulted in a bit of a problem for the franchisor: Local Appliance Rentals has more rental customers than it can handle. Fortunately, this means that there is space for new franchisees to join the network. The fact that budding franchisees can join a business with low overheads and a steady weekly cash flow is one of the many reasons the franchisor made it into the Elite Franchise 100. Each franchisee can expect to serve a customer base of thousands with low churn rates and high profit margins. While each franchisee has to invest more than £50,000 to join the network, the support on offer makes it all worth it. For starters, every franchisee who joins the network immediately benefits from Local Appliance Rentals’ established infrastructure.

Moreover, the head office is always ready to help on any issue. Additionally, from day one franchisees get access to effective marketing strategies to help grow their brand as well as simply benefiting from the franchisor’s experience of the industry, meaning franchisees never have to feel that they are alone in their endevours. With support like this, it’s easy to see why Local Appliance Rentals is among the top quarter of this year’s ranking. established 2013 Investment level £50,000+ Number of franchises 50+ Sector Consumer hire

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diddidance.com

diddi dance is comprised of

20 diddi dance

classes, parties and nursery and school sessions for children five years and under. Sessions include original music, multiple dance props and original lesson plans and syllabuses to help engage and educate children. With an ongoing focus on getting children moving, diddi dance continues to grow across the UK as one of the leading providers of dance classes to preschoolers. It began as a single class in 2003 in south-east London. As interest grew in 2006 AnneMarie Martin, the founder, looked into franchising the concept, so she furthered the format of the classes so that it guaranteed new dance styles every half-term for a two-year programme to keep lessons fresh and fun. After launching a few diddi dance pilots between 2006 and 2009, diddi dance franchising

officially launched in 2010. Since then diddi dance has grown and currently has over 40 franchises. Franchisees now are in business for themselves not by themselves, allowing them the flexibility to work around family life plus have the support of Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience and her support team to help guide them when necessary. With its huge commitment to ongoing support and remaining open to the innovative ideas coming from its network, diddi dance really is an all-singing, all dancing franchise.

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RECOGNITION EXPRESS

With almost four decades of experience, it’s no wonder Recognition Express caused our judges to sit up and take notice recognition-express.com

Recognition Express is the UK’s leading supplier and manufacturer of corporate recognition and personalised products for businesses. The franchise has eight defined income streams ranging from personalised name badges, promotional products, awards, posters and banners to branded clothing for companies and uniforms for schools. The business has been successfully operating franchises in the corporate recognition and promotional products sector since 1979. It is the most successful franchise network of its kind and is a past winner of the bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year award. Operating in a huge market worth roughly £3bn, Recognition Express is

strictly business-to-business. Its success has been built on providing quality products, ensuring high levels of personal service, delivering value for money and building strong personal relationships with both customers and suppliers. Every business and organisation needs to increase its recognition factor, whether it’s a multinational corporation, a medium-sized charity or a local flower shop. It’s not difficult to see why the demand for branded clothing has never been higher. From name badges to corporate clothing, signage and promotional items, Recognition Express has built a business on offering customers innovative solutions that go far beyond simply supplying products. With over 38 years’ experience and a thriving network of franchisees, the

established 1979 Investment level 35,000 + VAT Number of franchises 39 Sector Branded promotional items

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brand offers an excellent proposition for ambitious people eager to set up and build their own business. The bespoke training and support offered by Recognition Express are the envy of the franchise industry. Centrally designed, managed and implemented direct-marketing programmes form the backbone of the company’s marketing systems and are augmented by high-quality collateral, marketing tools and ongoing training designed to drive business growth, customer contact and brand awareness. As a large, well-established network, Recognition Express has considerable purchasing power, enabling franchisees to offer competitively priced products whilst still making a significant profit. There is capacity in the UK for between 80 and 90 operations so Recognition Express isn’t just looking

for re-sale opportunities but also for new franchisees. The franchisor is looking for franchisees who are good communicators, motivated by achievement, customer driven, keen to follow a proven business system and have the energy and enthusiasm to meet and exceed customer needs. Ideal candidates will also have a sales and marketing background, good interpersonal skills and a desire to play an active part within their local business community. While setting high standards for its franchisees, Recognition Express also expects franchisees to demand excellence from the company in return. This means that it will always be on hand to offer advice and guidance, train and provide marketing tools, products and services. Additionally, franchisees will have access to comprehensive marketing systems including appointment generating and

Recognition Express’s bespoke REACT marketing system – plus marketing collateral and tools, a website and access to the Recognition Express Intranet. Recognition Express is part of the Bardon Group, the UK’s leading franchisor. Its three other wellestablished high-quality brands are Kall Kwik, ComputerXplorers and techclean. Outstanding business and ongoing comprehensive marketing and PR support is the hallmark of the Bardon Group, the sole mission of which is to help franchisees build and grow profitable businesses.

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tutor doctor Tutor Doctor has proven that teaching kids to do better in school is not just a good thing for society but also makes a lot of business sense tutordoctoropportunity.com

Tutor Doctor is the number one in-home tutoring franchise in the world and is proud to make a difference in children’s lives. Its secret? Having franchisees who work closely with families to thoroughly assess a child’s needs and then carefully select the tutor most suitable based on their goals, personality and learning style. Instead of the tired old centre-based model, tutors visit students so that they can learn in the comfort of their own home at a time that suits them. For today’s busy families, this is a real benefit. The company was established in North America in 2000 and started its global franchise operation in 2003. Out of all global territories, the UK has shown the fastest growth in like-for-like sales since Alex Scotchbrook opened the very first UK Tutor Doctor in 2009. She has then gone on to become the franchise’s second topperforming franchisee worldwide and was recently a finalist in the bfa’s Franchisee of the Year awards. With growth of 595% since day one, Scotchbrook and her team have helped

established 2000 Investment level £29,700 Number of franchises 500+ Sector Education

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close to 2,500 children and provided work for more than 400 tutors. Her work within Tutor Doctor as a member of the National Advisory Council and the franchise’s mentor programmes means she is beloved and admired by her colleagues in the network too. The Tutor Doctor franchise is a lowrisk, high-ROI model. Franchisees can work from home for added flexibility and all tutors work on a self-employed basis, meaning that there are no staff costs to worry about. The franchise’s training programme is specifically designed to help new franchisees launch their business quickly, successfully and profitably. Once up and running, franchisees can rest assured that the franchisor is there to offer hands-on support every step of the way. Tutor Doctor really likes to go above and beyond for its franchise family. That is why people joining the network benefit from regular meetings, webinars and calls, as well as ongoing training and field support. Additionally, the franchise’s annual global conference enables the whole international network to come together to learn, celebrate and plan for the future. As a testament to the support provided, Tutor Doctor’s annual franchisee satisfaction survey invites franchisees to offer candid feedback about the network. Support features highly in the survey and the franchisor has received four out of

five in terms of satisfaction and perceived value throughout the support section of its latest survey. Since launching in the UK in 2009, the franchise hasn’t lost a single franchisee through business failure. Tutor Doctor franchisees are intelligent and driven people from all walks of life. However, while it’s easy to think that all of them are former teachers, almost 80% of the franchisees don’t come from an education background at all. Tutor Doctor is now on the lookout for motivated and people-orientated individuals who want to own a profitable business that enables them to have more flexibility, work from home and make a difference in their customers’ lives. Tutor Doctor’s vision, mission and values resonate with all kinds of people. The franchise is about more than providing a great service; it’s about building confidence, sharing knowledge and empowering generations of students. When its franchisees combine their desire to truly make a difference with its world-class training and support systems, something very special happens. Its why the Tutor Doctor network continues to grow culturally and financially in size, strength and influence.

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17 Southern Fried Chicken Southern Fried Chicken’s ambitious global expansion plans have not only enabled the franchise to grow over several continents but have also made it the perfect fit for Elite Franchise 100 southernfriedchicken.com

40 years’ experience in the quick service restaurant marketplace, Southern Fried Chicken knows how to ensure that chicken is the hero of every dish. This attitude is the not-so secret ingredient that has made the franchise’s chicken offering stand out and helped the company expand across the world. For instance, Southern Fried Chicken plans to kick off 2018 by opening its first restaurant in Mongolia in January, with a second restaurant already in its planning stage. But that is far from the only place in which Southern Fried Chicken plans to expand its operations. The franchisor recognises that Africa is a rapidly developing continent and that it’s ripe for the picking. This potential is something Southern Fried Chicken plans to take advantage of. The franchise has recently Having over

opened a restaurant in Cape Town and a second restaurant is already on the drawing board. Moreover, the franchise currently has two restaurants in Senegal with a further five openings planned for 2018. Addtionally, Southern Fried Chicken is currently trading in Tanzania, Nigeria and Ghana. And this group of countries may grow, as the franchise has experienced strong interest from several other African states. But Southern Fried Chicken is also looking to expand its current operations in Russia. The franchise has been established in the country for almost two decades, being one of the first franchised brands to recognise the country’s true potential. This has provided the franchise with the opportunity to establish over 50 restaurants in Russia, with a further 40 in the offing. This experience has also given Southern Fried Chicken the perfect

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established 1990 Investment level ÂŁ125,000+ Number of franchises 102 Sector Quick service restaurant

platform to launch a further 15 franchisees located in neighbouring Commonwealth of Independent States countries. The know-how to set up restaurants in developing countries has proved invaluable and the franchisor is excited about its continued expansion plans and targeting destinations that are prime franchise opportunities for investors. Southern Fried Chicken can take advantage in areas with lower population density than those required by other global brands, utilising its smaller store footprint in many smaller cities and towns, which increases the potential for profitable expansion. Over the last year, Southern Fried Chicken has also taken its first steps into the exciting Indian market, signing the first area master developer in Hyderabad. But this success has also created a renewed emphasis from the franchisor to grow its UK franchise. The UK is a mature market with many brands fighting for a position in the market. However the quality and consistency of other brands in the market is not always great. Fortunately, this is something Southern Fried Chicken believes it can help with. Having a long history of upholding consistently high quality and brand consistency means that the franchise can offer better tasting chicken, time after time. This is achieved by only using succulent real fresh chicken, marinated to give flavour the whole way through, coated in breading made from a unique blend of herbs and spices and the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive lemon-pepper flavour, pressurefried to perfection, giving a deliciously crisp and moist product. Thanks to the seasonings and packaging purchased, Southern Fried Chicken can ensure the same great taste across the world. But the main reason, of course, is that Southern Fried Chicken offers a comprehensive global franchising package that includes ongoing design, essential support, flexible local supply options and training distilled from four decades in the field. The franchisor is now looking to expand and share the goodness and quality of Southern Fried Chicken through a select group of new franchisees.

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The Creation Station

Having spent the better part of two decades unleashing both children’s and franchisees’ creativity, The Creation Station has evidently got our judges’ artistic juices flowing thecreationstation.co.uk

It’s easy to see how Sarah Cressall made The Creation Station a huge success when she launched the enterprise in 2002. Having dedicated her life to unleashing the playfulness of others, the founder of the creative arts-and-crafts activity franchise has now made the franchise the market leader in its field. Over the years, the franchise’s classes, parties and events have inspired more than 650,000 people, young and old, to use their imagination and have fun. Thanks to the efforts of the company’s

established 2002 Investment level £7,999 + VAT Number of franchises 126 Sector Children, education and leisure

126 friendly and proactive franchisees, The Creation Station’s customers have rewarded the activities a five-star mark and in 2016 the franchise finished in the top three of 5,000 companies competing for the prestigious Richard Branson’s Positive Impact on Society award. Since its humble beginnings in the early noughties, The Creation Station has grown to the point where it can offer a wealth of activities for everyone, from newborns to 99-year-olds. There is something for everyone, whether they want to try out a one of the pre-school and family fun classes or join one of the after-school clubs. Recognising that the whole company can only be successful if the franchisees are successful, The Creation Station is committed to providing ongoing training, support and business-development programmes. Additionally, the franchisor gives new franchisees a chance to independently choose how much or how little they want to do according to their own aspiration level, needs and goals. This attitude is the reason to why The Creation Station was recently rewarded a five-star rating in an independently franchisee satisfaction survey. No wonder the judges felt inspired to award The Creation Station with a top-20 ranking on the Elite Franchise 100.

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Welcome to the Top 15 UK franchises for 2018, celebrating the best and brightest franchises that Britain has to offer

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Right at Home Putting people first – whether they are clients or franchisees – means that Right at Home is a franchise worthy of recognition rightathomeuk.co.uk/franchise-opportunities

established 2011 Investment level £37,000 + VAT Number of franchises 50+ Sector Home care

offers exceptional home-based care, with the sole aim of making a difference to its clients every single day. At the heart of the Right at Home ethos is the desire to protect clients’ independence, allowing them to live in the comfort of their own home with the help of an exceptionally supportive home-care team. Central to the Right at Home network is a commitment to offer the best homecare services in the UK, as franchisees are collectively driven to give something back to their local communities. The Right at Home management franchise was established in 2010 by managing director Ken Deary, who called upon his vast experience of running a McDonald’s franchise and opening and managing a privately run care home. Initially based in the USA, Right at Home was personally piloted by Deary to ensure it would suit the UK market, with the first franchisee signing up the following year. Over the subsequent six years, Right at Home has grown to develop a strong network of 50 like-minded business owners who are passionate about offering the highly personalised services that Right at Home is fast becoming synonymous with. And as proud holders of the 2016 UK Best Franchise Award, Right at Home is also one of only four UK franchises to have won Smith & Henderson’s Franchise 5 Star Satisfication Right at Home

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Award for five years in a row. Operating from a local office, Right at Home franchisees personally appoint a fully registered care professional and a team of carers to build a valuable business in their community. Together they offer highly sought-after, quality support services that enable people to maintain a sense of independence and dignity, whether they are living with disability or entering their twilight years. Staying in the comfort of their home for as long as they can is a crucial requirement for many within the UK’s rapidly ageing population. Franchisees won’t need previous experience in the care sector to consider a Right at Home franchise, just a burning passion to provide outstanding care and to give back to their local community. The RightStart training programme, offered by Right at Home, guides franchisees through every step of their business startup. And the ongoing support of the Right at Home head office ensures franchisees never feel as though they have to carry their business alone. With consistent scores of over 90%

in independent franchisee satisfaction surveys, aspiring franchisees can feel confident of the training, support and expertise available to them with a Right at Home franchise. There are around 1.58 million people currently employed in social care, and 6.5 million seniors requiring assistance with their daily activities, so the market has enormous potential. As market leaders, Right at Home franchisees are wellpositioned to benefit from this opportunity and build a profitable future for themselves. Recent figures show that 27% of Right at Home offices trading 24 months or longer have revenue of over £1m per annum, whilst 67% of the network achieves revenue over £500,000 per annum after just 12 months. Every Right at Home franchisee shares a common value of helping others and of putting clients’ interests ahead of all else. For this reason, Right at Home has a two-way recruitment process to ensure its business ethos suits franchisees and that their values complement its vision.

And as one may expect, this desire to ensure franchisees are getting everything they’re looking for in a franchise and making sure that they are supported throughout their journey has stood Right at Home in very good stead in the Elite Franchise 100. Whether it’s the ‘mini MBA’ the franchise runs candidates through, its focus on upping engagement throughout its training process, its use of financial benchmarking or its provision of proactive coaching, the effort Right at Home puts into support earned it the judges’ commendations.

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ENERGIE FITNESS Having achieved astounding growth and demonstrated its innovative, forward-thinking attitude to fitness, it’s no wonder énergie Fitness is in tip-top condition

energiefranchise.com

A rapidly growing, multi-

award-winning fitness club brand in today’s thriving health-club sector, énergie Fitness is one of the UK’s experts in the fitness and wellness sector. Starting out as a private company, énergie Fitness now operates close to 100 clubs across domestic and international territories, including Ireland, Poland, Latvia and east Africa. Renowned as one of the most exciting and innovative fitness and wellness franchise groups, the business has won numerous accolades including Health Club Operator of the Year at the ukactive Flame Awards in 2016. énergie Fitness enables the rise of locally owned clubs with a difference, empowering people to transform their lives and find a gym where they belong. Working with over 140 franchisees, énergie Fitness prides itself on its franchising structure, which includes all of the tools required for success from the very beginning. From working alongside its experienced property90

acquisition team to gaining access to a hub of information and promotional material within its brand-new marketing suite, every franchisee is able to give their club the presale exposure needed for a ground-breaking opening. Supporting its franchisees every step of the way, énergie Fitness will continue to assist its franchisees throughout the lifecycle of their businesses. Part of the énergie Franchise product also enables entrepreneurs with no industry experience to become franchisees, which is why its comprehensive world-class training structure is a key part of the process. énergie has recently expanded and remodelled its training schedule to encourage consistent progression and development, resulting in a more positive

and rewarding experience for énergie Fitness members nationwide. A significant division of its in-depth training curriculum is its Take the Stage programme. Designed by its very own training team at énergie Central in early 2017, Take the Stage was born with an objective of helping team members shine in their individual roles at énergie clubs across the UK. With a dedicated training team delivering and implementing the programme in all its fun, quirky and innovative glory, staff members in every énergie club are encouraged to Take the Stage on a daily basis, giving the club a unique feel and serving members with an unbeatable gym experience on every visit. Another significant advance for the evolution of the énergie brand is the creation and launch of its brand-new,

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

ESTABLISHED 2003 INVESTMENT LEVEL £95,000 NUMBER OF FRANCHISES 140 SECTOR Health & fitness

signature training concept – thé YARD. Designed and implemented by its very own fitness training and development team, thé YARD offers all-inclusive, high-intensity boutique classes, which transforms the way members train and, in turn, significantly diversifies the énergie gym experience. With a new focus on customer service, énergie has also introduced club hosts to welcome members into the gym and make them feel like VIPs on every visit. In doing so, énergie is able to counteract the similar routines seen across many lowcost clubs and in turn work to transform the statistics highlighted in the latest Mintel report, which stated that 49% of members felt a lack of communication from staff was the biggest hassle in lowcost clubs. Operating with a fully-staffed framework, every énergie Fitness club is complete with top of the range equipment and facilities, including spacious studios, modern changing rooms and refreshment areas. Despite sitting within the low-cost sector due to exceptional membership offers, the énergie model represents a health-club brand that could match that of a higher-cost health club. With that in mind, it predicts that clubs that charge upwards of £30 per month for a basic membership will ultimately become the victim in the ever expanding and competitive market. Having helped bring access to quality fitness facilities to the masses, énergie Fitness has seen truly impressive growth, which made it a shoo-in for a high ranking. But its attitude to innovation was the clincher, wowing the Elite Franchise judges with its tech-infused new concept thé YARD, offering not only high-intensity training but also fitness-tracking wearables to help amateur athletes and fitness fanatics achieve their goals. Given it’s making waves in the industry year on year, an exciting future evidently lies ahead for énergie Fitness.

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

PAPA JOHN’S papajohns.co.uk/franchise/

Thanks to its secret sauce – strong financials and a sizeable network – Papa John’s has risen up the Elite Franchise 100 rankings and is now focused on adding a topping of strong support to its franchise package Since being founded by John Schnatter in the USA in 1984, Papa John’s has grown to more than 350 stores in the UK and over 5,000 in more than 40 international markets. As Schnatter himself remarked: “The whole premise, the whole genesis by which I founded Papa John’s was quality. We believed from the get-go that if we took care of our people and we put our best foot forward with the quality of our products that we’d be successful.” As a result, over the past two decades, Papa John’s has become famous for its: ‘Better ingredients. Better pizza.’ concept across the world. However, its

commitment to being better doesn’t stop there. It aims to have a superior franchise business opportunity, service, marketing, training and even franchisee-recruitment process so it attracts the best people around to deliver its top-quality product and service day-in, day-out to its growing customer base. In this way, Papa John’s is about far more than pizza: it’s about people. The talent is its team and franchise network. Its franchisees purchase a slice of a much bigger, better business and, in return, Papa John’s invests in its people, just as they have invested in it. It provides worldclass training and all the assistance and support needed to set up, including help with location selection and full turn-key opening of the store. Over the years, Papa John’s has been particularly successful at recruiting highcalibre franchisees who are passionate about running and growing their portfolio of franchised stores. It is also proud to be a full member of the bfa and adhere to its code of ethics, ensuring transparency is embedded in everything it does. Papa John’s has focused on a creating a clear and well-honed recruitment process for franchisees. This guarantees the strongest candidates apply and can

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established 1985 (USA) 2001 (UK) Investment level £100,000+ Number of franchises 350+ (UK) Sector Fast food

quickly understand the benefits of managing a Papa John’s franchise. It awards the franchise to the most able and committed individuals and turns down more than it says yes to. It is looking for potential franchisees who are energetic and aligned with its core values, which include: focus, accountability, quality and a positive mindset. Successful franchisees are then guided carefully through a comprehensive training programme to ensure, once up and running, that their teams can deliver the product quality and service expected by its loyal customer base. Papa John’s franchisee training is thorough. Franchisees receive six weeks of training in total – divided into three weeks at Milton Keynes and a further three weeks in a store – and this teaches all the hands-on aspects of running the franchise. Once the franchisee and new team are trained, support is provided to launch the store. They are now part of the Papa John’s family and so its whole team, from

its franchise business-development managers to its local marketing managers and brand-excellence managers, are all dedicated to assist in the overall success of the franchise. The launch programme support at Papa John’s is provided in the form of local marketing, while experienced head-office staff are also deployed on-site for the first week’s trading to help get the new store off to a flying start. Some of Papa John’s most successful franchisees go on to open multiple sites. It welcomes applications from ambitious franchisees who are keen to grow a portfolio of outlets and proactively supports and incentivises this kind of expansion. Papa John’s is a global brand that has experienced phenomenal success. However, the key to this success is its culture and the positive attitude of the people that make up the DNA of its family. And this investment in people has evidently paid dividends: not only did Papa John’s score very highly in the Elite Franchise 100 on its financial performance and the impressive size of its network but the pizza giant has continued to see significant growth year-on-year. All in all, a very firm base upon which the pizza brand’s franchisees can build.

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CAREMARK Going the extra mile for both franchisees and its clients, Caremark’s contributions to community warrant serious recognition

caremarkfranchises.com

Caremark’s founder and CEO, Kevin Lewis, has been

involved in the provision of care services for over 30 years. After running a profitable residential care home business in Brighton, Lewis started providing domiciliary-care services in 1993. He soon realised that these services were needed nationally and saw franchising as the best way of providing care services to the highest standards throughout the UK. By 2001, his network of franchisees had become the UK market leader within the care sector and was acquired by a major PLC. While he left the care sector for some time, Lewis’s passion for care and his desire to see other people become successful business owners led him to launch Caremark in West Sussex in 2005.

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The business has since then developed successfully and Caremark currently has an established and thriving network of 108 franchises, including 12 based overseas. In recent years, Caremark has expanded internationally in Ireland, Malta and India, while maintaining its base in the UK. Being a wholly UK-owned-and-operated franchise means that decisions are made swiftly and with the best interests of franchisees at heart. The growing diversity of services that Caremark is able to offer – including personal care, domestic help, live-in care, respite care, companionship, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, social activities and staffing supply for other care organisations – means there are multiple revenue streams open to franchisees. Over the years, Caremark has developed and refined a robust system bolstered by strong policies and procedures to support franchisees and deliver the highest standard of care and support. The model allows every Caremark franchisee to focus on developing their business while their care manager builds and supervises a team of trusted care and support workers. Adhering to such a robust system also reduces the risks for new business owners, especially in the critical first year. As a full member of the bfa, Caremark values honesty and transparency. Thanks to its strong code of ethics placing care at the centre of everything it does, Caremark has built a respected and reputable brand giving instant credibility to new franchisees. Not only is this credibility key to building a client base, it also means franchisees find it comparatively easy to get funding thanks to Caremark’s excellent partnerships with a number of leading high-street banks. New franchisees also benefit from a straightforward process that makes it as easy as possible to set up their business. Both essential training and outstanding ongoing support are provided and the growth of each business is encouraged with the lowest management fees in the sector. Provided both by the head-office team and a field team, franchisee support includes – but is not limited to – business development, training, IT, PR, marketing and general support. Caremark has also developed a unique and constantly reviewed e-learning model for home-

established 2005 Investment LEVEL £100,000 Number of franchises 108 Sector Health & social care

care staff, providing them with initial and ongoing training. New franchisees are not required to have a background in care as full training and ongoing support is provided. Many Caremark franchisees come from different paths of life and are often new to the care industry. However, they all share the same drive for delivering excellent care and growing a prosperous business. While no business experience is necessary, general management skills, a strong sense of responsibility for others and the commitment to setting up and maintaining high standards are all attributes that a potential Caremark franchisee should have. The attention Caremark pays to supporting those both in its own network

and local neighbourhoods has helped the care franchise secure seriously impressive scores in this year’s Elite Franchise 100. From supporting franchisees to strive for excellence by competing in careindustry awards to raising huge amounts of money for the Alzheimer’s Society with a sponsored cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End, judges were blown away by Caremark’s commitment to community, meaning it richly deserves its ranking.

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STAGECOACH Helping kids to gain confidence by teaching them to tread the boards, Stagecoach’s longevity in the market, large network and excellent support means it truly deserves this billing stagecoachfranchise.com

Stagecoach Performing

Arts teaches four- to 18-yearolds to sing, dance and act, not only to perform on stage but, importantly, to perform better in life. Celebrating its 30th birthday in 2018, over the last three decades it has seen over one million young people gain confidence, stretch themselves and build essential life skills. Its fun and engaging classes continue to give students both the structure and freedom to explore and develop. And, as its students grow, the individual businesses in its network also grow and flourish. Over the years, Stagecoach has continually refined its franchise model, which is just one reason why 45,000 students flock to it each week. Founded in 1988, it is a market leader in extracurricular performing-arts schools in the UK. It has more than 650 Stagecoach schools in nine countries including Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Malta, South Africa, Spain and the UK. And together these schools make a difference to its students’ lives. Stagecoach has something to offer every child, from the energetic, budding performer to the timid observer, giving them the opportunity to be themselves and flourish at their own pace through a creative learning environment with the ultimate goal of achieving ‘creative 96

ESTABLISHED 1988 INVESTMENT LEVEL £14,995 + VAT NUMBER OF FRANCHISES 300 SECTOR Children’s services

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

courage for life’. With arts, music and drama programmes on the decline in many schools, children are missing out on the proven benefits of artistically inclined activities and the social and intellectual skills developed through them. Parents come to Stagecoach to fill that gap. In addition to its pre-training, Stagecoach offers a comprehensive five-day induction course to prepare franchisees fully for their role as a Stagecoach principal, after which they will also have a dedicated regional franchise manager to provide ongoing support. A Stagecoach Performing Arts franchisee’s role is to ensure that every aspect of a school runs smoothly, creatively and is financially viable. Franchisees will be helped to secure their first venue and recruit experienced DBS-checked teachers. Each week the school runs a number of fun, exciting and challenging classes to help students grow in confidence, inspiring and enriching them through performing arts. For prospective franchisees, Stagecoach offers a range of benefits. Not only does its flexible model allow them to run their own business alongside their other commitments and grow at their own pace but for relatively low startup costs it enables franchisees to grow their businesses into a valuable asset with high resale values. But the benefits aren’t just financial: Stagecoach also allows franchisees to join a brand with a trusted heritage and a truly global presence – as

the brand caters to over one million students around the world, franchisees are definitely part of something big. Additionally franchisees also have access to a 28-day sales and marketing course, regular programmes from the Stagecoach education team and can benefit from exclusive relationships with partners such as RADA and Disney. Inevitably, this has seen Stagecoach gracefully scale the Elite Franchise 100 rankings. Not only were the judges impressed by its 30 years’ experience in the marketplace but they felt Stagecoach’s extensive network was worthy of a special mention. On top of this, the franchise’s support received some warm praise: as well as providing initial and ongoing training, Stagecoach’s commitment to utilising working groups to involve franchisees in upcoming changes and development helped net its place in the top 20. All in all, Stagecoach evidently deserves its place in the spotlight.

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Expense Reduction Analysts By paying close attention to on-boarding and supporting its franchisees on an ongoing basis, Expense Reduction Analysts has become a B2B powerhouse expense-reduction.co.uk

Everyone needs a helping hand from time to time. This is true both for individuals and businesses, which is why the B2B industry is growing year after year. This is something that the tenth best franchise this year has been able to take full advantage of thanks to its 20 years’ of experience in helping businesses cut their costs. At the same time, Expense Reduction Analysts UK is a testament to the power of franchising. By joining forces, the network’s 140 franchisees work together to provide clients with a range of advice on their business strategy to streamline their overheads and generate financial savings. One of the secrets behind Expense Reduction Analysts’ success is that the franchisor encourages franchisees to develop long-term relationships with their clients, ensuring that they can stay on as trusted advisors. By demonstrating their expertise, franchisees are able to open up new conversations with clients leading to ongoing relationships that can last for decades. But this wouldn’t be possible unless the franchisees could ensure they can give the best strategic advice, maximise the savings and keep prices in check. However, this wouldn’t be possible unless the franchise made sure that each franchisee’s skills are of the highest standard. Nevertheless, given Expense Reduction Analysts has dedicated the better part of two decades to establish a powerful and unique network of specialist expertise, it’s not surprising to see this level of collaboration. Not only does this

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mean that franchisees can get a lot of support but it also means that clients can access unmatched highquality services that can help them save money. The support is also evident in the franchise’s thorough training. Franchisees are taught to operate the franchise’s proven business system and how to best use the experience and knowledge the network as a whole has gained during its impressive history. These efforts ensure every Expense Reduction Analysts franchisee has unrivalled knowledge, skills, judgment and experience, enabling them to provide advice to organisations that result in major process improvements and financial savings. All new franchisees are initially trained to be generalists so they can build a sustainable business by winning and managing their own clients and doing their own simple projects, which are taught during training. However, many franchisees eventually settle into a more specialised role, concentrating on winning new business, managing existing business or a combination of the two. They also have the option of specialising in delivering the project work and reports on behalf of colleagues. While most Expense Reduction Analysts’ franchisees are people with executive skills and experience gained during long careers at a senior level, this training and support ensures that they can provide the highest level of service to their clients.

established 1996 Investment level £39,900 Number of franchises 140 Sector B2B

The judges were particularly impressed with the support the franchise offers its franchisees, enabling them to constantly win new business, run projects and work together with the rest of the network to generate sustainable savings and improve internal procurement procedures. As a result, deciding Expense Reduction Analysts’ place in the Elite Franchise 100 was a breeze. Another factor that wooed the judges was the fact that the company shows no sign of taking its foot of the accelerator. By constantly ensuring that it innovates and updates its practices to ensure compliance with new legislation, the franchise is always at the bleeding edge in its field. This is in no small part down to the fact that the company prides itself on having a transparent network where every franchisee’s ideas are heard and can lead to new and exciting innovations. All in all, this means Expense Reduction Analysts is a franchise worthy of being ranked amongst the ten best in Britain.

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established 2004 Investment level £27,500 +VAT Number of franchises 60

Sector Automotive

REVIVE! revivefranchise.com

Not only offering consumers flexible paintwork repair, Revive! has demonstrated a strong commitment to the needs of its franchisees and the communities it operates in

than a ‘man in a van’ franchise, Revive! offers an exceptional business-building opportunity and allows franchisees to build their future as they grow their business. Revive!’s franchisees provide a vital service, repairing damage to car and van paintwork including bumper scuffs, bonnet chips and the refurbishment of alloy wheels. Existing Revive! franchisees come from a diverse range of backgrounds and past experience in the industry is certainly not necessary. With its unequalled, fully certified training, it provides franchisees with an unsurpassed standard of skills and knowledge, which in turn ensures they have every opportunity of achieving their potential and future business aspirations. Territories are large enough to allow franchisees to expand to at least three vans and some single-territory franchisees have five or more – its largest, multi-territory franchisee operates ten vans and a static site that So much more

employs 18 people. Additionally being mobile allows franchisees to keep their overheads low whilst at the same time offering convenience to their customers. Meanwhile, Revive!’s award winning support is aimed at helping franchisees grow their business as quickly as possible. Revive!’s services are highly valued by its trade and retail customers alike and this gives its franchisees more scope to build a substantial business. For the general public, Revive! offers an easy way for customers to get their damaged car back to its former glory – and with an increasing number of cars on the road every year, the market is huge. Jobs are usually completed within a few hours of starting and the work is carried out at a convenient time and location. Revive! mobile repairs do not have the overheads associated with traditional bodyshops and can therefore often pass on significant savings to the customer. Meanwhile, for car dealers, Revive!’s service offers significant advantages. With 20 years’ experience of working with

dealerships, it understands the challenges and opportunities within this marketplace. Its industry-leading tablet and bespoke Revive! app make invoicing simple and enable it to offer detailed management information to dealer groups, helping them understand and manage their minorrepair spend and reduce costs. Whether they need a technician on site each week for used-car prep or want to increase revenue streams by offering an added value minor-paint-repair service to customers, Revive! helps dealers develop the best solution for their business. And for its national account customers – whether they are national dealer groups, fleet or insurance companies – Revive! offers a fully managed process. A number of its biggest customers are also fully integrated into its CRM system, speeding up the process and offering great service to its policy holders, as well as centralised invoicing and management information. All this means that Revive! franchisees have the best possible opportunity to grow their business into a multi-van operation with a range of customer groups to target, as well as the national-account business it provides them with. Having received consistently high scores, the Elite Franchise 100 judges were evidently impressed by Revive!’s commitment to the franchising community, giving special mention to managing director Mark Llewellyn’s tenure on the board of the bfa and his commitment to raising more than £20,000 for the charity Children with Cancer. However, the highest kudos were reserved for the support Revive! provides franchisees, with its comprehensive package including in-house and onsite training, ongoing development and targeted support in areas including bookkeeping, credit control, HR support and marketing. All in all, Revive! has demonstrated its commitment to supporting franchising both within and outside of its network and thoroughly deserves recognition as one of the UK’s top franchises.

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ACTIONCOACH Taking advantage of the exploding business-coaching industry whilst supporting its growing network of franchsiees have made ActionCOACH one of the best franchises in the UK actioncoach.co.uk

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The business-service industry is

booming. Thanks to business leaders being increasingly comfortable with asking for help, the sector saw an impressive 7.4% growth last year. Fortunately, ActionCOACH is spearheading the rise of the sector by providing excellent service through its network of highly skilled franchisees. And the franchisor is making no secret of the fact that franchising plays a pivotal role in its success, which is why it pays special attention to ensuring franchises are given all the support they need. Not only is this one of the reasons the Elite Franchise 100 judging panel ranked the company among the top ten franchises on the list but it’s also why ActionCOACH franchisees are some of the most satisfied in the UK. As a matter of fact, the company is one out of only four franchises to have been awarded Smith & Henderson’s coveted 5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction Award five years in a row. This is thanks to the fact that becoming an ActionCOACH franchisee means being immersed in knowledge, taking advantage of the franchise’s

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Ian Christelow and Julie Wagstaff, co-founders of ActionCOACH UK, with the company’s five 5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction Awards certificates

ESTABLISHED 2002 INVESTMENT LEVEL £27,000+

Jeff Shrimpton helping business owners transform their business

NUMBER OF FRANCHISES 170+ SECTOR Business services

decades-worth of experience and being guaranteed a return on investment. Every franchisee receives world-class training with global, national and local support every step of the way. Additionally, they get to access over 3,500 strategies and tactics guaranteed to make both their own and their clients’ businesses successful. Another clue to ActionCOACH’s success is the fact that the franchisor is particular about only recruiting franchisees that are up to the company’s high standard. Recognising that most businesses go to awesome lengths to ensure that the business coach entrusted to help the brand is up to the task, ActionCOACH only recruits the best. “When you hire a lawyer or accountant, you do so because you have to,” says Ian Christelow, co-founder of ActionCOACH UK. “But when you hire an action coach, it’s because you want to and the results are life-changing.” Which is true for both the clients and the franchisees.

Clients at ActionCOACH’s annual Business Excellence Forum & Awards

And you can easily find people within the network who agrees with him. For instance, by joining ActionCOACH new franchisees get a chance to build their own businesses and impact people’s lives in a positive way, both in business and personally. Because the assistance of the network can be life-changing for clients as it will enable them to understand their businesses better, improve profitability, enjoy work more and see the possibility of more growth and financial freedom in the future. ActionCOACH franchisees couple their existing skill set with a service millions of people need, surpass their corporate earnings and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing their clients are by far the biggest winners. The basic entry level investment for an ActionCOACH franchise is £27,000 and some of the UK franchisees have already achieved revenues in excess of £1m a year.

However, many franchisees, the biggest returns are the personal thank you they receive from their clients. What’s more, the recognition ActionCOACH franchisees get for the difference they make in their local economy is also a massive bonus, as business growth fuels more jobs, time, security and financial freedom for families. By contributing to the growth of British small businesses both by assisting entrepreneurs in their endeavours and by giving franchisees a chance to shine, it’s no wonder the judges ranked ActionCOACH so highly.

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07 mcdonalds.co.uk/franchising

Franchising has been

SUBWAY Subwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recipe for success lies in its simplicity and extensive franchisee support subwayfranchising.com

at the heart of Subwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success story almost from the beginning. Fred DeLuca may have opened his first sandwich shop in Connecticut during the summer of 1965 thanks to a $1,000 loan from family friend Peter Buck but it was when the entrepreneurial pair set themselves a target to open 32 stores within ten years that the company really took off. Having researched the market, they decided that the best way to expand Subway was to franchise. And giving others the opportunity to succeed in their own business has certainly paid off. The first Subway franchise opened in the US in 1974 and the first UK store opened in Brighton in 1996. Today the company has over 2,500 stores across the UK and Ireland and more than 44,000 stores in over 110 countries. The company plans to grow the number of stores in the UK and Ireland to 3,000 by 2020. But to successfully do that, Subway needs to keep giving thousands of ambitious and entrepreneurial individuals the chance to fulfil their dreams of becoming their own boss. These new franchisees should be hard-working, customer-focused and have the drive to build their own businesses. Successful candidates will benefit from extensive training and support. From the day new franchisees are accepted,

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established 1965 Investment level £86,000 - £222,000 Number of franchises 2,500+ Sector QSR/Retail

they are prepared for the moment that they can open their own store and employ their own sandwich artists. This starts with the franchisee undergoing comprehensive training at the Subway Training Centre in Cambridge. But it doesn’t stop there, new members of the franchise network will also receive help as they grow their business from the 20 regional development offices in the UK and Ireland. These offices specialise in offering assistance and mentoring to all franchisees in things like site selection, leasing, design, construction, handson training, purchasing, operations, advertising and local store marketing. Additionally, franchisees will also get help from a local team of support staff focused on operations, leasing, R&D, customer service, training and franchisee services. The Subway concept is to keep franchisee investment low, the operation simple and to offer customers fresh and

great-tasting food. There is no need for grills or fryers and because of the simplicity of the operation there is an adaptable approach to the physical layout of the stores. Subway franchisees work for themselves, within their local communities but within a tried-and-tested framework, with world-class training and support. Recognising the value of a tight-knit network, Subway also hosts regular conventions where franchisees can learn how to keep up-to-date with best practice and get a chance to meet staff and fellow franchisees from around the world. The Subway concept is designed to keep franchisee investment low and the operation simple whilst offering customers fresh and great tasting food. There is no need for grills or fryers and because of the simplicity of the operation there is an adaptable approach to the physical layout of the stores. This

has certainly stood the franchisees in good stead as over 70% of new stores are established by existing franchisees, proving how profitable it can be. It’s really easy to see how Subway has become one of the largest and best-known franchises in the world. While its historical success is undoubtedly impressive, the judges were also left in awe of Subway’s extensive expansion plans and the support on offer for its franchisees. With its appetite for perfecting the Subway brand and supporting its franchisees, the seventh best franchise in Britain is undoubtedly just as hot as its spicy Italian subs.

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MCDONALD’S While McDonald’s is one of Britain’s largest and longest-running franchises, it has an unflinching commitment to providing the best support for its franchisees and supplying them with groundbreaking innovations mcdonalds.co.uk/franchising

McDonald’s knows that its customers don’t want a different McDonald’s: they want a better one. By listening to its customers and working in partnership with its franchisees, the fast-food franchise has invested significantly in a number of exciting projects and developments that use technology over the past year that have been a great success. However, it couldn’t have achieved any of this without its franchisees: the businessmen and women who bring McDonald’s to life and champion its brand in their local communities. Over the last ten years, its number of franchised units has doubled and over 75% of its restaurants are franchised, totalling over 1,000. As a business, in October 2017 McDonald’s celebrated its 46th consecutive quarter of growth, which is a testament to its constant innovation. Franchising with McDonald’s is a great option for anyone interested in starting their own business with the support of a well-known, established brand. Its supply chain is strong and its franchisees are able to benefit from economies of scale due to the number of restaurants in the system.

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Franchisees and their employees can also access its world-class training facilities and programmes, which is just one area of support that it offers. Each franchisee is assigned a franchisee consultant who will have on average 22 years of operations experience at McDonald’s to ensure they are best placed to advise the franchisee on their business. In June 2017, it received third-party recognition for its franchisee support when it won that category at the bfa HSBC Franchise Awards. In 2017, it began its McDelivery pilot with UberEATS, which was particularly well received by customers and is now live in over 270 restaurants nationwide. Through its global mobile app, customers can now click and collect, making their order from their phones then simply checking in at the store to collect their order. This has proven to be very popular and is now implemented in over 900 stores. In the coming years, McDonalds will continue to work with its restaurants and franchisees to provide delivery and click and collect across more stores, making its menu items even more convenient for its customers to access. The franchise is nearing the completion of its Experience of the Future, a multimillion-pound restaurant-transformation

programme. As part of this upgrade, its kitchen platforms have changed and all its items are now made fresh to order, meaning its production line has the capacity to explore new items to add to the menu in addition to the classics. As the gourmet-burger market has seen an increase, McDonald’s has adapted its menu and added its own spin: its signature collection with a thicker beef patty in three delicious flavours, which is now available in over 900 restaurants. It now has kiosks as an ordering point in addition to the front counter so its customers have more choice around how they order and pay. It is also offering in-restaurant table service and has added wireless-charging ports, iPads and interactive play tables. McDonald’s takes great pride in its restaurant teams; they work tirelessly to ensure these developments are well received by its customers and that they have a great customer experience each time they visit one of its restaurants. Its people are at the heart of its business and it wants to make sure it is listening to their needs, therefore, by the end of 2017, all of its 115,000 people will have the choice between fixed contracts offering minimum guaranteed hours or flexible contracts. As a brand that’s practically synonymous with franchising in the public’s eyes, no ranking of the best of British franchising would be complete without mentioning established McDonald’s. With nearly 50 years of 1974 trading this side of the Atlantic and a Investment location on almost every high street, level the famed franchise breezed its way to £400,000 the top of the Elite Franchise 100. But - £800,000 its most impressive achievement in the Number of eyes of the judges has been its ongoing franchises commitment to supporting its franchisees 160+ and providing them with next-generation Sector technology to ensure they remain at the Food absolute top of their game. 107

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Bluebird Care Award-winning Bluebird Care doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just provide exceptional homecare and support services: as a financial top-performer with superlative support and a keen eye for innovation, it truly is a first-class franchise bluebirdcarefranchise.co.uk/home

With a differentiating

intent to deliver the best customer service at the heart of the organisation, Bluebird Care, the bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year, has revolutionised the way high quality, bespoke care is delivered not only to older people but also to those with specialist care needs, young adults, children and their families. Its aim is to demonstrate the highest standards of quality, professionalism and expertise with every customer visit. With a network of over 200 franchised offices across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Bluebird Care delivers over 28,000 hours of care, 22,000 care visits daily to its customers and generates upwards of 7,000 jobs throughout the region. It understands franchising is a unique relationship and it invests in its network to ensure it maintains an open, transparent, supportive and developmental relationship. It has developed new technologies within the care sector and created a number of new initiatives, raising awareness of industryrelated issues and ensuring its franchisees and their teams are recognised for their dedication, hard work and commitment. Bluebird Care franchisees are not required to care directly but to recruit and train a team of staff who deliver the highest

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standards of homecare and support services to its customers. Through six regional business development managers and six quality managers, Bluebird Care’s franchisees have direct access to a wealth of knowledge and tools dedicated to supporting and developing their businesses at every stage of their life cycle. Firstly, Bluebird Care’s business selfaudit tool collects together internal audit processes along with supporting documentation designed to create robust quality standards: this underpins its framework for excellence and drives future quality improvement. On top of this, its financial benchmarking tool collates key business metrics, enabling franchisees to gauge how their business is performing and helping them to make informed decisions when investing in business performance. Additionally, Bluebird Care invests in ensuring the health and viability of the sector for the future. By tackling society’s key challenges, participating in national legislation and regulation projects and providing guidance on new initiatives implemented by government like the living wage, it embraces key external factors that impact its sector. Moreover, Bluebird Care isn’t afraid

to innovate and invest in technology. Developed in house, its industry-first staff-guide app provides information that supports the delivery of best practice, which enhances its service-delivery capability to customers and supports remote operatives. What’s more, its franchisees benefit from using the PASSsystem – a mobile app that allows them to react in an agile way to any change in customer care needs, therefore unlocking their business potential. Additionally, Bluebird Care provides its network with over 200 localised for SEO microsites and 12 corporate social-media channels. Franchisees can manage their own sites and comprehensive support is offered, allowing them time to focus on their businesses. But Bluebird Care doesn’t only provide support through software – as an ethical franchisor it continues to invest in its franchisees and the employees they take under their wings. Its Bluebird Care Career Journey enables franchisees to support and develop their staff with clear career progression pathways – catering to their varying aspirations, skills and strengths. Meanwhile, it has established working parties to help franchisees and franchise support centre

staff collaborate on operational matters, including marketing, technology, policy and procedures, its franchise network council, future business group, the national minimum wage and recruitment and retention. Last but by no means least, it takes steps to invest in maintaining its leadership position and protect its franchisees’ investment. In light of these massive commitments to innovation and franchisee support, it’s no surprise that the Elite Franchise 100 judges were blown away by Bluebird Care’s dedication to ensuring its franchisees have a prosperous future. And once you factor in its truly impressive financial results and the size of its network, there can be no doubt that Bluebird Care is one of Britain’s brightest franchises.

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TaxAssist Accountants Providing top-notch services, constantly supporting its franchisees and helping local communities has enabled TaxAssist Accountants to make an impact in more ways than helping small-business owners taxassistfranchise.co.uk

For more than 20 years, TaxAssist Accountants has been a game changer for both the accounting industry and for small businesses. By recruiting high-calibre accountants with years of experience as franchisees, the franchise has been able to provide small-business owners with a friendly, convenient and local service. This has put the franchise in a prime position to take full advantage of the booming business-support market. Thanks to a combination of business leaders being more confident in taking advice from outsiders and the financial crisis, the business-services market has grown steadily since 2009. Fortunately, TaxAssist Accountants understands that the best way to reap the rewards of this massive opportunity is to offer franchisees all the help and support they need to share in the wealth. Even before a prospective franchisee has joined the network, the franchisor goes out of its way to make sure that the decision is right for all parties by

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providing the candidate with plenty of opportunities to attend discovery days, hear from existing franchisees and to talk things over with the franchisor in person. But it doesn’t stop there. In fact, it’s only the beginning. Once the franchisee has signed the dotted line they get to enjoy an intense initial six-week training course. This helps the the newcomer brush up on the skills he or she might need. More importantly, it gives the franchisee a chance to meet other people in the network. Time and time again, TaxAssist Accountants’ franchisees reveal how the initial training course helped them form long-lasting friendships with other franchisees, relationships that proved vital

established 1995 Investment level £36,950 Number of franchises 200 Sector Accountancy and finance

in helping them achieve succees. Once the training is complete, the franchise helps franchisees create a buzz around the new business through its marketing support and is always just a phone call away whenever they might need more practical advice. Given this dedication to supporting franchisees throughout their franchising journey, it’s hardly surprising that TaxAssist Accountants has received a 5-Star Franchisee Satisfaction Award from Smith & Henderson for five years running, Given that tax legislation is becoming more complex and digital more small businesses will need help with quarterly reporting and new software, making this the perfect opportunity to run an accountancy franchise. Whether it’s complying the Modern Slavery Act or helping small-business owners with their procurement, TaxAssist Accountants always makes sure that its franchisees follow the letter of the law. This support and constant improvements is really impressive. However, that’s not all as the franchise also play an integral part in their communities by getting involved with local charities. For instance, Karl Sandall, chief executive at TaxAssist Accountants, recently became a trustee of OPEN Youth Trust, the charity helping young people in Norwich improve their lives by empowering them with social skills and making them more employable. Proving the franchise’s strong commitment to British communities coupled with an impressive dedication to supporting franchisees throughout their journeys, the judges had no problem ranking TaxAssist Accountants at the very top of the Elite Franchise 100. Truly a business you can count on.

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DRIVER HIRE Thanks to its extensive background in the franchise space, bold plans for the future and bags of franchisees, Driver Hire has netted bronze in the Elite Franchise 100

established 1983 Investment level £35,000+ Number of franchises 103 Sector Recruitment

driverhirefranchise.co.uk

The first Driver Hire office opened in West Yorkshire in 1983, initially supplying temporary drivers to local transport firms. Since then, it has become much more than just a supplier of last-minute lorry drivers: it has grown to become the UK and Ireland’s largest specialist supplier of drivers and non-driving staff to the transport and logistics industry. With over 30 years of experience and a nationwide network of over 100 Driver Hire offices throughout the UK and Ireland, it offers a full range of recruitment services – temporary and permanent positions, driving work and logistics jobs. Driver Hire is an award-winning franchise, having four times won the bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year award and qualifying as a finalist 11 times over the last 12 years. Not only this but it has a proven business model that generates high returns: looking at the numbers, it’s easy

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to see what makes Driver Hire a leading franchise brand in the UK. Its average turnover in 2016 to 2017 for a single unit was £1,106,427 – three times the national franchise industry average of £378,000 reported by bfa NatWest Franchise Survey 2015. This delivers an average net profit per unit of over £120,000 per annum. With a Driver Hire franchise, franchisees can also access valuable additional income streams, which include training and online services and products. Franchisees joining Driver Hire will own an office-based management franchise operating in a fast-paced environment where quality service and sales activity are paramount. Driver Hire franchisees run their own recruitment business, specialising in the provision of temporary and permanent drivers and logistics

staff. The Driver Hire network supplies thousands of satisfied customers each year, including major logistics companies, builders’ merchants, parcel carriers and local authorities. It’s a huge market, with the UK recruitment industry worth an estimated £35.1bn according to research conducted in 2016 by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation and KPMG. Driver Hire franchisees reflect a wide spectrum of working backgrounds from which relevant skills have been gained. Whilst some have worked in either recruitment or the transport sector, others have run their own business, worked as accountants, in education, IT, retail and even banking. Instead it’s important that franchisees are highly self-motivated and ambitious, as well as having a very positive outlook and a can-do attitude.

Driver Hire’s fully supported initial six-week training programme is designed to set franchisees up for success. Once the franchisee has opened for business or taken over an existing franchise, training continues in the form of the franchise support programme, which can deliver up to six months of further support and training in the franchisee’s office. Support is also available from specialist teams at the Driver Hire head office; as well as providing the help of an area development manager, it also helps give support in the form of national accounts, HR, marketing and IT. Peerto-peer support is just as valuable and Driver Hire encourages and facilitates positive working relationships between franchisees. This is achieved through regular regional meetings, an annual conference and an online forum. Entering the top three franchises, it’s safe to say that Driver Hire faced some very stiff competition to net its bronze medal. The three decades it has been contributing to the franchise sector and some truly impressive financials definitely put it in a strong position. But it was perhaps its bold plans for the future – including continuing IT improvements, a new way for franchisees to help customers meet peaks and troughs in demand and plans to supply temporary labour to support the ‘final mile’ deliveries of online shopping – finally helped Driver Hire see off all-comers and secure a place on the winners podium.

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Snap-on Tools

With more than 50 years’ experience of the British market, a huge network and a truly impressive support package, Snap-on deserves to take home the silver in the Elite Franchise 100 snaponfranchise.co.uk

Snap-on is the world’s number one

professional-tool brand. It is the leading global manufacturer and distributor of tools for the professional technician. Franchisees own and run their own iconic showroom on wheels, delivering its range of over 22,000 premium products to technicians up and down the country. Established almost 100 years ago, Snap-on has been operating in the UK since 1965 and today it has over 430 franchisees across the UK and Ireland. Its products are best in class and its business is unique in its strength, size and experience. Unlike many franchisors, with Snap-on there are no royalties or advertising fees to pay and franchisees keep 100% of

established 1920 Investment level £16,037 Number of franchises 430+ Sector Automotive

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their profits – on average, franchisee’s sales to their customers are in excess of £6,000 per week. Boasting a support staff ratio of 2:1, Snap-on prides itself on the support it offers its franchisees. After a week in Dallas and further training at its UK head office, franchisees are paired with a dedicated franchise developer for 12 months. After launch, they benefit from monthly regional forums, a national marketing strategy with promotional materials delivered fortnightly, a telephone support line, Snap-on’s annual Conference and Tool Show plus a whole lot more. Most of Snap-on’s franchisees have little or no marketing experience: in fact existing franchisees say a big part of joining is to ‘benefit from a solid marketing support system’. The franchise is utterly committed to providing this assistance in getting the word out and was proud to win Best Franchisee Marketing Support at the 2017 Franchise Marketing Awards. As well as being award-winning, Snapon is one of the only franchisors in the UK able to offer its franchisees a funding option that doesn’t involve the banks. Fully accredited and government-approved, Snap-on Finance is its in-house bank. Through this dedicated finance house, it is able to offer business loans to successful candidates in order to fund the purchase of their franchise. Someone who knows exactly what you can achieve through hard work and following Snap-on’s systems is James Rygor. In 2017, he was shortlisted as a finalist for the bfa Franchisee of the Year

Awards – at the tender age of just 28. A former mechanic, Rygor joined the network having witnessed the success of his local Snap-on franchisee, certain he could not only replicate that success but surpass it. After just one year in business, Rygor ranked fourth in the country for sales, averaging over £11,000 per week. Snap-on franchisees are no strangers to the prestigious bfa awards. Richard Swayne won Young Franchisee of the Year in 2015 whilst Luke Hodgson and Pete Eccles were both shortlisted as finalists in 2016. This is evidently a testament to how Snap-on’s programme of development and support empowers young and old to achieve great things. Whether franchisees want to be a onevan business or develop a multi-van, multi-territory operation, Snap-on is there to offer all the support and guidance needed to achieve their goals.

All of which means that Snap-on without a doubt deserves its place in the prestigious Elite Franchise 100 rankings. Having seen off 98 other finalists – not to mention countless other applicants – netting second place and our silver ranking is a huge achievement. Thanks to its rich heritage in UK franchising, its awe-inspiring network, its sustained growth and its comprehensive support package, the Elite Franchise judges were blown away with Snap-on’s entry and felt it richly warranted a spot on the winner’s podium. A hearty congrats to Snap-on and here’s to another hundred years of business for the tool franchise.

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HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

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This year’s winner of the Elite Franchise 100 is truly taking care of business, people and society as a whole established 2005 Investment level £90,000 + Number of franchises 190 Sector Care

From pledging to hire more seniors to guaranteeing older people have access to high-quality home care, the ethos of improving the golden years of people’s lives runs through everything Home Instead Senior Care does. And while this admirable ambition certainly benefits thousands of people every day, it’s the fact that the company is accomplishing this through its inspired franchise model that has seen it awarded with the top gong in the Elite Franchise 100. You only have to take a quick peek at Home Instead Senior Care’s history to see why the judges eagerly awarded the company with the first place. Ever since the company first launched in 2005, the franchisor has proven itself time and time again. Not only does

the franchise ensure that older people receive both high-quality home care and companionship but it has also helped 190 franchisees around Britain fulfil their dream of becoming successful business owners in their own right. One factor that’s key to Home Instead Senior Care’s success is the fact that the company only recruits franchisees who can demonstrate a clear business acumen, a good heart, great management and people skills, Furthermore, they also need to be confident enough to network in their communities. These qualities are essential for the franchisees to be able to develop, drive and steer their business in the right direction. It is an ideal business opportunity for people who recognise the advantage of a growing market boosted by Britain’s ageing population. Choosing a franchise in a market with a promising and assured economic future is good business sense. However, prospective franchisees don’t need a care background to franchise with Home Instead Senior Care. As a management franchise opportunity, franchisees appoint a care manager who manages the care operations and the caregivers who provide the care on the ground. Once franchisees have signed the franchise agreement, they get to experience first hand how dedicated the franchise is to providing new members of its network with first-class training and support. For instance, each franchisee is paired up with a business performance manager who is responsible for the ongoing franchise support. Furthermore, each franchisee is backed by Home Instead Senior Care’s devoted care quality and standards teams. They provide the tools and guidance franchisees need to ensure their offices operate according to the brand’s values and offers only

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The company only recruits franchisees who can demonstrate a clear business acumen, a good heart, great management and people skills the highest quality care to assure the wellbeing of their clients. With a spectacular 5:1 support ratio, it’s easy to see why Home Instead Senior Care ranked so high in terms of the support offered to franchisees. This extensive support is one of the reasons why many franchises are turning over in excess of £1m per year with operating profits between 15% and 20%. And

it’s certainly something that the Elite Franchise 100 judges weren’t alone in recognising as Home Instead Senior Care has secured Smith & Henderson’s 5 Star Franchisee Satisfaction Award for the past four years. Moreover, the Elite Franchise 100 judges also commended the company because of its contributions to society. The company holds workshops about dementia, bring Christmas cheer to seniors by dressing up as Santa and work towards protecting the elderly from fraud. Never resting on its laurels, the franchise is constantly looking for ways to innovate and improve its services. And this has served Home Instead Senior Care in good stead as the franchise was awarded both the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its

innovative model and the Princess Royal Training Award for its training approach. All in all, it’s no wonder Home Instead Senior Care has taken the top spot in this year’s Elite Franchise 100. Proving that franchising can truly be a force for good, we’re proud to recognise it as our pick for Britain’s brightest franchise for 2018.

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A-Z

P Papa John’s ............................. pg 92 Photography for Little People ... pg 10 Pitman Training ........................ pg 61 Platinum Business Partners ...... pg 25 Platinum Property Partners ...... pg 48 Premier Education Group ......... pg 58 Puddle Ducks ........................... pg 59

R Radfield Home Care ................. pg 12 Razzamataz Theatre Schools ... pg 34 Really Awesome Coffee .......... pg 37 Recognition Express ................ pg 78 Revive! Auto Innovations ......... pg 100 Right at Home ......................... pg 88 Riverford Organic Farmers ....... pg 39 Rosemary Bookkeeping ........... pg 16

ActionCOACH .......................... pg 102

DNS Accountants .................... pg 10

Jackson Fire & Security ............ pg 29

Anytime Fitness ....................... pg 45

DYNO ....................................... pg 74

Apollo Blinds ............................ pg 22

Diamond Logistics ................... pg 17

Auditel UK ............................... pg 63

Diddi Dance ............................. pg 76

Kall Kwik ................................. pg 66

Signs Express .......................... pg 41

Award Leisure Franchise .......... pg 14

Drain Doctor ............................ pg 42

Kumon ..................................... pg 69

Snap-on Tools .......................... pg 114

B Barking Mad ............................ pg 62 Beatons Tearooms ................... pg 13

Dream Doors ........................... pg 49 Driver Hire ............................... pg 112

Dublcheck ............................... pg 18

Local Appliance Rentals ........... pg 75

Sandler Training ....................... pg 33 ServiceMaster Clean ............... pg 67 Shuttercraft ............................. pg 16 Signarama ............................... pg 47

Southern Fried Chicken ............ pg 82 Stagecoach ............................. pg 96 Subway .................................. pg 104 Suit the City ............................ pg 19

Belvoir! .................................... pg 47

Bluebird Care ........................... pg 108

énergie Fitness ....................... pg 90

Mac Tools ................................ pg 60

BoConcept ............................... pg 28

Esquires Coffee ....................... pg 39

Mad Science ........................... pg 42

Bright & Beautiful ..................... pg 56

Expense Reduction Analysts ... pg 98

MagiKats Maths and English ... pg 15

TaxAssist Accountants ............ pg 110

Mail Boxes Etc. ....................... pg 29

Techclean ................................ pg 38

Marston’s Pub Franchise.......... pg 22

The Creation Station ................ pg 84

Broccoli Pizza and Pasta .......... pg 40

Swimtime ............................... pg 39

Business Doctors ..................... pg 68

Busylizzy Family Club ............... pg 39

FiltaFry ..................................... pg 17

McDonald’s ............................. pg 106

The Detective Project .............. pg 36

Fitness Space .......................... pg 13

Merry Maids ............................ pg 55

The HR Dept ............................ pg 52

Metro Rod ............................... pg 46

Trophy Pet Foods ..................... pg 31

Minster Cleaning Services ....... pg 17

TruGreen Professional

Monkey Music ......................... pg 44

Lawncare..................................pg24

C Caremark .............................. pg 94

CeX ....................................... pg 50

Gallone’s Ice Cream ................. pg 14

CENTURY21 UK ..................... pg 28 Challenger mobile .................. pg 11

ChipsAway ............................ pg 32

Heritage Healthcare ................. pg 72

Noa Noa .................................. pg 19

Chopstix Noodle Bar .............. pg 54

Home Instead Senior Care ....... pg 116

Clear Brew ............................ pg 36 ComputerXplorers ................. pg 30

Concept Building Solutions .... pg 22

InXpress .................................. pg 65

Turtle Tots ................................ pg 65 Tutor Doctor ............................ pg 80

W Warrens Bakery ....................... pg 13

One Stop ................................. pg 52

We Love Pets .......................... pg 33

Optic-Kleer .............................. pg 26

Wilkins Chimney Sweep .......... pg 41

Countrywide Ground

Oscar Pet Foods ...................... pg 64

Maintenance ......................... pg 57

Ovenclean ................................ pg 23

Ovenu ...................................... pg 20

ZeroDryTime .......................... pg 21

120

1 - 100

ELITE FRANCHISE 100

Apollo Blinds

Oscar Pet Foods

Marston’s Pub Franchise

InXpress

Concept Building Solutions

Turtle Tots

Ovenclean

Kall Kwik

TruGreen Professional Lawncare

ServiceMaster Clean

Platinum Business Partners

Business Doctors

Optic-Kleer

Kumon

BoConcept

Heritage Healthcare

CENTURY21 UK

DYNO

Mail Boxes Etc.

Local Appliance Rentals

Jackson Fire & Security

Diddi Dance

ComputerXplorers

Recognition Express

Trophy Pet Foods

Tutor Doctor

ChipsAway

Southern Fried Chicken

We Love Pets

The Creation Station

Sandler Training

Razzamataz Theatre Schools

Clear Brew

The Detective Project

Really Awesome Coffee

Techclean

Riverford Organic Farmers

Esquires Coffee

Swimtime

Busylizzy Family Club

Broccoli Pizza and Pasta

Wilkins Chimney Sweep

Signs Express

Drain Doctor

Right at Home

Mad Science

énergie Fitness

Monkey Music

Papa John’s

DNS Accountants

Anytime Fitness UK

Caremark

Photography for Little People

Metro Rod

Stagecoach

Challenger Mobile

Belvoir!

Expense Reduction Analysts

Radfield Home Care

Signarama

Revive! Auto Innovations

Beatons Tearooms

Platinum Property Partners

ActionCOACH

Fitness Space

Dream Doors

Subway

Warrens Bakery

CeX

McDonald’s

Gallone’s Ice Cream

The HR Dept

Bluebird Care

Award Leisure Franchise

One Stop

TaxAssist Accountants

MagiKats Maths and English

Chopstix Noodle Bar

Driver Hire

Rosemary Bookkeeping

Merry Maids

Snap-on Tools

Shuttercraft

Bright & Beautiful

Home Instead Senior Care

Minster Cleaning Services

Countrywide Grounds

Diamond Logistics

FiltaFry

Premier Education Group

Dublcheck

Puddle Ducks

Noa Noa

Mac Tools

Suit the City

Pitman Training

Ovenu

Barking Mad

ZeroDryTime

Auditel UK

100

TOP 15

Maintenance

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sausage anne egg McMuffin I am a franchisee & this is my McDonald’s

‘For me, it’s all about the people. I have some fabulous people working for me – quite a few who’ve been with me since day one – and it’s a pleasure to watch them grow. Someone who started out as a Crew Member is now the Business Manager at one of my restaurants.’ Anne, operates 6 restaurants in Leeds

Untitled-1 1 047704-297x420-Insight DaysAd-Anne.indd All Pages

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Come and talk to us at one of our Insight Days in 2018 5th January, University of Warwick 19th January, London 2nd February, Bristol 2nd March, Manchester 23rd March, York 20th April, Cranfield Management Centre 11th May, Edinburgh 25th May, Aston Business School 22nd June, Manchester 7th September, Bristol 21st September, Milton Keynes 19th October, Leicester 9th November, York Register your attendance at www.mcdonalds.co.uk/franchising

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“McDonald’s is a fantastic business to be part of, with a great track record” I am a franchisee & this is my McDonald’s We’re currently celebrating 11 years of continuous growth, which has meant big changes for franchisees like Mike, who operates 12 restaurants in Bristol. He’s been able to expand into new locations and grow his portfolio of restaurants – all of which has grown his business, as well as ours. There’s no telling what the future will hold but as a McDonald’s franchisee, you’ll have the control, support and training to make an impact on yours.

Find out more about becoming a McDonald’s franchisee. Search ‘McDonald’s franchising’

047127_297x210-FranchiseeAdverts_NEW.indd 1 Untitled-2 1

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