Website franchise owner on Spoton.net

Jim Thomas gave up his job as regional manager at a tyre company to buy a website franchise.

He explained to the FranchiseSalesBlog why he made the switch and how it's going so far.

FS Blog: What made you buy a Spoton.net franchise?

Jim Thomas: I was looking for a more flexible work pattern and to be rewarded for how hard I actually worked. Having to work at weekends and endless amounts of paperwork meant that I never felt my time was my own and family life always seemed to come second.

FS Blog: So has this internet consulting franchise lived up to your expectations?

Jim: Spoton.net has allowed me the freedom to make my own decisions in a business that I’m very comfortable with. I enjoy meeting business owners, finding out their business goals and showing them how an ‘It’seeze’ web system can drive their marketing activities and increase sales.

It’s an uncomplicated business to run with minimal administration and I find it very rewarding in many ways – not just financially.

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Letting Agency Franchise Discovery Days

“It’s not about trying to sell you a franchise – far from it, we don’t ‘sell’ franchises – we just want to talk to people whose ambitions are as big as ours!”

So say the people at Belvoir Lettings, the letting agency franchise which is holding six ‘discovery days’, essentially open days where anyone with an interest in buying a franchise can find out about a particular franchise.

These aren’t like those tortuous timeshare meetings on holidays; it’s a two-way process, where aspiring franchisees assess whether a franchise is right for them, and franchisors give them guidance on whether they might be right for the company.

You can’t find out everything from a brochure. Discovery days enable you to speak to senior people in the company, those who you’d be working with if you did join the franchise, and find out how existing franchisees fare.

Belvoir Lettings’ discovery days are taking place on the following dates, all at 3pm:

• 22 July
• 19 August
• 30 September
• 21 October
• 25 November
• 9 December

Places are limited. To book your place please call Emma Swallow on 01476 570000 or e-mail franchising@belvoirlettings.com

Directory Franchise Fills Hemel Hempstead Territory

A passion for the industry and a belief in the market’s potential saw CityLocal’s new franchisee for Hemel Hempstead give up his job for an online directory franchise.

Billy Milton told the FranchiseSalesBlog about how he got involved with the work-from-home franchise.

“I worked in corporate training and was looking to get involved in a marketplace that was growing,” he explains. “I came across CityLocal and it was almost an instant decision to take the franchise as it clearly offers a fantastic service to local businesses.

“I believe that online business promotion is the future of advertising and I also have a passion to see local businesses prosper and find cost-effective ways to promote themselves.

“I loved the website and the marketing material and I am really impressed by the head office backup and the depth of experience available for me to tap into.”

CityLocal now offers a number of low-cost start-up packages, which is why you'll find it in the FranchiseSales.co.uk Low-Cost Franchise category. This can help franchisees get the business off the ground at a fraction of the normal price.

Accountancy Franchise Wins Award – Again

TaxAssist Accountants has won the Silver Award at the British Franchise Association’s (BFA) Franchisor of the Year Awards 2009 for the second year in a row.

The leading accountancy franchise won the award, which recognises franchises that secure “today’s foundations for tomorrow’s success”, because it made accountancy “more exciting and accessible”.

Says Brian Smart, director general of the BFA: “TaxAssist Accountants has worked hard to make the whole business of accountancy more exciting and accessible – and they’ve done so with the mix of sound business sense and creativity that we’ve come to expect from our top franchisors.”

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Fast-Food Franchises are Recession-Proof

Not only are fast-food franchises recession-proof, they actually perform better during lean economic times it seems.

Fast food sales have grown during the last 18 months as people, fearful of shrinking incomes, are eschewing even mid-priced eateries in favour of fried chicken, burgers, pizzas, sub sandwiches and other budget takeaway options.

Fast food prices are often lower even than the sum cost of a home-cooked meal's ingredients.

And franchises, benefiting from bulk buying, can offer even more competitive prices than their non-franchised rivals.

It’s well documented – as evidenced by Cadbury’s recent sales boost – that people covet comfort foods even more during times of adversity.

Not that the health concerns of recent years have suddenly disappeared.

But famous names like McDonald's and Subway have proven as responsive to the concerns of customers as you’d expect from such accomplished players.

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