Sep 3, 2012 | Coconut in the Media, News
Sally Anne Butters, Director of Media at Coconut Creatives, points out important content franchise prospectuses should contain.
You know you want a holiday in Portugal in a private villa so you go online, narrow your search down to three places – your dates are available and they have some good reviews – so you ask them to send you brochures. They arrive and are full of wonderful photos of the villa and surrounding area, so you decide on the mid-range priced one.
Three months later you arrive to find that there are roadworks going on just outside your villa waking you up at 7am every day. You always had that niggling feeling in the back of your mind that this might happen.
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Aug 24, 2012 | Clients in the Media, News
Motor mechanics have claimed back thousands of pounds from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) thanks to a partnership between supplier of automotive tools Mac Tools and tax refund specialist Refunds Direct.
With many mechanics unaware of their entitlement to claim back money on tools they have previously purchased, Mac Tools decided to bring in Refunds Direct to see if its team of tax refund experts could help its customers.
With claims going back as far as 1997, motor mechanics are missing out on a potential goldmine in tax refunds that could see them claim back thousands of pounds from HMRC. Carrie Large from Refunds Direct is now advising all mechanics who have bought tools within the past 15 years to assess their own personal circumstances to see if they are in line for a rebate from the taxman. Carrie said: “Many mechanics don’t realise the potential windfall that’s sitting in their toolbox. Tax can be quite a complicated subject and our service exists to take away that hassle. We’ve helped thousands of mechanics unlock that revenue with average pay-outs typically reaching £500 a time.
“Since last September, by reaching our market via Mac Tools franchisees we have put over £36,000 back into the pockets of its customers. We have many more claims ongoing and know that there are a great many more Mac Tools customers who still haven’t claimed.”
The service works on a no refund, no fee basis and is therefore risk-free for employed mechanics who would like to find out if they are in line for a rebate. Having pioneered its mechanic tool refund service, Refunds Direct has now helped secure millions of pounds in payouts for over 5,000 mechanics.
Typical payout usually happens within 12 weeks and to qualify mechanics need to have spent at least £1,500 on tools since April 1997. Carrie added: “When you start adding up the figures you soon realise that HMRC is sitting on millions of pounds that mechanics up and down the country are entitled to claim back on. In today’s times of austerity, those in the industry need as much help as possible in order to survive. By putting money back in their pockets via tax refunds to potentially spend on their business is a good thing for the economy.”
Mac Tools franchisees are trusted distributors of what many consider to be the best quality tools on the market for customers such as car dealerships, automotive repair shops, manufacturing units, and engineering companies. Currently there are over 100 franchisees operating in the UK with a potential UK market of over £150 million.
If you’re ready for a new challenge and have the drive to be part of this successful franchise network, please visit www.mactools.co.uk or call 08450 6000 60 to request more details.
Aug 17, 2012 | Clients in the Media, News
With the growing popularity of coffee and an expanse of loyal customers, Cafe2U are pleased to welcome two new franchise partners to their network. Milo Steeden and Jon Hinde will launch their exclusive territories in mid-July after completing their training.
Jon Hinde, Cafe2U franchise partner
Cafe2U is the largest provider of mobile coffee in the UK. They deliver fresh espresso coffee, hot chocolate and a range of snacks to non-traditional locations in over 50 franchise territories across the UK. These locations are mainly work places, business parks and industrial estates situated away from the high-street.
Milo Steeden, who will be running the Cambridge East & Newmarket territory, has just returned from his honeymoon with new wife, Laura. Milo previously worked as a Lean Specialist in the pharmaceutical industry which meant he was in charge of quality control and helping people get the best results whilst being efficient with resources. Milo says, “In my new role with Cafe2U, I’m particularly looking forward to the lifestyle change – moving from the traditional corporate style of working, to running my own business with more flexibility. Of course, it will be nice to be my own boss as well.”
Cafe2U provides industry-leading training using the unique Cafe2U Accelerated Launch Programme, which guarantees sales of £250 per day during the first two weeks of operation. This support is ongoing and once Milo and Jon are up and running, Cafe2U vans can also be booked to attend events and functions, ensuring that a fully-contained quality refreshment service is available all day. Event attendance is optional, but can provide great additional profit for franchise partners as well as boosting interest within their territory.
Jon Hinde will now be running the Preston North West territory after working as a Postman for the Royal Mail. He decided to join the Cafe2U franchise because it meant he could be his own boss whilst having the support of a strong network and recognisable brand behind him. He adds that, “The opportunity to have more control over my work-life balance was a huge attraction to the Cafe2U franchise.”
The UK coffee market is strengthening day-by-day with approximately 20 million people buying premium coffee on a regular basis. This brings the UK coffee market to an astounding £782 million total worth, so it is clear to see that Cafe2U and their new franchise partners may have many good returns going forward.
To find out how you can join this thriving franchise network, please contact 0845 6444708 or visit www.cafe2u.co.uk to request more information.
Aug 13, 2012 | Clients in the Media, News
Carolyn Donaldson, MD at Contempo Lettings, is expanding her lettings franchise throughout UK and explains why this is a great business to invest in.
Carolyn Donaldson, MD at Contempo Lettings
“With Britain’s economy predicted to spend several more years in the doldrums, the rental property market is expected to thrive over the next few years. With falling wages and rising house prices, there are fewer first-time buyers and these people who opt to rent private accommodation are now also carrying-on doing so well after they have had children, meaning that many families are now renting their homes instead of buying.
“Over the last few years, there has been a rise of 86% in families who are now renting their home instead of buying. It has been predicted that, by 2020, the number of home owners in Britain under the age of 30 will drop by 46% and 1.5 million of 18-30 year olds will be renting a home while the number of young people remaining at home with their parents will rise to 3.7 million.
“As a result of the increase in people looking to rent property, the rental market is set to continue to expand extremely quickly with first-time buyers only making up 23% of the people intending to buy a property in the next twelve months. Figures show, in 2011, 58,000 more properties were available for rent than in 2010 and the number of properties available for sale in 2011 dropped by 12,000.
“A Cambridge University study has predicted that only 27% of the population will be in ‘mortgaged home ownership’ by 2025 if the British economy remains in its current state. The number of private rented households is set to increase to 20% in 2020 compared to 14% of households in 2008. If the economy does not improve dramatically it is likely that family housing will remain in the private rental sector.
“The lettings market is already a lucrative business and is set to continue to expand over the next decade. We already have seven excellent Contempo Lettings franchises operating in Scotland and we would like to award 30 franchise territories over the next 3 years across the rest of the UK. ”
Alan Govan, based in Glasgow switched from estate agency to lettings when he started his Contempo Lettings franchise in 2009: “My biggest motivating factor to this move was my belief in the future of the lettings market. I expected that the impact of the credit crunch and the uncertain economic times would mean that more people would be forced to consider renting and that existing tenants would remain in rental properties for longer. The drop in interest rates has also encouraged savers to seek alternative forms of investment and the buy-to-let market offers some excellent opportunities; all making a strong business for me.“
If you would like to know more about Contempo Lettings then you can contact Carolyn Donaldson on 0845 519 1550 or visit www.contempolettings.co.uk
Aug 10, 2012 | Clients in the Media, News
It’s hard for Mary Chadwick to believe that she has been running her Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise for 2 years. The time has flown by and 
she has helped so many business owners improve their businesses.
Mary decided to join Rosemary in the summer of 2010 and launched her franchise on 23rd August that same year. “It was a really exciting time,” explains Mary. “I knew I was in safe hands with the Rosemary Directors and I could see the market potential for the business.”
According to the Federation of Small Businesses, almost 4 million businesses need a service like the one that Rosemary Bookkeeping provides. Mary’s client-base is varied and typical of the clientele attracted to Rosemary: all small business owners that want to focus on what they do best and outsource their bookkeeping to experts that can add some real intrinsic value.
Some of Mary’s clients include a catering company, personal injury solicitor, a trophy and engraving company and even a meditation and pampering retreat! All of which need to grow their businesses in various directions with Mary’s assistance: “I help them with a range of bookkeeping tasks, most importantly they gain a great deal of control over their business numbers that they never had before,” adds Mary. Her work also assists them to manage cashflow and understand profit levels.
The Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise is based on a successful bookkeeping business established in 2002. Its unique bookkeeping system called the Rosemary System® charges clients per transaction rather than per hour, so clients can always clearly see what they are being charged for. The company directors have over 60 years’ experience between them in accounting, operations management, sales and marketing. What’s more, Rosemary’s head office totals 7 support staff for the current network of 22 Franchise Partners. This is an incredible level of support, unparalleled by almost every other franchise in the UK.
This is a truly scalable business, allowing franchisees to undertake the work themselves from home or to grow into a management style business with staff or sub-contractors assisting them. The franchise package starts at an affordable £16,970 and includes an extensive 12-week training programme and ongoing support.
There is full-time technical support, Sage support system package, personal website and branded stationary starter pack, ongoing training via webinars, forums and 1-to-1 telephone calls, plus a tailored and proven marketing and business launch programme, underwritten by a Chartered Marketer, including sales techniques.
As Mary celebrates her 2-year anniversary we asked her what advice she had for others considering the Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise: “You need to trust the people behind the business, I did and made the right choice for me. You also need to like working with both figures and people. Be prepared for hard work; this is your business. Your effort will equal your reward and the work is definitely out there!”
If you would like to meet Mary and other Franchise Partners, attend a forthcoming Rosemary Discovery Day, call 0845 8620072 or email franchise@rosemarybooks.co.uk for more details.
Aug 6, 2012 | Clients in the Media, News
Always Best Care Franchisee and Customer
Dementia and Alzheimer’s are conditions that many of us inherently fear but know little about, apart from their ability to cause memory loss. Unfortunately these diseases are not always considered until they become a relevant subject – but could have been identified and diagnosed earlier if only we’d known how.
Always Best Care (ABC) has been the fastest-growing senior care franchise system in the USA over the past two years and is the only franchise that offers non-medical home care, assisted living placement services and skilled domiciliary care. They are trusted because they ensure their clients receive the right level of service at the right time, including specialist knowledge of conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
ABC takes pride in providing the best home care possible and strives to exceed customer expectations for both non-medical and skilled nursing. As well as providing personal assistance for families and individuals, ABC also endeavours to educate the wider community about conditions they may be affected by. As such, ABC has provided a brief insight into dementia and how you can identify the earlier signs.
Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a generic term that covers all types of cognitive decline, whereas Alzheimer’s disease is a specific type of disorder within this group. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia with up to 64% of all dementias being due to Alzheimer’s, affecting nearly 5.4 million people in the US and 820,000 people in the UK.
Dementia is a progressive disease meaning that symptoms may gradually worsen. In many cases, the onset of dementia can display similar symptoms to that of depression. It is important to remember that some symptoms may be a natural progression of aging, and in no way related to dementia, but ABC recommends visiting your doctor if you have any concerns. Dementia symptoms include:
- Memory loss
- Reduced ability to learn, plan and problem solve
- Problems with communication or reasoning
- Irregular thought patterns and mood swings
- Disorientation about surroundings or the time of day
- Reduced awareness of danger
- Withdrawal from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sporting interests
Once dementia has been diagnosed, you may find it difficult to break the news to a loved-one. Be patient and sensitive and help them to understand why they can no longer remember or do something that was once second nature.
Dementia is often a hard condition to come to terms with so you should not expect to take everything in your stride. ABC is able to provide a range of support and guidance for families and carers, with a team of dedicated caregivers who are trained using tools created by “In-The-Know”, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Department of Health. In the Know is dedicated to developing quality paraprofessional in-service solutions for health care organizations. All In the Know in-services are written by registered nurses who have experience in home care, hospice, long-term care, hospital nursing, health home management and staff development.
ABC has been operating in the USA since 1996 and launched its first franchises in 2008. There are now over 180 franchise territories across the USA and Canada, with a UK launch planned during 2012.
If you would like more information about the services provided by Always Best Care, please visit www.alwaysbestcare.com. If you are interested in working with this successful care-giving franchise, please contact Iain Martin on 01904 561598 or email iain@thefranchisingcentre.com to request more details.
