The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Nelligan’s new franchise move
KERRY entrepreneur John Nelligan has bought the Business Doctors master franchise for Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Business Doctors is a support network which helps and advises small and medium businesses on how best to fulfil their potential.
The 41-year-old serial entrepreneur plans to launch three franchises a year – up to a total of 20 – across the North and South.
Dublin, Belfast, Kerry, Cork, Limerick and Galway are amongst the prime territories earmarked for the first wave of openings.
A former industrial engineer , John Nelligan is no stranger to the world of franchising.
In 2011, he bought a territory from high street garment alterations franchise The Zip Yard. Just one year later he also snapped up Galway, becoming the company’s first franchisee with multiple businesses. In 2015, he added Douglas in Cork to his portfolio.
One of the company’s top performers he now chairs Zip Yard’s franchisee advisory committee. “My experience within The Zip Yard has given me a great working knowledge of how franchising works, both from the franchisor and franchisee points of view,” said John Nelligan.
“I love the franchising model and when I read about Business Doctors, their holistic approach to small business support really struck a chord,” Mr Nelligan said.
“This is a business I really believe in and one that Ireland’s 200,000 SMEs are crying out for,” he said. From the get-go, Business Doctors has been a
company with an international outlook. From humble beginnings above a Cheshire takeaway in 2004, franchisors Rod Davies and Matt Levington were set on building a global brand: the go to company for SME consultancy services.
With 40 Business Doctors territories now operating around the UK, the ambitious pair took their first steps beyond British soil when they launched in South Africa in May 2014.
Business Doctors also launched in India in January 2016 and the company plans further expansion.