An opportunity that was too good to miss
SOARING numbers of young people are setting up franchise businesses.
In the past two years 19 pc of new franchisees have been aged under 30, up from 14 pc five years ago.
Classics graduate Tom Mannion was unsure how to start his own business until he discovered the X-press Legal Services franchise.
Tom, 24, says: ‘This opportunity was too good to miss, especially at such a young age. I researched franchising, met the franchisors, and eventually successfully applied to become a franchisee.’
Now Tom, from London, heads a team of five providing property searches and reports for parts of the capital and hertfordshire.
he says: ‘ The attention to detail and accuracy I needed for my classics degree is valuable in conducting searches.
‘As a franchisee you learn to follow a proven system and get support from the franchisor and other franchisees.’
he recently won an award from X- press for his social media campaign, which has helped to raise his business profile in the property sector.
Dave Lister, director at X-press Legal Services, says: ‘Tom is a great example of the growing number of young people going into franchising successfully.
‘he is hard-working, enthusi- astic and has an imaginative and energetic approach to promotion.’
The X- press franchise requires an investment of £29,750.
The Great Grass franchise involves selling and installing artificial grass for domestic and commercial customers.
Managing director Mike Allen says: ‘ having successfully operated two profitable pilot franchises and been granted membership of the British Franchise Association, we are looking for more franchisees.
‘you can start with one van, doing the sales and installation yourself, then grow to employ installers, and later choose to open a showroom.’
Mike Deakin, of Oldham, Lancs, one of the pilot franchisees, says: ‘I now employ five people to keep up with demand and service existing customers, which include home owners, schools, businesses and large companies such as Manchester City FC and Nike.’
The Great Grass investment of £28,750 includes practical and sales training, equipment, workwear, launch and advertising, web presence, business leads and vehicle branding.