Getting in on the act of running a business
GETTING back to work after a career break can be hard, but a franchise can help. Alison Bullman started to think about returning to work when she was on maternity leave.
‘I used to be an actor and teacher, so wanted a job that combined the two, while delivering a decent income,’ she says. ‘I decided to invest in a Stagecoach franchise, as I could see it would work alongside family life.’
Alison has run a Stagecoach performing arts school for six years, around looking after her children Phoebe, seven, and Teddy, two.
‘Running my own business means I can do school runs, go to assemblies, help in school and care for the children when they are ill,’ says Alison, 35, from Fulham, West London. ‘I plan to open more schools once Teddy is in school.’
Andy Knights, director of Stagecoach UK, says: ‘Flexibility is a key factor for many Stagecoach franchisees with family commitments and all share a passion for performing arts and a desire to build a business.’ The franchise fee is £14,995.
Matt Markham had nine months to think about the future after he was notified about his redundancy.
‘I had been a senior manager in sport retail and it was hard to find a similar job, so I decided to start a business. I wanted a franchise as I felt it was less risky than going it alone,’ says Matt, 48, from Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire. He settled on a Ewemove estate agency franchise, which he opened in December 2016.
‘Being your own boss is a big change from receiving a regular salary and you have to watch the cashflow, but that drives my ambition,’ he says.
Hannah Pepper, franchisee recruitment manager at Ewemove, says: ‘The franchise offers flexible working hours and you can be based at home or in an office.
‘ You don’t need property sector experience, but you must be a people person with drive and local knowledge.’ Investment starts at £15,000.