Use your know-how for a brand new start
REDUNDANCY can often mean a new beginning.
When, aged 55, Steve Howard took voluntary redundancy, he decided to start his own business with a franchise.
Steve says: ‘I wanted to use my international experience, but I did not want to start out completely on my own.
‘ With my Business Doctors franchise, I help small and medium-sized businesses grow.
‘ It did not involve hard-selling, and I did not have to sign clients up to a “one-size-fitsall” programme.
‘As a franchisee, I am my own boss, but still get the franchisor’s support and guidance.’
Matt Levington, co-franchisor of Business Doctors, says: ‘People in their late-40s and 50s are the lifeblood of the Business Doctors network, as they have enough breadth and depth to their commercial experience to have a high degree of credibility with business owners.’ Business Doctors requires a £37,500 investment. If a high redundancy payout is on the cards, many high-investment franchises can help you get into business. Quest Apartment Hotels, an established Australasian franchise, plans to open up to ten UK apartment hotels by 2023 and is looking for franchisees with £ 500,000 to £750,000 to invest.
Andrew Weisz, Quest’s director of UK development, says: ‘Hospitality or travel experience is not essential, but it helps if franchisees have led high-performing teams in a corporate environment, or have successfully owned a small business.’