Bipin’s business secret: keep it all in the family
If the holidays have sparked talk of setting up a family business, consider a franchise.
Bipin Patel runs two Caremark care franchises covering Wokingham and Bracknell and Croydon with his wife, Daksha, and son Ravi.
Bipin, 62, says: ‘Keeping the business within the family is the secret to success. We all have different qualities, knowledge, experience and abilities, so it’s straightforward to apportion work.
‘following a tried-andtested franchise model means we pool our resources and work as a strong team. We don’t waste time arguing over minutiae. If everyone is clear about their responsibilities and the rules are set from the start with no favouritism, it will work.
‘Also having different generations involved is a powerful formula for continued growth.’
David Glover, Caremark franchise director, says: ‘We welcome franchisees running their business with their family. they share a vested interest in working together and supporting each other.
‘Joining forces with a trusted family member, with business skills comple- mentary to your own, can make starting a business more attractive.’
the investment required to start a Caremark franchise starts at £29,750.
GRAhAM and Kerry flatman and their son Matt run a Mac tools franchise in Ringwood, hampshire, which involves selling tools to automotive technicians from mobile showrooms.
Graham, who used to work in sales, says: ‘Matt’s experience as a garage service manager and technician has been invaluable, combined with the training from the franchisor. We all agree it’s an advantage working closely as a family and if one of us runs out of something, one of the others might have it.’
In the future, Graham and Kerry hope to have more vans on the road and, at some point, will retire, leaving Matt to run everything. You can start a Mac tools franchise with £5,000.
Caremark 01903 266392, Mac Tools 07483 118959.