Ten golden nuggets for launching a successful business
Sadly, there’s no such thing as a crystal ball when it comes to business ownership and launching any new business has its ups and downs. Franchising is no different. One benefit of investing in a franchise, however, is the recorded success of many people before you. A network of franchisees, by its very nature, is a goldmine of knowledge and experience which you can draw on before you launch and for the life of your business.
Poppies was the UK’s original domestic cleaning franchise. Founded in 1980, the first franchised office was sold in 1984 and is still going strong today. The now 22-strong network of franchisees boats an impressive combined turnover of £5million. Here, 10 franchisees, all at different stages of their franchise life, share the one tip they would love their younger self to know about starting a business.
1. “Take full advantage of the experience from the franchisor. They have the knowledge of how to make the business a success and you can draw from that to replicate in your own business. You’re investing in them, both personally and financially, so think about how you’ll be supported in your own business venture and whether that meets your expectations.” – Nigel Bayliss, Poppies Sheffield
2. “Do you research. Make a list of the pros and cons of the business to ensure that you’re looking at it from all angles. Also, ensure that you’re going to have a good support network around you as they will be crucial for your growth and especially in the early stages of your journey. Make sure it is something that you enjoy, means something to you or have had some exposure to as this will give you a passion and something to build on fairly quickly.” – Emma Ryan, Poppies Stockport
3. “Think about your skillset and what that means in business. As a business owner, you have to perform a wide range of functions and roles so being able to manage that is paramount. You have to be able to build positive working relationships and engender trust and confidence in people – especially if you are going to be providing a personal service such as cleaning their home. When customers are part of the equation, as well as employees, you’ve got to be really understanding and patient.” – Rob Piper, Poppies Liverpool
4. “Find yourself a mentor. I invested financially into a franchise and the franchisor invested to me as a person. If you have a mentor, they will be your champion, share your knowledge, help you to overcome any obstacles you face when starting up and fight your corner. I could not have done it without my mentor.” – Becky Sagar, Poppies Exeter
5. “Interrogate yourself beforehand: What do you want this business to achieve? What are your existing skills? How far can you go with this and how will you track it? For how long will you run the business and what’s your exit strategy? Try to think ahead to all of these issues before you start because, once you’ve started, you won’t have the time. Make plans and allocate time to review them, so you know when you have reached your goals, or not, and can adjust your actions to accommodate.” – Wendy James, Poppies Leeds Northwest
6. “Don't wait to be older and more experienced to be confident in your own abilities - now is the time to try! Make your own opportunities by being observant and connected. Whilst you need to work hard a lot can be achieved by working smart. Don't be afraid to pay for good advice it can be priceless!” – Andrew Wishart, Poppies Bay & Lakes
7. “Be true to yourself! Follow your intuition as that’s usually always right. And don’t be worried about saying no. You’ve got the freedom to choose something that aligns with you perfectly and gives you the best life possible.” – Leigh Patterson, Poppies Tyne Coast.
8. “Don’t think that you have to do it yourself – it’s okay to ask for help. Make sure that you’re able to create a foundation of support around you so the business can grow at a steady pace without feeling overwhelmed.” – Simon West, Poppies Chesterfield and Mansfield.
9. “Ask the franchisor whether you can spend some time with an existing franchisee to get to grips with their day-to-day activities and how the business actually works. That way, you’ll be able to make an informed decision of whether it fits with what you’re looking for.” – Richard Pearson, Poppies Wirral.
10. “Choose a franchise that is accredited by the British Franchise Association (bfa). This will give you the complete faith that they are an ethical company with a robust support structure that will support you for the life of the franchise. Third-party recognition is invaluable as a prospective franchisee.” – Chris Wootton, Poppies West Lancashire & Sefton.
Ask any business owner – they will have their own piece of advice that they would love their younger self to have known. That’s the beauty of hindsight! The closest you can come to this level of foresight is to actively engage with the existing franchisees of your chosen brand so, ask the franchisor to introduce you to them as part of your due diligence process. You may just find the golden nugget that propels you skywards.
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