8 white collar franchises to invest in today

Ready to get down to business? Your next business franchise opportunity is waiting for you

1. EXPENSE REDUCTION ANALYSTS

Expense Reduction Analysts gives franchisees the opportunity to run their own home-based business-to-business procurement consultancy practice.

The company’s goal is to help organisations save money and find extra profit by reducing everyday business expenditure without affecting quality or service.

The franchise offers a professional, ethical and profitable route to becoming your own boss, generating the highest consulting revenue of any UK procurement franchise.

As an entrepreneurial franchise owner, you can build your own practice within the ERA network and become a fully trained cost management consultant with the ability to win new accounts, increase potential earnings and deliver valuable savings to a diverse client base.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Investment level: £39,900. You must contribute at least £12,000 of your own money.
What you get: full training; ongoing support and guidance.

2. BARTERCARD

A Bartercard franchise opens up multiple opportunities in the ‘engine of Britain’ - the small- to medium-sized enterprise sector.

The company is the world’s largest business trade exchange. An office-based franchise, the company helps SMEs grow by trading their goods and services rather than using cash - giving businesses the ability to utilise their spare capacity and protect cash flow.

Becoming a Bartercard franchisee gives you direct control of your own branch, known as a brokerage, with the support of a larger, established organisation. New franchisees are first required to source a suitable office space, from which they can operate the business. Once up and running, franchisees recruit new members and provide support for members’ trading activities, as well as ongoing customer service.

As a franchisee, you’ll also be responsible for the growth of the business, managing the financials and profitability levels, as well as a team of sales and trading coordinators.

Bartercard is part of the BPS Technology Group, a publicly listed company that specialises in technology platforms and management systems for SMEs.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Investment level: £100,000-£120,000.
What you get: initial and ongoing training; day-to-day support; access to the Bartercard IT support systems; central and local marketing support.

3. PLATINUM PROPERTY PARTNERS

With a Platinum Property Partners franchise, you’ll learn how to build, market and maintain a property portfolio and earn up to three times as much rental income as similar properties with single tenancy.

PPP shares expert knowledge with new franchisees about how to generate a substantial long-term income. This includes which locations and property types generate the greatest return, how to create more rooms within each property to maximise rental income, how to cost-effectively refurbish properties to a high standard to achieve high rental rates and when and how to leverage a portfolio to fund future growth.

Annual events and workshops are designed to help your business grow, while also providing networking opportunities. Partners are required to make an upfront investment and pay ongoing monthly costs, which can vary depending on membership term, location and individual goals.

PPP has a team of more than 50 professionals involved in its highly effective, intensive and ongoing training programme, including specialist mortgage brokers, accountants, solicitors and lettings, renovation and negotiation experts.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Investment level: in excess of £300,000-£500,000 of investment capital.
What you get: access to ongoing support services; operations manuals; one-to-one mentoring.

4. DRIVER HIRE

A recruitment business that provides temporary and permanent drivers and other logistics staff, chiefly to the road transport and logistics industry, Driver Hire helps when customers need extra staff to deal with holidays, illness, peak trading periods or business expansion.

Its 103-office network has just completed a second year of record trading. David and Gina Quinn own and operate the Chelmsford office and the couple has enjoyed great success since David bought the business nine years ago. For the past three years turnover has been above £1 million and they are currently on course for £1.4m this year - an all-time record.

David says: “I didn’t buy the franchise with the intention of us both working in it, but about a year in I decided we needed to make staff changes. Gina, a PA working for a leading national budget insurance company, was looking for a new career opportunity, so it was a natural fit.

Gina says: “Our skills definitely complement each other. My strengths are in office management, business process and compliance. I deal with all our payroll and invoicing as well.

“David has spent all his working life in the truck industry, in both manufacturing and sales, so he’s got the in-depth industry knowledge. He’s also happy dealing with the financial side of the business.”

Both Gina and David agree that the rewards are there to be had and make all the hard work worthwhile.

“We’re both able to enjoy some of the material rewards of our success,” David says. “And we look forward to more in the future.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Investment level: AOR
What you get: full initial and ongoing training; postcode defined territory; advice on location, signage, décor, furniture and equipment, recruitment and selection of staff, market research, building a client database and business planning; range of marketing material; telesales service; national accounts team.

5. BUSINESS DOCTORS

Established in 2004, Business Doctors helps small and medium-sized businesses to grow. With a proven track record of success, the company offers expert, friendly, practical support with strategy, sales and profit growth and people engagement.

Requiring a £25,000 minimum investment, successful franchisees can expect to earn a six-figure income once their businesses are established. Providing hands-on support to SMEs across a range of industries, Business Doctors - an ISO accredited, multi-award-winning company - fills a gap in the market between the big four consultancies and lone consultants. Franchisees can work alone or collaboratively, sharing best practice and experience.

Provincial, premium and prime territories are available, according to Business Doctors’ co-founder Rod Davies, who adds: “Our aim is to become the main business support organisation for SMEs in the UK and we welcome potential franchisees with the will to help themselves and others to succeed.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Investment level: £25,000.
What you get: pre-launch support and training; marketing and sales assistance; operations manual.

6. ROSEMARY BOOKKEEPING

Delivering a bookkeeping service to small and medium-sized enterprises and accountants, Rosemary Bookkeeping ensures a consistency of delivery and high-quality work.

The company provides franchisees with comprehensive training programmes, ongoing support and proven quality control systems. The franchise can be home-based and over time developed into a management-style business.

Candidates must have a dedicated space for a home office, be energetic, able to build client relationships and have a professional manner. They also need to be IT literate, willing to learn and have a can-do attitude.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Investment level: £16,970.
What you get: comprehensive training and support; marketing launch campaign; operations manual; technical support; franchise partner forums; regular Business Boost webinars.

7. TAXASSIST ACCOUNTANTS

TaxAssist Accountants has grown to become the 24th largest accountancy firm in the UK in just over 20 years.

This innovative franchise offers both accountants and finance professionals the chance to earn a good income while simultaneously building a valuable asset and has consistently won awards in both the franchising and accountancy sectors.

Often breaking with tradition and convention, TaxAssist provides a breath of fresh air in the accountancy world with its retail shopfront concept, which was developed to appeal specifically to the small business sector, increase accessibility and visibility and encouraging walk-in trade. Franchisees have up to three years to make the move to a shop and will ideally spend their time networking, marketing and building their businesses while employing staff to carry out clients’ work. Karl Sandall, CEO of The TaxAssist Direct Group, says: “If you’re tired of the commute and corporate life and want to take ownership of your future, working closer to home, TaxAssist is here to help you build your own substantial practice.

“You’ll find the TaxAssist ethos permeates throughout the whole support centre team, who are highly qualified, experienced professionals and have a desire to help you succeed.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Typical investment level: £34,950 (plus VAT).

What you get: six-week initial training course; follow up training at months two, three and six (43 days’ training in total); technical helpline; marketing support; lead generation; local and national PR; support staff visits.

8. WPA

WPA healthcare partners build a sustainable business in partnership with one of the UK’s most respected health insurers, which has a reputation for first class customer service. The company is an ethical not-for-profit provident association that puts its customers at the centre of all it does.

WPA healthcare partners get their own territory in which to promote, advise and sell their products to individuals and companies. Their role includes everything from the initial client meeting through to helping them when they need to make a claim on their policy.

Healthcare partners are the local face of WPA. As part of their franchise package, they receive a specified quantity of prearranged appointments during their first year, as well as assistance with finding suitable networking groups.

WPA is a full member of the British Franchise Association. Open days are held throughout the year.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Investment level: from £9,200, plus a £2,500 returnable fidelity bond.
What you get: comprehensive training and support; a WPA-issued iPad with internal systems to keep you operational; two-year mentor programme; regular regional meetings; quantity of prearranged appointments.