Women with an interest in property and owning their own business should consider joining HomeXperts
In 1966, James Brown sang that ‘this is a man’s world’. Fast forward half a century to see how outdated this story title is. In 2016, meetings controlled by men and male dominated boardrooms are long gone, with women now making their mark across all business sectors. Franchising is no exception, with females proving they can lead businesses and compete at the top of organisations.
One of many women taking the business world by storm is Sussanne Chambers, founder and managing director of HomeXperts.
Sussanne would encourage anybody to become a franchisee. However, she believes woman have certain organisational skills that are perfect for managing and directing a business. When these are combined with some of the softer skills, such as empathy, creativity and attention to detail, they are a winning combination.
Sussanne recently won the NatWest Encouraging Women into Franchising Franchisor of the Year award, which she praises for recognising the hard work women across the country put into their franchises.
For many people, becoming their own boss has always been a lifetime ambition. However, making that first step into the business for some doesn’t become a reality.
Sussanne says her HomeXperts franchise model is perfect for budding entrepreneurs, but warns that: “Many franchise systems look very similar to a would-be franchisee, so it’s important to look past the marketing speak in order to make a true like for like comparison.”
As a portfolio landlord, Sussanne experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of the estate agency industry. Unfortunately, the bad and the ugly were mainly experienced in the UK, while the good was experienced overseas.
Disappointed by what she had seen in the UK, Sussanne made her experience count by developing the customer focused HomeXperts estate and letting agency franchise model.
HomeXperts’ proven business model enables you to work from home, while scheduling your day around what’s important to you. With over 37 per cent of the company’s franchise areas being solely or partly operated by a female franchisee, Sussanne believes any woman with an interest in property and owning their own business should consider joining HomeXperts.
When researching a franchise, one of the key areas you should investigate is the level of training you receive initially and the ongoing mentoring and support the franchisor provides.
HomeXperts delivers an initial two-week training academy, leading to accreditation from the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Agents.
Following the initial academy, HomeXperts’ 12-week kick start programme will help you launch your business.
Its national award winning model won Gold for Best Estate Agency Franchise at The Sunday Times Awards in 2014 and 2015. Additionally, the HomeXperts business model has been scrutinised and approved by the four major high street banks, which will fund up to 70 per cent of the franchise fee and first year’s running costs.
Sussanne says: “We are looking to expand to 100 franchisees in 2017, as we continue to expand our network of personal agents across England and Wales.”