50 Fantastic Franchises!: The UK's Best Franchise and Direct Selling Opportunities for Small Businesses

By Emma Jones

Have you always wanted to run your own business but feel nervous about having no support? Perhaps you have great business skills but are having trouble dreaming up a product or service that everyone will want...
Setting up a franchise or direct selling business means you can be your own boss, be in control of your own profits and still have the safety net of a tried-and-triumphed business formula.
Small-business expert Emma Jones has been foraging through the franchise world to find you the very best opportunities available. The franchises she has chosen all offer great training, ongoing support and a chance to be in control of your business.
Plus, Emma has scouted out companies that will offer you sound business models at an affordable price, making them appropriate for any first-time business owner.
Emma also shows you what to look out for when you select your franchise business and offers advice and guidance for getting your new business off the ground.
So whether it's editing a local magazine, running food-tasting parties or managing a fleet of couriers, you'll be sure to find an inspiring small business opportunity, and advice to get you on your way, with Brightword's 50 Fantastic Franchises.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harriman House
• Release date: Mar 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781908003027

Emma Jones

Emma Jones is founder and editor of Enterprise Nation, the home business website, and has started two businesses herself from home offices in London, Manchester and rural Shropshire. Following a career with an international accountancy firm, Emma started her first business at the age of 27 and successfully sold it just 15 months after launch. The home business website was launched in 2006, and has attracted a regular readership of more than 250,000 people and national press headlines. Emma has written for Enterprise Nation since its launch and also for the Financial Times, City AM and customer magazines, including for Orange, Microsoft, BT and Viking Direct. Emma is regularly called upon by the government to speak on the subject of home business and she advises Regional Development Agencies on how to encourage and support homeworking. She can be followed on @emmaljones.

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Publishing details

HARRIMAN HOUSE LTD

3A Penns Road

Petersfield

Hampshire

GU32 2EW

GREAT BRITAIN

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.harriman-house.com

First published in Great Britain in 2011

Copyright © Harriman House Ltd

A book by Brightword

ISBN: 978-1-90800-302-7

The right of Emma Jones and Sarah Clay to be identified as Authors has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book can be obtained from the British Library.

All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publisher.

This book may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without the prior written consent of the Publisher.

No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person or corporate body acting or refraining to act as a result of reading material in this book can be accepted by the Publisher or by the Author.

About the Editors

Emma Jones

Emma Jones is a business expert and author and founder of small-business-support company Enterprise Nation. Her books include Spare Room Start Up, Working 5 to 9, Go Global and The Start-Up Kit.

Following a five-year career at an international accounting firm, Emma started her first business at 27, from a spare room in her Manchester apartment. That business was sold 18 months later, and the experience led to Emma’s next venture, Enterprise Nation.

Its website (www.enterprisenation.com) was launched in 2006 and became the most popular for home business owners in the UK, attracting over 100,000 visitors each month.

Enterprise Nation has evolved to help even more would-be entrepreneurs, having launched a new website Bitsy (www.bitsythis.com), the web’s friendliest B2B marketplace, and – in collaboration with Harriman House – Brightword Publishing (www.brightwordpublishing.com) which produces books, kits and digital products for the small business market, including this eBook!

www.enterprisenation.com

www.twitter.com/emmaljones

Sarah Clay

Sarah Clay is a publishing professional based in London. She graduated from Exeter University, and currently works in sales for a major children’s publisher.

Introduction by Emma Jones

Over the years many people have told me they would love to start a business but were concerned about not having the right idea or a team of people on hand for support. This is the beauty of franchising and direct selling.

If you’d like to be your own boss but would rather buy into a proven business model and have access to a team of ‘buddies’ then franchising or direct selling could be the solution. Whether your interest is gardening, travel, food or fashion, there’s an opportunity for you, and many of these opportunities come at a good price and with immediate earning potential.

With this eBook come 50 options. They are listed according to price so you can identify the opportunity that most suits your budget. Regardless of entry price, what they all offer is a proven business model, training, and ongoing support. Consider it a head start in becoming your own boss!

The profiles offer an outline of the company, cost of entry, and links to find out more; which is just what I recommend you do. Shortlist the opportunities that most appeal and then do a few things:

spend time on the company website so you are comfortable with who they are and what’s on offer

speak to a number of existing agents/franchisees/consultants to be sure the company message is consistent

talk it over with friends and family who will give feedback on the idea, its potential and how you can make the most of the opportunity

ensure you are 100% confident before you sign documents or part with money. After carrying out your research, you will know if this is the right thing for you to do.

If you do sign up with any of the companies profiled, please let us know how you’re getting on by emailing [e-mail]. Telling your story will help others thinking of following the same path.

Whether you are starting your own business through franchise, direct selling or any other means, bear in mind some general pieces of business advice.

Start low-risk – many of the opportunities in these pages can be managed part-time. What this means is that you can keep hold of the day job and build your own business at night and weekends. It’s the best way to start a business as you give yourself time to develop confidence and generate cash.

Embrace technology – site links are included in the 50 profiles. Just as these companies use the web to communicate with customers, you can do the same. Make the most of social media and online tools to promote your company and work effectively.

Do what you do best and outsource the rest – focus on the thing you enjoy and surround yourself with experts who can fill in the gaps and do the jobs you don’t like to do, whether it be accounting or admin. Some of these functions will be offered by your franchisor but if not, reach out and work with others.

Last, but not least, enjoy it! You are starting a business to realise the freedom and flexibility that comes with being your own boss and the financial rewards too.

Now is your time. Here is your resource. I wish you all the very best!

About the profiles

In coming up with the 50