Cover Story Big business
With a 19-year track record of getting sales for franchisees, in an industry worth more than £3 billion, little wonder Dublcheck’s franchisees sing its praises
INVESTMENT LEVEL: £14,000 – £190,750
turnover to expect. This enables franchisees to concentrate on looking after their customers instead of wondering where the sales are going to come from. “It’s like a brick-building business. Once you have one contract you keep building so you know exactly what you are going to invoice every month,” says Carol Stewart-Gill, founder and chairman of Dublcheck.
D
ublcheck is the franchise where you don’t need to do any selling unless you want to. Dublcheck obtains all the business for franchisees, so they know exactly what
“The support from head offi ce appealed ... I could focus on getting to grips with running the business and managing my staff”
The UK commercial cleaning sector is worth more than £3bn and Dublcheck has seen a substantial increase in turnover, despite the gloomy outlook of the current economic climate. Why? Because everywhere you look buildings still need cleaning. The Dublcheck system puts its new franchisees on the road to success by actually getting the business for them. Commercial cleaning is one of the most secure industries to join because the market is more robust and recession- resistant than many others. Founded in 1993 and – according to Richard Branson’s Virgin Fast Track One Hundred and The Sunday Times – the 20th-Fastest Growing Private Company in the UK, Dublcheck now has more than 100 franchisees and is looking for further capable and motivated people to join the national network and benefi t from the proven and successful business model.
“There is nothing quite like commercial cleaning. This is a really exciting opportunity for franchisees because the growth and profi t potential can be maximised using the experience, knowledge and systems we at Dublcheck have developed,” says Carol. Former managing director Graham Hey joined Dublcheck on a £48,000 turnover package and at the peak of his business turned over £400,000 and has since sold his operation for a substantial profi t. Franchisee Joanne Bennett says: “I never felt on my own with Dublcheck. I was operating at an international level but was interested in working in a personal, and local, environment. Once I met the Dublcheck team I found the concept of commercial cleaning very appealing.”
Sonal and Mitesh Patel went for the £26,000 package. Mitesh says: “Sonal and I can’t believe two years have passed since we decided to join this great franchise. We both wish we had done this years ago.” Their current turnover is £118,000. Stuart Weatherill, previously a self-employed salesman, joined on a package of £24,000, and now has a turnover of £188,000. Stuart says: “The support from head offi ce appealed because it meant in the fi rst few months I could focus on getting to grips with running the business and managing my staff instead of fi nding contracts. The best thing about being your own boss is that you are the architect of your own destiny.”
Franchisee Ken Holland says: “I decided franchising was the way to go when I was made redundant from my job in agriculture in 1998. I wanted to get involved in a repeat business industry that would provide a sensible income. Contract cleaning met my requirements and after investigating a number of cleaning franchises I recognised Dublcheck offered the best package. I am now at the point where my mortgages are almost paid off and my monthly income requirements are dropping so I can plan to do the things I have always
April 2012 |
Businessfranchise.com | 25
Investment: From £10k-£200k
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158