Special Feature Extra Help
had been looking for the right opportunity. The timing was right for me, as it gave me more flexibility to be able to look after my dad.
Why did you choose Extra Help in particular?
I had always worked in caring and support- type roles. I therefore felt that the home- help and domestic services industry was appropriate for me. With my own dad being poorly and elderly, I felt I had the right personal experience to help vulnerable and elderly people who needed assistance with their day-to-day lives.
Natalie Cooper
Natalie previously worked for many years in the care and teaching industries, firstly as a support worker looking after disabled young adults, and more recently, as a teaching assistant in a school.
I found Extra Help after a lot of searching on the internet and immediately knew it was the right opportunity for me. I knew that being involved in the community and running a business that was focused on helping the elderly would really suit me. I could see that it would give me everything I had been looking for – the flexibility to use my existing skills and provide the services I wanted to offer.
What drew you to franchising? I had always been employed in some sort of caring role. However, when my dad was diagnosed with cancer and needed help, we as a family had to look after him and that’s when I came across Extra Help. I had been thinking about running my own business for a number of years and
In what ways is your business flexible? My business is extremely flexible and this is one of the things I love the most about it! I’m now able to plan my own day and workload and I can work around my family and home life. I’m really happy that I have more time to devote to my other, non-work related commitments.
How has investing in a franchise changed your lifestyle? Has your work- life balance improved? I admit it was hard in the beginning. I worked really long hours and put in a huge
amount of effort into building my client base, but one year down the line, all the groundwork has been done and things are a lot less frantic than they were. I feel totally in control and am really happy with my work-life balance.
Do you have plans to grow the business in the future? Yes, I still feel that I’m in the process of building up my business and client base as it’s relatively new. At the moment, 80 per cent of my clients only require domestic cleaning and, as it was my original ambition to provide assistance to the elderly, this is something I still need to focus on. I want to concentrate on becoming better known by the elderly community in my area, so I need to start building a working relationship with social services and other local groups that provide assistance.
What advice would you give potential franchisees?
Do your homework, talk to existing franchisees and consider whether your chosen franchise is right for you. Ask yourself if it suits your personality and if you’re prepared to put in the necessary work to make it succeed – as with any business it’s hard work in the beginning but it does pay off!
When I found Extra Help I just went with my gut feeling. I was lucky that it all turned out so well, but I would advise people who are considering franchising in general to make sure they check the franchise agreement thoroughly and perhaps seek legal advice to cover themselves as well.
MACC
Chris Czora
Chris has spent the last 10 years working within the civil service and was an active member of a sports and social organization. In recent years, he has made a name for himself as a commentator for the national motocross series. He launched his MACC franchise in Shropshire in April 2016.
What drew you to franchising? I was keen to work for myself, but wanted the support and back up of a proven business plan to help me get started. Franchising allowed me to start in business with an existing proven brand name, along with support and guidance to help get established.
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BusinessFranchise.com | September 2016
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