START-UPS & SUCCESSES Start-Up Successes


The Success Diaries


Louise Doherty swapped her day job to launch social diary planner, Plansnap


In every friendship circle there’s that friend. The one who organises the nights out and


sets a date in everyone’s diary. It’s a tough gig – the date, venue, the event


– it’s no wonder many potential get-togethers fall at the fi rst hurdle. For PlanSnap founder Louise Doherty, it was exactly this process when organising a trip to an infl atable aqua assault course in New Forest National Park that caused her to think there must be another way. “I nearly divorced my


friends in the process,” she says. “My day job specialised in digital products with a community at the centre [and] there was a moment where I realised that if no one had fi gured out a faster way to get friends together and I had the skills to do it, then I better just crack on.” What Doherty came up with was a social


To fund the enterprise, she bypassed


the start-up loan path by joining a start-up accelerator and crowdfunding her business: “We’re graduates of Techstars, the world’s top business accelerator which came with funding, and we’ve also raised investment through Crowdcube.” PlanSnap managed to raise £46,500 of


‘There was a moment I


realised I had


the skills to do it, so I better just crack on’


planning app that gets everyone to agree on the who, what, where and when at a click of a button so get-togethers really happen.


revenue before even getting off the ground. Over 500 crowdfunders bought into the idea and injected £380,000 – £130,000 more than the target. “The fi rst investor into the business was my fi rst boss at 17, and our fi rst paying brand customer was the company I worked for before I quit to start PlanSnap – that level of support from those closest to me has been invaluable.” But Doherty also believes


in having a focus away from the workplace when starting


up: “I am a big believer in sport challenges supporting start-up life,” she continues. “It helps keep everything in balance in the offi ce when you also have to train for an Olympic triathlon, and getting into the habit of setting and achieving big goals in sports makes big


Can’t get no satisfaction?


Promotional Feature If you’re still wondering if you should choose to start a franchise rather than starting up a new business from scratch, there are some signifi cant statistics to help you make up your mind. Michael Gerber reveals in his bestselling book, ‘The E-Myth Revisited’, that 80% of non-franchise businesses fail in the fi rst fi ve years, whereas 75% of franchise businesses succeed. Here in the UK the stats are even more chalk and cheese with 91% of all businesses failing inside 10 years according to VAT deregistration statistics. Now compare that to the NatWest British Franchise Association latest annual survey of the UK’s franchising industry which reports 90%+ of franchises are profi table.


If you want to be the best, join the best ActionCOACH is a business growth franchise which is one of just four franchises in the UK to receive the enviable 5-star franchisee satisfaction rating fi ve times from an independent industry survey. That’s not their only recent accolade, as they are also the only business coaching/consulting/training franchise to make the UK’s Elite Franchise Top 10.


Creating a more fulfi lling life Just like their clients, ActionCOACH franchise partners’ number one driver isn’t to make lots of money but to create better lives for their clients, teams, families and the local community. Andy Hemming left a highly-paid corporate position


which kept him away from home to join ActionCOACH. “On just 50 hours every four weeks, I generate over £500,000 a year,” he says. “I spend Monday to Wednesday every fortnight coaching and the other 10 days are free to spend time with my family and enjoy life – that’s true satisfaction.”


Is there a market for this?


Is there a business owner who doesn’t want to make more profi t? Interestingly, when ActionCOACH asked their clients in a recent survey, profi t only came out as the number two most popular reason why a business owner hires an ActionCOACH Business Growth Specialist. The number one reason was they want to work fewer hours so they can enjoy more quality time with their family and have a life outside of their business. u w


If you would like to learn more about becoming a business growth specialist then call 01284 701648, or fi nd out


more by watching the six-minute overview video at actioncoach.co.uk/overview


ASK US NOW


Ask us about being just one of four franchises with fi ve-star franchisee satisfaction status for fi ve years, or ask us for a copy of The bfa NatWest annual survey of the UK franchise sector.


goals in business seem much more achievable. “I’m a huge believer in the long game of start-


up life and busting the myths around working 24/7 being a badge of honour. It’s not, it causes burnout. I live on a Thames boat, which really helps me be at my best.”


B.


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Get feedback with a concept – the Lean Start-Up and Google’s Design Sprints are helpful here. Innovate UK, the EU Horizon 2020 and others also provide funding for early stage prototyping


You can always ask – It’s my motto and you’d be amazed at how far it gets you. It’s also good to get into the habit of being undeterred by the word ‘no’


Top three tips from Louise Doherty


Support start-up life with sport challenges


Be Your Own Boss distributed with


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