MANAGEMENT FRANCHISING
NIC SERVICES GROUP
Andy Galloway is 51 and married with two children. He operates an NIC contract cleaning management franchise in Scotland, where he is based.
What did you do before franchising and what prompted you to make the change? My background has always been within accounting and finance, with many years spent at one of the large banks before joining the family business as financial director. I decided I wanted to look at a new career path and challenge and began looking at small business opportunities.
How did you find out about franchising, and NIC in particular?
I began looking at franchising as an option whilst researching small businesses. It became apparent that franchising is a much safer option when starting your own business as it is a tried-and-tested business model. I became aware of an opportunity to purchase an existing business with NIC and, following some thorough research, realised the opportunities to develop the business were excellent.
What attracted you to this franchise opportunity?
One of the main attractions for me was the knowledge and experience of the team at NIC. Right from the outset I could see that it wasn’t just a ‘cleaning company’, the professionalism of the staff and the services offered were excellent. I could see the huge potential for the business; with an industry worth over £8.8billion within the UK, I knew that I would be able to build and grow a successful business.
What was the initial training and support like?
As someone who was completely new to the cleaning and support services industry
I found the initial training and support invaluable as both an induction into the industry and to the NIC business as a whole. The head office team has helped me greatly from day one. All the information and systems are in place, right from the start to enable anyone to grow and develop their business whilst giving their customers the best service.
What training and support is available on an ongoing basis? NIC has been there to offer help and support – both on growing my business and with the operational side. The back office admin support is fantastic and saves you a lot of time as NIC handle everything, from payroll to invoicing your customers and credit control. This allows you to use your time efficiently and concentrate on building relationships with your clients and growing your business.
How was trading in the beginning and how is business today?
I was in the fortunate position of inheriting an existing customer base when I joined, which meant I hit the ground running in terms of sales and generating an income. With the support and guidance offered I have been able to build on this and have developed a very successful business.
Any standout moments so far? I think it would have to be winning the tender for a housing association – the very first I had worked on. With the help and support of NIC we were able to secure the contract, which gave my business a fantastic boost. Another great moment that stands out
for me was when two of the pubs where I manage the cleaning were awarded the Loo of the Year Platinum Award for their toilets; this was testament to the fantastic job being carried out by my cleaning teams.
How has life changed since you launched your franchise? I certainly enjoy a greater work-life balance now. Although there is a lot of hard work involved in running your own business, I have a greater degree of flexibility. I can now go and watch my son play football, something I was rarely able to do before.
What qualities do franchisees need to operate a management franchise and to be a successful franchisee? Management experience is beneficial as a large proportion of the job entails managing your teams of employees. Energy and drive are definitely essential qualities together with a positive customer-focused attitude.
What are your plans for the future? I will be concentrating on further expanding my business. A lot of hard work has gone into making my business a success and I now want to concentrate on building and growing that business further using NIC’s tried-and-tested model and fantastic network support.
Would you recommend franchising and NIC to others? Yes, I would absolutely recommend – and I have – both franchising and NIC to others. If you are looking to take control of your future and that of your family, then a management franchise like NIC could be exactly what you are looking for.
June 2018 |
BusinessFranchise.com | 73
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