FRANCHISEFOCUS INVESTMENT: £14,995 Clean start James Arthur, the 100th Ovenclean franchisee, has no regrets! P
rior to becoming an Ovenclean franchisee, James Arthur enjoyed a successful career spanning
international event management and heading up fundraising for a national charity. After a company restructure in 2012 ended in voluntary redundancy, James began thinking about an alternative, self-employed lifestyle. In 2014, James began his search into franchising after family health concerns meant he needed more control over his schedule. He says: “I went to an Ovenclean open day and I liked what I saw. The professional set up, the support available, and the fact that there was no pressure to invest really appealed. I was keen to do some more research before making a decision, so Ovenclean arranged for me to speak with active franchisees, and even spend a day out on the road with an established specialist, which gave me great insight as to what to expect. I looked over the business plan Ovenclean provided, and with their help developed my own plan specific to my area, and what I wanted to achieve from a financial point of view.”
"I love meeting people every day, and really enjoy the flexibility"
In September 2014, James became the
100th franchisee to join the Ovenclean network. “The launch of my business couldn’t have gone better! I really enjoyed my comprehensive two-week training course, and the launch package put together by the support team was hugely beneficial. It was in the run up to Christmas, which is generally the busiest time, but it was the perfect start to my new venture. I was manic for the first three months, and the following year, I was taking bookings for pre-Christmas cleans six months in advance!
146
p James Arthur
Like any franchise, his business was demanding in the early days but the hard work has paid off. “It was hard physically when I first started. At the end of the day I knew I had been through a proper workout, but soon, my blood pressure was down, and I even lost half a stone! “I’ve now got regular clients and
recommendations, things are much rosier from a financial point of view and I’m making a decent living. I enjoy building relationships with my customers and have lots of regulars who are more than happy to sit and chat with me. “I love meeting new people every day, and I really enjoy the flexibility that comes with being your own boss. It means that we are now able to visit our holiday home more often, and I can stop work early to play the odd round of golf if I want to!” What advice would James give to someone looking to buy a franchise? “The key to success is hard work, do a good clean and tidy job, make sure you enter every house with a friendly face
to ensure you get repeat business and recommendations. Look closely at the financial figures, take professional advice to make sure you know you can get through the first couple of years. Talk to as many people as possible who have bought a franchise. “I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever about my decision and couldn’t be happier! My focus for the future is to continue developing the business over the next five years, with a view to selling when I’m ready.” If James’s story has sparked your
interest, consider visiting one of Ovenclean’s regular, informal open days, where you can meet the team and chat with existing franchisees. l
OVENCLEAN Domestic cleaning 0800 988 5434
ian@franchisebrands.co.uk
Investment level: £10k-£20k
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