WORKING WITH FAMILY


Close to home


Going into business with family is not unusual in franchising – just ask this successful team!


Linda and Tom Mannion – X-Press Legal Services X-Press Legal Services is a family-run franchise. The company was established in 1998 by Lynne Lister, a former editor, her husband ae who has a financial services background, and their son, hristian. oday fie ebers of the Lister family are involved in supporting and managing the franchise network. And it’s not just the owners who are


keeping it in the family. Franchisees Linda and Tom Mannion are a mother-and-son team who have together forged a hugely successful working relationship. Linda and Tom run two successful X-Press Legal Services franchises in Wiltshire and London respectively, supplying property searches and reports for conveyancing professionals.


Why did you decide to go into franchising and why with X-Press Legal Services? Tom: While at university, I worked in an admin role over the summer holiday for u at her ress office. fter graduating in 2013, I started working at a West London estate agency when mum alerted me to the opportunity of a North West London franchise with X-Press.


“We constantly learn from each other and share best practice”


I had just come into some inheritance


and having enjoyed my experience working for mum’s business I decided to invest in my own franchise. My business is now well established and profitable and I’ve recently extended my expertise into providing specialist agricultural and landed estates searches. I am very proud of what I have already achieved as a business owner and have plenty more ideas to expand my business over the coming years.


 Linda Mannion and her son Tom


What are the benefits of working with family? Tom: here are huge benefits to woring with mum; she’s not only shown me the ropes but has also helped me to plan for the longer term. We’ve already started to talk about a succession plan for her own ress business when and if she finally decides to retire. Linda: Working with Tom is a real partnership. We constantly learn from each other and share best practice. Tom’s not afraid to get out and about and meet new clients and prospects, and he also loves hosting our well-attended, free CPD training eents. es also proficient in using new technology to attract business and is always on hand to support me when I need technical advice!


What was the initial training and support like? Tom: The training I received was great, and I also regularly check in with other


owners across the franchise network to share ideas and learnings. Even if I didn’t have mum on hand for any questions, I’d still feel fully supported by the X-Press head office.


What advice would you give to anyone considering a franchise? Tom: X-Press Legal has given me the opportunity to take control of my own destiny and it’s great to deliver clients tangible benefits through the serices we offer. If you’re looking for an opportunity to


be your own boss but with the additional safety net of having a highly experienced franchisor behind you, then you really can’t go wrong with a franchise like X-Press Legal Services. 


X-Press Legal Services xpresslegal.co.uk/the-x-press- franchise-opportunity/


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