[NWH]

It’s a free country to give and offer any opinion on any window cleaning matter 👌.

[supernova77]

excellent

I don't want you to feel its an attack - but more in the form of dealing with a potential franchisee that asked awkward questions 


Darran

I know you're not that kind of person Darran

[supernova77]

Hi guys,

Answers to some of the questions...


How is a franchise a low start up cost?

Time is money when running your own business…

When I think back to when I first started I spent (wasted) so much time finding the right system / bodging DIY setups / making my own leaflets that didn’t work / quoting jobs too low / trying to diversify too much etc.. etc..

So, in my opinion investing into a franchise is low cost when every aspect of starting your own business from scratch is taken into consideration.


Not sure 'Ongoing expense of Franchise Fee' is a plus point, I realise that the tick means 'yes', so it is correct.  It's certainly an interesting info graphic but not sure it quite sells it.

No it isn’t meant as a plus point… The table is a pros and cons table for the potential franchisee to weigh up.


Just looked at your franchising web site and within the training section it doesn't actually say you will receive training on any of the equipment! I assume you teach them during the 5 days how to use the kit? If you do might be worth mentioning that?

The franchisee will be trained on everything… 2 days practical training on real customers houses – exterior & interior window cleaning / gutter clearing and gutter, fascia soffit cleaning. Within these 2 days they will also receive full training on RO systems, the van WFP system etc..

1 day sales and marketing – canvassing / marketing / quoting

1 day scheduling / bookkeeping / customer services / office functions

And, if they are going to employ – 1 day on recruitment and team management.


I know it's your baby, but looking at it I get the feeling it's all about the franchise rancher than the franchisee

It’s not at all… It’s all about growing a network of window cleaning businesses under one brand – where everyone in the network supports each other, but the ultimate support comes from the Franchisor.

I employ 2 guys at the moment, and I hate the employment side of things… I’m naturally better at supporting others rather than man management. So I will be putting 100% into supporting all franchisees – to me it will be all about them.


Could be that already being in the biz I see  like your own territory, don't wash - a newbie may think they get an area devoid of other windy's and how big is a territory ?

This will be fully explained to the potential franchisee. They will have their own territory that no other Iconic franchisee can trade in… Obviously it goes without saying that there could be 100’s of other window cleaners in that territory – but competition is healthy.


There’s that much good FREE info out there now that also negates the value of having ongoing support from an experienced operator.

You could say this about every Franchise in any industry but the fact remains that people invest in franchises and will continue to do so.

The Franchise Industry turns over £15 Billion every year in the UK, this is an increase of 46% over the last decade. So more and more people start their own business through franchising.

[Smudger]

Well done Andy - well answered - I hope it goes well for you

Darran

[Splash & dash]

Hi guys,

Answers to some of the questions...


How is a franchise a low start up cost?

Time is money when running your own business…

When I think back to when I first started I spent (wasted) so much time finding the right system / bodging DIY setups / making my own leaflets that didn’t work / quoting jobs too low / trying to diversify too much etc.. etc..

So, in my opinion investing into a franchise is low cost when every aspect of starting your own business from scratch is taken into consideration.


Not sure 'Ongoing expense of Franchise Fee' is a plus point, I realise that the tick means 'yes', so it is correct.  It's certainly an interesting info graphic but not sure it quite sells it.

No it isn’t meant as a plus point… The table is a pros and cons table for the potential franchisee to weigh up.


Just looked at your franchising web site and within the training section it doesn't actually say you will receive training on any of the equipment! I assume you teach them during the 5 days how to use the kit? If you do might be worth mentioning that?

The franchisee will be trained on everything… 2 days practical training on real customers houses – exterior & interior window cleaning / gutter clearing and gutter, fascia soffit cleaning. Within these 2 days they will also receive full training on RO systems, the van WFP system etc..

1 day sales and marketing – canvassing / marketing / quoting

1 day scheduling / bookkeeping / customer services / office functions

And, if they are going to employ – 1 day on recruitment and team management.


I know it's your baby, but looking at it I get the feeling it's all about the franchise rancher than the franchisee

It’s not at all… It’s all about growing a network of window cleaning businesses under one brand – where everyone in the network supports each other, but the ultimate support comes from the Franchisor.

I employ 2 guys at the moment, and I hate the employment side of things… I’m naturally better at supporting others rather than man management. So I will be putting 100% into supporting all franchisees – to me it will be all about them.


Could be that already being in the biz I see  like your own territory, don't wash - a newbie may think they get an area devoid of other windy's and how big is a territory ?

This will be fully explained to the potential franchisee. They will have their own territory that no other Iconic franchisee can trade in… Obviously it goes without saying that there could be 100’s of other window cleaners in that territory – but competition is healthy.


There’s that much good FREE info out there now that also negates the value of having ongoing support from an experienced operator.

You could say this about every Franchise in any industry but the fact remains that people invest in franchises and will continue to do so.

The Franchise Industry turns over £15 Billion every year in the UK, this is an increase of 46% over the last decade. So more and more people start their own business through franchising.

Lol 2 days training on all that !!!!!  It will  need  considerably  more than that just to clean a window let alone all the other bits and bobs 😂😂😂😂

[supernova77]

Hi guys,

Answers to some of the questions...


How is a franchise a low start up cost?

Time is money when running your own business…

When I think back to when I first started I spent (wasted) so much time finding the right system / bodging DIY setups / making my own leaflets that didn’t work / quoting jobs too low / trying to diversify too much etc.. etc..

So, in my opinion investing into a franchise is low cost when every aspect of starting your own business from scratch is taken into consideration.


Not sure 'Ongoing expense of Franchise Fee' is a plus point, I realise that the tick means 'yes', so it is correct.  It's certainly an interesting info graphic but not sure it quite sells it.

No it isn’t meant as a plus point… The table is a pros and cons table for the potential franchisee to weigh up.


Just looked at your franchising web site and within the training section it doesn't actually say you will receive training on any of the equipment! I assume you teach them during the 5 days how to use the kit? If you do might be worth mentioning that?

The franchisee will be trained on everything… 2 days practical training on real customers houses – exterior & interior window cleaning / gutter clearing and gutter, fascia soffit cleaning. Within these 2 days they will also receive full training on RO systems, the van WFP system etc..

1 day sales and marketing – canvassing / marketing / quoting

1 day scheduling / bookkeeping / customer services / office functions

And, if they are going to employ – 1 day on recruitment and team management.


I know it's your baby, but looking at it I get the feeling it's all about the franchise rancher than the franchisee

It’s not at all… It’s all about growing a network of window cleaning businesses under one brand – where everyone in the network supports each other, but the ultimate support comes from the Franchisor.

I employ 2 guys at the moment, and I hate the employment side of things… I’m naturally better at supporting others rather than man management. So I will be putting 100% into supporting all franchisees – to me it will be all about them.


Could be that already being in the biz I see  like your own territory, don't wash - a newbie may think they get an area devoid of other windy's and how big is a territory ?

This will be fully explained to the potential franchisee. They will have their own territory that no other Iconic franchisee can trade in… Obviously it goes without saying that there could be 100’s of other window cleaners in that territory – but competition is healthy.


There’s that much good FREE info out there now that also negates the value of having ongoing support from an experienced operator.

You could say this about every Franchise in any industry but the fact remains that people invest in franchises and will continue to do so.

The Franchise Industry turns over £15 Billion every year in the UK, this is an increase of 46% over the last decade. So more and more people start their own business through franchising.

Lol 2 days training on all that !!!!!  It will  need  considerably  more than that just to clean a window let alone all the other bits and bobs 😂😂😂😂

But I thought starting and running a window cleaning business was so easy anyone can do it? 😂😂

[supernova77]

A bit of reading about Franchising:

[Smudger]

2 days is more than enough to get the basics of cleaning a window - the rest is all about experience - weather conditions, styles of window, times of the year etc....

That's the bit that takes time

All the rest can be easily written out in a "training manual" for reference

Darran

[deeege]

Good luck with it Andy, I’ll be interested to see how you go on with recruiting franchisees. 👍

[NWH]

Where’s the information as regards what the initial outlay is for the potential window cleaner and what benefits he-she will recieve,a load of figures on a page don’t do it for me. 

[KS Cleaning]

I think this business model is heavily reliant on any potential franchisees having had a redundancy package to sink into it. Anyone taking a loan to finance it will be on a hiding to nothing due to having monthly outgoings whilst having little or no income.

[supernova77]

I think this business model is heavily reliant on any potential franchisees having had a redundancy package to sink into it. Anyone taking a loan to finance it will be on a hiding to nothing due to having monthly outgoings whilst having little or no income.

But the majority of Franchises throughout the UK have the same model and people invest into them all the time and are successful

[NWH]

What are you offering the potential investor after they’ve paid you their hard earned.

[KS Cleaning]

I think this business model is heavily reliant on any potential franchisees having had a redundancy package to sink into it. Anyone taking a loan to finance it will be on a hiding to nothing due to having monthly outgoings whilst having little or no income.

But the majority of Franchises throughout the UK have the same model and people invest into them all the time and are successful

There will be a lot of factors involved as to the reason why they are successful or not.

[NWH]

I would target people who know nothing at all about the cleaning of windows if someone is providing leaflets and business cards and a business name what are they getting for their money,who’s buying into this do they not see that they could be doing the same thing for thereselves for 100 odd quid 🤣🤣.
I’d like a few more reasons as to why this is no different to driving down the road and chucking good money out the window  please.

[Smudger]

Nigel
We've covered the reason why people go for a franchise - try to keep, up,or at least read other people's posts


Andy - do you know who are the most successful franchise's are that are not shop based - (for example a plumbing franchise)
Darran

[Ched]

I think this business model is heavily reliant on any potential franchisees having had a redundancy package to sink into it. Anyone taking a loan to finance it will be on a hiding to nothing due to having monthly outgoings whilst having little or no income.

But the majority of Franchises throughout the UK have the same model and people invest into them all the time and are successful

Remember Cartridge World?
They used the standard business model - ie. recognisable brand, the franchise holder supplies the materials and the franchisee just does the selling (using company methods).... That's has to be the most popular business model in franchising?
Window cleaning is a bit different as the franchisee doesn't need to buy supplies from franchise holder to continue the business.

I guess you really need to get your brand out there so the public start to associate your brand with good quality service and recognise it. Then you will really have a franchise people will want to buy into.

It is really interesting to hear how you are going - there are always a lot of negative people out there but as long as you believe in what you are offering and work hard I am sure you can achieve great things for you and your franchisees.

I hope you do really well franchising. Good Luck and keep us posted.

[NWH]

I genuinely fail to see what’s  been offered for the initial investment am I missing something.

[NWH]

I can see the potential in the amount of people about in the near future with redundancy in their pockets that know nothing about window cleaning lol.

[Smudger]

I genuinely fail to see what’s  been offered for the initial investment am I missing something.

This might help....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXNhL4J_S00