Franchising - Case Studies

Rank on Exit: Warrant Officer

Years of Service: 22

Qualifications Gained: -

 

After 22 years serving as a Warrant Officer in the Army’s Transport and Logistics Corps, military life was all Alan Purdue knew. However, with a growing family, he felt he could no longer live the Services lifestyle, so set about researching new career opportunities that would improve his work/life balance. After investigating a number of franchise options, he was attracted to Cash Generator – the UK’s leading buy, sell and loan store – for its extensive training and ongoing support. In addition, its tried-and-tested business model appealed to him greatly.

 

Alan comments: ‘I joined the Army when I was 16 years old so the military was all I knew. When we started a family we knew it was time to leave, so I began to consider the various options available outside the military. I had always wanted to be my own boss, but was apprehensive about starting up my own business, so investing in a franchise was a logical solution. Cash Generator appealed immensely and although it was at the top end of my budget it had incredible potential. The business has a multi-income stream that has proved itself in all economic climates and I was confident that it was the right franchise for me.’

 

In March 2007, Alan opened his first store in Port Talbot, South Wales, and now – three years into his franchise term – he has built a successful business, employing six people. With his first store well established, he is well under way with planning the opening of his second, scheduled to open later this year.

 

This particular franchisor is well versed in supporting those looking for a new challenge after leaving the Forces – whether it’s operating a franchise store or working with its corporate team at head office. Alan can vouch for that: earning more than he was in the Army, and with evenings and weekends free to spend with his family, civilian life is certainly going well for him!

Rank on Exit: Sergeant

Years of Service: 24

Qualifications Gained: Business start-up course

 

After 24 years, Sergeant Gary Mathews, 41, a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, had served in Germany, the UK, Bosnia, Canada, the Falkland Islands and Oman, plus three tours in Iraq. He had developed ‘communication skills with people of all walks of life, self-confidence, smartness and a sense of humour’, as well as formal qualifications in motor vehicle studies and a recognised apprenticeship.

 

A Career Transition Workshop was ‘an eye opener into the world of civilian employment’, and he followed this with a business start-up course, which provided ‘direction on how to start up alone’. He also trained in windscreen repair before finding a franchise through Quest magazine. Mathews bought into a franchise repairing windscreens, with research and training starting some eight months before he left the Army, so he started the process in March 2007. He is still repairing windscreens and hopes ‘to move into replacements sometime this year.

 

‘The work entails visiting retail sites advertising your services. When people come along you explain the process and persuade them to have the work done on-site. The work takes about 30 minutes to complete, plus filling out an invoice to be sent to the insurance company. I also do home visits and contract work for garages etc.

 

‘Being self-employed you have the flexibility to do things when you want, and I had nine weeks holiday last year. A big plus is all the money that you earn is yours to keep, so profit margins are high. My work is still loosely based on engineering. Everything else is totally different.’