Martin &Co Wimbledon franchise owner, Ian Waldron, shares his views on why redundancy can be just the beginning, not the end

 

“I had always like the idea of owning my own business but the prospect seemed daunting, however when I was made redundant it gave me the opportunity to reflect on my situation. Franchising presented the perfect opportunity to own my own business whilst minimising the risks of starting independently.”

 

“I have always had a genuine interest in property and with my financial background in the city I knew that the trend was moving away from sales and towards lettings. However I had limited knowledge of the lettings industry but with the comprehensive training courses that Martin & Co provides combined with the continued support on offer I felt confident that lettings was the right industry for me.”

 

“The first time I saw a Martin & Co board in my area I was immediately interested. The distinctive branding that they provide is unlike anything I would have been able to do on my own. With Martin & Co our clients benefit from our office’s local knowledge and expertise backed by the power of a national brand, without choosing the franchise route it would have taken years to build up the brand awareness I already have.”

 

“Due to the success of Martin & Co as a brand and the fact that their business model has been tried and tested over a number of years, it meant the process of obtaining funding was fairly straight forward. Yes banks are going to ask probing questions but the business plan that Martin & Co provide all new franchises with settled any doubts the banks I went to originally had.”

 

“It is difficult for me to offer advice to anyone who has been made redundant as each individual case is different, and buying a franchise does require an investment. However redundancy can often offer the opportunity for reflection and change in an individual’s lifestyle which in other circumstances may have never been possible. As long as the franchisee is willing to put in the hard work required and is eager to learn lots of new skills then buying a franchise can be a great option. I love being my own boss and know that my job and my future is secure. People tend to mention redundancy in negative terms but it doesn’t have to be doom and gloom, I have gone from being made redundant to owning a growing business in an industry that I have a real passion for.”