Posted:19-March-2024
From teaching to becoming a Hire A Hubby franchisee
- Name: Clive Bevis
- Location: Rayleigh
- Franchise: Hire A Hubby Chelmsford Ltd
- Date launched the franchise: 2012
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying your Hire a Hubby franchise business?
Before buying my franchise, I was a school teacher for 17 years and an Assistant Head teacher for 6 years.
Can you also tell us about Hire a Hubby?
Hire A Hubby is a property maintenance and handyman franchise. Hire A Hubby is a property maintenance and handyman franchise. The variety of jobs we do for our customers is vast - from the simplest home and garden repair and maintenance jobs, to kitchen transformations and home renovations; we attract loyal customers who might only have a small job at first but down the track might request help with a large renovation, new kitchen or bathroom.
Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose the Handyman industry? And why a Hire a Hubby franchise?
I decided to buy a franchise, as Franchises are statistically more successful. I wanted to exploit the handyman skills I had and so began researching that area. It was the Hire a Hubby branding that attracted me to them initially. It is fantastic. Really noticeable and not one you’d forget!
How did you raise the finance?
Bank loan.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
Full training on systems and targeted practical training.
How would you describe your day-to-day role as a franchisee?
- Completing customer projects
- Answering job calls
- Answering support calls from other franchisees
- Quoting for new work
- Organising materials for the next day
- Managing customer expectations
Provide information on challenges overcome as well as your key successes to date.
Challenges
- Challenges of running your business in the early days.
- Balancing finances and cash flow in the First few years
Successes
- I now complete many large projects which are financially positive
- I have managed to deliver customers expectations and help them achieve their vision
- I have control over my life
- I could get to go to children's school events
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?
- More freedom to manage my diary
- Financial freedom
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?
- Do your research
- Speak openly with existing franchisees
- Go out with existing franchisees for a day
- Be honest with yourself about your capabilities
- Be pragmatic about self employment; don’t fall into the trap of thinking you will become rich quickly
In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?
- Being organised
- Excellent skill set / subject knowledge
- Excellent people skills
- Good money management
What are your plans for the future?
- Continue to be reflective and learn new skills to enable the business to grow.
- Build a business that is saleable for the future.
If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?
- Become self employed much earlier.
- Have more idea about how the management support works and what resources there are to draw on.
Interested and want to know more about Hire A Hubby?
The Hire A Hubby profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
