Posted:13-January-2021
Exclusive Interview: "Age is not an issue when investing in a Belvoir franchise"
Name: Michael Keywood
Location: Mansfield
Franchise: Belvoir
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying a Belvoir franchise business?
I am now 24 and began my franchise two and half years ago. Prior to this I had finished studying for my financial management degree and was looking for a graduate scheme.
Why did you go down the franchise route? And why did you choose Belvoir?
The opportunity presented itself in Mansfield and I decided to go down the route of running my own business instead of being swallowed up in the ‘graduate world.’
The franchise was actually referred to me and I was impressed by the brand offering once I had my first meeting.
How did you raise the finance?
I was able to invest in a Belvoir franchise thanks to private funds.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
The initial franchise training and training courses, which are offered to every franchisee, is second-to-none.
Along with your own business development mentor, you are given in-depth training or support into everything you need to launch, run and thrive.
What is a typical day for you as a Belvoir franchisee?
I begin with rental payments followed by essential emails/appointments until lunch.
The rest of the afternoon will be taken up either with landlord appraisals or allocated time for particular aspects of the business/projects that need working on. In and around these times is of course general management!
What challenges have you faced?
Being relatively inexperienced in the beginning it is nice to look back at the humble beginnings of the business; the main challenges at that point was introducing robust processes and hiring the right staff.
Also, during this time there has been a series of legal and political changes that has impacted the industry instantly, e.g. tenant fees, and these have brought about their inherent challenges.
Has becoming a Belvoir franchisee changed your life, if so how?
It was a split decision going down the lettings and franchise route; the experiences I have had will shape my future in business.
It has changed my life in the respect I have the flexibility to balance my work and personal life the way I choose.
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?
Be patient, keep working and have fun.
What are your plans for the future?
To move into another territory that is available and continue to invest into the property market.
Would you do it again?
Yes, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!
To immediately download Belvoir's FREE franchise prospectus, click here.
Interested and want to know more about Belvoir?
The Belvoir basic profile outlines aspects of their franchise opportunity
