Posted:13-January-2021
Exclusive Interview: "Achieving a work/life balance thanks to an established brand name"
Name: Sam Foster
Location: Dundee
Franchise: Papa John’s
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying a franchise business?
Papa John’s is something of a happy accident for me. I spent nine years in the Airforce and also five years as an engineer on an off shore drilling rig before discovering the franchise.
However, it was a serious crash on my mountain bike which caused me to re-evaluate my future. I was out riding, hit a tree and was badly injured. I was hospitalised for two weeks and needed several months at home to recover but I was unable to return to the oil rig. With a young family to provide for, I needed a fresh start which is what Papa John’s offered.
Why did you go down the franchise route? And why did you choose the Papa John's franchise?
WWorking with an established brand means your name is already known in your chosen industry and this is what franchising offers. Support from Papa John’s is always available too and this is important when starting a new business.W
I went for Papa John’s as my father had worked at a rival firm previously and I had also spend some time working for another pizza company. However, Papa John’s by comparison is up and coming. Its popularity is enabling Papa John’s to expand rapidly and this offers further opportunities in the future.
How did you raise the finance?
From savings.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
I trained at Papa John’s new headquarters in Milton Keynes for several weeks on the management and franchisee courses. I also spent two weeks working in the Edinburgh store to learn ‘on the job’.
What is a typical day for you as a Papa John's franchisee?
My role is mainly to manage the store and the staff. I oversee operations and this can be varied from recruiting to training to talking to customers and looking after the business.
"My wife is also involved in the franchise, which is great as she can be flexible which is helpful with our young family."
What challenges have you faced?
Recruiting really good and reliable staff is probably the most challenging aspect of the job.
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?
When I worked on the oil rig in Africa I used to be away for four weeks at a time. You get used to it but it’s tough being away from family and home. I did this for five years and so being able to run a business in the UK is great. It’s been a big change but I love managing my own time and am excited about the future with Papa John’s.
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?
Do your sums! Don’t underestimate the cost of starting a business. The purchase price is only one part of the investment you will need to make in-terms of both your time and funding. You will need to budget wisely as there will be expenses you may not have considered. I would advise having a contingency fund to help manage this.
In addition, you will have to work hard. You will need to be 100% committed to making the business work and this will, especially in the early stages, require all of your time!
What are your plans for the future?
WWe plan to open up to three more stores in the next year or so, with the assistance of Papa John’s incentive scheme which is designed to help franchisees when setting up new stores. Deals on equipment, marketing and discounted royalties will make a big difference right when we need it.W
Would you do it again?
Yes absolutely! Mind you if you’d have asked me in the first week of trading I might not have given the same answer! We were much busier than we anticipated! However, that experience really confirmed how popular Papa John’s pizza is and after a short learning curve, our store is now really delivering!
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Interested and want to know more about Papa Johns?
The Papa Johns basic profile outlines aspects of their franchise opportunity
