UK Franchise Opinion and News

Franchise Opinions highlights the latest opinions, news and trends in UK franchising. The authors, all experts in franchising, are happy to share their advice and views with you.

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Why a book could be your best business card ever!

Article by Dee Blick The Marketing Gym

Best-selling author, Dee Blick looks at why you, the franchisor, may already have significant ideas for a book and how this may truly benefit prospective franchisees.

You are an expert! Now claim your space in the spotlight

Article by Dee Blick The Marketing Gym

Best selling author, Dee Blick looks at why you may be an expert and you may not even know it. She discusses how to recognise your business assets and demonstrate your authority in the industry.

'Property option' warning to franchisees

Article by Andrew Perkins Ashfords

Franchising solicitors Ashfords LLP have warned potential franchisees to be alert to inadvertently 'giving away' options to purchase their properties when they enter into franchises agreements. "It is quite usual", explains Franchise Dispute specialist Andrew Perkins, "for a franchise agreement to grant the Franchisor the right to acquire the business of the Franchisee should he decide to sell, or to step into its shoes and take over the business should it decide to cease trading.

Why franchise your business?

Article by Andrew Perkins Ashfords

With the British Franchise Association reporting records growth levels within the franchise sector it seems that franchising has never been so popular, but what motivates a business to expand into the franchise market and what are the considerations it needs to have regard to? Andrew Perkins, a Partner in the Franchising Team at law firm Ashfords LLP, takes a look.

Why disputes arise in franchise relationships

Article by Andrew Perkins Ashfords

A surprising number of franchise relationships can end in dispute. Franchise Dispute Lawyer Andrew Perkins looks at why this happens and what can be done to avoid it. The starting point is to follow the timeline of a typical franchise to see what goes wrong, when it happens and to understand why.

A whistle-stop tour of 10 top marketing tips

Article by Dee Blick The Marketing Gym

Chartered Marketer Dee Blick is a Number 1 bestselling author and she shares her top ten tops to a better, more efficient marketing strategy for your business. From looking at your audience as individuals to communicating your message with passion - Dee knows how to get results.

Can you break a franchise agreement once you’ve signed it?

Article by Andrew Quick Stevens & Bolton

In this exclusive article, Andrew Quick, Partner at Stevens & Bolton LLP, looks at the different scenarios where a franchisee may be able to walk away from a contract.

Top ten tips for incoming or prospective franchisors

Article by Fiona Boswell Freeths

Fiona Boswell, Head of Franchise at Freeths LLP, shares her top ten tops to finding a franchise business that will be a good business partnerl and the ways you can legally protect yourself.

The cost of buying a franchise

Article by David Williams Q.F.P. The Royal Bank of Scotland

Figuring out how much a franchise will cost can seem like a daunting task.

For a start, there are several different types of cost to consider. Not all of them will apply to an individual franchise, while some will be higher or lower depending on the type of franchise you’re interested in.

However significant research, advice and information gathering will make matters simpler and it’s vital to take the time to do this rather than rushing head first into a franchise purchase.

The importance of location when buying a franchise

Article by Mike Gatti Kyros Franchising

It would be trite to start any article on ‘Location’ by quoting the title of that well known television series regarding house hunting, but the similarities between that and franchising are actually a lot closer than you might think.

When searching for a house, you will take into account the size of property you need, your budget, your style of living, your income, the amenities you need close at hand, whether you want urban or rural, an area you know or completely new, commute times and school runs and how much you will compromise on your perfect new home!

When looking to invest in a franchise then there are as many considerations and probably more...

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Authors

The British Franchise Association

(bfa)

The British Franchise Association (bfa), was formed to act in the interests of the industry as a whole in assessing and accrediting franchising companies as those which meet its criteria for the structure of the franchise business, the terms of the contract between franchisor and franchisee, the testing of the system and its success as a franchise.

Nick Williams

Ashtons Franchise Consulting

Nick Williams is an experienced national and international franchise development consultant who has worked in the UK franchise industry since 2000.

Richard Holden

Lloyds Bank

Richard Holden has over 30 years of experience working at Lloyds Bank and has spent the last 8 years heading up the bank’s franchise team.

David Spackman

Newton Fallowell

David Spackman has spent many years on both sides of franchising, giving him a unique perspective on the sector. First as a franchisee himself, providing specialist property recruitment services, then as head of franchising for Belvoir property group, and latterly in his current role as director of franchising for Newton Fallowell.

David Bigmore

David Bigmore & Co

David Bigmore is the founder of David Bigmore & Co, Solicitors, based in the North West and the City of London. The firm is recognised as one of the leading legal firms in the UK specialising in Franchise Law.

Brian Duckett

The Franchising Centre

Brian is a recognised leader in the UK and International franchise industry. He writes regularly for the UK franchising and business media.

Lindsay Parkinson

Avensure

Lindsay joined the Army at 16 as a Military Accountant in 1976. Completing training in August 1977, spending time with various infantry and logistics regiments in the UK, 3 tours of Northern Ireland, 2 years in Cyprus, Germany, visits to Louisville Kentucky with 101st Airborne Division, Edinburgh/Cyprus with 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Suzanne Melville

whichfranchise.com

Suzanne Melville is the Marketing Manager for whichfranchise and has over 16 years of experience in franchising. Suzanne is very experienced in franchisee recruitment, working closely with franchisors to help produce tailored solutions for their franchisee recruitment needs.

Iain Martin

The Franchising Centre

Iain has been involved in matching individuals to opportunities for virtually all of his working life. Following university, Iain moved into IT sales with a major international computer manufacturer and subsequently joined IT resourcing company Computer People.

David Paulson

TaxAssist Accountants

David joined The TaxAssist Direct Group in 2009 with the responsibility for franchisee recruitment in the UK. In 2014 David moved to a new role as Head of International Franchising supporting the Executive Director Team with the expansion of the TaxAssist Accountants brand to selected International Markets.

Farrah Rose

The Franchising Centre

Farrah has unrivalled experience in international franchising and has been operating in this field since 1984. Initially working for major corporations, such as Burger King and Arcadia Group Plc, Farrah began advising businesses as a consultant in 1996. Farrah is now recognised as one of the leading authorities on international franchising and her expertise is sought by companies around the world.

Alan Wright

Bio-Rite

Alan Wright set up leading infection control company Bio-Rite in 2011, to provide tailored services to the NHS, Local Authorities, care and nursing homes.

Martin O'Neill

WJM

Martin is ranked as a leading individual in Franchising in the Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession 2015. He adds depth to the practice's franchising offering with his corporate and commercial experience, which includes contracts, purchases and sales. He advises an enviable list of business clients, and sources say: "He has always displayed sound knowledge with excellent presentation skills and technical ability."

Bill Hendrie

The Franchise Development Centre

Bill has been active in franchising since 1994 working with both franchisors and franchisees. His business background covers a diverse range of sectors from retail to recruitment with his roles encompassing customer service, training, sales and marketing. As Franchise Director of a national recruitment company he has been instrumental in the launch of numerous successful franchisee start- ups.

Tony Urwin

Ashtons Franchise

A leading proponent of sustainable franchise development, Tony Urwin has helped local, national and foreign businesses to become—and stay—successful franchisors in markets worldwide since 1999.

Cathryn Hayes

Revive! Auto Innovations

Cathryn Hayes, Franchise Director at Revive! Auto Innovations, has over 20 years’ experience in franchising, formerly as Head of Franchising at HSBC and more recently as British Franchise Association (bfa) Head of Business Support. She has a high profile within the franchise industry, having been a judge for the prestigious bfa HSBC Franchisor and Franchisee of the Year Awards for many years, chairing the panel in 2015. Cathryn contributes regular articles to the franchise press and other business media, as well as presenting at franchise exhibitions, bfa events and conferences, franchise and business events. She has achieved the bfa’s Qualified Franchise Professional status.

Lee Eaton, Signs Express

Signs Express

Lee Eaton is the owner of Signs Express (Manchester) and the 2015 winner of the BFA (British Franchise Association) Franchisee of the Year award.

Andrew Perkins

Ashfords

Andrew is a Partner in Ashfords' Commercial Litigation Team specialising in Franchise, Distribution and Agency matters. He is recognised as one of the South West's leading dispute lawyers. His work principally focuses on commercial contract disputes particularly those relating to franchising. He also has significant experience of injunctory proceedings including freezing, restraint of trade and search orders.

John H Pratt

Hamilton Pratt

John Pratt is the immediate past Legal Advisor to the British Franchise Association and a past Chair of the International Bar Association’s International Franchise Committee and Director of the American Bar Association’s International Franchising Division.

Mike Gatti

Kyros Franchising

Mike is a specialist in the area of Franchise Recruitment. He helps franchisors understand what changes they need to consider to make their franchise more attractive to potential buyers; he also suggests and implements different processes and collateral to get higher quality leads into the recruitment system.

Gay Turner

Gay Turner PR

Gay Turner, MCIPR, has headed campaigns to promote a diverse range of businesses, charities and other organisations, from small enterprises to multi-national companies. She has wide experience of all aspects of public relations activity from routine media relations to organising and co-ordinating special events. She set up GTPR 18 years ago.

Steven Frost

Smith & Henderson

Steve is a Partner at Smith & Henderson, which helps reputable franchisors to recruit more suitable franchisees.

David Irving

Mundays

David's work is mainly of a commercial nature and covers a wide range of disciplines including professional partnership advice, joint venture agreements, general commercial agreements, and copyright matters. David has particular experience in the healthcare (particularly pharmaceutical and the acquisition of branded products) and logistics (including aviation) sectors.

Andrew Quick

Stevens & Bolton

Andrew is a commercial disputes partner at Stevens & Bolton LLP and a member of its franchising team, as ranked in both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK Legal Directory.

Rev PR

Rev PR

Rev PR is a specialist franchise PR agency Headed up by industry experts Sally Anne Butters and Lucy Maisey, the team at Rev PR focus on PR to boost the businesses of franchisors and franchisees alike.

Maurice Logie

Moreland Insurance Brokers

Maurice Logie is owner and director of long-established insurance brokers Moreland, now one of Scotland's most successful independent sector specialists.

Berkeley Harris

WPA

Berkeley Harris heads up the UK network of WPA and is presently the Deputy Chairman of the British Franchise Association.

Michael Johnson

Card Connection

Michael Johnson has been the Managing Director of Card Connection since 1999.

Dee Blick

The Marketing Gym

Dee Blick has 30 years’ marketing experience gained working with blue chip organisations but mostly with small/medium businesses. She has a track record of planning and delivering successful campaigns generating £10 million plus sales on a shoestring budget. Dee was a keynote speaker at the June 2013 bfa Conference in London

Grégoire Toulouse

Taylor Wessing

Grégoire Toulouse is a French lawyer registered with the Paris Bar. He is a Partner at Taylor Wessing France and Head of the Franchise Practice Group.

Suzie McCafferty

Platinum Wave

Suzie is an active member of the UK and International franchise communities, and having grown her own franchise businesses both UK and Internationally within the retail and professional services industries, she is a regular key note speaker at leading franchising and business events.

Graeme Payne

Bird & Bird

Graeme is a partner in the Commercial Group of Bird & Bird, based in London. Graeme Payne is one of the leading advisers on franchising issues. He works closely with businesses to determine and develop the most commercially appropriate expansion models and routes to market.

Jo Nockels

TaxAssist Accountants

Jo Nockels trains new and existing TaxAssist Accountants franchisees and produces and edits technical material on behalf of the network. She also helps to manage the network’s social media profile.

Aspray

Aspray

Aspray is a UK leading property damage, insurance claims management company specialising in all types of residential and commercial property.

Anthony Round

Papa Johns

Anthony Round joined Papa John’s as Business Development Manager in 2012. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the franchising industry, with previous senior roles at Dominos, Pizza Hut, Dwyer Group and Cash Generators.

Stuart Lee

Atlas Mapping

Stuart has hands-on experience of franchise territory mapping for over 150 brands in the UK and internationally. He works with a range of franchisors helping new franchises to establish strong territory foundations and supports international brands to analyse complex networks and apply best practise territory management.

Andy Smith

Belvoir

Andy Smith is Head of Franchise Recruitment at Belvoir! I have been involved in corporate sales for many years. I used my experience and success to make the transition to my own Estate Agency business in 2006. The crash in 2008 was the main reason for that business failing, where I learnt a very important lesson. My move into franchising was therefore no accident and has left me determined to see aspirational business people succeed, supported by the Belvoir franchise Brand, System and Model.

Fiona Boswell

Freeths

Fiona is a Senior Associate Solicitor at Freeths LLP and Head of Freeths Franchise. She advises on setting up and managing franchise networks, the preparation of master and standard franchise contracts, regulatory compliance, the management and removal of underperforming franchisees, termination of franchise contracts, enforceability of restrictive covenants, leveraging your franchise brand and franchise e-commerce.

Sarah Carlile

Coconut Creatives

Sarah Carlile is the Founding Director of Coconut Creatives, the franchise industry’s leading and award-winning provider of marketing services for franchise recruitment.

David Williams Q.F.P.

The Royal Bank of Scotland

David is Director of Franchising for RBS England & Wales and NatWest Scotland.

Nicola Broadhurst

Stevens and Bolton

Nicola is a commercial partner and heads up the franchise team at Stevens & Bolton. She specialises in the commercial aspects of franchising, advising both franchisors and franchisees but with a particular focus on international expansion.

Chris Roberts

Franchise Finance

Chris Roberts is an experienced and successful Business Consultant and co-owner of Franchise Finance Limited, the leading provider of Finance, Business Consultancy and Finance Training to the UK Franchising industry.

Andrew Fraser

Harper MacLeod LLP

Andrew acts on behalf of franchisors and franchisees throughout the UK on all manner of franchising issues including helping businesses to franchise, buying and selling franchised businesses, controlling franchise networks and managing franchise disputes.

Manzoor G.K. Ishani

Sherrards

Manzoor Ishani is a senior consultant solicitor with Sherrards, a commercial law practice advising franchisors and franchisees in the UK and internationally. He has specialised in franchising for more than 30 years and is a former member of the legal committee of the BFA and co-author of Franchising in the UK, Franchising in Europe and Franchising in Canada.

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