Driving Miss Daisy Franchisee Success Stories

Davina's 5 year' Daisy Business Growing from Strength to Strength -

From corporate hospitality to business owner, Davina is celebrating her 5th successful year running a Driving Miss Daisy Franchise in Kingswinford, nr Dudley.

A REAL PEOPLE PERSON and keen snooker player, Davina describes herself as gregarious and enjoys a good chat! This has helped her win the hearts of the residents in her local community resulting in an excellent reputation and the go to provider for transportation and companionship services.

INSPIRED BY HER DAD, who also ran his own business, Davina looked extensively for something that would fit around being a single mum of two teenage daughters whilst carving out a legacy she could build of her own and using her inter-personal skills.

IT WASN’T ALL PLAIN SAILING, Davina quickly grasped the concept, warmed instantly to the passion shown by Paul Nuth who talked over the opportunity but she was quite overwhelmed by the taxi licensing process which seemed male dominated, ‘I remember going into licensing and feeling out of place because the men saw it as taxi work and not what women do’. Little did they know how different Driving Miss Daisy is from a standard taxi business! Now Davina re-licenses each year, brimming with confidence, the team commending her for how well she has progressed over the years.

DAVINA CELEBRATES 5 successful years this April reflecting on the many and varied experiences encountered. Her clients mean a tremendous amount to her and the reviews received are a testament to her hard work, grit and determination to ensure everyone receives a first class service with Davina and her team always going the extra mile.

Usually working 7 days a week, Davina can be found doing all manner of things! Often at the local Russell Hospital providing much needed discharge support for patients returning home from a spell in hospital, to numerous weddings, proms, family celebrations and a host of ‘every day trips’. She won the Driving Miss Daisy Small Acorns Award in 2019 from turning a small piece of work into something incredible.

MEETING SOME REMARKABLE PEOPLE on her travels and finding inspiration from many, Davina warmly remembers David and Muriel a couple married for 65 years who used her service for 4 until their passing in the last few months. The support Davina offered was truly a family affair which included their daughter Alison and David’s sister Gwen.

Sports Legend to Community Hero! -

Stevie Lyle, dad of 2 boys and a 3rd due soon, is literally one in a million representing Wales and GB for over 23 years at the highest level of Ice Hockey - a sport not for the faint hearted!

HOLDING 83 CAPS FOR GREAT BRITAIN, he is the most capped Ice Hockey player the country has ever had and aged 17 he became the Junior Welsh Sports Personality of the Year too. Steve, notably self-effacing about his huge achievements, got a lucky break becoming a pro player at the tender age of 14 when ‘the older guys got injured!’ He seized the opportunity and never looked back, travelling the world and meeting some amazing people as the GB Goalie. Today, Steve, a well-connected individual, said his friends have been watching his new venture with interest and pledged their early support despite some raised eyebrows about his change of direction.

ASKING STEVE, WHY A DRIVING MISS DAISY FRANCHISE? and seeing as it is quite a departure from his sport, he replied, “I wanted to be able to help people lead happier lives” and since Steve enjoys being around people, loves his community and enjoys travel, the synergy couldn’t be better.

Having a franchise opportunity was a good option for Steve as he wanted to learn from the experience of others and lean on the support whenever he needed it.

Whilst Covid impacted on the time it took to launch the Cardiff service, Steve unquestionably started in September as he means to go on. Clearly a very driven (no pun intended!) and determined individual, Steve smashed early Milestone Awards in a matter of months whilst securing a contract to transport children with Special Educational Needs to school.

THIS FLYING START enables Steve and his partner Ruth to think about their longer-term goals. Within months of trading, Steve purchased 4 vehicles of varying size and will be unleashing a 5th luxury vehicle this Spring. For the Summer has his eyes set on acquiring a coach for holiday travellers going on tour, easing Driving Miss Daisy into a new space in the market.

Steve also has guaranteed work from several care homes in the community because he can take up to 4 clients seated in their wheelchairs on the same journey - meaning friends can travel easily together, having plenty of fun along the way and even employing his Dad in support!

Has Steve enjoyed the switch from top level professional hockey to community companionship and assisted transportation? It’s a resounding “yes” he confirms; despite missing some of the camaraderie with his old ice hockey club mates at The Devils.

Interview: "Building a business has been really interesting and we have learnt LOADS!" -

Name: Jocelyn Close and Tori Lumb
Location: Farnham, Surrey
Date franchise launched: May 2016

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying a franchise business?

Jocelyn - I was a mum to 3 children doing events management and part-time maths teacher. Previous to this, I had a full-time career as an engineer for British aerospace and a medical device company.

Tori – I worked as a financial analyst in London and after our second child, I stopped work to bring up my children.

Why did you go down the franchise route?

Going down the franchise route was not a conscious decision. We both bought into the idea of the services and the difference we could make to our community whilst making some money.

How did you raise the finance? What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?

We had the finance ourselves to buy the franchise and bought the cars on HP. We received training from Jack and Mel – owners of Driving Miss Daisy®, New Zealand, which was great and ongoing support from them too.

How would you describe your day-to-day role as a franchisee? What challenges have you faced?

Busy. Very busy. Driving, marketing, admin, finance you name it we do it!

Recruiting good staff is the hardest challenge we have faced, however; we have learnt to hold out as the best come along in time.

Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how? What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?

Building a business has been really interesting and we have learnt LOADS! It has been a journey which we would not have experienced if we hadn’t gone into franchising. Our advice; recruit someone the day you start.

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?

Hard work, long hours; doing it with someone else, always having a smile however bad your day is, as there is always someone worse off. Never giving up; persistence is key.

To learn more about franchise opportunties with Driving Miss Daisy across the country click here!

Paul is a local ambassador for Driving Miss Daisy in Wiltshire -

Name: Paul Dyer             
Franchise: Driving Miss Daisy
Location: Devizes, Wiltshire
Date franchise launched: October 2016

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying your Driving Miss Daisy franchise business?
For most of my working life specialised in software development, specifically the application of semiconductor technology and embedded software into high-volume electronics markets. For over three decades I enjoyed a variety of globe-trotting roles across the whole product creation value chain, in enterprises ranging from embryonic start-ups creating and building new markets, to established MNCs with multi $B revenues. I am privileged and honoured to have proactively contributed to some of the most exciting and key technological developments of the last half century which have changed all our lives in so many ways. It was professional, hectic, rewarding and tremendously exciting work.

Why did you go down the franchise route?
I wanted to do something in my later years that has tangible impact on the local community. I liked the idea of embracing and growing a “template business” rather than starting from scratch. I selected 10 different franchises to assess and gradually whittled the list down. Driving Miss Daisy® appeals to the heart and satisfies a growing need in society as people live longer.

How did you raise the finance? What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
I financed the investment myself. There were formal training days, given before I opened for business. Subsequent learning has been very much on-the-job and by sharing experiences with fellow franchisees.

How would you describe your day-to-day role as a Driving Miss Daisy franchisee? What challenges have you faced?
So many words are applicable; diverse, demanding, challenging, fulfilling, learning, fun, sometimes sad. This is a challenging service to market against other local services that people perceive to be our competitors, though in truth some of our services are completely unique and are not available from other providers.

Starting and running your own business after a lifetime of paid employment is itself a challenge, regardless of how much experience you have.

Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how? What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?
Becoming a franchisee per se has not changed my life but starting and running this franchise in the local community has. I have transitioned from a globetrotting unknown resident with a sleepover home in the town, to a known and respected business owner in the community who provides a valuable service to people in need. To be recognised by strangers in the street and told you are doing a great job is an amazing experience!

My advice; aim for a short list of 3 franchises that interest you and do an objective assessment of all of them. A SWOT analysis is a great help. As you whittle down to your number one choice, you must be thorough in your due diligence. Analyse and if necessary, question and verify everything you are told; make sure everything is supported by facts. Use Companies House and other information resources in the Public Domain to research the backgrounds and previous history for organisations and even individuals. Reach out and talk to as many existing franchisees of your prospective target as you can, ideally those who have been running their franchise for at least 2 years.

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?
The biggest benefit of buying into a franchise is being part of a brand which represents a bigger entity than your own business. It is important to both use and support the brand correctly. A successful franchisee will be both proud and supportive of the bigger entity and fellow franchisees. Other criteria for success:

• Hardworking, conscientious, determined, tenacious
• Questioning
• Responsive
• Outgoing
• Open, in terms of gaining knowledge and learning new skills
• Confident, in own ability and service delivery

New Franchise Interview: Driving Miss Daisy, Sutton Coldfield - 20-September-2019

Name: Andrew Foley and Lucy Chiles

Location: Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

Franchise: Driving Miss Daisy – Sutton Coldfield and Surrounding Areas

Date launched the franchise: Launched 16th January 2019; Operational 8th April 2019

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying a franchise business?

Andrew - I studied English and American Literature at The University of Manchester, then made the move into the Energy Sector, working briefly for British Gas followed by a 12-year career at E.ON. I started as an administrator in 2007, working my way up through Sales Account Management, 3rd Party Compliance and then onto Operations Manager within B2B. I opted to take voluntary redundancy in April 2018 and enjoyed 6 months off with my family last summer. Outside of work, I’m a sports enthusiast and specifically enjoy Football, Golf and Tennis. I’m fairly well travelled, having been lucky enough to backpack Australasia and South-East Asia in 2012/13, doing a bungy jump, canyon swing and skydive in the process.

Lucy - After completing a degree in Business Management I decided to specialise in Human Resources. I worked in HR for around twelve years in various sectors including manufacturing, laboratory testing and Energy. I took a career break when I had my two children and have loved every minute of the past six years watching them grow and develop day by day.

A little-known fact about me is I’m fully trained in hypnosis!

Can you also tell us about the franchise you have bought? For example; how many cars are you starting with? Who are you targeting as your clients to start with?

We have started the franchise with one vehicle, which we bought already branded from another franchisee. This enabled us to get a head-start with our pre-marketing, as the vehicle has been a big part of us growing our business in our local area, both in regards lead generation and brand awareness. We began pre-marketing to our local B2B community, via leaflet distribution in coffee shops, charity shops, GP surgeries and community centres. We also tailored our conversations with each business to meet their need…i.e. GPs – reduction of Did Not Attends (DNAs); Hairdressers – DNAs and assisting their elderly clients/clients living with Dementia; Coffee shops – bring groups of customers for afternoon tea. Now operational, we are actively prospecting Care Homes in our local area, Domiciliary Care Providers and Private Healthcare Providers.

Why did you go down the franchise route?

We had decided that we wanted to start our own family business following Andy’s opportunity to take voluntary redundancy from E.ON. That said, we had both worked in Corporate environments for most of our careers and, as such, felt that we would like the added support/insight of a Franchise and the proof of concept that goes with it, for extra security. When we spoke with Driving Miss Daisy, we swiftly knew that we were dealing with like-minded people, who want to help people whilst also acknowledging that this business needs to be profitable to support our young family.

What made you choose Driving Miss Daisy?

We found out about Driving Miss Daisy purely by chance, drawn in by the eye-catching branding at the NEC Franchise Expo in August last year. Andy had watched a BBC documentary on loneliness earlier that week and thought “how is nobody offering a service to tackle this scourge on society?”, saw a TV advert for the Franchise Expo, booked a ticket and whilst perusing the exhibitors quickly realised there was…Driving Miss Daisy. We discussed it that weekend and after doing all the required due diligence, we bought our Sutton Coldfield Franchise in December 2018. We both wanted to do something which gives back to our local community, that our children can be proud of and hopefully, somewhere down the line, get involved with.

What difference in your community, do you hope to make?

The response from those in our local community, and beyond, has been immense so far. You don’t feel like you need to sell the Driving Miss Daisy service…it’s so very much needed and well received, that most people respond with platitudes about what a great service/idea it is before you’ve even finished your “pitch”.

In our first month operational, we’ve already helped a lady in her 30’s get to the MoD Barracks to present at a workshop on Equal Opportunities in the Workplace; a 90-year old grandmother visit her 89-year old toyboy in the hospital whilst her family were on a week’s holiday; a daughter to take her mother, who is living with Dementia and resides in a Care Home, for a surprise Good Friday lunch with her sister; and a 73-year old lady with Cerebral Palsy to the Garden Centre to spend a couple of hours and her birthday vouchers, on some new bedding plants for her beloved garden. Hopefully that gives a snapshot of the variety of ways in which Driving Miss Daisy helps people of all ages and needs. We also have a number of journeys booked in via our Alliances to assist people to get to Birmingham Airport, Birmingham International Railway Station and even to Llandudno on their assisted holidays.

How did you raise the finance?

We financed our purchase of the Franchise through savings and we also purchased our first vehicle outright too.

From the training you received, what have you found helpful to-date? The training was all extremely useful, from the technical expertise provided by MCG Training (1st Aid, Positive Handling etc), to the Dementia Friends training on how to support someone living with Dementia, to the insight on customer demographics and the wide-ranging needs of prospective clients.

What challenges have you faced in setting your franchise up?

In a word…Licensing. We have faced a difficult and lengthy licensing process with our Local Authority. We were given incorrect information at a number of junctures which led to the postponement of our go-live date on a couple of occasions, which in turn meant having to turn down the opportunity to help people during that period. We eventually had to present our exemption requests to the Licensing Committee at the Town Hall but gladly the Councillors on the Committee were delighted with our service and permitted all the exemptions we required in order to operate. Our biggest piece of advice would be to identify exactly who your Principal Licensing Officer is and ensure you are definitely speaking with the correct person, as they should be able to make your life a lot easier.

In your initial weeks as a franchisee, what type of activities will you be doing in your day-to-day role as a franchisee?

In the first 90 days as a Franchisee, you will be doing a lot of form-filling. Licensing Documents, setting up bank accounts, creating your Social Media presence, registering with the ICO etc. But you should be balancing this with an effective pre-marketing plan. Identify your places of high footfall within your local community and go speak with people of influence within the local community (Church Leader, Community Centre Manager, PCSO, Chamber of Commerce). Also make a list of networking events in your local area and surrounding areas…many of these are free and provide an interesting spectrum of B2B and charitable organisations. Walk your local area distributing leaflets daily…it works.

How do you believe becoming a franchisee will change your life? Not only do we believe that this franchise will be a success financially, providing economically for our family over the next 5 years and beyond, we also believe that it will be the most rewarding business to be leading. You cannot replicate the feeling you get whenever one of your clients tells you that they would not have been able to do the thing you’ve assisted them to achieve without you. Don’t get me wrong, it is hard work and you feel tired after a day of back-to-back customers but you also feel great about the difference you are making to other people’s lives.

What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?

Don’t fear the unknown! It is never as bad as you tell yourself it will be and failure is an opportunity to grow, as long as you learn from it.

Oh, and always have leaflets and business cards on your person…ALWAYS! Everyone knows someone who could benefit from Driving Miss Daisy!

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?

Passion and authenticity. In any successful business, we believe that you must genuinely care about your customers and live the experience they receive, even more so when it is your own franchise. You are your company – eat, sleep and breathe your brand and its values. Self-awareness is a vital skill, it isn’t always pretty or pleasant to analyse your words and actions, but you’ll learn invaluable information about how you are perceived by others, including prospective customers.

Where do you see your franchise a year from now?

We hope to exceed our initial expectations, following a strong start to our operation, by having a fleet of 3+ vehicles operating. We have already engaged with Birmingham City Council in relation to Home-to-School Provisions across the region and have made initial enquiries with the NHS about supporting their existing Patient Transport Service from a number of local hospitals. We have also recently completed our first recruitment drive and have found some outstanding candidates to join our team over the next few months, which will be very exciting for all concerned.

Driving Miss Daisy are actively looking for more franchisees. To learn about how you could start your own Driving Miss Daisy franchise, click here.

Interview with Rachel & Julian Staddon, Driving Miss Daisy, Bognor Regis - 29-March-2019

Name: Rachel & Julian Staddon
Location: Bersted Park, Bognor Regis
Franchise: Driving Miss Daisy
Date launched the franchise: June 2017

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying your Driving Miss Daisy franchise business?
Originally from the UK, we went to South Africa on honeymoon in 1989 and ended up staying for 29 years! Julian worked internationally for oil & gas companies as a Health & Safety Consultant, I have worked in marketing, logistics and latterly ran my own “Virtual Assistant” company along with two close friends. We decided to move back to the UK to be closer to my elderly parents, who have a few health issues and as both our kids have flown the nest.

Can you also tell us about Driving Miss Daisy?
The ethos of DMD appealed to us and from the outset the positive and helpful attitude shown by the DMD UK management team meant that getting our franchise up and running went quite smoothly after we’d done some research and selected our area of operation

Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose the companionship industry? And why did you choose a Driving Miss Daisy franchise?
As we are both over 50 and our productive business life is limited, we didn’t want to waste time re-inventing the wheel. We wanted a business model that we could both work at using our different skill sets in what we believe to be a market segment with huge potential for growth and working with people that give us a great ‘feel good’ factor.

How did you raise the finance?
Savings

What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
Basic training and ongoing support through our DMD Operations Mgr and other members of DMD UK management.

How would you describe your day-to-day role as a franchisee?
Busy!

What challenges have you faced?
Trying to get a new business up and running at the same time as relocating from Cape Town to the UK.

Getting to grips with UK company rules & regs and learning the ins & outs of the antiquated Private Hire industry legislation here in the UK.

As a consequence of being out of the UK for 29 years we had no recent credit history here and as such did not qualify for any personal or business line of credit.

Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?
It’s keeping us busy, but we’re working together as a couple and have a great & growing business supplying much needed services that we believe in.

What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?

• You need to be passionate about what you decide to get into – if you don’t believe in the business it’s going to be difficult to make it a success!
• Do your market research to find a suitable area.
• Check what support and ongoing back up the parent company offer.

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?  

• Passion and belief in what you do.
• Your people are your business, so take great care to select the right ones!
• Not being afraid to expand when the opportunity arises.

What are your plans for the future?
To consolidate what we’ve achieved in our first year and to keep building up our base of regular repeat

If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?
We’re learning every day!

Exclusive Interview: "I wanted to have a business with a USP and recognisable brand ." -

Name: Nigel Stead

Location: Ipswich

Franchise: Driving Miss Daisy Ipswich

Date launched the franchise: July 2017

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying a franchise business?

I have previously worked predominantly across the South East in regional operational roles leading teams in retail and government funded training organisations, such as Woolworths, Sainsburys and Learndirect.

I enjoy working with people and delivering great customer service to help grow a business.

Can you also tell us about the franchise you have bought?

Driving Miss Daisy has been in the UK for several years now and links in with the famous film of the same name as we’re all about helping people who are less able, aiming to improve their mobility and assist where families or friends are not able – in a reassuring, engaging and reliable manner.

Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose your industry? And why did you choose your franchise?

I wanted to have a business with a USP and recognisable brand and knowing people in the care sector and the growing older population this is an area that will only increase in coming years.

How did you raise the finance?

I invested my savings!

What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?

The franchisor provides comprehensive training as part of the package, covering all aspects of the brand, setting up, running and growing a Driving Miss Daisy franchise. The Client Support Centre in Hampshire is very good at supporting both at start up and ongoing, taking client calls and passing them to us and keeping us up-to-date with compliance, operational developments and additional training as required.

How would you describe your day-to-day role as a franchisee?

I am naturally hands on as I enjoy dealing with people so currently I spend a lot of my time driving whilst working in time for tasks like networking, admin, social media and planning for the future.

What challenges have you faced?

I entered with my eyes open, knowing this was a new brand/concept in the area so my first task was to get as many leaflets circulated as possible to then explain our services. Inevitably the first challenge is it takes time – to spread the word and build the bookings and then to demonstrate our value for money, as the first impression for many is to compare us to traditional taxis.

Lots of challenges have come our way – including balancing tasks when our priority is the customer – but we face this with a positive mind to find solutions, often needing to flex our original business plan.

Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?

An initial driver for doing this was to get a work/life balance ie to work locally rather than spend hours every week just getting to/from work – and to put into practice all the experience gained (working with people) over the years.

This has met my expectations, so the bigger surprise is how rewarding it is when customers are so grateful for the service they receive. Many of these customers have suffered with illness, old age, ailments or isolation – and we’ve been able to help put a smile back on their faces, which makes you realise the positive impact you can have on others less fortunate…………

What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise? 

Look into the concept – and ideally its USP – and the value you can bring: why should people come to you?

"Set your goals and persist as YOU can make the difference."

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?  

Passion + persistence, ideally with customers as the priority!

What are your plans for the future?

To establish ourselves with a great local reputation so we can then build on this with more vehicles to supply the growing demand in years to come. All our team should then be great ambassadors for the brand to support our future growth.

If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?

It would be ideal to have a team ready to go but with (licensing/training) costs prohibitive this would need more front ended investment – although from a standing start we’re delighted with the progress we’ve made in our first year here in Ipswich.

Driving Miss Daisy’s new franchisees are raring to go! - 23-August-2019

Name:  Sarah Webb
Location:  Bath
Franchise: Driving Miss Daisy
Date launched the franchise: 2018

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying your Driving Miss Daisy franchise business?
I have been working as a self-employed Forest School Leader for the last 9 years and my husband has a bathroom design and installation business.

Can you also tell us about Driving Miss Daisy?
Driving Miss Daisy offers safe, friendly and reliable driving and companion service for children, the elderly and anyone who is unable to drive but wishes to remain independent.  The service is tailored to the individuals’ needs and covers a vast range of possibilities including medical appointments, shopping trips and social outings.

Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose the transportation/companionship industry? And why did you choose a Driving Miss Daisy franchise?
We were initially interested in the concept of the business, introduced to us by a friend.  It sounded like a good opportunity and I wanted any future business ventures that we were involved in to have a heart with benefit to our community as well as provide financial gain.  That was the first hook; the second was the attraction of franchising and the wealth of back up support that comes with it.  We were not ‘going it alone’, and that somehow felt like less of a risk. 

How did you raise the finance?
We had to buy the franchise and also purchase the vehicle.  We took out two loans and used some money from an endowment that had matured.

What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
We are fortunate to live in the same city as the chief executive of Driving Miss Daisy UK and have benefited from his support throughout the entire set up process.  We also participated in several days training at our head office in Portsmouth with other new franchisees.  This included Dementia Friends training, business planning, first aid, operational know-how and how to ‘sell the sizzle’. In addition, we had to obtain our private hire license and DBS checks.

We went to the annual conference in January which provided the opportunity to meet other franchisees and learn from their experience.

The team at head office have provided consistent support, responding quickly and clearly with any queries – that has been invaluable.  They have also set up a Franchise Development Group which represents franchisees queries and concerns from across the country.  This group meets regularly and disseminates minutes to all franchisees.  Senior leaders from DMD UK also attend and they have been responsive and open to all suggestions for improvements across the board. The communication is cooperative and transparent.

How would you describe your day-to-day role as a franchisee?
I would describe my day-to-day role as a franchisee as many and various!  With particular reference to the work of Driving Miss Daisy, I also would describe it as a privilege.  I do all the admin and marketing and my husband and I both do the driving and companion work.

What challenges have you faced?
The greatest challenge we continue to face is to try and build the franchise business alongside our other work.  We are looking for part-time staff to become drivers/companions.

Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?
We are still at the beginning of the process, but we are encouraged by early interest and really appreciate the safety blanket of being part of a larger organisation.  We are confident that the business is meaningful and viable.  What has changed our life the most is connecting with our amazing, appreciative clients.

What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise? 
Speak to a range of other people who have established their franchises and ask them the very same question!

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?  
What makes a successful franchisee is someone who is 100% committed to the ethos of the business and is willing to put 100% into it.  It is taking every opportunity to sell the service, talking to a vast range of people in a vast range of circumstances on an on-going basis in the hopes that your brand will become a household name.  It is delivering a quality service and always striving to be innovative and make improvements.  It is listening to constructive feedback and celebrating the positives.

What are your plans for the future?
We have a 5-year business plan that sustainably grows the business, expanding our fleet and our driver/companions.

If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?
I would launch the franchise without any other work commitments.

Ex-Business Development Manager of whichfranchise joins Driving Miss Daisy team -

Franchisee name: Ann Overdijking
Location: Glasgow South
Franchise: Driving Miss Daisy

Tell us about yourself
I live in the south side of Glasgow, Netherlee, with my two beautiful kids, Grace and Ross, and husband John. I had previously been involved in the franchise sector for 7 years, I was the Business Development Manager at whichfranchise, and so had a thorough understanding of the industry before starting my research. To be honest, I have always kept an eye on new opportunities, including Driving Miss Daisy when it first launched in the UK, but the time was never right for me. Having watched the progress of Driving Miss Daisy in England, and with my youngest now at high school, I decided the time was right to go for it and do something for myself.

Every role and job I have embarked upon during my working life, and there have been a few changes over the years, has actually prepared me for the Driving Miss Daisy opportunity; my RGN nursing qualification and hospital experience, being a mother, being a daughter, being a wife of 23 years and my business degree . Then with my Business Development skills and work experience in various sectors, being self-employed running a successful direct sales business as well as working in small and multinational businesses. Finally understanding myself and what makes me tick is something I didn’t have in my thirties and I now realise that all the skills and experiences I have had in the last 30 years has led me to the Driving Miss Daisy opportunity.

Why did you decide to buy a franchise?
I like being part of something bigger, I felt it was the best way to help me get into business without going through the painful phase of a new start-up.

I know my strengths lie in my ability to market, promote, sell and support the management of a business, not in being the entrepreneur to start it all. I do believe I have oodles of entrepreneurial spirit, and business owners I have worked with in the past said they would always want me on their team because of my enthusiasm, my “let’s do this and can-do” attitude.

18 years ago, when I became a mother, I dived into the world of self-employment and haven’t left it, I believe it would be too hard for me to go and be employed and work FOR a company. I wanted a team around me who I can work WITH and by buying a franchised business, I felt I would get this almost instantly.

Why Driving Miss Daisy?
Honesty, integrity and loyalty are important to me, and the people in my working life need to have the same values as me. I can’t function properly if the majority of people around me don’t get that life is far too short not to do the right thing or to be nice. I like doing things that make a difference to people’s life experiences and I want to work alongside people who have this desire to make a difference to be part of their purpose. Driving Miss Daisy exudes this and everyone I have met reflects these values.

In a previous self-employed role, I attended every franchise exhibition in the UK for a period of 5 years. I knew of every franchise opportunity available in the UK, both ethical and unethical opportunities. One of the things I observed with successful franchised brands, was when there was a mirror reflection of franchisee to franchisor with a shared expectation of how the other will behave then success naturally followed. I know my journey will not be without challenges but it’s how to resolve those challenges with actions which are based on shared values that’s important. I know that with Driving Miss Daisy, I have definitely found the right opportunity for me.

Driving Miss Daisy offers me an opportunity as small or large as I want through the flexibility to scale the business. I also wanted a business that has to offer excellent customer service as an integral part of being successful. I know what it takes to deliver an excellent customer service experience and I know that is what motivates me to keep giving the DAISY WOW. Nobody wants to be average, or to receive average, I want to have fun and really enjoy what I do every day and be special.

Who helped me make the decision?
The banks were an incredible source of information and can offer invaluable advice, Donna King at HSBC and Richard Holden at Lloyds were terrific in their support. Knowing they would lend me up to 70% of the initial franchise fee is a great security. I also sought legal advice with a franchise specific Scottish lawyer, David Kaye from Harper Mcleod. The information they all shared made me more secure with the decision and business I was taking on.

whichfranchise.com and the bfa were the best sources of impartial information, to make sure my personal judgement and knowledge was going down the right tracks.

I spoke to lots of other franchisees within Driving Miss Daisy and was exposed to a wealth of information and finance data. I also spent 3 days with the Driving Miss Daisy franchisee team down in Malvern. I visited the UK Head office to meet the people behind the brand and those who will support me and they really impressed me . This was all before I signed and parted with my cash.

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