• Name:  Lee Morton             
• Location: Cardiff, Swansea and Bristol
• Franchise: Filta
• Date launched the franchise: 2017

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

We had been running a multi vehicle domestic oven cleaning business since May 2006. This had been my first venture into the jobs market after leaving university.

Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose Filta?

We were looking for a franchise that was similar to our existing business but one that allowed us to diversify and work within the B2B world

What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?

We had a 1 week training course based in the Filta head office in Rugby which was mainly information about running a business, day to day operations, using frytrack, H&S and the opportunity to develop a business plan with Rachel Kirk. We then went straight in to a 2 week on the job handover from the outgoing franchisee Paul Jenkins.

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

Varied, challenging, hard work and rewarding.

As a man in a van you have to focus on all aspects of the business whereas the role will change if/once you are able to employ staff.

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

It has certainly made me busier that’s for sure. But in terms of lifestyle it is very similar to how it was before we purchased the business.

How do you achieve a work-life balance?

We never work weekends as a rule. Learning to say ‘no’ when you need to is crucial. Family always comes first and I would refuse to work with customers or a franchisor who fails to understand or respect this.

If you are a multi-unit franchisee, can you tell us why your franchise is ideal for those looking for a scalable opportunity?

Our story is a mix of luck, hard work and opportunity. Most of our growth has come from acquisitions and being willing to explore new opportunities as they presented themselves. After purchasing the Cardiff area for Filtafry we were made aware that the Bristol franchisee was moving onto a new venture so we decided to buy this territory too. This allowed us to put a 2nd van on the road and employ our first operative.

We were absolutely decimated by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns but after discussions with Filta head office we were made aware of the opportunity to diversify our service range into FOG services. It became clear that as our filtafry customers reopened we would need another operative to help cope with the increased workload so we were able to employ operative number 2 and he now looks after around 100 FOG jobs per month.

In the January of 2022 we were contacted by the neighbouring franchisee in Swansea who was looking to retire. After much negotiating we decided to buy the business meaning we were able to employ another operative and grow our turnover once again.

Continued growth and onboarding of new customers has now meant that we currently employ 5 operatives with 5 vans on the road and own 3 territories with filtafry. I am also fully trained on all aspects of the business and have a van which means I am able to step in to cover sick days, provide holiday cover or work in a 2 man team when required.

If you have staff, how do you retain your best staff and keep morale high and productive; how do you incentivise your staff and recognise success?

I am not asking my staff to do anything that I haven’t done or continue to do. They are made aware of the standard that is expected but in return they know that we have their back should problems arise with a customer. A good line of communication is key. You want your staff to know that they can come to you with any issues and that they will get help, understanding and support. Understand each of their needs (as all will be different) and make sure that for example if they have children that you are flexible enough so that they never have to miss a school sports day, Christmas concert or parent evening.

The best piece of advice I could give is ‘be the employer that you would want to work for’.

Can you tell us about any community involvement, including any local partnerships, incentives or charity work you are involved in? 

Filta currently provide shirt sponsorship for the Caldicot Town AFC youth team (which I coach).

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

Do your homework. Speak to lots of existing franchisees and not just the ones who have been successful. Understand how the business functions and whether it will work in your area and if it is a right fit for you, your family and your circumstances.

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?  

• Hardwork, determination and reliability.
• The ability to keep many plates spinning at once, especially if you grow beyond a man in a van operation.
• Resilience is vital.

What are your plans for the future?

We are currently exploring new options to expand our service offering to our existing customers and look forward to working with our new owners at Franchise Brands as they get to grips with the business.

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

Probably many, many things. We made lots of little mistakes but as long as we learn from these mistakes and don’t make the same mistake twice, then we are constantly learning and growing. All of the little mistakes we made along the way eventually led us to where we are today.