Franchise Prospectus With over 10 years of experience of operating the 50plus service and long standing local service delivery franchises 50plus has an enviable track record that franchisees can benefit from
About The 50plus The market and the opportunity 50plus was established in 2001 and has an excellent track record in establishing and delivering plumbing, electrical and handyman services across a broad geographic area. Property maintenance is around a 27 billion market in the UK typically served by a multiplicity of small traders. With the recognised and differentiating 50plus brand and established marketing, advertising and administration systems you can build a strong company and reap the rewards that success brings. 50plus offers both management and individual service delivery franchises operating in exclusive areas. The role of the Manager is to create their own company to promote, develop and manage the delivery of 50plus services. The plumber, electrician or handyman/woman deliver the 50plus service locally with the option to become a management franchise. With over 10 years experience of operating the 50plus service and long standing local service delivery franchises 50plus has an enviable track record that franchisees can benefit from. Why a property maintenance business? A big advantage of property maintenance is that it remains relatively easy to differentiate oneself from others in a 27bn per annum market. Coupled with the benefits of the 50plus brand that s a big step on the ladder to a successful business. Operating a franchise is proven to be a more successful way to start a business. Franchisees benefit from the experience and expertise of a proven system. Being part of 50plus gives you access to support and resources that will help to build and grow your business. Who are we looking for? As an individual you will be seeking a new challenge and the opportunity to use your experience to increase your earning potential. You will have good communication and management skills to interact with both customers and your staff whilst enjoying the benefits of operating as part of a team. Most of all you will have a can do attitude. If you are applying for the management franchise then you don t need to be a plumber, electrician or handyman. There is a significant opportunity for the market to be penetrated by trusted brands, which can provide a competitive quality service and that s where 50plus comes in. To deliver both the name and the service requires an understanding of the market and investment in people, processes and systems. 50plus has established these and found a profitable segment of the market to operate in. 50plus offers: Value for money. 50plus franchises are competitively priced which coupled with the support provided means excellent value is offered. Our culture. 50plus exists to provide opportunity, not just sell. Our track record. We ve been trading for over ten years and have proven sustainability. Centralised booking and diary system with franchisee access. The appointments are booked centrally, making a significant contribution to quality of service and substantially reducing franchise administration. Marketing support with centrally produced adverts for local placement. Estimating support with custom estimating calculators and pro-forma s reducing estimate time and ensuring margins are maintained Technical support and training on the core electrical and plumbing systems staff will meet day to day increasing capability and opportunity. Territory You will operate within a defined exclusive territory. The size will depend on the geography of the area in which you reside and it s population. Should you wish to expand you will be able to do so, subject the availability of suitable territories. Training Service delivery franchisee - You will be trained in the service side of The 50plus Organisation including field experience with our service delivery staff. Management franchise - You will be trained in every aspect of the 50plus operation. Training is provided in structured stages covering marketing, advertising, recruitment, operations and more. Training will be undertaken initially at our head office in Buckinghamshire and subsequently on site at your own office if you have a management franchise. 2 3
Help and support The package 50plus provides proven marketing, advertising, job booking, billing, estimating and administration systems. 50plus provides a comprehensive package to its managers. The table provides an overview. In addition to its brand, 50plus differentiates through providing a high quality service to customers from the first point of contact and embodies this ethos in its processes. This drives repeat business from a wide commercial and private customer base. 50plus support is not just general; it is relevant, targeted and tangible. It ranges from management guidance to assistance with software and technical advice. Your new 50plus service will be actively supported with a direct mailing campaign to potential customers in your operational area. 50plus will keep you abreast of legislative and technical changes that will assist in the day-to-day running of your business. Item Details Benefits to You Franchise Agreement Software Training Advertising Internet Market research License to operate the 50plus brand in a defined territory for a 5 year term. Renewable by agreement free of charge Use of software designed specifically for 50plus and a series of pro-forma documents and tools Detailed program tailored to your needs at the 50plus head office and your premises Drafting of advertising, assistance with placement and desktop research into suitable channels plus local magazine articles for placement The placement of your business within the core 50plus website including postal code coverage, services offered, online booking and more Desktop research into potential commercial customers in your area The security of a plain English franchise agreement Minimises workload and make the customer interface and estimating as simple as possible A running start and the immediate benefit of 10 years of experience No need to reinvent the wheel or learn graphics packages Sits your business within a recognised and constantly updated website Knowledge of the type of organisations who are potential customers The 50plus customer database and booking service will be continuously relieving you of a sizeable administrative burden and regularly keeping your clients up-to-date. Technical and Management support Centralised telephone answering and job booking Ongoing access for you and your staff to 50plus support Use of the 50plus head office customer contact centre and job booking service with the universal local call rate 0845 number The knowledge that you are never on your own Negates the need for reception and telephone answering staff Handout cards 250 / 1000* handout cards to suit the services you are offering Ready to go handout cards that we know generate business Vehicle advice and sign writing Vehicle type and why and software for the sign writing Experience of 10 years of operating vehicles Recruitment support Recruitment advertising, staff contracts and terms Experience of 10 years of hiring personnel Franchisors ongoing fee Management services fee of 10% of turnover High value package providing substantial support 4 5
And finally... Some typical questions and answers but do please contact us if you wish to ask anything! Do I have to be 50 plus? No. We are seeking capable and experienced personnel and for managers those who can create and manage a team. What level of investment do I need? 50plus offers its franchisees excellent value and as such investment levels are highly competitive. Details of franchise and service fees and typical investment levels are published as an insert to this brochure and available as a download from the 50plus web site. Do I have to be technically qualified and practical? Plumbing, Electrical or Handyman Franchise - You have to be qualified where the service you are providing demands it. So to provide a full electrical service for example you need to be qualified. To provide a handyman service you need to have a good broad range of skills, but not specific qualifications. General plumbing does not require a specific qualification but does need experience. Management Franchise As the manager you do not need to be technically qualified but some of the service delivery personnel you manage will need to be qualified. It s helpful but not essential if you have an idea of what maintenance tasks involve. Will I need to have branded vehicles? Yes! Branded vehicles are a big asset people will frequently ask for a card when they see the van. 50plus supplies van graphics for sign writers, has relationships with vehicle providers and will advise on the most suitable vehicles. What happens about insurance? You will need insurance which 50plus will provide advice on and can arrange. Do I need to be CRB checked? A CRB (now DBS) check is required in most instances because you will go into customer s houses, some of them elderly and they need to be assured that we have undertaken due diligence with regard to whom we ask to work with us. How do I organise local marketing and advertising? 50plus will assist with both research and setting up of local marketing and advertising channels including magazines, sometimes the national press and local radio. We also have a renowned web site linked to numerous other sites. What is the revenue potential? Substantial! Revenue is dependent on the range of service you supply and the geographic coverage area. Customer charges vary by geographic area. We ll advise you on potential earnings per staff member or individual service provider and can provide you with a business plan. What happens if I need help? As long as you have a telephone you are only a call away from getting advice. The 50plus office provides help to franchisees by e-mail, by telephone and through the technical support section of the 50plus web site. How do I get jobs? 50plus has probably the largest advertising programme in the field. You may see our marketing, adverts or articles in local magazines, sometimes in the national press or even on local radio from time to time. We also have a renowned web site where many customers book jobs. Launch and on-going local advertising will be researched and planned with you. How and how much do I get paid? Management franchisees will set up their own payment receipt and service provider payment system based on the model 50plus has developed. For individual service providers the customer pays 50plus by credit or debit card; we take payments over the phone. Labour fees and any expenses for materials are paid to the franchisee monthly. Customer charges vary by geographic area. Earnings are dependent on your skills and abilities and the geographic area of service. Next Steps Hopefully you will want to find out more. We very much encourage potential franchisees to visit us for a confidential exploratory meeting where you can see how we operate at first hand. Interested? Call Roger Runswick on 0845 22 50 495 or register your interest on our website at www.the50plus.co.uk/join-50plus/ or email us at enquiries@the50plus.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you. 6 7
The 50Plus Organisation Tel: 0845 22 50 495 or 01494 784 448 enquiries@the50plus.co.uk www.the50plus.co.uk