The signs of success for motivated franchisee

Proving that inspiration can be found anywhere, former black taxi driver, Neil Chapman, embarked on his franchising journey after a timely house move.

Oldham-based Neil decided he was ready for a new challenge and change of direction. “I was looking for a new venture and, whilst selling my house, I wondered who put up the signs for the estate agents and whether there was a specialised industry that dealt with this.”

Being self-employed for many years, Neil was aware of the uncertainties that starting up a business could bring. He was immediately attracted to franchising due to the high level of support and increased likelihood of success the lucrative industry offers.

Keen to gain a better understanding of franchising, Neil decided to visit one of The British Franchise Exhibitions where he spoke to an estate agency board service, Agency Express. After much investigation and spending further time discussing the brand with the Agency Express team, Neil seized the opportunity to invest in a van-based business.

Neil comments: “I had attended various franchise exhibitions and after a bit of research decided that this might be a road I could go down. I did consider another franchise first, but when I spoke to Agency Express and met the team, I knew that this was the company I wanted to join. I made my mind up there and then to do just that.”

After successfully completing a comprehensive training course at Agency Express HQ, Neil was given further support to assist in the launch of his new business. This included a three-day programme of visits to estate agents in his territory, enabling him to establish himself with potential customers.

Less than a year from the inception of his business, Neil had built up a solid base of clients, achieved rapid growth and generated a sustainable level of income.

“There have been many highlights, but I think signing up my first self-generated customer would be at the top. It gave me a great confidence boost to know  that I could push the business on from there.”

Today, Neil continues to thrive in his territory. He has built strong relationships with his clients and his second-to-none approach has safeguarded him a bright and busy future.

Find out more about upcoming exhibitions and book your free tickets to follow in Neil’s footsteps.