Why Franchising?
Before joining NIC Local, my most recent role as Franchise Operations Manager for a well-known food retailer where I worked very closely with franchisees to help them to succeed as business owners.
In this role I was able to see first-hand the difference an experienced franchisor makes to a person’s business, and I knew that when the time was right for launching my next business, that I wanted to do it with the support of an established franchisor.
When looking at franchise opportunities, there were many things to get excited about in NIC Local. In particular, it was their experience in the commercial cleaning sector and how they translated their experience into delivering the support to franchisees that is essential to our sustained growth.
One key benefit that I have seen since taking a franchise with NIC Local is the support from my Business Development Manager who works with me throughout the sales cycle from implementing my marketing strategy to contract mobilization.
It’s absolutely essential. I can’t see how you could possibly succeed in the sector without having a BDM to rely on. So many questions come up at every turn, all of which need answers from an expert in the industry. Thankfully, the NIC Local BDMs are exactly that.
Support & Training
The initial training and onboarding were very helpful.
In the first weeks of training, you only scratch the surface of what owning a commercial cleaning business entail. It takes time to fully understand the facilities management sector, but having a dedicated BDM by my side throughout my onboarding and training process has been an enormous benefit.
The support is perfectly demonstrated by a recent contract win, a substantial multiyear contract with a major pharmaceutical company covering their extensive commercial cleaning requirements at one of the client’s production facilities.
Despite being new to the commercial cleaning industry, by pooling resources and expertise from across the business including Marketing, BDM and Commercial, we were able to deliver a great presentation to the client demonstrating the overall breadth and depth of the support the franchisor gives me.
Our success with this contract would not have been possible without the incredible support I received, particularly as a new franchisee. From the initial client meeting to the final submission of the tender, the team was with me every step of the way, providing the guidance and expertise needed to win the contract.
The support extends way beyond business development. Having previously run my own restaurant with my wife, I knew how time consuming it was creating marketing campaigns, running payroll, invoicing and many other administrative tasks that usually dominated my Sundays.
Having the support of a franchisor taking care of that for me not only means they are done to a high standard but also gives me back weekends to spend with my family!
Brand Recognition, scalability and growth
Brand recognition has helped significantly in growing my business. NIC Local has a reputation for being putting the customer first in all that we do and delivering the highest levels of standards.
Joining the industry without any experience would have meant I had to spend time building a reputation with much smaller customers before being able to successfully tender for the more substantial ones. The NIC Local brand has meant that I have been able to fast track this and successfully win contracts that simply would have been unavailable to me without the NIC Local brand.
I have no doubts that having the NIC Local brand has given me a head start in business than if I had done it alone as well as a competitive edge when I’m up against independent competition that doesn’t have the brand, experience and foot print across the UK that NIC has.
To give context around fast tracking my growth, in the five months since I joined NIC Local I am already at 240% of my first-year forecast. I am in no doubt that I would not be in this position without the brand, experience and support of NIC Local.
