Aspray Property Repair Franchise, Glasgow North, Scotland, UK
 

Why did you choose franchising?

The main reason that I went into franchising was due to changes in the management team within my old company. During the last few years I was becoming more disillusioned with some of the managerial practices, which I could not influence enough to improve the quality of the product.  therefore decided to look for a new post.  Having been in manufacturing for nearly 30 years, I wanted to try something new and different.

I also realised that going into another manufacturing role would mean the same job but in a different building! I thought long and hard about working for someone else. 

However, I decided I would rather be my own boss and hopefully be able to reward myself properly for working hard every day!  I thought about starting my own business, but it is very hard to get a new business up and running and having a healthy mortgage to pay I needed security. That's when I looked at Franchising and without too much searching I came across Aspray. 

Why an Aspray franchise in particular?

There were 3 reasons I chose Aspray

1 - I am a DIY enthusiast,

2 - I could be up and running very quickly

3 - When I first met James, the MD, he was so laid back and in no way pushy to sell the Franchise.

In terms of my work life / social life balance, I can say that it has improved markedly. In my previous role as Manufacturing Manager, I was on call 24 / 7, with a long intense working week in the factory.

I was generally working 50 hours every week, and including travel, this equated to a 56 hour working week! Working with the Aspray Franchise, I can now chose the hours I want to work, don't get me wrong I still work quite a lot of hours, probably in the region of 40 - 45 hours per week, but my office is in a spare front room, therefore I do not have the stress of travel. Also, I find working from home is much easier. It is easy to work a couple of hours in the evening, whilst soap operas are on television!! I am still experimenting with holidays.  In my previous roles, I would have taken 2 weeks plus 1 week holiday plus random days.  Nowadays, I think that my holidays will be individual weeks! I suppose there is a slight change, but it suits both me and my partner!

Thoughts for the future
 

I do not have any hard and fast targets, other than a continual growth of turnover set at a level where it will be realistically achievable - and not to the detriment of family life!. 

What you would recommend to others considering franchising in general?
 

I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Franchising to others provided that they carried out full evaluation of the business and its' potential. During my time with Aspray, I have had a friend go into another Franchise business, in accountancy, and with some advice from myself initially, her business is doing really well. 

What you would recommend to others considering an Aspray franchise?

I would have no hesitation in making a recommendation to purchase an Aspray Franchise. I have a DIY background and have found this more than helpful. However, during some of our Franchise meetings, some of my fellow Franchisees, have admitted that they had absolutely no DIY skills and have managed to create a lucrative business. 

Once a good network of subcontractors have been established here are no limits to the size of the business! 

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