So are we finally starting to emerge from this recession?

7th May 2014

Speaking to lots of businesses around the South Yorkshire area it seems as if the tide is finally starting to turn, the doom and gloom of the last 3 years is starting to disappear and business is definitely looking up.

The one thing that has stayed strong in the past 3 years has been the franchise sector. Why would you join the franchise sector? According to the latest NatWest BFA survey 2013 franchising is a large sector in the UK and it is continually growing, there are 930 franchised businesses in the UK to date with 39,000 franchised units. There are reckoned to be 22,400 franchisees in total as 1 in 4 run multiple units, since 2008 the number of businesses deciding to franchise their business has grown by 11%. 92% of franchised businesses are at least 'marginally profitable', with 49% saying they are either quite profitable or very profitable (albeit 8% are currently loss making). With South Yorkshire being home to so many small and medium sized businesses, it's no wonder that the county has attracted its very own Franchise Conference. With only 6% of regional distribution of franchise units for the UK in Yorkshire and Humberside* there is a significant amount of growth available in these areas. To find out about franchising you normally have to go to London, Birmingham or Manchester to one of the national exhibitions, Even then it's more about franchisors selling you a franchise than finding out about franchising. We have decided to bring the franchise conference to Sheffield having identified that the profile of businesses in the South Yorkshire region is a perfect match for the type of content they are providing. Buying a franchise, or growing your business by franchising it to others, is often a great path to business success. It's not for everyone but could it be for you? Buying a franchise gives a potential new business owner the tools and a proven commercial model to help them to get off the ground with confidence. We all know starting a business is hard work, but buying into a franchise operation where all the systems and processes are already in place and with a training programme given it's like starting your business in year 2 or 3. Turning your business into a franchise by allowing other people to use your branding and ideas in return for payment can be a fantastic route to sales growth. There are normally two reasons why you choose to franchise your business, 1 you have a lot of customers in other areas of the UK and it is becoming apparent that you have got to change the way you operate, or 2 you are working in a town or city and feel as though you could push your product or service to other parts of the UK. Of course you can do this through organic growth, by opening another office in another town or city, or employing more staff, it comes down to the same thing though, HR Headaches. Why employ more people when you can sell a franchise and the franchisee has the HR Headaches?? Don't get me wrong we all know it's not as simple as that, or is it? Want to know more? Whether you are thinking of buying a franchise (becoming a franchisee), turning your business into a franchise (becoming a franchisor), or you are already involved with a franchise you will learn an enormous amount at The Franchise Conference 2014, Sheffield. Seminars are running throughout the day from specialists in their sector as well as a chance to peruse the B2B services on offer. There is also a motivational speaker on at the end of the day to have you leaving on a high. Organised by franchise specialists Gti Consultancy, Sponsored by Taylor Bracewell, Knowles Warwick, Loven Patents and Trademarks and NatWest. The Franchise Conference is being held in Sheffield to make it accessible for everyone in the entire South Yorkshire areas. We are also holding conferences in Hull, Nottingham & Derby and Lincoln in 2014. Event and booking details: www.franchiseconf.co.uk 12th June 2014 Kenwood Hall, Kenwood Road, Sheffield, S7 1NQ Registration is at 9:30 * According to the latest NatWest BFA survey 2013