franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
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“I’m not sure what expectations I initially
had about taking on a V.I.P. franchise,”
muses Grant Benns. “It is exactly as sold
to me – the harder I work the more I
earn – so it has probably exceeded
my hopes!”
Grant, a former warehouse manager
and furniture polisher, was made
redundant as he approached his 60th
year. “A couple of things happened
which set me on the franchise path
instead of wasting time looking for a
job. I started mowing a few neighbours’
lawns and was preparing to go out
on my own full time. I also knew Ian
Watson, the Area Manager who did all the V.I.P. training in the Christchurch
area and used to do the lawns where I worked. We had become friends and,
as I picked his brains about running a business, I realised this was a really
good opportunity. Ian was retiring so I ended up buying his franchise.”
“The funny thing was that some of my friends had said ‘don’t get a franchise,’”
Grant continues. “Well, as Ian said to me, he’d spent 20 years with V.I.P., had a
great business and knew from experience it was a great franchise system. He
took me step by step through the purchase agreement, explained everything
about why he had chosen V.I.P. Home Services, and told me the business
would look after me if I worked hard. Four years on, it has, it does and Ian
was right!”
Instant earnings
“The whole thing just felt right,” Grant admits. “Call it a gut instinct if you like,
but I could clearly see the biggest advantage of a franchise was that I would
be earning from day one.”
All franchises require a fee up front, but Grant and his wife Sharon found
themselves temporarily embarrassed for funds. The rental property they were
selling to finance their business required unexpected renovations.
“Estelle and John Logan, V.I.P. New Zealand’s national franchisors, were so
helpful,” Grant explains. “I kept them up to date with developments, and they
were entirely accommodating. Having got so far down the line, we made the
hiccup in timing work to mutual benefit. Sharon does the administration and
invoicing for me, but she was unfamiliar with Xero – the accounting package
used by V.I.P. With John’s help she had the time to learn how to use it before
we got going and now, I just hand her my list for the day, and she invoices on
the spot.”
Grant considers himself very lucky with his purchase, “I had four weeks of
on-the-job training with the person I was buying the business from. Normally
V.I.P. franchisees have two weeks training with a local trainer and expert,
then two weeks learning their new business with their vendor. In my case it
was the same bloke, and I’d already been picking his brains for months
in advance!”
Friendship
“I think some people get a bit scared when they start in business,” Grant
continues. “Actually, I was just excited. I’d had four weeks training and on my
first day out on my own it was like being a kid all over again. Woo hoo – it
was really exciting! Ian and I are still good friends, and we meet for a pie and
a coffee regularly.”
Grant has found the handiest part of his business is his colleagues’
knowledge. “We V.I.P. franchisees get to know each other well through the
monthly meetings, and you quickly realise there is more than one person who
has run into the same problems and now has the expertise. I’ve asked about
all sorts of things from grass colour to pruning.
“The work is seasonal but there are usually a good number of winter jobs
customers need done, and there is always maintenance required too. A bit of
planning and a break and you’re sweet! As for customers – well you do need
to be personable to run a business like this – I’m the only person some of my
customers see all week. But 20 minutes talking to them is time well invested.”
Time for a new career
Estelle points out that the job market is still tough in New Zealand right
now, but with the economy strengthening and both consumer and business
confidence much higher than it has been for a long time, now is a great time
to consider a career change that puts you in control of your own future.
V.I.P. offers two kinds of franchise: outdoor, lawns and gardening, and indoor,
domestic and commercial cleaning. “There are no limits to where a V.I.P.
franchise can take you, or for how long,” says Estelle. “We have a very flexible
system that allows people at any age or stage of their careers to start big or
small, part-time or full-time and grow as suits their requirements.
“We were delighted that Ian Watson found such a good replacement for
his well-managed business in Christchurch. Grant and Sharon have seized
the opportunity and run with it, and we are very glad Grant has continued
building such a successful business
after his redundancy.
“V.I.P. has been the entry point for many
such first time business owners and
we will always be there to support
our franchisees in whatever way they
need. Call me – we have new and
established franchise opportunities
available today.”
A late career redundancy opened
the door to a successful V.I.P.
Home Services franchise business
NEW YEAR
NEW CAREER
Opportunity: Home Services
V.I.P. Home Services
www.viphomeservices.co.nz
Contact
Nationwide Enquiries
0800 84 74 96
estelle@viphomeservices.nz
Advertiser Info
Grant Benns -
earning from day one
Grant and Sharon Benns:
‘The whole thing just felt right’