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franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
he dark days of Covid still hung over the country when Joe Ward
joined V.I.P. Home Services. “One thing I learned was how well the
franchise coped with the pandemic,” he recalls. “We are a very social
bunch, as franchisees, and I heard endless stories from my colleagues
about how much work the national franchisors Estelle and John Logan
put into ensuring franchisees and clients were looked after. This echoed
my own experience.
“I’ve continued to be nothing but impressed since. V.I.P., as a business,
has the family touch I was looking for.”
Active pursuit
Christchurch-based Joe has an engineering and manufacturing
background and spent 27 years in ‘rather sedentary’ jobs. “I always
worked in small, family-owned enterprises,” he says. “And, as
middle age approached, I began to feel drawn towards doing
something different.
“After so many years behind a desk, I was keen to do something more
physical to improve my health outlooks. My partner and family were
encouraging, too. So, I started scouting the franchise world to see what
was out there.
“Like a lot of people who opt for a franchise, I felt there was some
security and support within the network – safety in numbers if you
like. Starting my own business from scratch seemed to have too many
disadvantages.
“After a lot of investigation, I made a formal approach to a large
local franchise in March 2020. The next week, the country went
into lockdown.”
With his new career on hold, Joe got on with his day job, but the itchy
feet remained. “However, the prospect of working with a different
company, plus the interview process, scared me,” he says.
Stand-out brand
“For many years, I’d been aware of the distinctive green trailers of V.I.P..
They really stand out and, like the franchise, caught my further interest.
I began to look into it seriously. The more I looked, the more I felt it was
what I was familiar with in my working life – a family environment.”
Having completed due diligence and put figures in front of accountants
and lawyers, Joe felt satisfied about forging ahead. “But was it scary?
Absolutely! I was stepping into the unknown. But I figured, nothing
ventured, nothing gained! And I’d been very reassured by several
meetings with the franchisor and franchisees.”
Estelle Logan who, with husband John, is national franchisor for V.I.P. in
New Zealand, says Joe’s feelings on buying a business are not unusual.
“We know it can be a huge step for some people, especially if they have
been employed for several decades. But, at V.I.P., we are there
to help guide new franchisees through their early days and any
teething problems.
“We’re used to it. We want people to succeed, and we’ve been doing it
successfully here, in a family environment, for nearly 30 years.”
Building up business
Joe says, “The franchise has been very supportive in the nearly three
years I’ve been with them. They help resolve any issues. But what has
impressed me the most is the number of leads I get. It took me very little
time to build up a substantial business from having bought only a
small round.
“My client base has expanded big time! And, although I’m not yet on six
figures, which some of my colleagues are, it won’t be long!”
V.I.P. offers two kinds of franchise: outdoor (lawnmowing, gardening and
other outside jobs) and indoor (all types of cleaning, both commercial
and residential).
“As Joe indicated, he started with a small round,” says Estelle, “but with
our leads, word of mouth referrals and V.I.P.’s reputation, it didn’t take
him long to build his business. There is a paid training period, together
with a guaranteed income. And, of course, you can choose your own
hours. The certainty with V.I.P. is that you will always have work!”
Steps to success
As for the future, Joe says he will continue to enjoy learning. “Despite
going from a salary to being the boss, the worker, the accountant and
the maintenance guy – I’d certainly do it again. You need to be self-
motivated and driven to succeed. But if you do a good job, you will get
referrals, as well as build great rapport with clients.
“I’m now shaping my client base so it’s all closer to home and that will
allow me a few more weekends away fishing.
“It’s fun being in the growing phase. I’m now doing 10,000 steps a day,
which I’ve never done before! And I’m very pleased I have the V.I.P. name
behind me.
“There’s plenty of variety, on top of the bread-and-butter lawns. I’m
finding I get asked to do a lot of seasonal pruning and other gardening
jobs, which all interest me.”
“We’re currently seeking new
franchisees for both services,” says
Estelle. “Investment levels can
always be tailored to your needs, as
we have opportunities nationwide.
Don’t hesitate! As Joe found, we are
proud of being family-friendly!”
V.I.P. Home Services
www.viphomeservices.co.nz
For nationwide enquiries call
0800 84 74 96
estelle@viphomeservices.nz
Advertiser Info
Opportunity: Home Services
FRANCHISEES FIND FAMILY
V.I.P. franchisee is
enjoying fishing
and finding himself
10,000 steps ahead.
ENVIRONMENT
Joe Ward is loving the Kiwi
outdoors with V.I.P. Home Services