Exciting Opportunity!
Advice on buying a franchise
If you're going to invest in a franchise, ask yourself some simple, but sensible questions....
Was the franchise a successful business before it franchised?
Is the product unique?
Is the product patented?
What drives sales?
What Is A Franchise?
As a franchisee, you are buying the rights to use the Company's Business System and Name in a specified location over the period of the franchise agreement. This is known as a "business-format franchise".
Why Invest In A Franchise?
The advantages are that you are setting up a business with far less risk than would otherwise be the case, because instead of starting your new business from scratch, with no reputation, business presence or customer base, you will be benefiting from Armaplate's established success in the security market.Raising money to start up your business is always much easier because banks recognise that they face less risk in lending to franchisees and will often lend on a ratio of 2:1 rather than the normal 1:1.
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Why Invest In Armaplate?
Armaplate offer their franchisee's a package which meets all the needs of a new business venture...
Armaplate have been established for in business over 11 years and have built up an extensive customer base including many blue-chip companies and some of the largest fleet operators in Europe.
The Armaplate Lock Protection System is a totally unique product, offering unchallenged sales opportunities.
The patented design ensures that no similar products arrive on the market to challenge you.
Armaplate regularly advertise in national publications in all the relevant business sectors.
Our professional sales-team generate sales leads and use complex tracking software to ensure no opportunities are lost and that closure-rates are as high as possible.
Customers are afforded the best possible after-sales service and receive regular and scheduled customer-care calls to make sure that they are happy with the service and products, thereby improving the chances of repeat business.
Installations are planned using a professional work-scheduling database ensuring maximum operating efficiency for those who wish to take advantage of it.
Our Administration Department provides full support to all franchisees.
In addition to comprehensive Technical Support (by phone and out in the field), we also provide Sales Support through our telesales team and our Field Sales Manager.
The package includes a new, fully kitted van, complete with the instantly recognisable Armaplate livery. Lease payments are deferred for the first 2 months.
Comprehensive technical training is provided by our experienced tutors and engineers. Training takes place both in a meeting-room environment and out in the field.
Each franchisee is supplied with all the tools required to carry out installation work.
Also included in the package is £3000 worth of stock! An Armaplate franchise is a great opportunity for you to change your future.
To find out more, why not email us sales@armaplate.com or ring us on 0845 838 0700 to request a detailed information pack. And don't worry - we won't be hounding you to buy a franchise - it is totally obligation-free.
Unlike most other franchisors, Armaplate Franchises will be limited to approximately 15 across the UK mainland. This virtually guarantees success and gives the franchisee a generous area in which to work. Our franchises are designed to support not only the one-man operation of today, but the multi-personnel business of tomorrow. Compare that to those franchisors who never seem to stop recruiting!!
What Else Should I Know?
We'd strongly advise you to read through the Franchise FAQ lower down this page. There, you will find a host of useful information in helping you to make the right decision for you!
In line with the questions listed at the top of this page, our advice to you is to investigate how long the franchisor has been trading successfully prior to franchising. If in any doubt, ask for some proof of this trading. Ask to see their accounts for the past few years.
The next thing to consider, is do they have a unique product or service? There's no point in investing in a business only to find that when you open up your local Yellow Pages, there are dozens of competitors!
So, after you have found a franchisor that has a unique product, you now need to make sure that they have protected that product with a Patent! As much as anything else, the patent will prove to you that their product is indeed unique.
Finally, consider what drives the market. For example, the thing that drives our market is crime! And let's face it, crime never goes away. Don't forget - you can always speak to us directly and ask us as many questions as you like! Ring 0845 838 0700.
 RE YOU
 READY TO
 ANAGE YOUR OWN
FFAIRS AND
 LAN A BETTER
 IFE FOR YOU
ND YOUR FAMILY?
 HEN ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS
 MAIL franchise@armaplate.com
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FRANCHISE FAQ
People who are considering purchasing a franchise should consider taking the advice of respected publications such as The Franchise Magazine. They (and the BFA ) would advise prospective franchisees to consider the following....
Be wary if the franchisor....
Promises huge profits for little investments.
Says "act now to get in on the ground floor".
Fails to give statistics on sales and profits.
Promises "easy sales".
Fails to identify Directors or Principals.
Attempts to "trade you up" to a higher fee.
Says "act now, it will cost more later".
Promises profits by sub-franchising.
Has a similar name to a well-known business.
Promises large income from "work from home" scheme.
Demands large front-end licence fee.
Has a very short-term contract.
Provides no data on the main company's performance.
Cannot give plans for future development.
Has vague territories.
Is ignorant of competition.
Has incomprehensible contract.
Is vague about training and support.
Has weak advertising.
Is vague about your financial obligations.
Will only meet in a hotel.
Doesn't operate from HQ premises
Make sure that any contract covers the following key points
Your rights to transfer ownership of franchise
Obligations to the franchisor (eg buying supplies, adverts, etc)
Rights to renew or extend the contract beyond original term
Terms & Conditions for terminating contract
Description of training and support on offer
Precise price, commissions, rental fees involved
How boundaries/territories are awarded
Description of heir's rights in the event of your death
Make sure you read the Prospectus before meeting the franchisors to discuss investments -
"You're Prospectus is one of the best we've ever seen!" said Catherine Jackson of the BFA
(British Franchise Association)
Director's and key executives' business experience.
The company's track record.
Description of the franchise.
Other payments due to the franchisor.
Data on help in raising finance.
Restrictions on franchisee's personal participation.
Termination/Renewal of agreement terms.
Number of existing franchisees and their success rates.
Franchisor's rights to select / approve sites for premises.
Training and support guaranteed to the franchisee.
Financial information about pilot operation.
List of franchisor's banker and other professional advisors.
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What to find out from the franchisor.....
The Company's financial health and history.
How long it has been franchising.
Details of the pilot operation result.
Current number of franchisees.
Permission to talk to random franchisees.
Main source of company earnings.
Value and appeal of product and service.
Long term viability of product / service.
Type and level of head office support.
Full details of the training provided.
Whether training is an extra cost.
Total cost of taking up the franchise.
Realistic working capital needed.
Permission for bank references and other referees.
Territorial practises and exclusivity terms.
Any need to buy products from the franchisor.
Target obligations.
Realistic profit and loss figures.
Management service fees and/or royalty payments.
Operating restrictions.
Launch assistance.
Confused by it all?
Don't worry - you're not the only one! There's a great deal to think about and if you are to choose wisely, there are a lot of pitfalls to be avoided. We suggest that you print this page and sit down to read it with a cup of coffee and in a quiet environment. Then read through it again with a friend.
Bear in mind that whilst the above bullet-points are a good guide to entering the world of franchising, not all of them apply to all types of franchises.
Apply the points to the type of business you are considering entering and use them to rule out which franchises are suitable and which are not. When you have narrowed down the list of businesses to a small list then make contact with each one of them and request further information.
When each Franchisor's information pack arrives, make comparisons between them all. Although there will be obvious differences between the types of operations, you will soon notice that some companies offer more information than others. Pretty soon, you'll get a feel for those companies which aren't quite telling you everything you need to know.
SEND FOR A PROSPECTUS NOW sales@armaplate.com
So what happens after I've read the Prospectus?
The back page of our prospectus contains a contact-page which allows you to send us your details and indicate an interest in the business. When we receive that page, we will ring you to arrange a mutually convenient date for you to visit us here in the North West. This initial meeting will be to discuss the franchise opportunity in a very general way and will be very informal. At no point will you be offered a franchise or will you be able to request a franchise on this day. The purpose of this meeting is just to allow us the opportunity to get to know one another and ask questions about the suitability of working together.
Ask us a question about franchising sales@armaplate.com
SEND FOR A PROSPECTUS NOW sales@armaplate.com
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