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Franchising Initiative

Thinking about starting or growing a business?

Franchising offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to start or grow an existing business in a way which many people may not have traditionally considered.

For those seeking to start a business, franchising offers a way of starting a business using an existing business model by purchasing a license from an existing enterprise (franchisor) to sell their product or service.

Existing businesses with a proven track record can become a franchisor by using their business model as a blueprint for growth and recruiting franchisees to expand their market presence.

To support local businesses identify and take advantage of franchise opportunities we, along with Lisburn City Council, have launched a new wave of our Franchise Initiative.

The initiative includes two separate programmes aimed at helping entrepreneurs start or expand their businesses through franchising. Both programmes target Belfast and Lisburn-based entrepreneurs, small businesses and social enterprises (employing less than 20 people).

Franchising Programme

Franchising offers individuals the opportunity to start a business by purchasing a licence from an existing business (franchisor) to sell their product or service.

Offering a range of advantages, franchising is an increasingly popular way of starting a business, but finding the right franchise for your needs can be difficult.

The Franchising Programme aims to help you identify and evaluate franchise opportunities best matched to your individual needs and circumstances. It helps participants to find out about the practicalities of franchising, the opportunities it offers and the pitfalls that can be encountered when buying a franchise.

The Franchising Programme opens for recruitment in October 2010 and will run until June 2011.

What the programme entails

The Franchising Programme offers participants a comprehensive package of support including:

• Franchising workshops
  There are 10 workshops designed to help you to address the issues associated in buying a franchise and business start-up.

• Individual business mentoring
  A mentor will be assigned to provide you with practical support as you begin to identify and assess franchise opportunities.

• Business planning
  Your mentor will work with you to develop a business plan for your new business.

Who should participate?

The programme is available to individuals living in the Belfast City Council and Lisburn City Council areas who:

• have the desire to start a business or
• are interested in franchising as a means of starting a business.

How much does it cost?

The programme is free to attend, however, individuals must be committed to investing the time to attend workshops and participate in mentoring.

Franchise Your Business Programme

This programme is now full.

Franchising can offer businesses, with a proven track record, the opportunity to use their existing business model as a blueprint for growth. Your business can develop new income streams by recruiting independent franchisees to open new outlets using your brand and structure. The Franchise Your Business Programme aims to support small businesses and social enterprises grow their business through franchising.

Who should participate?

Small businesses and social enterprises (less than 20 employees) located in the Belfast City Council and Lisburn City Council areas that:

• have a successful business with strong brand awareness
• are owned or managed by people who want to expand their business through franchising.

What will this programme do for your business?

FYBP offers a comprehensive package of support including:

• Franchising workshops
  There are 12 workshops designed to give you a practical approach on how to franchise your business.

• Individual business mentoring
  You will be assigned business mentors to support you as you begin to:
  • address the barriers to franchising facing the business
  • develop systems and procedures to support the business in gearing up to franchise
  • identify and action franchise opportunities for your business.
    
    
• Franchise documentation
  Your mentor will work with you to develop documentation to help you franchise your business. This may include a franchise agreement, prospectus or operating manual.

How much does it cost?

Belfast City Council, Lisburn City Council and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) are investing heavily in this programme to support participating businesses maximize growth opportunities. The cost is only £300 + VAT (per participating business). This includes:

• 12 workshops – delivered by people with practical commercial experience
• four consultancy days (equating to 24 hours in total) with an experienced business mentor
• three days of ancillary mentoring (equating to 18 hours in total) to support the business in developing systems and procedures to gear the business towards franchising
• development of franchise documentation tailored to your business.

Contact us

For further information, please contact:

Ruth Rea
Economic Development Officer
Telephone: 028 9050 0518
Email: rearuth@belfastcity.gov.uk

The project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.