The Disenfranchised

How important is the right location in business? We all know that location is vitally important in the success of a business, but is it always best to set up in an area with high footfall? Well it depends on the business as we learn from Mandy Rowe from True Rest Float Spa during this episode of #TheDisenfranchised. Her business is better suited to a tranquil and stress free environment, where the...

Making the decision to leave employment is one of the toughest decisions you can make in your career, but you need to commit to it fully! A plan to return to employment if it all goes wrong as a safety blanket might seem like a good idea, but it could determine the outcome before you've even got the business off the ground. In this episode of The Disenfranchised podcast we speak with Kate Chastey...

Having a technical skill doesn't necessarily mean that you can start and run a successful business. There are many other skills required that you need to effectively set up a business. Marketing, PR, sales, website creation, accounting, the list goes on and it means that not everyone can build a stable business on their own. Lisa Raynes, Founder of Pride Road, talks us through how this issue manif...

Being captain of your own ship is great, but if it's a large vessel, you're learning on the job in choppy waters and you've got no crew, it's not all going to be plain sailing. It can be the same when you're starting your own business. If you have no support and you need to learn new skills like marketing and sales, the chances of success for your business are significantly reduced. In this episod...

"Follow the system" - It's advice given by the whole of the franchising industry. In this latest episode of #TheDisenfranchised , David Holland Founder of Results Rules OK , elaborates and shares his thoughts on why this is such important advice. Exploring David's experience as an employee, business owner, franchisee and leader of a successful franchise we also talk through: - David's career takin...

Want to know what the 3 key qualities of a wealthy franchisee? Then this is the podcast to listen to! Scott Greenberg takes us through his experience as a successful award winning franchisee for the Edible Arrangements brand as well as all of his learnings from meeting with successful franchisees and franchisors over a speaking career that has seen him travel internationally delivering key note sp...

Getting funding for your start-up business can be difficult process. It’s even harder if you have an unproven business model. Banks tend to want some assurances that there is likely to be a return on their investment of course, which is why a proven franchise model tends to be more attractive to them. In this episode Annette Firth shares her career story going from Legal Secretary to teaching phon...

From sourcing reindeer to helping companies grow, being a business owner can sound like days are full of fun and excitement.     Of course this can be true on some days, however there's also the tough days. Days where everything is going wrong, days where it feels like the world is against you and days when you want to give up.     It's why it's so important to have support fro...

Does your career leave you feeling like a bird in a cage? It doesn’t have to be this way. There are options out there that can help you achieve freedom and control you want in your life, but you just have to look for them. On the latest episode of #TheDisenfranchised we speak with the awesome dragon slayer Denise Hutton-Gosney, Founder and Managing Director of Razzamatazz Theatre School and talk a...

The franchising industry has changed peoples lives. Franchisees are people who have followed the successful path of other #entrepreneurs and have helped to create household brands that stretch the globe.  However, each franchisee is a local business person in their own right, supporting their local communities and creating a future for themselves and their families regardless of the brand.&nb...

68% of people aged between 18-55 want to be self employed, yet only 1 in 7 actually are. So what's stopping people from taking the leap and building their own business? Can franchising provide some help in getting started? We ask ourselves this on a regular basis, but in this episode we get to ask the inspiring Carl Reader author of one of the best selling books, Boss It.  He shares his views...

Looking to set up your own business? There are many challenges to setting up your own business, but you don't have to do it on your own. It's good advice to surround yourself with good people who will help you to be accountable to yourself. In this episode we speak with Phil Mowat of Ashtons Consulting who has helped hundreds of people over the years providing support, guidance, practical advice a...

Sometimes there is no better way to learn about a business or franchise than from hearing directly from the people who created it and understanding their story. Only once you get to the heart of WHY their business exists and how it has evolved over the years, will you truly know if this is the business for you. In this episode we speak with Ryan Armitage, Director of Tezlom, who leaves no stone un...

Do you know your own core values?   Knowing your core values is the key to finding your ideal career and even your ideal life! Yet so many of us don't think about it and assume that money is the only way to find success and happiness.   It's something that is really important for our latest guest on #TheDisenfranchised podcast, Suzy Sanders Founder of Alchemy VA, who has built a success...

What could you achieve in your life or career if you had a leader who leads the way when things get tough? In this episode we speak with the energetic force of nature that is Anne-Marie Martin, Founder of Diddi Dance, who talks about how she has managed to keep her energy levels high during the severe challenges her business faced in total lockdown and support a network with over 40 franchisees re...

Would you believe us if we said that there was a way to set up a business and earn money quickly? Well, you shouldn't!  Even if you're buying into someone else's proven business model where they give you tools, support and guidance, there is no guarantee of success.  You will still need to be prepared financially, especially during the first year and be prepared to work hard to make the...

What challenges are stopping you from setting up your own business? If it's knowledge of how to do it, franchising can offer a great solution as the best business partner you could imagine!  It will still be hard work of course, just like setting up any business and you will need to do it yourself, however it could be an option worth considering. In this episode we speak with Adam Blakey, Co-...

What would you ask an entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience helping other people to set up their own business? We're honoured to be joined by Rachel Brooks on this episode of The Disenfranchised, who across her career has seen horror stories in employment, started her own successful business, supported many other people to build their own successful businesses and has some very funny stories t...

Would you rather get paid to go to Weddings, Events and Parties or for turn up every day to a vanilla job? Sounds almost too good to be true, but there are many people who are out there who are having fun and earning a great income. You don't have to have the next big idea, but you do need to work hard and HUSTLE. Even if it means working into the early hours of the morning. In this episode we hea...

What is the key to successful business growth? Well, there’s probably quite a few things rather than just one silver bullet, however outsourcing is one very important element – you can’t run a large company doing all the tasks yourself. In many ways, franchising is just another form of outsourcing and is this episode we discover this comparison as we speak with Maddy Alexander-Grout CEO and Franch...

Do you wake up every day looking forward to work? If not, why not?  Work doesn't have to be a chore if you are passionate about what you are doing. In this episode we hear how Deborah built her franchised business The Reading Doctor using her passion and relentless drive to ensure reading success for all.  We learn how moments in her life have helped her to identify: - challenges and sol...

What do you think of when you hear the word franchise?  A business run by a massive corporate company draining the local economy?  As we learn in the episode with Adam Lovelock that's not the case. With a unique perspective on the franchising industry Adam Lovelock shares his views on the franchising industry: - What he perceived franchising to be before he worked in the industry - How h...

Want to hear what it's like being a franchisee?   On this episode we hear from Sarah Taggart, who at the age of 22 started her own business under the Greenthumb Lawncare Treatment brand as a franchisee.  Sarah grew and ran her business for almost 17 years having built a successful and loyal client base, but now finds fulfilment in her role as a 1:1 Business Coach supporting other fr...

What does Ikea flat pack furniture, holiday homes and ties tied too tight have in common with franchising?  We find out in this episode where I speak with Paul Lewis, Managing Director of Launchlife International, whose franchised brands include Pitman Training, School is Easy and Engineering for Kids. We discuss a wide range of topics including; - What challenges do franchisees experience? -...

James and I talk about how his career has taken him from working within the hospitality industry, through to establishing a franchise and on to his role today in introducing others to the world of franchising. James also shares some sage advice on franchise contracts and how having the right mindset is key to success. This includes how the franchisor/franchisee relationship can be similar to a mar...