7 Niche Market Franchises Destined for Success

While some businesses treat the world as their market, many niche businesses thrive by focusing on a more easily identifiable select market which shares an unaddressed need for a product or service. Here, we've picked out seven such franchise brands that are offering opportunities to carve your own market niche:

Swisher

A franchise that appeals to business builders, Swisher franchisees build substantial regional businesses managing teams of service staff who provide its high quality washroom cleaning service.

Originally developed in the USA in 1986, where a nationwide network of franchisees is established. "Our management franchise provides franchisees with the potential to build a multi-million pound turnover business," reflects UK Managing Director Jeffrey Keen. "A typical day in the life of a Swisher franchisee involves general management activities as well as relationship building with customers, quality control checks of work undertaken by their service staff and the management and development of their sales team (including setting targets, building geographical areas and developing new markets). Franchisees also carry out monthly reviews of P&L accounts and balance sheets, and undertake regular meetings with Swisher Corporate where we work together to optimise their profits and cash flow."

Swisher franchisees have access to proprietary technology and specialised service procedures which ensure they provide a high quality service, and as a national brand Swisher has carved out a market position as a professional washroom sanitation solution provider. "We want franchisees who possess both the desire and the capability to build a substantial business," adds Jeffrey. "Our franchisees are ambitious, motivated and focused."

The Asbestos Group

Since May 2004 the Health & Safety Executive has been empowered by the government with new legislation: the 'Duty to Manage Asbestos in the Workplace'. The new regulation has been introduced in an attempt to curb the deaths linked to asbestos in buildings once and for all, and will also help to prevent a repeat in the UK of the flood of litigation claims (branded the "US experience") which occurred in the US, forcing up insurance premiums across the world.

"Every public, industrial and commercial building built before 1999 now requires an asbestos risk assessment and management plan by law," reveals The Asbestos Group National Franchise Manager James Lambert. "There is just short of six billion square feet of commercial floor space in England and Wales alone. It is common knowledge within the industry that there is a huge shortfall of asbestos surveyors required to meet this unprecedented demand." With this in mind, The Asbestos Group has created the first franchise of its kind in Europe and only the second in the world, combining a comprehensive training and qualifications package with a first class business and marketing support structure. The Asbestos Group is enabling franchisees to secure substantial and ongoing incomes through asbestos surveying, risk assessment and the implementation of asbestos management plans.

"Franchisees invest in an exclusive territory to operate in, full use of the group's branding, all the necessary asbestos survey equipment and second-to-none head office support," James continues. "The group's in-house marketing setup generates leads as and when they are required, and franchisees benefit from a bespoke training programme which provides a dual qualification in the field of asbestos surveying & project management. This comprehensive franchise package, which is all included within the initial franchise fee, will enable franchisees to secure substantial, ongoing incomes through asbestos survey, risk assessment and management."

Susan Hepburn Clinics

Susan Hepburn has a strong track record of success in assisting clients to quit smoking utilising hypnotherapy - Susan is a fully trained and experienced Hypnotherapist and operates a highly successful Harley Street practice. In creating a franchise, Susan has developed a business concept that includes Stop Smoking and weight control techniques without the need for the franchisee to be an experienced hypnotherapist.

"Having built up a hugely successful business over the years, my business instinct told me the time was right to expand its operations, in order to help more people and to develop my business in a different direction," Susan reveals. "Our ultimate aim is to have a national and indeed international network of Susan Hepburn Clinics that are respected for the work they do and recognised as the number one brand in the vital drive to help individuals to achieve their goal to quit smoking or achieve their target weight."

Susan Hepburn Clinics is searching for enthusiastic, professional individuals who are able to relate to clients on a confidential basis, possess the drive and personal motivation needed to make the business a success and be a team player.

"This is a service that is very much in demand!" says Susan. "Successful candidates will benefit from specialist training in how to operate and market the business, and deliver Susan Hepburn Stop Smoking techniques and weight control to individuals or groups, plus any other new treatments that will be introduced in the future. Ongoing business development training, marketing initiatives and support will keep the business growing."

Mark Elliot

The only furniture retail franchise offered in the UK, Mark Elliot offers an instant start in high-end, high street retail franchising. Combining traditional and contemporary 'name-brand' furniture, including the tremendously popular furniture designs of its namesake founder, lushly fitted-out stores and affordable pricing, Mark Elliot franchisees are developing a market niche for high-quality, high-value furniture products across eight established stores in the UK and Ireland.

"New franchisees can help us to supply this so far untapped market," Mark Elliot reveals. "We have learned how to create a showroom ambience that helps promote the sales process. This is not high pressure selling, it is simply offering help and guidance where needed and there is a ready market." With the assistance of professional franchise consultancy Franchise Development Services, Mark Elliot has developed a completely turnkey business package. "Our franchise model works successfully for the benefit of all - franchisor, franchisee and customer," Mark reports. "We are looking for people with a positive outlook, an eye for style and a good feeling for furniture - we supply everything else within our training programme. With a tried, tested and a proven business format, plus full support from the Mark Elliot team, every new franchisee can make an impact in their region within a short span of time."

Requiring an initial investment of between £70,000 and £90,000 to establish, including working capital, the Mark Elliot franchise represents a low cost entry into an industry estimated at £5 billion in the UK. "We want every franchisee to be very successful," Mark adds, "and by retailing our unique range of products that customers are keen to have in their homes, they will discover that quality tells and quality sells."

In-Crease:De-Crease

In-Crease:De-Crease positions itself as the first national company to offer a professionally managed, quality controlled and fully insured collection and delivery ironing service to customers in the UK. "The service is more cost-effective, hygienic, safer, faster and professional than anything currently offered by one-person operations in the UK," affirms Commercial Director Mel Clarke.

"Customers can feel confident entrusting their personal, and often expensive, items of clothing to In-Crease:De-Crease UK Ltd."

In-Crease:De-Crease is seeking Area Development Franchisees across the UK to recruit, train and manage networks of franchisees and 'vanchisees' from a regional hub. "This is the area development opportunity of the year," states Mel. "Not only will ADLs benefit from our leading position in the home services sector, but they will also earn from 'vanchisee' licence fees and royalty payments. We are a fast growing company in the UK home services sector, which is estimated to be worth £8 billion per annum and is still growing. Managing Director Andy Macdonald adds: "The company's procedures and systems promote healthy franchise growth which, when linked to the exciting market-driven campaigns and support from head office, can only benefit both franchisees and customers. We have been providing the know-how since the first outlet opened in Wales in 2000 and our image, service and attention to detail have attracted customers from across income groups."

SUMO

Using dedicated technology to provide a cost-saving service to construction contractors, SUMO has captured market share as the largest and only network operator in a market already estimated at £10-12 million per year. "We currently have nine vans in operation, seven of which are run by franchisees," says SUMO Franchise Director Mark Williams. "With the numerous national and regional contracts currently under negotiation we need to double our fleet in the next 12 months just to keep up with the demand."

SUMO franchisees provide a step-by-step detection process that identifies the type and depth of an underground utility by locating its existence through the use of one technology, confirming its presence and depth through the use of a second technology and identifying its type by a third technology. SUMO has adopted ground penetrating radar technology which reduces downtime and eliminates damage caused by 'hit and miss' drilling with a reported detection accuracy rate of 95 per cent. "The detection of underground utility systems is crucial for any construction project and since its launch SUMO has become instrumental in aiding the UK's booming construction sector," adds Mark. "We have helped many leading contractors to save a fortune which would otherwise be required to settle litigations arising as a result of damage to underground utility services. In providing such a valuable service to the construction industry, it is no wonder that SUMO franchisees have either met or exceeded their targets, in some cases doubling their original predictions. The fact that very few companies have the resources to purchase the equipment and invest in training their own staff to use it makes it both logically and economically sensible for them to outsource to SUMO."

Batbox

Developing a franchise around a revolutionary new product, BatBox is seeking regional master franchisees to develop a network across the UK and Ireland. The product, which will have an impact on commercial and private storage markets, plus property development, hospitals, restaurants, and private homes, is a storage unit which hangs from the roof much like a bat, and is easily suspended by two semi-skilled installers in two to three hours.

"The advantages of this unique storage system are its security, durability, easy installation and the proper utilisation of 'dead' space," says Franchise Consultant Nick Williams of Franchise Development Services, who is acting on behalf of the franchisor. "The BatBox helps the customer to utilise spaces that would otherwise be wasted in any construction."

The Batbox can be used to store almost anything, including medicines, office equipment, factory tools, sporting equipment, files, books, furniture, gardening and cleaning equipment, or to place specific items out of reach of children such as tools or chemicals, or personal items out of reach of tenants or workers. It may even be utilised to install a washing machine and tumble-drier, thereby increasing space in the main living area of the house.

"The demand for the product is growing all the time, and BatBox franchisees will have an untapped market segment with superb profit potential," reflects Nick. "Every property owner is a potential customer for this elegantly simple but amazingly effective and versatile storage solution."

To register for more information on any of these franchises, complete and return the form on page 191 or call Franchise Development Services on 0870 228 4100.