"I held a senior position for a travel franchise that wasn't moving with the times," recalls Phil. "However, it did give me a good understanding of franchising, which helped me to know what to look for in terms of training and support."

Looking to invest in a franchise with his Brother-in-Law, the two came across a Belvoir franchise in Andover, Hampshire that was being re-sold. They thought it was such a great opportunity that they took it from there.

"What particularly appealed to me about Belvoir was their strong branding and the fact that they are very forward-thinking and always looking to the future. It's a business that doesn't stand still and recognises that it has to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace, and this was very attractive to me."

With no prior experience in the lettings industry, Phil was given a three-week period of training, which he states was "extensive, covering everything you can think of, from legal to operations to marketing."

Citing franchisor support as a major factor in his choice of franchise, Phil reports that Belvoir has been more than adequate: "I know that there is someone to call upon as and when necessary and that's what I think a franchise is all about."

Launching in November 2005, Phil inherited a number of existing customers but has since doubled that in only six months. "After a period of settling in, the business has been like a whirlwind - it has really taken off," enthuses Phil. "The future looks promising and our target is to double the business again within the next 18 months."