I've spent 30 years working for someone else and always having to answer to someone, however now I'm running my own Countrywide Signs franchise I can make all the decisions myself and am in control of my own destiny.

Leaving my previous job as a manager in the connections department of Eon Energy, I was fed up of working long hours for someone else and wanted to start working for myself. I began looking to set-up my own business and when someone suggested franchising to me it appealed as a more secure way of starting a business. I like the fact that my business is my own and I decide what to achieve, but at the same time I always operate with support behind me. I was interested in the property sector and Countrywide Signs appealed to me as a business that I could run by myself without needing to employ anyone to help me. I also liked the fact that I would be outdoors a lot and the initial investment and overheads were low compared with the other franchises I had looked at.

Once I spoke to Countrywide Signs Sales Director John Ball I became more and more interested. I could see from the first conversation with John that the franchise has an excellent support structure, is well established and the atmosphere within the organisation is very much like a family. I launched my business in November covering the Nottingham area and the support has lived up to my expectations. If I need any information or advice all I have to do is call the relevant department - someone at head office will either resolve it over the phone or come out to visit me.

Additionally Countrywide Signs has spent a lot of time setting up a database system which makes it very easy for estate agents to place an order - they book a job on the system and that order will go onto my job sheet for the next day. The computer system also allows me to produce invoices at the touch of a button, as well as keep track of where my boards are and at what stage of the sales process they are at.

I'm aiming to achieve a turnover of £50,000 for my first year and I've got a clear plan of how I want to develop my business. By this time next year I want another van in operation and in two to three years' time I plan to have three vans, as I know that my area will easily have the work to support this.

Text: Derin Ibrahim