"Within 2 weeks we'd reached our 6 month target!"

First time business owners Stuart and Lisa Boyers are finding that running their etyres franchise is providing them with the flexibility they were seeking

Within a year of launching their first etyres franchise husband and wife team Stuart and Lisa Boyers have already expanded into their second territory. "We originally opened our West Manchester territory in April this year," reveals Lisa. "Within two weeks we were at the stage we'd anticipated reaching after six months. We immediately decided that if the growth of our business continued at this rate we would take a second territory, van and employ another fitter. In October we launched our second territory in Warrington."

Stuart was previously employed in the building trade and Lisa worked as a member of a British Airways cabin crew before having the couple's two children. "I wanted to get involved in something different and Lisa wanted to do something while still being able to look after the children," explains Stuart. "We decided to set up our own business together and began looking into franchising. etyres appealed because it was a simple business model, it had low start-up costs and it was mobile."

etyres franchise owners supply and fit brand name tyres, most of which are up to 40 per cent cheaper than at high street depots. As it is a mobile business franchise owners are able to fit tyres at the place that is most convenient for their customers. "Before launching our business I went on a one week training course on how to fit tyres and also had four days of learning how to run the administration side of the business, such as IT," remembers Stuart. "The training was really good and covered everything I need to know for running my etyres business successfully."

In order to look after the couple's two children, a daughter aged three and a son aged eight months, Lisa was unable to attend the training course. "As I do the office side of the business I am based at home and am able to fit my work around looking after the children," comments Lisa. "I do most of the work at night when the children are asleep, so I'm able to concentrate on the children during the day. In addition to someone coming up and training me, I have had a lot of telephone and online support from the etyres head office."

While Lisa does the administration at home, Stuart is out and about doing the tyre fittings. The training has enabled him to fit tyres to a high standard. He states: "The fitters who taught us gave us their mobile numbers, which has been very helpful. Every tyre type and car model is different so it is great to have extremely experienced people only a phone call away."

Although Stuart and Lisa have never owned and operated a business together they are finding that it is fitting in well with their family life and the couple have plans to expand their business further. "We already have one employee," says Lisa. "We have plans to buy another van soon and already have a second employee lined up for when we get it."

Stuart adds: "In the future our aim is to compete with the nationals on a day-to-day basis."

Reported by Derin Ibrahim