When Steve Cummings decided to end his 32-year corporate career by following his dream of being his own boss he found the perfect opportunity with an Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) franchise.

Cummings decided to invest in an ERA franchise, which provides a cost and purchase management service, as he felt the business would enable him to use the skills and industry knowledge he had gained through decades of working in a corporate environment.

Now only six weeks after completing his training Cummings has already signed his first client. Speaking of his initial meeting with this client, Cummings said: “The first meeting went very well as I had pretty well lined the client up before the visit, using my existing contacts and experience in my new business. As I had just completed my foundation training, I was able to quickly identify the issues that they were experiencing with their suppliers.”

Cummings believes that the extensive training he received from ERA taught him a significant amount that was useful in signing his first client. He said: “The main thing that I used from the training was the knowledge and the confidence in the service we supply. Truly, it is the anecdotal information and style, which is provided by the consultants who ‘practice what they preach’ in the training programme that was of major assistance here.”

According to ERA, its training programmes are run by established consultants and training professionals who are able to share their authentic industry experience and knowledge.

Once the initial training is completed, the support team provides ongoing support and guidance to new franchise owners in the first stages of their business through a dedicated Business Academy Manager. Describing the support he has received, Cummings said: “I have found the support to be exceptionally helpful and proactive whenever I have required their assistance. Andy Bannister, Academy Business Manager, has demonstrated a genuine ongoing interest and involvement in my business, even attending my first client meeting with me so I was able to see the theory I’d learnt in training put into practice very well. This certainly helped when I had my first solo flight. There is a real desire within ERA to see the ‘new kids’ do well.”

Published: 21 February 2012

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