FurnitureMedic: 'Real job satisfaction' - A franchise from the ServiceMaster Group

Offering onsite furniture repairs and restoration, including leather, upholstery, wood, laminate and UPVC, Furniture Medic franchisees enjoy a varied and creative occupation. Stuart Anderson interviews

Backed by the comprehensive support structure of multiple franchise group ServiceMaster, Furniture Medic offers a franchise opportunity to 'handy' individuals seeking to operate a business in furniture repair and restoration.

'The business concept has been developed over 15 years to provide low overheads, great profit margins and repeat business,' reports ServiceMaster Franchise Sales Director Ken Dennis.

'It can be run from home by anyone with good DIY, woodworking, upholstery or polishing skills, who will benefit from thousands of leads taken monthly in our call centre by our central sales team. Furniture Medic franchisees provide a professional service to catalogue furniture providers, manufacturers, importers, retailers and the general public using environmentally friendly products.'

Franchisee Scott Harvey left his job in a factory to retrain in cabinet making and furniture restoration, before taking on the Furniture Medic franchise. 'I was in a job I hated and decided to do something about it,' he explains. 'I originally started out on my own, but found it very hard to make a success of the business. My friends were achieving success with a franchise and that showed me the benefits of franchising . I began looking at the opportunities offered and Furniture Medic fit the bill.'

Scott launched his franchise covering the Monklands territory in Scotland with his wife Heather, with Scott taking care of the furniture repair and restoration and Heather covering the administration.

'I really enjoy the challenge of restoring burn marks in wood, upholstering furniture so it looks like new and French polishing,' he reflects. 'I enjoy working with my hands and being creative. There is real job satisfaction at the end of the day.'