NIC franchisees Q&A

Sometimes it’s best to hear information straight from the horse’s mouth. This is why we have spoken to two of our franchisees, Grant Duncan and Sujay David, to get answers to some frequently asked questions about what it takes to be an NIC franchisee.

Operating from two different franchises based in England, Grant and Sujay bring different perspectives to their times with NIC. Grant began his time at NIC in late 2020, operating his franchise during the Covid-19 pandemic, and surely one of the busiest times to be in the facilities cleaning industry! Sujay began his franchise in 2017, therefore bringing a bit more experience to his role.

Both have some fascinating stories about their times as NIC franchisees, and have had to work very hard to maintain their businesses during some uncertain times. Today, we interview Grant and Sujay to discover their answers to some very commonly asked questions that NIC franchisees are faced with.

How did you know franchising was the right option for you?

Grant: Having worked for myself in the past, I was aware of the benefits of having national company backing to grow a business, as opposed to starting from the ground up in such a competitive market.

Sujay: I wanted to do something on my own, but thought franchising was a safer option as it was less risky.

Why did you choose NIC franchise over other franchisors? 

Grant: I researched several industry sectors for franchising, and once settling on commercial cleaning, I spoke to several of the major companies regards their franchise offer. NIC felt like the right fit straight away due to the people I spoke with, and also the non-territory-based model, unlike other restrictive models on offer.

Sujay: I believe I chose NIC because of its national brand, its reputation, and the scope I will have to do in my business. Also, I was encouraged by the amount of support I would be receiving.

How have you found owning a franchise?

Grant: It’s been a huge benefit to access a successful system in place, but still requires significant time to commit to building relationships as in all business models. The back-office support is invaluable, and allows me to focus on contract management and relationship building.

Sujay: Initially, as every start-up business goes, it was tough going. But through the years I have gained confidence and I am enjoying it now.

What will a typical day be like for me as a franchisee?

Grant: I start by checking in with a few staff that work in the contracts that start very early to ensure everything is alright. I then check emails and my diary for scheduled calls and meetings.

Unless I am needed onsite somewhere, I will often have a few hours in the middle of the day where I have family time, as I am nearly always working late to be available for site visits to drop off stock, or support staff on late delivery contracts.

When no site visits are needed, I use the end of the day to deal with invoicing, quote building, internal accounting, and email catch up.

Sujay: Most of my days are quite varied.I usually begin by checking my emails, and then I call my supervisor so see if there are any issues or cover needed for any contracts.

Later in the morning I follow up on any sales leads or orders for clients, and then round off the morning with any customer appointments or site visits.

Before lunch I check my emails once more, and after lunch I usually complete any admin tasks. I then spend the rest of the afternoon checking once more if any contracts need covering, answering emails and following up on sales leads.

What is the most significant challenge that most franchisees face?

Grant: I think that will vary depending on the size of your franchise, but certainly for me in the last year, general recruitment and staffing issues have been the biggest challenge. The job market has been turned on its head, and staff shortages seem to dominate the list of outstanding requirements regularly.

Sujay: I am not sure if the challenges that all franchisees face are the same challenges, but for me, getting new customers in is quite a significant challenge, as there is plenty of competition out there.

Are you worth more than what you earn?

Why franchise with NIC?

As one of the UK’s leading providers of commercial cleaning and support services, NIC will use its experience to help those who are up to the challenge. By allowing you to be your own boss, you hold the keys, all whilst benefiting from NIC’s ongoing support, mentoring, training and advice.

If you have been inspired by this Q&A session, now might be the ideal opportunity to join the NIC franchise family. NIC will give you access to a wealth of resources and franchise training programs that will teach you the skills you need to shine in your career as your own boss.

If starting a franchise is on your horizon, please get in touch, or for more information about NIC and its services, follow the company’s official Facebook and LinkedIn accounts.

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