The business to business opportunities you need to know about

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1. Astute Books

Astute Books is a new bookkeeping franchise based in Scotland. Good bookkeepers are in demand from small and medium-sized enterprises and accountancy practices and with the proposed introduction of the Making Tax Digital scheme, this demand is set to grow.

Candidates don’t need any prior accountancy knowledge, as they will undergo two weeks of intensive training and home learning in bookkeeping, accountancy and tax provided by a team of experts at Astute’s purpose-built training centre in Glasgow. Astute will also show candidates how to set up their business and how and where to find clients.

The support and backup of an established accountancy practice and six months’ ongoing support follow the initial training. Franchisees also get access to the latest accountancy and customer relationship management software systems to automate routine tasks.

In addition, Astute bookkeepers will benefit from marketing and PR support, a localised website and email plus VOIP system. The only equipment requirements are a laptop, printer, scanner and your own transport, as you may have to travel to visit clients to collect documents or discuss their bookkeeping requirements.

What you need to know

Investment level:

£6,995 for a five-year licence.

What you get:

comprehensive training; ongoing support; CRM software; marketing and PR support; website and email.

2. ActionCoach

Owning a business should be more than just a job - it should give you the basis for a better life. As an ActionCOACH Business Growth Specialist, you’ll work with business owners, helping them in areas including how to increase their profits, develop powerful systems and build a strong team.

Ian Christelow, the business’ UK co-founder, explains: “Helping business owners achieve their personal goals through business success makes for a fantastically rewarding and fulfilling experience for anyone who is given the privilege and responsibility.”

Tanya Hill turned around her upholstery business with the help of an Action Coach. When she no longer needed to work 14 hours a day, she realised she could be an ActionCOACH too.

“I meet my clients through sharing insights and client successes on LinkedIn,” Tanya explains. “In 18 months I’ve grown my income to £20,000 a month.

“The ActionCOACH community is amazing, there’s always someone at the end of the phone and we get together regularly. There’s a lot of training and a huge library of resources to support my work with clients.”

What you need to know

Investment level:

£69,000.

What you get:

world-class training with global, national and local support every step of the way; access to over 3,500 strategies and tactics guaranteed to make your own and your clients’ businesses successful (ask ActionCOACH about the T&Cs); an exclusive client generation centre; your own Action Business Coach.

3. The Avanti Group (UK) Franchise Ltd

The Avanti Group (UK) Franchise Ltd offers two franchise opportunities for accountants and bookkeepers.

Whether you’re qualified, experienced or an entrepreneur, this is a chance to run your own business with the support and expertise of a working accountancy practice that has more than 16 years’ experience in the industry.

In addition to operating as a distinctive and already established brand, franchisees will benefit from Avanti’s proven model of success, along with bespoke accounting systems, marketing support, training, ongoing business support and development.

Avanti’s opportunity also includes a licence to operate a successful business networking group within your territory, which will not only enable franchisees to connect with like-minded business people but also emphasises the local community support Avanti holds as its core value.

Taking care of all the routine bookkeeping, payroll, accountancy, company secretarial and taxation requirements means clients’ valuable time and resources are freed up, allowing them to do what they do best - running their businesses.

What you need to know

Investment level:

£25,000 (plus VAT).

What you get:

five-week training plan; bespoke accounting systems; marketing assistance; ongoing business support and development; licence to operate a business networking group within your territory.

4. Business Doctors

Business Doctors provide a clear vision for companies when they need it. A network of experienced business people, the company is passionate about sharing its skills and experiences.

Founders Matthew Levington and Rod Davies met in 2004 and discovered they shared a passion for business support. Today, the Business Doctors network comprises over 70 offices in the UK and globally. Its aim is to offer hands-on support to business owners, enabling them to overcome their individual challenges and help them to achieve their aspirations for growth.

Business Doctors says its approach is different to traditional consultants, involving getting into the nuts and bolts of businesses and providing practical advice.

Clients may be striving to achieve the next level of growth in turnover and profitability, working hard without seeing the results, facing staffing issues or planning to build the value of their business to achieve financial security.

What you need to know

Investment level:

minimum investment £44,500 (plus VAT).

What you get:

full training; ongoing support; marketing collateral; lead generation and client acquisition system.

5. Auditel

This strategic cost management specialist was founded in 1994. Its award-winning business model has been successfully replicated by over 160 franchisees, who serve more than 3,000 clients in almost every sector of the economy.

Franchisees become valuable, outsourced board level members of the companies they work with.

Auditel’s training programme is designed to ensure new franchisees gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to build and run their own scalable businesses.

Chris Baker, a franchisee since 1998, says: “When I think about my business, it’s just positive after positive - the amount of income I get from it, the flexibility and being your own boss is fantastic

“I would struggle to find something that offered me the same in salary and lifestyle anywhere else.”

What you need to know

Investment level:

£37,950 (plus VAT).

What you get:

residential training course; personal development programme; business management system; ongoing support; business start-up, technical and management manuals.

6. Expense Reduction Analysts

A supply chain and cost management consultancy, ERA is looking for capable and experienced business people to utilise the experience and knowledge gained during their careers to deliver work that helps their clients and allows them to enjoy more of the fruits of their own labour.

ERA partners work together, helping their clients to buy better. Ably supported by this award-winning business, they provide consultancy and long-term added value to clients by leveraging their own business experience in tandem with a network of colleagues.

Through a proven business system, ERA partners deliver efficient solutions in a wide range of overhead cost areas common to all organisations. Projects lead to improved supplier relationships and often substantial financial savings for clients, generating income for franchisees.

What you need to know

Investment level:

£13,500

What you get:

comprehensive basic training; start-up programme; systems and manuals; ongoing training and support; bespoke analysis tools; marketing assistance; national conferences.

7. TaxAssist Accountants

TaxAssist Accountants has over 290 shops and offices across the country, servicing more than 68,000 clients.

A consistent winner of awards in both the franchising and accountancy sectors, the company has been a proud recipient of 5-star franchisee satisfaction for five years running. The franchise specialises in servicing the needs of small businesses and self-employed individuals, a burgeoning sector that has traditionally been overcharged and underserviced.

Currently, every small business needs to have an annual set of accounts prepared and a tax return submitted. With Making Tax Digital on the horizon, this will increase to quarterly returns, meaning an ever-increasing demand for these services.

TaxAssist has been a game-changer in the way it ‘retails’ tax and accountancy services through open and welcoming shops.

The business can provide a complete blueprint of how to operate a practice. It welcomes applications from accountants and commercially experienced individuals, as the ultimate goal is to manage a team of accountants, allowing you to work on the business rather than in it.

What you need to know

Investment level:

£40,000 (plus VAT).

What you get:

six-week initial training course, with further training in months two, three and six; ongoing courses; visits by franchise development managers; technical and marketing helplines; client lead generation service.

8. Grass & Holm Accountants

With flexible working high on the agenda for increasing numbers of businesses and employers, the former partner in an accountancy firm has grasped the concept by offering flexible, self-employment opportunities to other accountancy professionals.

Fiona Bowers, who has 20 years’ experience in accountancy, has created a working model for qualified practitioners which allows them - in particular working parents - to set up their own small businesses and work flexibly either from home or in a hired office with ongoing support.

The emphasis is firmly on one to one, attentive service to clients. Franchisees can buy into her established brand, access training and weekly support, as well as marketing, compliance and IT services, at a fraction of the cost of most franchise operations and without having to have a shopfront or shell out a percentage of annual turnover.

What you need to know

Investment level:

£3,000 per year with no percentage of any profits being taken.

What you get:

weekly support for the first six months (as and when needed thereafter); assistance with marketing and client attraction; compliance reviews and guidance; cloud desktop set up.

9. Wikane

Wikane, a leading business growth consultancy in France, is targeting UK expansion. The company is searching for a UK master franchisee with the talent and drive to grow a large profitable business with the help of one of Europe’s most ambitious consultancies.

For over 25 years, Wikane has been supporting small to medium-sized enterprises to achieve their growth potential. Its service is delivered through a coherent package of actions, methods and tools focused on the growth drivers of strategic and financial communications, sales tools, direct and digital marketing, and internal communication.

The Wikane network was launched in 2006 from an original management consultancy concept that was started in 1992 and now has more than 50 franchisees in France, Switzerland, and Belgium.

Highly capitalised, the network has experienced strong and sustained growth, recruiting franchisees in France and recently in neighbouring countries. Its objective for 2022 is to have a network of 100 franchisees in France, plus five master franchisees in Europe and two outside Europe.

What you need to know

Investment level:

£250,000, with £150,000 liquid cash funds required.

What you get:

full training; initial and ongoing support; customer relationship management system.

10. The Alternative Board

For nearly 30 years The Alternative Board has worked with thousands of forward-thinking business owners to help them grow their companies, increase profitability and improve their lives by participating in monthly business advisory boards and one to one sessions, as well as taking advantage of TAB’s proven business tools and services.

TAB has 35 facilitators around the UK who are running profitable businesses that help entrepreneurs to overcome barriers and capitalise on fantastic ideas and opportunities.

Operating in 18 countries, TAB has helped over 13,000 business owners address hundreds of thousands of opportunities and challenges. It has built a robust, proven and successful business model for franchisees.

What you need to know

Investment level:

typical start-up costs are £48,750 for full award, £23,750 for facilitator with option and £5,000 for contract facilitator working with existing franchisee. A £10,000 marketing budget is recommended in the first year.

What you get:

initial training; launch programme; ongoing training and support