FDS celebrates 25th anniversary

4-10-2006: FDS is at the forefront of national and international franchise development and is celebrating its 25th Anniversary during National Franchise Week, which culminates with the National Franchise Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham this Friday and Saturday.

Roy Seaman, FDS Managing Director, says: "Franchising is open to all no matter what the age, sex or nationality of a person. There is no ageism in this industry and opportunities are certainly there to be snapped up. As long as you have the right support and guidance, people can be very successful. The average age of new franchisees is also increasing year-on-year."

Over the last 25 years, FDS has helped more than 500 owners of successful businesses to expand their businesses by franchising and more than 10,000 people to own and operate a franchise. Those considering either becoming a franchisee or looking at opportunities to franchise their own companies should seek sound advice from FDS.

The company offers the following Five Top Tips for companies considering franchising:
1) Is your Business Franchiseable? You should have an identifiable and ideally unique brand representing a distinguished product or service mix.
2) Always seek out the best advice when looking to franchise your business or buy into a franchise making sure the brand you buy into is going to give you the best long-term benefits.
3) Anyone considering franchising a business should start with a solid track record, a desirable product or service, adequate financial resources and a fine-tuned operating system.
4) Meticulous planning is essential to the success of any franchise business from securing intellectual property rights to producing training manuals.
5) Successful recruitment of the right people and support for the growth of the franchise are key; a detailed plan needs to be put in place for good management to control the growth, otherwise it could be boom then bust.

FDS is a proactive member of the British Franchise Association (bfa), and agrees with the Association's findings that more than 95% of bfa members and genuine Business Format Franchisors succeed with their development plans when taking professional advice and guidance from franchise consultants. By comparison those people that choose to franchise without professional assistance have a 70% failure rate.

To celebrate their 25 years of serving the industry and in time for National Franchise Week, FDS is offering a free advice and guidance service to 100 of your readers considering either franchising their business or owning a franchise.

For further details telephone 01603 620301, email enquiries@fdsltd.com or visit www.franchise-group.com.

FDS is also offering an entirely free subscription, normally £35 per annum, for their new online publication www.thefranchisemagazine.net. Potential subscribers should email their request to database@fdsltd.com.

Editor's Notes:

Altogether some 950 companies are now offering a Business Format Franchise in the UK and in total are offering over 50,000 new business start-up opportunities.

The franchise market is therefore poised to secure recognition from the Government in the same way as the US, France, Canada and Australia have achieved. Even developing countries like Singapore and Malaysia have recognised the importance of supporting franchising to drive the packaging and sale of their 'knowledge rights' in addition to exporting their branded products and services. For example Osim, who started in Singapore as a retailer of health products with just one location, now have over 500 franchised outlets worldwide.