JOIN OUR SUCCESSFUL TEAM
After the continued success our core business, we are now excited to be expanding our company and brand around the UK through a high-quality franchise network. Sharing our experience to help others build a successful and thriving business through hard work and dedication with the backing of a successful team and high-end brand.
If you come from a construction, project management, surveying or architectural design background or are willing to learn, we would love to hear from you.
WORKING TOGETHER
It is clear to us that if you succeed, we succeed! Therefore, we will work very closely with you, especially in the early days, to ensure you get off to the best possible start in your local area. However, it doesn’t just stop there; we will work alongside you as much or as little as you need throughout to make your Austen Dawson business a success.
Don’t worry though, we are not Big Brother, so once you’re confident in the running of your business, we will take a step back. At the end of the day, this will be your business, to build your way, with our help as and when needed.
Your own dedicated Franchise Manager will be on hand to help with any issues that may arise. He or she will also pop out to visit you every 6-8 weeks to ensure everything is going to plan and to see if we can help in any way.
Behind the scenes our head office team will continually be working on your behalf to come up with new marketing campaigns and business ideas to continue to build the business and brand. National and local marketing campaigns will continue and grow year-on-year, which will benefit all of our franchise network.
As the brand and network grow, we will working with local suppliers and B2B companies to increase our collective buying power. This will mean reduced operating costs for our franchisees, the bigger we become.
Whilst we will be working tirelessly for you, you must do your part. We are looking for franchisees that work to only the highest of standards and believe in providing excellent customer service. You will be representing our brand on a local level and we expect all our franchisees to act in a professional manner at all times to promote our business. If you think you have what it takes, please get in touch.
So why should you choose an Austen Dawson Franchise?
· Backing- you and your team will have the backing of an experienced team of construction professionals and trademarked high-end brand name. We can help with as much or as little as you need, guiding you through the early stages seamlessly to help you get off to the best of starts;
· Proven Demand- there is a clear and proven demand for home improvements in the UK with an estimated £29bn being spent by homeowners in 2018. This business is thriving in the boom, thriving in the downturn. Due to the current economic climate five times more UK homeowners are now staying where they are and extending rather than moving; (www.diyweek.net, 2018)
· Unlimited Earning Potential- the earning potential for hard working, high-quality franchisees are totally unlimited. Our proven business model and unique process offers the opportunity to earn big in this lucrative sector;
· Unrivalled Support- if you succeed, we succeed. Therefore, our daily support, operations guidance and dedicated Franchise Manager will be an invaluable tool to you as you build your business;
· Expansion Opportunities- as you grow and build the brand reputation within your specified geographical area, we are keen for you to take on other areas and expand your business if you so wish (subject to fees and availability).
· Buying Power- the bigger the company becomes, the bigger our collective buying power becomes with all trade suppliers;
· Flexible Payment Options- we understand that starting a business of any kind is an expensive process at the best of times. Therefore, unlike other franchises on the market, we have a couple of payment options available to you to allow you to get started without a massive financial burden in the early stages;
· Franchise License Fee- with an initial license fee starting at just *£12,750+VAT; we believe we are one of the most reasonable franchises to enter the market today, especially considering the earning potential. We also happy to offer either an agreed reasonable fixed monthly payment option or a percentage of turnover (subject to minimum limits) as ongoing royalties- the choice is yours.
· Add Ons- whilst you may have all the skills yourself to run a successful business, Austen Dawson Head Office offer all the services you need as an add on: from plan drafting, planning application services, building regulation specifications, structural calculations and structural design, quantity surveying services, party wall surveying, and the list goes on;
· Ongoing Training & Advice- we will continually advise and assist you on marketing, pricing, networking, gaining more work and all the tools you will need to succeed and build your local business and the brand.
*Fee stated correct as of January 2020. Austen Dawson (UK) Limited reserve the right to amend the franchise licence fee at short notice. Certain geographical areas, such as London, may incur a higher premium. Please contact our Franchise team for more information.
The Package- So what do you get for your initial Austen Dawson franchise license payment?
Rights- the right to operate under the high-end Austen Dawson brand in your local area for a period of 5 years, with automatic right to renew;
Website- personalised local Austen Dawson website, search engine optimised for your area of operation linking to and from the main national website. This will have a back-end CMS that allows you to update the site regularly;
Marketing Material- tried and tested marketing material, logos, uniforms, business cards, letterheads, van graphics and other branding materials; everything you need to get going from day one;
Social Set Up- social media is a massive marketing stream for our business, we help you set up your social profiles and assist with initial and weekly post materials;
Marketing & Operating Training- we provide all our franchisees initial operating and marketing training and advice;
Protected Territory- your own protected area in which to trade with clear concise boundaries, large enough to expand a successful business and build the brand;
Dedicated Franchise Manager- your very own dedicated franchise manager will be on hand to give you daily ongoing sales, marketing, networking and business support;
Promotional Artwork- we continually send out promotional artwork as well as direct mail and email marketing material;
Intranet Access- all franchisees get access to our integrated franchisee software system;
Ongoing Support- we provide our franchisees with all the ongoing and committed business support they need to thrive;
Your Own Business- to build with as much or as little help as you need along the way within our set guidelines.
ADD ONS- SO WHAT EXTRAS CAN WE OFFER YOU TO REALLY HELP YOUR BUSINESS SUCCEED?
Depending on your history and experience, you may have most, if not all, of the skills required to run your business. However, if you don’t, then not to worry as here at Head Office, we can provide all the services you may require on a pay as you go basis, including but not limited to:
Plan Drafting- we can draft CAD building plans, sections and details from your site survey, measurements and photos. These will be sent to you fully branded in electronic form for you to showcase to your clients;
Planning & Lawful Development Services- Once your client approves their design and plans are complete, we can submit the planning or lawful development application on your behalf through the Planning Portal. We can also act as your agent for the application, dealing with any planning related queries that may crop up during the planning process;
Building Regulation Specifications- we can draft a fully compliant Building Regulation specification for any project. This will be sent to you fully branded in electronic format for you to showcase to your clients;
Structural Design & Calculation Services- our in-house and partner Structural Engineers’ can provide a detailed and compliant structural design and calculations document for any project. These will be sent to you fully branded for you to showcase to your clients and forward to Building Control;
Estimating & Quantity Surveying Services- we can take any design and provide early stage cost estimates, detailed quotes, material and quantity take-offs, cash-flow forecasts;
Programmes- we love a Gaant Chart and are able to provide a detailed programme for any size project. Again, this will be sent to you electronically, fully branded, for you to forward to your client and work from to keep track;
Kitchen & Bathroom Designs- using state of the art ArtiCad software we can design and plan any kitchen, bathroom or bedroom from your measurements. We then provide you plans, renders and visuals fully branded for you to showcase to your clients;
Building Control Services- we partner with a number of private Building Control Inspectors all over the UK and can provide a quote for and organise Building Control inspection or Building notices for any job on your behalf;
Party Wall Surveying- we have an in-house Party Wall Surveyor who is a member and fully approved by the FPWS. We can draft and serve legally compliant party wall notices on your client’s behalf or act for them in an Award process;
SEO, Google Adwords and Social Media Services- we can assist with all aspects of search engine optimisation helping get your website to the top of searches in your local area. We can also help with paid advertising on Google Adwords and social mediums;
Call Answering & Virtual Office- too busy out on site and need someone to answer the phones professionally? No problem, we can provide this for a small extra fee;
Accountancy Services- we have an alliance with an online accountancy service, who can assist you with all the accountancy and bookkeeping services you will require to keep your business on track;
Van Hire- can’t afford to buy a new work van when you start? No problem, we can help with initial short or long-term van hire to get you started.
MONEY TALK- SO WHATS THIS GOING TO COST YOU?
The initial franchise licence fee is currently *£14,999+VAT and this gives you the right to operate as Austen Dawson in your agreed geographical area for a period of 5 years. You then have the right to renew thereafter or sell your franchise on if you so wish.
Whilst we feel this initial fee is great value for such a lucrative business concept, the Austen Dawson team realise that it is a big outlay before you’ve even started trading. Therefore, we are happy to offer our franchisees the ability to pay this in 2 equal monthly instalments if they so wish subject a small interest charge. This coupled with our 1 month royalty free period at the start of your agreement, helps you get off to the best possible start!
As mentioned above, all our new franchisees get a 2 month royalty free period at the start of your franchise term so will have nothing to pay in that regard until the end of month 3 (royalties are paid in arrears at the end of the calendar month).
In terms of your ongoing monthly royalty payments, again we have a couple of options available to our franchisees to suit their needs. You can either:
Pay an agreed set monthly royalty fee, agreed with us prior to signing your franchise license. This monthly amount will be subject to review mid-term;
Or
Pay 10% percent of your gross monthly turnover each month. This route is subject to a minimum payment being met monthly, regardless of turnover.
There will of course be other financial elements to consider:
Initial Operating Capital- we believe that you will need enough finances behind you to sustain your business operation for the first 2-3 months, by which point the first jobs should start to come in;
Local Advertising- whilst we help with your initial launch advertising, we suggest that this marketing effort is ongoing so you will need to set aside a monthly budget for this;
Legal- for your own protection, we always advise getting a legal professional to check everything is in order before entering into agreement with us. Whilst our franchise agreements protect both parties and are standard copy, due-diligence is key and there will of course be a cost associated with this;
Accounting & Business Set-Up- you will initially need to set up your own limited company, which is relatively inexpensive to do and we can assist with that. However, it is very important to get an accountant on board from day one of your business. Costs for this can vary and again we are available to help if required;
Van & Tools- you may operate this franchise as a project manager, sub-contracting the actual site works out to others, so van and tolls may not be a consideration. However, if you aim to run the business hands-on, then you will need a late registered van and tools to get you going.
*Fee(s) stated correct as of January 2021. Austen Dawson UK Limited reserve the right to amend the franchise licence fee at short notice. Certain geographical areas, such as London, may incur a higher premium.
If you are interested and would like to find out more, please fill out the form below and we will send you some more information.