Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 April 2008 18:37:13
So, the check test is over and done with, which means I can breathe again for the next couple of years until the next one. In the meantime, I need to consider my next move.
Currently, I'm on a franchise with a local driving school. The franchise fee provides me with backup, supplies me with customers and handles a certain amount of administration on my behalf. This was essential when I first started out. However, just recently, I've been getting more and more frustrated and honestly don't think I'm getting my money's worth. This basically stems from the Boss Man's reluctance to ever spend any money unless he absolutely has to. This has a number of effects. Because he's not spending any money on decent advertising, we aren't getting the number of enquiries that we should. (He still thinks Yellow Pages is a good idea - sheesh!) This is a very competetive business, so good, modern advertising that will catch the eye of 17 & 18 year olds is essential.
The other aspect in not spending money is paying anything like a decent wage to the office staff. He usually gets friends and/or relatives and pays them a pittance. Until recently, we've had a great receptionist, who was super efficient, but she got fed up aith the apalling pay. In her place is the Boss Man's cousin. She is the complete opposite of efficient.
She will take messages, but not pass them on. She will book pupils for me, but not bother to tell me that she's done so resulting in me receiving irate phone calls from pupils wanting to know why I've not turned up for their lesson. Sometimes I get double booked, and on one occasion, she got in such a muddle she allocated the same pupil to two different instructors.
So, I'm not getting the business or the level of admin I think I should be getting for the price I'm paying. Besides, I'm now starting to generate a fair amount of business myself from firiends and relatives of former satisfied customers, so I've decided to cut the apron strings and go it alone.
This is a big decision and a huge gamble, but I really don't see that I have anything to lose. The franchise fee I'm paying at the moment is the equivalent of eight lessons every week. The way I see it, by setting up on my own, this will mean either A) 8 extra lessons that I'm getting paid for or B) 8 hours I don't have to work. Either way looks attractive.
Being independent will give me a lot more freedom. I can advertise the way I want to. Hopefully, I can try and generate some business closer to where I live and possibly even branch out into Fleet and Advanced Driver Ttraining.
I reckon it will be about 3 months before I actually do this. We're going away for a week in June and I'd rather get started after that. I'll need to give 4 weeks notice on my existing franchise, so realistically I'm looking at the middle of July. In the meantime, I'll need to set up a bank account, order basic essentials such as a roof sign, door panels and stationery, set up a website and, of course, think about what I'm going to call myself. I've had a few ideas already, one of which seems quite likely (How does "Premier Driver Training" sound to you?) but any other suggestions would be most welcome.
This is one of the biggest decisions I have ever had to make. It's a huge step - quite scary but also really exciting. I realise that it won't be easy and that I may fall flat on my face. If it doesn't work out, I can always go back to working on a franchise, but unless I try this for myself, I'll never know.