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“You must budget carefully because up to 80% of revenue from the hog roast comes in over only six months of the year” ome 5.2 million workers in the UK have taken on second jobs and 10 million are considering taking on another job if living costs continue to rise, according the Royal London Cost of Living Report. While an additional contracted role is certainly an option, it seems business ownership is becoming particularly appealing to those looking to bolster their earnings. For example, new business set-ups increased by 9% in the first quarter of 2023. This equates to 101 new businesses being launched every hour across the UK, according to iwoca, one of Europe's small business lenders. Some of these businesses are franchises; there are brands that allow new franchisees to launch while maintaining their previous job, especially in sectors where the business is seasonal or can be run part time. However, before you dive in, it’s important to discuss your future plans with franchisors at the very start as some may expect you to eventually transition to working full time on the franchise. How common are second jobs in franchising? Setting up a new business can be a time-consuming process, which means that in some cases becoming a part-time franchisee just isn’t feasible. However, there are numerous brands who are open to franchisees who want to run their business alongside another role. This includes seasonal and part time service providers. “Two of our franchisees are currently running their hog roast businesses part-time, with the aim of going full time later,” says Nick Warlow, a director at The Gourmet Hog Roast Company. “We certainly allow this, because it means franchisees who may be nervous about taking the business full-time from day one can keep their existing Monday to Friday job with confidence. “They are often office workers who want to escape the Monday to Friday rat race. They have enjoyed hosting barbecues at home and want to make it a business,” says Nick. Some service franchises similarly allow franchisees to start part time, as roles can involve evening or weekend work which sits outside of other work commitments. "The Razzamataz franchise is ideal for people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it allows franchisees to work flexibly,” says Denise Gosney, MD and founder of Razzamataz Theatre Schools. “This means they can continue in the job they are in on a part time basis." Other franchise sectors worth looking at are sports franchises (some operate outside school hours or at weekends), travel sales franchises, and local 'what's on' magazines, many of which also involve working from home. Seasonal success Peter Gadsby is an established photographer and consultant at Bonhams auction house. However, he made the decision to maintain his 25-year career while becoming a franchisee at The Gourmet Hog Roast Company – an events catering company specialising in hog roasts. “I was always on call, and commuting to London from my home in Kent had lost its charm,” he says. “I wanted something extra that was completely different.” Peter had always loved cooking barbecues in the garden for friends, so when he heard about The Gourmet Hog Roast Company franchise, he wanted in. “Now I devote the start of the week to consultancy projects, and the end of the week to my hog roast business,” Peter explains. “The hog roast is busy in the summer and at weekends, so it can mean quite long hours, but when it's quiet, in winter, my wife Katie and I like to travel to places like India, or go skiing. “You must budget carefully because up to 80% of revenue from the hog roast comes in over only six months of the year. But ploughing profits back into the business means I've been able to take on a unit in which to store and prep the meat. Long term, I want to grow the revenue from the hog roast.” A critical factor in Peter’s success is that The Gourmet Hog Roast Company head office handles all the initial enquiries, event bookings, and marketing for S 28 WHAT FRANCHISE | ISSUE 19.3 WORK-L I FE BALANCE