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LivingWage Foundation employer and subsequently the entire Radfield Home Care franchise has signed up to the scheme. ‘PUT PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS’ Matthew’s words of advice to a would-be franchisee with an empty purse are: “If you put the people and your community at the heart of your decision, before your profits, you can’t go wrong. Profit will naturally follow; people will want to work for you and in the case of my franchise, be cared for by you. Studies have shown that if you pay your staff well, they will not only do a great job, but they’ll stay with you for longer too. There is always a means to an end if you search hard enough. Government start up loans are a great way of raising capital. If you find the right franchisor who shares your values and believes in you, then there is no reason you can’t do it.’ FRANCHISING CAN CHANGE LIVES PipWilkins QFP, CEO of the BFA said: “It is stories like these that keep me in the job. After 25 years with the BFA I still get great joy out of reading stories like Nic and Matthew’s. Franchising really can change lives and you absolutely don’t have to have a huge amount of liquid cash to get started. Nic and Matthew both embody the fact that with passion, hard work, and dedication you can build a great business to support you and your family with a BFA accredited franchise.” “Franchising really can change lives and you absolutely don’t have to have a huge amount of liquid cash to get started. Nic and Matthew embody that” BFA Prospect Franchisee Certificate Being the hub of all things franchising in the UK, in 2016 we launched a free online course for potential franchisees called the Prospect Franchisee Certificate, to give anyone a comprehensive view of the sector and educate them on how to choose and buy a franchise safely. Hosted on the BFAwebsite, the course has had nearly 3,500 registrations since its launch, with some franchisors insisting prospective franchisees complete the course before any further steps are taken. During the course a potential franchisee learns about the opportunities available and how to find and research them properly. Research, research, research We always say that research is the most important part of any franchise purchase, and the course teaches people the questions to ask, the information to look out for and the steps to expect between enquiring about a franchise and actually launching the business. By the end of the course, attendees will be fully prepared on all aspects of becoming a franchisee, from considering their personality and skill set through to the legal and financial considerations they need to know. They’ll even hear from franchisors on what they are looking for in a great franchisee and gain detailed insight into the financial and funding aspects of starting and growing a franchise business. So, if you are thinking of buying a franchise, log on to the BFAwebsite and complete the Prospect Franchisee Certificate, to make sure you have all the knowledge you need to buy a franchise safely. Established: 1977 Membership fee: £75-£375pcm Location: Nationwide Contact: mailroom@thebfa.org Matt Nutting, owner of Radfield Home Care Harrogate 81 BFA WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM