2009 is predicted to be a boom year for the franchise industry according to specialist consultancy Franchise Development Services (FDS). The company, which also publishes The Franchise Magazine and The UK Franchise Directory, reports that since the end of November 2008 over 2,000 people registered an interest in owning and operating a franchise through its publications and websites.
“With thousands of people throughout the UK being made redundant and more facing the prospect of losing their livelihoods, many of those fortunate enough to receive redundancy payments or have capital available for investment are expected to give very serious consideration to entering self employment by purchasing a franchise,†says FDS Founder and Chairman Professor Roy Seaman CFE (Certified Franchise Executive). “They are examining the facts and discovering that it is easier to start a low overhead business than find a job with a salary comparable to the one that they have lost.â€
FDS maintains a database of over 50,000 prospective franchise owners in order to match them with specifically requested franchise brands or recommended franchisors from areas of stated interest. While much of 2008 saw a downturn in recorded interest in the franchise sector, which FDS attributes to concerns about falls in the values of people’s assets (much of which are tied to the falling housing market), FDS saw a remarkable turnaround during December. FDS recorded an increase of over 100 percent in potential franchise owners requesting information in relation to opportunities available.
