ChipsAway: Make A Dent In The World Of Franchising

First launched in 1994, ChipsAway fixes all those unsightly scratches to car paintwork, bumper scuffs, minor dents and alloy wheel repairs. All its services are completed quickly, to a high standard and at a great value. Repairs with ChipsAway are cost effective and cheaper than body shop prices because the whole panel or wheel doesn’t need to be re-painted.

Now with over 200 franchises within the UK, ChipsAway has lots of specialists offering same-day service from mobile workshops or out of a Car Care Centre. Convenient for the customer and providing flexibility for the specialist, repairs can be made within a few hours. There are regular assessments to ensure quality is guaranteed and the ChipsAway Repair System is even in line with the latest EU environmental legislation on safe paint to use.

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When you invest in the ChipsAway car repair franchise, you’ll be joining one of the largest networks of vehicle paintwork repairers in the UK and the originators of SMART repair technology. Starting a franchise with ChipsAway means you can expect unlimited earnings potential as well as a tried and tested business model and on-going training and support. Marketing is covered so you can focus on the important parts of being a franchisee and there are even opportunities to develop into a multi van based franchise or an operation with many units.

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If you’re looking for a car repair franchise, then this leading business is for you.

What’s required?

Starting a franchise with ChipsAway doesn’t mean you need to be experienced in the sector already. Ideal for those looking for a complete career change, the van-based franchise offers full training at one of the company’s IMI accredited facilities. With many new franchisees having no experience of self-employment, ChipsAway will provide training and support so you’re ready to take on the challenge. A passion for cars is essential though.

The joining process

Once you have registered your interest via the ChipsAway website and requested a free information pack, you’re on your way to becoming a franchisee. You can then attend one of the free open days at the ChipsAway West Midlands Head Office to discover more.

Visiting one of the open days gives you the chance to ask questions about starting your own franchise, hear about potential annual earnings and even see repair demos so you have an idea of what you can expect as a franchisee.

If both sides are happy after the open day, and you’ve made the initial investment, you’ll begin your training to become a successful ChipsAway franchisee. You’ll attend a four-week beginners training course, which assumes that you have no previous auto-industry experience. This takes place at a bespoke IMI accredited facility. Here, the ChipsAway team of technicians will take you through everything you need to know, and you’ll also have more technical training in the six months that follow.

There’s an intensive two-day Sales and Marketing module to attend too, where you’ll be taken through the skills you need to promote your franchise and acquire more customers.

As a ChipsAway franchisee, you’ll be given your very own exclusive territory, where you can target a customer base of thousands of car owners that has been fully profiled to suit you. All you need now is to invest in a van and materials.

Success Stories

One of the best ways to get a true understanding of what it’s like to become a franchisee is to hear about it from the existing ones themselves.

It’s inspiring how many individuals have completely reshaped their lives through joining the ChipsAway franchise network.

We now take a look at three success stories from individuals who have joined ChipsWay from different career paths. This demonstrates how experience in the industry isn’t essential in becoming a successful franchisee, just a passion for the brand and a hard-working nature.

Ryan Lythe

Ryan previously worked in the construction industry but sought a job that he could be proud of and give him a sense of fulfilment. His ChipsAway story began in 2011, and in the following year he was awarded the ChipsAway ‘Newcomer of the Year 2012’. Fast forward four more years and he’s won the ‘Marketer of the Year 2016’ at ChipsAway’s Annual Conference and Awards Dinner.

The successful franchisee first realised his love for painting when he was repainting an old vehicle with a spray gun. Being unable to go back into academia and study, he was delighted when he saw an advert for ChipsAway in the local newspaper.

Ryan wanted to be a part of a business with a proven track record of success, safe in the knowledge that he could switch jobs without sacrificing earnings. And it paid off. He generated estimates of around £10,000 over his first weekend.

After getting the go ahead, Ryan took part in comprehensive training programme lasting a month, and then another weeklong course after he’d been up and running for a few months. Now, he runs his very own Car Care Centre. If you want to check it out, you’ve got too book ahead as it has become so popular with locals that it’s fully booked up weeks in advance.

Ryan’s business saw success fast and his Car Care Centre expanded quickly. He had to accommodate the high demand and with the help with a talented team of employees and the franchisor, his business is continuing to grow by approximately 50 percent each year.

This is a great example of how franchising can change someone’s life for the better. Ryan enjoys the benefits of being his own boss and having flexibility. It must be everybody’s dream to change career paths and not only be happier but also in a better financial position.

Ryan is realistic though, and reminds potential candidates that, like in any businesses, there are ups and downs. It’s how you deal with them that dictates whether you sink or swim.

Andy Cornell

Like Ryan, Andy wanted to shake up his career and try something completely different. A former Sales and Marketing Director who had faced redundancy twice in three years, his interest was sparked by ChipsAway in 2011.

Andy appreciated setting up a franchise that was already established was much less risky than an independent start up. He was attracted to ChipsAway’s flexible business model, relatively low start-up costs and the fact there was scope to grow his business.

He was interested in cars and saw an opportunity to turn a passion into a profitable business opportunity. Andy was also drawn in by ChipsAway’s successful marketing strategy and sparkling reputation, which gives franchisees a steady stream of customers from launch day.

Andy praised the ongoing training ChipsAway provides, and how the brand goes the extra mile for its franchisees too. It offers complementary courses in vehicle lease hand back assessment, social media advertising, and new products and services.

Andy’s hard work didn’t go unnoticed and in 2016 he won the Business Mentor of the Year and Franchisee of the Year Awards. This was the third time in a row he’d won the latter.

David Greenaway

David Greenaway is proof that you can find that dream work-life balance. In 2011, the former training manager swapped a job that meant he spent time away from his family for a ChipsAway franchise. Wanting to stay within the automotive sector he’d always worked in, David was attracted to the professionalism and brand identity of ChipsAway.

After attending the Head Office open day, he knew that investing in the car repair franchise was the career change he needed. Thanks to the support he received from the business and national TV advertising, David successfully secured £4,000 worth of bookings when he launched his franchise.

His franchise business has since grown from a small centre with two employees to a larger Car Care Centre, which he moved to in 2014, with a team of six people. Enjoying being his own boss, David has a flexible work schedule and a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction he lacked in previous roles. Keen to grow more, David knows that he can rely on ChipsAway for support to make it happen.

Financial information

If you’re inspired by David’s story, then take a closer look at what it actually costs to set up a van-based franchise with ChipsAway.

The franchise has a single-entry fee of £29,995 plus VAT. ChipsAway does have various pricing options, so you’ll only need £15,000 plus VAT of your own money to get your franchise started. Plus, after your initial investment you could start seeing an average of £80,000 worth of leads coming your way as a direct result of ChipsAway marketing campaigns. As an approved business opportunity, you may be able to borrow up to £25,000 from your bank to enable you to invest in your own franchise.

For franchisees that are ambitious and willing to work hard, the rewards are unlimited and there’s scope for expansion. Many franchisees move from a man-in-a-van business to a multi van operation, with a franchisee who owns one of ChipsAway’s largest Car Care Centres turning over £1,000,000 per year.