Day in the Life: What It Takes to Run Your Own Electrician Franchise

Becky Martin, writer

Published at 04/10/2018, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 6 min

Day in the Life: What It Takes to Run Your Own Electrician Franchise — Photo © local-electrician-franchises.jpg

Have you ever considered starting your own electrician franchise but never fully understood what it takes? If yes, this is the article for you. We’ll start by creating a clearer picture as to why it’s a good idea to start a business in the electrician industry. Then, we will look at what you can expect when owning your own and the advantages and challenges that come along with it.

There are approximately 259,000 people working as electricians and electrical fitters in the UK. This year, the demand for green technologies and those skilled to implement and maintain such products has been particularly high and electrician franchises have had to accommodate this.

Electrician jobs can be incredibly varied; from repairing a light socket to a sizeable re-wiring project in a factory. But what many people don’t realise is that, depending on what jobs local electricians wish to undertake, it has an impact on the skills and qualifications that they need. So, if you want to be part of an industry with a total revenue of £24 billion, read on to find out more about what it takes to run your own electrician franchise.

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A day in the life of an electrician franchise owner

When you become an electrician franchise owner, you could choose to take a more managerial role and hire a team of talented local electricians. But you could also choose to take a more hands-on approach and carry out some of the electrician work yourself. Therefore, part of this article is dedicated to the specialised skills/training needed to become an electrician.

Residential vs commercial electrician jobs

If you ask most people what an electrician does, they’ll most likely say that they install or fix electrical systems in houses. And while this is undoubtedly true, there are other types of electricians too.

Many local electricians choose to become adequately trained to cater to the commercial market, as well as the residential. It takes longer and is more expensive to become qualified, but increases the size of the customer base and earning potential as a result.

Did you know? There are approximately 259,000 people working as electricians and electrical fitters in the UK

Advantages of becoming a commercial electrician franchise owner

The projects worked on tend to be longer and therefore provide an element of job security for self-employed electricians.
Larger projects offer more significant earning potential.
Longer jobs mean that commercial electricians get the chance to prove their skills and therefore future jobs may be won as a result of word of mouth. This means that less money needs to be invested in marketing.

Some more general benefits of being an electrician include:

The consistent demand for work makes it widely considered to be a recession-proof job.
You can choose your own hours to fit around personal commitments.
It’s the most well paid out of all the labouring trades.
After you’ve completed the training, you’ll have the skills and a career for life. It’s a sought-after skill that comes in handy in your own home, as well as those of your friends and family.

Whichever route you choose to go down, if you decide to start your own electrician business, it’s important for you and your employees to obtain the relevant skills and training that is required.

What training is required to become an electrician?

Local electricians can’t just rely on their ability to change a light bulb to become a credible tradesman. Official certification is crucial for the safety of you, your clients and any members of staff that you employ.

There are three main ways to become qualified as an electrician if you have no previous experience.

1. An apprenticeship

If you're under the age of 25, then an apprenticeship scheme is a great way to learn on the job. You get to work alongside an experienced electrician while learning the theory at college. An apprenticeship can take between two and four years to complete, at which point you will have earned an NVQ Level 3.

2. Level 2 and 3 diplomas

If you can’t find any local electricians to take you on, or you’re over the age of 25, then you have the option to apply to take a Level 2 and Level 3 diploma. You’ll learn all the practical skills and theory that you need to start work as an electrician.

3. The domestic electrician qualification

If you’ve decided that you’d like to start your business as a domestic electrician, then you can gain the relevant qualification quickly and easily. Since 2014, the domestic electrician qualification has enabled people to start working in their clients’ homes as soon as the training is complete. This provides an excellent opportunity for aspiring electricians, but remember, if you decide to become a commercial or industrial electrician at some point in the future, you would need to gain further qualifications.

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Challenges of owning your own electrician franchise

We’re now going to consider some of the main challenges you might face on your journey to owning your own electrician business.

Apprenticeship schemes can be lengthy. If you’re eager to get your business up and running as soon as possible, you could choose to hire a team of already trained electricians.
Can be dangerous. Due to the nature of electrician jobs, you can be prone to more illnesses and injuries than some other jobs. This is why it’s so important for you and/or your staff to be fully trained and experienced.
Starting a new business isn’t cheap, so you'll need to have adequate capital in place to fund your new venture. If you choose to start an independent company from scratch, then you'll need to pay for your training, a vehicle and your equipment. The costs will vary depending on what type of electrician you decide to be.

There is another option though. If you’re concerned about the many unknowns involved in setting up a business, particularly how much it will cost, then you could invest in an electrical franchise.

Become a franchisee in the electrician industry

If reading this article has ignited your desire to run your own electrician business, we have an exciting opportunity for you to consider.

Mr Electric

About Mr Electric: As the leading electrical franchise in the UK, Mr Electric offers a very attractive franchise opportunity.

How to become a Mr Electric franchisee: The global franchise brand has achieved turnovers exceeding $3 million in the US and is keen to further its coverage in the UK, where franchise owners have achieved over £1 million. With this opportunity, you will take a managerial role and employ professionals to carry out services.

How much do you need to invest upfront: If you’re hardworking and eager to succeed in the electrical services industry, Mr Electric encourages you to apply. You’ll need a total investment of £50,000 to be accepted as a franchisee.

Own your own electrician business with a franchise

Mr Electric is our only electrical franchise currently looking for franchisees. However, you might also want to check out construction business Refresh Renovations, which is the only design and build renovation franchise in the UK.