Additional Responsibility vs Expense Deductions: Where once an organisation’s HR function took care of personal commitments such as National Insurance, Tax contributions, Pension contributions, that responsibility now falls to the self-employed person to manage independently. Self-employment echoes in its own set of benefits through certain types of expense deductions such as computers and office equipment, start-up costs, automotive expenses on the vehicle used for your business, professional fees such as lawyers and accountants, and most travel expenses, to name just a few. And for many, the additional responsibility of operational management is quickly overcome and soon becomes operational infrastructure that no longer hinders. Recurring financial security vs Increased earning potential: The threat of losing a regular income is quite often the biggest restriction to exploring alternative working opportunities. Self-employment, and other forms of independent working, means that the responsibility of building up a new customer base, developing new revenue streams, and securing business opportunities that replace a full-time salary, all now sit with you. However, reaping the rewards of independent hard work brings higher levels of job satisfaction – giving the self-employed person the autonomy they need to do what they want to, when they want to. An independent career establishes an increased understanding of the true value of money – knowing when it’s due, determining your individual value, and developing a more astute view on expenditure. Franchising as an option for Independence With the UK Franchise industry demonstrating an annual turnover (2015) of £15.1b 4 , taking a step out of full-time employment into a Franchise opportunity is becoming more and more lucrative. And that trend is set to grow as entrepreneurs are stepping away from long-term careers and investing in a future for themselves. New trends founded on developing technologies and infrastructure are undoubtedly impacting the working world. In the UK alone, the number of franchisee-owned businesses has increased by 14% in two years with most of the businesses, on average, turning over more than £250,000 every year 4 . It is therefore little surprise that individuals who are facing critical career change decisions now view the option of franchising as a viable alternative to full-time work. The notion of franchising blends self-employment with the support and reputation of an established brand and business system, meaning that you, as the franchisee retain complete control over your own schedule and self-employment, but you are supported and receive benefit from several shared support services such as franchise recruitment, IT, marketing and finance, provided by the franchisor. HOW IT WORKS As a franchisee, you are the boss. As the owner, you determine how you’d like your business to run, and are responsible for generating revenue and reaping the rewards of your hard work. That includes finding new clients and hiring any employees you may need. But, what’s different with franchising is that you aren’t completely left to fend for yourself. A good franchisor will provide considerable training and support to ensure you have the tools you need to make your business a success. Franchisors have varying economic models. Some work by charging an upfront fee, some may work on monthly licensing costs, while others charge a percentage fee of business turnover. "After working in operational management for over 25 years, I turned to franchising because I wanted a career that offered financial security and had the potential to generate a great income. It was also an opportunity that enabled me to utilise my skills in people, operation and financial management" –Richard Metcalfe, Ovenclean Franchisee “For the first time, I now actually enjoy coming to work and I’m financially better off too!” – Ryan Lythe, Franchisee