Gas-Elec Takes The Hassle Out Of Being A Franchisee

RealBusiness:

Gas-Elec founder John Davidson has made his franchisees more productive and profitable by establishing a central bureau to take care of their paperwork.

The company offers gas and electrical safety inspections, services, products and advice, and specialises in the residential housing market. It has 18 regional franchises and 115 inspection franchises (most of which are run by engineers) that turn over a total of £10m.

“Self-employed people have to do their own invoicing and credit control; our people in our network don’t have to as we do it all for them,” Davidson says. “It saves them a lot of time and that time goes towards them being more productive.”

But setting up the bureau wasn’t easy. “We employed an accounting firm to develop the software for it. It was fairly difficult to put together but now it works like clockwork,” Davidson notes.

Once a job is done, it’s noted on the system and the staff in the central office can then chase payment for it. Davidson adds: “The whole franchise is paid on a fortnightly basis.”