Home and Dry! June 2007
Ben Reynolds wanted to be his own boss, and now a few months into his aqua-lec franchise, is confident that he has made the right decision. With a service industry related background working in a pub and for drainage companies, he chose plumbing because “at least you’re dry and warm – most of the time!”
Aged 29, Ben’s ambition is to retire by the time he’s 50. “I needed to work for myself, because I knew that if I stayed where I was I would have been 40 and still getting nowhere.”
Ben looked at other plumbing franchises, but chose aqua-lec because the working hours suited his family life. “With one toddler and one new born, I didn’t want to be out all night, and I didn’t want to be working Saturday night at 10 o’clock. I’d rather be at home with my family, take my boys to football on Sunday – that sort of stuff. You don’t get to do that when you work for a 24 hour firm.
“I found aqua-lec through Google, and came to a discovery day with my wife, and decided this was the one. I have found the training informative, thorough and easy to follow. It helps that I have been in a hands-on job, I have always worked with my hands, built things, made things, fixed things.”
Ben’s goal for the next two or three years is to build his business up enough to have employees and to widen his area, perhaps have another van. The first three months have seen steady work coming in. Based in Littlehampton, he says there is a lot of plumbers but not so many good ones “more jack of all trades. Having a liveried van helps too, and makes me look more respectable and professional. I find a lot of work just driving around – people take the number down from the van.
“I’m happy with the way it’s going, it’s definitely better being my own boss. Aqua-lec’s a good company to work with.”
Advice for would-be franchisees? “Starting a business on your own is a bit like moving out from home for the first time. You find the reality is a lot different and you have to be prepared for that. Although I’m starting my own business, as a franchisee it means I have got the expertise of 10 years behind me.”
