becoming one of the FASTEST GROWING FRANCHISE\'s IN THE UK
Press Release Body: Welcome to eCounties
becoming one of the FASTEST GROWING FRANCHISE\'s IN THE UK
I will explain how a unique set of circumstances and a genuinely cutting edge product have been brought together to present an outstanding franchise opportunity for just one entrepreneur in each postcode area.
If you\'ve been looking for a way to leave the rat-race and enjoy a secure and reliable source of income - a business that you own and run yourself - that generates not only high levels of profit but also provides.
* something that is valued and important to your local community * that you are proud of... * that you can work on when you choose, (freeing your time for the more important things in life!!!)
.then this may well be the most important thing you read all year.
IS THIS YOU?
Do any of the following paragraphs sounds familiar to you?
\"I want more time with my family"
\"I would love to work from home"
\"I am fed up with using my skills to make someone else wealthy. I want to start getting paid what I\'m really worth.\"
\"I\'m worried about my job. I\'m not sure what the future holds and I need to secure a more dependable income for my family's future.\"
\"I can't stand the office politics any more. I need to be my own boss."
\"I\'ve was recently made redundant and I don't want to be in that position again.
I need to use what has happened as a springboard to a better way of life."
\"I\'ve looked at loads of different franchises and business opportunities but think that they are too restrictive. I just need a little direction and a kick-start, and I can run my own business.\"
\"I want to take control of my life"
If you can relate to any of these statements, then you are not alone.
These are quotes from people who were experiencing the same things as you and who have since become franchisees of eCounties
Background
eCounties was devloped as a competitor to other major directories but we wanted to offer more and be diofferent, it was deceided that we wanted the consumers to leave reviews on a business they had used to allow others to see what they offer in service etc.
So www.eCounties.co.uk was born and it is progressing all the time, it was launched initially in Shropshire and then due to the success was rolled out to 56 Counties and still it groiws,
Look at this
the facts are unavoidable:
FACT ONE People overwhelmingly prefer 'local' providers of goods and services It is fact that 40% of internet searches are for local products or services.
FACT TWO More people than ever in the UK are using the web - and it's only going to get bigger - and they want to use it to find local commercial information.
Over 62% of the UK population uses the internet and at the end of 2006 over 80% of internet connections were broadband.
This one shows the increase in the volume of money spent on online advertising over the last four years. The total amount spent each year more than doubled between 2003 and 2006, and if this rate of growth continues then we can expect another double-digit percentage increase in 2007. This is a huge market, that is only getting bigger.
The next chart shows the percentage increase in advertising spend across a number of mediums from 2005 to 2006. The 27% increase in the money spent on advertising online is simply extraordinary compared to traditional advertising.
FACT THREE
There are very few places on the internet where people can find detailed and accurate information about local products and services provided locally.
I mean, a truly outstanding opportunity. We are talking 'once in a lifetime' type of opportunity here - because this is going to be huge.
Think about it.
A website that is:
Run by local people,
for local people,
Supporting local business,
BUT, crucially, a site which has national clout.
If ever a product was 'of its time' this is it.
Ever wondered what it was like to be 'in at the start' of some major business phenomenon that swept the country? Who were the people that 'got in' on mobile phones in the mid-80's for instance, and how did they do it? How were they able to grow their business on the back of a massively growing market.
Well, this is your chance to find out - because this is going to be enormous.
The Opportunity
The vast majority of small businesses in the UK have little or no presence on the internet. Many of them still don't have a website, and those that do have a site do nothing to get people to go to their site - so it plays no part in the development and growth of their business. (We're talking about small and medium size businesses here, remember. The 'big boys' are way ahead of the game with excellent sites that they market well).
Now, of course, this has to change. The hundreds of thousands of small and medium size businesses that currently get little or, mostly, zero business via the internet are going to have to change. As the Sunday Times said \"it\'s a case of adapt or die\"
They need exposure on the web - not to the whole world, but at least to people in their area who are using the web to look for the products and service that they offer. For instance, there were more than 750,000 searches last month for \'florists\', most of which also attached a town or area name.
And, as many businesses are finding out, simply having a web site is no good. People have got to be able to find their site - quickly and easily, at the time that they need it. This means that, somehow, they have got to get exposure to high rankings on the search engines. (In other words, if I'm a plumber in Bristol and someone is searching Google for 'Bristol plumber' - they have got to find my site. Now getting that sort of exposure is a big challenge for Mr. Plumber.) Let\'s be honest, many small businesses simply won\'t make it happen - but with your help, it will happen - and fast!
Now imagine if you were able to go to all the businesses in your town and offer them a great web presence. Can you see how attractive that would be to the thousands of businesses in your town?
WELL HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT BECAUSE IT GETS EVEN BETTER...
What if you could effectively do all of their local marketing through www.ecounties.co.uk? Providing an online marketing solution as part of a wide-ranging portfolio of marketing and promotional tools.
Not only will you be able to offer your clients a great online presence, you'll also be able to:
* use eCounties 'door drop' to massively raise a business's profile amongst local people * promote businesses to other local companies through a business to business magazine,regular business networking and mix and match * collect testimonials from a business's existing customers using our online review system
Can you see how well thought through the development of this product has been, so that it offers EXACTLY what every small and medium sized business in your town needs?
\"Once you get in front of a customer - eCounties just sells itself" Lee Purcell, franchisee for SY10 & SY11
\"I had 100% conversion from the first 39 businesses I visited. That took me nearly 4 weeks, but at the end of my first month I'd repaid my entire investment." Sean Lewis, franchisee for TQ1 & TQ3
\"I've got a new hobby - watching the faces of new customers when I tell them the price! It's just priceless. They sign up every time" Vikki Smith, franchisee for SW15
\"eCounties offers ten times the value of other companies, for less than half the price"Rileys Snooker Halls, Client of eCounties Nationwide
NO TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
One more thing, though, you don't need any technical knowledge at all. We've designed eCounties so that as long as you have a reasonable understanding of Microsoft Office (ie Outlook and Word), you can run and operate the business using our bespoke web-based application.
\"I was amazed at how easy it was for me to design really great features for my customers. All I do is fill in a form and the pages just appear on the internet" Yvonne Smith, franchisee for TF1 & TF2
What Do I Need
To be successful in this business you need to provide three things:
1. Commitment, effort and time 2. Some background and experience in sales 3. A reasonably modern PC (not Mac)
We'll provide you with everything else you need to build a wonderfully successful business - generating very healthy profits - right from Month One!
ONGOING INCOME FOR YOU...
Oh, and finally, one really important business element - your customers sign up for a minimum of twelve months. This means that you do the work once, at the beginning, and then get paid every month. There is very little for you to do after month two, but your customers are still getting all of the benefits of your product - and paying you for it, which makes it a very attractive business model, I'm sure you'll agree.
Now, hopefully, you're seeing why this is such a great franchise - and such a perfect business opportunity from your perspective. I'll give you the critical detailed financial projections shortly, but first let's look at why this business works so well and is so valuable for your customers too.
WHY EVERY BUSINESS IN YOUR TOWN WILL NEED TO USE YOUR PRODUCT
Remember those three key facts from earlier:
1. More people than ever in the UK are using the web - and it's growing every day 2. People overwhelmingly prefer 'local' providers of goods and services 3. There are very few places on the internet where people can find detailed and accurate information about local products and services provided locally.
The fact is that small and medium size businesses facing up to the impact of the internet on their business. They simply can't afford not to have a strong local presence on the web.
And to have someone local, providing them with a solution that:
* Brings them new business * Is simple for them to use and understand * Gets 'traffic' to their website - if they have one * Provides them with prestige and status in their community * Is the most comprehensive local promotion service out there
Well, you can see why they'll want to be part of it.
Added to this, you'll also be trained and equipped, as a franchisee, to provide your clients with a host of additional services if they want it. Everything from online reviews of their business from their existing customers to matching them other businesses in your town that you know they could work with.
WHY PEOPLE IN YOUR TOWN WILL USE YOUR SITE
The third really important element that will ensure the success of your business is the level of 'usage' and visitors that your Site will get. There are a number of things that you need to know about this:
Search Engine Optimisation Once we\'d identified exactly what the market opportunity was here, I pulled together some of the best people in the world to help build the ideal solution. We have partnered with the top search engine experts who also work with the likes of:
* FSB * Corgi * British Airways * MTV * easyJet * Disney * Barclays
...and many more major companies on their online strategies, so you can see that we really are working with the best here.
Bottom line, if someone is looking on the web for a florist in your town and you\'ve got a florist on your site, then they\'ll find you!
It has taken two years, and a very significant investment, to get to this stage but the result is a site that ranks very highly on the likes of Google and Yahoo, and that is now generating more than 10 million hits per month and has been one of the Top 100 most popular websites in the UK for 12 months in a row.
In addition, significant PR and marketing of the site has resulted in some serious recognition.
IN SUMMARY
So let's recap briefly. Here are the key points so far.
* The internet has already become a major factor in most people's lives - but it will become much, much more significant in the months and years ahead * People prefer to use local providers of goods and services and they increasingly want to use the internet to find out about these providers * The depth of information available online, about local businesses is currently poor * This unique set of circumstances, and genuinely cutting edge product features, presents an outstanding franchise opportunity for one entrepreneur in each major town in the UK * Already, many franchises have been sold since the business was launched in July 2006
Don\'t forget, each postcode area can only have one franchisee so get in touch today to make sure you don\'t miss out.
Ideal Business Ingredient 1: HUGE DEMAND For any business to be successful, it must have a product that someone wants and needs. You will see why this 'product' is so unique and so valuable that virtually every business in your area will want to be included. It's so much more than a website.
Ideal Business Ingredient 2: LOW MAINTENANCE Who needs to spend all day on the phone servicing some product? (None of that here!)
Ideal Business Ingredient 3: NO STOCK Did you really want to fill up your garage, or half your bedroom with a bunch of products that no one will buy? No way. Providing thebestof to your customers is virtually zero-cost and hassle free.
Ideal Business Ingredient 4: NO EMPLOYEES Avoid the cost, the hiring headaches, the training.enough said.
Ideal Business Ingredient 5: RESIDUAL INCOME You do the work once and get paid over and over again. Your customers will remain with you month after month. The results they get from thebestof will ensure that, for the vast majority, once they start, they won't want to stop - and they'll pay you each month, usually by Direct Debit or Standing Order.
Ideal Business Ingredient 6: RESPECTABILITY This is a 'win-win' business that you can be proud of. Your customers make more money. You win with a profitable business AND prestige and respect within your community.
Ideal Business Ingredient 7: LOW-COST Your monthly overheads are tiny. I've looked hard and I don't think there's a bone fide business out there with a lower cost base. Plus the initial investment is a fraction of what many, frankly much less attractive, franchises cost.
Ideal Business Ingredient 8: Little or NO FINANCIAL RISK involved It's already been tested and proven by many franchisees.many of whom have achieved stunning results.
Ideal Business Ingredient 9: RAPID PAYBACK Many franchisees have recouped their initial investment in a matter of months and you can read their stories in a few minutes.
Now, the truth is, in many businesses it's hard to find a single one of these \"Must Have Ingredients" - if you're lucky you might get a handful of them. But this business not only provides ALL NINE of them but, in addition, it offers the biggest single opportunity for market growth of any industry anywhere in the UK right now.
What Can I Earn?
Now, let's just go through the financial side of this business.
Income
The suggested pricing structure for your clients pay is very simple, and it represents great value (which makes it very attractive to businesses). Of course, as it is your business, you are free to charge what you like, and many of our franchisees have found in the past that they are able to charge (and justify) prices that exceed our suggested figures.
Don't forget that this income should keep coming year after Year, so you can take holidays and time-off and you'll still be getting paid. This means that your income is secured, even if you are basking on a beach somewhere!
Several Franchisees attained six figure incomes within 2 years of launching their eCounties business!!
Costs
Now, with any business, it's not just the income that matters - it's the costs and, ultimately, the profit. And, once again, I've only got good news for you.
Another great advantage of this business is that you can run it from home with minimal overheads. You'll need a small amount of office stationery and some petrol money to get around but there really aren\'t any significant overheads.
Licence Fee
There is a monthly License Fee to pay for being a franchisee. Now for this, you're getting everything provided for you. All the website hosting and development of the site and all of your training and development.
The License Fee can be explained more on meeting with you but is reasonable, so you know exactly where you stand.
You will have very few other monthly expenses.
What Does It Cost?
I guess, at this stage, you might be a little worried that the cost of a franchise like this has got to be too high. It's not, I promise.
Franchises start from as little as £5000.00, plus VAT.
The actual price of the franchise for your area will depend on a number of factors, including size of population. There are four price bands and when you get in touch with us we can tell you whether your postcode area is available.
Don't forget that for this you get everything - and I mean everything - to enable you to set up a business that is generating a very healthy profit every month.
. You're getting a product that cost a significant six figure sum to develop . You\'re building a business in a market that is growing and where you\'ll have a genuinely unique product to offer your customers . You're getting the flexibility to work when you want PLUS you\'ll build a business that has considerable value in its own right and that you\'ll be able to sell at some point in the future.
To ensure your success as a franchisee we have put together a unique package for you. It includes: your section of the natiowide website with unique log in for administration etc exclusive to your postcode area - and built using the very latest technology and techniques, jam packed with great features.
You also get a Franchise Pack which includes everything - and I mean everything - that you need to build yourself a substantial business in just a few short months. Here are just some of the things that are included:
. Marketing & sales Training . Complete Business Process Manual that covers every aspect of your business . Technical Training - you get video based tutorials that take you through, step-by-step, every aspect of the technical side of the business. The feedback on these tutorials from existing franchisees has been great, so you can be sure that you\'ll be up and running in no time... . A Sales Presentation folder that contains all the tools you need when you\'re with potential customers . Personalised Stationery and Client Agreement Forms
PLUS, as you'd expect, you get full Training. As part of a small group of new franchisees you will attend one of our acclaimed Franchisee Induction Training Events.
JUST SOME OF THE ONGOING SUPPORT YOU\'LL GET FROM US
Right from Day One you\'ll feel supported and cared for by our expert team. Here are some of the things you can expect;
. We hold regular Franchisee Development Days for you to attend . There is an online Franchisee Forum where you can interact with your fellow franchisees across the country . There are fortnightly podcasts which are a combination of tips, training, Q&A and support . Our Technical Helpdesk provides rapid response to any technical challenges you may have . Plus, if you need it, you'll have 1:1 access with an appropriate member of the team to provide you with whatever help you require . And there\'s loads of help and support from our six Franchisee Development Managers - just ask any of our existing franchisees
In short, if you come on board with us, we'll be there for you.
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention our dedicated team of Franchisee Development Managers (FDMs). These guys only have one role in life, to help you make your site a success and provide tons and tons of ongoing training, support, marketing and sales initiatives etc to help your business grow.
HOW TO APPLY
Because we are responsible franchisors and also because each postcode area have only one franchisee (and we want to make sure it's the right one!) this opportunity is not open to everyone.
We are carefully selecting the individuals that we allow to come on board.
If you are interested in becoming involved and running a franchise in your area then you need to make contact with us. Call one of the team on 0844 586 2836
Web Site: http://www.ecounties.co.uk
Contact Details: eCounties Ltd The Old malthouse Willow Street Oswestry SY11 1AJ 0844 586 2936
2025
