VIP Home Services - Thank Heavens For VIP

A tale often told by VIP Home Services franchisees is how they left the corporate world, lost 20 kilos or so and became fit running their own businesses, but Kim White's story is a little different. His motivation in leaving his high-powered job in the financial services industry was not boredom or the wish to control his own future but a deep-felt desire to help others.

‘I was appointed as pastor to a small church in Tauranga and I needed to support myself and my family,' he says. ‘Fortunately, the VIP opportunity came up and I was able to buy a well-established business locally with potential for growth.'

It was important for Kim that his new franchise allowed him time for his pastoral activities. ‘One of the attractions of VIP is that it is very flexible in terms of the work, the hours and also the ability to employ others. I am not limited to lawn-mowing - I've done a lot of extra gardening and landscaping, and the previous owner had done a good job in building up winter work, too. I've taken it up a level and it is wonderful to be creative and get paid for it.

‘At present I work four days a week, sometimes more, so to make time for my other duties I am now employing someone to help cope with all the extra work. Recently I had to spend time in hospital, but my wife and a friend were easily able to manage in my absence.' Kim has also found more time for his family with VIP. ‘For example, I have a contract to look after the plants at the local McDonald's. My six year old daughter just loves spending Saturday mornings with me as I do the work and she comes to McDonald's for a treat.'

With his background in business Kim felt confident about buying a franchise. ‘It is a much safer way to enter a new industry,' he says. ‘There are considerable benefits to joining a long-term operation and as VIP has been in business for almost 35 years they must be doing something right! The training and systems work so well that it was actually quite a smooth transition for me. Although there is a huge amount of business down here, client retention is an important part of the VIP philosophy. Keeping your clients happy is very important.'

Estelle and John Logan, national franchisees for VIP New Zealand, say that Kim has taken full advantage of the VIP system to build his business. ‘Our aim is to appoint the right people in the first place and to train them and give them the support they need to create the business they want. We are very keen to assist, but not to interfere. Kim and his family are doing an excellent job, and their results just prove how much work is out there for good people.'

No Limits

VIP offers two franchises: lawnmowing with gardening (outdoors) and home and office cleaning (indoors). The investment required for each ranges between $11,000 and $17,000 +gst and equipment, depending on the level of income you require. ‘We will supply you with customers and provide you with a guaranteed income during your induction period,' says Estelle. ‘Thereafter, we will support you to grow your business as much as you like.'

David and Amy Loo chose the indoor option when they bought their franchise on Auckland's North Shore. David Loo has a sales and insurance broking background in his native Malaysia, while Amy is a management graduate. ‘Amy and I wanted to work together in our own business. We looked for something where the market was booming and cleaning was an obvious option.

The couple had no experience of franchising but decided they should look at all the alternatives. ‘We had no capital,' explains David, ‘but VIP have a flexible entry scheme which we were able to afford by borrowing from friends at our church. This put extra pressure on us as we kept thinking "What if it fails?", but we had strong feelings that VIP was a company with integrity and we found John and Estelle very easy to talk to and helpful.'

Two weeks training followed by two weeks supervision on the job soon built up David and Amy's confidence and 18 months later their worries are all behind them. ‘We now have a solid business with a turnover well in excess of $3000 a week,' David says. ‘We employ two staff and although we still work six days, Monday is very short. 90% of our work is residential and we certainly don't work long hours. Generally we are home by 5pm and that still gives us the income and life we want. We have paid off our loans and our hard work is being rewarded.

‘Really I think the VIP system is the best available. We are working for ourselves within a professional organisation, doing our own quoting and dealing direct with our customers. We can both see lots of opportunities for us to expand our business in the future and would recommend VIP to anyone. The great thing is that there are no limits!'

This advertorial is taken from Franchise New Zealand magazine Volume 16 Issue 1

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