<span style="font-size: 25px;">🕒</span> Estimated reading time: 3 min.
Drain Doctor launched here in the UK back in 1994. Since then, it has become the nation’s largest full-service emergency plumbing and drainage company, working in both the commercial and domestic sectors.
The Drain Doctor franchise model has been built to enable motivated individuals to lead and motivate their team of skilled plumbing and drainage technicians to success within their local area. You WON’T be conducting the technical work yourself however you will be responsible for making key business decisions with the support of the Drain Doctor head office team.
Tap into more than 25 years franchising experience and join a network of over 35 like-minded business owners.
Click here to learn more about the Drain Doctor franchise opportunity>>>
In our latest Franchisor Q&A series, we look at Drain Doctor's plans for the future and why the business is a smart franchise investment for those seeking just the right work-life balance.
Q1. Why is your business a smart franchise investment for entrepreneurs?
Whilst we accept that the Drainage and Plumbing Industry may not be a ‘sexy’ sector.
If you’re looking for a business that is; easier (and cheaper) to scale than food and beverage units; more recession resistant than the gym industry, just as much job satisfaction as the care industry, with great profit margins, then Emergency Drainage and Plumbing may be the sector for you.
Q2. What do you look for in a potential franchisee?
Contrary to popular belief you don’t need a background in the Drainage and/or Plumbing Industry to become a successful Drain Doctor Franchisee.
We’re looking for ambitious individuals who are willing to commit their time and effort to the tasks that we know grow a business.
Our Franchisee’s come from a diverse range of backgrounds, some from the plumbing and drainage industry, but many more from white collar vocations. You need to be a people person and a leader, and we ask for commitment and determination to grow the business and follow a proven franchise model developed over the past 25+ years of operation in the UK.
Q3. What does the initial training process look like for new franchisees?
As soon as you become a Franchisee you will join the Drain Doctor sure start programme. This is a 8-12 week support programme where our Franchisees and their Business Development Managers stand shoulder to shoulder to prepare the Franchisee and their business to launch. This includes tasks such as recruitment; equipment ordering; and our 2 week formal training course, amongst many others.
Formal training includes 1 week of business training where you learn all about how to operate your drainage and plumbing business the way of the UK’s Most Trusted Drainage and Plumbing Franchise. The second week of training is technical training, whilst we don’t want our Franchisees performing the technical role of the business, we do want them confident and competent when operating in the field. Our technical training delivers certified qualifications for our Franchisees and their initial employees.
Q4. How do you help franchisees achieve a work-life balance?
Many small and medium sized trades business owners struggle to maintain a work-life balance because they perform ALL the tasks required to operate their business. For example, after a 10-hour day they then go home to write reports, raise invoices, chase payments, organise quotes and then they might even have time to market their business, all before family and life can get a look in.
With a Drain Doctor franchise, whilst we still want you 100% committed to your business, you can work smarter and not necessarily harder - focussing on the tasks that grow a business. We can then provide the training, systems and processes for you to learn and implement in your business and software to manage your team with the click of a button. You’ll have business development managers to help you keep track of your business performance and coach you to continue to grow both your business and yourself.
Q5. How has the Covid-19 pandemic changed the way the franchise operates? What extra support and assistance are you offering your franchisees during this time?
Unlike many sectors in the UK, Drain Doctor continued to operate throughout COVID-19, our franchisees and their staff were considered essential workers. Drain Doctor and its franchise owners were proud to keep the infrastructure of the nation flowing through such a challenging time.
Drain Doctor’s central marketing team also completed a re-brand of its image, built a new website for all franchisee’s and developed and implemented a new digital marketing assistance initiative for it’s Franchisee’s to dominate the digital space in each of their territories.
With the combination of Drain Doctor’s centralised digital marketing efforts, coupled with the post-lockdown return of customers from the commercial sector, Drain Doctor franchisee’s are busier than ever before with the network recording record months in May, July and September 2021.
Q6. What plans do you have for the franchise over the next few years in a post-Covid economy?
Drain Doctor plans to continue to cement its reputation as the go to Emergency Drainage and Plumbing Company in the UK, we’re a brand that the public can rely upon in their time of need. With a 4.8 Trustpilot rating our Franchisees deliver a world class level of customer experience to people in the domestic and commercial sector.
Drain Doctor has plans to implement new software and support systems to help our current franchisee’s to grow their businesses efficiently, whilst adding more franchisee’s in the few areas where we don’t currently have coverage.
You could build a scalable multi-van management franchise, in a recession resilient industry with The UK’s Most Trusted Plumbing and Drainage Company.
Drain Doctor are seeking ambitious management franchise owners across the UK, in areas such as;
- Kent
- South Manchester
- Wales
- East Midlands
Click here to learn more about the Drain Doctor franchise opportunity>>>