MULTI-VAN MANAGEMENT FRANCHISE
DRIVING A REVOLUTION IN THE MARKETPLACE
HIGH-MARGIN | B2B/B2C | RECURING INCOME | AUTOMOTIVE | TECH & AI
Build your own large local business with DA Techs, a revolutionary management franchise created by founders Phil Barnard, Jamie Baxter and franchising expert, Jane Coleman. Jane launched and grew the UK’s Starbucks franchise model, then Pret-a-Manger and more recently Townhouse.
Together they have created the DA Tech franchise, an extremely lucrative management business model offering healthy margins with market demand growing faster than we can satisfy.
MOBILE = HIGHER MARGINS
Deliver mobile SMART alloy wheel repairs and professional diamond cutting at each client’s premises from your fleet of specialist vans. It only takes a few hours for each job, rather than the 3-5 days of a traditional full factory service.
Mobile SMART repairs are much higher margin too, but where a set of wheels are more seriously damaged you can still provide your client a convenient solution by shipping their wheels to the head office factory for a full service (strip, paint, machine and seal).
CONVENIENCE = HIGHER DEMAND
Diamond cut wheels have become standard fit across all levels of cars and many vans, with wheels from 14” – 23” and larger on some SUVs. The diverse mix of clients your business will serve all have one thing in common – they want a fast professional repair asap….
- Dealerships need their stream of stock readied to sell, week after week
- Corporates and rental networks want batch repairs, keeping vehicles on the road
- The private retail market is also massive, paying more for convenience
additional competitive advantage with ongoing training and support for you and your team.
FRANCHISING = PROVEN MODEL
DA Techs were the first in the UK to fit out a van with a specialist mobile lathe back in 2016, disrupting the alloy wheel repair market in their local area. This new mobile offering quickly became the most profitable division of the Diverse Automotive Techs repair group portfolio.
Developed by the creator of the Starbucks and Pret-a-Manger franchises in the UK, the DA Techs business model offers world-class guidance, support and resources across every aspect of your business journey – from marketing and sales, to operations, HR and finance.
REVOLUTIONISE A MARKET
Follow our proven model and you will drive a revolution in your local area, offering a new level of convenience for the repair of
alloy wheels that will set a new standard with dealerships, corporates and the retail/private markets in your territory.
BENEFIT FROM TECH & AI
Our technology utilises AI for machine operations, so you won’t need to attract and retain expensive highly-skilled technicians.
Instead, you can focus on recruiting for attitude and customer service skills from a far larger pool.
LARGE TERRITORIES
Create a business that delivers healthy ongoing earnings, while building an asset with the potential to grow to be worth £1.5m+. Each large territory starts with five exclusive areas, mapped for 2-3 vans per area. Don’t stop there, go multi-territory…
I’ve worked with Phil and Jamie for a few years in one of their other businesses and when I saw the franchise and understood the potential of the business I jumped at the chance to invest. I have managed teams before and I have seen the massive demand for the mobile service first hand. Exciting times ahead….
The typical stages in launching and growing your DA Techs business look something like this:
Launch
With your first liveried DA Techs van(s), we’ll show you how to start by building relationships with your local dealerships to create a regular workflow.
Scale
With demand growing in your first area, you’ll add technicians and vans. It’s important to follow the model, focus on standards and service to build reputation.
Expand
As you progress into your other five territories, you’ll follow the same process you learnt with the first – scaling up your business further.
Oversee
You’ll be working ‘on’ the business now, enjoying a great work/life balance. But you’ll still be keeping a close eye on your team, standards and financials.
Extend or Sell
Now is the time to consider your future - you may wish to assess and then build the business’s valuation ready to sell, or add further territory to grow an empire!
THE RIGHT STUFF
DA Techs’ culture is high-performance, ambition and professionalism. But while intense and fast-paced, a good sense of humour is mandatory and BS isn’t our style.
To succeed in this business you need:
✓ Mechanical common sense
✓ An outgoing nature and a cool head
✓ Ready to roll your sleeves up and commit to finding solutions
✓ Enthusiasm to join a network of like-minded, driven franchisees
✓ Open to guidance and committed to following our business model
✓ At least £50k to invest, total investment c.£125k
(bank funding available, subject to status)
If you’re ready to build a solid future and feel that starting your own DA Techs business could be a good fit, please share your contact details so that one of our team can reach out to you shortly.
Do you need automotive experience to run a DA Techs franchise?
Why the AI-proof wheel repair market is the smart choice to invest in a franchise
How you can scale to 10+ mobile wheel repair workshops with the DA Techs growth blueprint
How DA Techs wins dealership contracts – and why our same-day service turbocharges franchise growth
What makes DA Techs different from every other wheel repair franchise?
Why the alloy wheel repair market is the UK’s next big franchise opportunity
From employee to multi-van owner: How Tom Stafford is successfully scaling the first DA Techs franchise
Tom Stafford’s journey with DA Techs is a strong example of what can happen when ambition meets the right business model.
Key franchise information:
- Franchisee: Tom Stafford
- Territory: Colchester, Ipswich and Cambridge
- Launch date: Late 2024
- Size as of February 2026: Three vans and technicians; 30+ clients
As the first DA Techs franchisee, he launched his territory covering Colchester, Ipswich and Cambridge in late 2024.
By February 2026, he had already grown the business to three vans and technicians, serving more than 30 clients.
Before becoming a business owner, Tom had built a successful career in the automotive sector.
After university, he worked his way up from an office role to workshop manager at British Car Auctions, before later becoming an Operations Manager for DA Techs co-founders Phil Barnard and Jamie Baxter.
But despite doing well in employment, he wanted more than just a monthly pay cheque.
“I was earning good money in my job and I could’ve easily stayed as an employee anywhere that matched my skill set and took home my pay cheque each month,” he explains.
“But I found myself ending each day thinking I had worked really hard, but didn’t have anything to show for it.”
Why franchising appealed
For Tom, franchising offered something employment could not: a direct link between effort and reward, and the ability to shape his own future.
“What I liked about the potential of franchising is that I knew if I worked really hard, I might get more back out of it. I knew I had my work cut out for me, but I’m not the sort of person to shy away from a challenge. I would be in control of my future and could reap the rewards of my hard graft.”
When he learned DA Techs was launching its franchise network, the opportunity immediately stood out.
Having worked closely with the founders and seen the service first-hand, Tom understood the strength of the model, the quality of the technology and the scale of the opportunity.
“I saw they were going to start franchising, so I had a conversation with them and explained I was interested. I felt like I’d sort of run other people’s businesses for many years and thought I’d quite like to have a go at doing it for myself.
“The technology and quality of it – it really is factory-grade machinery inside the van, delivering the same results I’d overseen at the workshop – meant I knew it wasn’t like other similar franchises.
“Another big factor is that I knew Phil and Jamie well and they are absolutely fantastic guys to work with. The opportunity just really excited me.”
Benefitting from world-class training and ongoing support
After joining the network, Tom received extensive support from the DA Techs team to ensure he launched with confidence.
“They provided all the hands-on training in running the business, managing accounts, explaining the model, and setting the benchmarks for what I needed to be working towards in terms of volume of wheels, pricing, turnover, clients and so forth.
“I’ve had ongoing support ever since, from the hands-on technical side of things and running the vans, to business support and advice about anything.
“I’ve never once felt as if I was on my own. You always feel a hand on your shoulder helping to push you in the right direction and build the best business possible.”
What the early days looked like
Launching in late 2024, Tom’s first priority was building momentum in a completely new territory.
He focused hard on sales, meetings and demonstrations, laying the foundations for recurring business and long-term client relationships. That effort paid off quickly.
“For the first few months, I hammered away at sales, meeting with potential clients and offering demos. Soon afterwards we started getting bookings and money coming in, which felt really nice.
“Now I know some conversations I have can be worth thousands of pounds, with the lifetime value of that client being really lucrative.”
Tom also values the way DA Techs listens to franchisee feedback and continually improves the model.
“As an example, when I collected my first two vans, there were a few things I had to add to make them function better and I told the guys about this.
“Then when it came to collecting my third van, everything I needed was already there and fitted with the van. They had taken the feedback onboard and used it to improve the van not just for me, but for every future franchisee and technician.
“That really illustrated their commitment to constant improvement to benefit everyone.”
How the business has grown
A little over a year after launch, Tom’s business is already flourishing.
With three vans on the road, technicians in place and more than 30 long-term clients, he is now focused on scaling further and strengthening the management structure around him so the business can keep growing.
“Franchisees are set the target to grow to 10 vans in their territory and we are looking to get halfway there within two years. So my focus now is really on developing the management team to support that growth. I can see first-hand that the potential really is unlimited.
“Compared to having a normal job, it’s doubly hard – but doubly rewarding. Yes, there are challenges. Yes, there are long days. But honestly, the efforts are worth it.
“Today for example, I am working from home, I have three vans out on the road, a really capable team in place working with smiles on their faces and I am able to dedicate my time to planning the growth of the business.”
Tom’s words of advice for future franchisees
“Do your research, because there’s a lot of elements to wheel repair. DA Techs have made it as accessible as it can be, but you have got to be up for a challenge.
“You have got to be up for getting involved, getting stuck in. It’s not easy, but if you’re consistent and if you keep going, eventually the time will come that you will get an opportunity over the line and it starts snowballing from there.
“But I would say you’re coming into it at a very exciting time, a very big period of growth. DA Techs are very ambitious in a very positive way, with the aim to be the No1 in the UK.
“So if you’re prepared to put in the work, you will succeed. I’m proving that to myself every day.”
Take the first step towards your future as a DA Techs business owner
Are you ready to stop working for someone else’s gain and start building your own significant asset?
The Business Support Team
