Pass the Keys

Alex launched his Pass the Keys franchise in North Manchester at the age of just 24. Now aged 27, he’s still the youngest Franchise Partner in the network, and he’s also one of the most accomplished, having built a portfolio of 30 properties with a Net Booking Value (NBV) of over £660,000.

Driven by a strong desire to be self-employed and inspired by his parent’s own successful journey into franchising, he knew that investing in a proven business model was the right path for him.

Three years on, he says that Pass the Keys has given him the tools and confidence to grow faster than he could have on his own.

How it started

Alex comes from a strong sales background, having worked as an account manager in his late teens for a taxi technology firm, which has since been acquired by Uber.

He then became a Sales Executive, and later a Business Development Manager, for service providers across Manchester and Chester.

In a few short years, Alex had built a successful career, but he longed to start a business of his own.

“Being self-employed is always something I wanted to do, so I looked online for franchising opportunities and discovered Pass the Keys,” he explains.

“It looked like the perfect fit from the start,” he recalls. “The online reviews were amazing, the company was very well established, and they’d won loads of awards.”

“Plus, I had the transferrable skills for owning a Pass the Keys franchise because I’d previously managed client relationships and financials,” Alex adds.

“So, I applied for the North Manchester franchise, went through the Pass the Keys interview process to make sure we were the right fit for each other, and here we are.”

Why franchising?

Alex knows first-hand the power of a proven business model, expert support and the confidence that franchising brings.

That’s why he chose to join a franchise network, as opposed to setting up an independent business.

“My parents’ company is a franchise, so I’ve learned from them about the benefits of working in this industry,” Alex explains.

“Setting up on your own is great, but it’s a more difficult route to growth. Pass the Keys helped me with everything from sales and marketing to advice on how to manage properties and setting rental prices. You don’t get that by setting up on your own, especially in a field that’s new to you. It would take years of research to build that knowledge.”

Fast-track to growth

Alex says he was able to fast-track the process of growing his own business through Pass the Keys.

“They are a reputable brand and the brilliant reviews on Google and Trust Pilot really help with getting deals over the line, in terms of partnering with new hosts,” he explains.

“During the first viewing I went on, I signed the property, and then I signed another two or three that month. Not long after, I met a property owner with a block of 12 apartments, and he handed them all over to me. I still work with him today. It all happened so quickly, and it’s made building the portfolio surprisingly straightforward.”

Network support

Alex not only credits Pass the Keys’ strong reputation for helping him get his business off the ground, but also the constant backing of the head office team. “The support has always been brilliant,” he enthuses.

Franchisees move through four stages with Pass the Keys as their business grows – Onboarding, Implementing, Establishing and Accrediting. 

The Implementing stage begins as soon as a territory launches and focuses on intensive training and hands-on support. During this period, each Franchise Partner is paired with a dedicated Franchise Success Manager (FSM) from Pass the Keys HQ.

“I had meetings with my FSM once a week and they answered any operational questions I had,” Alex explains. “I also had a weekly sales meeting where I heard about all the potential properties I could visit.”

Franchise Partners graduate from Implementing once they achieve three non-consecutive months at £22,250 NBV, followed by an audit of their portfolio and operations. They can choose to move forward immediately or remain in the stage with extra support until all audit actions are complete.

The Establishing stage shifts the focus to growth, scalable operations, and meeting KPIs. FSM meetings become more strategic, and graduation is triggered once a Partner reaches £750,000 NBV over 12 months, again followed by an audit and the option to stay until all actions are completed.

The final Accrediting stage centres on maintaining high performance at scale. FSM contact continues, though less frequently, with conversations focused on sustaining KPIs and long-term growth.

Throughout every stage, franchisees benefit from the strength of the wider network. “There’s about 70 franchises, so there’s always someone to have a chat with to help you overcome a problem. It’s been great to have the backing of the network,” Alex says.

Growing at the right pace

Alex is currently at the Establishing stage of his journey and has 30 properties in his portfolio.

This year he launched a laundry business which serves his Pass the Keys properties, as well as other property managers in the area.

Asked how he balances running two businesses, he says: “Honestly, it can be a bit crazy at times – I’m never off my phone.”

Alex has plans to grow his portfolio to 50 properties, but for the North Manchester entrepreneur, building a successful business isn’t all about growth, and he’s learned that over time.

“When you’re quite young, you want to grow as fast as you can, especially when your new business is your sole source of income. But as I’ve matured into the role, I’ve got to the point where I’m quite selective with the properties I take on,” Alex explains.

“There’s no point having 100 properties on the books that are low quality and cause major headaches. It’s better to have the right properties, work with the right hosts, keep them well occupied and look after them properly,” he adds.

“I’m happy to say that I have a solid base of properties under my belt.”