Alan Wilson spent over 30 years climbing the ladder of his sales and marketing career, but has now found work-life balance with ChipsAway. “It’s a great feeling to not have to answer to someone else, to manage my time how I please, and enjoy my life.”

Holding a senior position, he was responsible for recruiting, training, and managing teams in various sectors. However, after years of underappreciation, and being at the ‘beck and call’ of ‘greedy’ bosses, Alan decided that he wanted to work for himself.

“Having experienced working alone as a business consultant, I felt that the security and backing of a proven franchise was the way forward. I started by looking for a franchise where I could use my business skills, as well as learn something new.”

“I spent four months thoroughly researching franchises in various industries/sectors. ChipsAway was a well-established, proven franchise, with a hugely successful brand name and a large network of franchisees. I looked closely at their business model and felt that the SMART repairs marketplace was growing.”

“The training was quite simply first class, delivered by a highly qualified training team that are leaders in their field. I had never held a spray gun before, but felt confident after my four weeks of technical IMI training to ‘hit the ground running’, and establish the necessary business turnover that I required very quickly.”

“After the initial four weeks, franchisees then undertake an Advanced Paint and Dent Repair course a few months later. As well as this, sales and marketing training is also provided, and additional training courses can be arranged on request. Nothing is too much trouble for the head office team, they all want to see you succeed. “

Now, years after starting his business, Alan has expanded into a Car Care Centre with an employee, and completes around 4-5 repairs a day. Car Care Centres are fixed based workshops, often able to take on larger, more complicated repairs.

He also completes around 4/5 estimates for people who have enquired about car damage. All repairs are usually finished by 5pm so that Alan is home by 5.30pm, where he will follow up on new leads received on that day.

“I am now very happy to get up and go to work each day, safe in the knowledge that our business is successful and is providing my family and I with a good standard of living. It’s a great feeling to not have to answer to someone else, to manage my time how I please, and enjoy my life.”

“As I approach retirement, I have a very successful business to either sell or pass on to my sons. If I did decide to sell up, my ChipsAway Franchise is now worth around five times more than I paid for it in 2012!”

Finally, we asked Alan if there was anything that he would do differently, he replied “I definitely wish I had found and started this opportunity about ten years earlier than I did!”