ONE of the leading independent franchise consultancies in the UK is The Franchise Company.

Based in Grange Road, Darlington, it advises companies about franchising their operations.

The consultancy was established in 1991 by Julie Waites and Stewart Booth, and joined the British Franchise Association in 1993.

They were joined in 2002 by Ken Rostron, former managing director of Prontaprint Group, itself a successful franchise operation.

Mrs Waites, 42, said: "Our philosophy is based on both ethical and best franchising practice, and is aimed at clients whose business, culture and management personnel are suited to franchising.

"It is also important that the companies we are dealing with are ones that we believe we can build an ongoing relationship with."

While the organisation has considerable expertise in-house, it can outsource other skills if they are more relevant to the clients they are dealing with.

Mrs Waites said: "We can use our network of contacts and associates to bring together a team in accordance with the clients needs."

Mrs Waites and her colleagues have helped many successful North-East franchise operations take the first steps on the road to success, including the Chips video games franchise and Storey Carpets.

Mrs Waites has been involved in franchising in a managerial or advisory capacity since leaving Newcastle University in 1981, initially with the Prontaprint Group, and then as franchise director with Phone-in UK.

Since forming The Franchise Company, she has worked on many successful franchising projects in a wide range of sectors.

She has also carried out research into the UK Franchise industry for the Department of Trade and Industry, and has set up and delivered the national franchise seminar programme for the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

With The Franchise Company, she has overall responsibility for consultancy assignment planning and delivery and has her own portfolio of clients.

She said: "Some of the biggest names in the High Street are actually franchise operations. They include the likes of McDonalds, KFC, Bodyshop, Prontaprint and Sax.

"Franchisees are actually responsible for much of the success of the parent organisation. For instance, Ronald McDonald was the creation of a McDonalds franchisee, and he has become the corporate identity of the whole organisation.

"There are many factors that go towards creating a successful franchise. The product or service does not have to be particularly groundbreaking, it just needs to be proven in its marketplace.

"The reason people are prepared to invest substantial amounts of money in franchising lies in the fact that franchising has been proven to be successful.

"According to figures compiled by Bibby Factors, nine out of ten franchisee businesses reported a profit in 2003. Compare that to the high rate of failure among established businesses, and its no wonder that so many entrepreneurs go down the franchising route.

"Starting a business from scratch can be fraught with difficulty, whereas franchisees tend to take on a proven system with a successful business concept and an established brand identity."

However, Mrs Waites had a word of caution for would-be franchisors and franchisees. She said: "It has to be remembered that there is no sure-fire guarantee that a franchise will be successful. Potential franchisees need to go into it with their eyes open and carefully research all the options before handing over any money or signing on the dotted line.

"However, almost 40 per cent of would-be entrepreneurs looking to fast-track themselves to success in business by becoming a franchisor or franchisee believe their future is bright, with almost half of those expecting their sector to grow significantly over the next 12 months."