How to start a drainage franchise

Have you been thinking about making a career change and moving into a brand new industry? If the idea of being your own boss and becoming a franchisee appeals to you, you could consider starting a drainage franchise. The draining and plumbing sector is thriving and highly profitable, so you can sleep easy knowing your financial future is secure. Read on for all you need to know to get started.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020, many people have taken the opportunity to pause, reflect and reconsider their career options. Maintaining a healthy work life balance and working in an industry you’re truly interested in is a worthy life goal. If you’ve been thinking about making a career change with a drainage franchise, this is the article for you. 

In order to ensure the best possible chance of this brand new business venture being a success, you’ll want to go into it eyes open and armed with all the knowledge you need on how to start a drainage franchise. Before that, it’s a good idea to find out just what a drainage franchise does and why running one is an appealing prospect.

What does a drainage franchise do?

Step one on the path towards starting a drainage franchise is understanding what a drainage specialist does and doing some research into how to become a drainage specialist. Drainage specialists are employed to investigate, solve and prevent drain issues. They also work to implement measures that improve the efficiency of water drainage systems.

In terms of franchising options, some drainage franchises focus more on commercial solutions. Commercial businesses rely on drainage franchises to quickly deal with any drainage issues they might be having so it doesn’t impede their ability to trade.

Another option within this bustling business sector is starting a residential drainage franchise. This involves dealing with drainage issues at residential properties, protecting the place we value above all: their home. 

Every drainage franchise opportunity falls under the umbrella of plumbing franchise opportunities, so it pays to have a look at these and decide which one sounds like the right fit for you.

Although the opportunities for starting a drainage franchise are many and varied, you can expect there to be some similarities between the various different franchising options out there. As a drainage franchisee, you could find yourself doing any number of the following things on a typical working day:

• Clearing blocked sewers
• Unblocking drains
• Emptying septic tanks and cesspits
• Complete CCTV surveys on drains
• Line and repair damaged drain pipes
• Detect and repair leaks within drainage systems
• Repair and replace broken toilets
• Design and install irrigation systems

Why consider running a drainage franchise?

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) about 347,000 kilometres of sewers collect and process more than 11 billion litres of waste and water every single day. This waste is then treated at around 9,000 sewage treatment works - so it goes without saying that business is booming in the drainage industry.

You’ll also find that no two days are the same in this varied business. You won’t even necessarily need previous experience in the industry to become a drainage franchisee. When you invest with your chosen drainage franchise, training and support might well be part of what you receive in return for your investment.

However, that’s not to say it’s not important to have brushed up on any transferable skills you may have attained in previous employment. If you like interacting with people and providing great customer service, you’ll find these traits a huge asset when embarking on a career as a drainage franchisee.

How to start a drainage franchise

1. Research the different franchising opportunities available to you

As outlined above, there’s no one size fits all approach when it comes to investing in a drainage franchise. It is very important that you do your research on the industry as a whole and make sure you choose the drainage franchise that’s right for you.

For example, if working for a franchise that deals with both commercial and residential drain repairs appeals to you, you might want to invest with a drainage franchise like Metro Rod.

Or if you want to work for an ever-expanding business within the drainage industry, consider investing with DALROD. They will offer you full training and continued support throughout your franchising journey when you invest with them.

Another great option is an investment with top performing drainage franchise Drain Doctor. You won’t need any previous experience in the industry and you’ll receive plenty of ongoing support.

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>> Read more:

• Franchising 101: The Official Franchise Start Up Checklist (Part 1)
• Franchising 101: The Official Franchise Start Up Checklist (Part 2)
• New Year, New Career: No Better Time Than Now to Start a Franchise Today
• Franchising 101: 8 Signs You're Ready to Start a Franchise
• Starting a New Business Doesn't Always Lead to Immediate Success: Here Are 5 Ways to Change That
• It's Never Too Late to Start a New Business

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One thing that really attracted me to Drain Doctor was the ability to build a business that could achieve a truly worthwhile income. It’s a solid business opportunity with comprehensive systems and support. Drain Doctor had the experience, the brand, and the growth structure that really gave me confidence in my investment.
- Rob Simpson, Drain Doctor East Anglia

2. Devise a realistic and thorough business plan

An easy way to put yourself one step ahead of the competition is to ensure you’ve outlined a comprehensive business plan before you’ve even started trading. Be sure to read up on tips for how to build a business plan for a successful drainage franchise, including things like:

• Writing an executive summary
• Outlining a clear marketing strategy, factor in any promotional materials you might need to obtain
• Writing a business description
• Writing a description of the services your business will provide
• Outlining ingoing and outgoing costs
• Outlining a rough inventory of any equipment your business is likely to need

3. Assess your skills and qualifications

Along with the numerous advantages that come with running a drainage franchise - such as securing repeat business, and enjoying a flexible working life - one of the best things about the drainage industry is not needing previous experience in order to invest.

However, it pays to make a list of all the applicable skills you’ve already attained, in order to impress your potential franchisor. Good skills to have include being organised, reliable and efficient - and having excellent communication skills is an absolute must in this customer-service driven sector.

Start a successful drainage franchise today

Hopefully after reading this article, you feel better informed on the drainage industry as a whole and can’t wait to invest with your chosen franchise. Stick around on Point Franchise and prepare yourself even more by reading up on things such as tips for running a drainage franchise and the top drainage franchises in the UK.