Franchising is booming in the UK, helping many individuals to realise their dreams of running their own business. With a lot of hard work and determination, entrepreneurs have a unique chance to start their own business with the support and backing of a tried and trusted brand. Latest figures reveal 88% of franchise businesses are profitable with an average turnover of ?291,000 - extremely positive figures in an environment where 1 in 2 start-ups fail in their first year of business alone. Domino's Pizza is one of the leading franchisors in the UK and has created 20 pizza millionaires in its 20 years of trading.

To celebrate this milestone Domino's has produced this list of business tips to help and inspire potential or new entrepreneurs in their quest to make a million! By speaking to some of their most successful franchisees Domino's can now share 20 essential slices of business advice on how to become a franchise millionaire. The wisdom, hints and tips give a flavour of the challenges and rewards that running a business can offer.

Research: find a business that's right for you

1. "I did a lot of research on quite a few different franchisors and their references before signing up with Domino?s, to make sure I knew exactly what I was getting into. It's really important to make sure you will get the support you deserve once you have made your investment. A good franchisor won't have anything to hide."
Antony Tagliamonti, multi-unit franchisee, Essex

2. "Make mistakes in someone else's business, not your own! If you don't know the market you are about to enter it can really help to get some work experience in the industry or open a store with someone else before doing your own. Getting my hands dirty early on meant that when I became the boss I knew exactly what the issues were and how best to react."
David Rose, franchisee in Plymouth, who runs his business with other family members

3. "You won't make money if you don't like the product. In fact you won't even get an interview if you haven't experienced it. It is imperative that you really understand and believe in both your product and market place. I got under the skin of my industry early on when I held the position of manager for seven years, and know my business inside out. This has reduced my chances of making mistakes and gone a long way to earning respect from staff and colleagues."
Lisa Taylor, franchisee, Kilmarnock

4. "Don't try and reinvent the wheel - use a franchisor's own processes and systems. You are investing in an model which, if established, will have proven its effectiveness time and again and following the guidelines has significantly increased my level of success."
Nigel Hall, multi-unit franchisee, Cardiff

Networking and relationship building

5. "Know exactly what you're investing your life and money into. Ask the franchisor to give you contact numbers for some of their franchisees and speak to as many as possible to make an informed decision. I regularly speak to prospective candidates and am happy to give them the facts about running a business. If they won't give you references then take them off your list as there must be something wrong."
Niraj Madlani, franchisee, Eltham

6. "Build good relationships with not only with your franchisor, but also with your bank, employees, your community and any local papers or radio stations. I've found this makes any difficult times much easier. I've worked hard to earn the trust of my community and my customers are extremely loyal as a result."
Shayban Al Ibrahim, multi-unit franchisee, Wales

7. "Before you take on your business it is really important to take a holiday and recharge your batteries. The first few months will be some of the hardest and you need to be physically and mentally ready for the challenge ahead. Once you are in the thick of it make sure you separate work from home - it really helps to turn out the office lights and not take them home with you!"
Jim Dove, Joint Venture Partner of four Domino's Pizza stores in Birmingham

8. "Recruit staff for the long-term benefit of your business, rather than to fill short-term needs. When I started out I took on new staff quickly in order to cope with demand, but didn't take time to consider team dynamics before hiring them. I discovered later that some did not fit in well with the existing team and had to let them go. In future, no matter how busy the store is, I will not take on staff if I do not feel they are right for the job."
Lisa Taylor, franchisee, Kilmarnock

Core skills

9. "When I made my move into franchising I had to quickly learn the core operational, financial and personnel skills needed to survive. I now keep my hand in across them all. It is possible to become a "jack of all trades", as well as remaining the master of your business as a whole. Whether you have one outlet or twenty remember it's the nuts and bolts that count."
Pat Dunese, multi-unit franchisee, Scotland

10. "People are the backbone of any company, big or small. Success is not achievable without a loyal team behind you and I always make sure my staff are rewarded for their efforts. It pays to get everyone involved, no matter how junior, and this is where some of our best ideas come from. I was a trainee manager with Domino's at age of 20 and the respect and encouragement I was given at the time has led me to where I am today."
Jim Dove, Joint Venture Partner of four Domino's Pizza stores in Birmingham

11. "Regularly look at your business performance and draw conclusions. I always investigate any change in sales, for better or worse, and have different tricks up my sleeve to keep performance high. You also need to be confident that your chosen market has room for expansion or your tactics are worthless."
Shayban Al Ibrahim, multi-unit franchisee, Wales

12. "Anticipate change and plan how you will manage a number of different scenarios. It is easy to react to a situation when it arises, but a successful business person will always endeavour to be one step ahead of the game. Of course I don't have a crystal ball but a little preparation can go a long way."
Antony Tagliamonti, multi-unit franchisee, Essex

13. "Make sure your customers are happy time after time, and continue to invest in promotions and advertising, even when business is slow. Remember word of mouth is a powerful vehicle and one bad comment has more impact than ten compliments."
Siggy Wilberg, multi-unit franchisee and recipient of the Dominos "legends" award, South West England

The franchisee "mindset"

14. "However large your business grows remember where you came from. Condescending comments will not make you popular with those around you. Respect for others is essential no matter how good you are at what you do. I try to keep my feet firmly on the ground."
Talibal Kadhimr, multi-unit franchisee, North West England

15. "Always keep an eye on the bigger picture. If you focus on the detail all of the time you will lose sight of your goals and not realise your potential. For example, when I started my business I allowed for a slow start which meant I had money to keep the business going without relying on high sales straight away."
Arvi Salaryia, multi-unit franchisee, London

16. "Don't buy a Ferrari in the first year of business - you may be too tired to drive it! Be prepared to put in long hours, particularly when starting out, but ensure your partner or family understand the situation up front. The challenges of running a business can be made easier if your family are 100% behind you. It also helps to live near your business as a long journey home after a hard days work is pretty miserable."
Shayban Al Ibrahim, multi-unit franchisee, Wales

17. "To keep motivated and strive for future success have a clear vision of where you want to be and know how you are going to get there. It pays to have a plan in this business to give you a benchmark to aim for."
Talibal Kadhimr, multi-unit franchisee, North West England

Keeping the vehicle moving

18. "Know your product, your customers and your staff inside out. Never stand still and don't make assumptions about any aspect of your business. Standards can start to slip when complacency sets in. I still see my business as a challenge, even after 20 years, and if I didn't I'd have sold up by now."
Siggy Wilberg, multi-unit franchisee and recipient of the Dominos "legends" award, South West England

19. "Be aware of your strengths and your weaknesses. I'm not afraid to ask for help when I need it and am prepared to admit I am not always right. By sharing problems with my business partner I have achieved more than I would have done alone. I also keep head office mobile numbers very handy for problems that may arise late at night on a weekend!"
James Swift, multi-unit franchisee and pizza millionaire, South West England

20. "Always keep an eye out for the competition. You can never be too complacent about the effect they could have upon your business. And it's not just about the new kid in town - for instance an existing business could damage my sales through aggressive pricing. I use my staff and friends in the area as extra eyes and ears so I'm constantly informed."
Paul Ashurst, multi-unit franchisee, Essex

Anyone interested in becoming a Domino's franchisee should contact Domino's on 01908 580 000 or email franchise.sales@dominos.co.uk. Additional information is available at www.dominos.uk.com

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