Hot on the heels of National Franchise Week, and last weekend’s highly successful National Franchise Exhibition at the Birmingham NEC, no doubt many more people will be thinking about joining them.

With a proven business concept and a franchisor to provide training and support, franchising is now recognised as one of the safest routes into business ownership.

For extra reassurance, prospective franchisees are strongly advised to look for their ideal franchise among the members of the bfa, an organisation that can also provide expert help and advice on becoming a franchisee.

bfa business development manager James Eades said: “bfa members have demonstrated a strong commitment to ethical business format franchising and excellent standards of practice, which provides additional peace of mind to prospective franchisees.”

Karen Perkins, 35, has run a Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club franchise in Suffolk and surrounding areas for the last six and a half years. In her franchised area she runs 22 classes every week.

Before joining Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs, a full member of the bfa, she worked as a business development manager in the financial services sector.

She said: “Although it was a good job with excellent prospects, and a company car, the banking industry was starting to change and I knew it was time to move on.”

Karen also liked the idea of working for herself in an environment that would be much more people orientated. She was already familiar with the Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club having followed its revolutionary `Hip and Thigh Diet` since 1988.

“Knowing that the diet worked, and the prospect of teaching exercise - something I loved – helped me make up my mind that this was what I wanted to do.”

After completing the initial training programme and becoming a qualified exercise to music fitness instructor she launched her franchise and has had no regrets about her life-changing decision.

She said: “The best thing about running the franchise is that it fits into your lifestyle. I now have two instructors working with me, they are great friends as well as colleagues and together, we make a great team.

“I've also managed to combine caring for my five-year-old son with running the business. I like the fact that I choose my life and that someone else doesn't plan it for me. I work when it suits me and my family, which at the moment includes running classes four evenings a week.”

The bfa has developed a seminar programme for prospective franchisees, focusing on the key information to be considered when evaluating a franchise. This includes developing the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to assess and prioritise franchise opportunities, to understand the franchisor's requirements and assessment criteria, and to fully appreciate the franchisor-franchisee business relationship.

The bfa is the home of ethical franchising, with a membership base of 287 franchise brands covering 13 industry sectors. For more information visit www.thebfa.org.uk