Business Doctors MASTER FRANCHISE IRELAND

A fast growing small business consultancy franchise is set to take on Ireland.

With the sale of the master franchise for both the Republic and Northern Ireland, Business Doctors continues its rapid international expansion.

The new master franchisor, John Nelligan, 41, plans to launch three franchises a year, up to a total of 20 across the North and South. Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway are amongst the prime territories earmarked for the first wave of openings.

John, a former industrial engineer from County Kerry, is no stranger to the world of franchising. In 2011, he bought his first territory from high street garment alterations franchise The Zip Yard. Just one year later he snapped up Douglas in Cork City, becoming the company's first franchisee with multiple businesses. In 2015, he added Galway to his portfolio.

One of the company's top performers, with top notch people skills, John chairs the company's franchisee committee. 

He said: "My experience within The Zip Yard has given me a great working knowledge of how franchising works, both from the franchisor and franchisee points of view.

"I love the franchising model and when I read about Business Doctors, their holistic approach to small business support really struck a chord.

"This is a business I really believe in and one that Ireland's 188,000 SMEs are crying out for."

Rod Davies, Business Doctors' co-founder said: "When we met John, we knew we had found a safe pair of hands to take our brand forward throughout Ireland.

"He is a very competent and approachable businessman, with tremendous drive.

"John wanted to get Business Doctors up and running within weeks of our first meeting and he is well on track to achieve this. We wish him every success and are right behind him".

From the get-go, Business Doctors has been a company with an international outlook.

Since humble beginnings above a Cheshire takeaway in 2004, franchisors Rod Davies and Matt Levington were set on building a global brand: the go to company for SME consultancy services.

With 40 Business Doctors territories now operating around the UK, the ambitious pair took their first steps beyond British soil when they launched in South Africa in May 2014. Today, Business Doctors' territories are up and running in eight regions of the country, including Johannesburg, its largest and wealthiest city. Business Doctors launched in India in January 2016.