A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life2024-10-08T14:53:21+01:00

“I had decided that Audit Control was an area I wanted to pursue and wanted to be in charge of my own business, with a flexibility to work around family life.”

“I had decided that Audit Control was an area I wanted to pursue and wanted to be in charge of my own business, with a flexibility to work around family life.”

Matthew McGuire – Stocktake UK Franchisee

A Day In The Life

My Career & Why I Chose a New Opportunity

Having worked in the trade since 1994, I originally started out as a 16 year old assistant in a local snooker club and learnt the basics of service and food preparation. Two years later, I moved to a large chain of Family Pubs in the Tom Cobleigh group, covering all aspects of the industry from KP and Cleaner to Relief Management. I worked with them for 4 years whilst completing a degree in Accountancy & Finance however, on completion, it became apparent that my interest lay in the atmosphere of the pubs, and not in an office!

At 22, I moved to JD Wetherspoon as a Shift Manager. Over the next 4 years, I quickly progressed through to Pub Manager, then Senior Pub Manager before taking a role as a Trainee Area Manager. This led to working directly in the audit department covering Stock and Cash Control Standards on a national basis. In 2005, this position became redundant, and I took this opportunity to seek out a new challenge.

I had decided that Audit Control was an area I wanted to pursue and wanted to be in charge of my own business, with a flexibility to work around family life. After researching the options, it was clear there were many Stocktakers in the industry. However, having never run a business and knowing little about marketing, I saw the Stocktake UK franchise as an opportunity to take advantage of a national brand, along with Stocktake UK’s experience and expertise.

In the franchise offering, it was clear that Stocktake UK offers vital knowledge in securing new clients along with permanent support and guidance, whilst allowing the Franchisee to maintain an independent status with the emphasis on self management of your own business.

Everyday can be very different but, generally, a Stocktaker’s day starts early in the morning! Our clients can range from a traditional Pub or Social Club through to large Hotels, Cocktail Bars and Restaurants. On entering the venue, the day normally starts with a coffee and a catch up chat with our clients to see how their last month’s trading has been, ascertaining anything that I can specifically assist them with as part of my service.

The venue’s stock would then be counted, during which time guidance would be provided on any operational and standards issues I find that might help the client to improve profitability. This is followed by an audit of the client’s paperwork, processing data relating to purchases and revenue received.   Once this task is completed, I pinpoint any losses or gains by comparing the client’s till information with our report.

The stock result is then explained to the client in a short summary meeting at the end of the stock visit – focusing on the Gross Profit of the business, changes in cost prices and operational procedures. Our clients find the service highly valuable to monitor the control of their business and to give immediate advice on how to improve profitability. For many, ours is the only external opinion they will get on their business on a regular basis, before the accountant produces accounts at year end…..this can be a long time ahead!

Operating the Franchise is an enjoyable and challenging experience. Not every day is easy, there can be difficult situations to deal with and early start times, however there are benefits of a Monday-Friday working week, with evenings free. A Franchisee’s diary can be built around their own life working with their own clients to help them build a better business, which is hugely rewarding. Long term relationships are built with our clients, resulting in high retention rate and creating a stable income.

My Stocktaking business growth was achieved on a month by month basis, starting from day 1 with zero clients. After 12 months, I had around 20 regular clients, which roughly covered one venue for each working day during the month. Over time, through the development of skills and time management, this rose to 30 clients by the end of year 2. From there I have maintained a stable client base and retained several clients from the early days of 12 years ago.

I would recommend a franchise to anyone looking to move forward in their career, but maintain a high degree of independence. This industry is largely built around a 24/7 environment and there are very few opportunities to work a ‘9-5’ job: Operating a franchise has given me the best of both worlds, with a strong hand still in the industry that we love but living with a better mix of work and personal time.

Press & Media

Latest From The Stocktake UK Newsroom

  • 392 words2 min read

    After 27 years of dedicated service, Ralph Miller, our respected franchisee covering Newcastle and the Scottish Borders, has retired. Known for his commitment to clients, Ralph joined Stocktake UK in 1997 after an impressive career with the Royal Navy and as part of the stock control team at a Nuclear Power Station.

    Ralph's clients have expressed their heartfelt appreciation:

    “It’s been a real pleasure to work with and get to know Ralph over the years. His dedication and advice have been invaluable.” — King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut

    Thank you, Ralph, for your many years of hard work and dedication. Wishing you a happy and well-deserved retirement with your family!

  • 153 words0.8 min read

    The festive season is all about bringing people together, and what better way to warm up your guests than with a glass of mulled wine

  • 300 words1.6 min read

    In our latest "Spotlight" post, meet our newest franchisee Josh Hunt, Stocktake UK franchisee covering the South of Manchester, including Stockport, Altrincham and the Peak District. An experienced Manager, Josh is keen to use his experience to help others make their businesses more profitable. A key to this is stock control, which is something that has been a focus for Josh as he has built his Hospitality Career. To learn more about he can help your business, or understand a bit more about what is it like to be a Stocktake UK franchisee, read on!

Franchising FAQ’s

What is Franchising2024-10-08T11:48:20+01:00

Franchising is a business model where a franchisor grants the rights to an individual or group (the franchisee) to operate a business under the franchisor’s brand, following a proven system, in exchange for fees or royalties.

What are the benefits of owning a franchise?2024-10-08T11:49:05+01:00

Stocktake UK has been successfully operating franchisees for over 30 years. You can therefore rely on us to provide

  • a proven business model with established products or services
  • Brand recognition and marketing support
  • Comprehensive training and ongoing operational assistance
  • Better work/life balance compared to general hospitality work
  • Whilst we make no guarantees regarding income or return on investment, our experience and marketing expertise, reduces your start-up risk, compared to starting on your own
What experience do you need to become a franchisee2024-10-08T11:49:39+01:00

Typically a new franchisee will come to us with very good experience of managing bars, hotels or restaurants (normally at least 5 years). They will have a good understanding of issues effecting the profitability of these business types and will ideally have experience of carrying out their own stocktakes.

What are the initial & ongoing costs to owning a franchise?2024-10-08T11:50:18+01:00

We are happy to discuss these with you, however to purchase a franchise costs from £11995 + VAT, which includes all training and startup equipment. After the first 3 months, there are then affordable ongoing fees, which vary depending on the type of franchise purchased and the work you do.

What’s included with the franchise?2024-10-08T11:51:15+01:00

The initial purchase cost and ongoing fees include:-

  • License to market yourself as a Stocktake UK franchised stocktaker in your agreed area. This area being exclusively yours.
  • Initial 2 week residential training course
  • Startup equipment – including laptop, all stocktaking equipment, and branded clothing
  • License to use our inhouse “Logonn” stocktaking software. Which is not available to independent stocktakers
  • Ongoing marketing support – through dedicated website profile, google SEO, sponsored google advertising, expert assistance with setting up, maintaining and growing your Linkedin network. Plus help creating and following up marketing lists and e-shots.
  • Access to National Account work managed by our HQ team
What turnover can a franchisee expect?2024-10-08T11:51:46+01:00

We can’t guarantee franchisee turnover levels, however typically a franchisee can expect to be looking at £50,000 turnover.

How long is the franchise term & What does it cost to renew?2024-10-08T11:52:20+01:00

The franchise is a 5 year “evergreen” agreement. This means that the franchise is granted for a period of 5 years, after which if both parties are happy, and in compliance with the agreement, a further 5 year period will be granted at no additional charge. This can carry on for as long both parties want, and some of our franchisees have been with us for 20+ years.

How do you become a franchisee?2024-10-08T11:54:13+01:00
  • Contact us on 0800 0274128 to discuss opportunities with our HQ team. Alternatively e-mail us (info@stocktakeuk.co.uk) to setup a teams video call.
  • Fill in an application form
  • Attend HQ to discuss the opportunities in more detail, this will include a short test of your stocktaking knowledge, which will be used to help design your training course (it’s not pass/fail).
  • Sign the franchise agreement + pay for the franchise!
How do you know if franchising is right for you?2024-10-08T11:55:07+01:00

If you are

  • Passionate about owning your own business, but feel you need expert support
  • Want to improve your work/life balance
  • Care deeply about the hospitality trade
  • And want a career that sees you benefit from ALL the hard work you put into your business, then franchising is for you.

Explore The Possibilities

Are you looking for Stocktaking Services or are you considering joining our team of Stocktakers? Contact our team on 0800 027 4128, email info@stocktakeuk.co.uk or fill in the form below to take the next step.

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