Name: John Dunne

Company Name: Esquires Coffee Houses

Location: Manor Mills Shopping Centre, Maynooth

Length of time in operation: 2.5 years

Professional background before becoming a franchisee: A variety of different jobs most recent being a Financial Advisor mainly on Insurance related products.

Why did you become involved in franchising?

I have always wanted to be my own boss and I could see there are many advantages in buying a franchise which has a great support network and the competitive edge of working with a successful management team and drawing upon its knowledge and expertise.

Why did you choose this franchise business?

I heard of Esquires Coffee Houses when I was researching franchise options. I was immediately taken with the idea which I could see had the potential to become big in Ireland. Ireland has adopted many international trends over the past few years, and the concept of great coffee with good food and quick service was bound to be a winner.  I also loved the fact that all Esquires Coffee, Tea and Hot Chocolate are exclusively Fairtrade, something that no other coffee chain offers in Ireland.

How did you research the company before setting up?

I started by buying all the franchise magazines, looking at newspaper articles and visiting websites such as this to find out as much as I could about the company. I also researched Esquires Coffee Houses through their own website and visited the different outlets throughout the country. I met the master franchisee on several occasions and he was extremely helpful in outlining exactly what was involved. He also listened to my searching questions and gave frank answers

How did the master franchise help you starting a business in Ireland:

I was impressed with the comprehensive range of benefits offered including a turn key operations package, branded design concepts, marketing and promotion, supply management and site selection. The training Esquires gave me was extremely thorough and intensive. Not only did they train me they also located the premises for me, organised full fit out, ordered the stock and trained my staff.

Does the master franchise continue to help you on an ongoing basis?

In this business ongoing support is essential not just in terms of training but also in the whole area of developing different products and keeping abreast of market trends. When I started out, I looked at all the coffee and food franchises but the one that stood out for its professionalism and back up services was Esquires Coffee Houses. I got tremendous help from the master franchisee and the Esquires team starting off and 2 1/2 years later I am still getting the benefit of their back up team. 

What difficulties did you face starting off?

The main difficulty I faced was in recruiting suitable staff with an eye for attention to detail and an ability to deliver great customer to service.

How did you overcome these difficulties?

Again, I have to say this is where Esquires really came into their own. They came out, assisted with the recruitment process and put in place a comprehensive training programme for all the staff.  In a service industry such as this, service is king- and this where the Esquires know how in staff training really helped me.

What advice would you give to others who have just started franchising or are looking for a franchise business in Ireland? 

Research the company, the people involved in the organisation and the product thoroughly. Find out the level of support offered by the master franchisee, both before and after.

Setting up any business is an enormous challenge and the ones that succeed are those with access to support at the critical stages of business development.

Find out how accessible is your master franchisee and his team- with Esquires it is only a phone call away- almost like having a business mentor on an on going basis.