Launched in the UK in 1994, the ChipsAway franchise creates opportunities for dedicated, enterprising people who want to build and run their own business, providing high quality ‘on the spot’ paintwork repairs from fully equipped mobile workshops.

Franchisee Gary Watson was one of the first to spot the potential offered by the brand and has reaped the rewards of his decision to invest in a franchise.

Impressed by the success of his business, Mr Watson’s brother Dean joined him just a few months later. Fifteen years on, they have both just signed up for their fourth five-year term, taking them towards an astonishing 20 year milestone in franchising.

Mr Watson said: “I can easily see myself doing this for at least another ten years. ChipsAway has provided my brother Dean and I with an excellent living; we have control over our own destiny and we still get a tremendous buzz from our work. Our business is still growing strongly and at 41 I’m definitely not ready to retire yet.”

Following in the Watson brothers' footsteps, Paul Fabian, a former engineer with the RAF, also signed up with ChipsAway. When he left the Forces, he was looking for a practical, hands on business opportunity with the potential for him to earn a good living and retire early.

Having researched the various opportunities that were available, he launched his ChipsAway franchise in 1999, initially running it as a van-based operation. Two years later, as his workload increased, he decided to invest in a ChipsAway CarCare Centre and also hired a member of staff so that he could continue to offer mobile services as well.

A decade on Mr Fabian own two CarCare Centres on adjacent territories and continues to operate a mobile workshop.

He currently has six employees and in spite of the recession is busier than ever and on track to achieve a ten per cent increase in turnover this year.

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