Harrogate-based Ventrolla specialises in the renovation, repair and upgrading of original sash windows. It claims to be market leader and has links with local government, English Heritage and the Royal Institute of British Architects. Franchisees are given incentives to increase their territory but only if they have demonstrated their total commitment to a quality approach.

Greetings card publisher Card Connection, of Farnham, Surrey, is making its mark in a £1 billion-a-year industry. Its cards are sold in more than 15,000 UK outlets Several children’s characters, including Thomas the Tank Engine, Telly Tubbies and Action Man, appear in its range.

Cash Generators’ stores sell new and second-hand goods and offer financial services, including cheque encashment. To meet a growing demand for heavily discounted, new merchandise the company has invested more £1 million in stock and warehouse facilities. Sales rose 35 per cent last year and are on target to reach £100 million this year.

Leicester-based ServiceMaster’s activities include carpet and upholstery cleaning and an insurance restoration service offered throughout 329 franchise partners. The parent company started in 1959 and today ServiceMaster is represented in 37 countries worldwide.

Kall Kwik UK, a leading provider of business-to-business print, copy and design services, says the Kall Kwik brand is its most precious asset. The company prides itself on listening to its customers and acting on their opinions, not only for products but service.

Snap-on Tools is a mobile franchise, distributing handtools, tool storage and garage equipment tot he automotive service industry. It started in the US in 1920 and came to the UK in 1965. Toady, it has 5,800 operations in 150 countries. Its Shrewsbury-based franchisee, Clive Stedman, reached the finals of last year’s Franchisee Of The Year awards.

Sunderland-based Durham Pine claims the title of the nation’s leading pine furniture retailer. It was founded 11 years ago by John Marshall, with an initial stake of £1,500. Growth has increased steadily. Turnover last year exceeded £38 million and this years figure looks set to exceed that. Nationally, Durham Pine has more than 350 staff. Marshall encourages employees to become franchisees, giving them the opportunity of having their own business.

TaxAssist Direct was started by John Westgarth seven years ago to build, slowly and carefully , a national network of people trained to supply taxation and accountancy services to self-employed individuals and small-to-medium-sized businesses. Today there are more then 100 TaxAssist Direct franchisees and the aim is to grow to about 400. Franchisees are chosen painstakingly. “Our team has been recruited almost as much for the members’ personal qualities as for their skills, knowledge and experience,” says the company.

London-based Hire Intelligence provides short-term rental of IT equipment, including quality desktop and notebook computers, printer, plotters, scanners, projectors, monitors, digital cameras, photocopiers and Internet time. The deals are mainly on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, but there are some annual rentals. Customers include government departments, leading companies, small businesses and individuals. At present, Hire Intelligence has 15 franchises in the UK. It also runs 38 overseas outlets in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. A franchisee can expect to turn over an average £200,000 a year.

Prontaprint, the original brand in the print-on-demand market, opened its first franchised centre in 1973. Today, there are more than 220 throughout the UK. With a workforce in excess of 1,100 creating UK sales of more than £57 million a year, the centres employ the latest technology to provide customers with a wide range of business communication services. Global alliances with Sir Speedy in the US allow local customers to use the technology to communicate worldwide.