Fifty-four-year-old Allan Rook Has been Drain Doctor's Southampton franchisee since 1906. Although the franchise was bought In May of that year, Allan came up against a number of problems, mainly due to the fact that he failed to follow the system needed to run the business as outlined by the franchisor.
"I chose this particular franchise firstly because it dovetailed into our existing business and secondly because the Drain Doctor philosophies and systems far outshone all other business ethics I had ever come across." he told Making Money.

CODE OF ETHICS
"The Drain Doctor code of ethics mirrored that which we were trying to achieve in every area of our lives. But although we purchased the franchise in May 1998, we didn't actually start focusing on Drain Doctor and following the system properly until January 1998. Since then Allan's fortunes have changed very much for the better - his projected turnover for last year was £300,000: "The original minimum concept for a Drain Doctor franchise was one van per 100,000 head of population.
"With over 700,000 people in Southampton and with five vans currently, and our next two scheduled for weeks 14 and 27 this year, we are on target to exceed our original goal in 30 months, I prefer the updated concept of one van per head of population which will give us 14 vans and a turnover of £1,000,000 by the end of 2003."

FRANCHISE NETWORK
Established five years ago by Jan and Freddie Mitman. the Peterborough-based Drain Doctor company currently has over 50 franchises in the UK covering in excess of 90 per cent of the country.
The Mitmans decided to enter the plumbing and drainage industry following an unhappy experience involving a plumber who charged them £250 for the 30 minutes he took to repair a leaking pipe.
This experience motivated them to look into better ways of providing emergency plumbing and drainage services for both private and cornmercial customers. Discussions with the giant US based Dwyer Group Jed Freddie Mitman to introduce the American ethos of quality and attitude to the UK
plumbing and drainage industry.
As a Drain Doctor franchisee and father of six. Allan's main task is to oversee the business' growth and its financial viable, while at the same time ensuring that all customers are completely satisfied and staff are helped to achieve their own personal goals.
Allan told Making Money: "If I had to choose on area that I enjoy the most it would be meeting or speaking with clients, turning their challenges into completed tasks and the clients into very satisfied returning customers."

JOB SATISFACTION
Office manager and co-director wife Jacqui is also involved in the business. When the couple aren't working they spend time together at their caravan in Cornwall or walking in me New Forest, although their time spent building the business doesn't seem to be a wrench either as Allan freely admits he enjoys his job:
"Once one understands that life can be difficult then everything else is a bonus. My business plays a large part in it and I fill it all with the same enthusiasm and drive so, as you can imagine, I thoroughly enjoy my life per se."
Currently, Allan's life is good: and the years ahead look equally as favourable: "The future of our franchise is extremely bright due to each of our team members playing their part in giving our customers 'magic moments' and collectively following the system.