Name: Steven McCreery 
Company Name: Computer Troubleshooters franchise- Louth
Location:  Ardee, Co. Louth
Length of time in operation:  2 years

Professional background before becoming a franchisee:
Electronics/Customer service rep.

Why did you become involved in franchising?

The reason I decided to start up a franchise was mainly that I was concerned about how secure my job was in the manufacturing company I worked for. It also wasn\\\'t in the career area which I wanted to be in and I also liked the possibility of working from home.

Why did you choose this franchise business?

I had studied electronics for three years and I really wanted to get back to working with technology. Fixing computer problems is something I had been doing for friends and family for years as a hobby and always wondered if I could ever make a living out of it in the real world. By chance, I happened to see what Computer Troubleshooters offered and realised that it was exactly the opportunity I was looking for.

How did you research the company before setting up?

There's lots of information provided about the business on enquiry, I received a detailed information pack.  The internet was also a great tool for finding information.  At the time I called other franchisee's in Ireland and asked how it was going for them individually.

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

The initial 10 week period of operation is planned out exactly from day one.  It involved setting up the basics like email, initial training on the accounts package I would use, details on suppliers, registering the company name and starting the marketing plan which was the prime focus. 

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

Yes, the master franchise will help me on various technical or business questions I may have from time to time.  They also keep us up to date on the changes in the industry and how we should adapt our businesses to prepare opportunities in the future.  We all meet every few months to discuss, it's very useful.  We communicate regularly via email and our own internet forum.

What difficulties did you face starting off:

From day one, you start off without any customers and then begin to build up your base.  I was improving my technical skills at the same time while keeping a level of service good and continuing to invest a lot of time into marketing, the first few months were challenging in this regard.

How did you overcome these difficulties:

I needed to work extra hard and keep focused on obtaining customers as quickly as possible in the first few weeks.  The technical aspects became easier as I became more familiar with each job, I became confident in my abilities.

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

My advice to people thinking of joining the Computer Troubleshooters group, in particular, is to make sure you can get broadband access in your area before you start. I cant imagine operating the business without it.  Dont rely too much on large newspaper ads to bring in calls, they are costly and don\\\'t bring the return you would expect, small ads are enough.  There are more cost effective ways to advertise and the guidelines that the franchise provides you with are tried and tested and work well.  

For further information please see our listing on this site.