What does it take to leave a comfortable corporate career and start a thriving business of your own? For Vicky and Andy, switching from years of employment in the motor trade to becoming franchise owners with Pass the Keys has certainly paid off.
Their journey shows how the right opportunity, hard work, and support can lead to success. If you’ve ever thought about making the move to business ownership, Vicky and Andy’s story might just inspire you.
Choosing Pass the Keys
Vicky and Andy come from strong management, customer service and sales backgrounds, having worked at Audi for years. Andy focused on finance and business management, while Vicky worked in sales and customer relations. Their 50 years of combined experience in the motor trade industry provided them with a range of skills that would prove invaluable as Pass the Keys franchise owners.
“All that sales experience and customer service…we now use that in our business every day,” Andy mentioned.
When Vicky decided to rent out one of her properties on Airbnb, she realised she didn’t have the time to manage it. That’s when she found Pass the Keys on social media. At first, she wanted to use their short-let management services but found out they didn’t operate in her area. Instead, they suggested she think about starting a franchise, and that changed everything.
Starting their own business felt scary but exciting, and the support from Pass the Keys gave them the confidence to make the move. For Vicky and Andy, picking Pass the Keys over doing it alone was easy for a few reasons:
Solid support
Setting up an independent business seemed daunting, but Pass the Keys offered great tech, proven systems, and ongoing help, so they felt good knowing they wouldn’t be starting from zero.
Andy explained, “It can be quite daunting to set up your own independent company. I did this myself personally about 20 years ago so I know what it’s like. To have the backup of the franchisor is extremely comforting…to know that if you do have a question, they’ve had that experience already.”
Proven success
They liked the company’s reputation, seeing other successful territories across the UK. Knowing they were joining a tested model eased their worries about jumping into a new industry and lowered that risk.
“To have a group of territories out there that were very successful…why not be a part of that?” Andy added.
Community
Joining a group of franchisees gave them a sense of belonging. With regular meetings, training, and a team spirit, they felt supported right away.
“It gives us the community feel because we work and talk to a lot of other franchises throughout the day,” Vicky stated. “Throughout the week we’ve got a really nice network and there’s lots of training development always available as well.”
Where they are now
While the early days had the inevitable bumps that come with learning how to run a new business, Vicky and Andy enjoyed a helpful onboarding process and quick growth. Andy described those first months as tough but praised Pass the Keys’ training programme.
By the end 2021, Vicky had already made significant progress, and when Andy joined full-time in 2022, they were managing 30 properties. Now, they oversee 55 properties, with plans for further expansion.
Leaving their corporate jobs has changed Vicky and Andy’s daily lives in many ways. Their workdays are now filled with diverse tasks and responsibilities.
A typical day
Here’s a peek into their typical day:
Morning
- Schedule tasks and set priorities for guest arrivals and property needs.
- Review overnight inquiries and respond quickly.
- Ensure cleaning is on schedule and tackle any maintenance issues.
Throughout the day
- Visit properties to check quality and spot potential issues early.
- Respond to guest issues.
- Meet new property owners who want to partner with Pass the Keys.
- Stage properties and arrange professional photoshoots.
Other ongoing tasks
- Look at guest reviews to spot trends that help improve the guest experience.
- Maintain strong relationships with hosts through regular updates, calls, and emails.
Long-term goals
With their franchise thriving, Vicky and Andy have set ambitious goals. They plan to expand their portfolio from 55 to 100 properties in the next one to two years and solidify their leadership in Shropshire’s short-let market. To support this growth, they aim to bring on a Client Success Manager to ensure The Gold Standard of service is maintained.
As they begin to step back from day-to-day operations, Vicky and Andy aspire to adopt a strategic role and focus on scaling their business and driving long-term growth.
“We’ll then take other personnel on to hopefully allow us to take a more of an overhead view of the business rather than being so close operationally to it, “Andy stated.
Vicky and Andy’s journey shows how having relevant experience, ambition, and a solid support system can make switching from a corporate job to starting your own business a success. Their wins with Pass the Keys prove that a solid business model and supportive network can make the transition easier and more rewarding.
If you’re thinking about making a similar change, request your free franchise information pack here.
