Chris Baldwin
Agency Express Cardiff

Chris Baldwin set up his Agency Express business in December 2003. After spending 20 years in retail management with a high street store, Chris was ready for a change of direction and wanted to start his own business. The idea of a franchise appealed to him because of the high level of support and, having researched opportunities on the British Franchise Association website, he was attracted by the quality of the Agency Express offer.

“At the interview, I was very impressed by the company’s professional approach and the care they took in selecting the right people for the franchise network. I found the training course was helpful, but the ongoing support once I’d started the business was even more valuable. The team at head office were on the end of the phone whenever I needed help with pricing queries or technical issues.”

The business started well for Chris and after several months’ canvassing local estate agencies, it really took off. Word of mouth referrals and leads from head office helped to build up his customer base, and he now works regularly for 45 estate agencies, at full capacity with one van and one part-time employee.

Chris is enjoying the benefits of being his own boss, as well as the rewards of his hard work. He particularly values the good relationships he’s built up with his Agency Express colleagues in the surrounding area, and the opportunity it provides for helping and supporting each other.