Richard Few established Sales Geek in 2017 to change the way the world perceives sales. This centres around the idea that the world perceives sales as a “dirty word,” so Sales Geek has the goal of helping people sell more things, for more money, more ethically.
For sales directors and other corporate leaders looking for more freedom and autonomy, a franchise opportunity like Sales Geek may be attractive (if you’re unfamiliar with franchises, you can read our article here), but there are some things you should know before jumping at an opportunity like this.
So, without further ado, we’ll take a close look at the cost, reviews, training, and more for the Sales Geek franchise, as well as some great non-franchise alternatives. Stay tuned.
The Job of a Sales Geek Franchisee
The main job of a Sales Geek franchisee is to help small businesses drive revenue. You’ll go in and act as the organisation’s part-time interim SD, helping them to streamline their sales operations and improve the performance of their sales team, which, in turn, helps them create a successful business.
Sales Geek Franchise Cost
The total cost of opening a Sales Geek franchise is around £80,000. This is made up of a few different payments. Firstly, there’s an upfront fee of £35,000, followed by a £7,000 fee at the beginning of years 2–5. From month 4 onwards, you’ll also have to pay £200 per month as a “brand contribution fee,” rising to £350 per month in years 2–5. This is alongside small fees for customer relationship management & system licenses. Finally, there’s a 20% royalty fee.
The breakdown is as follows:
- £35,000 upfront fee
- £7,000 fee at the start of years 2–5
- £200 per month for “brand contribution,” rising to £350 per month in years 2–5
- Small fees for CRM & system licenses
- 20% royalty fee
Minimum Contract Term
The minimum contract term for a new franchisee is 5 years, so over the course of your time at the Sales Geek franchise, you’ll spend a bare minimum of £81,600. This is a HUGE sum of capital, far more than you need to pay to achieve the level of freedom, flexibility, and income promised by Sales Geek.
Furthermore, they say that you can expect to earn £116,000 after 2 years. By reverse engineering this claim, we can estimate that you’d pay roughly £29,000 in royalty fees per year. That’s a lot of money by anyone’s standards, and the 20% royalty payment unnecessarily hurts your profit margins. We’ll talk about royalty-free alternatives later on, but first, let’s take a look at some reviews.
Sales Geek Reviews
Sales Geek has many glowing reviews on their website and elsewhere on the internet.
This is what their first ever franchisee had to say about Sales Geek:
“I’m able to do exactly what I love. I get to help real, grassroots small businesses within my community and make a massive contribution to their success while maintaining a work-life balance for myself.”
However, one disgruntled customer of a Sales Geek franchisee wrote:
“Sadly, my experience has not produced any return on my investment. I am devastated. I understand nothing is guaranteed; however, I did expect some return on the investment. I am trying to stick to my professional values and remember it’s just business. But it’s money down the drain and it’s devastated me.”
How Much Can You Expect to Earn as a Sales Geek Franchisee?
Sales Geek claims you can earn as much as £90,000 in your first year. This number can then reach as high as £120,000 per annum after your first year. Of course, it goes without saying that these are excellent figures, but are they realistic?
Caveats
It’s unclear what would happen if you didn’t hit these numbers in the expected time frame. Without any kind of guarantee in place, these numbers are pretty much meaningless, so you should take them with a pinch of salt.
Furthermore, we found many different figures published in different places, ranging from as high as £250,000+ after 3 years to as low as £0. Because of the shockingly high fees, both upfront & ongoing, you may even find yourself in debt.
Who is the Sales Geek Franchise aimed at?
Not just anyone can join the Sales Geek franchise. It’s aimed at “battle-hardened sales warriors.” Franchisees should align with the company’s core values and have at least 5 years of experience in a senior leadership role. Becoming a Sales Geek franchisee takes a “special kind of person,” and if you are a fit for the franchise, then it’s a “big deal.”
They have opportunities in the UK, USA, Australia, and many other countries worldwide, so it really is an opportunity that can work regardless of location.
What does the training include?
The people at Sales Geek have extensive experience in senior leadership roles. Their team contains ex-CEOs, ex-Sales Directors, and more, all of whom are there to support you as you gain the necessary skills.
Key aspects of the training include:
- Industry-leading blended learning approach
- Skills gap analysis and business audits
- Unique digital and physical learning resources
- A “buddy system” with seasoned franchisees
- Dedicated support from HQ
There will be 6 training days in your first month and ongoing training and development in your first year.
You’ll also get access to their sales training app, online digital platform, and other supplementary services.
How do you apply to join Sales Geek?
Firstly, you have to request their franchise prospectus by filling out a form on their website. They’ll email this prospectus to you, filled with lots of in-depth details about the opportunity. Then, you have to call their “Chief People Geek,” who will have an informal chat with you, giving you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Following on from this, you’ll be invited to meet with the team at their head office in Blackburn (or over Zoom if you prefer), where you can discuss your options, including territories and a personalised franchise agreement.
Once you’ve signed the agreement and paid your fee, the training will begin.
Should I buy into the Sales Geek Franchise?
It completely depends on a few factors:
- How much upfront capital you have available
- How willing you are to pay monthly fees & royalties
- How much freedom you want when it comes to branding, marketing, & operations
- How confident you are that you’ll get results using their systems
- How big you want your business to become
If any one of these factors is an issue for you, now is probably a good time to stop and rethink your options before tying yourself down to a lengthy 5-year contract.
The Problems With Franchising
Franchising poses many issues for those who decide to buy into one. In this context, some of these issues include:
- Substantial upfront & ongoing fees make franchising is very expensive.
- Monthly fees and royalty payments that harm your profit margins
- Very limited flexibility
- Heavy restrictions on your marketing materials and branding
- Limited to a specific territory
Is Sales Geek Different?
Most of these things are still an issue when it comes to Sales Geek. There are still huge costs involved in setting up and operating one of their units, and nothing indicates that you’re given more freedom, flexibility, or autonomy than if you were to join any other franchise of a similar nature.
Non-Franchise Alternatives
Now let’s take a look at a non-franchise alternative. This option offers many of the same advantages as Sales Geek offers to its franchisees, but also eliminates many of the negative aspects of franchising.
Business Coach Academy
Business Coach Academy is an alternative for people with a high level of business experience; either they’ve worked as business leaders at the director level in the corporate world or ran their own business previously.
The program is designed so that it can be done part-time, meaning you won’t have to give up your busy role, incur huge costs (both upfront and ongoing), and go all-in, taking on a huge level of risk as you do so.
They’ve helped directors from prestigious firms like Apple, JCB, IBM, and Nike become successful coaches.
Cost
Becoming a ProCoach requires a minimum upfront investment of as little as £9,600. In fact, there are 2 options to choose from:
- Part-time – £9,600 initial investment and £695 monthly operating costs. This is ideal for people who want a side hustle that generates £10,000 per month.
- Elite – £19,500 initial investment and £1,950 monthly operating costs. This is ideal for people who want to be self-employed, earning £20,000–£50,000 per month.
Keep in mind that you’re not buying into a franchise, so it’s far more simple, flexible, and affordable. Furthermore, if you don’t hit £10,000 per month, you won’t pay anything; you’ll get £1,000 cash just for the trouble!
Reviews
Business Coach Academy has all 5-star reviews on TrustPilot. They have an outstanding track record when it comes to training business coaches, with 100s of success stories. Some of the results include:
- Coaches who have signed new clients in a matter of days
- Coaches who have gone from 0 to 6 figures in the space of a year
- Coaches who only have to work 10 hours per week
- Coaches who have gained the freedom to work from anywhere in the world
These are just some of the results they’ve been able to help their Certified Coaches achieve, and there are hundreds of others just like them:
How to Get Started
You can schedule a call via the Business Coach Academy website. Once it’s been established that you’re fit for the program, you’ll have immediate access to the ProCoach platform, community, resources, and materials.
Sales Geek Franchise Vs. Non-Franchise Alternative
Final Note
Feeling overworked in your corporate position? Dreaming of a better life where you have the autonomy, work-life balance, and family time you deserve? Or are you worried about job security and feel like you need an exit strategy from your current high-stress job? Learn more about how you could become the next Business Coach Academy success story here.
