Back to franchise profile

Franchise Partner Profile: Steve Rhodes

17 February 2014

High return and low risk: Steve left the stock market behind for ERA

“I plan to be invoicing for over £200k this year with minimal overheads! And I still have time to relax with my family, take my son skiing and to watch West Ham play – although that’s not actually that relaxing!”

As a stockbroker covering the Indian sub-continent in the 1990s, Steve Rhodes was used to working in a high-pressure environment, managing risk and spotting a good opportunity when it came along. So, after leaving the industry in 1999, he was well placed to make his next big call – what to do with his career?

Steve knew he wanted a role that would offer a better balance of lifestyle and earnings - with a new son at home he didn’t want the stress and demands that came with his previous life. With no clear idea for starting up his own business, he started to consider franchises.

“I originally looked at one of ERA’s main competitors,” says Steve. “But, to my eyes, it appeared a very limited opportunity. ERA, however, was quite the opposite. Their business model jumped out at me immediately. I could see so much potential in it – both in terms of generating a good income and achieving the life I wanted to live.”

After leaving his previous profession just months earlier, Steve committed and joined the ERA business network. Like all new ERA partners, Steve enjoyed the support of ERA’s Performance Development Team, who help new partners to get their consultancy established. With this foundation to build on, Steve wasted no time in building up contacts in the Cambridgeshire area and making use of the ERA network his business was now a part of:

“Right from the off, the network of franchise partners has been absolutely key to my success. And the longer I’ve been here, the better it’s become. The scope of the expertise on offer is just gobsmacking. I have complete confidence in selling their capabilities to my clients. Quite simply, without the ERA network, I wouldn’t have a business!”

Steve has now been part of the ERA network for nearly 14 years and he continues to enjoy the success and lifestyle that comes from running a business that provides a recession resistant service. It’s no surprise that he has benefited from ERA's consultancy revenue growing by 64% in the last five years!

“The network is constantly evolving,” continues Steve. “Everything is in place to help you achieve – it’s just about how far you want to go. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to build their own business, but without the risk and isolation that can come with a start-up.”

“Quite simply, without the ERA network, I wouldn’t have a business.”


Interested in finding out more? Contact franchise