Pictured above: (l-r) Domino's Franchisee Richard Johnson with Patrick Wood from Fraser Brown

Nottingham-based Fraser Brown Solicitors has helped an East Midlands entrepreneur to find his feet in the world of franchising and become his own boss by providing advice on the purchase of two Domino's Pizza stores.

Richard Johnson bought his first store, in the northwest town of Southport, almost a year ago, after realising that franchising could allow him to have the best of both worlds - the backing of a big brand but the relative freedom of being his own boss.

At the start of 2010 he bought his second store, also in the northwest, and is currently looking to take on a third, which he hopes to have opened by the end of the summer.

Richard said, "A year ago I was at a crossroads - I had left my job as an IT director and started a couple of businesses on my own. It was time to decide whether to return to corporate life or try and make a go of things on my own.

"It was then that I realised that by taking on a franchise I could run my own business but with the support of a much bigger organisation. Once I started looking for a suitable franchise opportunity it soon became clear that Domino's was one of the best.

"Because I was buying an existing franchise business there were three parties involved in every transaction. I quickly realised that I needed an expert to advise me on the legal side of things, especially as this was my first foray into franchising. Fraser Brown was listed on the British Franchise Association website and Patrick Wood impressed me in our initial meeting with his knowledge and expertise in the sector.

"Things have moved very quickly for me in the last twelve months and Patrick has been able to advise every step of the way. Although I'm now much more knowledgeable about these things, I still feel you cannot underestimate the value of having a true expert on board."

Patrick Wood, partner and head of franchising at Fraser Brown, added, "Franchising is often an attractive option for those looking to branch out on their own and despite the economic uncertainty many banks are also still willing to lend on franchising activity. Being a franchisee isn't an easy option - it takes as much dedication and hard work as running any business - but Richard is clearly dedicated to growing his portfolio and making his stores a success."

Domino's Pizza is the leading player in the fast-growing pizza delivery market and one of the most successful franchise businesses in the world. The company is still growing today with more than 9,000 stores in over 60 countries.

Fraser Brown's franchising team advises on the whole range of franchise-related legal issues, dealing with matters for small, self managed businesses, medium-sized local and regional companies, PLCs on a national basis and international franchise organisations.  Franchisees can also monitor the status of their lease and other work being undertaken via live online matter tracking and progress reports.