Grant looked at a lot of different ways to make this happen, but was particularly drawn to van-based franchises which would allow him to use his more practical and hands-on skills but still give him the chance to tap into a proven business model. After much research, he narrowed his options down to two choices: Access4Lofts and another big, national franchise.

“Both were great opportunities,“ Grant continued. “but it was the potential to scale up the business which really sold Access4Lofts to me. I could see it working as a one-man-van operation but also a business which could grow into something much bigger. At least bigger enough where I could have the flexibility I wanted to one day become a manager driving my own team, which is what I’ve always wanted.”

And that’s exactly what he’s achieved! In fact, he won award in his first year as our top performing new comer, and was the second highest performing franchisee right across the network in 2025, turning over more than £400k. However, he remembers being somewhat cautious and nervous about the future when he first started. This is totally understandable, and very common – after all, even a franchise can demonstrate success across dozens of locations like Access4Lofts, making the move from a salaried job to self-employment is a huge leap of faith.

For Grant, that choice was to prove pivotal in changing his life for the better.

“I’m a big believer in the idea that you make your own luck, so, to make sure I would succeed early on, I actual went and got a part-time temp job to start the same time I launched Access4Lofts. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe it would work, I was just worried about how long it would take to earn any money and wanted to make sure I was covered in the meantime.

“Within 2 days I had to sack it off because I was already so busy! Enquiries were pouring in and, in the first 3 months alone, I did more than £22k’s worth of work! In less than a year, I decided I needed to take on a 2nd van and an extra employee.”

We don’t leave anything to chance when it comes to helping our franchisees get the best possible start in their new business. After all, that’s what franchising is all about – your success is our success -and with more than 100 territories in the UK, we know exactly what it takes to get word out in your local area about what you can do. The whole process starts long before you even finish training, with a comprehensive marketing campaign in your area that typically generates plenty of leads for you to follow up on in your first week. Many new franchisees leave our training centre on a Friday with a full list of phone calls to make by Monday morning.

From the solid foundations we were able to give him, Grant has built something truly remarkable. Now operating a whopping 5 vans across 3 territories, he’s spending less and less time on actual installations and instead handing the day-to-day delivering of services to a well-trained team headed up by a General Manager. This frees him up to focus on quotes, marketing, and strategic decisions -exactly the position he envisioned when he first joined.

“My family put a great deal of faith in my decision, though I had to work hard to convince them at the beginning. Now, both my wife and mother work in the business! I haven’t just created something really successful for myself, but for my family, too, and that’s a huge deal. I might even think about adding a 6th van sometime in the next couple of years… the possibilities are endless!”

While Grant now has everything he needs to keep enjoying a thriving business for many years to come, he’s never alone. Everyone at Access4Lofts has his back and is available to support him whenever needed. Through our mobile app, we share manuals and videos directly with franchisees and encourage them to help each other with problem-solving and advice. After so many years of success, there’s very little Grant doesn’t already know – in fact, he’s already one of the go-to experts on the app for newer franchisees seeking guidance – but he knows there’s always a huge support structure there whenever he needs it.

Which is the whole point, of course: Grant’s journey from brewery manager to multi-territory franchise owner didn’t happen by accident. It happened because he found the right opportunity with the right support at the right time. So, if you’ve been dreaming of running your own business but want the security of a proven model and ongoing support, Access4Lofts could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Ready to take the first step toward building your own success story? Get in touch today.