Any Mac Tools / Snap On Tools Franchisee's here?
Discussion
Evening Everyone
I have been considering becoming a Mac Tools franchisee but was just wondering if anyone here has done it?
They ask for liquid capital of £15,000 to get you started but state that the total franchise cost is £50,000 plus VAT, and then quote gross profit of between £50,000 - 75,000 per annum.
They will give you a dedicated territory to work from and a list of all companys within that territory.
So can anyone offer any real life experience of these franchises?
Cheers
Sammo
I have been considering becoming a Mac Tools franchisee but was just wondering if anyone here has done it?
They ask for liquid capital of £15,000 to get you started but state that the total franchise cost is £50,000 plus VAT, and then quote gross profit of between £50,000 - 75,000 per annum.
They will give you a dedicated territory to work from and a list of all companys within that territory.
So can anyone offer any real life experience of these franchises?
Cheers
Sammo
Although not a franchisee, I run a garage in West Yorkshire and have been in the motor trade since 2004 and have found that Mac Tools guys struggle to sell and often only last a few months.
Where as the Snap On guys seem to always make money but I understand it is very time consuming as 8.30 - 6.00 your round all the garages and then you may have to meet up with a Snap On guy from another town to collect/give tools on an evening. Again not seen a Snap On franchisee last more than two years. I've worked i two cities in West Yorkshire and my business partner used to work in Manchester and has the same experiences.
Where as the Snap On guys seem to always make money but I understand it is very time consuming as 8.30 - 6.00 your round all the garages and then you may have to meet up with a Snap On guy from another town to collect/give tools on an evening. Again not seen a Snap On franchisee last more than two years. I've worked i two cities in West Yorkshire and my business partner used to work in Manchester and has the same experiences.
Sammo123 said:
Evening Everyone
They will give you a dedicated territory to work from and a list of all companys within that territory.
So can anyone offer any real life experience of these franchises?
Cheers
Sammo
Hmm I have been looking around for a change of career and have looked at a few franchises. I did spot one big problem. They will give you a dedicated territory to work from and a list of all companys within that territory.
So can anyone offer any real life experience of these franchises?
Cheers
Sammo
The tools company now sells from the website...... Which basically cuts you out of the loop.... I would agree that Snap-on would seem to be the lead brand.
I an sure that both companies make good tools. but if tools go down it is quick and easy to order online there and then. You would need to have a very good relationship with your purchasers to have their dedication to you....
As you will be the new boy you would have to ask if your territory is strong enough... IE Major built up area. London Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool etc. if not then you might not have enough of a customer base. You would be heavily reliant on trade sales only.... Normal punter would just by a Halfords tool kit.... and if there really wanted to be posh would order online.
I guess it would all depend on what sort of area you got... IE Scotland, Wales, Central England, Northern England, South West or South East. Anything other than that and I would say you might be wasting your time.... Lets face it these tool are high quality and to drive half way across a region of a country in a large van to only sell one spanner is a lot of effort. I would say that you would really only be making money on big tool chest sells.
I've looked into this too. I found a forum based in the US. Their opinion seamed to be, stay well clear. MAC appear to have one main rule. They get paid. It doesn't matter how much you take in a week, you have to pay them what they want. There were also stories of MAC telling franchisee's that they weren't buying enough and insisted more tools where purchased even if the van didn't have anyone to sell them to. One guy even told how even though he was one of their top sales guys he had a problem when he told them that he had cancer and may have to have time off. They started telling him he wasn't buying enough. Then they terminated his contract, so his 50 grand investment was gone. I know this in the US but Its definitely made me think twice about it
My brother had a snap-on franchise for a couple of years. He'd been a mechanic for a local specialist, then a mobile mechanic before trying the snap on thing.
It seemed to be a matter of touring the local garages selling tools on finance. I know he had issues with a couple of people legging it but I'm not sure how the finances worked - ie did it cost him or snap on. I know he also got involved in used tools (people did trade-in) but again I don't know if that was done through snap on or as a side line.
I dont think there was any selling to the public - it was regular rounds, sopeople knew when he'd be around - they'd still message him if something urgent came up but it seemed to be a regular round and as I say I got the impression that a lot of it was on finance and he was collecting payments.
Can't help with how profitable it is because he's very cagey with money info, but I suspect that the fact he gave it up and went back on the tools tells you all you need to know. He was in a semi-rural area, and I'd guess that a lot will depend on what the area is that you get.
Bear in mind that you'll need a big van, and secure storage.
It seemed to be a matter of touring the local garages selling tools on finance. I know he had issues with a couple of people legging it but I'm not sure how the finances worked - ie did it cost him or snap on. I know he also got involved in used tools (people did trade-in) but again I don't know if that was done through snap on or as a side line.
I dont think there was any selling to the public - it was regular rounds, sopeople knew when he'd be around - they'd still message him if something urgent came up but it seemed to be a regular round and as I say I got the impression that a lot of it was on finance and he was collecting payments.
Can't help with how profitable it is because he's very cagey with money info, but I suspect that the fact he gave it up and went back on the tools tells you all you need to know. He was in a semi-rural area, and I'd guess that a lot will depend on what the area is that you get.
Bear in mind that you'll need a big van, and secure storage.
Edited by TooLateForAName on Thursday 29th March 15:22
In almost 30 years in the trade I've known a couple of successful SnapOn dealers and one long standing Mac dealer. I've seen dozens that have not been round for all that long, it's a tough business.
For sure the one guy I've seen do best at it would have done fine in any sales job, it wasn't gifted to him by SnapOn or the area he was working in.
For sure the one guy I've seen do best at it would have done fine in any sales job, it wasn't gifted to him by SnapOn or the area he was working in.
jamoor said:
I'm amazed that such a business model still exists.
Amazon can get practically anything in your hand within 24 hours so why on earth is there a guy in a van driving around in circles selling tools out of the back of it I don't know.
Finance. When you're a young apprentice mechanic with no money you still have to buy your own tools.Amazon can get practically anything in your hand within 24 hours so why on earth is there a guy in a van driving around in circles selling tools out of the back of it I don't know.
Im also amazed that these franchisees are still viable, with next day delivery a available from most tool sellers on the internet.
I believe the only usp they have is the finance they offer csutomers, because the quality of tools are easily matchd by other big brands that are readily available online such as Beta tools, Facom etc. They all give lifetime warranty on hand tools, even the likes of Sealey give lifetime warranty on hand tools these days.
Gone are the days that these American brands have all their tools ' made in USA' I think you will find that a allot of it is acctually made in China/Taiwan. MAC tools are actually owned by Stanely Black & Decker who also owns Facom, Britool, Dewalt etc and will have the same tools rebranded to suit.
I believe the only usp they have is the finance they offer csutomers, because the quality of tools are easily matchd by other big brands that are readily available online such as Beta tools, Facom etc. They all give lifetime warranty on hand tools, even the likes of Sealey give lifetime warranty on hand tools these days.
Gone are the days that these American brands have all their tools ' made in USA' I think you will find that a allot of it is acctually made in China/Taiwan. MAC tools are actually owned by Stanely Black & Decker who also owns Facom, Britool, Dewalt etc and will have the same tools rebranded to suit.
I was looking at MAC tools a little while ago too, found this thread and gave up on the idea! Not sure what else you would need over and above the feedback that's already here.
My main issue with these types of business would be that I'm not really a natural sales type person so I suspect I would really struggle with something like this.
As an alternative, have you looked into something like Autosmart? This is selling cleaning products. predominantly for cars and commercial vehicles - the main advantage I see here is that these products are consumable, so existing customers will (hopefully) come back for more.
And if you're wondering why I haven't pursued this, the answer is that I have. They run a psychometric type test to screen potential franchisees and as a result of that, they refused to take my money!!
The test highlighted that I wouldn't enjoy the cold-calling aspect of running the franchise; and I really couldn't argue with that! I believe I could have made myself do it until I became comfortable with it, but am happy to accept their judgement.
I suspect many franchisors would have been happy to take my money and let me fail, but maybe that's just me being cynical!!
My main issue with these types of business would be that I'm not really a natural sales type person so I suspect I would really struggle with something like this.
As an alternative, have you looked into something like Autosmart? This is selling cleaning products. predominantly for cars and commercial vehicles - the main advantage I see here is that these products are consumable, so existing customers will (hopefully) come back for more.
And if you're wondering why I haven't pursued this, the answer is that I have. They run a psychometric type test to screen potential franchisees and as a result of that, they refused to take my money!!
The test highlighted that I wouldn't enjoy the cold-calling aspect of running the franchise; and I really couldn't argue with that! I believe I could have made myself do it until I became comfortable with it, but am happy to accept their judgement.
I suspect many franchisors would have been happy to take my money and let me fail, but maybe that's just me being cynical!!
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