Hi,
really interested in reading the comments below. I am in the process of starting a SW franchise but must admit am getting a little bit cold feet!! I really want to do it and am prepared for the hard work but can't help feeling a bit jittery [hmmm]! What if no-one turns up on my first night I'd be gutted!!!
I was planning the double franchise to give me a good chance of supporting my part time salary without having to leave my 2 year old son all day every day.
Has anyone else taken this option? How long would you expect it to take (approx)to make back the franchise fee before I might start to see some profit?????

I'm a Slimming World Consultant and have been for almost 2 years. I do enjoy doing it but would say that I am not a "lifer" and don't obsess over it.

I have 2 children under 4 and another on the way and it is very good to fit around the children. My OH and I had an agreement that as long as it didn't take over my time then it was great to do. My priority is looking after the kids but I needed something for me to stop me going crazy and something to bring in some extra cash.

You don't have to work all the hours God sends to earn a reasonable amount. I would say that those guys earning £20-£30 a group are not really putting any time or effort into their groups or understanding the right way of doing things to ensure best use of their time. It really is a case of you get out what you get in. It's a job at the end of the day and SW are very upfront about the hours you are expected to put in. There is a structure - you take a % depending on number of members.

It can cost approx £1000 to get started depending on the franchise option you go for (and this is cheap in franchise land!)

I took over a group with 15 members and now it sits comfortably at between 55-65 and therefore earns me anywhere between £75-£120 per week depending on countdowns purchased etc. There are quieter times of year that you have to be prepared for - high summer and xmas can be much lower earnings - I probably take £30 a group the week inbetween xmas and new year! If I wanted to work a little bit harder and promote some more then I could get my group up to 100 members probably and run a double session and earn more money. You really need to be looking at having minimum of 50 members to make much money.

You are expected to promote at key times of the year - Xmas, Easter and August and this is usually for 2 weeks at a time. So in theory you are looking at giving up 6 Sundays a year to go leafleting plus an extra few days each time for posters, sending letters, networking, advertising etc. It can be hard work to drag yourself out leafleting on a rainy sunday but if you want to grow your group then you do it.

I probably work about 15 hours per week - including my group. Planning, packing the car, setting up and running group, cashing up and sending support notes/emails/texts etc. But I don't break my back doing it and if I work less one week and more the other then that's fine.

You have district meetings once a quarter - they are not compulsory but you get a lot out of them. If you have a Team developer then you will probably have a monthly meeting as well. These really are good as you get support, can arrange cover for your groups and keep your motivation high.

It does cost to go up to Derby for training (petrol/hotel etc) but the training really is very good and compared to stuff I've done in big companies is great! And the SW canteen is to die for! Training is about 4-5 days. Half day pre-training. 2 days in derby then another 2 days later on after you have started. I first enquired in Feb and was up and running and in group on 10th April.

If you go to an opportunity event then go with an open mind and don't be afraid to ask questions! Speak to your consultant as well.

If you are friendly and outgoing and fancy the thought of working for yourself but with the backing and support of a great company that have the funds to invest in you and improvements and research then go for it. Because you are self-employed you have to pay your national insurance and do a tax return but it's not difficult!

For me it's a no-brainer. I get to be with my kids (not that I always want that!!), not fork out thousands of pounds a year in childcare, work 15 hours per week to fit around me and take home an extra £280 - £500 per month to give me some financial independance. It's not always great but most of the time its fab! I get a lot out of helping people - it's very rewarding.

Hey all

This is a really interesting discussion, because I was thinking about getting a SW franchise too.

Is there some sort of comission structure involved - like, how much of each fee do you get? Does the training take for ever?

Does anyone know about the Weight Watchers in comparison.

Love to be able to give up the full time day job!!

hi was a slimming world consultant but they kept getting more and more for you to do , all hours for a part time job, it would be a massive company if consultants didnt keep leaving,

dont do it if you want to earn money great for meeting members, even though it is a frnchise slimming world run it, they get yu constantlly to put money back into it in promotion at least 20% of earnings, some nights earnigns look good, i averaged about £70.for a double session 3 hours, but then ad extra hour for setting up and pputting away, you expected to get out promoting weekends durring week and evenings, still contacting memebrs via phone, txt or / and emails encouraging them or supporting them , along with monthly meetins friday nights and sunday meetins it takes over your life. a few do earn a bit but average groups are 30- 40 memebers , depends where you have it, and they can put a group up next door if they want to.

I too have been contemplating becoming an SW Consultant for quite some time.

I lost nearly 2 stone last year, but fell pg on our holiday and due to work commitments never returned.

Howe many people do you need on average to attend yur group in order to make a decent earning out of it? And would you say with time and effort you really cna make succesful earnings? I really do not want to end up only earning £20-30 a week!

I am a slimming world consultant and have been for nearly 5 years. like any business you get out of it what you put in - and talking to people who know slimming world food optimising it works on the same principle - follow the plan you lose weight - follow the methods as laid down to run a successful group and you will be successful. I have been able to not only run groups which has enabled me to pay for my 3 children to go to private school (all from my income) but also found a company who puts its people first. its friendly supportive and everyone is treated as an individual - this is not something I ever experienced working previously for other large national and international companies. with the set up costs - to enter into a successful franchise these are cheap having looked into other franchises I was very pleased with the set up - how many people can set up a nationally recognised business with 1st class training and support for less than £1000 all in???????? My advice go for it if you believe that the best way to lose weight is with slimming world and you passionately want to help people to lose weight.

Hi
I became a SW consultant nearly 4 years ago, within a year I had given up my other term time job to concentrate on my group full time. It was explained really well at the opportunity event the time involved in running a group and I always made sure I treated it like a job rather than a hobby. It was wonderful being treated like a person not a number. I find the people who seem to moan about it don't really want to put in the work in to make it successful - with nearly 70 members I was regulary taking home at least £110 per group - I made my franchise fee back in 10 weeks my friend managed it in 6 weeks! Like any new business - because that's what yours will be - takes time to promote - people wont come if they dont know where you are - so if your hoping they will bring themselves to you then no this isn't the job for you but if you are keen on networking and building a good reputation in the local community then go for it - you get out what you put in.

hi im a slimming world consultant on maternity leave, if its a lot of money you are looking for then I wouldnt become a consultant, I was promised £100+ per night and I have never made even close to that!!
Its a lovely job, you meet lovely people in your groups but its a hell of a lot of hard work and as the groups are at night unless you have childcare it can be awkward.
the start up franchise cost is from £500.
like i said though it is a lovely job and if you are prepared to live eat breathe and sleep slimming world then you can be very successful as it does take over your life (and house).
also I would sayit depends what area you are in and how many other groups are around you because even though they say it doesnt make a difference - it does!!
good luck with it if you go for it
xxx

Resurrecting this thread as I was wondering the same thing. I'm about to finish paid maternity leave and so need to bring some money in, so I was thinking about becoming a SW consultant. But these posts have got me worried that I won't really make any. My consultant says it's a great job to have with little kids, and she drives a BMW. But maybe her DH's job pays for that! I don't need a hobby, I need a paying job that I can fit in around kids. Would I be better off looking for a job in Sainsburys?